8/6/2019 Ms Mac- The Riddle of the Rhyme

1/2

Ms. Mac The Riddle of the Rhyme

By Tommy Roeck Pics by Sharon Brown

I caught up with Laura McChristianRiddle of Ms. Mac and the Groovetones performing their acoustshow at The Big Chill in Hot Springs recently, and man they were laying it down. Most groups lighten up th

attack on the unplugged gigs, but these seasoned veterans hold nothing back. Performing note perfect versioof Heart Classics such as Barracuda and Fleetwood Mac covers of Dreams and Landslide to name a

few. Mixed into their sets are some of the greatest classic rock and R&B songs of all time and Ms. Mac pour

her heart and soul into every note vocally while thumping her way into the audiences hearts on her 5-string

bass. With an array of Bic lighters and waving cell phones, they set the audience ablaze with energy and lou

vocal orchestrations of cheers, people dancing, and singing along. The party was right here, right now!

Ever since Laura first heard Kiss Detroit Rock City she was smitten with music. Not worrying about

gender differences or womens rights, she only wanted to rock. Then with the strong influences of The

Runaways, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, she knew that she had to

follow her dreams to be the woman of music that she envisioned for herself. She has her Masters degree in

music from the university of northern Colorado, and is a published writer from Kearney Street Books in

Bellingham, Washington. Teaching is her regular day gig, while still attending school, she will have her P.Hin music from Northcentral University very soon. This is hard evidence of her musical prowess.

Being Ms. Mac is her pseudo identity, and she loves to play it. Sometimes in her classes she finds it amusi

to pull up her bands myspace page and show it to her students at Cossatot Community College of the

University of Arkansas. When they ask whos that woman? And she says: its me They are very surprised

Stodgy old professors arent supposed to play in a rock and roll band! She enjoys having a regular career

which is closely related to what she does on stage. Every day she has a captive audience and talks about mu

From Bach to Bon Jovi, explaining to students that musicians in the past are no different than they are now

In her own words Laura stated: Being the only woman in the band isnt anything new to me. During th

of the five years I spent at Henderson State University as a music education major, I was the only girl in the

Jazz Ensemble, playing bass, an unusual role for a girl in the 80s and90s.

8/6/2019 Ms Mac- The Riddle of the Rhyme

2/2

Which I never minded at all, and still dont, especially when I get to play with some of the most talented guy

in town. I cant remember a time when I didnt want to be performing somehow, somewhere. I longed to be

like Joan Jett, the Wilson sisters or guitarist Lita Ford. A strong, talented woman who could rock and roll i

mans world and still be sexy and feminine without sacrificing her integrity. I feel like Im doing that now,

and without my husband, my band mates, and the people who have supported us over the years, Id never b

able to pull that off. Our goal as a band is to entertain, and we always give 100% percent when we performwhether were playing in local clubs or major festivals, opening for national acts or doing covers or original

all the while giving it our own personal signature.

Working in the band for the last 10 years all over the natural state and the Arklatexahoma area, with

Lauras ability to belt out everything from sweet tender ballads to teeth-rattling hair metal and pounding o

a bass line as well as anyone who has come before, the Groovetones have developed a large, steady followingand attained a fabulous reputation for delivering energetic, quality shows, and unforgettable performance

Laura also plays keyboards, and saxophone competently, and shares the musical direction of the group with

husband Don. If the performance requires a little something extra, you can bet they will devise a way to

incorporate it into the show.

Lauras partner in crime is Don Riddle, who is Ms. Macs biggest fan. Together they have taken their

garage band dreams to the upscale and raised children, have grandchildren, and been inspirations to many

aspiring players in the area. Don also has a staging and lighting company, along with a recording studio, an

a very savvy manager and solid provider and performer. He said: We like to have fun, and live life to the

fullest! And they have very full and rich lives together as these two soul mates are a credit to the talent poo

our music scene.

Don is an ACM award-winner, and Grammy-nominated artist. He created the true vision for theGroovetones, and is the driving force behind its continued success. Versatility could easily be his middle

name, playing acoustic and electric guitar and mastering the mixing board. His ability to charm the audienc

with his blue-eyed soul is captivating, and his experience in the industry is impressive, as he has performed

with Mel McDaniel and most prominently, Jimmy Buffetts Coral Reefer Band.

Don started the Groovetones with the idea to form a classic rock band in an area dominated by country

music. So far that idea has worked very well, and now Ms. Mac and the Groovetones are one of the top

regional acts in the area playing 75 to 100 shows a year, in venues all the way from Austin to Memphis. Lau

was quoted as saying: Don is the heart of this band, he claims to be just the guy who owns the equipment, b

we would never be where and what we are without his strong musicianship and business sense, he just mak

all happen!.

On lead guitar in the band is Ted Stone, formerly of Deacon Dark, a very smooth and accurate part of thdynamic team, as is Tony Big Bang Hargrove on drums, and Allan Mc Eneaney who worked with Paul

Rodgers, also playing high energy guitar, keys, and bass at most of the groups shows, which are rich, dynam

orchestrations of the rock and roll arts. Make sure to check out their compact Disc Saturday night live at

Quinceys which catches them live in the act and was featured in Her magazine a few years back.

The band performs in various local venues such as Fat Jacks, Quinceys, , and Shooters. Other venue

include Abendigos Restaurant, in Oklahoma, both Duck Horn Tavern locations in Central Texas, the

Hangin Judge Saloon in Fort Smith, The Big Chill and Dockers in Hot Springs, and the prestigious Peabo

Hotel in Little Rock. They are a featured artist at several festivals including StarDaze, Lum & Abner Days,

Alleyfest, and the Eldorado Music Fest.

They have opened for Shenandoah, the Little River Band, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and have perform

with many other national and regional acts. They also perform for private functions of any kind, and havesupported organizations such as Relay for Life, CASA, and Toys for Tots. They have performed for the

Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council at Rockin The Art Spark, the 2009 Four States Fair, and

inaugural Stateline Music Festival. Ms. Mac and the Groovetones continue to be Arklatexahoma.s only

rhythm & groove band.

With talent, knowledge, dedication, sheer determination, and the love of music these Merlins of groove h

definitely carved out a solid niche for themselves in the Southern rock circuit and have earned their place o

the A band list in many regions. If you get a chance to catch a show or hire these guys, do it without

question? For they are great entertainers who will leave you wanting more T.R.

You can find them on FacebookorMyspace

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ms-Mac-the-Groovetones/355954221854http://www.myspace.com/msmacthegroovetoneshttp://www.myspace.com/msmacthegroovetoneshttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Ms-Mac-the-Groovetones/355954221854http://www.myspace.com/msmacthegroovetones