In music, a flat five is a passing chord that harmonizes well with almost any sound. The singers in Chicago’s Flat Five—Kelly Hogan, Nora O’Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough and Alex Hall—are as versatile as the name of their group implies. They’re all well-known songwriters, musicians and side-persons in their own right, but when they sing as the Flat Five, they touch on something transcendent. Their complex, intertwining harmonies bring to mind the shimmering sounds of the Four Freshmen, Beach Boys, Lambert, Hendricks And Ross, Harry Nilsson and the Everly Brothers—singers who could create breathtaking emotional effects using nothing but their voices. The Flat Five will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand-new feature with them.
Name: Casey McDonough
Role in the Flat Five: vocals, bass, piano, guitar
Height: 5″6′
Hair: blonde
Eyes: blue
Favorite singers: Solomon Burke, Dolly Parton
Favorite vocal groups: Clovers, Shirelles
Favorite bands: Beatles, Beach Boys
Favorite actor: Mickey Rourke
Favorite actress: Betty Lynn
Favorite movies: It’s A Wonderful Life, Night Of The Hunter
Favorite TV show: Route 66
Favorite TV couple: Morticia and Gomez Addams
Favorite TV theme song: “WKRP In Cincinnati”
Favorite TV dinner: Swanson
Favorite authors: Peter Guralnick, Roddy Doyle
Favorite food: Aurelio’s pizza
Favorite drink: Schlitz
“A&W or Dog N Suds?” Dog N Suds
Favorite baseball team: Chicago Cubs
Professional goals: to spread love and hope, one song at a time
Personal goals: relax more, worry less
