The Redline Syndicate is a band from Moscow, Idaho. They played at the famous Whiskey A Go Go on Aug 15, 2024. Their performance was electrifying, as the band is a reminiscence of the classic rock bands that have played at the Whiskey. Guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and an energetic vocalist make up the band that draws attention from the get-go.
Coming from different music influences, the members of the band bring a dynamic range of styles to the stage, all unified in a pure rock baseline, musically and lyrically speaking.
Below is the interview with Jeff Mack, vocalist/songwriter of The Redline Syndicate:
Glamgical: Your music is a mix of blues, hard rock, and metal, and even a bit of country. Musically, what is your background?
- Jeff: We all have a diverse collection of musical interests. I have mainly been influenced by some of the greats in the 70’s 80’s and 90’s. Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Bad Company, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden. I have always been receptive to good music no matter the genre. Chris Chalmers is my song writing partner. He also has a diverse catalog of influence, but I would say the country influence comes mainly from him.
Glamgical: How did you guys come together to form The Redline Syndicate?
- Jeff: The Redline Syndicate was started by Chris and I. We have been playing together for a number of years and we were in a harder more metal type band called Vial 8 and we both wanted to branch out to a little more accessible sound and venture into some of our deeper influences. I had known Dan Mullan (drums) from a previous band situation, so I got a hold of him and he was available and knew a bass player so we got together and right from the get go we clicked. We started writing songs and added Kent Nelson (guitar) whom I had known from a previous band. We wanted to add Keyboards and Dan’s wife Linda Mullan (keys, background vocals) was added and we were off to the races. Daryl Mead (bass) has been added recently to replace the original bass player. I knew Daryl from a previous band that I was in called Scatter Creek that Kent was also involved in.
Glamgical: There is a great deal of energy in your performance, who is your influence, visually speaking?
- Jeff: My stage performance is influenced by Robert Plant, David Lee Roth, Paul Rodgers, David Coverdale etc. I have mixed their influences and then added my own personality to it.
Glamgical: Where have you guys played? Festivals, venues, cities?
- Jeff: The Redline Syndicate is really just getting started playing festivals and shows. Chris and I have done multiple shows opening for nationals such as Joan Jett, Godsmack, Tesla, Living Colour, Theory of a Deadman and many others. I’m hoping to branch out to national opening shows and possible travel with The Redline Syndicate, but it’s a slow process getting your foot in the door. I really think this band’s Music and performance capabilities will eventually enable us to get through some of those doors.
Glamgical: How much do you guys practice for your performances?
- Jeff: We all live in a few different towns so we don’t get to practice a lot but we try and practice a few times a month.
Glamgical: How do you release your music?
- Jeff: We have released 12 original songs on all of the digital platforms: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, etc.
Glamgical: Who writes the lyrics?
- Jeff: Primarily I write the lyrics and melodies, and Chris writes the music, then we bring it to the band and the other players add their own spin.
Glamgical: Are there any recurrent themes in your lyrics?
- Jeff: I rarely write with a specific theme, but I would say all of the lyrics stem from personal experience. The song “The Unknown” was specifically written about anxiety because I thought it was a theme that touches a lot of people.
Glamgical: What are the advantages and disadvantages for bands that are far from major music centers?
- Jeff: The biggest obstacle is getting the exposure for larger markets to even consider letting you play. It’s a lot harder to get the word out in smaller markets via shows and word of mouth.
Glamgical: How did you guys book the gig at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood?
- Jeff: I saw a flyer on Facebook where the Whisky was asking for opening bands so I submitted our music and they let us on the bill.
Glamgical: In terms of promotion, what’s the difference between social media and a label?
- Jeff: I think the availability of social media makes it easier for bands to get their music out, but it is still hard to get noticed because of the volume of music on social media. I think the music industry has had a major shift since social media, but having a label for promotion is still something that is helpful for consideration to get shows or airplay on a broader scale.
Glamgical: What’s next for you guys?
- Jeff: What’s next for us is to continue to build our presence through shows, social media and keep writing good songs. We are very close to going back in to record another batch of 12 songs.
Glamgical: Where can people find your music?
- Jeff: To access our music we are on all the digital platforms, Facebook, Instagram etc. If people go to www.redlinesyndicate.com there are links to all of that.
