PEORIA MAGAZINE September 2023

M usic flows through Brien Monckton’s veins. Always has. “Looking back at home videos, the common theme was always music. He was dancing, singing or playing an instrument,” said Jackie Monckton, Brien’s mom and biggest supporter. Monckton has gone from a little kid listening to live music with his mom in Peoria to chasing his musical dreams. He’s a backline tech for the up-and coming alternative rock band The Backseat Lovers. But that's not where it all started for Manckton, who already has a musical rap sheet longer than most 24-year-olds. FIGURING THINGS OUT Monckton had performed with local bands growing up. He knew he wanted to pursue a career in music. He just didn’t know what that would look like. Classroom academics were never his, ahem, jam . But he took a woodshop class in high school at the Woodruff Career & Technical Center, which he enjoyed and where he excelled. An idea was forming in his mind. After graduating from Richwoods High School in 2017, he researched some opportunities and stumbled across a luthier school in Phoenix. That’s luthier, coming from the word lute. It’s the craftsman’s trade of repairing and building stringed instruments. He found Roberto Venn School of Luthiery, an accredited school where students specifically learn to build and repair acoustic and electric guitars. Monck ton made his decision and carted off to Arizona. While there, he perfected his craft and built three guitars from scratch. MOVING UP AND AWAY From Phoenix, Monckton moved to L.A. and worked in a vintage guitar store. “Some of those guitars were from the 1940s and ‘50s,” recalled Monckton. “The store had nothing newer than 1980.” One day, he got a call from a friend about a band looking for a guitar tech

PLAYING IN PEORIA

DISCOVERING HIS JAM Peoria native Brien Monckton credits his hometown with helping to spark the passion that’s given him a rock ‘n’ roll career

BY KATIE FALEY PHOTOS BY RON JOHNSON

68 SEPTEMBER 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE