Our
Story
Since their inception in 2021, Songbirds have been authentically recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac as it was performed live in concert from the 1960s - 1990s.
These five talented musicians came together to pay homage to the music they love and respect, and the result is something magical.
Christian
Lindsey Buckingham
Christian has been playing guitar for 13 years. After learning the song "Summer Breeze" on his father's acoustic guitar in late 2010, he found a passion and a calling to play, spending hours playing in his room pretending to be a lead guitar player in a band. Now, he has appeared in several music acts including the Northbound Rebels, Union Blues, and numerous musicals. Additionally, he writes his own music under the name 'My Brother Jude."
Christian first heard the music of Fleetwood Mac unknowingly through his parents playing the live album "The Dance" in the car and at home growing up on CD. He discovered the stylings of Lindsey Buckingham years ago, and has "never gone back again."
When he's not shredding away on guitar and making ridiculous faces, Christian enjoys meditation, reading, mantra, and playing Dungeons and Dragons.
Favorite Fleetwood Mac song: Never Going Back Again (Rumours 1977)
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Dave
Mick Fleetwood
Dave has been drumming for about 17 years and is mostly self-taught. Prior to Songbirds, he’s played in various bands throughout his musical career, most notably for original progressive rock band Charit Way and cover group Union Blues.
Just like Christian, Dave’s introduction to Fleetwood Mac was also the live album “The Dance.” Dave’s grandfather owned the concert on DVD and anytime he visited, the DVD was played on repeat. Even though Dave has explored many different musical styles and has been influenced by many different drummers over the years, he’s always carried a love for this music and considers it to be significant to his foundation as a drummer and a catalyst for his overarching love of music.
When he’s not pounding a drum, Dave can be found playing video games, watching hockey, brushing up on Game of Thrones trivia, or doing the band’s taxes.
Favorite Fleetwood Mac Song: Rhiannon (Live from the Dance 1997)
Jeffrey
John McVie
Jeffrey is a multi-instrumentalist and music educator who has been active in the WNY music scene for the past 20 years. Jeffrey's music career began at the age of 12 as rehearsal pianist and accompanist for the Batavia Players community theater production of Oliver! Since then, Jeffrey has worked as music and vocal director for countless theater productions; he has a degree in Music Industry from Villa Maria College with a concentration in piano performance; he has been a featured performer in the Batavia Swing Band and Genesee Symphony Orchestra; he currently serves as the choir director and organist at Saints Joachim and Anne Roman Catholic Church in Attica and Varysburg, NY; he teaches private lessons in piano, voice, and composition; and he is currently the K-6 general and vocal music teacher in the LeRoy Central School District.
Prior to Songbirds, Jeffrey never felt any particular affinity for the music of Fleetwood Mac apart from casually enjoying the album Rumours (1977). However, after years of joking with David about starting a tribute, the stars aligned and the right people were in the right place at the right time—Songbirds was formed on the strength of our friendships and our talent as musicians.
Outside of music, Jeffrey enjoys cooking, watching horror movies, playing retro video games, listening to podcasts, and playing tabletop RPGs.
Favorite Fleetwood Mac song: The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) (Live 1970)
Julia
Stevie Nicks
Julia has been singing for her entire life and playing tambourine for over 20 years. Growing up a choir kid, a band geek, and an active performer in school musicals and plays, it wasn’t long before she traded high school auditorium stages for rock band stages. Julia has sung with WNY cover bands Chordially Yours and Northbound Rebels/Union Blues and was a long-time singer/songwriter with BlowFrogz, an original rock band based in Portland, OR.
When she’s not emulating the incomparable voice of Stevie Nicks, Julia spends her time knitting, tending her yarden, volunteering with Americans of Conscience Checklist, and writing poetry, lyrics, and adorable love songs with her husband for their band, Honey B. Nasty.
Favorite Fleetwood Mac song: Second Hand News (Rumours 1977)
Maryssa
Christine McVie
Maryssa is a lifelong performer whose love of the stage began in preschool with her first vocal solo in the school Christmas pageant. She started piano lessons under Mark Hoerbelt at a young age and later studied vocal pedagogy with his wife, Lauren Picarro-Hoerbelt. A trained opera singer, Maryssa spent two years at Fredonia State University as a vocal performance major before transferring to Genessee Community College and Rochester Institute of Technology to pursue a career in diagnostic ultrasound. Her stage credits include dozens of plays, musicals, ballets, operas, and choral performances.
Shortly after relocating back to Batavia, she was called upon to be the final piece of Songbirds providing vocals and keys in late 2021. When she's not rocking the keys or blowing away crowds singing "Barracuda," Maryssa can be found snuggling her two beautiful huskies, gardening, exploring the thrift store, and curating memes for her friends.
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Favorite Fleetwood Mac song: The Chain (Live 1977)
