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Monotonix

Monotonix

Date: Oct 06 2008

Themes: Alternative, Music

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Rock ‘n’ roll in recent years has been relatively safe. Bands don’t really endanger the lives of their fans by lighting things on fire and smashing things like they used to (see: Iggy Pop or the MC5 for examples). And even if they do do those things, it usually seems rehearsed and predictable.

But a trio from Tel-Aviv, Israel, have set out to make rock music exciting and dangerous again. Monotonix played over 300 shows around the world last year, and though their audiences are small, word is traveling fast of their outrageous performances and loud, bluesy music. Even if the venue has a stage, Monotonix always sets up the equipment on the floor, and often ends up outside the venue.

Marni recently missed a Monotonix show and no one will let her forget it. Just after she tells Jason she’s tired of hearing about it, he tells her how great the show was.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jason

Jason

Marni:  So I’m really sick of hearing about how I missed the Monotonix show. Everybody talks about how it was the greatest show ever. I totally missed it.

Jason:  It kind of saved rock ‘n’ roll. Like, if there was any doubt, which there was a small doubt in my mind that rock ‘n’ roll was dead, it was kicked right back into gear at that show. They only played for about 25 minutes, but you felt every minute of that.

Marni:  It was the best 25 minutes of your life.

Jason:  Yeah, and as soon as they were done, they took apart the drum set, handed it to the audience, had the audience carry the drum set into the street. Had the entire sold out crowd of several hundred people come into the street and hold them up as they played drums on top of the crowd. It was unbelievable.

Marni:  It was mind-blowing. It was the greatest show ever.

Jason:  But that’s just what they do. Don’t feel bad about missing it because you can just see them next time. I don’t know how they do it, but every night they just do that.

Marni:  They just blow your mind?

Jason:  They just do crazy stuff. I’ve heard of shows where they set the bar on fire. I’ve seen photos of them standing on top of crowds like that other places, so they just do crazy stuff.

Marni:  So the next show is just guaranteed to be as crazy and amazing?

Jason:  I think so. I don’t know. I wouldn’t guarantee it because I don’t understand how any group of three men can do that.

Marni:  And they’re from Israel, right?

Jason:  They’re from Israel.

Marni:  That’s awesome.

Jason:  That is awesome.

Marni:  Israeli punk is alive and kicking.

Jason:  They are the most rock ‘n’ roll band in the world, hands down.

 

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Discussion

Marni has heard that she missed quite a show. As if she hadn’t heard enough about it already, Jason tells her that Monotonix played a very short but very intense set. Then they had the audience carry the drums outside and hold them up them up while they played them!

But Jason says Marni shouldn’t worry about missing the show. She can see Monotonix again because that’s just what they do. He doesn’t know how anyone can do that every night, but that seems these three Israelis are able to.

Do you like a sense of danger and wildness at a concert or do you prefer to feel safe and listen in peace? Israel isn’t a country famous for rock and roll. Do you know any other great rock bands from far-off places?

 

Comments

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angelo25

angelo25

Algeria

good

10:14 AM Dec 21 2010 |

Sina-N

Sina-N

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

terrible…

07:00 PM Feb 05 2010 |

sh.parnianchi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

hate rock

12:29 PM Oct 12 2008 |

我行我酷

China

So crazy!but i also want to look on the performence!it belongs to somebody who like it.

11:59 AM Oct 12 2008 |

Mrcn4

Mrcn4

Poland

It must be rly excited. I want to see it live ; P

05:24 PM Oct 11 2008 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

Hehe they said "Israel is a far -off place".

Congratulations, Israel!

12:46 PM Oct 09 2008 |

kukuka

kukuka

Ukraine

They are making money just…

12:18 PM Oct 09 2008 |

karoomy

karoomy

Saudi Arabia

They are crazy people ,,

04:40 PM Oct 07 2008 |

upeng_2008

China

so crazy,but i like it!

03:43 PM Oct 07 2008 |

abouelseoud

Egypt

they are different kinds of peopel and may be happy

03:22 PM Oct 06 2008 |

Totto

Totto

Sudan

It is ironic that how this band is widely known, yet the war is not, and lots of people are dying every single day.  I prefer listening to the clam safe music than that crazy, wild one. what if someone gets hurt.  It is dangerous.

03:15 PM Oct 06 2008 |

abouelseoud

Egypt

blow your mind

02:44 PM Oct 06 2008 |

matgns

matgns

Yemen

who cares if they can do stupid things so wht

10:37 AM Oct 06 2008 |

Ebony-Fan

Ebony-Fan

China

awesome.

03:35 AM Oct 06 2008 |

Mr lv

China

hi 

03:12 AM Oct 06 2008 |

Andres Cisneros

Colombia

awesome, bahh, awesome is the Grupo Niche

01:35 AM Oct 06 2008 |

bbbfish

bbbfish

China

so sorry.i don’t know Monotonix

12:50 AM Oct 06 2008 |

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