Backstage at this year’s iHeartRadio ALTer EGO presented by Capital One, Booker and Striker caught up with Dawson, Luke, and Cole of rising pop-rock band almost monday. Fresh off their set, the trio shared their excitement about performing for the first time at the festival and reflected on their journey from small San Diego venues to a growing international presence.
“It was a very humbling experience to be on that stage and listen to your heroes,” the band said, referencing the likes of Cage the Elephant. “It’s the band you grew up with and covered in high school, and then you’re like, we’re next.” Indeed, Almost Monday has paid homage to some of the acts that inspired them, covering songs like “Cigarette Daydreams” and “For the Wicked.”
Hailing from sunny San Diego, the band says their hometown has been a huge influence on their sound. “Being from a really sunny, happy place kind of found its way into our music,” they explained. “Dawson and Cole met surfing, so that’s literally the genesis of the band — started in San Diego surf culture.”
Looking ahead, almost monday is ready to take their music global. “We’re playing in China next month — Beijing and Shanghai,” the band revealed. The opportunity came unexpectedly through a promoter, and they’re embracing it with enthusiasm. “God willing, we’re going. I guess. So, we’ll see how it goes,” they said, jokingly adding that they might become the “David Hasselhoff of San Diego and China.”
As their reach continues to grow, almost monday remains grounded and grateful for the journey. “Day by day it gets bigger and bigger, and nobody is happier for younger bands than we are,” they said. With a mix of surf-town charm, high-energy performances, and an exciting international tour on the horizon, almost monday is proving that their rise is only just beginning.