Ladybug Landslide (Indie/Emo/Rock)

Ladybug Landslide
Posted Jul 12, 2007.


Hi, My name is Marshall and well..I guess I do everything.
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What is your website?
I don't have an actual website, it just seems kinda pointless to have one with Myspace and Purevolume being as big as they are.
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www.myspace.com/ladybuglandslide
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Do you have any upcoming shows?
Yeah, lets see, next month (August) I will be playing in Evansville, Indiana at the wired cafe with Backseat Goodbye, Hi Five and some cool local bands. After that I may be playing an acoustic night in Goshen, Indiana at The Post. I'll be touring in September and October around the Great Lakes and Northeast.
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We have a lot of readers from California, could you tell us a little bit about the music scene for an acoustic band in Nashville?
Oh man, Well Nashville is obviously dubbed Music City U.S.A and people think of Nashville as being full of hillbillies and stuff. It's actually the rock scene that's making Nashville a music mecca right now. For example, When I was in High School, I had a friend named Bob. Bob played in punk bands and I always thought he'd maybe make it in the indie music scene...but no further. However, he proved me wrong and is now know as Bob Ferrari from The Pink Spiders. We also had Scatter the Ashes (Epitaph Records) and Paramore come out of Nashville recently, so it seems this is the place to be. Everyone's in a band here so that's the downside, it's oversaturated with music. As for being an acoustic act it's hard sometimes because of a lot of the kids just want hardcore and that's cool but it does make my life harder at shows sometimes...That was a long answer, sorry about that.

Big Smile Magazine: No man, that was a great answer.
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Have you been in other bands, why did they end or how are they going?
I've been playing in bands since I was sixteen and I'm now twenty-three so you can do the math. Ladybug Landslide is actually my first band where I have played guitar and sang. I was always a drummer for bands. I was kind of like the guy who people came to when they lost their drummer and I built a reputation for being a good dependable drummer. I have been in eight bands. A few were bigger local bands such as Covington, The Jersey Sky and A Rose : A Crush. I actually flew out to California in 05' to try out for a band in Riverside called Elseworth. I made the band but due to personal circumstances decided against moving there. Most of the bands I played in ended from either one member losing dedication or drive or doing what I call musical inbreeding where one guy leaves a band, then he forms another band with members from other successful local bands to try and get signed..it's crazy.
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What inspires most of your lyrics?
I guess I'd have to say my friends. I write a lot about watching my friends be brought down by gossip,drama and people saying you'll never do anything with your life and then proving them wrong. I also touch on issues such as alcohol addiction and people losing who they are because they're so caught up in fashion and trying to be someone else or trying to cover what they see as flaws. I don't write too much about girls, although I'm working on a new song that might be about that. I like to keep it on social issues for the most part though.
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Has anyone in particular inspired you?
For sure. My friend Noah in the band Love and Reverie. He started just like I did, a solo guy with an acoustic. My band took him out as an opening act on a tour. Now I'd be honored to open for him and his band.
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What is the best thing about music?
Freedom. Freedom to do whatever you want. That and it gives me an outlet for things that have happened that I am still holding on to.
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Any funny/interesting stories?
When I was on Tour last month, me and one of the guys from the other band I was with (The comeback Tour) were driving through Indiana and there was this semi truck next to us. The driver had something hanging out the window that looked like a midget. We finally get up to pass him and the dude has a crazy looking monster puppet that was hanging out the window, looking around and waving at people as they passed. It wasn't super funny but just kinda weird. Oh, and I got boo'd by an entire crowd in Illinois for trying to talk with a northern accent...that was funny.
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What do you think about UFOs?
I don't know. You know the universe is sooo massive, I couldn't begin to tell you what's out there. With that said I think a lot of what people see could be explained through natural earth and space phenomena.
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What are your religious beliefs?
I am what you would call a "Christian". However I don't go around claiming it a lot because of some stereotype's that it has. I believe in Christ but I believe that instead of all this legalistic bullcrap that goes along with Christianity that people should just love and serve one another and be an example instead of preaching on street corners and what not. You can say things all day and try to "save people" all day but if you don't genuinely care for them then I think it's pointless. What we do should be done out of love instead of some religious obligation, like how a lot of people vote for a certain political party just because the person running is that religion or whatever. That's just how I feel though, it doesn't mean it's correct.
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What do you think of vegetarians?
They're crazy, I love to eat huge strips of bacon! No, actually I am pretty much a Vegan and have been for close to 8 years now. I think it's a personal choice. People eating meat in front of me doesn't bother me at all though because like I said I know it's a personal choice. I think we'd be better of if we were all at least some sort of vegetarian but that discussion is for another time.
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What do you do for work right now, other than playing music?
I work at a company that does all kinds of things ranging from air duct cleaning to pressure washing and window cleaning. Basically Manual Labor, I guess I enjoy it though.
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What were some of your favorite bands growing up?
I was into bands like Hot Water Music, Rancid, Boysetsfire and a lot of those political type bands like Strike Anywhere. Some others would include, Mewithoutyou, Rainer Maria, Green Day, Dashboard, Journey, The Goo Goo Dolls. I'm also a big fan of The Spill Canvas, Muse and Further Seems Forever. Right now I'm really into Dallas Green (City and Colour). He is one of the guitar players from Alexisonfire.
His music is flat out amazing and lyrically just as good.
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Anything you would like to say to your fans reading this interview?
Sure, You guys are what has kept me going and keeps me going. I love going to play a show and see people smiling or kinda just chilling with there eyes closed swaying to the music. I love to talk to all of you guys so don't be shy. Myspace me, send me mail in the mailbox, I really don't care. If you have a problem and need someone to talk to just get in touch with me. I try to give good advice. Musician plus therapist.
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What is the name of your latest E.P.?
This Motion is making me sick. It was just 4 songs and a short interlude that I recorded in my room and at an actual studio. I'll be selling them at shows until I run out. The E.P. name came from one of my freinds who said I should use that name as a representation of what it's like in our circle of friends.
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Do you have plans to come out with a full length?
Absolutely. It may be March of next year though because I want to make sure I put out something great and something I'm happy with. I am really critical on myself when it comes to making music.
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Any advice for anyone thinking about making a CD?
Just do it. Be ready to invest money into it and just put your heart into it as well.
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What do you think of Big Smile Magazine?
I think that Big Smile is doing very well for an online magazine. I also like how you guys aren't too cool and elite to talk to an acoustic artists like myself. Keep it up!

CONTACTS:
ladybuglandslide@hotmail.com
www.myspace.com/ladybuglandslide