Monotonix

Tue., Sept. 9, 8 p.m., $12-$14, with Silver Jews, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 888-468-7619, r5productions.com.

by Kevin Pearson

rock

Preferring to turn up the amps and the antics amongst the crowd rather than onstage, Monotonix is every bit the crazily intense live band it's reputed to be. Part sonic assault, part Splash Mountain — 43-year-old singer Ami Shaley has a fondness for throwing drinks into the audience — this Israeli three-piece may not be the most original group on a musical front, but when it comes to mayhem, they not only set the bar high, they douse it in beer and set it on fire. Their shows have been known to start with flame-laden cymbals and end with a shirtless Shaley berating the encircling crowd. Discovered in Tel Aviv by David Berman of the Silver Jews, Monotonix mix garage rock with punk aesthetics for a primal sound that also harkens back to classic '70s rock groups such as Black Sabbath. And while playing in a bar-less church basement might limit the amount of spilt drinks, I'd still bring a change of clothes just in case.

Tue., Sept. 9, 8 p.m., $12-$14, with Silver Jews, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 888-468-7619, r5productions.com.