Mackenzie Roark And The Hotpants Stage A Personal Getaway On “Take My Money”
Guilt festers like a wound, warping our judgment, clouding our sense of right and wrong, and stalling any forward motion. It drives us to the edge, where redemption is no longer a quiet reckoning but a frantic grasp for relief, full of desperate acts, reckless choices–whatever it takes to cleanse the conscience. For Americana rock band Mackenzie Roark And The Hotpants that pursuit comes with a steep price tag. Their latest single, “Take My Money,” turns that internal plea into a liberating anthem, a freewheeling track brought to vivid life through a stylish music video.
Opening with a revving rhythm that paces itself like a car quickly shifting gears in a hasty escape, Roark opens the song with punchy lyrics that observe the situation with biting wit (“Take my money\ Leave me broke\ Ain’t this life such a terrible joke“). Remorse flickers in the next lines, but she swiftly reclaims composure and steps away from the chaos of shame that’s thrown her off course. On the chorus, she cuts through the tension with sharp insight, undescoring the complex mix of bitterness and vulnerability (“And you think you’re so smart\ Your reputation is a work of art\ Oh, but come on baby, have a heart\ This ain’t no walk in the park\ So take my money”). It’s a vivid picture of how nothing in this life–even the bonds we make with one another–is ever forgiving or straightforward.
The music is as sleek as expected from an ensemble like The Hotpants. The rhythm section–Drew Barnocky on drums and Matt Moran on bass–is tight and driving, while Billy Bacci’s electric guitar injects a heightened sense of urgency, a melodic turbo boost triggered at just the right time to evade the pursuers. Caroline Vain’s violin adds vibrant detail, coloring Roark’s verses with further ache and misery, almost like the lingering look-back that always follows. At the forefront, Roark tells the tale with a fearless voice, reaching what many claim is unattainable: closure. Whether or not it truly exists remains debatable, but Roark embodies it here, offering a cathartic performance for anyone still caught in the grip of penance.
Directed by Colin Earner with assistance from David Muessig, the video finds Roark and her cohorts framing the song’s concept as a cinematic caper, where bargaining, acceptance, and escape play out in tandem. It’s a stylish affair, replete with menacing black-and-white poses, ransom demands made on payphones, a zany theft procession, a liberating freeway getaway, and a tense staredown with a Hollywood legend that fans of the cult crime classic Heat will instantly recognize and love. The band even performs in front of a backdrop emblazoned with a dollar sign, echoing the iconic bank sack carried off by jubilant robbers of days past. Altogether, it transforms the narrative into a playful, visually rich extension of the song’s sweeping melody and resonant message: a much-needed heist to finally break free from the grip of guilt.
“Take My Money” is the lead single from Mackenzie Roark And The Hotpants’ latest record, Ghost Of Rock And Roll. Recorded with the intent of modernizing retro sounds and aesthetics, the track acts as a bold thesis statement for the album, consisting of tight arrangements, crisp instrumentation, and sturdy guitar tones that are powerfully matched–and often outmuscled–by Roark’s commanding voice and expressive lyrics. The new album follows Roark’s acclaimed 2022 release Rollin’ High, Feelin’ Low–a Newlin Music Prize nominee in 2023–but marks the first official credit to The Hotpants. That shift signals an evolution in Roark’s sound, moving beyond self-described “bright indie country” roots into a modern spin on classic Southern rock, one that gives both her and the band room to explore contemporary dilemmas with freewheeling charm and electrifying energy. That full-band transformation lands confidently on Ghost Of Rock And Roll, with the liberating rush of “Take My Money” setting the tone in inspired fashion.
You can watch the video for “Take My Money” below, and be sure to bookmark Mackenzie Roark And The Hotpants’ website to stay up to date on future shows, releases, and announcements.
