Mar

Embracing the seven-year itch, local rock band Marsupial scratches the surface of new material, some of it courtesy of two new members, on their latest disc, “Curtains.” The band unveils the album at a CD release party Saturday night at Westville Pub on Haywood Road.

Members Brad Mehder and Chris Carter spoke about the band’s new release.

Hold the jam

“Seven years ago when we started, I can see us fitting into that ‘jam band’ category sure, but now we’ve really focused on writing songs and not so much of the improv,” said bassist Mehder. “I actually don’t know how to describe us because if I say one thing, it feels like I’m leaving something else out.”

“I think each of us has unique tastes but we all meet somewhere in 1970s rock,” said new member, drummer Carter. “I think that period is common ground for all of us.”

Flash forward

Band members credit the years and their like minds with seasoning their sound as they have played mostly in the Southeast since their inception.

“We’ve stuck to this region for reasons of money and gas, and we all still have jobs,”Mehder said. “There’s so many good clubs around, and lately we’ve tried to get into listening rooms and were trying to stay out of the bars. It’s a tossup sometimes between better money or those who come out to listen to music.”

A kick in the drums

“The new guys (Carter and guitarist Forrest Smith) are writers in their own right, and their new songs have brought new energy to the band,” Mehder said.

“I feel very lucky to be playing with these guys,” Carter said. “I had always liked the band, and I thought it would be fun to be part of something like this. I’m very excited to do some of my original stuff, but the person who has the best musical idea we just go with it.”

Double duty

The band’s sound engineer, J Ferris, recorded “Curtains,” and Mehder said the band already has another album ready to go. “We love recording. It’s such a different process. Then we get to put them out there and celebrate the finish, when everything is done and you get feedback from everyone else.”

Amy Jones writes about music for the Citizen-Times. E-mail her at ajontheair@

hotmail.

Mar

MarsupiaL’s live show from Downtown Grill and Brewery on February 23, 2008 has just been added to the live music archive. Click the link below to go straight to the show download page.

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