thoughts on the Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra:

"These young guys from Victoria did an excellent job of headlining one of our recent multi-disciplinary cabaret shows. It was sold out, and they rocked the party."-Bill Hood, New World Theatre

“... the prodigal sons have returned with filthier and more beautiful music than ever before....” -Mark Worthing, The Martlet

"There's an authentic quality about the TMO that few bands these days posses.  Their mesmerizing stage presence, and unique approach to live music put them in a position to dominate the National touring circuit, as they already do around the Kootenays.  With the peaks & valleys that make touring bands succeed, the TMO have tapped into the essence of organic music and deliver a truly incredible performance based on well crafted songs, creative arrangements, and a raw energy that really distinguishes them from the pack.  I have seen TMO perform in multiple settings, from house parties, to Street Festivals, to our live music club.  Every time, regardless of the audiences age or background, they have drawn huge crowds and made fans of every person in attendance.   I have no doubt TMO will one day be far too big to come play our sleepy little mountain town, and will be playing the big stages & festivals that they deserve.  In the meantime, we are thrilled to have them playing New Years Eve at The Royal, and look forward to experiencing the magic again!"-Paul Hinrichs, Director of Bookings & Promotions, The Royal

 
Taken From Victoria Review Magazine

gypsy-ska-folk-grass
The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra: The Blanche Album

2009  self-released
http://www.thetequilamockingbirdorchestra.com/

It’s a cardinal rule that bands that sound great onstage often cut terrible studio recordings, and bands that sound amazing in the studio can leave you cold onstage. Case in point: The Be Good Tanyas sound gorgeous on CD. I bought each of their albums and played them over and over. Yet they’ve consistently given the worst performances I have ever seen. Completely devoid of emotion and connection, I even watched lead singer

Frazey Ford answer a cell phone call onstage in the middle of a set. Blew my mind.

So I’m pleased to be able to report that the new CD from The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra, The Blanche Album, is that most rare of records: a studio CD that manages to capture the fun of their high-energy onstage performances.  They refer to their music as “gypsy-ska-folk-grass”, and unlike most other bands with eclectic roots like this, they actually pull off the different influences. They alternate between a Spanish flamenco groove in the opening track “Granada Part 2”, a rumbly hillbilly bounce on “Family History”, and a dark, droning indie-stringband vibe on “Home on the Water”. Pretty much every track sounds different from the next, so there’s plenty of fine music to discover here.  The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra is based out of Victoria, BC, but hopefully they’ll be able to get out more to the Northwest for touring. If you get a chance, catch them live! But their new CD is a solid introduction to their eclectic “world-grass” sound and a fine example of their wide musical wingspan.

Try a track on iTunes: For a buck, you can get a great introduction with the song “Home on the Water”. Anchored by rock-solid fiddle and accordion and a gentle twanging guitar undertone, this songs rolls along at a great pace and features soft, but edgy vocals and harmonies. If you like this track, pick up the opening track as well, “Granada Part 2”, for a taste of the band’s more worldly vision. [Devon Leger]