"Following the success of previous bands, Railroad Jerk and White Hassle, Marcellus Hall set out to make a new sound. With with an acoustic guitar and harmonica, Hall holed up in his NYC apartment and crafted the songs that would make up his debut solo effort, "The First Line." The album unveils a softer side for Hall while retaining the acute wordplay that characterizes his best work. The songs combine sardonic wit, a melancholic wistfulness, and a "now" sensibility to create what will sure to be one of this year's best albums. Don’t be surprised to find a spate of independent films sporting tracks from this gem in coming years. With a nod toward American folk and country traditions, the music does not fall into any alt-country or singer-songwriter ghettos. Instead, Hall references (sometimes like a bull in a china shop) texting, emailing, and the very act of songwriting itself (the title track) in his lyrics.
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With help from bassists Damon Smith (Hall's right hand man since 2005) and Michael Duclos (Joan Baez, etc.), and drummers Jimmy Ansourian (20 Miles) and Phil Puleo (Cop Shoot Cop); "The First Line" includes arrangements both lush and sparse. The title track incorporates an irresistible cello line played by Jane Scarpantoni of Lou Reed's band. Other songs, such as the standout "Laughing With You" (which Hall debuted during his opening dates with Modest Mouse in 2005 – fans may recall Isaac Brock’s famous tattooed homage to Hall’s song “Life is Still Sweet”) and the devastating "One Drop of Rain," get by with little or no ornament. The wrenching, waltz-tempoed "Don't Go," with the line "I wanna know who ate all the cashews," features pedal steel player Gordon Hartin of the Shooter Jennings band (son of Waylon). Matt Martin (Kate Diamond, Chevy Heston) plays on "Broken Phone." Matt Whyte of Earl Greyhound contributes piano on "When You Can" and Malachi Delorenzo of Langhorne Slim shares duties with Matt Boynton and co-producer Settly Smith as recording engineer."
- R. Johnson
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"(Hall's songs are) .wry, colorful, incisive tales that elevate our quotidian failures and successes to something worth writing a song about." - Mike Wolf, Time Out New York
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".kind of remarkable." - ibid
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"devastatingly funny, lyrically driven, catchy Americana rock songs." - lucidculture.wordpress.com
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JOIN THE MAILING LIST! Send a request via message with your email address.
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A REVIEW OF A NYC SHOW IN DECEMBER 2007:
http://lucidculture.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/concert-review-
marcellus-hall-the-headliners-at-lakeside-nyc-12807/
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CHECK OUT THIS LIVE SHOW ONLINE! - http://powerrecordings.com/_wsn/page8.html
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"Indie rock with a harmonica. like a graphic novel without words or drawings. like a 14-week paid vacation. like a windswept beach without the wind. Marcellus Hall and the Hostages (Bassist Damon "lightning" Smith and drummer Jimmy "the hat" Ansourian) do it like no one else. If it's heart-wrenching, self-aware, wry tales of love and redemption you want, get in line. Marcellus Hall's new sound echoes his previous stints in both Railroad Jerk and White Hassle, but takes them to another level. A level where all other bands blush in embarrassment. This project takes the proverbial folk-garage genre by the horns and literally turns it on its head, or whatever."
- Jack McNally
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Marcellus Hall showed a predilection for drawing at an early age. When he was eight years old he began drawing caricatures on the street for money. In the winter of '85 he shoveled snow for nickels. Nicknamed "Bingo" at age 15 by his uncle, Hall became known as a troublemaker. He spent his adolescence in and out of reform schools in the Midwest. Finally after years of frustration for his caretakers, Hall began to shape up. A grant allowed him entrance to a local community college where he began pursuing a degree in hotel management. At this stage Hall's penchant for drawing began to take hold again. His professors quickly noticed and soon he was offered a scholarship to attend a commercial art school in Rhode Island. There, Hall fast became recognized as one of the top art students in the world. At this time also, Hall began learning how to play the guitar and harmonica. Rumors of his bisexuality circulated as well as his alleged drug use, but these were untrue. Moving to New York in 1987 Hall established himself as an illustrator and as a musician with the band, Railroad Jerk on Matador Records. He published small books of his writings and drawings, and from 1990-93 he created the comic strip, Bill Dogbreath, which appeared in weekly newspapers across the country. In 1997 He founded the band White Hassle. He now does illustrations for the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and other outlets of the liberal media elite (see www.marcellushall.com). With accompanying musicians Damon Smith on bass, Matt Martin boards, and Jimmy Ansourian on drums, Hall has been playing shows in and around NYC.
