The Stick Martin Show’s audienceinvolved stage show, groovy hip-folk style, slew of catchy tunes and meld of influences seem to be able to entertain almost anyone and get everyone in their audience to have fun.
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, TSMS singer-songwriter Chris “Stick” Martin is often mistaken for a native New Yorker. “A lot of people think I’m from New York because I mention it a lot in my songs, ‘New York to Nascar’ for example,” he explained. “But I was actually born and raised in a small Pennsylvania town called Honesdale. If you listen to my older material, it is mostly about Pennsylvania.”
Stick had been a drummer for years (earning him the nickname, “Stickman,”) before deciding to switch to guitar to perform solo, “I started playing drums in the fourth grade,” he said. “In my senior year, I sold all my drum stuff to buy guitar stuff. I missed having my own kit, but through college and living in New York City, I didn’t really have much room for them anyway.”
Stick moved to New York, where he played solo at open mikes for almost ten years before relocating to New Port Richey in 2003. Onstage, he incorporated a lot of percussion elements like a slide whistle and a tape loop into his sets, a remnant of his past as a drummer.
The Stick Martin Show got together in 2003. Stick had known bass player Eric Harlow, also now living in Pasco, from New York. His funky plucked bass style was the perfect compliment to Martin’s hip hop flavor. The band initially started as a five-piece, but pared down to three, adding drummer Tim Campbell, formerly with local band Tattoo Bleu. In just a short time he had proved his ability to play well with virtually anyone on the local music scene.
Both Harlow and Campbell are originally from the Chicago suburbs. Harlow’s song, “Green Elephants,” on which he sings lead, is a total fan favorite. When Tim Campbell isn’t on the drums, he is a serious computer nerd. Stick explains the unifying bond between the band, “None of us drink alcohol but all have a serious addiction to Red Bull.”
Rhythm elements still play a big part in the band’s live show. In parts they almost channel a cooler Stomp.
After performing locally and releasing a number of self-produced independent recordings (many now available for free download on the band’s web site), TSMS signed to New York independent label Crafty Records, releasing Officer Murphy as their first album.
“Dan Trieber, (Crafty Dan), started the record company up in 1999.” Stick explained. “He knew me from an open mike where he used to do some spoken word poetry and I would sing or whatever. He always seemed to really like my material, so when he started the company, I was actually the first person to release a record.” He said the label plans to release about eight more albums in the next year.
In 2004, Stick Martin went on the Crafty Records US “Acoustic Invasion Tour” with label mate and self-proclaimed folkpunk Brook Pridemore. True Stories about the events that took place are chronicled in Pridemore’s tour journal, available on the Crafty Records and Stick Martin Show web sites.
The Stick Martin Show kicked off Black Samurai, their 2006 release on Crafty, with a release party at The Dunedin Brewery. Stick returned to Pennsylvania to record the album. Brook Pridemore adds vocals on “The Congregation of Church and State.” Crafty Dan and some friends from High School help out on “Don’t Be A Dick.”
A prolific songwriter, Stick Martin started out writing rap. His first song was called “Kill the Neighbors/Mow The Lawn.” His tunes are influenced by Hip Hop and Ween, a favorite band he frequently covers solo. Lyrics and chords to one hundred of his songs are currently posted on the Stick Martin Show website.
If you cover and record them, then send them to Crafty Records, you can win at least a prize. (More information is available at the Crafty Records web site.) All tracks from Officer Murphy and Black Samurai are available individually for download at .99 a song at the Stick Martin Show web site, www. thestickmartinshow.com. The band’s site also has live recordings and other MP3’s of favorites like “Marvin Gaye, Made 4 TV Movie, Point of View” and “Bugs” available for free download.
The band will record a new double album to be released on Crafty Records in the next eight or nine months. It will include recent songs that are current live favorites with fans. “Right now, it’s tentatively titled White Trash Honolulu.” Stick explained. “It’s going to have a lot of songs involving Florida.” The album should be out sometime next year. In addition to the new album, The Stick Martin Show will appear on an upcoming Crafty Records Compilation to be titled Three Dollar Gallon, scheduled for release this December, and has local dates scheduled through 2007. The band has a show hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: (727) 204-7705.
You can find out what is going on with The Stick Martin Show anytime on their web site, as well as learn their opinions on a number of subjects.
www.thestickmartinshow.com Crafty Records http://craftyrecords.net 75 Early St., Bronx, NY 10464
By Frances Brennan
