Decked out in bright, mismatched suits and armed with banjo, mandolin, guitar, and accordion, The Inadequates are turning heads and tuning ears with their unique brand of acoustic folk fusion.
The trio, Lawson Mackriell, Marcus Church, and Jackson Church, share deep roots on Tamborine Mountain, where they all grew up and were all school captains at Tamborine Mountain State High School.
What began as a teenage busking experiment in Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall has grown into a nationally touring act with a debut album on the way.
“We were so bad,” Jackson said, recalling their early days.
“But it’s where we kind of cut our teeth… you know really quickly when you’re busking if you’re doing poorly because just no one sticks around.”
The band’s distinct aesthetic, bright, mismatched suits, was originally a gimmick to grab attention.
“People would, you know, we looked louder than we sounded kind of thing,” Marcus said.
“They’d see us and then come and check us out… and then they’d stay around for the music.”
Those early street sessions helped shape their now-polished stage presence and sound, which has drawn comparisons to acts like Mumford & Sons and Nickel Creek.
Their first single The New Sensation, released in early July, sets the tone for their upcoming debut album Haven’t You Heard, due out 28 August.
“We thought it would be funny for our first release to be called ‘The New Sensation’,” Lawson said.
“It kind of sounds like… do you guys think you love yourself? You hate yourself? What are you doing?”
“I think it’s also a pretty good representation of the kind of thing that we’re sort of aiming for,” Marcus added.
“Trying to be unique and interesting but also not so far in that direction that it’s kind of off-putting.”
With Lawson and Marcus both completing jazz guitar degrees at the Queensland Conservatorium, the band’s arrangements often explore complex harmonies and inventive chord structures.
“We’re really into harmonies that have some interesting notes in them,” Marcus said.
Their favourite tracks from the upcoming album vary.
“Little Green Lights,” said Lawson. “It just feels really nice.”
Jackson pointed to “Twilight Robbery” for its Brisbane references, and Marcus chose the final track ‘Snakes & Ladders’.
“It’s about as close as you can get to being like a metal band with an accordion,” he said.
The Inadequates newest single ‘The New Sensation’ can be streamed on all popular platforms.
