Tall Boy Special are an LA via Boston comedy music trio who defy genre for the sake of entertainment. With a sound that lies somewhere in between the acoustic pop stylings of Wheatus and the viral sketch video appeal of recent industry titans Please Don't Destroy, Tall Boy Special offer up something unique to the way they s.ee the world; their songs are irreverent, fun loving, and sincere all at the same time.

Having had early success on Tik Tok, and been featured on CBS' "Greatest At Home Videos" (getting the nod from Cedric The Entertaining himself) the future seems limitless for the trio. Check out our interview with the guys below and make sure you stream their brand new album "19 Total Feet"

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the group.

John MacGregor: Writer. “Singer.” I’ve played the cajon on some songs. And when we write and record together I like to run out and get drinks for everyone.

Zack: Writer. Singer and occasional ukulele player! I like to drink the drinks John gets for us.

Alex: Writer. Singer. Guitar, bass, occasional synth and piano. I also did a lot of the recording/mixing for our bedroom sessions and demos for the new album. I do it all. The other guys don’t really do that much in comparison. They’re kind of like drinking drinks while I’m working.

For starters, what groups (music or comedy) were you guys a part of prior to Tall Boy Special? How long has the band been around?

John: We all worked full-time at Improv Asylum. We were also in an improv and sketch group in Boston called Just Suspects. We started the band when COVID happened. So March 2020.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?

John: At a bar there was a sign that said “Tall Boy Special” it was buy 2 tall boys get the next one free. We changed it once to “The Bloodhound Gang” thank god we changed it on a Friday after 5 pm, because by the time the internet opened back up on Monday morning we had decided not to change it.

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?

John: We write all of the lyrics. Except for the ones where we steal lyrics from other bands. In Employee’s Only when we say “hungry like the wolf” Duran Duran wrote that. Also the line in fictional aisle that goes “Thank you for making us real” is a parody of “Thank you for being a friend” from the Golden Girls theme song. I know the internet has been wondering about that.

We write about animals doing things they shouldn’t be doing like running for Mayor and riding roller skates on the highway. And we write about food. Whether it’s imaginary foods, or making the entire world food. OH! And we like it when there are like… spooky things happening. Like portals and soul trappers and stuff. OHHH! And we like making up different modes of transportation and just describing them in great detail.

We really like the Beach Boys. Early Beach Boys songs fall into one of three categories, cars, surfing or girls. We really dig that organization so our songs fall into animal, food or transportation, as mentioned above

What bands or other comedians are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?

John: I remember we would watch a lot of Kyle Mooney’s youtube page for like half an hour before we would start writing sometimes. His stuff is so specific, and just reminds me to do what you find funny. Musically I think it doesn’t get better than The Slim Shady LP. Or Blink’s live album.

Zack: For me They Might Be Giants are a huge inspiration. I remember seeing their Doctor Worm music video on the Nickelodeon show Kablaam. When I found out they were a “real band” and not just writing for cartoons it blew my mind and made me realize music can really be whatever you want it to be. Also, The Barenaked Ladies. Personally I think If I Had a Million Dollars is a masterpiece and the perfect song.

Alex: I want to take a moment to discuss the reference to Staind on 19 Total Feet. We often make obscure references in our music but they always come from a place of actual love and adoration. Rat Race in Blank White Poster is a great example of that. Love that movie. But Staind and frontman Aaron Lewis were actually super important to me growing up. Break the Cycle came out at that incredibly formative time in my life when I was discovering the music I wanted to consume. They were big on MTV, their music was fun to try and learn on guitar. I love Tall Boy Special being a vehicle to pay homage to the artists that inspired me growing up. Staind is from Massachusetts also.

Was there a particular artist or concert that inspired you to start Tall Boy Special?

Zack: No, we just wanted to continue putting out comedy when the world shut down and music seemed like a very digestible form for people locked in their homes.

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …

John: We do a lot of dabbing. Mostly dabbing. We know it’s not even a thing anymore, but that’s why we like it so much.

Zack: Dabbing like the hand gesture, not the torch weed.

Alex: I was also gonna text the group and be like John dabbing sounds like weed dabs, but I figured better to address it in the interview. Looks like Zack already got it covered.

What has been the biggest highlight of the group's career so far?

John: Recording 19 Total Feet. We recorded from 11-7 every single day for eight days in a STUDIO. It was so much fun to do the thing we love to do the whole day, uninterrupted. Plus we’re super goofy goof balls and we have a grand ol’ time doing bits together!

Alex: I agree, recording 19 Total Feet. John made a big batch of breakfast burritos. Batch of burritos is such a weird concept but there’s no other way to describe it. Anyways the burritos were really good and we had them so many mornings because it was such a big batch of burritos.

If you could tour with any bands or comedians, past or present, who would they be and why?

The Rat Pack. The Beach Boys. The Beach Pack. The Rat Boys.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

8 and 2. 10. Glad I got that out of the way.

Zack: our fans are the absolute best.

Alex: No I think we’re all good, do you guys validate here or do I do it on the way out?