My Morning Jacket

Off-Topic => Other Music => Topic started by: Shug on Nov 03, 2016, 01:54 PM

Title: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Nov 03, 2016, 01:54 PM
A Southern soulful jaz- rock jamming protoge of Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, this kid can play his ass off and his vocals sound way more mature than someone age 20.  He sings like Warren Haynes.  The band keeps up with him, too.

I am going to see him live for my first time in a couple weeks, can't frickin' wait!

Here is a complete show that smokes the entire way through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm5xBlm3-IE

Here is a part of that show doing some Zeppelin and Sabbath

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqp8mW2H0
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: davymac on Nov 04, 2016, 06:23 AM
Quote from: Shug on Nov 03, 2016, 01:54 PM
A Southern soulful jaz- rock jamming protoge of Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, this kid can play his ass off and his vocals sound way more mature than someone age 20.  He sings like Warren Haynes.  The band keeps up with him, too.

I am going to see him live for my first time in a couple weeks, can't frickin' wait!

Here is a complete show that smokes the entire way through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm5xBlm3-IE

Here is a part of that show doing some Zeppelin and Sabbath

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XBqp8mW2H0

I think MKB is the future of the southern rock jam scene.  His vocals are outta this world.  He will be fun to watch!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Jbpats on Nov 04, 2016, 08:07 AM
Listened to their set from Mountain Jam earlier this summer, MK can definitely play but his style emulates Derek Trucks a bit too much in my opinion.. Not enough originality there.
As for vocals, decent voice but in all honesty thought he was a woman when I first heard him.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Nov 04, 2016, 01:57 PM
Originality is overrated, IMO, and nearly impossible to achieve.  I vastly prefer musicians to play with passion and skill than to try too hard to do something that hasn't been done before even if they sound exactly like great stuff that has come before. 

People said the same thing about Stevie Ray Vaughan, I always thought it was a bullshit criticism (sounds too much like Albert King or Hendirx, too derivative, etc).  If you blow the doors off the place with your guitar, you kick ass, in my book, Ha ha ha!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: oistheone on Jan 19, 2017, 12:20 PM
How was the show, Shug?? MKB is swinging through town on my birthday and I'm wondering if it'll be a fun enough night to celebrate to!!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: LBSUNFLWR on Jan 19, 2017, 03:15 PM
came here, read this. went to jambase, saw this: https://www.jambase.com/article/patience-virtue-marcus-king-mentor-warren-haynes-marcus-king-band
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Jan 31, 2017, 09:46 PM
Sorry this is late, O, hope you made the show if it already happened, if it hasn't happened yet, you GOTTA GO!!!

I mean there is nothing like seeing a guy this good in a small club.  The band has jazz rock jamming chops that can hold a candle to the masters, the Allmans.  People in the club were getting off and he was just the opening band.

Hilarious, me and some other dude were in the bathroom after the set raving about how great it was and how we went down to Tucson from Phoenix on a weeknight just to hear him do a short opening set and were just blown away.  Right on cue, Marcus comes out of a stall all smiles to hear us raving about him and us saying honest we didn't know you were listening! 

He is a very humble and friendly kid and very graciously accepted all the praise and love he got. 

He is the real fucking deal that is for sure and you won't truly get his power until you see him live in person! 

I mean I haven't been this blown away by a new discovery since I saw SRV for the first time in 1985.

Wow!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: APR on Feb 01, 2017, 08:16 PM
Based on your review Shug, I'll be checking Marcus King link you provided ASAP.  Best discovery since '85 is saying a lot.  That's great he got to overhear the high praise.  This Forum has introduced me to a lot of cool bands, and this sounds like it could be another one.  I'd love to see you in SF again (repeat of Masonic MMJ please) to thank you in person for turning me on to a great band. 
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Feb 02, 2017, 12:48 PM
There is always the risk of over-selling something and I tend to be on the passionate, enthusiastic side, but I did truly feel the way I felt when I first saw SRV live.  This kid, when he goes to start a solo, just immediately puts the pedal to the metal and takes off, just like SRV did.

