Friday, March 5, 2021
MORE SONGS ABOUT APARTMENTS & LUNCH bandcamp day release
LIVE EP recorded in my apartment for clare's benefit show!
Friday, February 12, 2021
"TONIGHT LOOKS BAD"
presenting our first album as a trio, "Tonight Looks Bad", recorded by isaac levine, mastered by fred thomas, we think its good but sort of cursed and its 9 songs and its out now.
Friday, April 10, 2020
"TOO CLOSE" & "ZONE COLD"
hello,
the next two monogamy releases are here today. one is Side wound worship #04, called Too Close, and the other is Side Wound worship #05, called Zone Cold. they are available in the digital medium for a "pay what you want" rate. when the quarantine is over they will each be dubbed onto one side of a tape and sold here and at shows. this is the first time a monogamy release has been assembled for a digital medium so special consideration has been provided to presentation and i hope you enjoy this aspect of the release, there are nice notes i've put up with it on bandcamp as well as included as a txt with the release.
the decision to release music at this time was not made lightly, and the intent is to provide friends, listeners, curious ppl with a gentle distraction through this weird period, and to take advantage of a months-long moratorium on live shows to document some of the current material. this project was already about halfway complete and so the timeline was moved ahead and some sessions came together during mid-late march. so please enjoy these recordings as i'm very sad to not have a chance to play for you in person.
Too Close is sort of the spring piece, loud rock and pop songs to play with the window open during the sunlight hours. if you like this ep please dial a friend on the phone and say hi and tell them that you're thinking of this.
Zone Cold is the summer one, its zoner works and slimeball material for your blistering hot summer nights alone sweating on your bed and for your flashbacks of heated evenings. if you have a car please drive around to this very fast within reason.
thanks for listening. i hope you dig these and they get you thru it. this is the spring/summer drop, come back in a few months for the fall/winter...
the next two monogamy releases are here today. one is Side wound worship #04, called Too Close, and the other is Side Wound worship #05, called Zone Cold. they are available in the digital medium for a "pay what you want" rate. when the quarantine is over they will each be dubbed onto one side of a tape and sold here and at shows. this is the first time a monogamy release has been assembled for a digital medium so special consideration has been provided to presentation and i hope you enjoy this aspect of the release, there are nice notes i've put up with it on bandcamp as well as included as a txt with the release.
the decision to release music at this time was not made lightly, and the intent is to provide friends, listeners, curious ppl with a gentle distraction through this weird period, and to take advantage of a months-long moratorium on live shows to document some of the current material. this project was already about halfway complete and so the timeline was moved ahead and some sessions came together during mid-late march. so please enjoy these recordings as i'm very sad to not have a chance to play for you in person.
Too Close is sort of the spring piece, loud rock and pop songs to play with the window open during the sunlight hours. if you like this ep please dial a friend on the phone and say hi and tell them that you're thinking of this.
Zone Cold is the summer one, its zoner works and slimeball material for your blistering hot summer nights alone sweating on your bed and for your flashbacks of heated evenings. if you have a car please drive around to this very fast within reason.
thanks for listening. i hope you dig these and they get you thru it. this is the spring/summer drop, come back in a few months for the fall/winter...
Saturday, January 25, 2020
IMAGINARY DONKEYS SHRIMPER COMPILATION TAPE
we covered "Cheap Sunglasses" by Human Hearts, which was a Franklin Bruno band. Toni did vocals and don played guitar and electronics and harmonica. recorded and mixed at 3orbs on completely broken headphones. Double 70 minute tape compilation with individual artwork by Luigi. we love Almost Halloween Time and if Luigi says jump i say how high. especially if it means digging through Shrimper tapes. we would have done a paste song but everyone else was doing paste songs. anyway heres bandcamp for it
Monday, December 23, 2019
L'INFERNO and NEXT GIG
nha trang was sick let's keep it going with a gig at reed's basement in dear detroit:

Also doing some year end accounting I found a good recording of an improvized set I threw down fr a live screening of L'Inferno at Agitator Co-op Gallery here in chicago. Check out a track here:
and if you want to hear it all/download it pay what you want check here:

Also doing some year end accounting I found a good recording of an improvized set I threw down fr a live screening of L'Inferno at Agitator Co-op Gallery here in chicago. Check out a track here:
and if you want to hear it all/download it pay what you want check here:
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
SPLIT W/ SCLT
split w/ SCLT - the new tape by monogamy - an album in two parts by two different guys in two different states. ORDER HERE!!!!
