McKay Brothers


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McKay Brothers
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"Right on the mark" is how the Austin Chronicle has described the MdKay Brothers' latest amterial. The charactrers living through the lyrics range from migrant workers looking for work to hometown kids they grew up with spending quality time is prison. Emerging from Bandera, TX, rural life in the Hill Country has created a backdrop that has shaped much of their writing to date. Noel McKay was born on the Gulf Coast of Texas in Corpus Christi while his brother Hollis came into the world in the flatlands of West Texas. After moving from Lubbock, their family settled in the hills of Bandera County where the musical influence began. Their Grandfather, who built and ran the first radio station in Frio County, had a large impact on their chilhood and musical interests. Along with two of his brothers, he introduced Noel and Hollin to many pioneering country artists including Jimmy Rodgers, Ernest Tubb, and Kitty Wells. This endeavor, sparked by their grandfathers' love of country music and the people it affected, proved to be essential to the McKay brothers' perspective of the Texas landscape. After thirteen years of playing together under different names, the brother decided to start a project under their own last name. This change in direction is an ineveitable reversion to their roots. In February of 2003, Noel and Hollin entered Root Balls Studio in Austin, Texas with famed musician and producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen, Slaid Cleaves). Their aptly self-titled album is a collection of 11 tracks. Including nione originals, they decided to cover The South Coast of Texas, a track penned by one of their main influences, Guy Clark, who has been quoted as saying "They are enchanting and amazing." Also making the cut is a heartfelt Spanish track, Las Olas, written by Steve Jordan. From the beginning of 2002 to the present, the McKay Brothers have found themselves in many of the legendary dancehalls across the Hill country, such as Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX), John T. Floore Country Store (Helotes, TX), and the Broken Spoke (Austin, TX), including every first Thursday of the month in the Luckenbach Dance Hallin Luckenbach, TX. The interest that has followed is almost more than they can keep up with. During South by Southwest of 2003, the McKay brothers played three shows including a filmed performance at Austin-Bergstrom Int. Airport and their main showcase at the renowned Broken Spoke. Within this short amount of time the group has shared the stage with the likes of Willie Nelson, Bruce Robison, Charlie Robison, Ray Wylie Hubbard, PAt Green, 1100 Springs, KEvin Fowler, and Tommy Alverson. In the forseeable future, Noel and Hollin will continue wowing audiences wherever they go, while adding to their already sizable collection of songs. "Absolutley phenomenal," raves Ray Wylie Hubbard...
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07/21/2007 - 'Cowboy Capital' could be a new Branson - Read More
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Average Rating : 5              Total Reviews: 33


McKay Brothers  03/03/2007            
Frederick
I ended up in Luckenbach one night...there were three old men sitting and listening to two pickers...the McKay Brothers. I quietly entered, orderd a beer and listened. I bought the CD...and haven't taken it out of my CD player in 6 weeks. I LOVE IT.
McKay Brothers  02/19/2007            
Brooke Silkey
I caught the McKay Brothers in Dallas at Adairs last Friday, I had never heard of them before, but I love their sound! I bought a CD and I've been listening to it all week...it only gets better :) The tunes are catchy and the lyrics are clever. I'm not usually a country music fan, but I like everything about these guys - and they put on one hell of a show! The best thing about Noel and Hollin is that they seem genuine: they seem to really enjoy playing the music as much as the audience loves listening.
McKay Brothers  02/04/2007            
Bobby Bridges
I saw these two guys' about five years ago...no doubt the most down to earth brothers you will ever meet..their music is not strictly for the ears but for the head,heart and soul...if you are ever near where they play don't... blow it!!!
McKay Brothers  12/03/2006            
Walt Perryman
The McKay brothers are great.
McKay Brothers  08/21/2006            
Satin Slider
Wow! I saw the McKay brothers in College Station a few weeks ago when my boys Jeff and Ben reunited for one show as the opening act. Great times! Good nite all around. I really enjoy the MB's fusion of Tex and Mex.
McKay Brothers  07/23/2006            
Steve @ T4TX.com
I feel as if I have a personal relationship with Noel and Hollin McKay. Not that we hang out or anything like that, but every time I go to a McKay Brothers show, I feel like I have just spent a couple of hours with two old friends. That’s how their music strikes me. The first time I saw them perform, they were the opening act at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas, and I went up to them afterward and told them that they were by far the best opening act I had ever seen. And I meant it. Therefore, it was with great anticipation that I opened Cold Beer & Hot Tamales, the McKays' followup to their eponymous 2003 debut. The record starts out with the upbeat "Lock and Key," a song about living a rock-and-roll life, moves into a really catchy tune, "Port Artúr," then flows enjoyably into the tongue-in-cheek "Making License Plates." At this point, I had to look at the insert to see who produced the album -- the guitar work really stood out, right from the CD's opening chord. Darn if it wasn't super producer Lloyd Maines, who also plays on just about every track. There's not enough room here to do a track-by-track rundown, but I do want to point out the song "Acompañeme,” beautifully written and performed in Spanish and English. The song may be more at home in a wine bar than a dancehall, but its inclusion on this record seems nonetheless quite fitting. "Bandera Style” is one of those perfect country songs about a regular guy who drinks too much, has relationship problems, but still has his dog. It features a cool chorus, where one line changes each time through. The record's second-to-last song (that's the "penultimate" song, for those who would like a word of the day), "Silicone Baby," is about a guy who gets his wife a boobjob, at her request, and now all the other guys are paying more attention to her. It's a cool song with a nice beat, and I actually knew a guy this happened to. His wife became a stripper, I mean, "exotic dancer." (By the way, Hollin, nobody cared if they were real or not.) The record closes with a great song, perhaps my favorite, "The Disappearing Texas." It’s a good ole Texas country song with a serious message about how so much of Texas's natural beauty and charm is being destroyed for "a couple extra dollars in the bank." I hope this song becomes a single at some point, because it will strike a chord with a lot of people nationwide. Overall, Cold Beer & Hot Tamales is a beautiful and entertaining record with varying musical styles that allow the brothers to shine both as individuals and as the dynamic team they are. I can't wait to get to a McKay Brothers show so I can hear the songs live, and I hope to see you there, so we can both spend a couple of hours with two old friends.
McKay Brothers  06/10/2006            
Brenda
Acompañeme, on their new CD touched me like nothing else has in a long time. It is so full of heart and soul. Beautiful.
McKay Brothers  05/30/2006            
Michael & Rhonda
My wife and I just happened to catch the McKay Brothers at Scenic Loop Cafe. We were blown away! These guys are fantastic musicians and their sound is a unique Tex-Mex country. We love it. We bought their CD after the show and we listen to it all the time. It never gets old. Unfortunately, we have moved out of state and don't get to see them live as much as we used to. However, we try and catch their shows whenever we come back home to Texas. Still waiting for the next CD!!!
McKay Brothers  01/01/2006            
James A Seifert
I saw them at the Gruene Dance Hall and bought this CD after the show was over. I was blown away! Kind of remined me of OLD TIMEY MUSIC It really was a great show. Can't wait to buy thier next album. I would like to give them a 10 star ratind!!!
McKay Brothers  12/05/2005            
walt from maine
I get down to Texas a couple times a year and caught these bros live at the triple crown in san marcos the last few trips...they are great, great songs, great brother harmonies, great musicianship, great stage show and good guys...their cd is a classic. can't wait for the next one...don't miss these brothers when they come to your town..
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