Music Review: The Redline Syndicate

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.

Theatre Review: Babe

Babe is presented by The Echo Theater Company, directed by Chris Fields, and written by Jessica Goldberg.

When a young Kaitlin (Wylie Anderson) goes for an interview to work for A&R genius Gus (Sal Viscuso), she finds a culture where bad behavior is still tolerated and complacency is a common occurrence. Kaitlin gets the job, but soon she realizes that the mastermind behind the biggest acts signed by the record label might be more the work of Abigail (Julie Dretzin), Gus’s assistant.

Kaitlin has been inspired by her singer idol Kat Wonders (also played by Wylie Anderson). On paper, Kat was discovered by Gus, but as the story unfolds, it is revealed that Abigail help developed Kat and other artists  into superstars. In a conversation with Abigail and intrigued by Kat’s death, Kaitlin perceives that maybe Abigail had romantic relationships with Gus and Kat in the past. Kaitlin also complaints about Gus’s insensitive behavior and questions Abigail for allowing Gus to get all the credits for the success of the label’s artists while relegating her to a lesser position.

Abigail  then becomes the main character in the play. Her relationship with Gus both professional and personal sheds light on the dynamics between these two characters. Abigail tolerated the abusive behaviors she witnessed in the music industry as a rite of passage without questioning the legality of it. She also helped Gus to develop and polish the acts the label had signed while he got all the credits and the biggest paycheck. In return, Gus gave Abigail the men, women, and drugs she wanted while securing her position in the label. Regardless of their silent agreement, everything changed after Gus fell out of favor with his boss and Abigail is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. It’s up to Abigail now to make an important decision in a critical time in her life.

One interesting exposition of the story is the different backgrounds of Abigail and Kaitlin. Abigail’s dad was a carpenter and her mom was a housewife. Kaitlin’s mom is a lawyer and her dad is a science teacher. Her dad’s actions however, is one of the reasons Kaitlin is specially sensitive about sexual harassment.

Jessica Goldberg’s play shows the older generations’ point of views that permeated the workplace behaviors that hurt so many people along the way. It also shows Generation Z trying to change things for the better and how the power of music can influence people to take action. But the play goes further than that. It explores the challenges of changing or modifying upper and middle manager’s old behaviors and even the victim’s own stupor that leads to inaction either by complacency or indoctrination. Change, as shown in one of the scenes, can mean different things to different people.

Wylie Anderson’s performance showed the transition of Kaitlin’s position in the record label. She was timid and a bit insecure during the interview, then frustrated by Gus’s harassment, and finally, empowered to stand up against abuse and demand changes within the organization. Julie Dretzin did an excellent job portraying the passive and troubled assistant that faces the challenges of an older generation of women and the opportunities that could open up for the new ones. Sal Viscuso offered the funniest lines as the vocal and abusive A&R legend that ultimately had to face his own demise.

The creative team includes scenic designer Amanda Knehans; lighting designer Hayden Kirschbaum; sound designer Alysha Grace Bermudez; and costume designer Elena Flores. The assistant director is Elana Luo, the associate producer is Elliot Davis, and the production stage manager is Danielle JaramilloChris Fields and Kelly Beech produce for the Echo Theater Company.

Babe

Written by Jessica Goldberg. Directed by Chris Fields. Starring Wylie AndersonJulie Dretzin and Sal Viscuso. Presented by The Echo Theater CompanyChris Fields artistic director.

Echo Theater Company
Atwater Village Theatre
3269 Casitas Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039

Performances: Sept. 17–Oct.24
Fridays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 23; Sept. 30; Oct. 7; Oct. 14; Oct. 21
Saturdays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 17 (opening night); Sept. 24; Oct. 1; Oct. 8; Oct. 15; Oct. 22
Sundays at 4 p.m.: Sept. 25; Oct. 2; Oct. 9; Oct. 16; Oct. 23
Mondays at 8 p.m.: Sept. 26; Oct. 3; Oct. 10; Oct. 17; Oct. 24

Tickets: www.EchoTheaterCompany.com