Centerstage MN is a Fool for Marc Gartman

by Doug MacRostie

When your muse is working it's important to embrace that flow and let the creativity out, and that is something that Marc Gartman has definitely done over the last couple of years. With 4 albums released in the last year (and 3 or 4 the year before...), Marc has clearly been inspired. Marc is the songwriter, singer and one of the banjo players with Two Many Banjos - but when he puts the banjo down the music is then released by The Marc Gartband, and Marc will be talking with me about the new album "I Am A Fool For You" this Thursday night at 6 on Centerstage MN.

From Duluth, Marc also performs/records with Coyote, Nice Bears and Little Grey House. The new album is another outstanding collection of songs, and this time Marc did the songwriting and recording on an Irish Bouzouki - an instrument he first picked up to play with Little Grey House. "I Am A Fool For You" has a great mix of sounds and styles, from sweetly-slick love songs like "Till There's Nothing Left" to wordly exotic songs like "Abu Dhabi." Each time Marc releases a new album I think it's his "best writing yet" and this album is no exception - be sure to tune in for this interview with Marc Gartman!

I'll also be doing a demo set - and just because the sound quality is a little lo-fi doesn't mean the creativity, energy and passion isn't shining brightly :) We'll hear from The Rosebud Social, a garage rock/indie folk band that has been making original music in Grand Rapids for almost 10 years. And Zombie Season from Minneapolis, sort of a post-punk rock band with a lot of creativity and gothic imagery - perhaps you could describe it as indie-vampire-opera, idk :p And we'll hear from another Grand Rapids songwriter, Pat Deal. Pat has strong pop influences with an obvious enjoyment of punk attitude.

Centerstage MN is Thursday evenings at 6, streaming live online at www.KAXE.org; or 91.7 Grand Rapids, 89.9 Brainerd and 105.3 Bemidji. All interviews are archived at www.KAXE.org and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.

An Acoustic Edition of Centerstage MN... (not really)

by Doug MacRostie

Tonight on Centerstage MN I'll be joined in the studio by local singer songwriter Pat Deal, he'll bring along his guitar for some live music and conversation. Pat writes his own music and also does covers ranging from The Beatles to They Might Be Giants. His original music (that I've heard) ranges from an indie rock sound similar to Sean Lennon to more of a pop-punk feel similar to Green Day. I'll talk with him about songwriting and the music scene in Grand Rapids.

I've got a new CD from Bill and Kate Isles called "Matching Baggage," which has that classic Bill Isles friendly-folk sound. His wife Kate has sung with him on previous CDs, but I believe this is the first time they have co-released an album. And I've got a brand new recording from Kiki and Greg of Dancing Light that they recording while in Florida last month.

Take Cover, the pop-rockers out of Minneapolis w/ bass player Chad Snell from Marcell, have recorded an acoustic version of one of their songs, and we'll hear that along with another new song from the all female indie rockers Sick of Sarah self titled debut release.

And, not only will we see the light, we'll love it, fear it and get over it all in one set of music with The Ophovens Family Band, Charlie Parr and Two Many Banjos. Also Haley Bonar, Matt Hoskins and Hattie Peterson.

Oh, and some exciting news - I've got an interview/in-studio performance scheduled with The Hobo Nephews of Uncle Frank which will be coming up in June - they're latest EP release is One for the Time Capsule and we'll hear a new song off that tonight as well.

Centerstage MN is every Thursday evening at 6 streaming live at KAXE.org, or 91.7 in Grand Rapids, 89.9 in Brainerd and 105.3 in Bemidji. All interview from Centerstage MN are also archived at KAXE.org, and the show is rebroadcast Sunday mornings at 6.