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Written By: |
Brian Kalish |
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There's something about the intensity of a live show: the amps, the crowd, the band being in your face. If it's been a while since you've checked out Milwaukee's live music scene, make 2005 a time to rediscover the experience. Local music guru Jim Linneman, owner of Linneman's Riverwest Inn, 1001 E. Locust St., has seen myriad changes within the local scene over the past 30 years. He says that even with some venues shying away from live music, Milwaukee continues to produce quality live acts. "You can go down the list, from Les Paul way back when to the Violent Femmes and more - there are outstanding stories of musician heroship here," Linneman said. "There are an extraordinary number of outstanding people who play music in this town." Mike Bereiter, music director for WMSE-FM (99.1), couldn't agree more. He says that while the popularity of the local scene tends to fluctuate, live music in Milwaukee remains strong, mainly because of the work ethic of the artists. "Local bands in Milwaukee don't cop on trends and really push to get themselves heard, totally regardless of people telling them how they should sound. ... That's quite admirable," Bereiter said. MKE has unearthed three good reasons to skip the movies and catch a live show in 2005. Marashino When Marcus Allen, host of the "Lazer Local Lix" - a weekly program on WLZR-FM (102.9) dedicated to the local music scene - was asked to identify up-and-coming talent, he didn't hesitate with his response: Marashino. "I love the fact that the guys are young but have some great hooks in their songs - a seriously lost art in the music world. I think they will succeed in the business," Allen said. What Marashino lacks in age (most band members are barely of legal drinking age) the members more than make up for in the craftsmanship of their songs. Drawing from influences such as Led Zeppelin, Sevendust and the Black Crowes, Marashino effectively couples complex guitar arrangements with lead singer Eric LaBrosse's vocals, which range from soothing to scalding. While grounded in pop sensibility, Marashino's songs consistently retain a razor-sharp edge. If you threw Alice In Chains' "Dirt" and Pink Floyd's "Animals" into a blender, the result would probably be something close to Marashino. "After listening to Marashino, you know you've been rocked," drummer Joey Zak said. "When on stage, we all get into the music, and that makes our shows fun to see as well as fun to hear," said Nick Mendini, bass player. Marashino has risen from playing sparsely attended shows in unheated warehouses to opening for national acts Collective Soul and Seether as well as recording two EPs: "Marashino" in 2003 and "Diseased Room" in 2004. Both recordings have received airplay on local radio stations. While continuing to play shows and write songs in 2005, Marashino will also be shopping a two-song demo to major record labels. |
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