We will rock you...softly.

Fronted by award winning songwriter Zac McIntyre and performing to sold out shows in the Boston area, the Zac Mac Band is an up and coming group that is starting to make waves in the music industry, having signed to Night Train Records in December '08 and released their debut EP "Under the Radar" in March '09.  Inspired by the works of bands like Coldplay, the Killers and Snow Patrol, The Zac Mac Band offers songs with catchy hooks and infectious melodies.   "We are the Warlords of Soft Rock and we will Rock you... (softly)."

Zac McIntyre - Vox, Piano, Guitar

The first thing you notice about Zac Mac when you meet him is that he’s really tall – 6’ 10” in fact. Once you get to know him though, you realize that he’s about as down to earth as they get. He’s an experienced songwriter, 2008 Finalist in the 10th Annual Great American Song Contest, whose previous projects include Maine bands North of Nowhere, The High End and Johnny Rainfield.  He's constantly crafting songs with incredibly catchy melodies and honest emotions and he’s been doing it all his life. “My earliest songwriting is very interesting as it is all instrumental piano songs. I didn’t sing or write lyrics until much later and so I arbitrarily titled my songs. Some of the titles were “Zeke” (the first song that I wrote), “Hot Coals in My Stocking” (a Christmas tune), and the epic “Green Stuff” (I played this at a school concert when I was 12 and thought it would be funny to hear my music teacher say ‘Green Stuff’).

Zac grew up in Hope, Maine which is a small town of about 1,200 people. “I remember taking care of chickens when I was very young. We used to have a chicken house with about 15 hens and it was my responsibility to take care of them. Those eggs were amazing. I also remember trudging through the woods with a 5 gallon bin, collecting sap from the Sugar Maple trees during sap season. We made maple syrup in the garage every spring. The first concert that I ever attended was Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynrd with my parents. Concert going was rare for me, since there weren’t a whole lot of big name acts coming up near Hope, ME. I also really couldn’t afford it. The first bands that I ever got into were Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Tom Petty. In high school, I became obsessed with Led Zeppelin and within 3 months bought every album that they ever made. In my opinion, they are the greatest band ever.”

What are other musical influences? “Coldplay is a big influence. The songwriting is amazing. Interesting synth sounds, piano licks, amazing bass lines, moody guitar riffs and an always catchy, never boring drum line. I also am inspired greatly by Chris Cornell, from his work with Soundgarden, Audioslave and solo. He is a poet and his writing is more metaphoric than most people realize. Collective Soul is another main influence of mine. Their melodies are unbeatable. Melodically, I would say that they are my number one influence. The Killers and Snow Patrol are also two of my favorite bands.“

What is his philosophy on life? “My philosophy on life has changed since graduating college. I have come to realize that happiness is not about the destination, it’s about laughing along the way. There will be bumps in the road, but you just have to realize that bumps are awesome and the ride would be boring without them. There isn’t a utopia that we all reach at some age. There will always be pain and struggle. Being able to laugh it off and keep moving down the road of life is the key. My inspiration comes from people and nature. I’ve written a lot of songs about relationships. I’ve also written a lot of songs with references to the sun, the sky, and other things in nature. Being a country boy at heart, I feel most comfortable out in the middle of the woods. At the same time, I feed off the energy of other people and definitely enjoy the best of both worlds. Sometimes, I’m the life of the party, while at other times I’m a party pooper and would rather be alone. I suppose being a mix of an extrovert and an introvert has aided me in my writing.”

What makes Zac happy? “I find happiness in setting goals and knowing that I’m doing my best to reach those goals. I also find happiness in chocolate. My job is pretty fun, too, which is teaching math at Chelmsford High School. I’ve been doing it for two years and I love it. Teaching is very similar to being on stage. I guess I just enjoy the spotlight of being in front of lots of people. As a kid, I loved the Naked Gun movies. I think Leslie Nielson is the man. Currently, I’m quite obsessed with the show “Lost.” I have way too many Lost posters and have seen every episode at least 5 times. I am waiting for the casting call for a 6’10” keyboardist. When it comes to vehicles, I like trucks because I can fit in them.“

