It’s hard not to immediately fall for Melbourne’s ‘Tequila Mockingbird’ after hearing opening track ‘I Smell Rock N Roll’ there’s that sort of primal energy that you either have or you don’t.
And as you listen you get drawn in deeper to that decidedly primal, low-fi sound. ‘Never Go Home’ adds a touch of that in a surprisingly melodic proto-rock jaunt whilst ‘Money Tree’ adds a handful more grit to deliver a swampy primitive rocker. The mood changes again for the melodic swirling of ‘Catalyst’ and the low key distortion-soaked ‘Half of the Man’, which builds to bite. It’s quite a debut already.
Just to win over the real rockers ‘So Not Me’ adds a few handfuls of wailing guitars whilst ‘Everyone Down’ rides in on a Cramps-like swing and stutter before the slow swagger of ‘This Ain’t Dead’ takes hold of proceedings.
‘Somebody Put Something in My Drink’ of course is one of the songs most associated with Marky Ramone of the punk demi-Gods – it’s a faithful, clean version that isn’t a bit out of place and just underlines the bands grasp of what they do and what they want. It’s nice rubbing up against the proto punk workout of ‘Why Are We Still Friends’ and the blues workout that is ‘Jagerbomb’ which sounds like a sure-fire live winner.
If you like your rock unadorned and down to the bare knuckles then Tequila Mockingbird deliver that fix with no little style and plenty of real substance. Closers ‘Shut Me Down’ and ‘Good Time’ rock you out nicely proving that the girls do it just as well as the guys.
One part Runaways, one part Ramones, two parts Mexico’s finest Tequila this is Aussie Rock that is ready to take on the world.
