Monster Rally at Barboza
On a clear, brisk January night, Monster Rally offered a tropical escape from the northern winter at Barboza. Lo-fi beats paired with looping art collages carried attendees on a journey that felt like a post–World War II tour through the South Pacific. It was the kind of escapism the crowd needed as the world continues to face a barrage of grim news sound bites and images.
Listening to Monster Rally, one might assume the artist comes from a place where bossa nova rhythms or Hawaiian slide guitars spill out of bars and clubs. In reality, those are the sounds Ohio-based artist Ted Feighan gravitated toward while creating the Monster Rally project.
Feighan has spent years refining both his sonic and visual craft, resulting in a captivating stage show that invites fans to focus on different elements of the performance. I found myself drawn repeatedly into the video collage whenever the Lemor appeared. Feighan effortlessly floated between bass guitar and sound boards, while his friend and collaborator RUMTUM—currently opening for Monster Rally on tour—anchored the drum kit with a jazz-like flow.
When tracks like “Sunny Sloth” and “…Sister Owls” were performed, the crowd’s energy shifted into an even more uplifting gear. Seattle crowds can be notoriously tough; sometimes an artist delivers a once-in-a-lifetime performance and still, hips don’t move. That was not the case last Friday when Monster Rally took the stage.
Scanning the room throughout the night, I noticed the same grin mirrored across faces, as if everyone was reliving their own cherished moments in the sun. Monster Rally has a rare ability to transport listeners to another corner of the planet exactly when they need it. I’ve described Monster Rally’s music as my preferred soundtrack for whatever looney-bin waiting room I might find myself in years from now.
Monster Rally wraps up the winter leg of the tour in California, though I fully expect to see them somewhere on the road again this summer. The band debuted a new track, “Rosella,” and fans are already buzzing about Echoes of the Emerald Sands, set for release in spring 2026.
Words: Jordan Barsness
