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Described by many as a band where every member has equal shred capabilities, Mars Retrieval Unit brings it to the table with their fusion of spacey funk, rock and psychedelia. As a unit, MRU defines the word genre-hoppers, and leaves no musical rock unturned and no minds un-spaced. The music is sometimes danceable, sometimes cerebral, with both female and male vocals cutting through a densely crafted wall of sound. With the addition of saxophone to a jam band - you will hear nothing else like it. Through the years, the band has waxed and waned; first formed in Florida by guitarist Rob Sipsky in 2004, then resurrected in Portland with sax/singer Chelsea Luker in 2005, the search for like-minded musicians was completed in 2008 with the addition of bassist Joel Davis, drummer Murray Gusseck and Joshua Birns-Sprague on keyboards. Since then, MRU has made great strides to dominate the jam scene in the NW, and has played at many key clubs in Portland, rocked the local festivals, and played throughout Oregon, Idaho and Washington. They have opened for Karl Denson at the Crystal Ballroom, The Motet at Mt. Tabor Theater, Hot Buttered Rum at the Oregon Brewer's Festival, New Monsoon at the Doug Fir and many other West Coast bands. In addition to club shows, the band has tried to unite the Portland jam scene, and has hosted and produced many private warehouse and house events that bring like-minded bands together as one big crazy family. This last year MRU has worked diligently to release their debut album, Two Sides, utilizing the advantage of all-access studio space and Joel's engineering expertise to self-produce something that lets shine their songwriting skills, vocal capabilities and improvisation skills, even including free jam sections on the album. The listener will pick up on many of the band's musical influences, which include: Phish, Joni Mitchell, Zappa, Rush, Yes, Parliament, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads and the list goes on..
“Honestly, the music on 2010’s “Two Sides” is far too immense to be flattened into bits and shot through speakers under a roof of any kind. Nay, it’s meant to billow unburdened over expanses of rapt humanity. The quintet’s versatility is ridiculously encyclopedic, flooded with virtuosity in progressive rock, jazz, street-gristle funk, thoughtful vamps ’n’ noodles, gape-maw’d psychedelia, dreamscape boogie — every form possible packed by masters into an interstellar jam.”
Cory Frye - Gazette Times
“Stars from Mars
Taking the musical route progressive jam bands take will rarely lead you to routine commercial airplay – just ask Phish. However, if you win the spacey psychedelic rock festival crowd over, you pretty much are set for your touring life – just ask Phish. Portland’s Mars Retrieval Unit is a left-of-center sonically ambitious group in the Phish vein, stirring prog rock, jam rock, space trippy music, funk, jazz and even some Bjork-like wanderings into one heady stew that Frank Zappa’s ghost breathed a “Boo!” over. The group features Chelsea Luker on vocals, sax and flute; Rob Sipsky on vocals and guitar; Joel Davis on bass; Joshua Birns-Sprague on piano and synthesizers; and Murray Gusseck on drums. MRU is releasing its first album, the 11-track “Two Sides,” which features a guest appearance by Zappa guitar alumnus Ike Willis. The Martians share the stage with hootsy rootsy Fruition and funky danceable hip hoppish Outpost.”
Rob Cullivan - Portland Tribune
“Guitarist Rob Sipsky and vocalist/saxophonist Chelsea Luker have been steadily working hard at Mars Retrieval Unit for several years now, honing their psychedelic-funk sound through various lineups. With the release of their first album Two Sides, the local band has fully arrived, boasting a rich amalgam of influences and stunning musicianship that would put other bands to shame. To celebrate the record's release, the band is headlining the hallowed Crystal Ballroom, but such an impressive gig did not come unearned: Mars Retrieval Unit has been steadily playing around town and building up a devoted following, one show at a time. Now sounding better than ever, they seem perfectly poised to go national—you can expect them to make a Bonnaroo crowd very happy at some point in the near future.”
NED LANNAMANN - The Portland Mercury
“People have been partying for some time now, and the energy in the air is thick.
I didn’t realize just how thick the air was until Mars Retrieval Unit finally took the stage. It was so funky in there you could smell it, no holds barred. It seemed like people were coming out of the woodwork. Their fusion of the psychedelic and the funky were a match made in heaven. What made this band so interesting was the song structure. The interplay between an almost pop song and straight funk, with their use of spacey synthesizers layered on a lush Hammond was enough to make any alien’s head turn.
It’s been a long time since I came away from a Halloween and felt truly satisfied, whether it was tearing up the town or a party. This was the first time in quite a while that I felt the spirit of Halloween still alive and kicking inside of me. So I guess the lesson here is: go see live music, kiddies.”
Ryan Lory - Oregon Music News
“Interview with Mars Retrieval Unit:
1. I must say, the band name is pretty "out there," probably meaning that MRU has a pretty good sense of humor. What exactly is a "Mars Retrieval Unit" and how did it become the band name?
Well, Murray claims that his PE coach was Mr. U, but he was not assimilated until much later- coincidence? Mars Retrieval Unit is an advanced transportation device that retrieves the dancing soul and takes it to Mars. The MRU was discovered in a torn up room in the swamps of Northern Florida in 2004; Rob had been calling to it from the pyramid in which he resided whilst experimenting with advanced technology.
2. You guys have been to the River City Saloon before — enough times to get a live recording out of one of the gigs, even. What have the Hood River crowds been like and what has the response been for past shows here?
See website for full interview....”
Jim Drake - Hood River News
