Tequila Mockingbird

Denver-based band Tequila Mockingbird serves up a huge shot of genre-bending rock. Since 1996, their infectious repertoire of original, catchy tunes steeped in American roots music has been delighting audiences across the Rocky Mountain Region, proving they've got the drive, endurance, talent and stamina worthy of acclaim.
The band successfully released their third and highly anticipated album, Luck and Trouble, at The Toad Tavern on Friday, February 12, 2010. Produced by Bill Thomas and mastered by multi-GRAMMY-winning David Glasser of Airshow Mastering in Boulder, Colo., Luck and Trouble "sums up how lucky we are to get in trouble together," says songwriter/guitarist Daniel Paschke. Written by singer/songwriter and lead woman Wendy Clark and guitarist Mark Mauldin, the title track is an homage to Clark's beloved departed canine companion, Rusty, as well as a song that encompasses recurring themes for the band: love, hope, regret and the fact that there's no luck without some trouble.
Luck and Trouble is a crowning achievement in Tequila Mockingbird's decade-spanning career, setting up the seasoned professionals for their next big leap into defining who they are, where they've been and where they're going. On the threshold of this new album is a stronger, fiercer and yet even more sensitive Tequila Mockingbird. Clark's vocals are teeming with strength and conviction and the instrumental work is some of their finest to date. All nine tracks are new, original songs that demonstrate their maturity in song crafting as well as their playful attitude. One song, "Actual Size," was written by singer-songwriter and filmmaker Eric Shiveley.
The seeds of Tequila Mockingbird were sown when Clark found herself backstage at a show by the Gin Blossoms and the Refreshments (now Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers). "I wanted to create a lyric-driven, hooky alt-pop band to give Denver a sound that would make people feel the way I felt after seeing Roger Clyne live and consequently hearing his stories played out in his songs," she said. "I recruited Dan, who moved here from Florida, and we spent weeks writing songs until we had a good set together, then we added a rhythm section." Rounding out the present-day lineup is Mauldin on guitar, Rhett Haney on bass and vocals, and the backbone beats of drummer Rob Cameron.
Since their first show in May 1996, they've been a mainstay of the greater Denver music scene, acting as support for national acts like Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (at the Bluebird Theater) and playing shows at respected venues such as the Soiled Dove, the Gothic Theatre and the Ogden Theatre, as well as one of their favorite frequented venues, the Toad Tavern. Their regional performance reach has had them on the road from Fort Collins to Albuquerque, from Boulder to Pueblo. Tequila Mockingbird have also been a staple of myriad Colorado events, like the popular Capitol Hill People's Fair, at which they've performed for seven years running.
They've received airplay on mainstream and alternative Front Range stations like 99.3 FM KTCL, 88.9 FM KRFC (featured on the popular program, "Live at Lunch") and 1190 AM KVCU. In addition, they performed on Denver's Channel 2, "The Deuce," as their featured live music guest, and their music has been used for two films to date: Eric Shiveley's "Everyone But You" (2008) and "Whiparound - The Lower Great Divide" (a Val Entertainment Production, 2009).
Tequila Mockingbird's previous albums, UFO (1998) and Alien-American (2004) were well-received by fans and critics alike. UFO features bass tracks by Rob Squires of Big Head Todd and the Monsters: "I loved working on UFO and liked the music very much! The record turned out great. I truly believe in the musicians behind it!" Michael Roberts of Westword called UFO a "tuneful collection of ringing rock songs highlighted by the strong singing of Wendy Clark." Similar acclaim followed with Alien-American: "…catchy and listenable from start to finish," wrote Roberts.
The band strives to make every moment as memorable as possible. For the members of Tequila Mockingbird, writing, recording and performing music is as essential to their existence as water is to a fish. "This lineup has invigorating chemistry, energy and power," says Clark. "The point of our band is to give people a refreshing dose of sing-along hooks and an intelligent variety of lyrics to consume and apply to their lives. I write to tell stories and to ask questions, hoping that our audience will find themselves in a bit of what I say and relate it to the human condition."
No doubt the song-stories on Luck and Trouble will touch listeners with their meaning as well as get them on their feet, hairbrush-as-microphone in hand, to rejoice in all the fun and good feelings of Tequila Mockingbird.