What makes a man agreeable? For guitarist and bassist Christopher Knott and drummer Ted MacInnes, being agreeable is their entire brand: They named their musical duo after the personality trait, and have embodied the quality throughout their lives.
The way they play music, the jokes they toss to each other that soothe instead of sting, and the environment they create for the crowds at their shows can truly be summed up in one word: Agreeable.
Their band name is essentially the way they operate. From live-band karaoke sets (instead of a backing track by a DJ) to requests for covers from the crowd, Knott and MacInnes say a lot of, “Yes … and?”
“Whether it be comedic improv or musical improv, a lot of that’s about agreement. That I accept that premise, and I will build on it,” Knott said of the name.
What’s compelling about navigating the music scene with kindness, the way Knott and MacInnes do, is that it has put them in high demand. The duo performed 38 shows in July alone; the residencies (arrangements to play weekly at venues) keep coming, along with the fans that follow along; and it’s all sandwiched into their busy lives, day jobs, relationships, and other musical projects.
The pair play every week at the Town and the Wharf in Edgartown and the Ritz Cafe and Nomans in Oak Bluffs. They perform covers, without genre discernment (if it’s a catchy song, they probably know it), originals, and do live karaoke at the Ritz and the Wharf. The Agreeable Men are known for the joy they bring to their shows, and the sheer amount of music they know, which is currently at nearly 500 hit songs and counting.
Knott and MacInnes got their start on the Island through their friend and fellow musician, Seán McMahon. In 2022, they were brought together as McMahon’s band: Knott as his bassist, and MacInnes as his drummer. The two bandmates traveled to the Vineyard from Rhode Island and Connecticut for shows, and developed a love for the Island through their passion for music.
But by the time McMahon and his wife, Katie, had their third child, late night performances became less doable. So he told Knott and MacInnes to carry on as a duo with the residencies they had set up at venues like the Ritz. The three of them still perform together, but usually at earlier time slots. The drummer and bassist each stepped into the role of vocalist, Knott sidled over to the guitar, and they became the Agreeable Men.
“It was nice that we had the foundation of playing together for years with Seán,” Knott said as he gestured toward his friend. “It was a really natural thing to work together.”
And since they started their duo, they’ve been booked and busy. “We’ve been growing, I’d say exponentially or at least linearly, and like, this year’s been the most insane year yet,” MacInnes said.
Soon after moving to the Island to play with McMahon, MacInnes met his fiancėe, Kelly Bowes, and now has two children under 2, James and Calvin. The young family bought a house on Facebook Marketplace a couple of years ago through a listing he initially thought was a scam.
MacInnes is a project manager for Linguistic Systems, and works remotely as his day job, doing English translations online. As a result, he’s conversational in multiple languages, and quite good at impressions, which he said go hand in hand. He’s also a welder on the side, braving the scalding heat and creating chain ink fences when the opportunity arises.
The home MacInnes purchased is on Chappaquiddick Island, off downtown Edgartown. When their shows run after last call for the Chappy Ferry, MacInnes packs his drum set into his car, parks for the night, and kayaks home across Edgartown Harbor.
“My drums have probably never been inside my house,” MacInnes said with a laugh. Then he pointed at Knott, and recalled, “I bought my drums on Facebook Marketplace also,” in addition to the house.
For the past four years, Knott has toggled between Rhode Island and this Island, but after purchasing a home on the Vineyard, he’s more often found on this side of the shoreline. He plays shows in both locales, along with his girlfriend, musician Allison Rose. Knott teaches music lessons, hosts a podcast about music history, and works as a videographer for festivals and events. He said the biggest is the Newport Folk and Jazz Festival, where he meanders with a camera in hand to capture the likes of Joni Mitchell, Flea, and more.
In his free time, Knott heads to the trodden field off Barnes Road and plays disc golf. He also writes songs. So far, he said, he’s composed just under 1,000 originals. Most of those, he added with a chuckle, aren’t his best. But with a repertoire of nearly 1,000 original songs and almost 500 covers, Knott has covered many musical bases. He uses that jukebox of song knowledge twice a week at karaoke, and even more through requests at various shows. For his originals, song releases are on the horizon, he said.
“For this band, I just started researching the most popular songs from every year of popular music — from 1965 to the present — to see what people were still listening to,” Knott said.
The duo have one mission in mind when they play together: Create a space of comfort, fun, and nostalgia for their listeners. The classic rock ’n’ roll stereotypes of big egos and smashed guitars onstage are absent from Agreeable Men sets. Although the songs that have echoed in the background of those explosive moments might be played by Knott and MacInnes, their sound is paired with beaming smiles and visible excitement.
They shine brightly when they uplift other vocalists through karaoke, something they both said they’re passionate about. To them, highlighting talent in others is a way of sharing it with the whole community.
The Agreeable Men are like a road trip with friends. It doesn’t matter to them whether they’re in the backseat, the passenger side, or the driver’s seat, as long as they’re moving forward. “Our favorite thing to do is play music. I mean, period,” Knott said. “So, if we’re doing that, we’re probably going to be pretty happy about it.”
“That’s what being an agreeable man is all about,” MacInnes added.
Upcoming shows
Weekly residencies:
Tuesdays: Live-band karaoke at the Ritz Cafe in Oak Bluffs at 9 pm
Wednesdays: the Town in Edgartown at 7:30 pm
Thursdays: Live-band karaoke at the Wharf in Edgartown at 10 pm
Sundays: Nomans in Oak Bluffs from 2 to 5 pm
Sundays: with Seán McMahon at the Ritz at 8 pm
Other shows:
August 27: with Seán McMahon at Slough Farm Sunset Series in Edgartown
Sept. 4, 11, and 25: the Ritz in Oak Bluffs at 8 pm
Sept. 5: Christopher Knott solo set with original music at the West Tisbury library at 2:30 pm