Talk about the Zac Mac Band. “From day one, we have clicked and that is what makes it special. ZMB practices often last 5 hours and it seems like we are always on the same page. There is never a dull moment with this band and it is incredibly fun. We play with energy, passion and drive. The funny thing about all this is that we met on craigslist. We jammed once and the rest is history. I feel blessed to have met these guys as they truly are like brothers to me. Jeff (bass) is the long haired ninja. He is a second degree black belt, killing machine, but you wouldn’t guess that upon meeting him. I’m the big tall guy, but I couldn’t hurt a fly. Jeff is the one that will most likely save the band if some bad dudes come after us. Justin is an intense drummer. He really feels the music and drives the passion home with his beats. If each song is a story, Justin puts the exclamation point at the end of each line. He is also a wacky dude with a great sense of humor. It is very easy to get him laughing. Jeff and Justin actually played together in a band called “Soul Taxi” before ZMB, so their tightness as a rhythm section is well polished. The sounds that Ben gets out of his guitar are otherworldly. He gets into this zone when he plays that some say might even be the twilight zone. When we play live, we let him go off to places where no one has ever been. Ben also has a great sense of humor and can do an amazing Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation. His Australian accent is also spot on, mate.”

Okay, now for the weird questions. If he could go back in time what period would he like to live in? “I think the 1970s would be cool. I really like Dodge Chargers and Chevy Novas and would love to floss around in a big muscle car like that. I also really love the rock music of the 1970s and nothing beats those retro style couches.” How about Super Powers? “I would choose the power of persuasion if that counts as a super power. With this power, I could talk evil empires out of attacking anyone. I could also talk anyone into coming to our show and buying our music! This could also come in handy on the romance front.” What are your favorite sayings? “’If you’re not fired with enthusiasm, you’ll be fired with enthusiasm’ and 'Repetition is the mother of learning.’” And if you make it as a Rock Star what would you do? “My grandmother lives next door to a rifle range, which drives her crazy. I told her that when I get big and famous, I’ll buy it and shut it down, so that her and my grandfather can enjoy peace and quiet in their retirement years.”

Ben Dwyer - Lead Guitar

The other members of the Zac Mac Band may call Ben “the quiet one”, but that’s only because he lets his guitar do most of the talking. Ben grew up in Nashua, New Hampshire in a house that was always full of music, “My mother played flute, my father played guitar, and they insisted that music was a regular part of life. I remember having this little electronic keyboard when I was younger that my brother and I would mess around with. We never played any actual songs though, we would just rock the ‘bossa nova’ drum fill… it was an excellent drum fill.”

Ben began playing guitar as a teen shortly after spending a few years on the alto sax. “I have a profound connection and sense of respect for the guitar. It’s given a quiet kid like me a voice through which to express myself.” His biggest guitar influences are Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix & Ronnie Earl. “Of those, Eric Johnson is my biggest influence. The first time I saw him play was on Austin City Limits. I had never heard or seen anything like what he was doing. After that, I was on a mission for a few years to try and capture his tone and virtuosity.”

In terms of songwriting, his biggest influences are Sigur Ros and Mars Volta. “Their musical ingenuity, sense of dynamics and ability to reinvent themselves from album to album without compromising their distinctive sound has inspired me to broaden my own playing and writing.” Where does Ben find new music? “As delicately as I can put this, corporate radio is awful overall. There’s rarely anything new that comes out with much substance. I’d like to think that’s where we, the Zac Mac Band, fit in. I am a huge fan of online distributors such as iTunes and online radio like Pandora. They are great sources for discovering new sounds and bands that I wouldn’t have heard through most corporate streams.”

Ben joined the Zac Mac Band in July of ’08 as the newest and youngest member. “The thing I enjoy most about the Zac Mac Band is the chemistry between the four of us and how it transfers from practices to shows to just hanging out. The biggest difference between the Zac Mac Band and other bands I’ve been in is that there is a real sense of direction and purpose behind what we’re doing. We want to achieve something great, but we are well minded enough to keep important parts of our lives in perspective.”

When Ben’s not making music, he loves sailing, rock climbing and mountain biking. “Those activities make me the happiest because they allow me to get lost in the moment. They bring me to a point where I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I’ll forget about everything else going on in my life. Doing that in even the slightest of ways is very peaceful.”

Justin Casanave - Drums

Justin is an incredibly talented, veteran drummer who has played with Soul Taxi, Hot Damn!, The Skeptics and the Eclectics as well as many other local acts. With a unique background and humorous outlook on life, Justin meshes perfectly with the Zac Mac Band. “My band mates are definitely the most fun, laid back group of guys I’ve ever played with.  Jeff, Zac and Ben are three of the funniest guys I’ve ever made music with. You never know what to expect when we get together”.

