Screwjack

By Allison Stains
The Record Herald
Tue Aug 05, 2008, 11:23 AM EDT

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Chambersburg, Pa. -
Fans of Chambersburg-based rock band, Marsiglia, can turn up a track on the band’s first full-length album and hear the rawness of Axl Rose’s voice in Ryan Eshleman’s on-point vocals.

Eshleman’s voice blends with the band’s musicianship similar to modern rockers Incubus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and is infused with psychedelic experimentation reminiscent of Pink Floyd.

Marsiglia, which gets its name from an Italian company that makes soap, is comprised of Ryan Eshleman, 27, and Alex Bricker, Tyler Hayduk and Eric Myers, all 23.

Fair battle

Marsiglia will headline a Battle Benefit from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, on the main stage at the Franklin County Fair.

Five other local bands will jam for the benefit the Franklin County Fire Chiefs Association. Bands slated to play are Dimestore Profit, The Lakota Band, Complete Circle, Dreams in Fear and 21 Naked. Accommodations have been made in case of inclement weather, so the event will be held rain or shine.

According to Eshleman, who plays guitar and bass and performs lead vocals, all 13 of the county’s fire departments are required to update radio communication systems to digital in the upcoming year. He noted that total costs could exceed $1 million.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, they (the fire departments) respond within minutes,” said Eshleman. “I thought this was a great opportunity to help them.”

Marsiglia hopes to raise $25,000.

Donations, payable to the Franklin County Fire Chiefs Association, may be sent to Ryan Eshleman to 439 Wayne Ave., Chambersburg, Pa. 17201. Eshleman said donations are taken to an account set up by the FCFCA at Sovereign Bank in Chambersburg.

Eshleman also said local radio station, ROCK 101.5, has helped coordinate battle efforts and will host and broadcast the event live.

Businesses that donate will receive an on-air acknowledgment during the battle, and donations may be used as a tax write-off.

In addition to headlining the event, Marsiglia will be selling their first full-length, self-produced album, which will be officially released that same day. The compact disc costs $8, and $1 from each CD purchased will be donated to the FCFCA.

The band’s efforts to help the community isn’t just a one-time gig.

Marsiglia previously organized a benefit that raised around $700 for a local animal shelter.

Coming together

The roots of Marsiglia formed when Bricker and Myers decided to form a band in eighth grade.

“We thought we were big stuff back then,” said Bricker, who plays guitar and bass.

The band evolved over the years with additions and new sounds until it was officially formed in 2004. The group disintegrated when members began college, but after their freshman years they started playing again. Eshleman joined them in 2005 to do vocals.

“It’s taken us awhile to get over little differences,” said Hayduk, who plays guitar, bass and keyboards. He also writes most of the band’s songs.

“We were all a little opinionated,” explained Eshleman. Members now put opinions aside and work with each other to achieve the best possible sound.

Making music

While the band has recorded several demos in different regional studios, they did their most recent recording and producing themselves.

Eshleman said some studio visits cost the band $80 an hour. “We’ve done several demos over the years and I feel like every time we recorded, it didn’t come out like we wanted,” he added.

Myers, who plays drums and acts as Marsiglia’s sound engineer, says he’s spent hours listening to sections of a song in an attempt to decipher what needs tweaked, where to layer sounds and what can remain unchanged.

“It’s hard to know with digital recording when you’re done with a song because you can do so many things,” he explained.

The band practices in the basement of a house where some of the band members live and often play late into the night. Some weeks, they work on perfecting their music seven nights in a row.

Eshleman noted that he and other band members have gone to neighbors and given out phone numbers to ensure they don’t disturb others.

Hear the band

In addition to performing original music, Marsiglia covers songs by The Killers, Incubus, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns and Roses and the Smashing Pumpkins.

“We try to do songs as true to the sound of the original as we can,” added Eshleman.

Members of Marsiglia are motivated to keep making music for several reasons.

“We wouldn’t know what to do,” said Bricker. “Nothing’s better than playing music and people liking it.”

“People are going to die one day and want to leave a mark. I don’t want to be a dictator. I just want to make songs,” added Hayduk.

Songs can also be heard online at:

www.myspace.com/marsiglia

www.marsigliaband.com

For more information regarding the Battle Benefit on Aug. 23 and to donate, call Eshleman at 404-2950.

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- The Record Herald

Band aims to raise $25K for firefighters

By ROB LUFF Staff writer


With projected costs totaling around $1 million, the Franklin County Fire Chiefs Association is thankful for an upcoming high-volume fund- raiser that will help pay for improved firefighter training facilities.

Marsiglia, a Chambersburg-based rock band, is headlining Battle Benefit 2008, a live battle of the bands contest during August's Franklin County Fair to raise money for the FCFCA. The band's goal is to raise $25,000 to fund the improvements for the county's fire companies.

Vocalist and guitarist Ryan Eshleman had the idea for the benefit concert after hearing from his firefighter co-workers how much they need money for their upcoming improvements. They recently helped him in a time of need, so now he hopes to give back to them.

"These folks are at our beck and call whenever we need them," Eshleman said.

So far the band has raised very little money, but he hopes the concert will draw more attention to FCFCA's need.

"We really, really want to help these guys out. They need over $1 million."

Members from the FCFCA appreciate the help.

"I think it's awesome that someone has taken an interest in the fire chiefs association itself," said Dusty Stoner, chief of Mercersburg Montgomery Peters and Warren Fire Company. "Any kind of (donation) helps out, even in the smallest amount."

Five bands will face off for a $500 first-place prize. Second- and third-place prizes are set at $300 and $200, respectively. As the headline band,


Marsiglia will not compete, instead using the event to showcase the release of its first full-length album. CDs will be available for $8 at the concert, and $1 from every sale will go to the FCFCA.

WFYN, the Waynesboro-based radio station known as Rock 101.5, is sponsoring the event, and will play a pre-release single by Marsiglia over the coming weeks. The station has donated some of its advertising space to promote Battle Benefit, and will air live coverage of the performances Aug. 23. The concert runs from 5 to 11 p.m. at the fair.

Eshleman described Marsiglia's music as "indy-agressive experimental pop" -- quite a mouthful, he admitted. The band's influences range from modern pop music to blues and jazz, as well as classic rock bands such as Led Zeppelin and Queen. The band can be heard online at www.marsigliaband.com.


- The Public Opinion