Monarques, Sun Angle

[RETRO POP] Portland’s Monarques have unintentionally tested the notion that good things come to those who wait. The group, led by Josh Spacek, gained a following in 2009 with its energetic, soul-warming performances, despite only having a few demos to its name. The band’s sound is nostalgic and catchy, honest and lively. It’s the product of a kid who listened to ’50s and ’60s pop and R&B and eventually brought his honed ear to the front of a highly skilled group of musicians. But the feel-good guitar licks and doo-wops of the Monarques’ music aren’t so much paying homage to the oldies as they are interpreting the much-loved genres of yesteryear through a contemporary lens. Such a collision of worlds is why the release of the band’s 2012 debut, Let’s Make Love Come True, was worth the anticipation.