Mac Saturn - Mint Julep
An amateur music journalist, I’ve written on pieces ranging from hyper pop to psychedelic rock for artists that I otherwise never would’ve heard of. When an opportunity comes about for me to cover a band that is not only underappreciated but also one of my favorites, I thrive. As a Michigan native and your standard blues/funk/rock advocate, Mac Saturn has come to be one of my all time favorite bands from a sound, style, and performance standpoint. The six piece Detroit group consisting of frontman Carson Macc, drummer Angelo Coppola, lead guitarist Mike Moody, bassist Jive Moses, keyboardist Evan Mercer, and rhythm guitarist Nick Barone, have released the long-awaited Mint Julep: a song off of their upcoming debut record Hard To Sell.
The very first time I heard Mint Julep was live in June of 2022 at Grand Rapids’ The Intersection (Stache) with the second time being in March of this year at Ann Arbor’s The Blind Pig, and each time it gets better. The group’s development as musicians has been delightful to experience firsthand and with Mint Julep, I think it’s safe to say that this is their best work yet.
Compared to their other (released) songs such as Persian Rugs, Diamonds, Mr. Cadillac, and a few others, Mint Julep has more prominent funk elements. It was honestly only a matter of time before the group began to incorporate such sounds, they’re from the city of Motown after all! The instrumentals are pulled straight from the works of Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind, and Fire with a world-bending twist reminiscent of the great Rush. What’s not to like, really?
Though I love to give praise towards instrumentalists in particular, I can’t sit idly by without commenting on the sheer power Carson brings to the table. Live, he is the perfect frontman by all means: he’s energetic, he’s fun, he’s a bit provocative, and he’s not afraid to have all eyes on him. The first time I got the chance to attend a show last summer, my first thought was that this guy had to be a Mick Jagger - Jim Morrison love child of sorts. Vocally, he steers the song in a groovy direction that blasts listeners straight to the year 1977 to the center of the disco era. He’s got the moxy, the drive, and the talent to revive rock around the mitten (and the rest of the world) with pipes like those.
Aside from Carson, a band member whose sound tends to be overlooked is that of Nick Barone’s. In the music community, rhythm guitar tends to be waved off as unimportant but Barone won’t go down without a fight. His valor with the instrument is intoxicating both to view and listen to; onstage his kindred and witty aura is extremely mirthful and it directly translates to his sound in the studio. While listening to Mint Julep, I could almost see him with that olive green guitar, sailor’s hat, and huge grin.
In the last almost two years, Mac Saturn has taken off immensely. They’ve toured with Dirty Honey and now The Struts as well as headlining tours of their own with openers such as Billy Tibbals, Myron Elkins, and others. The Detroit-based six piece is up and coming in the rock world (or perhaps something else entirely new?) and it’s only a matter of time before the name Mac Saturn will hold the same relevance as The Rolling Stones.
For tour tickets, music, merch, booking, and more, visit Mac Saturn's official site