Over the last 100 years, music has undergone a metamorphosis.
Rock and roll has gone from its roots in artists like Buddy Holly to today’s menagerie of styles and renditions of rock. Hip-hop started as blues, which eventually became R&B.
From Left to Right: Jeff Fuller, Ryan Markley, Katie Weed, Johnny Carey, Annie DeTemple, Joey Garibaldi, and John Rosen.
In the last 20 years there have been even more extreme changes. Irish folk music has been transformed in the hands of bands like Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Now it’s bluegrass‘ turn.
Formed in 2007, Old Man Markley has taken traditional instruments and styling and formed a new punk-bluegrass genre. But rather than listening to me rattle on about it, I’m sure everyone would appreciate the story from the mouths of OMM.
Recently string bass player Joey Garibaldi and fiddler Katie Weed from OMM shared with us their thoughts and stories.
The Pit: First off I’d like to say thank you for talking with us. To start things off, let’s hear about how you guys started off. What gave birth to the whole “Punk-Bluegrass” genre that OMM has developed?
Joey: Not unlike some pregnancies, OMM was conceived after a night of drinking, banjos, and a bunch of tattooed dudes fighting over a washboard. Fast forward six years and you have our self-described seven piece non-traditional bluegrass band with the age of a kindergartener but the street cred of hobo ninjas.
Katie: What he said, except I’m not sure about the street cred. I keep meaning to sign up for karate lessons at the place down the street.
The Pit: It has been a significant amount of time since bluegrass was in the mainstream. Do you think your evolution of it so to speak is what the genre needs to make it more conveyable to different age groups?
Joey: I don’t know if age comes into play as much as a cultural difference or musical preference. “Duck Dynasty” was recently advertised as the #1 show on TV. The mainstream has spoken.
The Pit: Who do you consider to be the band’s biggest inspiration when it comes to writing music?
Katie: Most of the members would probably cite the Beatles here.
The Pit: Your first album Guts ‘n Teeth was a pretty big game changer in terms of bluegrass music. It brought a younger crowd to the genre while also giving us folks that have been listening to bluegrass for years something new. What do you consider to be the biggest difference between Guts ‘N Teeth and Down Side Up? -Other than the kazoo.
Joey: Before Guts all we had were homemade recordings, and when it was written/recorded at Big Game Lodge Studios in Van Nuys with Joby Ford (The Bronx/Bronx El Mariachi) we had no label or backing, just crossed fingers and held breaths. When we wrote/recorded Down Side we had a record label (Fat), a new drummer (Jeff), new writing contributors (Katie Weed/John Rosen) and we recorded it at Johnny and Annie’s home (OMM Manor).
The Pit: Down Side Up went as high as No. 1 on the Billboard bluegrass chart. What was the band’s response to this huge milestone?
Joey: We were in NYC when we charted. We celebrated with a walk in Central Park and a carousel ride.
The Pit: One of the more noticeable changes with Down Side Up is that Annie has taken a much larger roll in vocals for the band bringing a new element to the music changing harmonies. How was this decision made to give Johnny a break and throw the work at Annie?
Joey: With Johnny hogging up most lead vocals with his “panty melting” tone, Annie balances it out with “pure sass.” It’s a good ying-yanger and gives the girls a chance to dry their drawers.
The Pit: The music you put together can be funny at times like in “Beyond the Moon” where Johnny sings “I don’t want to lose my mind like Gary Busey did” or can have greater meaning like “Blindfold”. The balance between the two seems almost natural. When going into writing an album is achieving this balance something that you have to put a lot of thought into or does it just kind of come together?
Joey: I think it just comes together. Silly, yet serious. Sillious.
Katie: Agreed. We don’t necessarily come off as serious– given our instruments and how much fun we have when we play–but I think that the earnestness of it all allows us a platform to say some important things, since hopefully people can tell what we’re doing is genuine.
The Pit: You have opened for a lot of different bands. From Flogging Molly to Dropkick Murphys, who has been the favorite to have the opportunity to play with?
Joey: Supporting bands like Dropkick Murphys and NOFX have been great and those crowds are amazing. We’ve had amazing shows with Devil Makes Three, the Aggrolites, Off With Their Heads and Larry and His Flask. We have shared festival stages with Flogging Molly, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Against Me! and Ralph Stanley. I could go on, but I think my favorite is all of them.
Katie: We’ve been so lucky and gotten to make so many friends along the way with great bands and crews. It’s really hard to pick a favorite, but I’ll never forget touring with our friends the Devil Makes Three. Some of the best shows and times ever.
The Pit: At an Old Man Markley show, there is a lot of energy. It can be a dead room and the second you get on your first run the room lights up. How do you keep that energy up?
Joey: Getting on stage with great friends playing fun music breeds the energy I feed off. As a band, we encourage the audience to have more fun then we do on stage. It’s a fun contest where everybody wins. And we eat all our veggies.
Katie: Beet juice.
The Pit: Apart from the electrifying atmosphere, the most noticeable thing is the presence of traditional instruments complete with a washboard and a washtub bass. How did Joey go about getting/fabricating his standup bass?
Joey: Johnny is a guitar builder who works for Annie’s dad Michael at De Temple Guitars, a custom guitar shop in Sherman Oaks, CA. After our first show in January 2008, Johnny thought the Fender bass looked weird with all the acoustic instruments. Two weeks later, Johnny showed up at band practice with Tubs, the upright washtub bass that stands on a toilet plunger. Rest = history.
The Pit: With the way OMM has changed bluegrass music there may be a large amount of people that try to do the same thing. More punk bluegrass bands means more washboard players. Does Markley have any tips for those trying to master the washboard?
Joey: After claiming washboard six years ago on that fateful night of OMM’s conception, Ryan has gone through dozens of custom washboards he rigged himself. Ryan’s spastic spoon style and hypnotizing hip twitches are a style all his own. His tips are soon to be immortalized in a book called “I Called Washboard: The Ryan Markley Chronicles.”
The Pit: Other than John Rosen’s fingers needing burn treatment after a show and Katie Weed having to restring her fiddle and rehairing her violin bow, is there any other things that the band has to make special concessions to put on a show most groups wouldn’t have to make?
Joey: We don’t like getting on stage without hummus and celery in our dressing room.
The Pit: What is the band’s favorite song to perform? Really what I’m asking is which song do you play and at the end of it you have that “this is the reason we play” thought go through your head?
Joey: “Blindfold” has been that song for me lately.
Katie: “Blood on My Hands” is often that song for me. Especially when Annie whipped open an umbrella onstage the last time we played it live.
The Pit: Do you have any other projects in the works? Anything you can tell us about a new album or EP?
Joey: We have lots of new songs in the works and will hopefully have a release ready for early next year.
The Pit: Our readers tend to be based out of the Detroit area. Does Old Man Markley plan on finding themselves up in the cold north anytime in the near future?
Joey: We hope so! We’ve only had one Detroit show in our career, so we are long overdue.
The Pit: Last question: What would you tell potential new listeners or fans about yourselves to get them to give you a chance?
Joey: When listening, wear your dancing shoes and watch for snipers.
Katie: And maybe bring an umbrella.
Old Man Markley is Johnny Carey, Annie DeTemple, Jeff Fuller, Joey Garibaldi, Ryan Markley, John Rosen and Katie Weed. Their music can be purchased on iTunes or on the Fat Wreck Chords website. Visit their website at oldmanmarkley.com to learn more!
