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 Watermen making waves
Moncton band releasing its debut album this Friday (Oct. 5) at the Rockin' Rodeo
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By Eric Lewis
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday October 3rd, 2007
Appeared on page B1
Marc Little isn't a new name on the Maritime music scene, but his band The Watermen is just beginning to make waves in local circles.
Marc has been working on his music for years. In the mid-1990s he wrote the theme song for the Children's Wish Foundation, and his band at the time won $20,000 in a battle of the bands in Halifax. In 1997, he released his debut album, Marc Little & Roadhouse.
But in the years that followed, Marc stepped back from music to focus on raising his daughters.
In 2005, he formed The Watermen with Tom Thompson, Denis Mongrain and Mike Gaudet.
"I just got back at it, to be honest, a couple of years ago," he says. "I just wasn't pursuing it very heavily with a wife and two kids, house and a full-time job. So I just got back it seriously. The rest of the guys in the band are fairly new.
In the past couple of months the band has managed to create quite a buzz for itself, playing local functions and releasing its debut self-titled album. The album, with four additional tracks added on, is being released nationally this month by Magada Distribution out of Montreal.
Ray Lyell, who had some hits in the 1990s such as "Carry Me" and "Running From Another Man's Gun" with Ray Lyell & The Storm, helped the band land a deal with Magada. Marc shared a stage with Ray several times in the '90s.
The Watermen will officially launch the album and a video for the single "Idemnify (No Money Back)", which Ray guest-starred on, at a show this Friday (Oct. 5) at the Rockin' Rodeo.
In a few short months, The Watermen went from being virtually unknown to having an album released nationwide. Marc credits the band's recent success with hard work and a little bit of luck.
"I capitalize on every opportunity I hear of. I have a Blackberry, and when I hear of things going on, I always write it down. We're just lucky, I guess, and I don't miss opportunities. When I hear of something I'm all over it."
Marc says the band is signed to a management company that is seeking opportunities for The Watermen to open for some "big names" in concert, but nothing is confirmed so far.
The Watermen will tour Atlantic Canada as well, but he isn't planning a full Canadian tour yet. Touring will be strategically planned.
"It's a lot of pressure," he says. "You know, lining everything up, meeting all our deadlines. But hey, it's a dream to do that. We've been getting such great response from people at the shows."
No matter what happens with The Watermen, Marc says he is enjoying it.
"We just take every opportunity we can and just go for it. You've got to be fearless and aggressive with it. Plus, we just enjoy this. I don't take any of it seriously except for putting ourselves out there in a professional manner.
But I do this because I love writing, and I love playing."
n The Watermen will release its debut self-titled album on Friday, Oct. 5, at the Rockin' Rodeo on Elmwood Drive. Admission is $5. CDs, DVDs and other merchandise will be on sale at the show.
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One year of N.B. music: Week 40
Marc Little has big plans.
Nelson Hansen
Published Thursday October 4th, 2007
One band, one goal. Live the tradition." That's what it says on the back of t-shirts available on Moncton musician Marc Little's website. His band The Watermen are set to release their debut CD October 5 with what he says will be a fun-filled evening at Moncton's Rockin' Rodeo.
So just what is the tradition?
"It's to play music," Little explains. "We'll leave it at that." The veteran of the East Coast music scene laughs. "I've basically been doing this all my life. After settling down and getting a family started I decided I had some songs ready to record and that I was going to make an album that's pretty unique for out here."
Over the course of his music career Little has toured with Canadian hitmakers like Ray Lyell and the Storm and studied opera under the tutelage of Helix frontman Brian Volmer ("Gimme an "R").
"Working with Brian taught me so much," he says. "I learned proper technique to hit the big notes. I had no idea I was doing it all wrong. Volmer's power is amazing and I learned how he does it." A fixture on the East Coast bar band scene during the '90s, Little amassed a solid fan base and notable kudos including wining the region's biggest ever battle of the bands, the $20,000 Ultimate Deal at the legendary Misty Moon in Halifax. Eventually Little had to plant some roots and after the kids, the cars and the mortgage, Little found himself looking for a bit of artistic release.
