Chris McKay (vocals, guitar, songs, keyboards), Frank DeFreese (bass), Joe Orr (vocals, guitar) and Joshua Harrison (drums)
Influences
The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Queen, Brian Wilson, Cheap Trick, Prince, Pink Floyd, Isley Brothers, David Bowie, The Cure, Duran Duran, Ty Tabor, Dug Pinnick, Jerry Gaskill, Jellyfish, Willie Nelson, Tom Petty, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, The Sex Pistols, Johnny Cash, Mike Garson, The Moody Blues, Queen, James Brown, Drive-By Truckers, Electric Light Orchestra, Kiss, Big Star, Lindsey Buckingham, Todd Rundgren, Frank Zappa, The Rolling Stones, King Crimson, kd lang, Neil Young, Pop Music Radio from 1955 - 2005 and all of our friends that we've learned from.
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Chris McKay & The Critical Darlings
Hailing from South Carolina and choosing Athens as his home, nationally known photographer Chris McKay earned a couple of handfuls of ASCAP Music Awards for his solo work but had wanted to be back in a group since his days with Q-Sign, which was named “one of the best unsigned bands in America” by Musician Magazine.
In 2004, McKay and his bass-playing high school friend Frank DeFreese formed The Critical Darlings. When word started to spread, the offers for shows came. “For the first year, we never booked gigs. We only accepted invitations,” McKay said. “I thought that was a great sign.”
Eventually, the Darlings went into the studio to record C’mon, Accept Your Joy! Before the CD was finished, leaked tracks had garnered airplay in 3 states. Since the official release of Joy, the songs have been picked up by over 150 stations around the world (from Poland to New Zealand to London and back to the States).
In 2007, the Critical Darlings expanded to a quartet (with the addition of guitarist / vocalist Joe Orr and drummer Josh Harrison) and have started work on their second album, tentatively titled Satisfactionista with GRAMMY nominated producer David Barbe (R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers, Betty LaVette) behind the board. Of special interest is the collaboration with David Bowie’s inimitable pianist Mike Garson (Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans) who appears on the track “Something Unseen” (which also finds Drive-By Truckers’ Brad Morgan on drums).
If that’s not enough, The Darlings are one of the first to employ Pete Townshend’s Lifehouse Method in “co-composing” several tracks with The WHO’s songwriter / guitarist via software that produces a unique song based .. input.
It's no wonder that Lee Valentine Smith of Creative Loafing has named the Critical Darlings “a great little buzz-worthy band” and dubbed McKay “power pop potentate.”
For more info, pics, video and way too much else, take a voyage to your local www.criticaldarlings.com .
Chris McKay & The Critical Darlings's Friend Space (Top 18)
Chris McKay & The Critical Darlings has 2587 friends.
alright, so people always say happy hump day for Wednesdays. I think its just as strange to say happy Uphill on Tuesdays, or happy Downhill on Thursdays, but i've never ever seen or heard anyone wish that. -Brandon
I recently got in touch with Jimmy's mom for my project and with the 30th anniversary of J's death coming up (Sept 27, 1979) I was thinking about what I could do to celebrate his life.
I came up with the idea of a scrapbook filled with people's memories of Jimmy. I was wondering if you would be interested in participating?
Catch The Critical Darlings on www.musicworldradio.com as my newest Friday Feature Friday the 24th at 6pm pacific/standard time. Chris, you've been a huge help.
Just checking back with you to remind you that Powerplayed is really interested in showcasing your videos. I know I reached out some time ago but haven’t seen an upload from you as of yet. Powerplayed offers a free membership, free upload and gives you a platform to expose your talent to a quarter of a million people. Also, by uploading your video you are automatically entered in the running to be a part of our Friday “Independents Day” e-blast, dedicated to indie artists that exposes your work to a lengthy list of music industry execs.
If you need help or want more information please call Troy at
thankyou so much for the link. mikey had told me about this song about 6 mo. ago but i had forgotten to listen to it. truely amazing..... you are very talented and blessed to have worked with mr. garson. we feel he is the new chopin of our century. mikey says thankyou and we are going to put you up as top friends. we feel this just has to be sgared, you have a good weekend. yours in music, joey xx
HELLO CHRIS, HOPE YOUR WEEK IS OFF TO A GREAT START MY FRIEND. I WAS WONDERING IS THAT TRACK YOU DID WITH MIKE GARSON ON YOUR PAGE? AND WHAT IS IT CALLED, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT, ITS A GREAT TRACK.
STAY FOCUSED, REMAIN POSITIVE, AND KEEP ON ROCKING.
Hey there, 2 GoGirls shows coming up. Acoustic at East Point Corner Tavern Sunday the 24th Rock/Pop at Smith's Olde Bar Tues the 26th. Hope to see ya at one of these. Cheers!
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Chris McKay & The Critical Darlings
Hailing from South Carolina and choosing Athens as his home, nationally known photographer Chris McKay earned a couple of handfuls of ASCAP Music Awards for his solo work but had wanted to be back in a group since his days with Q-Sign, which was named “one of the best unsigned bands in America” by Musician Magazine.
In 2004, McKay and his bass-playing high school friend Frank DeFreese formed The Critical Darlings. When word started to spread, the offers for shows came. “For the first year, we never booked gigs. We only accepted invitations,” McKay said. “I thought that was a great sign.”
Eventually, the Darlings went into the studio to record C’mon, Accept Your Joy! Before the CD was finished, leaked tracks had garnered airplay in 3 states. Since the official release of Joy, the songs have been picked up by over 150 stations around the world (from Poland to New Zealand to London and back to the States).
In 2007, the Critical Darlings expanded to a quartet (with the addition of guitarist / vocalist Joe Orr and drummer Josh Harrison) and have started work on their second album, tentatively titled Satisfactionista with GRAMMY nominated producer David Barbe (R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers, Betty LaVette) behind the board. Of special interest is the collaboration with David Bowie’s inimitable pianist Mike Garson (Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, Young Americans) who appears on the track “Something Unseen” (which also finds Drive-By Truckers’ Brad Morgan on drums).
If that’s not enough, The Darlings are one of the first to employ Pete Townshend’s Lifehouse Method in “co-composing” several tracks with The WHO’s songwriter / guitarist via software that produces a unique song based .. input.
It's no wonder that Lee Valentine Smith of Creative Loafing has named the Critical Darlings “a great little buzz-worthy band” and dubbed McKay “power pop potentate.”
For more info, pics, video and way too much else, take a voyage to your local www.criticaldarlings.com .
