Chicago 6 Corners: Q &A: White Mystery Rock Chicago with White Hot Power

Q&A with Alex White
Secret to White Mystery is No Mystery

Story and interview by David Shuey / main page photo by Yuri Alexander, December 18, 2009

It's a drizzly October 20th, and on a whim I decide to see Japan punk legends – and Kurt Cobain favorite – Shonen Knife at Bottom Lounge. The all-female power trio shred the crowd in two in their bizarre neon pant-suits, but it is the opening act, White Mystery, that leaves me scratching my head. But only after rocking it.

The young duo comes on stage in a wave of red curls for their bustling sound checks. White Mystery go straight into the music, but not before the drummer hunts down a plug to get his own fan working (see pic after bump). Very DIY. Seems the air currents not only cool down brother Francis White, they also blow tresses to-and-fro for dramatic effect as his sister, the established Miss Alex White, blows away the crowd with killer licks and raw power vocals.

Still, this is no Chicago's answer to the White Stripes in reverse. (Switch the genders on the drum kit and guitar/vocals duty, turn the black hair bright orange, etc. Eh, okay, maybe that's a stretch.) Their spectacle is transparent. As witnessed again one month later at Empty Bottle, White Mystery IS a burning line of music, leaving a skid mark in your own scalp as it proceeds to nail the bored arm-folder in the back row. This was evident down in front, as C6C pal Scarlett and I joined a pond of head-bangers and dancers, including legendary Dan the Fan – a WM regular, I notice, after two shows (also see pic below). Even the kids can bare witness, as seen on Chic-A-Go-Go.

After a back-stage all-ginger head photo-op, we ask for an interview. Below is an exchange this month with Miss Alex White about where her and her brother are from and where they're going.

C6C: Off the bat: By all appearances, real and imagined, you're brother and sister. Real Deal, or another Fantastic Hoax in order to garner the killer rock 'n roll name, "White?"

Alex White: Real deal. We were born at Swedish Covenant Hospital to the same parents in Chicago in 1985 and 1987 respectively. The last name "White" is Pennsylvanian Dutch. Click here for baby photos.

C6C: How would you describe your current musical direction as White Mystery? Is it a FEEL you're going for, or is your fast-paced combination of stripped down guitar/vocals/percussion a vehicle to carry the SONGS forward?

Alex White: The musical direction is FORWARD and the feel is POWER.

C6C: Follow-up question: And "stripped down" or "garage rock" – these are terms bandied about for certain bands. Do you embrace it? Is it by necessity, i.e., keeping things simple and economical? Or is that a preferred musical direction? (i.e., when you get huge, will you go straight for the keyboards and electronics?)

Alex White: Both terms have been used in print to describe White Mystery as well as my history of musical projects, including Miss Alex White and Hot Machines. I prefer the two piece format, though I've played with a full band and the Mucca Pazza horns in Miss Alex White & Red Orchestra.

C6C: What are some of your favorite 2-pieces? And if not digging that, what are some of your favorite "family" bands in history? Bee Gees? The Osmonds? Partridge Family?

Alex White: Chicago locals The Yolks, Smith Teenage Dream – a sibling two piece with Hal from the Smith Westerns and his brother Cadien who shreds.

C6C: I noticed that hair plays a big part in your shows – a perfect combination of auburn color and movement. What bands of the past do you look to for Hairspiration? Would you ever consider Locks for Love if the red curls ever got in the way of "the music"?

Alex White: An agreement was made in October 2007 to stop cutting our hair and it's been that way ever since. There are also White Mystery buttons with my real hair pressed in them that only twenty five special people have. Click here to see. Francis donated his hair twice to Locks for Love when it was longer than his shoulders, and my personal hairspiration is Poison Ivy from the Cramps. There is a photo album of red head friends on the White Mystery MySpace.

C6C: When did you figure you could play with your brother? What were your earliest musical stylings? Were you playing covers? Straight up garage rock? Or air-guitar/drumming to Saturday morning cartoons?

Alex White: "Baby Blues" was our first band at ages five and three. I played a toy piano and Francis a little drum. Then at ages fourteen and twelve we separately decided to play instruments. We learned how to play music together in our parents' basement, and joined other bands. I recorded albums with different projects in Detroit and LA, and would demo the songs with Francis to develop ideas with him. Then I started recording our homespun tunes and we called ourselves Forestbride. Soon after I graduated college at DePaul, toured Europe with the Red Orchestra, and moved out of the White House. Francis and I missed each other, and started White Mystery when I had a eureka moment eating Airheads candy.

C6C: What was the first song you two could play together?

Alex White: "Ye Olde Stone." It's about our hangout under the Kedzie bridge on the Chicago River, and the White Mystery HoZac single B-Side.

C6C: How did you decide to keep it to a minimalist 2-piece? Is there ever a threat of a bassist on the horizon?

Alex White: The youngest White, our nineteen year old brother Nicholas, plays bass. He is a handsome brunette that performed at the Lyric Opera and played with Willie Nelson.

C6C: What releases do you have on the horizon?

Alex White: WHITE MYSTERY CD is available December 18 and vinyl in early 2010

Available for purchase on White Mystery MySpace and soon www.whitemysteryband.com

Click here to buy the White Mystery split single on Whistler Records.

C6C: How do you write songs as a duo? Does one person bring in some material, then thrash it out from there?

Alex White: I riff on guitar, and Francis pounds away. The lyrics come naturally, and we collaborate on the song structure.

C6C: Both you and Shonen Knife have the distinction of having played together at Bottom Lounge AND appearing on Chicago-A-Go-Go. Is that a coincidence, or do you share a super agent? (And how did you land that Bottom Lounge gig, btw?)

Alex White: The super agent is named Miss Alex White.

C6C: At both of your recent shows, I've seen some regular fans, such as Dan the Fan. How does one luck out in the Third Coast cultural zeitgeist of gaining Chicago's most notorious regulars? Or is it sincere planning to court him and others? Is an official poem by Thax Douglas next on the hit list?

Alex White: Dan the Fan is family. He has supported my musical projects since 2002 and is a valuable asset to the Chicago music scene. I saved a letter he wrote to me when I was 18 and playing with Chris Playboy because it emanated good vibes. His energy is contagious and we love him! He deserves perma-guest list to every venue in this great land.

Click here for one of the poems Thax wrote about me. In another he calls me, "Carrot-top Cleopatra."

xx

Links & Shows:

Upcoming Shows & Events (January 14, 2010, Update from MySpace):

Jan 22 2010

9:00P

The Metro 18+

Chicago, Illinois

Jan 23 2010

9:00P

White Mystery 2010 Party

Chicago, Illinois

Jan 31 2010

10:00P

Sculpture Park Music Video

Chicago, Illinois

Feb 4 2010

9:30P

Empty Bottle, the Entrance Band

Chicago, Illinois

Feb 6 2010

9:00P

Beat Kitchen, Jemima Pearl 17+

Chicago, Illinois

Videos: Try this, this or that.

MySpace

Awesome White Mystery Interview and illustration

Live White Mystery recorded by Coach House Sounds

New Website as of December 2009: www.whitemysteryband.com

David's Photos from October 20 Show Opening for Shonen Knife @ Bottom Lounge

Francis White sets up fan to keep his temperamental drum kit cool.

When too short to actually see the band, the open-air fan provides the awe-struck fan evidence of said drummer: In the form of flying, flailing 12" hair.