Music Monday – Celeste Griffin

Celeste Griffin’s thick, Southern voice is the soul of Monarchs. Straddling the line between vintage soul and folky Americana, her bittersweet songs are fleshed out by a rotating cast of musicians – one group for her hometown, Birmingham, and one band for her new home, Austin. Griffin, a graduate student at UT, took some time to tell the Texan about her life and her music.

01) What album have you listened to the most in the last week?

I’ve keep listening to Neil Young’s On the Beach and Human Highway’s Moody Motorcycle.

02) If you could collaborate with any musician in the world, who would it be?

Lauryn Hill.

03) What was the best show you’ve ever played?

I recently played at this gritty rock club in Birmingham, Alabama called The Nick.  The sound, my band, the crowd, the vibe – it all just felt right.

04) What was the worst show you’ve ever played?

I played at holiday party/concert called “Spike the Nog” at a little independent bookstore. The idea was for everyone to be tipsy and wearing tacky christmas attire. The PA stopped working and my band and I were the only tipsy ones looking ridiculous. It sounded horrible and I was rocking some serious mom jeans.

05) What is your favorite song to play live?

My Austin band and I love playing a song called “It’s Not Me” so much that we’ve renamed it “Love Feast.”

06) When you were forming the band were there any alternate band names you didn’t pick?

Nope. I knew I wanted to name the band Monarchs. Sometimes I wonder if it would have been easier to call the project “Celeste,” but I usually end up deciding that I’m glad I went with Monarchs. The name holds a lot of meaning related to family. It is not about butterflies.

07) Where is your favorite place to eat in Austin?

For brunch: Enoteca Vespaio. For Mexican: El Meson. For a sandwich: Fricano’s Deli. For Pizza: House. For dinner: Parkside. For Drinks: East Side Show Room

08) Do you have a day job?

I’m getting my masters in Community and Regional Planning and I work for a City Council member. I’m too busy.

09) What is your favorite website?

I’m not a big website lover.

10) What is a perfect day for you?

A dreamy Saturday would be: Sleeping in with my man. Eating brunch. Biking to Barton Springs. Eating cookies and drinking horchata. Drinking wine and cooking dinner. Then, hanging out on a porch with a few friends, dogs, beers, guitars, and singing.