VID FOR DEPARTURE:
from Reserve Matinee:
"RM034
Reserve Matinee is rather stoked to present a split album between Chicago-based group Monogamy and Ann Arbor-based solo artist SCLT.
Originally hailing from Michigan, Monogamy is made up of Don Lyons, Sam Johnson and Toni "Tone Bone" Wang. After tapes on Rok Lok Records, Kerchow Records and Human Male Press, they return to the saddle for RM. For this split, they present five tracks that span rock, noise, and a rather playful, magnetic brand of avant post-punk. Given their involvement in the tight-knit Midwest scenes of DIY Michigan (Ann Arbor/Detroit) and Chicago, the styles and influences shown here are both representative and furthering via their own unique voice & take.
"Apartment" exemplifies the colorful instrumentation of the band, with a ripping saxophone solo amidst blurred loops and what appears to be effects-processed guitar noise. Elements especially melt together when Monogamy is performing live on stage, like a sonic tapestry being woven in real-time.
Watch a music video for "Departure": www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfr6ZZbJ_Z0&t=3s
SCLT (aka Socialite)'s side of the split matches Monogamy's warm tones, through more ambient means, much like their 2017 release on Fred Thomas' imprint Lifelike. Heavy-lidded drone and nocturnal field recordings escort you as "Ripcord of Emotion" kicks off, preparing the way for the emotional standout "The House Beneath The Pines, Lying On The Coastline". Buried saxophone and oscillating, airy recordings of what could be a strong wind, akin to the feeling of sticking your arm out of the window on a nearly-empty I-94 drive. Each piece of SCLT's offering plays like a short letter written from the artist, soft arpeggios dotting the edges of a scenic path that is always available, for those who remember its location.
This split album is available on a limited cassette featuring artwork by Michael Stumpf. "
NEXT SHOW ALSO:
Thursday, September 26, 2019
update !!
update update! someone asked me about this label so it reminded me to write a quick update here. update update!
this label sort of floundered because people never sent me tracks for stuff, no big deal, but i'm doing a different one soon that will have its own website and not a blogspot website. no offense blogspot! harsh!
monogamy shows are coming up, and the split with SCLT is in the tube coming out in november. real announcement for that probably super soon.
we're doing another Devo cover set for halloween in chicago at Flood House :)
this label sort of floundered because people never sent me tracks for stuff, no big deal, but i'm doing a different one soon that will have its own website and not a blogspot website. no offense blogspot! harsh!
monogamy shows are coming up, and the split with SCLT is in the tube coming out in november. real announcement for that probably super soon.
we're doing another Devo cover set for halloween in chicago at Flood House :)
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
the guy who sucks at updating his website
is ME!!!!!!! we recorded an LP with isaac levine though!!!
SOON:
tape split w/ SCLT (on RM)
devo covers tape "PLAYS HARDCORE + SPACE JUNK" (on SWW)
THEN:
a noise tape thats not done yet (on __)
LATER:
LP (on ????)
MORE shows SOOON!!! i won't forget you website.
SOON:
tape split w/ SCLT (on RM)
devo covers tape "PLAYS HARDCORE + SPACE JUNK" (on SWW)
THEN:
a noise tape thats not done yet (on __)
LATER:
LP (on ????)
MORE shows SOOON!!! i won't forget you website.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
NEW YORKS ALRIGHT !
