Track of the Week: The Worriers // The Mars McClanes
Slip back in time to the beginning of the 21st century and you’re sure to find some exciting music…and amidst them, The Mars McClanes. Proving you didn’t need to be The White Stripes to turn people’s heads, the foursome brought a genre-melding sound to the masses. Despite the non-existence of popular social media that is so common nowadays, the lads had a buzzing online presence, fresh merch all the time, and an intrepid booking agent. So, what happened to the group? A two-decade hiatus is what happened.
Following road mishaps, enlisting in the military, divorces and other stuff, The Mars McClanes reconvened to share their original sound. A lot can happen in 20 years and the lads share their experiences in their pop-rock meets indie-rock meets alternative rock tracks. With only three songs to their name (according to their Spotify profile), The Mars McClanes might be labelled as newbies; however, they are already turning heads. Featured in Fame Magazine, Rocker Magazine, Roadie Music, The Other Side Reviews and KMS Reviews (among others), the lads are reaching people on an international level.
Described by various blogs as sensational, refined, unique, and here to leave their mark, The Mars McClanes has an infectious sophistication to their sound. Following their debut track ‘Riddle’, The Mars McClanes adopt a pop-rock sound with some tinges of indie-rock in ‘The Worriers’. A melodic arrangement of dynamic guitars, pounding drums and gruff vocals lay the foundation for a heartfelt song. What I find interesting about the instrumentation is how each instrument is offered prominence but comes together as a harmonic whole.
Dipping from shadows to light, The Mars McClanes take you on a journey through a kaleidoscopic sonic forest in this track. Despite the upbeat, toe-tapping nature of ‘The Worriers’, there is an intriguing contrast in the brightness versus melancholia. Melancholic but reflective lyricism touches on the topic of regret. Guitarist Russ Chapman explains that his grandmother lived to be 99 and he spent most of his Sunday afternoons at an assisted living facility listening to the individuals recall their life regrets. Chapman recalls that “it wasn’t their mistakes, what ate them were the chances they failed to take. ‘The Worriers’ is our cautionary song for the cautious.”
Sincere, sentimental, genuine and insightful, The Mars McClanes captivated me with ‘The Worriers’, as I’m sure they will you.