articles
Marian
from volume 02 issue 02 // MacKenzie Pause
Marian
Words: MacKenzie Pause
Photos: Taylor Ranney
On Mother’s Day, Marian played to a full room at The Front in Bradenton. A captivated crowd gave their undivided attention to the atmospheric instrumental melodies that filled the room. Electric piano beautifully intertwined with clean guitar tones quickly set a calming mood amongst the audience.
Marian began in September 2006 and has since created music that has been compared to American Football, Mute Math, Explosions In The Sky and This Day And Age. However, none of these bands sum up or really even sound like Marian, and hearing it with your own ears is the only way to fully understand the beauty of their melodic compositions.
On the door to Marian’s practice space, a poster of Uncle Sam pointing his finger with the words “I Want You To Practice Everyday” greeted me. The ambiance was quickly set when the fluorescent lights were replaced with mood lighting. I immersed myself in Marian’s music chambers on the second floor of one of the member’s churches. This room is the perfect setting for the band’s greatness to come to fruition. Their gear surrounded us but with a deafening silence. I secretly wanted to beg them to play, but instead got to know the three founding members of the Bradenton band a little better.
Myk Moore (guitar, keys) sat comfortably on the floor talking about the bands inception. When I asked the guys what made them decide to be an instrumental band, the three laughed instantly.
“That’s not the plan,” Jacob-David Peterson (drums, percussion) answered.
“I used to be in another instrumental band,” Ryan Willis (guitar, keys) said. “So I’m used to writing instrumental music.”
Marian thinks there could be room for vocals in their music someday, but doesn’t want to force it.
“We don’t want to write the music just for vocals,” Moore added. “We don’t want to downgrade the music.”
Before they find a singer, bass guitar needs more attention at the moment. Live, the band performs with two fill-ins, but they are currently seeking a permanent bassist.
Even without a bassist, composing music shouldn’t be a problem for Marian. The three have been playing their instruments for quite some time and played in various other local bands.
“I pretty much grew up with a guitar in my hand,” Willis said.
Moore interjected, “Actually when he came out, he had a guitar in hand.”
Willis laughed, “Yeah, it was the first thing the doctors saw.”
While each member has contributed music to the Sarasota and Bradenton scenes in the past, they’re confident Marian has something new to offer the area, which seemingly attracts more hardcore bands than melodic instrumentals.
“People that come to our shows actually appreciate the music,” Peterson said. “They’ll thank us for playing something different.”
Not only is their music giving something original back to the Bradenton scene, but their pet grooming idea will make me a fan of the band for years to come. No, you can’t bring your pet to a show to have the band give your dog a spa treatment. I’m giving away their best kept secret, but it’s just so clever I have to share. The blog on their myspace page simply reads “Pet Grooming, We will be doing work in a city near you!” I felt compelled to have the band elaborate on this very seemingly misplaced band blog.
“We don’t want to give away the secret,” Willis began. “A lot of bands had their stuff stolen because people could recognize it was a band with stickers all over the van or trailer. So, we’re going to have Marian Pet Grooming on the side of our trailer. One of the slogans was ‘We Do Animals.’”
Laughing, Willis said: “I think we’re gonna stick with ‘We Put The Grr in Grooming.’ We thought it might be better for warding people off from stealing our stuff.”
Marian won’t bring a mobile pet grooming unit to their next show, but they will bring a full, powerful set of piano and guitar instrumental rock.
Members of Marian are passionate, talented, genuinely nice guys who even named the band in tribute to Moore’s grandmother after her passing. What’s not to like?
Check out Marian’s music at www.myspace.com/flmarian help them find a permanent bassist and see their live performance June 16, 2007 at Lillian’s Music Store in Lakeland with Eighth Hour Romance, Terra Terra Terra and The Acclaim.
Words: MacKenzie Pause
Photos: Taylor Ranney
On Mother’s Day, Marian played to a full room at The Front in Bradenton. A captivated crowd gave their undivided attention to the atmospheric instrumental melodies that filled the room. Electric piano beautifully intertwined with clean guitar tones quickly set a calming mood amongst the audience.
Marian began in September 2006 and has since created music that has been compared to American Football, Mute Math, Explosions In The Sky and This Day And Age. However, none of these bands sum up or really even sound like Marian, and hearing it with your own ears is the only way to fully understand the beauty of their melodic compositions.
On the door to Marian’s practice space, a poster of Uncle Sam pointing his finger with the words “I Want You To Practice Everyday” greeted me. The ambiance was quickly set when the fluorescent lights were replaced with mood lighting. I immersed myself in Marian’s music chambers on the second floor of one of the member’s churches. This room is the perfect setting for the band’s greatness to come to fruition. Their gear surrounded us but with a deafening silence. I secretly wanted to beg them to play, but instead got to know the three founding members of the Bradenton band a little better.
Myk Moore (guitar, keys) sat comfortably on the floor talking about the bands inception. When I asked the guys what made them decide to be an instrumental band, the three laughed instantly.
“That’s not the plan,” Jacob-David Peterson (drums, percussion) answered.
“I used to be in another instrumental band,” Ryan Willis (guitar, keys) said. “So I’m used to writing instrumental music.”
Marian thinks there could be room for vocals in their music someday, but doesn’t want to force it.
“We don’t want to write the music just for vocals,” Moore added. “We don’t want to downgrade the music.”
Before they find a singer, bass guitar needs more attention at the moment. Live, the band performs with two fill-ins, but they are currently seeking a permanent bassist.
Even without a bassist, composing music shouldn’t be a problem for Marian. The three have been playing their instruments for quite some time and played in various other local bands.“I pretty much grew up with a guitar in my hand,” Willis said.
Moore interjected, “Actually when he came out, he had a guitar in hand.”
Willis laughed, “Yeah, it was the first thing the doctors saw.”
While each member has contributed music to the Sarasota and Bradenton scenes in the past, they’re confident Marian has something new to offer the area, which seemingly attracts more hardcore bands than melodic instrumentals.
“People that come to our shows actually appreciate the music,” Peterson said. “They’ll thank us for playing something different.”
Not only is their music giving something original back to the Bradenton scene, but their pet grooming idea will make me a fan of the band for years to come. No, you can’t bring your pet to a show to have the band give your dog a spa treatment. I’m giving away their best kept secret, but it’s just so clever I have to share. The blog on their myspace page simply reads “Pet Grooming, We will be doing work in a city near you!” I felt compelled to have the band elaborate on this very seemingly misplaced band blog.
“We don’t want to give away the secret,” Willis began. “A lot of bands had their stuff stolen because people could recognize it was a band with stickers all over the van or trailer. So, we’re going to have Marian Pet Grooming on the side of our trailer. One of the slogans was ‘We Do Animals.’”
Laughing, Willis said: “I think we’re gonna stick with ‘We Put The Grr in Grooming.’ We thought it might be better for warding people off from stealing our stuff.”
Marian won’t bring a mobile pet grooming unit to their next show, but they will bring a full, powerful set of piano and guitar instrumental rock.
Members of Marian are passionate, talented, genuinely nice guys who even named the band in tribute to Moore’s grandmother after her passing. What’s not to like?
Check out Marian’s music at www.myspace.com/flmarian help them find a permanent bassist and see their live performance June 16, 2007 at Lillian’s Music Store in Lakeland with Eighth Hour Romance, Terra Terra Terra and The Acclaim.
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