Occasionally, you stumble across a band and wonder how they aren’t Superstars, yet. In the case of Nashville’s Blackpool Mecca, you just hear and more importantly feel that prevailing sense of greatness in their music. With the impassioned yet polished Indie Pop stylings of arena- era Goo Goo Dolls, comes the band’s latest single, “Darts.” At the core of “Darts,” seems to be your typical love gone awry story. As with any great artist though, it’s the delivery that really cinches the claim to a great song.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/blackpoolmecca
Most of us are familiar with the decree that if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. While it may be true that NY is the gold standard, it’s important not to overlook Nashville. Because Nashville has been gradually removing itself from the erroneous stigma of being a Country music town, it’s often misrepresented. Bands like Blackpool Mecca are automatically held to a higher standard, or otherwise they would be devoured by the elite utopia of music that is Nashville. “Darts” is yet another example of just how competent Blackpool Mecca truly are.
With distorted guitars and spacious verses, “Darts,” abides by a winning formula in songwriting. The music pulls you in, and the vocals are a tour guide. The band operates like a well-oiled machine, and seem somewhat blissfully unaware of how incredibly tight they are. In fact, Blackpool Mecca seems to prefer something of a backseat approach, sharing very little about themselves on their media pages. There doesn’t seem to be an official bio on the band, and we are led to assume they prefer to let the music do the talking.
Sittin’ in the street/you call me on your telephone/you say that you don’t need the drugs no more. The opening line and ensuing lyrics would potentially indicate that a story of co-dependency is at the core of “Darts.” Don’t you ever tell me/you need me again/don’t you ever tell me/you love me again. The vocals on “Darts,” are something of a revelation. There are voices that just grip you with raw guttural emotion, and that is the case here. When the chorus is sang, the vocals straddle both pain and triumph in a way that harnesses an intangible urgency. It’s the kind of sound that modern radio is most lacking and in desperate need of.
Blackpool Mecca continues to play shows in their regional area, which mostly consists of Kentucky and Tennessee. They are honing their live act, which is also strong, while producing the best records they can. This is Rock & Roll at it’s most primitive and purest. “Darts” is sure to garner the band more attention and momentum, as Rock music continues to find its way in a Hip Hop dominated industry. Bands like Blackpool Mecca have existed in a variety of forms, since the 60s, but somehow feel novel in the modern climate. One thing is certain, and that is that Blackpool Mecca has hit the bulls eye with “Darts.”
Trace Whittaker