EVERETT — “MarchFourth!” had its impromptu start on Mardi Gras night, March 4, 2003, in Portland, Oregon.
More than a dozen years later, the multi-genre dance band/vaudeville act has a national following.
It’s returning to Everett for a show tonight, Nov. 20, at the Historic Everett Theatre.
“(Our) original crew (MarchFourth Marching Band) was kind of rough, and it was a party atmosphere,” founder John Averill has been quoted as saying. “It’s now a total legit, big stage show. It’s pretty much an energy dance band with circus stuff thrown in there.”
If you haven’t seen this band at regional festivals such as the Oregon Country Fair, be sure to take advantage of the chance to see this local performance of musical mayhem that includes jazz, swing, funk, metal, gypsy, rock, ska, Bollywood, samba, Afro-beat and more.
One of its members, trumpet player Paul Chandler, was raised just up the road in Mount Vernon. Trained on a variety of musical instruments, Chandler graduated with a jazz studies degree from Western Washington University and set out to start a performance career.
At some point in his travels and a move to Portland, where the band is based, he got to know the MarchFourth musicians and on occasion was asked to sit in. About four years ago he joined the “family” and got on the band’s bus.
“The band used to include about 35 people, but on the road now we are a tight unit of 21 people, including the merchandise manager, the bus driver and the light and sound guys,” Chandler said. “We have seven horns, guitars and basses, a big percussion section and a four-person dance team who walk on stilts, juggle, belly dance and do acrobatics. And the bus seats convert to beds, so we do get some sleep without paying for motels.”
Grueling hours and lack of money don’t often discourage the band members, who range in age from early 20s to mid-50s. They lead spare lives, but love what they do, he said.
“For the most part, everybody in the group could be financially successful in a different project,” Chandler said. “MarchFourth is more of a risk, but we are passionate about it. We often hear after a show, ‘That was the best thing I have ever seen.’ That makes us happy and money can’t buy that.”
To supplement the income and keep the band on the road, members make a lot of hats, jewelry and other stuff to sell. MarchFourth has traveled across the country and internationally. Most recently, MarchFourth! is home from an East Coast, Midwest tour.
“We definitely have a national fan base, and each time we visit a place again, the fans bring other people with them,” said Chandler. “Surprisingly, we do really well in Colorado.”
The Everett audience can expect to hear new material from the band, primarily from a new album recorded this past spring in New Orleans.
“I wrote a few songs for the album,” Chandler said. “We have been road-testing the new stuff and have been receiving good reviews.”
What makes a good show is sometimes dependent on the audience, the musician said.
“We like people to get up and dance, even in theaters such as the Historic Everett,” Chandler said. “We play better when people get up.”
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
If you go
MarchFourth! will perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. All ages tickets are $20. Call 425-258-6766. More about the band at www.marchfourthband.com. To have a look, visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x9Cv-dLw9E
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.