I think about other youngish blues-based rock guitar greats I have been turned on to since SRV, like Derek Trucks, and I think Marcus King is on that same level, plus he has a real emotional passionate quality in his playing and stage demeanor that clicks with me.  You can just tell he is feeling it, he's inspired, he's fantastically gifted, and he's humble.  Its a rare fucking combo of qualities and I don't think many who like this style of rock will be disappointed seeing him live.

APR, I would love to hang again with ya for more Bay Area shows, I hope we get some Jacket there this year! If Magpie Salute play a run of shows in SF, that might get us up there again, too.  Let me know what you think of Marcus King and don't forget the true test is seeing him in person!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Feb 16, 2017, 01:06 PM
Can't stop listening to this. Thanks for the rec.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: oistheone on Feb 24, 2017, 01:18 PM
Still wiping off soot from my face after the Marcus King Band BURNED THE HORSESHOE TAVERN TO THE GROUND the other night! Hoooo mama Shug, you were not lying. What a smokin' band!! To call Marcus a virtuosic prodigy would be an understatement. His playing is literally out of this world. I don't think he looked at the fretboard once. It's all from the heart.

His six piece band deserves some major credit too. They were on par with soul vets like TTB in my mind. The sound was phenomenal and they handle themselves on stage like they've been doing this for decades.

There was no opener, so the venue let MKB rip it for almost three hours. I was hoping for that sick cover of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" they've been doing, but was not the least bit disappointed to get some Funkadelic, Beatles and Blind Faith covers instead.

These guys definitely won't be playing venues this small for long. They're going to be around for a long time.

And you called it, nicest guys ever. The entire band hung out after the show and were all smiles and grace, zero attitude. A+!!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: davymac on Feb 26, 2017, 09:29 AM
MKB is playing a free show in my home town in south GA next weekend and I'm going to miss it!  Super bummed about that, but I agree, these guys won't be playing in small venues for long...
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Feb 27, 2017, 12:19 PM
Quote from: oistheone on Feb 24, 2017, 01:18 PM
Still wiping off soot from my face after the Marcus King Band BURNED THE HORSESHOE TAVERN TO THE GROUND the other night! Hoooo mama Shug, you were not lying. What a smokin' band!! To call Marcus a virtuosic prodigy would be an understatement. His playing is literally out of this world. I don't think he looked at the fretboard once. It's all from the heart.

His six piece band deserves some major credit too. They were on par with soul vets like TTB in my mind. The sound was phenomenal and they handle themselves on stage like they've been doing this for decades.

There was no opener, so the venue let MKB rip it for almost three hours. I was hoping for that sick cover of "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" they've been doing, but was not the least bit disappointed to get some Funkadelic, Beatles and Blind Faith covers instead.

These guys definitely won't be playing venues this small for long. They're going to be around for a long time.

And you called it, nicest guys ever. The entire band hung out after the show and were all smiles and grace, zero attitude. A+!!

So glad to hear that, O!!  Glad you got a ripper and that it exceeded expectations that I admittedly set very high!  I'm jonesing to see them again on this tour not sure if they will come out West again as headliners.  I gotta see them again SOON!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Oct 27, 2017, 01:43 PM
new EP out today, haven't listened yet but heard it's scorching hot. a couple of live recordings!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Oct 29, 2017, 02:50 PM
New EP does indeed rip!  Lots of fiery playing and soulful singing on some really good tunes that don't sound like album leftovers, they easily could have made the cut.  The live jam is 14 minutes of shredding including a sweet bit of Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4, nice with the killer horn section!

Still waiting for a chance to see these guys headline a show, hope one comes my way soon.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: APR on Feb 16, 2018, 10:56 AM
Quote from: Shug on Oct 29, 2017, 02:50 PM
New EP does indeed rip!  Lots of fiery playing and soulful singing on some really good tunes that don't sound like album leftovers, they easily could have made the cut.  The live jam is 14 minutes of shredding including a sweet bit of Chicago's 25 or 6 to 4, nice with the killer horn section!

Still waiting for a chance to see these guys headline a show, hope one comes my way soon.

I saw these guys last night for the first time and thought of you.  They were the opening act and sounded great.  I really liked the band, the guitar solos, and music.  His voice isn't my favorite, and after seeing them, it's still not my favorite.  But they are fun for sure.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Feb 19, 2018, 11:37 AM
Hey APR!

