Once upon a time Bryson Meunier was Black Bryson — the depressed twentysomething frontman of Arnold Jackson, a grungy indie rock trio in Chicago in the early aughts. Mumble Monkey picks up twenty years later: still in Chicago, three kids, a day job in digital marketing, and songs that still need somewhere to go.

Arnold Jackson was meant as a love letter to angsty bands like The Pixies and Nirvana. Mumble Monkey carries that DNA but leans harder into melody than rage. Blame getting older. Maybe wiser.

It's essentially a vehicle for whatever songs get written — indie rock, indie pop, lo-fi, alt-country, whatever the moment calls for. No genre loyalty. Just songs. When he's not recording originals, Bryson sings and plays rhythm guitar in The Vintage Plugs, a classic rock, country, and alternative cover band. More at brysonmeunier.com.