Monster Rally is the crate-digging project of visual artist and producer Ted Feighan, blending dusty exotica with head-nod hip-hop. He started in Ohio before moving west, and his collage art doubles as the look and feel of the records.

Postcards in Loops

Expect a flowing, gapless set built from short instrumentals that bloom and fade like postcards from another era. Likely highlights include Jaguar and Palm Reader, stretched with extra percussion and bass. The crowd skews mixed: beat-scene regulars, design-minded fans, and curious locals who like grooves more than big drops.

Who Shows Up and Why

A neat bit of lore is that much of his work appears on Gold Robot Records, and the samples often come from thrifted lounge and library LPs. Another small quirk is the use of his own paper collages as visuals, cut to tempo so the art seems to breathe with the drums. To be clear, the songs and staging mentioned here are informed guesses from past releases and shows, not a guaranteed blueprint.

Collage Kids and Cool Breezes: Monster Rally's Micro-Scene

The scene feels like a mellow gallery night that happens to swing, with vintage prints, relaxed fits, and a few aloha shirts near the rail.

Style Cues in Soft Focus

People clap on the dropouts and cheer when the beat cuts to just congas and bass, a small ritual that tells you they are listening for details. Merch leans art-first: risograph posters, collage zines, and limited vinyl that pairs the music with its visual world. You might spot record totes and camera slings, and friends trading notes on sample sources between songs.

Rituals of a Listening Crowd

There is little chatter during the quiet intros, then a low wave of voices when a familiar loop returns, like a room exhale. References skew mid-century and travel-library chic, but the mood stays local and friendly rather than kitsch. After the set, small clusters compare favorite tracks and flip through the poster stack, in no rush to break the calm.

Palm Trees, Tape Hiss, and Monster Rally's Pocket

Live, the drums hit first, with tight kick patterns and hand percussion laying a soft bed for chopped guitar and vibraphone samples. Bass stays simple and round, leaving space for the mids where the melodies dance.

Loops With Breathing Room

Vocals, when they appear, are tiny snippets used like instruments, more color than message. Arrangements favor two to three-minute vignettes that crossfade, but he often extends a crowd favorite by looping a breakdown and slowly adding parts. A lesser-known habit is retuning samples so several loops share a home note, which makes the transitions feel smooth even when the sources are far apart.

Little Tweaks, Big Flow

Tempos hover in the 85 to 100 BPM pocket, giving heads the nod without pushing the room to jump. Visuals are collage-driven and lightly animated, but they serve the music rather than steal attention.

If You Like This, You Might Like Monster Rally's Neighbors

Fans of The Avalanches often click with this project because both favor sunny sample collages that feel like flipped radio memories.

Kindred Crate Spirits

Gold Panda makes lean, loop-driven beats with a warm vinyl patina, a lane that overlaps in mood and pacing. If you like vapor-washed vocals and soft-focus synths, Washed Out lands near the same beach at a slightly dreamier tempo.

Sunlit Grooves, Patient Builds

For those who enjoy instrumental sets that swell patiently, Tycho brings a similarly transportive, visual-forward experience. All four acts draw crowds who value texture and tone over volume, which keeps the room relaxed but focused. The overlap works live too, as fans who chase crate-dug details and melodic loops tend to appreciate small shifts and long fades.