Doomed Confessionary: Patrick Keene (Solar Monolith)
Hailing from the greater Detroit, Michigan area, Solar Monolith originally formed as a trio in 2019; reformed, distilled, streamlined & crystalized in March 2021 as a bass and drums duo.
Solar Monolith consists of Jeff Keeton on drums and Patrick Keene on bass & vocals and specializes in high energy groovin’ doom and stoner rock.
Their debut album »The Crooked Path« was just released on April 4th, 2025. Fans of Acid King, Sleep, Sabbath, Budgie, and the like, pay heed.
Can you say a few words about your band?
I started the band in 2017(!?) and we debuted as a 3 piece in late 2019. Unfortunately, Covid sidelined us – we lost our practice space and guitarist in late 2020, but reformed in April 2021 as just the two of us – Pat Keene – bass/vocals and Jeff Keeton – drums. Thought we’d give it a few jams and see what happened and we’ve never looked back. Been at it ever since. I feel like we really hit our stride as a duo.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Biggest challenge by far is finding the time! Both Jeff and I have full time day jobs and I also have a family, so just finding the time to practice or play shows can be a pain!
What can you be most proud of so far?
We are most proud to have an actual full-length album out (4/4/25) as we did everything ourselves, aside from the killer artwork from MYF/mysteriousfour. So if the record is a little raw sounding, it’s my fault. Ha ha. We strove to get it to sound like seeing us live, and I think we did just that. Been a learning process for sure. But it’s been fun.
What was your biggest regret?
We’ve had to turn down a few cool opportunities (short tours, opening spots for touring bands) just due to my schedule and family obligations. Jeff has never said no to a show, so if we’ve ever declined, it’s been my fault. Have to try to balance it all, and sometimes that means that the band stuff has to take a sideline.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Easily our fave show thus far has been opening for the legendary The Obsessed when they came through Detroit in October 2024. And we got to share opening duties with our buddies in Colossus (another killer stoner/doom band in the Detroit area). Wino and the guys were rad – Wino stayed stage-side to check out both of our opening sets, which honestly is rare – most touring bands are trying to get ready for their show when the openers play – the fact he took the time to do so speaks volumes about what great guys they are. Glad I didn’t notice until after – I might have frozen in place otherwise. Ha ha. And Chris (bass) had some very kind words for Jeff and I. Wino was a gem and we chatted gear and stuff for a while. Even got a pic with the man too! A night for the ages.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
Easily some of the international attention we’ve gotten here and there. Absolutely mind-blowing for the “little band that could” from Detroit. We’ve had people in South America, England, Europe and beyond spinning our stuff or reviewing it and it’s been humbling for sure. Never would have guessed anyone from outside our little corner of the world would care!
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Aside from the usual Led Zeppelin bootlegs, I’ve been obsessed with the new Dead Meadow record. I’m a huge fanboy for them. Also been spinning a lot of Church Of Misery. Tatsu is one of my ‘bass gods’ – that would be another dream opening gig for sure. Playing a lot of the »Big Business« era Melvins too. Early Soundgarden (especially »Louder Than Love«!) has been in the rotation as well. Same with Crystal Spiders – they have a new one out soon I’m stoked for – and we get to open for them in July when they swing through Detroit with our friends in Cleen and Angel Of Mars (both awesome Michigan bands). I also love the hell out of the new Death Wheelers record – they are an instrumental band and a cool combo of doom, stoner, surf and 70s exploitation film soundtrack music. Just killer.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Only advice I have is to find your own voice. And don’t be a dick! Always show your appreciation for those around you and you might find good things come your way. If you are new and trying to ‘break’ into your local scene, go to other band’s shows; get to know them. Most of our shows we get asked to do just because we know most of the local bands here and they know we are cool to hang with and we all pump each other up. There’s no room for prima donna shit in the Detroit scene.
What are your guilty pleasures?
I love cooking for my fam. Though I don’t really feel guilty about that, ha ha. I got some killer soups I like to make, or grilling up some chicken kebabs. Musically, I don’t think I have anything I’d be embarrassed to admit to liking, I have a pretty wild range of stuff I dig. So maybe it might be a surprise that I love not only doom, stoner stuff and 70’s hard rock, but I also love old prog, black metal, blues, jazz, and have a soft spot for old soul singers – some of my faves are Sam Cooke and Etta James.
Can you say something more about current music scene in Detroit?
It’s absolutely bonkers how many killer bands are in Detroit and Michigan in general. I know I’m going to leave out too many, but I got to at least shout out (again) our buddies in Cleen, Colossus, Angel Of Mars, as well as Grave Next Door, Ommnus, Knuckle Dragger, Monolithic Architecture, Bog Wizard, Iron Mountain, Temple Of The Fuzz Witch, Soot, Blood Rune Sigil, Dunamis. And that’s just the doom/stoner stuff. There’s a whole bunch more heavy psych, dirty rock and roll, punk, etc like: Sonic Smut, The Velvet Snakes, Carbon Decoy, Glass Chimera, The Lucid Furs. And I’m still sure I missed a bunch (sorry!).
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
No plans to tour right now. Hard to get enough time off work – got bills to pay and music doesn’t pay the bills, sadly. But we’ll be playing in Detroit often as well as venturing out further afield in Michigan and Ohio. We are playing so many cool shows – so to name a few – we’ll be in Toledo Ohio on May 10th as part of a mini(?) 10 band doom/metal fest at Frankie’s and later, on October 10th, we’ll be in Grand Rapids Michigan to play in the Grand Rapids Doomfest II Official pre-Show – which is a free show (with a light show!) at Mulligan’s Pub.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
I already have 4 or 5 songs in the works for the next record. So we plan on keeping on with recording and releasing music. Hopefully the next one will get a physical release of some sort (I really really want to put something out on vinyl). We’d also love to get our merch on bandcamp if the international shipping isn’t too crazy expensive. I’d love to play Chicago at some point, or to be able to swing a short couple day tours out of state once or twice. Or a jaunt down to play a regional fest. Of course, I’d also love to open for another musical hero or 2 of ours along the way too.
How can people best support your band?
Just stream the record! Or if you love it, buy it on Bandcamp for $5 – again I’m hoping we can get some merch up there to purchase too, so that would be rad too. Honestly, if you dig the music, just share it with others you think might like it. Or shoot us a message through instagram or facebook – we don’t have any management so any message is answered by yours truly. It makes our whole day when someone has reached out just to say hey or that they like what we do. It’s why we do it – to be able to create something and share it with the universe.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
You make all the hard work worth it. Thanks for taking any of your time to listen to what we’ve put are hearts into. Cheers!
Thanks again for reaching out, as I said, we know all about being busy and working too hard. As the late great Lemmy said, “Don’t let the bastards grind you down!”
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well