WUSC’s purpose is to educate the DJ and the listener. Last fall, I learned about a band called almost monday (stylized in all lowercase) through WUSC’s rotation selections as a DJ. On first listen, I was impressed with the band’s talent. Now, they’re part of my personal rotation.
almost monday is an indie rock/pop band from San Diego composed of vocalist Dawson Daugherty, bassist Luke Fabry and guitarist Cole Clisby. Their California roots shine through their sound, which feels like a sunny day at the beach. Daugherty brings a memorable energy to the stage, which I had the opportunity to experience firsthand in October when the trio opened for The Band CAMINO here in Columbia.
When playing live, almost monday grabs the attention of the audience through constant movement. They have a clear passion for what they’re doing, and they have moments where they engage with the audience directly. Even as an opener, when the majority of the audience was waiting for the headliner to come on, many people in the audience sang along with Dawson. This was especially true for the song “can’t slow down”, which has been very successful on alternative radio within the past year.
While my favorite almost monday songs are “this is growing up” and “jupiter”, tracks like “sunburn” and “enjoy the ride” stand out to me because of their association with memories I’ve made since discovering the band. Currently, their only album is DIVE (2024), but “enjoy the ride” and “lost” were both released within the past few months, indicating there is more to come.
Sonically, almost monday is unique. Their trademark sound is one that mentally transports the listener to a sunny beach with relaxing vibes and positive energy. They sit comfortably alongside artists like Balu Brigada, Dayglow and half•alive. Their discography is generally upbeat with an easy-listening groove.
I am so grateful to have found this band through WUSC’s rotation. To this day, I still play their music on my show, and it has cheered me up in dark times. Seeing them live was a very memorable experience, and I’m just so glad to have their music in my life.
Hi! My name is Stephanie and I am a Marketing major and Music Industry Studies minor here at USC. I am currently in my third semester with WUSC and cohost The Tide on Tuesday nights!