NYC baby. virginia easthope made this flyer. all of these performers are top notch. im performing like half of the new tape here too
Labels:
monogamy
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
next monogamy show
monogamy is playing this show, as well as hopefully setting something up in NY around april. hopefully a buddy helps pull through but it's a tough busy time of year so some help may be needed. sometime this year a tape split will surface too, i believe, but im still working on my side of it. thats all for now.
Labels:
monogamy
Friday, January 26, 2018
SWW03 PLATONIC BOYFRIENDS "PEE ON THESE HANDS"
the platonic boyfriends tape is out! its an album on tape. buy it from their release show tn @ arbor vitae. or buy it below and ill ship it to you.
Labels:
sww
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
MONOGAMY "DEEP GOALIE" ON SOUNDCLOUD
no one listens to what i post on soundcloud really and it makes me moody but i did this the weekend before halloween
Labels:
monogamy
WOW!!!!! I HAVE A NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!!!!
new!! live!! mostly good i think!! free!!! for your amusement. new EMAIL address for monogamy cuz im sick of the bullshit, EMAILMONOGAMY[_at_]gmail[_dot_]com.
the art i made for this kind of sucks.
the rush of a new email address! the joy of an empty inbox.
monogamy show coming up 12/1 at burlington bar in Chicago. I haven't played at a bar here yet so now's my time to shine. It will cost 7$ but if you say hi I'd assuredly buy you a beer out of appreciation. Ava Lake made the poster and will be playing, so will be RONIN and Mason Cos.
its a cool poster imo
the art i made for this kind of sucks.
the rush of a new email address! the joy of an empty inbox.
monogamy show coming up 12/1 at burlington bar in Chicago. I haven't played at a bar here yet so now's my time to shine. It will cost 7$ but if you say hi I'd assuredly buy you a beer out of appreciation. Ava Lake made the poster and will be playing, so will be RONIN and Mason Cos.
its a cool poster imo
Labels:
monogamy
Thursday, August 24, 2017
batting order
what's up! nothing new really. sending out a few tracks for compilations. interview on blog "knife play" soon which should be nice even though i really never have much to say of note. setting up live dates i think, most likely in chicago in december. i dont have a lot to say but it seems like more and more people are going to this site so i am keeping the dream alive
oh "side wound worship" as a tape label will be much more of a thing by like october
oh "side wound worship" as a tape label will be much more of a thing by like october
Labels:
monogamy
Thursday, June 15, 2017
DEMO 2017
new broadcast of emotional noise made as a benchmark of the path forward and because as much as i love semifloral (which is still in print btw!!!) i wanted to pull stuff together that sounded like the new short-haired loner music i'm doing live.
speaking of live, tell your friends in new mexico that im playing at burt's tiki lounge on june 23rd with technophobia and some locals! i might actually be playing late-ish, an exciting prospect for the perpetual opener. expect a lot of peaking sounds and less vocals than usual.
dont really know what else to put here, just having a good time with this stuff lately. get in touch!
speaking of live, tell your friends in new mexico that im playing at burt's tiki lounge on june 23rd with technophobia and some locals! i might actually be playing late-ish, an exciting prospect for the perpetual opener. expect a lot of peaking sounds and less vocals than usual.
dont really know what else to put here, just having a good time with this stuff lately. get in touch!
Labels:
monogamy
Monday, May 29, 2017
New
first of probably a few new live demos as the new live setup takes form. hopefully playing a few shows in and around chicago this summer, working on it, youll be the first to know. trying to find some diamonds in these mines, etc, email/contact for more info. still plenty of copies of semifloral available, new tape ready to go pending interest, newer material coming together quick too
Labels:
monogamy
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
New post
hey everyone, monogamy is now located in chicago, il. and will be for the foreseeable future. and seeking shows for the summer. contact DALYONS [at] uchicago [dot] edu
a new cassette tape is being readied for release gradually, but everything is recorded. the discography page has been updated to reflect all of the compliation features i can think of right now, enjoy hunting. youre gonna have to kill a hipster to get some of those CDrs of particular note for compilations are THIS JEROMES DREAM FLINT MICHIGAN CHARITY COMP TAPE as well as THIS UNREAD RECORDS COMMEMORATIVE COMP as well as THIS THING FROM MANIC REALISM THAT HAS A REALLY GOOD NEW SONG
ok. next slide on the powerpoint
keep your eyes out for a new record label arising sometime late summer as a joint venture between chicago and new york city. side wound worship will be distributing titles through them but most excitingly will be releasing an array of new releases.