I get that his voice might not be everyone's fave.  I don't really like listening to Warren Haynes sing all night long when he's the only vocalist in one of his bands and Marcus is similar to my ears but his voice sounds great to me.  Not sure why one clicks for me and the other does not but so it goes with musical appreciation.

I'm finally gonna get to see MKB a second time at the McDowell Mountain Music Festival in Phoenix next month and then we pulled the trigger on heading up to Red Rocks in July to see the last two nights of this year's Wheels of Soul tour with Tedeschi Trucks, MKB and Drive By Truckers.  Should be a good couple of shows with the sit ins and all that!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on May 07, 2018, 01:55 PM
FINALLY MKB COMING TO TEXAS!
Aug 24 - Houston, House Blues (Peacock room/small stage)
Aug 25 - Austin - Antones
Aug 26 - Dallas - HOB Cambridge room.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on May 07, 2018, 02:22 PM
I was just gonna post these new dates, too, for the folks who might live near a show. We get three headlining shows here in AZ as well, nice!  Sure would like to see him headline the Troubador in Los Angeles...

July 31 at Slowdown in Omaha, NE
Aug 1 at Knuckleheads Saloon in Kansas City, MO
Aug 3 at Plaza Theatre in Glasgow, KY
Aug 4 at Legend Vally in Thornville, OH
Aug 16 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre in Wilmington, NC
Aug 18 at Hot August Music Festival in Cockeysville, MD
Aug 19 at Burley Oak in Berlin, MD
Aug 22 at Duling Hall in Jackson, MS
Aug 23 at Tipitina's in New Orleans, LA
Aug 24 at House of Blues - Bronze Peacock in Houston, TX
Aug 25 at Antone's Nightclub in Austin, TX
Aug 26 at House of Blues - Cambridge Room in Dallas, TX
Aug 29 at Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque, NM
Aug 30 at The Green Room in Flagstaff, A
Aug 31 at Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, AZ
Sep 1 at 191 Toole in Tucson, AZ
Sep 4 at Belly Up in Solana Beach, CA
Sep 6 at Troubadour in Los Angeles, CA
Sep 7-8 at Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV
Sep 11 at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, CA
Sep 12 at Mystic Theatre in Petaluma, CA
Sep 14 at The Commonwealth Room in Salt Lake City, UT
Sep 15 at Telluride Blues & Brews Festival in Telluride, CO
Sep 18 at Bourbon Theatre in Lincoln, NE
Sep 22 at Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion in Bristol, TN
Sep 23 at Bogart's in Cincinnati, OH
Sep 26 at Thalia Hall in Chicago, IL
Sep 27 at Amsterdam Bar and Hall in St. Paul, MN
Sep 30 at Turner Hall Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on May 07, 2018, 03:25 PM
haha sorry about that, guess i should've posted the whole tour date list :embarrassed:
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on May 07, 2018, 04:42 PM
I didn't mean it to sound like that or grandstand ya, mmjtx!  This is the kind of tour you could logistically see a couple straight nights, I'll have to see if I'm up for that!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on May 07, 2018, 06:36 PM
oh i know! i just got so excited, definitely thinking of hitting all the Texas shows, would be awesome to see them in such small venues.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Aug 02, 2018, 12:03 PM
Just saw Marcus and band open for Tedeschi Trucks on the last two nights of the Wheels of Soul tour 2018 at Red Rocks.  Both sets were a mere 40 minutes.

I've only seen Marcus once, in an opening set well over a year ago. Before the shows, I wondered if maybe I'd built him up so much in my mind that they couldn't really live up to my expectations.  In the first 30 seconds of his first song, that idea was banished to a far off galaxy by the mind-bending, soul-lifting, ecstasy-inducing intensity, passion, mastery and inspiration of his music. 

The SRV comparisons I have made in the past were only reinforced.  The feeling I got from seeing Marcus was the same I got from seeing SRV.  Its total inspiration from the Divine straight into Marcus and straight out of his guitar.  He is a force of nature, a genius of his craft making it seem effortless.  He and SRV are the best guitar players I have seen live.

