Bruce Marshall Group

Click the link above for footage of the band playing Bruce's original "Last Call and First Light". - Bruce Marshall Group

Click the link above to see Bruce's interview before his performance at the Tupelo Music Hall. - Bruce Marshall Group

Click the link above to see the official video for Bruce's original song "Victor Talking Machine". - Bruce Marshall Group

“Misspent Youth” (ATM): B+
Since disbanding his Boston-based band, Bruce Marshall and the Clue, in the late ’80s to form this group, it has been a long ride for the Concord singer/songwriter. Thankfully much of it is captured here in the group’s fifth recording. Marshall says the autobiographical core of the album is slightly embellished in its oft-visited themes of addiction, youthful ignorance, lost love and personal remorse, but his songs are so well-crafted that it all rings anew. With a Jesse Winchester-like skill for blending blues, country and jazz and a monster ear for a hook, Marshall’s tunes have a way of taking hold and resonating long after they end. Download: “3 Chords and the Truth.” (Appearing tonight at Smoken’ Joe’s BBQ and Blues.)

Nate Dow
Boston Herald 6-11-10 - By Nate Dow

Pulling into the huge parking lot at Patriot Place, I’m thinking, 20 minutes out of Boston and I can eat, drink and be very merry here, and I laugh. Bruce Marshall is just beginning his set when I walk in and he plays a bunch of cuts from his latest CD, Misspent Youth. Marshall is a premier songwriter and his tunes are all hummable with memorable hooks and after many of the melodies you wonder if it was a cover you just heard or if it is an original composition; his radio-friendly music is of the highest-caliber and guitarist David Cournoyer (ex-the Vex) is one of the best unknown six-stringers in the area. “Say A Little Listen A Lot” is one of his typical uptempo power-pop tunes with jazz chords and a bit of swing mixed in and the crowd loves the sound. This is a good opening band for Roomful and everyone in the audience is here to have a good time. Bruce’s band sets the partying mood for the night.

The headliner’s set is so diverse: Jump. Swing. Blues. Rockabilly. R & B. Soul. And the sound system in this club is so good that their eight instruments surround you and sweep you away with them as they crush the room with their musical momentum. “Boogie Woogie Country Girl” by Big Joe Turner. “Jambalaya” by Hank Williams. “T-Bone Boogie” by T. Bone Walker are some of the covers they do and “She Walks Right In,” “Just A Little Love,” and “Time Brings Bout A Change” from their latest CD “Hook, Line and Sinker” showcase vocalist Phil Pemberton’s sweet and personal vocals. Every word he sings sounds like he’s singing it just to you in the audience. Chris Vachon’s great guitar is a treat also. And when trumpeter Doug Woolverton walks through the crowd while soloing in “Jambalaya” the night really catches fire. There is a lot going on during their music. During one song everyone onstage becomes quiet as baritone saxist Mark Earley plays the bass lines for a bunch of measures while alto/tenor saxist Rich Lataille plays the melody. Moments like this really shine the light on how good the musicians in this band really are. A great night just a stone’s throw from downtown Boston. - By A.J. Wachtel

Say hello to Bruce Marshall, music man, blues man. A typical American fella, if typical means playing with BB King, Steven Tyler, Charlie Daniels, James Montgomery and, well the list goes on.

Marshall is a New England music staple, in many incarnations. In the '80's he was Bruce Marshall and the Clue but he left that to wok with Toy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band. In 1991 he formed the Bruce Marshall Group, and he continues playing with them.

But when they're not touring, he has a comfortable gig alongside Montgomery (Montgomery and Marshall), as well as with Treated and Released, the acoustic version of the bluesy-rock Bruce Marshall Group. Treated and Released includes Buddy MacLellan, who played with Marshall years earlier in the band Whitecap.

But Marshall is still not done. He also tours as the Marshall Duo and The Marshall Trio; the list of regular musicians he teams up with goes on and on as well. Last, but certainly not least, Marshall is a part of the philanthropic James Montgomery and Friends

Whew, let me catch my breath. Marshall is a 30 year veteran of musician life, and knows what it takes as an independent performer to make it in the business. You've got to be able to play in every type of music venue. Marshall can. Marshall does. Some of his biggest acts are as a solo opener of the likes of The Doobie Brothers at Hampton Beach, Bryan Adams at the Civic Center in Providence, RI. and Chicago at the Verizon Wsireless Arena, Manchester, in 2003.

The Bruce Marshall Group's sound varies from southern rock to R & B to country blues. Occasionally Marshall's sister and original member of the band Sally Marshall Griffin makes an appearance on stage with the quintet. The group's first album, "Love of the Ride," was released in '92 and their latest effort, the 14 track "Kalispell", was released in 2003.

Two tracks from Kalispell.

"Kalispell" - The title track opens with a country-like rhythm, though as opposed to whining about losing his dog, his girlfriend and his truck, Marshall happily sings of the open road and his goal of reaching Kalispell before the rain falls. "Kalispell is an uplifting traditional rock song full of catchy riffs and lyrics.

"Can I Change My Mind" - All the musical components of this song make up a good foot taping, head-bobbing beat, but the melody of Marshall's vocals come off a bit like a Tom Jones song; take that as you will.



Interview with Bruce Marshall - The Hippo Press