Justin now hails from Manchester, New Hampshire but explains that “My dad was in the Air Force so I kinda grew up all over the country. Besides New Hampshire, the one place we lived the longest was Denver, Colorado where we lived for just over 7 years. I moved to New Hampshire during my sophomore year of high school, so most of the clicks were already established by the time I showed up…. This kinda left me out of the loop… not a fun position.”

Justin started playing drums when he was 13. “I picked drums because all of my other friends played guitar or bass and there weren’t a lot of drummers around so being a drummer was the best way to get into a band. I’m completely self-taught, so as you can imagine I sucked for quite a long time. I have always listened to a lot of varied types of music. Everything from classical to jazz, because the composition is so intricate and the dynamics are amazing (it’s fun to feel the tension build in a song, especially when you realize that it’s what’s NOT being played that really makes you feel the song) to SKA, punk, funk, rap & hip hop. Growing up, I never really went to too many concerts for a couple of reasons. The first was that I didn’t have much money as a kid, so I really couldn’t afford to go. The second is that when I did go to a concert, I felt myself wanting to be on stage playing. I know it sounds weird, but when I went and saw a band that was huge, with millions of fans, great records and successful beyond belief, I just wanted to be on stage. I couldn’t really sit still and just listen to them play, even if they were my idols. It just looked like they were having the time of their lives and I knew that’s what I wanted to do…”

And what are Justin’s musical influences today? “I listen to so many different kinds of music that it’s hard to say which musicians influence my playing the most. I would say I get a lot of the feel and emotion in my playing from bands that use a lot of dynamics, and not necessarily technique, for example U2, Coldplay and The Fray. I also like bands that are unique and really push the envelopes with their music like Radiohead, Fishbone or the Dave Matthews Band.”

What’s Justin’s philosophy on life? “This is something I’ve never really thought about much. I just try to be the best person I can be and to throw myself 100% into whatever it is I’m doing. I can alternate between cynical and overly trusting at times, and I’m definitely an over analyzer. I believe in living and letting live… but I realize that it’s important to watch my back, because if I don’t there isn’t anyone else who’s going to. Two of my favorite quotes have always been “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil… is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke …. This is very true! It helps me realize that what’s easiest is not always best. We need to be involved in life and not just shrug it all of and figure someone else will take care of it. The second is “Be still and know that I am God”. I always lean on this when it feels like my life is spiraling out of control. It’s good to know that there is something bigger than me in control, even of my own life… Having me at the wheel isn’t always the best bet. I’m really good at screwing stuff up.”

When Justin isn’t playing music what makes him happy? “I’ve always been pretty simple when it comes to my own happiness. I enjoy being outside (especially in the mountains), hanging with friends and family, seeing new things and a good drink… especially a good Scotch. And not that crappy blended junk that passes for Scotch… a good 12 year or older, single malt Scotch. I absolutely LOVE to cook. I love finding new recipes and trying different styles of cooking. I’m working on learning Asian cooking right now and it’s pretty complicated. I love all cooking mediums, but grilling is my favorite. I’m out there in -15 degree weather in February grilling 4 or 5 nights a week. When I was a kid, I was triter in what made me happy… a new toy, or something silly like that would make me happy. Now it’s not so much stuff but people and being around people I love that make me happy.”

Okay what about the weird stuff like dreams? “I don’t usually remember my dreams when I wake up in the morning. However, once when I quit smoking, I fell asleep with a nicotine patch on. I didn’t really read the instructions so I didn’t know I was not supposed to do this. The dream was, as you can imagine, odd. I dreamt that I was a Storm Trooper from Star Wars, but I was assigned to work security at the Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester. So basically the whole dream was me walking around the Mall in Storm Trooper gear. It seemed to last forever, and it was pretty lame…” What about childhood memories? “When I was real young, like 2 or so, I had a huge thing for Mickey Mouse. I actually wanted to BE Mickey Mouse. I wouldn’t come inside from playing if my mom called me by my name… I would only come in if she called me Mickey Mouse. I guess that’s kind of weird.”

What modern technology could you live without? “If anyone wants my Blackberry, I’d give that up in a freaking heart beat. It’s amazing that as little as 10 years ago we all only really had land lines as our primary means of communicating with each other. If someone wasn’t home you left a message. If they were on the phone, you called back later. Now we can do everything from a little 10oz piece of metal and plastic attached to our hip. It’s crazy how available we’ve made ourselves… then we wonder how we go so stressed out… we seriously need to give it a rest! I do love my iPod though… carrying around all those CDs or heaven forbid, cassettes everywhere was kinda cumbersome… now that’s technology that really improves our standard of living!”

