Adam Marsland is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the leader of 1990s power pop band Cockeyed Ghost and later for extensive touring and sideman work. He was born in Greene, New York, United States.[1]

Music career edit

Cockeyed Ghost (1994-2001) edit

Marsland relocated to Los Angeles and formed punk-flavored power pop band Cockeyed Ghost in 1994.[2] Along with bands such as The Negro Problem, Baby Lemonade and Wondermints, Marsland and Cockeyed Ghost were part of the popular mid-1990s "pop underground" in Los Angeles and signed to Rykodisc-distributed indie label Big Deal in 1996.[3][4] The band's debut album Keep Yourself Amused followed shortly thereafter and was acclaimed by The New York Press as "finest debut album of the rapidly aging year.".[5] The band was noted for its high energy and work ethic, performing at the SXSW festival[6] and touring with labelmates Shonen Knife,[7] as well as opening for Fastball, Redd Kross, Third Eye Blind and others.[2] The band was also featured on the cover of L.A. Weekly in November 1997[8] and appeared briefly in the television movie Friends 'Til The End that same year.[9]

Cockeyed Ghost made two further albums for Big Deal, Neverest and the critically acclaimed [10][11] The Scapegoat Factory, the release of which coincided with Big Deal's bankruptcy in early 1999.[12] Cockeyed Ghost released their final album, Ludlow 6:18, in 2001 on Marsland's own Karma Frog label.

First solo releases (2001-2004) edit

Marsland embarked on a series of coast-to-coast solo tours, performing hundreds of shows a year [13][14] and establishing a reputation as a DIY workhorse.[15][16][17] He released his debut solo album, the live CD 232 Days On The Road, in 2002. The album was produced by Robbie Rist, who also participated in sessions for The Scapegoat Factory.

Chaos Band (2004-2008) edit

Marsland's album You Don't Know Me was released in 2004 and featured the first appearance of his "Chaos Band," inaugurating a long-running collaboration with soulstress Evie Sands.[11] Ex-Cockeyed Ghost guitarist Severo Jornacion also performed with the band until joining the Smithereens in 2006.[18]

With the Chaos Band and Alan Boyd, Marsland released Long Promised Road: Songs of Dennis and Carl Wilson Live in 2007, recorded by Grammy-winning Beach Boys engineer Mark Linett.[19] A highlight of the album was the only then-currently available version of Dennis Wilson’s 1971 unreleased composition, "(Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again," featuring Sands on lead vocals.

Second solo releases (2008-2017) edit

Marsland returned to his original music with the compilation album Daylight Kissing Night in 2008. Marsland followed in 2009 with a 23-track double album, Go West, and six months later with Hello Cleveland, which was recorded on the road in less than 9 hours.[20] Both Daylight Kissing Night and Go West briefly charted on Amazon's top 40 best seller list on the strength of a grass-roots push to fans.[21][22] After a three-year hiatus, he released The Owl And The Full Moon in Spring 2013, which was promoted by tours in the US and, for the first time, Europe. Four years later, he released the southeast Asian-influenced Bulé, partly recorded in Bali.

Other notable achievements edit

Aside from his songwriting, Marsland has an extensive resume as a sideman in various capacities including guitar, keyboards, and vocals. His more notable credits include working with 2008 Tony Award winner Stew/The Negro Problem,[23] members of the Beach Boys,[24] The Wrecking Crew,[25] Davie Allan,[26] Wondermints, Carnie and Wendy Wilson of Wilson Philips, and many others. He performed on Badfinger vocalist Pete Ham's posthumous 7 Park Avenue album [27] and was a member of a latter-day incarnation of the Standells, as vocalist/guitarist prior to leaving the band in 2011.[28] That same year he also participated in comeback shows by SST art-punk band Trotsky Icepick[29] and longtime collaborator Evie Sands. His numerous production credits include Beach Boy David Marks' 2016 album Back In The Garage. He also operates Karma Frog Studio.

