Imagine touring with a nine-member band whose core members make up a legendary Los Angeles punk rock band. The band is Old Man Markley and the group has taken its love for punk beyond its boundaries with the roots music of bluegrass. Old Man Markley will make its second appearance in Ketchum at Whiskey Jacques' for a pre-Halloween show on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 10 p.m.
Old Man Markley members include Youth Brigade band members John Carey and Joey "Balls" Garibaldi, along with seven other band members who play mandolin, autoharp, banjo, fiddle, washboard, guitar, bass and harmonica. Managing Old Man Markley is Youth Brigade's drummer Mark Stern.
"We're all friends," Carey said. "We collaborated, and I brought in my wife and a few other people. It's a breath of fresh air."
Carey said Old Man Markley is a collection of musicians who play an array of instruments, many of which they made themselves.
"The instruments are part of our band, as we are luthiers and in the guitar business," Carey said. "We all throw in on the writing. I do overall producing, and I'm the front man and have a studio for recording."
Old Man Markley has the energy and excitement of musicians who love to be around each other, play together and tour together.
The band recently finished recording 12 tracks for its upcoming full-length album, recorded by Joby Ford of the Los Angeles punk band The Bronx. Old Man Markley has shared billings with NOFX, Flogging Molly, Against Me!, Bad Religion, Wanda Jackson, the Devil Makes Three and Youth Brigade.
"Our seven-inch release, 'For Better For Worse,' will be available at the show," Carey said. "It's like a dream come true."
The band tours in an old converted Seattle metro bus, which has a bed for all nine members.
"We're having a blast," Carey said. "There is so much enthusiasm from everyone in the band, especially since we've all been playing music for so long. It's amazing to have so many people be this excited."
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
Old Man Markley will play Whiskey Jacques’ in Ketchum on Saturday, Oct. 30. Photo by Fred Morgan
