Monterey

The Jersey-based band does not specialize in one particular style of music. Monterey has a five-member roster comprised of Michael O’Reilly, Carter Henry, Chris Beninato, Matt Debenedetti, and Zack Heller. Henry, one of the Monterey’s vocalists and Beninato, the group’s bassist are University students who hope to attract a diverse fan base.
Drawing from different musical influences, Monterey has recently released its first full-length album, “Cycles” this past September, free of charge. Henry commented on the thought-process behind the group’s decision: “It’s not a bad thing if people hear our music, that’s pretty much what we want. We might as well make it accessible to everyone, especially college kids.”
“Cycles” is a 13-track album with songs fitting for fans of multiple genres. The album’s opener, “Lifeboat” has a reggae-feel and is followed by a mellow rock-and-roll song, “Honey Pill.” This track is somewhat reminiscent of current rock band, Young The Giant.
One of "Cycle's" highlights is “Out To Dry,” a pop song that appears about album. Track seven, “Keepin’ On,” is a bluesy number that begins with a robust harmonica melody complemented by an acoustic guitar rhythm. The lyrics hit close to home for University students as Henry croons, “driving down Route 18 like a slave to the street/get these shackles off of my feet.”
Monterey doesn’t stop with its musical dexterity mid-way through the album – the second half showcases additional musical approaches. “[The album] has a style, each song sounds like we’re the same band but we play a bunch of different styles,” Debenedetti commented. Tracks such as “Nomad,” the album’s darkest alt-rock track, - continue to display Monterey’s ability to experiment with multiple musical styles.
With such a diverse array of songs, Monterey has, predictably, achieved notoriety in the area. They have played live shows in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and of course, New Jersey. With each live show the group’s following grows. “Every show we play there’s always a couple of people in the crowd who tend to start listening,” Beninato speculated. This past Saturday, Monterey played at The Stone Pony. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of opportunities to catch these guys live. They have another show in Asbury Park at The Saint at the end of October and are always booking shows. For now check out “Cycles” online – for free!
Go to the band's website at montereytheband.com/music/ to listen. - The Daily Targum