if you're enjoying this, get in touch at the above address, i'd love to hear from you.
hope you're doing well
a new cassette tape is being readied for release gradually, but everything is recorded. the discography page has been updated to reflect all of the compliation features i can think of right now, enjoy hunting. youre gonna have to kill a hipster to get some of those CDrs of particular note for compilations are THIS JEROMES DREAM FLINT MICHIGAN CHARITY COMP TAPE as well as THIS UNREAD RECORDS COMMEMORATIVE COMP as well as THIS THING FROM MANIC REALISM THAT HAS A REALLY GOOD NEW SONG
ok. next slide on the powerpoint
keep your eyes out for a new record label arising sometime late summer as a joint venture between chicago and new york city. side wound worship will be distributing titles through them but most excitingly will be releasing an array of new releases.
if you're enjoying this, get in touch at the above address, i'd love to hear from you.
hope you're doing well
Labels:
monogamy
Monday, August 29, 2016
SIDE WOUND WORSHIP PRESENTS: "SEMIFLORAL"
the new monogamy record is out. order here or here from us, here for the "angelic gold" limited version via Citizen of the World, and here for the handpainted version from Almost Halloween Time in Italy. bless
words by Isaac Levine (isaaclevine.bandcamp.com):
"Monogamy is releasing the 7" 'semifloral' ... and its one of the best things I've heard made in Ann Arbor since living here. Don has really struck his own in terms of songwriting and record "feel" and lightened up on the distortion a bit (just a bit) which I dig (jus sayin!).
Don's deep record knowledge definitely informs his own style of more driven music and ballads alike. In the world of being some kind of 'DIY Songwriter', Don deftly avoids the pitfalls of preaching about friendship and aching love in ways too obvious or indulgent and instead speaks of his own far-out feelings as a story through which others can access what I can only guess is a long walk home under burning streetlights - red and clairvoyant, occasionally frustrated and wide open. . . and for me - epiphany prone."
-----
here's the record. i thanked a lot of people in the zine but also forgot a bunch of people. let life break your arms
-----
review from The Answer Is In The Beat:
"This is a fantastic slice of multi-tracked noise-pop, carrying on the spirit of Eric’s Trip and the Microphones/Mount Eerie for the current era of DIY music. Don plays almost everything himself, including a ripping sax solo, an incinerating guitar solo, and buzzy synths on the jammer “Twenty-Twenty”. “Low Morale” is a Casiotone For The Painfully Alone-esque chipper electro-pop anthem about being really depressed. “Finally Happy” is a devastating ethereal goth This Mortal Coil ballad/duet, and Don’s voice kind of sounds like Mark Hosler from Negativland here. Fred Thomas mastered this and recorded most of it, so of course it sounds fantastic."
theanswerisinthebeat.net/2016/08/27/monogamy-semifloral-7-ep-almost-halloween-timecitizen-of-the-worldside-wound-worship-2016/
video premiere from Half Gifts:
"Crunchy as dead foliage and just as warmly toned, "Enormous Mirror" is neat mound of autumnal decay piled neatly at the foot of a suburban lawn. Creaky power chords plus a sprinkle of glockenspiel accompany Monogamy's spectral stanzas and the deterioration of VHS footage.
A pickup truck infiltrates the Circle K.