Alright, finally the big question: what Super Power would you choose if you could only choose one? “I’d fly…. And I’d save a boatload on airline tickets. Also, I’d be able to clean my gutters without dragging the ladder out… actually that would require the ability to hover as well. I guess I’d fly and be able to hover.”

Jeff Bates - Bass

Jeff is a veteran bassist, having played with Soul Taxi, Furious Norm and Ariel Suite. He helps create the infectious grooves that can grab an audience and make them pay attention or blend into the background and simply make you tap your feet and bob your head. Jeff grew up on a tiny farm in Townsend, MA. “We had goats, sheep, ducks, geese, turkeys, rabbits, a pony, and a pheasant. I know its Massachusetts but it was pretty rural. My earliest memories of music were that of wanting to play drums. However, I was given accordion lessons because my parents had a friend who was a good accordion player. The accordion didn’t last long so I switched to piano lessons. We always had an old upright piano in the house and my mom would play Christmas songs. I eventually picked up the guitar and then the bass in college.”

What are Jeff’s musical influences? “The Cure, Pink Floyd, Radiohead & Red Hot Chili Peppers. Pink Floyd is amazing; there are so many layers to their music. I can still go back and listen and hear new things that I missed before. Strangely, I don’t remember actively listening to The Cure until after I started playing. Once I started to really listen, then I realized how much I must have subconsciously picked up from Simon Gallup, melodic, pulsating with an attitude. I play a guitar and some keys. Bass is my primary instrument though. I try to play every day; I get pretty irritable when I don’t get a chance to play. I enjoy the bass because it matches my personality. Although I don’t really enjoy being front and center, I do like being in the middle of the action. The bass is such a great instrument because it acts like glue between the rhythm and melody.”

How about his philosophy on life? “My philosophy is pretty much the old cliché ‘carpe diem’. I was introduced to mortality pretty early. First, I was hit with a hockey stick and lost vision in one eye, giving me a real personal realization that our health can change quickly. Then my father passed away, really driving home how short life is. I also like to try new things and I always try to push my limits. I really, really enjoy being in the moment of whatever I am doing. It must be a weird form of OCD, but I really like when I’m doing one thing. In fact, my hobbies are all ones that require a great deal of focus for the task at hand. For example, if you stop paying attention while riding a motorcycle or scuba diving, bad things can happen quickly!”

What advice does Jeff have for musicians just starting out? “Start playing with other people! It is more fun and you’ll learn so much more quickly with others. No one is born knowing everything about a subject. Everyone has to start somewhere. I love this quote from John Lennon (I’m paraphrasing) - ‘People think we know what we’re doing. We don’t, we’re just doing it.’”

So what does Jeff enjoy besides music? “I really enjoy karate, scuba diving, traveling, hiking, motorcycle riding, alpine skiing, and ice hockey. I have some innate ability to climb. I can climb smooth walls, like in a hallway. I used to do this in the fraternity house to freak people out. I would climb up in a tall hallway and hang out drinking my beer near the ceiling. It was fun to watch their surprise when they realized someone was on the ceiling above them.”

Jeff now lives in Billerica, MA. “I live in a nice wooded area near Great Brook State Park. I love the convenience of cities, but I really prefer the woods. I am the director of IT for a Biotechnology company. I used to be a molecular biologist. I do love to travel and have been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places, including Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Ecuador & Peru. I can speak a little Spanish, probably to the equivalent of a four year old. When I travel, I don’t go to the “all inclusive” places. I prefer to do Indy-style. I don’t like the all-inclusive because to me they don’t feel like the country you are traveling to and you completely miss the culture. I also feel very uncomfortable being pampered; I can carry my own bags- thanks. I think there is an added excitement or apprehensiveness to going to a place where you really don’t speak the language. It is very humbling trying to speak another language. By the end of a week, your mind needs a vacation from the vacation.”

Do you remember your dreams? “I do remember my dreams. To my chagrin, I can actually work things out in my dreams. I have solved software problems in my dreams. I have played music in my head when I sleep. Maybe, that why I like afternoon naps. I typically don’t do this stuff in my afternoon naps. I think I got that from my grandfather. I have lots of pictures of him napping in the afternoon.”