“Multi-instrumentalist Zachary Mechlem's heritage is Eastern European Gypsy. This is indicative of his far-flung stylistic leaning, which wanders from India to Spain and lifts sound from all points in between. His latest project, Mack West, has found an unexpected home in the Old American West, saturating both music and subject matter with romantic Cowboy imagery. This is the culmination of an idea Mechlem has had brewing for a while. His solo set has been creeping in this direction, showcasing the Country-tinged songs he had been producing, some for a soundtrack in the works. His music lends itself to visualization, so it's no surprise that the film medium has influenced him. Along with a healthy dose of Louis L'Amour books and Spaghetti Westerns, this pushed Mechlem in the direction of narrative songwriting with an Old West theme. With his cavernous baritone and gothic imagery, comparisons to Johnny Cash are inevitable.”
-Ezra Waller, City Beat Magazine, Cincinnati, OH
In 2000 Zach Mechlem released his solo debut, "The Haight Gang", a soundtrack to an imaginary western that combines country, rock, and world music.
His song "Dakota" won the national Shure Music Roots songwriting competition and was awarded a trip to the NAMM Conference in California and Shure microphone gear.
His solo work has also been featured on NBC Sports, Travel Channel, and Australian Television.
He's a member of world fusion trio, Mohenjo Daro who performed twice at the Montreal Jazz Festival in Quebec.
As a singer, Mechlem’s longtime fascination with Cowboys & Indians surfaced and his lyric driven songs began to express the dark, rugged and “true” old American west.
Inspired by classic country music, Spanish music, the cinema, and paperbacks Mack West stands tall, dark, and ugly like a character in a Sergio Leone film or Louis L'amour novel.
Mechlem's acoustic guitar, deep vocals, and conceptual story telling is like a modern day version of Marty Robbins’ “Gunfighter Ballads & Trail Songs” and Johnny Cash’s “Ballads of the True West”.
Cincinnati Entertainment Award Nominee for
"BEST COUNTRY MUSIC" - 2006 & 2007
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