THE MAYKINGS
7 Yrs
Independent
· Sebadoh + Neil Young = R.E.M.
The face of Brent Oliver is pretty familiar to those who like Alberta rock. As the former front man of Edmonton’s Slow Fresh Oil, his raging mid-fi band were known not only for their two great albums, but their solid live show and occasional appearance at Calgary’s Moustache Rock shows. Trading in amped-up fuzz-rock for a country twang, his longing croon shares vocal detail in new Edmonton supergroup The Maykings. Joined by Marek Tyler of the AA Soundsystem on drums and Duncal Turner of The Shady Pines on guitar, the band reinvisions alt-country in much the same way that R.E.M. referenced the Byrds. In fact when the band’s other songwriter, Tim Balash (formerly of the Big House and the Chrome Magpies) takes the mic, his songs bear more than a passing resemblance to Michael Stipe circa Reckoning. The rest of the time The Maykings offer their own take on urban roots music with sweet vocal harmonies, country-slide guitar and two-step rhythms. Distinctly melancholy, these lads are at least as good (and in my opinion light years ahead) of another E-town rocker-turned-roots troubadour – Corb Lund. If he can make the big time with his tired brand of rural whining, then The Maykings are no doubt poised to take over the folk-fest circuit and anything they put their instruments to.
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