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Jake Marsh Trio / Blog

MR. USA (a "sick" album, or an album...sick?)

August, 2014. Jake Marsh Trio did what we always do to get ready for a new EP. Pre-Production. We sat at the loft-style home studio in Mill Creek, WA dubbed "The Darkhorse Room" and banged out the demos of 6 songs ('Freak in the City', 'The Seams', 'Old Top Hat', 'What a Parade', 'Bulldog Blues' and a track that I had written after waking up on on the couch in the control room in the studio, 'Ain't Nothin Left')

The "JMT" EP came out online in March of this year followed by June 2015, Summer Festival "CD Release Promo" but it was recorded in late 2014. Here is the story of why this one has a special place in my heart:

The demos we had done in a week were solid and the plan was to come back and go full speed ahead at BSW USA Studio A in Tacoma, WA in September after my scheduled back surgery and record and produce our first EP of new material in 5 years by ourselves and document the whole process on video. Easy, right?

After my (what was supposed to be "in and out") surgery, I found out that I had a post-op infection that had gone into my spine. It was so bad I ended up on a constant IV and at times could not walk or move.

Needless to say, this made recording a challenge. We had to delay.

When we started, day 1 was basically drums and bass and me passed out in a chair, getting up only to lay down a scratch track or to go into the bathroom to infuse my IV. Its on video but I do not wish to see that footage.

The next day, the guys called me and said that we needed to hold off until I was better and that they were concerned about my health.

I was so mad because I wanted to play music and get a new recording out so bad but I had new respect for the band because I knew they cared.

When we did start, we got to work on all the songs we demo-ed at Darkhorse. We stayed true to the raw, live sound that we were going after. Our previous EP was VERY pop & "polished".

The airy, hippy-ish, "The Seams" was shelved and replaced with a straight up funky/soul song I brought into the studio as an idea and we recorded on the fly called, "Maybe I Don't".

The song features slamming drums and a screaming keyboard solo from Eric Robert. It is probably my favorite song on the record.

I remember asking engineer, Sean Walker to,"make the chorus sound more like Michael Jackson, Speed Demon" when he mixed it. (You'll get it now if you hear it)

Here is "Maybe I Don't": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiGT6NSQNLE

We played one small acoustic show at the Spotted Cow in Mill Creek in the Fall to test the new stuff. I was able to sit the whole time and I did not mention that I had a PICC line (IV) and hid my "restricted limb" bracelet, It just felt good to play.

We had some other stuff booked but we had to cancel it due to "Health Reasons."

The entire EP was recorded while I was sick. The guys drove me to sessions, they lifted me up. They wheeled me around. They waited for me to be done "shooting up" as they would call it when I was taking my medicine.

The end result...its not noticeable. Personally, I think its better than our last. I am very proud of how we came together and the support we gave each other musically and otherwise.

We joked about calling it "MR. USA" because of the MRSA in my spine. In the liner notes, we thank "him."

We spaced out the editing and mixing process while my daughter was born and the infection came back even worse during that time but what eventually resulted was something I am extremely proud of.

The "JMT" EP is and was indeed a "labor of love" that we got to share with you this year.

Hopefully our next one doesn't take 5 years! Rock on...- Jake The fun parts are captured here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GfCbIC7Xbw

JMT EP in March (What & what NOT to expect)

JM talks new EP - Rewind back to 2012: "The EP was supposed to come out during this time but I was personally at a place where I wasn't sure if I even wanted to pick up a guitar anymore. We would play shows every once in a while but it was almost painful. I was in such a funk. Nobody knew but I was about ready to throw in the towel. There was just a lot going on. Music wasn't "fun" anymore. That's not how it's supposed to be." Fast fwd to Summer 2014: "I was spending a lot of time at a rehearsal space, being creative and re-discovering fun and just got the bug again. This time around we decided to write "for us"...meaning...these are songs that we like, first. We're not trying to, "get signed or make someone else happy as #1 priority. The goal is to make people dance and laugh and smile and have a good time." What to Expect: "Lie Me Down was a great EP with some great pop music, but if people are expecting Georgia or Run part 2, they may be disappointed. The vibe is there but we honestly hope we've evolved since 2010. We called it JMT because it's just us, it's simple. Like, well...here we are." Whats Next: The Trio will release a short "Making of" video with studio footage and interviews on social media outlets and the track "Freak in the City" will be available for FREE shortly before the EP comes out in March, 2015. CD release show TBA.

JMT HITS THE STUDIO THIS SUMMER

There have been a few setbacks along the way but the Trio is officially hitting the studio in late Summer, 2014 to record a follow up to 2010's, "Lie Me Down". This will be the band's first studio effort with drummer, Nigel Goodridge. The EP will feature at least 5-6 tracks including an uptempo number called, "Freak in the City". The band will be going into the project with the intent to capture a raw, less polished sound and don't be surprised if a few of the tracks include horns or a saxophone in place of a guitar solo. "This one is about having fun and feeling good. There's not too much depth to it lyrically. Hopefully you can push play and smile." (JM)

JM TALKS NEW MUSIC 2012

There are a few new tracks being played live at JMT shows. One tune is the somewhat out of place & Doors-esque "Bulldog Blues". JM explains the stories behind the new music:

JM:

"The song "The Seams" is really upbeat and has a bit of a hippie feel to it. I just started thinking about and visualizing what it would look and feel like to be having a great time at a concert in the 60's or something. I just wrote the trippiest lyrics I could. Its not about being on drugs (don't let the dragons & rainbows fool you) or anything destructive like that...Its about feeling free. Its meant to be weird but you can feel good listening to it.

"Bulldog Blues" is about the people in life that try to drag you down or tell lies about your and talk mess to make themselves feel better. I picture that type of person as a big slobbering bulldog, bogarting and shoving their way all over the place...knocking crap over etc.

I was so angry when I sang it that in the demo I'm literally screaming. I felt like I just finished a fight and won after I layed the vocal down. Its like nothing we've ever played before. The lyrics are very personal. Yes, it is indirectly written about a specific individual or two...but so are most of my songs.

None of this stuff is supposed to be too deep or super reflective. Its supposed to be fun! Nobody should get their feelings hurt. Its music. I'd think it was cool if someone wrote a song about me. Even if the picture wasn't too pretty."