Tequila Mockingbird

Tequila Mockingbird remains a draw on the local club scene eight years after hatching because it's reliable and accessible. These qualities are unlikely to catapult the quintet to global fame, but they guarantee that Alien-American, the band's latest full-length, stays catchy and listenable from start to finish. "The Honeymoon" encapsulates...

By Michael Roberts

December 9, 2004

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Tequila Mockingbird remains a draw on the local club scene eight years after hatching because it's reliable and accessible. These qualities are unlikely to catapult the quintet to global fame, but they guarantee that Alien-American, the band's latest full-length, stays catchy and listenable from start to finish.

"The Honeymoon" encapsulates the Mockingbird's positives: sassy vocals by Wendy Clark Hudson; an infectious melody; appealing accompaniment courtesy of guitarists Daniel Paschke and Mark Mauldin, drummer Rob Cameron and bassist Rhett Haney; and clever lyrics such as "The honeymoon's not the same without you/But I'm remaining optimistic." Elsewhere, the players touch on styles ranging from country ("Sometimes I Think") to blues rock ("Catching On [The Stupid Song]") without sounding scattershot, thanks to steady production co-credited to Eric Shiveley and the band as a whole.

Alien-American isn't a remarkable disc, but it's enough to keep Tequila Mockingbird's nest feathered for the foreseeable future.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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