Zac Mac Band Kennedy’s Midtown Boston, MA September 13, 2008

Sep 13

AndrewAlternative Rock No Comments

The Zac Mac Band put on a energetic set to cap the night at Kennedy’s Midtown bar in downtown Boston. Tonight was the debut live performance of guitarist Ben Dwyer who had about 10 days to learn the songs. The other band members, including frontman Zac McIntyre, bassist Jeff Bates and drummer Justin Casanave, themselves have only been together since last spring but you would never know it from the way the band played seamlessly through the hour-long set.

The band’s chemistry was evident right from the playful sound check song called…The Sound Check Song, sung to the tune of the band’s other track, Red Light. The song’s one line is “This is a sound check song” to which McIntyre later joked, “I have to write better lyrics to that.” Launching into the set proper with Red Light, the band played through some mix problems (the vocals were swallowed up through the first two songs). But by the time they got to their first single Roll Me Over, they found their stride. The dynamic from that point on was at true rock band level.

On a small stage, and without much room to maneuver, the band managed to channel their energy into a wave of great songs, a few of them played before an audience for the first time. One in a Long Line emphasized McIntyre’s keyboard work. The song, about a loved one with a drinking problem, hit on an ethereal vibe reminiscent of The Police. The set picked up the pace with The 1st of November, which McIntyre introduced by remarking the song was about “finding out about your ex lovers on MySpace or Facebook.” The band then launched into a fantastic version of Radiohead’s Creep.

For all the tendency to describe a new band by their musical influences, the songs tonight singularly marked The Zac Mac Band’s own sound. Even Creep was molded perfectly to fit in with the rest of the set. If anything, any Radiohead influence was more apparent on the next song The Best Thing, which included a masterful bridge. The band closed out their set with a lengthy jam during the track Stepping Stone. Cries of “one more song” from the crowd were thankfully heeded (and blessed by Kennedy’s) which gave the audience the encore Highest Level. Besides being treated to an excellent finish, Highest Level also highlighted the comfortable interplay between the musicians as effectively as any other song of the night.

Sure, maybe they’ve only been playing together for half a year (or in Dwyer’s case, a little over a week) but the night showcased, if nothing else, a band that we can expect many great things from.

The Zac Mac Band Setlist
The Sound Check Song
Red Light
Darcie
Roll Me Over
Trap
One in a Long Line
The 1st of November
Creep
The Best Thing
Lonely Me
Stepping Stone
Encore
Highest Level