 Zac McIntyre (aka Zac Mac)
The first thing you notice about Zac Mac when you meet him is that he’s really tall – 6’ 10” in fact. Once you get to know him though, you realize that he’s about as down to earth as they get. He’s an experienced songwriter, 2008 Finalist in the 10th Annual Great American Song Contest, whose previous projects include Maine bands North of Nowhere, The High End and Johnny Rainfield. He's constantly crafting songs with incredibly catchy melodies and honest emotions and he’s been doing it all his life. “My earliest songwriting is very interesting as it is all instrumental piano songs. I didn’t sing or write lyrics until much later and so I arbitrarily titled my songs. Some of the titles were “Zeke” (the first song that I wrote), “Hot Coals in My Stocking” (a Christmas tune), and the epic “Green Stuff” (I played this at a school concert when I was 12 and thought it would be funny to hear my music teacher say ‘Green Stuff’).
Zac grew up in Hope, Maine which is a small town of about 1,200 people. “I remember taking care of chickens when I was very young. We used to have a chicken house with about 15 hens and it was my responsibility to take care of them. Those eggs were amazing. I also remember trudging through the woods with a 5 gallon bin, collecting sap from the Sugar Maple trees during sap season. We made maple syrup in the garage every spring. The first concert that I ever attended was Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynrd with my parents. Concert going was rare for me, since there weren’t a whole lot of big name acts coming up near Hope, ME. I also really couldn’t afford it. The first bands that I ever got into were Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Tom Petty. In high school, I became obsessed with Led Zeppelin and within 3 months bought every album that they ever made. In my opinion, they are the greatest band ever.”
What are other musical influences? “Coldplay is a big influence. The songwriting is amazing. Interesting synth sounds, piano licks, amazing bass lines, moody guitar riffs and an always catchy, never boring drum line. I also am inspired greatly by Chris Cornell, from his work with Soundgarden, Audioslave and solo. He is a poet and his writing is more metaphoric than most people realize. Collective Soul is another main influence of mine. Their melodies are unbeatable. Melodically, I would say that they are my number one influence. The Killers and Snow Patrol are also two of my favorite bands.“
What is his philosophy on life? “My philosophy on life has changed since graduating college. I have come to realize that happiness is not about the destination, it’s about laughing along the way. There will be bumps in the road, but you just have to realize that bumps are awesome and the ride would be boring without them. There isn’t a utopia that we all reach at some age. There will always be pain and struggle. Being able to laugh it off and keep moving down the road of life is the key. My inspiration comes from people and nature. I’ve written a lot of songs about relationships. I’ve also written a lot of songs with references to the sun, the sky, and other things in nature. Being a country boy at heart, I feel most comfortable out in the middle of the woods. At the same time, I feed off the energy of other people and definitely enjoy the best of both worlds. Sometimes, I’m the life of the party, while at other times I’m a party pooper and would rather be alone. I suppose being a mix of an extrovert and an introvert has aided me in my writing.”
What makes Zac happy? “I find happiness in setting goals and knowing that I’m doing my best to reach those goals. I also find happiness in chocolate. My job is pretty fun, too, which is teaching math at Chelmsford High School. I’ve been doing it for two years and I love it. Teaching is very similar to being on stage. I guess I just enjoy the spotlight of being in front of lots of people. As a kid, I loved the Naked Gun movies. I think Leslie Nielson is the man. Currently, I’m quite obsessed with the show “Lost.” I have way too many Lost posters and have seen every episode at least 5 times. I am waiting for the casting call for a 6’10” keyboardist. When it comes to vehicles, I like trucks because I can fit in them.“
Talk about the Zac Mac Band. “From day one, we have clicked and that is what makes it special. ZMB practices often last 5 hours and it seems like we are always on the same page. There is never a dull moment with this band and it is incredibly fun. We play with energy, passion and drive. The funny thing about all this is that we met on craigslist. We jammed once and the rest is history. I feel blessed to have met these guys as they truly are like brothers to me. Jeff (bass) is the long haired ninja. He is a second degree black belt, killing machine, but you wouldn’t guess that upon meeting him. I’m the big tall guy, but I couldn’t hurt a fly. Jeff is the one that will most likely save the band if some bad dudes come after us. Justin is an intense drummer. He really feels the music and drives the passion home with his beats. If each song is a story, Justin puts the exclamation point at the end of each line. He is also a wacky dude with a great sense of humor. It is very easy to get him laughing. Jeff and Justin actually played together in a band called “Soul Taxi” before ZMB, so their tightness as a rhythm section is well polished. The sounds that Ben gets out of his guitar are otherworldly. He gets into this zone when he plays that some say might even be the twilight zone. When we play live, we let him go off to places where no one has ever been. Ben also has a great sense of humor and can do an amazing Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonation. His Australian accent is also spot on, mate.”
Okay, now for the weird questions. If he could go back in time what period would he like to live in? “I think the 1970s would be cool. I really like Dodge Chargers and Chevy Novas and would love to floss around in a big muscle car like that. I also really love the rock music of the 1970s and nothing beats those retro style couches.” How about Super Powers? “I would choose the power of persuasion if that counts as a super power. With this power, I could talk evil empires out of attacking anyone. I could also talk anyone into coming to our show and buying our music! This could also come in handy on the romance front.” What are your favorite sayings? “’If you’re not fired with enthusiasm, you’ll be fired with enthusiasm’ and 'Repetition is the mother of learning.’” And if you make it as a Rock Star what would you do? “My grandmother lives next door to a rifle range, which drives her crazy. I told her that when I get big and famous, I’ll buy it and shut it down, so that her and my grandfather can enjoy peace and quiet in their retirement years.”
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