Bill MacKay is an American composer, guitarist and singer based in Chicago. He grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where he studied with guitarist Joe Negri, and in Rochester, NY. He also studied for a year at Berklee College of Music.[1]
In 2017 he began working with Chicago record label Drag City.[2] [3]
Mackay’s first Drag City release, Esker, was described by reviewer John Mulvey of Uncut "as a neat sampler of his unshowy virtuosity, at once brisk and mellow."[4]
His arrangement of the Steely Dan song Deacon Blues appeared on the collaborative covers album by Bonnie Prince Billy and Bill Callahan, Blind Date Party (Drag City, 2021)[5][6]
MacKay is a member of Black Duck, along with Douglas McCombs (Tortoise, Brokeback) on guitar and bass, and drummer Charles Rumback.[7] [8] and BCMC with Bitchin' Bajas' Cooper Crain.[9]
In April 2023, MacKay's scored music for artist Michael Rakowitz' film I'm good at love, I'm good at hate, it's in between I freeze[10]
MacKay has also been involved musically in theatre, appearing as musical guest in Chicago experimental theater troupe Neo-Futurists show Elements of Style in June 2023,[11] and in Little Carl, a production by Theatre Y in April 2023.[12]
"Among MacKay’s early inspirations were Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix, but he also names British folk guitarist Davey Graham and Indian sarodist Ali Akbar Khan as influences."[13]
MacKay's most recent solo record, Locust Land, was released May 23rd, 2024.[14]
Discography
editAs Leader or Co-Leader
- December Concert (ears&eyes records, 2014) w/ Matt Lux
- Sunrise/Bill MacKay plays the songs of John Hulburt (Tompkins Square Records, 2015)
- Altamira (ears&eyes records, 2015) w/ Darts & Arrows
- Land of Plenty (Whistler Records, 2015) w/ Ryley Walker
- Esker (Drag City, 2017)
- SpiderBeetleBee (Drag City, 2017) w/ Ryley Walker
- Fountain Fire (Drag City, 2019)
- STIR (Drag City, 2019) w/ Katinka Kleijn
- Scarf (Drag City, 2020)
- Keys (Drag City, 2021) w/ Nathan Bowles
- Black Duck (Self-titled, Thrill Jockey, 2023) w/ Douglas McCombs, Charles Rumback
- BCMC - Foreign Smokes (Drag City, 2023) w/ Cooper Crain
- Locust Land (Drag City, 2024)
As Collaborator/Contributor
- Running out of Time (Delmark Records, 2005) w/ Savoir Faire
- Deafman Glance (Dead Oceans, 2018) w/ Ryley Walker
- Other You (Matador, 2021) w/Steve Gunn
- Course in Fable (Husky Pants Records, 2021) w/ Ryley Walker
- Blind Date Party (Drag City, 2021) w/Bill Callahan & Bonnie Prince Billy
- So Certain EP (Husky Pants Records, 2022) w/ Ryley Walker
- MESTIZX (Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly) (International Anthem, 2024)
References
edit- ^ "Bill MacKay Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Gotrich, Lars (April 21, 2017). "Bill MacKay's Solo Guitar Fades Quickly, Beautifully On 'Twilight'". NPR.
- ^ Margasak, Peter (2017-05-11). "On his charmingly low-key Drag City debut, veteran Chicago guitarist Bill MacKay shows his full range". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
- ^ Mulvey, John (2017-05-23). "Reviewed: some more of 2017's hidden gems". UNCUT. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Sodomsky, Sam (2020-11-16). "Bill Callahan and Bonnie "Prince" Billy Cover Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (8 November 2021). "Bill Callahan & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy prep 'Blind Date Party,' share Scout Niblett cover". BrooklynVegan.
- ^ Pareles, Jon; Russonello, Giovanni; Zoladz, Lindsay (2023-06-09). "PinkPantheress's Bittersweet 'Barbie' Tune, and 11 More New Songs". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ Bambarger, Bradley (August 26, 2023). "Black Duck Casts a Cinematic Spell". Premier Guitar.
- ^ "Bill MacKay & Cooper Crain Announce Collaborative Project BCMC: Hear "The Swarm"". Stereogum. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Elderton, Louisa (2023-06-21). "Michael Rakowitz's Fading Fandom". Frieze. No. 237. ISSN 0962-0672. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Elements of Style". The Neo-Futurist Theater. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Youth Puppet Production: Little Carl". Theatre Y. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "Musician Bill MacKay moved to Chicago on a whim. It defined his career". Washington Post. 2024-05-27. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
- ^ Krakow, Steve (2024-05-13). "Chicago troubadour and guitar god Bill MacKay releases Locust Land". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
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