White McKenzie

Apologies for the delay in posting. I'm either very lazy or very busy. Well the saying goes, if you want something done, ask a busy person so that must mean I'm lazy? But I'm training for a triathlon that's on next Saturday (eek, wish me luck) and working and the occasional bit of living as well so I must be busy then....or am I?

Anyway the new soundtrack to my busy/lazy lifestyle: White McKenzie. This is a rock band from Dublin with an alt-country influences. The band have been playing together since early 2011, made up, as the site states of 6 lads all coming from "alternative musical backgrounds" (I don't think this means they were all previously cast members of The Rocky Horror Picture Show). The band released their début album in September 2011 titled "Absence". What drew me to the band first was their list of influences; Wilco, My Morning Jacket, Neil Young, The National. A hall of fame of americana and alt-country giants. White McKenzie, though, sound more like one other influence they have listed; Pearl Jam. Their singer voice is very reminiscent of Eddie Vedder. The band makes power-rock music but beneath all this is an alt-country band waiting to burst free.

"4 a.m." is a lovely paced piece of mature pop. It may occasionally drift into cigarette-lighter-in-the-air rock but on the whole a grappling song. While "The Big Man" works in a similar vein. acoustically led, slow electric guitar licks that forms into a full chorus with mysterious lyrics that also demonstrates the power of the lead singer's voice.

"On Your Heels" is something different. I really enjoy songs with that hyper single repeated piano chord/note in the chorus. The Beatles did it, Queens of the Stone Age did it and White McKenzie do it here to great effect. It's a fast-paced power rock. The breakdown in the song with the gothic vocals and discorded drums help add to the hectic pace of the song when the chorus comes back in. It's one to imagine yourself listening to while zipping through lanes on a motorway. A brilliant piece of pop alternative rock.

The band have the Facebook for more information including upcoming gigs in Mullingar and Cork in July and August respectively. All the album tracks are on their Youtube channel. You can buy the album on itunes. Worth it.