Discography edit

Date Label Title Released by
September 1996 Big Deal 9031-2 Keep Yourself Amused Cockeyed Ghost
September 1997 Big Deal 9048-2 Neverest Cockeyed Ghost
February 1999 Big Deal 9060-2 The Scapegoat factory Cockeyed Ghost
April 2001 Karma Frog 618 Ludlow 6:18 Cockeyed Ghost
October 2002 Karma Frog 619 232 Days On The Road Adam Marsland
October 2004 Karma Frog 620 You Don't Know Me Adam Marsland
March 2007 Karma Frog 622 Long Promised Road: Songs of Dennis and Carl Wilson Live Adam Marsland's Chaos Band
March 2008 Karma Frog 623 Daylight Kissing Night: Adam Marsland's Greatest Hits Adam Marsland
August 2009 Karma Frog 624 Go West Adam Marsland
April 2010 Karma Frog 625 Hello Cleveland Adam Marsland
May 2013 Karma Frog 626 The Owl And The Full Moon Adam Marsland
October 2016 Karma Frog 633 The Dance Divine Pacific Soul Ltd.
Sep 2017 Karma Frog 636 Bulé Adam Marsland

References edit

  1. ^ "Adam Marsland". Pressconnects.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b Adam Marsland. "Adam Marsland - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  3. ^ Mouse : 6/04/2008 03:33:00 PM (2008-04-06). "Los Angeles Needs... A Wednesday Update". La-underground.net. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2012-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ BILL LOCEY (2007-07-11). "Power Times 3 - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  5. ^ Swihart, Stanton. "Cockeyed Ghost - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  6. ^ "SXSW". Splendidezine.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  7. ^ "skhob.html". Shonenknife.com. 1997-02-09. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  8. ^ "Fastball Interviewed". Fastball.faithweb.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  9. ^ John Kenyon at 10:26 PM (2001-02-15). "Tube Tunes". Oocities.org. Retrieved 2012-08-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Swihart, Stanton (1999-02-23). "Scapegoat Factory - Cockeyed Ghost : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  11. ^ a b "Highlights | Nypress.com - New York's essential guide to culture, arts, politics, news and more". Nypress.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  12. ^ [1][dead link]
  13. ^ [2][dead link]
  14. ^ "Adam Marsland: Daylight Kissing Night – Adam Marsland's Greatest Hits « Hyperbolium". Hyperbolium.com. 2009-01-03. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  15. ^ "Adam Marsland | Powerpopaholic". Aokgraphics.com. 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  16. ^ "THE BLACKLISTED JOURNALIST,ADAM MARSLAND: 232 DAYS AND COUNTING BY Gary (Pig) Gold". Blacklistedjournalist.com. 2002-12-01. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  17. ^ Jimmy Magahern (2003-09-18). "Ghost Radio - Page 1 - News - Phoenix". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  18. ^ "NEW ALBUM! Smithereens: Tommy | Dr. Bristol's Prescription". Drbristol.wordpress.com. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  19. ^ Mark Linett. "Mark Linett - Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  20. ^ Gallucci, Michael (2009-05-29). "Adam Marsland Says "Hello Cleveland" | C-Notes: Scene's Music Blog". Clevescene.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  21. ^ "Adam Marsland's News Page". Adammarsland.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  22. ^ "TunesDay: daylight kissing night". Scholars and Rogues. 2008-03-25. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  23. ^ Mason, Stewart. "The Negro Problem - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  24. ^ "Al Jardine Concert-September 10, 2005". Members.tripod.com. 2005-09-10. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  25. ^ "Adam Marsland returns with the highly successful "Adam's 70′s Show" for a 2010 year end finale!". HighWire Daze. 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  26. ^ "CD/DVD Reviews". Mwe3.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  27. ^ "WITHOUT YOU: The Tragic Story of Badfinger press reviews". Mindspring.com. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  28. ^ "Testify – Larry Tamblyn of The Standells". Free Press Houston. 2011-05-23. Retrieved 2012-08-03.
  29. ^ "L.A. PUNK ALMOST-LEGENDS Trotsky Icepick on Blurt Online". Blurt-online.com. 2011-07-15. Archived from the original on 2012-07-14. Retrieved 2012-08-03.

External links edit