Jack McClelland has mixed feelings as his senior year at Monterey High draws closer: On one hand, it means the 16-year-old is nearing a new chapter in his life highlighted by college and independence. But it also means the possible end of Earnest.
McClelland (vocals) and longtime friends Alex Bezdjian (guitar), Jacob Butorac (drums) and Harrison Spencer (bass), birthed the indie rock outfit about a year ago and never considered their age a handicap.
“I’ll admit, a lot of my lyrics are cliché high school problems,” McClelland says. “But the poppy energy we have comes from being so young.”
Musically and lyrically, the five tunes on Earnest’s debut EP may be construed as simple, but the straightforwardness is appealing—and not in a Hanson kind of way.
“Roses are red, violets are blue/ Words jumble in my head when I try thinking of you,” McClelland croons on “Hello” without any irony or pretentiousness.
The introspective and dreamy “The Road” could represent a glimpse into Earnest’s future—and it sounds something like the Counting Crows brand of ’90s acoustic alt-rock.
McClelland tries to remain positive when Earnest’s future comes up in conversation.
“If we think about it too much, we may start rushing the music and lose motivation,” he says. “We’re going to fight until the end and we’re optimistic that we’ll have some crazy hit song that’ll get us on the radio and we’ll be a one-hit wonder—and won’t have to worry about school ever again.”
For now, Earnest will focus on the time they have together and savor the little landmarks along the way, like their Monterey debut Friday at the Golden State Theatre with Pipsqueak opening. (Editor’s note: The show was cancelled right at press time.)
Even if the foursome goes its separate ways after graduation, the experience will forever represent one of the biggest epiphanies of McClelland’s life.
“This was the year I realized I want to do music as a career,” he says. “I won’t be making a lot of money but I’ll be doing what I love.”
Earnest and Pipsqueak performance was
cancelled.
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