2008 Woodie Awards
Behind the violin: Up close with Yellowcard's Sean Mackin
Nicole McKay
Issue date: 11/30/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
|
"I was born in Denver," Mackin said. "I'm kind of used to the cold weather."
In fact, Mackin said he was the only one of the group that carried a warm coat on tour-something the other band members would tease him about. In Marshall, Mackin had the last laugh.
"Now I'm the warm one," he said.
This isn't the first time Mackin has marched to the beat of his own… well, violin. Mackin said he played the instrument in high school and while it might not be the traditional punk sound, it seemed to fit with the sound Yellowcard was searching for.
"They played one gig [where there was] this slower ballad," Mackin said.
The band asked if Mackin would like to play on the tune, and after awhile, it was on a full-time basis.
"I evolved my way into the band," he said.
Since then, Yellowcard has continued to evolve-though with the success of "Ocean Avenue," some observers found that evolution hard to see.
"With 'Ocean Avenue,' we got pigeonholed into a category, and the diversity of the album got lost," Mackin said.
In their upcoming album, "Lights and Sounds," the band found a chance to reclaim that variety. One of these diverse songs, entitled "City of Devils," offers a new string arrangement he enjoys.
"It's the best string arrangement I've written," he said.
Another one of his favorites is an acoustic tune by Mackin and lead vocalist and guitarist Ryan Key that didn't make the album cut.
"It's called 'When We're Old Men,'" Mackin said. "It's a little Simon and Garfunkel-y."
So will fans have a chance to hear it? Mackin said it might be released as a B-side sometime in the future. Meanwhile, he and the rest of Yellowcard look forward to sharing more of their latest music with their fans.
"A new album is like a new beginning," Mackin said.