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Friday, April 25, 2008
It Might Be True Revue
Eric R. Danton (The Hartford Courant, April 24, 2008) The Mayocks, "It Might Be True" (Regular Joe) Brothers John and Tim Mayock return with their strongest record yet. Abetted by West Hartford producer and guitarist Jim Chapdelaine, Granby's Mayocks deliver strong vocal Harmonies and catchy melodic hooks on aching, airy songs with a folksy Americana bent. That's not all the Mayocks do, though: there's a subtle twangy pop sound on "Your Pretty Smile," a vintage garage feel on the quietly psychedelic "Here I Go" and a gentle lullaby vibe on "Brown and Green," a song Linda Thompson would do well to consider for her next record
- Eric Danton
The Mayocks
Around This Town
Regular Joe Records
Brothers John and Tim Mayock have produced a cool collection of originals that feel as good as they sound. There is an overall positive uplifting vibe to this CD that makes it refreshing.
At the core of the Mayock’s sound are tight, country-flavored brotherly harmonies and solid songcraft, supported by a strong backing band that fills out their rootsy, rustic, Americana Gothic sound. Pianist Mark Mercier from Max Creek adds some great touches, including the Baroque sounding solo on John Mayock’s “Red Wind” and swampy, Leon Russel style riffs on“Dudleytown” which has a nice, mellow vocal and perfect blend of rock, blues and acoustic sounds.
“Still Seems Sad” features chimey guitars that recall “Sweethearts of the Rodeo”– era Byrds, as well as some very active, melodic bass playing from Tim Mayock. “Wet Fall Night “ a raw and raucous sound with snakey guitars, including a fine slide solo from Jeff Pevar of CPR, and more great piano from Mercier. John Mayock’s lyrics tell a tale of maneuvering around the ups and downs of a relationship, “No you don’t have to shout about it while we walk in the rain and snow slippery light trying to find a path on a wet fall night.”
The brothers and band also stretch out into western swing territory with Tim’s “Late Again” with lyrics any struggling musician can relate to, like “I got to pay Paul so I can’t pay Peter, but Peter has the key to the electric meter. If I don’t pay Peter I’ll be a candlelight reader, I’m late again…” and John’s “Dots,” about a local diner where, “Back out on the bicycle streets,
it’s happening , it’s happening , it’s happening, it’s happening…” The song effortlessly combines elements of western swing, jump blues and jazz, with the brother’s harmonies weaving through the mellow music.
Paul Burton, Musuc Revue Magazine
- Music Revue Magazine
Friday, October 10, 2008 3:00 AM EDT
By David Malachowski
ARTIST: The Mayocks
ALBUM: "It might be true" (regular joe records)
Roots-rockers the Mayocks hail from Granby, Conn., and their crew includes Tim Mayock (bass, vocals) and John Mayock, (guitar vocals) as well as Jim Chapdelaine on steel. Famed drummer Tom Ardolino (NRBG) makes an appearance on no less than 5 songs.
They may be from Connecticut, but they sound like they're from Woodstock, wearing their Dylan and The Band influences proudly, as well as nods to the Byrds (the chiming "Your Pretty Smile"), Tom Petty ("Some New Avenue"), The Association ("Here I Go"), the Grateful Dead ("Your Last Reserve") and even Dave Edmunds ("Kiss Kiss").
That doesn't mean that the Maylocks are derivative, that just means they have good taste.
They take a turn down a country road with the hopeful "It Might Be True," and "Round and Round" holds a lovely melody. "Let Me Hold You" is circular and sweet, while the lush "Brown and Green" takes it all home.
The earnest singing and beautiful blend of the sibling harmonies are the Mayocks' strong suit. That, and their well-crafted, catchy-but-not-cliché tunes. These lush, sometimes sad, but mostly optimistic songs hark back to time a few decades ago, when things were hopeful, and the economy wasn't in the toilet.
Maybe that'll change soon, and the Mayocks will be the perfect band, all ready to go.
Visit www.themayocks.com. - The Daily Freeman
Discography
"It Might Be True"
This lovingly produced Cd frames the great American country/folk/rock tradition in a modern context-close harmony singing with a solid and sometimes adventurous back beat coupled with guitars that ring and growl in a cool contemporary fashion,in short the Mayocks at their best!
This record features Tommy Ardolino from NRBQ on drums on a number of tracks, as well as longtime Mayock's drummer and friend Marshall Grossman channeling the Who, and Jonathan Lichtig, who does his best slightly mellowed John Bonham turn on Here I Go, a change of pace rock song with sitar flourishes. It Might be True is a great country rock song, with Ardolinos drumming and the perfectly meshed guitars of Chapdelaine and Mayock sounding like Gram Parsons fronting NRBQ.
Recent live performances have included guest appearances by Americana stalwart Will Kimbrough, former NRBQ wildman Al Anderson and CSNY guitarist Jeff Pevar, while the primary guitar seat in the band is occupied by Grammy winning producer-arranger-guitarist Jim Chapdelaine, who plays in Al Andersons current band.
Also by The Mayocks: Around This Town-CD, Seven Days-Cd
Photos
Bio
Rock groups featuring brothers have been around a long time, from the Everly Brothers to the Kinks, The Psychedelic Furs to Oasis, the pairing of brothers and music can create a unique balance of musical harmony and familial tension that seems to take a group to new and exciting heights.
While the Mayocks, (siblings John Mayock and brother Tim) usually keep the family tensions at bay, there is no denying a brotherly bond that is the core of their music. John the main singer/songwriter/guitarist and Tim — lead/supporting vocalist/bass player — create a musical gumbo that is one part Newport Folk Fest, and two parts Woodstock. A perfect combination of folk sensibilities, rock sexuality, country harmony and R&B groove. Together with Dennis Cotton on Drums — whose credits include Duke Robillard and Savoy Brown, and Guitarist Dennis Fancher whose credits feature James Montgomery — the quartet create a flawless sound best described as “rural cosmopolitan.”
Hailing from Granby, CT the group has been around nearly a decade and has produced three critically acclaimed albums. 1999’s “Around This Town,” 2003’s “Seven Days,” and most recently “It Might Be True.”
Music Review Magazine’s Paul Burton says “At the core of the Mayock’s sound are tight, country flavored, brotherly harmonies and solid song-craft, supported by a strong backing band that fills out their rootsy, rustic, Americana sound.”
Long renowned for their remarkable live shows, the band landed an endorsement from Bose Corporation in 2004 to use their state-of-the art sound system to enhance the groups’ live sound. The band tours exclusively with this sound system and is capable of producing unparalleled fidelity in any venue. It is an example of the band’s unique ability to combine old-school musicianship with new-world technology. The Mayocks have also built an independent recording studio in which to lay down tracks for upcoming music projects.
The Mayocks future looks bright. In 2009 they plan to travel more to try to reach a larger audience. “We have realized that just making great music is not enough, we have to court the audience, introduce ourselves and keep people coming back.” One thing is certain, to know the Mayocks is to love them, and it’s just a matter of time before their catchy, melodic tunes are taking up space on everybody’s ipod!
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