"I play with a bunch of guys at corporate gigs and bars on the weekend. After I had decided I wanted to make a record I called the guys and we went to work in my home studio. I stick to it. Life is too short so I go for it. I decided I was going to make a CD and that's what I did," The result is a full-length collection of radio friendly pop and rock songs with Spanish guitar to set the Watermen's sound apart from the competition. Well connected in the industry, Little has secured national and international distribution with indie distribution giant Magada Distribution. Currently Magada has 150 artists on its roster and will be key in getting the Watermen's music to the people.
While flamenco style guitar sets the sound apart, Little is most proud of the batch of songs he's cooked up for the disc. In particular a song inspired by a relatively unknown element of East Indian culture the Dabbawala.
"I saw a program on TV about these amazing people in India called the Dabbawala. They bring people lunches in boxes and always get the orders right. It's hard to explain, it's totally low tech but now Western catering and food delivery companies are studying their methods to learn how to get it right. It's such an interesting story that I wanted to write a song about it and it came out really good. The cool thing is I'm having it remixed as a dance single by a DJ in Halifax and adding tabla drums to it to give it a real global feel. I'm really proud of that one." Little's CD with his band the Watermen is but one facet of his artistic and entrepreneurial endeavours. A visit to the band's website www.watermen.ca reveals that if Little can put a Watermen logo on it, he'll sell it. Along with the CDs are hats, t-shirts, bumperstickers and DVDs. Little is unabashed about getting merchandise and his music in front of customers. "What can I say? I am an opportunist. I carry my Blackberry with me everywhere and even if I hear of an opportunity for the band, I am all over it. If there's a battle of the bands or a contest or a chance to play or get our music heard I e-mail, call, whatever it takes. I believe in our music. I don't have a problem with that.." The Watermen release their debut CD at Moncton's Rockin Rodeo October 5.
A'Court sure can pack them in
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JAMIE PATTERSON
The Daily News
With summer now officially over, your humble Buzz servant found himself a little down and in need of a night (or two!) on the town. A little blues for my blues was in order, and who better to provide it than Charlie A'Court, who returned to his old stomping grounds Wednesday night.
Stayners Wharf was packed with longtime fans needing their fix before Charlie swings through Antigonish, Mabou and North Carolina next month. I also became an instant fan of Rob Szabo, the opening act from Toronto.
On my way downtown, I strolled past the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, where I could clearly see schmoozing through the windows. Time to investigate! The Richard Tucker Study Club world meeting soiree was in full flight. Suddenly I found myself in a room surrounded by cosmetic dentists!
Thousands of perfect teeth ... and me. Yikes! My kingdom for some dental floss!
It's hard to believe it was 11 years ago that Mark Little wrote the official theme song for the Children's Wish Foundation, and was presented with a plaque of appreciation on stage at the Misty Moon. A musical career was born and continued this past week, when Mark's Moncton based band The Watermen held a CD release at Bubbles Mansion.
The special guest at last Friday's party was Reveen, who showed up straight from his own performance at the Rebecca Cohn. Mike Smith (a.k.a. Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys) seemed downright "mesmerized" ... or maybe it was just those glasses!
Ozzy Ozborne
The Watermen Debut
The Watermen (self-titled) Independent (***)
A Moncton band makes its debut with this seven song EP of adult pop rock in the vein of Bryan Adams and The Eagles. Five of the tracks are written by singer/guitarist Marc Little, plus there are covers of Leonard Cohen's "I'm Your man" and Woody Guthrie's"Way Over Yonder". The original songs are about love, war and relationships-typical, but timeless themes. They're standard radio-friendly rock tunes for the most part, but that's not to say they aren't well written. This doesn't sound like a debut, it sounds like a collection of songs from seasoned veterans. The two most interesting tracks are "Matador" and "way Over Yonder", both of which have a spanish influence you don't hear often in these parts. There is some great guitar work going on throughout the album.
Fans of Bryan Adams should dig songs like "What You Mean To Me" and " I Just Don't Have A Clue". Little's voice is even similar to the Canadian Rock Legend.
A solid debut from these local boys. (check out the Watermen on Sunday, June 10, on Main Street playing at Rick Hansen's Wheels in Motion event. If you buy a Watermen CD that day all proceeds go to Wheels in Motion.)
Eric Lewis
CD Spins
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