Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
‘Soul-influenced psychedelic Southern rock’
Singer. Songwriter. Guitarist. Bandleader.
Marcus King has accomplished all that and, at age 21, the Washington Post already calls him “one of music’s next great guitarists — a virtuosic talent capable of playing blues, rock, R&B, country, soul and more.”
But ask King how he describes the Marcus King Band’s fiery brand of American roots music and he’ll describe it as “soul-influenced psychedelic Southern rock.”
Fans can decide for themselves when the Marcus King Band plays The Revelry Room tonight.
Raised in Greenville, S.C., King was brought up on the blues, playing shows by the time he was a preteen as sideman for his father, bluesman Marvin King, who was also the son of a regionally known guitarist. By age 12, King had his own band.
The Marcus King Band released its debut album, “Soul Insight” in October 2015. It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Blues Albums Chart.
The band’s second fulllength LP, and first on Fantasy Records, was released one year later. The album was written entirely on the road and recorded during sessions at Carriage House Studios in Connecticut.
The album features King on lead vocals and guitar, Jack Ryan on drums and percussion, Stephen Campbell on bass, Matt Jennings on keys and organ, Dean Mitchell on saxophone and Justin Johnson on trumpet, trombone and backing vocals.
The album also showcased some of King’s mentors, including Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes. That album surpassed the success of the first and reached No. 2 on Billboard Blues Albums Chart.
The album captures the energy of the band’s blazing live show, as well as displaying the talent of a young songwriter reaching well beyond his years.
“The majority of our songs are specific to situations I’ve lived,” King says. “I write as a form of therapy, to release my emotions into a musical expression. Music is the true healer. And when we perform, we want the audience to leave feeling as tired and as emotionally freed as we do. It’s all about getting the stress of the day off your chest.”