The Paul McKinney Group

Intentionally a "Lo-Fi" Title, The Coachouse Tapes, the debut release by the Paul McKinney Group (PMG) is anything but a lo-fi recording. Engineered and co-produced by Ellis Clark of Angel City Studios in Chicago, and Mastered by Brent Lambert of The Kitchen in Chapel Hill, NC, the recording is a sonic triumph and radio ready across the spectrum.
The concept for The Coachouse Tapes was inspired by a post-breakup move into a coachouse on the northside of Chicago. The crowded urban setting, among the streets and alleys of the Irving Park neighborhood was offset by the unique, private nature of the freestanding structure, which afforded Paul the privacy and freedom to finish writing and arranging the material as well as have the band over for rehearsals, something impossible to do in a traditional apartment, typical of the rest of the neighborhood. The paradox of a bleak period in an urban setting against the catchy nature of the music is thematic of the release as a whole. Hard Rocking tunes offset by ethereal textures. Simple, catchy melodies offset by complex arrangements and layers of harmonies. The basic strum of an acoustic guitar over a 3 chord progression offset by the slippery funkiness of a 7 string fretless bass guitar. All of these things and more combine to make The Coachouse Tapes, by the PMG a treasure trove of musical nuggets that can be mined over and over again and still not be fully explored. The music is instantly tunefull and accessible but one more listen will always turn up another discovery. The live show is augmented by more originals and select covers culled from an extensive list of songs honed by experience playing clubs all over Chicago. PMG is made up of talented professionals who have played clubs and events as diverse as the House Of Blues, Summerfest (Milwaukee) Shank Hall, The Metro, the Rave / Eagles Ballroom, and shared stages with such acts as No Doubt, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Greg Koch, and The Psychedelic Furs, just to name a few. Thier influences are as diverse as Crosby Stills and Nash, Simon & Garfunkel, Indigo Girls, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Doc Watson, Francisco Tarrega &Keola Beamer, but the sound is truly unique, fearlessly independant and original.