The noisy floorboard wheezes."
half-gifts.blogspot.com/2016/08/premiere-monogamy-enormous-mirror.html
single premiere from Modern Vinyl:
"Monogamy began as the solo work of Ann Arbor, Michigan multi-instrumentalist Donald Alfred Lyons III. Around the recording process of Semifloral, a five-track effort resulting from Lyons’ first experience with an outside producer, Lyons fleshed out his live roster with two more members to augment his one-man band. His noise pop, audible on “Low Morale” as intersecting synth melodies are suffocated by dirty, bitcrushed feedback, now features background vocals lifting to match his carnivorous yelp. Despite the upgraded roster, this latest iteration of the Michigan project is hungrier for absolution, pairing lyrical scenes of holding rosaries with another baring sharp teeth, than accessible songwriting, but perhaps catharsis is designed to precede catchiness."
modern-vinyl.com/2016/08/22/exclusive-spin-monogamy-low-morale/
words by Isaac Levine (isaaclevine.bandcamp.com):
"Monogamy is releasing the 7" 'semifloral' ... and its one of the best things I've heard made in Ann Arbor since living here. Don has really struck his own in terms of songwriting and record "feel" and lightened up on the distortion a bit (just a bit) which I dig (jus sayin!).
Don's deep record knowledge definitely informs his own style of more driven music and ballads alike. In the world of being some kind of 'DIY Songwriter', Don deftly avoids the pitfalls of preaching about friendship and aching love in ways too obvious or indulgent and instead speaks of his own far-out feelings as a story through which others can access what I can only guess is a long walk home under burning streetlights - red and clairvoyant, occasionally frustrated and wide open. . . and for me - epiphany prone."
-----
here's the record. i thanked a lot of people in the zine but also forgot a bunch of people. let life break your arms
-----
review from The Answer Is In The Beat:
"This is a fantastic slice of multi-tracked noise-pop, carrying on the spirit of Eric’s Trip and the Microphones/Mount Eerie for the current era of DIY music. Don plays almost everything himself, including a ripping sax solo, an incinerating guitar solo, and buzzy synths on the jammer “Twenty-Twenty”. “Low Morale” is a Casiotone For The Painfully Alone-esque chipper electro-pop anthem about being really depressed. “Finally Happy” is a devastating ethereal goth This Mortal Coil ballad/duet, and Don’s voice kind of sounds like Mark Hosler from Negativland here. Fred Thomas mastered this and recorded most of it, so of course it sounds fantastic."
theanswerisinthebeat.net/2016/08/27/monogamy-semifloral-7-ep-almost-halloween-timecitizen-of-the-worldside-wound-worship-2016/
video premiere from Half Gifts:
"Crunchy as dead foliage and just as warmly toned, "Enormous Mirror" is neat mound of autumnal decay piled neatly at the foot of a suburban lawn. Creaky power chords plus a sprinkle of glockenspiel accompany Monogamy's spectral stanzas and the deterioration of VHS footage.
A pickup truck infiltrates the Circle K.
The noisy floorboard wheezes."
half-gifts.blogspot.com/2016/08/premiere-monogamy-enormous-mirror.html
single premiere from Modern Vinyl:
"Monogamy began as the solo work of Ann Arbor, Michigan multi-instrumentalist Donald Alfred Lyons III. Around the recording process of Semifloral, a five-track effort resulting from Lyons’ first experience with an outside producer, Lyons fleshed out his live roster with two more members to augment his one-man band. His noise pop, audible on “Low Morale” as intersecting synth melodies are suffocated by dirty, bitcrushed feedback, now features background vocals lifting to match his carnivorous yelp. Despite the upgraded roster, this latest iteration of the Michigan project is hungrier for absolution, pairing lyrical scenes of holding rosaries with another baring sharp teeth, than accessible songwriting, but perhaps catharsis is designed to precede catchiness."
modern-vinyl.com/2016/08/22/exclusive-spin-monogamy-low-morale/
Thursday, November 12, 2015
next show with new lineup
extra long set at helicon art exhibit. lineup is toni wang on the keys, sam johnston (from girler) on the bass, d alfred on guitar/drum machine. be there or be scared
https://www.facebook. com/events/184891418514847/ log in
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Labels:
monogamy
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