White Mystery is a ferocious power-duo hailing from Chicago. They had a great song placement in the Jersey Shore a few weeks back. Their sound and vision is steeped in the rich tradition of raw, relentless, and primitive powerhouse Rock N Roll … and it shows. They’ve cut their D.I.Y. teeth by racking up thousands of miles hauling their gear and sound to countless clubs. Basing themselves in the upper Midwest certainly strengthens a band’s bones. The weather isn’t kind, but it produces some lethal Rock N Roll. White Mystery are embarking on a big tour that’ll have them visiting cities and towns across the U.S. and Canada. Check out the Tour Dates here.
++ Click here for an Exclusive Free Download of their upcoming single ‘People Power’ ++
++ Purchase their latest album Blood & Venom here ++
We had the pleasure of sitting down with lead vocalist Alex White for a short chat
[ White Mystery Interview ]
ST: How has the response been from your placement on Jersey Shore?
WM: The response from friends, family and press to the placement in Jersey Shore is resoundingly positive! In episode 7 from season 5, you hear White Mystery “Party” from Blood & Venom playing subtly inside the Shore Store. It’s an appropriate musical pairing for a crucial moment over “Who ate the cake?” by a band that loves to eat cake too.
ST: Do you feel that placing music on Television, Films, or Commercials is ‘Selling Out’?
WM: It’s awesome to penetrate pop culture one guitar riff at a time. Placements on TV, films, and commercials are opportunities to reach people beyond their turntables, and provide a soundtrack to their lives. Levi’s, Airwalk, and now MTV Jersey Shore sample songs we make, which means their markets react to original, badass tunes by a self-produced, DIY band like White Mystery. It would be awesome to sync up with more television shows and movies, especially cartoons!
ST: Being that White Mystery is a two-piece. Who is your biggest inspiration as a musical ‘Duo’?
WM: The biggest inspiration to White Mystery is the MC5, which is five people…but Jeff the Brotherhood, Dexter Romweber Duo, and The White Stripes are all respectable rock’n’roll sibling duos that share the same cosmic space as White Mystery.
ST: Who is your hand down favorite guitarist of all time and why?
WM: Poison Ivy from the Cramps is my favorite guitarist for her reverb-dripping, hollow-body tone that connects rockabilly, surf, and punk. The intro from “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” is an all-time favorite! We’re cut from the same cloth as redheaded, curly girl, mid-20th-century worshipping punks. Here’s a diagram of all my influences, including Marc Bolan and Tina Turner – Check it out Here
ST: If you had to share a tour with two other bands, in any decade, who would be the other two bands be on the tour?
WM: Black Sabbath, 1970 or present. And The Who “Tommy” tour, with matching fringe jackets.
++ Interview by Scottie Diablo
++ Follow @MissAlexWhite | whitemysteryband.com | People Power 7″ ++
++ [ WATCH ] White Mystery perform ‘People Power’ in Chicago ++
White Mystery – People Power (Live) from Five Penn Films on Vimeo.