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The Marsh

Interviewed by Gary Hill
Interview with The Marsh From 2006

Editor's Note: This interview was conducted via email  and several of the answers the group wanted credited to all of them. We normally don't do this but I am honoring their wishes.
MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2006 Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Can you catch the readers up on the history of the band?

Jeff Smith: Noah and I met at summer camp when we were teenagers. Eric Sullivan, our guitarist, turned me onto Charlie Parker when I was 15 years old and subsequently altered my path in life. He was also the first serious musician that I ever knew. Eric and I had a jazz group in high school called “The Sharp Four” and Noah had a piano trio and we all played gigs around our hometown of Atlanta, Georgia and we had a little "scene" of musicians and venues. We all went off to school and various gigs before I moved back to Atlanta in Sept 2004 and started The Marsh with Noah. We were a trio for our first year and a half and recently we moved to Venice California to have Eric join the band.
MSJ:
I know artists hate to have their art described or pigeonholed, but how would you describe it?

Noah Pine: Call it living. Our music is us communicating and expressing ourselves together as a band. Total freeness. Anything. Existing, freaking each other out, hopefully inspiring others. Our music is us and anything or everything it reflects off of or into or around it.
MSJ:
What are your musical influences, both personally and as a band?

The Marsh: We love all the greats of course. Bowie, Hendrix, Zeppelin, Sly Stone, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Jack Bruce, John Bonham, Martin Luther King, Black Sabbath, big pianos, tulips on my organ, Marc Bolan. warm sounds, being moved physically or mentally or both, family, my brothers, uncles, parents. I am influenced a lot by having to defend my soul from peoples f***ed priorities and daily actions. We play and let it all go. We love bands and people, characters, clowns, queens and kings, pushers of flutes, guitars, savage yellers, people who just let it go. We love our friends. When it comes down to it really all we have is our music and our family and friends. If we didn’t have our friends and family then we might not have our music.
MSJ:
Are there musicians out there with whom you would like to work in the future?

Jeff Smith: We have imagined a traveling circus caravan of musicians and artists where we get to present some seriously overlooked talent and get to play as long as we want. To help our friends put their music out there would be better than working with some big name although jamming with any of our heroes would be great.
MSJ:
Do you think that downloading of music is a help or hindrance to the careers of musicians? Its been said by the major labels that its essentially the heart of all the problems they are having in terms of lower sales would you agree?

The Marsh: Anytime someone hears a musician's music it is a good thing. It’s better that a person hears the music and doesn’t pay for it than never hearing it at all. Yes we agree that major labels have done themselves in. Hopefully the downfall of the major labels will result in soulful and grooving music returning to the ears and airwaves of the masses.
MSJ:
What's ahead for The Marsh?

Jeff Smith: We have many new songs and a new lineup and we will be recording a new album soon.

Noah Pine: Life, life, life. To life. Watch out. That’s all I have to say. Watch the f*** out because we're going to save the young.
MSJ:
Where did the name The Marsh originate?

The Marsh: Georgia coast wetlands. The best smells ever.
MSJ:
What was the last CD you bought, or what have you been listening to lately?

Noah Pine: Funkedelic-Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow. Gram Parsons- Grievous Angel. Bob Dylan - Desire Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline

Jeff Smith: Roxy Music - Roxy Music Thin Lizzy - Jail Break Bert Jansch - Birthday Blues
MSJ:
What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment?

The Marsh: Our guitarist Eric played a show with the Venice Beach Drum Orchestra recently. It gave everyone in the room goose bumps.
MSJ:
Finally, are there any closing thoughts you’d like to get out there?

The Marsh: Rock n Roll is not dead.
 
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