His set on the second night that peaked with Derek Trucks sitting in on an instrumental version of Les McCann's Compared To What, is now in my top five live experiences of all time.  It left me speechless in ecstasy at what I had just heard. The raging blues rock, of course, but the Memphis soul/R&B and good God, the funky jazz!!!  This shit is on the level of Miles and Coltrane and Hendrix and SRV for me.

And that is even before he came out to sit in with Tedeschi Trucks on an incendiary In Memory of Elizabeth Reed!

I CANNOT stop RAVING about the brilliance of Marcus fucking King!!!

Three more shows, all headlining ones, for me at the end of this month and I cannot fucking wait!!!!

Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: rkwedge on Aug 02, 2018, 12:28 PM
Nice write up Shug. Good God him and Derek Trucks, must have been amazing. Isn't Carl playing at the Marcus King Band Family reunion in Oct.? Would love to see those two do something together also.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Aug 02, 2018, 03:06 PM
Ever since I heard (i think from this board) about MKB about a year and a half ago, I have been obsessed and patiently waiting for a tour through Texas. Well he's coming through next month and playing at some very small venues (couple hundred) that im super pumped about. Thinking of making the tri-fecta trip (Houston -> Austin -> Dallas) all in one weekend.

Loved reading your review from his RR sets. Really thought about going to those.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: APR on Aug 03, 2018, 09:25 AM
Wow Shug.  That's high praise coming from you.  It's so great that he can blow your mind like that.  Enjoy the trifecta of solo shows.  I bet they'll be both longer and better (although that sounds impossible after reading your review).
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Aug 06, 2018, 11:36 AM
Yeah, APR, what a gift from the universe to have another musician of this caliber who makes me feel that way come along.  I really didn't think it would happen in my lifetime after SRV passed away.  I know its high praise, but its sincere.  Of course not everyone is gonna respond the way I do, but MKB hits all the buttons for me, given my tastes and preferences.

Also these sets were short opening sets and it seemed like he crammed all the intensity of a 2 hour show into 40 minutes, which is incredible all by itself.  Plus the setting of Red Rocks, being the special invited guests of TTB, the last two nights of the tour, lots of variables probably came into play to make these special.  I'm also not sure it can be topped or equaled, but I'm gonna find out!

I only saw SRV 9 times before he passed.  I'm older and wiser now, I know when someone like this comes along, I'm going as many times as I possibly can because life is short and you never know what's going to happen.
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Murph on Aug 14, 2018, 09:01 AM
You sold me... just bought tickets for their NYC show in November
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Aug 15, 2018, 02:06 PM
I hope you enjoy it.

I remember when SRV was alive and I was raving the same way about him plenty of people were dismissive of him - "he plays too many notes"  "he doesn't have real bluesman authenticity like Albert King and his influences"  "His brother Jimmy is way better because he knows how to be restrained".  All entitled to their opinion, but I thought they were fucking crazy.  Marcus, like SRV, comes out, puts the pedal to the medal and goes from 0 to 120 mph instantly.  He doesn't let up and he never runs out of ideas.  Its not everyone's cup of tea but is sure as hell is mine!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Aug 15, 2018, 04:55 PM
I am so pumped about next week, i'm going to see him in Houston on Friday 8/24 and in Dallas on Sunday 8/26!!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Derek713 on Aug 16, 2018, 01:33 PM
Quote from: MMJTX on Aug 15, 2018, 04:55 PM
I am so pumped about next week, i'm going to see him in Houston on Friday 8/24 and in Dallas on Sunday 8/26!!

I'll see you at the Houston show. A buddy of mine went to grab his ticket today after me hounding him not to miss it, and it's sold out. You are in for a treat. We caught him in Telluride last year (3 times in 2 days), and it was awesome!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Aug 16, 2018, 02:13 PM
Quote from: Derek713 on Aug 16, 2018, 01:33 PM
Quote from: MMJTX on Aug 15, 2018, 04:55 PM
I am so pumped about next week, i'm going to see him in Houston on Friday 8/24 and in Dallas on Sunday 8/26!!

I'll see you at the Houston show. A buddy of mine went to grab his ticket today after me hounding him not to miss it, and it's sold out. You are in for a treat. We caught him in Telluride last year (3 times in 2 days), and it was awesome!

