White Mystery are a brother and sister rock ‘n’ roll duo from Chicago. I met them during Station to Station: a public art project brought to you by Levi’s®, and we hit it off. Singer/guitarist Alex White and her brother, drummer Francis Scott Key White, were only on the train for a few stops, but they left a serious impression on everyone.
Alex and Francis’ music is loud and fun and everything that rock today should be but isn’t. Someone told me that Amtrak was scared to have White Mystery play at Chicago’s Union Station because their music might bring the old stone and marble building crashing down. The train station stayed intact after their set ended, but there very well could have been some hidden structural damage.
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On top of their great music, both Alex and Francis turned out to be the nicest people ever. All parties I go to from now on will pale in comparison to the few nights I spent with them. Somewhere on my phone there is a video of Francis twerking on the moving train, but that’s for my eyes only.
I got in touch with Alex and Francis to catch up and ask a few questions about their time with Station to Station.
VICE: Hey guys. How did you end up on the Station to Station train?
Francis Scott Key White: There were hand rails and steps on the side of each train car. By grabbing the rail with my right hand, I was able to hoist myself up in order to climb the steps with my legs. I think I stepped with my left leg first. Then we boarded the train!
Uh, right. How long were you on it?
Alex White: We were on the train from Chicago to Minneapolis and we played both those events. Then the train was heading back to Chicago before it went to Kansas City, so we rode it home.
Do you have any specific memories that stand out to you now, looking back?
Alex White: It was epic. Drowning in denim from Levi’s®, doing photo shoots, and rocking out in historic train stations with Mavis Staples, Thurston Moore, and Patti Smith.
You guys recorded with Justin Stanley in the train’s recording car, right? How was that?
Francis Scott Key White: It was a comfortable, laid-back environment where we could play whatever we wanted.
Alex White: We tracked three White Mystery songs live on a moving train, which was sweet. You can watch “Jungle Cat” and some other videos from Station to Station here.
Are you guys heading out on tour any time soon?
We’re in the middle of our “Buttheads from Mars” tour right now. We’re going to be all over Texas in the end of October and then head up the West Coast.
I’m sure touring by car is a little less exciting now that you’ve had a taste of the train life. Thanks for talking to me!
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