Of course, no one ever told them that they couldn’t sing and dance on top of a pig barn.
Robbie and Steve McKenzie, a.k.a. the Background Drunks Revival, have been singing and playing music since they were kids. Growing up in Vass, on a 1,000-head pig farm, the boys had to find a way to pass the time. The brothers choreographed another musical families tunes, the Osmond Brothers, and gladly displayed their creative moves and voices to anyone who might see them on top of the pig barn.
When people laughed at them for doing this, the McKenzie brothers knew they had their act.
With a set list that contains song titles like “Let’s Talk Dirty in Hawaiian” and “Nashville Toupee,” it’s obvious that the brothers have a large amount of comedy in their act.
“We’ve always tried to add comedy to the music when ever we can,” says younger brother, Steve.
During the performance of “Nashville Toupee,” Robbie, who handles most of the lead singing, proudly displays a silver hairpiece, while Steve, and everyone else, grins in delight.
The overall music style of the Background Drunks is summed up by the young ‘un Steve who coined the phrase “eclectic hillbilly music.”
The comedic tunes are pleasant musically, too, thanks to the brothers’ knack for harmonizing. Robbie’s voice tends to float freely through the BD’s cover of “You Got a Friend,” by James Taylor and other familiar songs. Steve handles the guitar leads and Robbie takes care of the rhythm. They’re so tight musically, it’s hard to believe that they have only recently began to play in public; their first performance was a little over a year ago.
“Well, learning guitar was hard for me,” Robbie says, “Steve always played and I always sang. When I finally did start playing guitar, I would go into the back bedroom and if I forgot to close the door, someone else always remembered.”
After a few months of practice, the Background Drunks decided to take their act on the road professionally.
“Our first gig was at the bar in the Holiday Inn, (in Southern Pines),” Robbie recalls. “We invited all of our friends and since they already knew we were a couple of hams, they had a great time. I was sweating at first.”
The Background Drunks Revival duo takes pride in giving back to their hometown communities. They often play at Manor Care in Pinehurst for the residents there; one of which happens to be the brothers’ aunt. They performed at the benefit for Nick Messana, held at Camelot Park, also in Pinehurst and earlier in March of ths year they performed at community events including Spring Fest in Southern Pines. The McKenzies agree they look forward to these shows, especially the appearances at Manor Care.
“When we played there last time, there was this little gentleman in the corner who called us over,” Robbie remembers.
“He said, ‘Promise me you’ll come back. That was the most fun I’ve had since I’ve been here.’ I told him I promise we’ll come back and he just smiled so big. Man, that made me feel so good. That’s what its all about.”