Sounds good Derek! It's been a while since we've ran into each other at a show!
I also told a buddy to get tix but he waited too long, he may end up getting a resale ticket for more though. Gonna be crammed in that little room but I'm excited
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Aug 26, 2018, 02:36 PM
New songs, sounds like Marcus is taking the songwriting to another level!




https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2018/08/21/640348035/the-marcus-king-band-is-tenacious-and-vulnerable-on-two-new-songs
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: Shug on Sep 02, 2018, 02:56 PM
MMJTX and Derek713, how were the shows you saw in Texas last week?

I made Phoenix and Tucson, did not make it to Flagstaff.  The Tucson show last night was the best I've seen them, it just seems to get better and better to me.  My thoughts during the show were that Marcus is the greatest guitarist alive today.  It just doesn't seem to be even a question, his playing is so staggeringly brilliant to me that it seems to me beyond obvious that he is the greatest in the world right now.  I'm racking my brain thinking of other guitar players alive and still playing are even in the conversation.  Derek Trucks for sure, especially the way he used to play with Warren Haynes when they were in the Allman Brothers, but now Derek's style is more gradual crescendos and a smooth flowing style that does not overpower, while Marcus is far more intense, non-stop rapid-fire shredding, but still so lyrical and melodic, which is what speaks to me more, so that is just my personal preference for Marcus over Derek based just on style, not ability or feel or passion.

Eric Johnson?  Larry Carlton? John McLaughlin? Jeff Beck?  Steve Vai? Joe Bonnamassa? I don't think so, not for me anyway. Certainly not Page or Clapton or Eddie Van Halen anymore. Same for Santana, Blackmore, Gilmour. Gary Clark Jr, Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Johnny Lang not in the same league at all. Warren Haynes doesn't play that way anymore.  Dickey Betts lost all his sharpness years ago. I can't think of anyone better than Marcus. Who else could be considered?

The highlight of Tucson was a 15 minute In Memory of Elizabeth Reed with Drew Smithers from opening band Bishop Gunn on second guitar, a Les Paul.  He is an excellent soloist and was a great foil to Marcus for dual/dueling leads. It was a mind-blowing display of passionate intensity and virtuosity and a loving celebratory homage to Duane and Dickey and the music they created.

I feel bad for those people who have been invited to see Marcus play live in clubs and have turned it down.  Talk about being on the wrong side of history.   It will be just like "My friends asked me to go see Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1984 and I turned them down. I was an idiot, what the fuck was I thinking?!?!"
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: WickedMessenger on Sep 02, 2018, 03:53 PM
Seeing him play on Tuesday in San Diego.  That is quite endorsement, looking forward to it!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Sep 04, 2018, 10:06 AM
So long story short I ended up having to leave the Houston show a little bit early, I made it over half-way through his set before having to leave (trust me, not my choice haha) but i knew i'd be seeing them in Dallas on sunday so i couldn't protest too much. What i saw in Houston was great! But what i saw in Dallas was straight fire.

It was a blast because i brought along 5 friends 3 of which had never heard or seen him and all of them were blown away.
MKB did a cover of Ohio that was awesome.

Was such a treat seeing him in a small venue with only 200-300 people, can't imagine that will be the case on his next go around in Texas!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: DaydreamNation on Aug 06, 2021, 06:18 PM
Bump!

Seeing this dude live for the first time ever tonight, very excited. STL has been getting some great shows post-pandemic
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Aug 09, 2021, 08:44 AM
Awesome! He's so great live. Enjoy your show!
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: MMJTX on Oct 26, 2021, 01:50 PM
2022 Tour Dates announced

https://marcuskingband.com/ (https://marcuskingband.com/)
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: ChiefOKONO on Jul 06, 2022, 02:48 PM
How Marcus King Turned a Dark Period Into a Blistering Rock Album

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/marcus-king-anxiety-new-album-young-blood-1377343/
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: ChiefOKONO on Sep 20, 2022, 07:29 PM
Been loving his new album!!!  Some really tasty guitar work and good grooves!

Anyone else into it?
Title: Re: Marcus King Band
Post by: ChiefOKONO on Oct 11, 2022, 06:49 PM
Just saw his show and it was simply awesome!  He is the new King!

I love how he just released and album and now he is recording the follow up already!