• Critical Sun Recordings is heading from Seattle to South by Southwest 2012. Several of our artists will be performing in and around Austin, TX, from March 13th through the 19th. Our artists have also teamed up to put together an unofficial SXSW showcase on Austin’s famed Sixth Street during the festival, as well as a second music event in Georgetown, TX that weekend. In addition to showcasing Critical Sun artists, each event will also serve as a fundraiser to benefit the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter.

   

  On Wednesday, March 14th at The Jackalope (404 E 6th St.) in Austin, we’re pleased to announce “Critical Sun @ SXSW 2012,” a five-hour showcase featuring six of our artists: Darrius Willrich, Furniture Girls, Sightseer, In Cahoots, The Januariez and Rob Marcus. Then, on Sunday, March 18th, we’re taking over Hardtails Bar & Grill (1515 N IH 35) in Georgetown, TX, to present “Critical Sun at Hardtails,” an all-day, outdoor event featuring the artists above, plus special guests Seeing Blind. No festival badge is required for entry to the Jackalope showcase.

   

  We’re very excited for the opportunity to introduce our talented roster of Seattle musicians and songwriters to a national audience. We’ll be there because we believe that being a part of one of the largest music events in the country should be about something more than self-promotion. We’ll be there because we believe in putting our talents to work for a great cause. And we’ll be there because Critical Sun artists are working together to make it happen.

   

  See you at SXSW!

   

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  About Critical Sun Recordings

  Critical Sun Recordings was founded in Seattle by a team of multi-talented artists whose mission is to empower musicians with the tools and resources to produce and deliver their music on their own terms. We’re also a social network, where musicians and songwriters can meet, collaborate, record and share their work; it’s a growing collective of artists who value and support each other’s projects as fervently as they do their own. In August 2011, we lent our support to the youngest members of our music community by creating the first annual Critical Sun Band Crawl, a benefit event that raised funds for Music Aid Northwest, a nonprofit organization that funds public school music programs throughout Washington State.

   

  About Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter

  Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is an open-admission animal shelter that takes in animals from most of Williamson County. In the past year, they have consistently saved 90% of the animals that enter the shelter. Donations to the shelter to pay for Veterinarian care as well as other items contribute to the high save rate. We want to save every healthy and behaviorally sound companion animal; to save all dogs and cats that are medically treatable and/or can be behaviorally rehabilitated. We are an advocate for the unwanted, lost, or abandoned pets in our region and our goal is to provide a humane, safe environment for the housing of these animals. We want to save every healthy and behaviorally sound companion animal; to save all dogs and cats that are medically treatable and/or can be behaviorally rehabilitated. We are an advocate for the unwanted, lost, or abandoned pets in our region and our goal is to provide a humane, safe environment for the housing of these animals.

I'm excited to announce I was asked for an interview for the September issue of the magazine/online zine Courageous Creativity!

"Walking into the Ballard Loft at 11AM on a Saturday morning kind of makes one reflect on priorities. I had to question why I was attending a “Band Crawl” beginning at 11AM anyway, but all reservations immediately swept themselves under the theoretical rug when I witnessed Mr. Rob Marcus and crew sound checking. His presence held weight, and his demeanor was sincere. His guitar, a Takamine; I play a Takamine. I liked this guy from the start. As Rob began to play, he thanked the lookiloos and passersby for coming in, he knew he was the Genesis and what was to become a day filled with firsts. Mr. Marcus revealed himself to be quite a proficient and technical artist. With Matt Nathanson’esque feel, Rob hooked you in with feel good tones and heartbreak lyrics. By the time he had finished, I was ready for the mid set conversation, but...band crawl, the artists were allotted only half an hour at each venue, thus packing up and moving on to the next, but not before he and his band belted out “Marie”, his Swan song to his set at Ballard Loft, and off they went. I caught a ride, I was literally William Miller and getting on the bus for a journey I would never forget."

This is and excerpt from the review of the 2011 Critical Sun Recordings Band Crawl benefitting Music Aid Northwest written by Thomas Starks, the music director for Seattle Night Out Radio.  Please see the article in it's entirety here. 

What a turnout at Fremont's White Rabbit!  The place was packed, people were dancing, this is the stuff musicians thrive on.  Thank you all for making it such a wonderful night including stellar performances from Sightseer and Jackie Rome. 

The all new White Rabbit will be hosting us along with Sightseer and Jackie Rome Friday, July 15th.  Hope to see you there with your dancing shoes on!

I've just added new footage from the University District Street Fair show.  We we're honored to kick of the longest running street fair in the states!  Check out a video of the performance here and photos here. 

Fresh off the press we have the brand spankin' new Rob Marcus T-Shirts.  Silk screened on high quality T's is the Elephant Logo commemorating the recently released Rob Marcus EP.  The songs from the EP were written or inspired while Rob was volunteering in Southeast Asia immediately following the 2004 tsunami.  Rob spent several weeks writing on the island of Ko Chang (Elephant Island).  The elephant is also an appropriate symbol for Rob's first official music release as it represents a remover of obstacles which paves the way for new beginnings.  You can purchase the T-Shirts and CD's at live performances as well as on the "Merchandise" section of the website.  Your purchases make it possible for Rob to continue creating, recording, and performing.  Thank you for your continued support!

We're so excited about this show.  This music is meant to be played in the outdoors so let's kick off the festival season right.  Joining me on the 42nd street stage will be Rick Bowen and Viren Kamdar on percussions, Gazelle Samizay on cello, Jim Watkins on bass, and Daniala Curto and Aubrey Zoli singing.  If you liked the sound of the EP then here's your chance to see all these players coming  together and doing it live!

I will be donating 10% of the proceeds for any CDs sold through www.robmarcus.com to the American Red Cross to help the victims of the Japan quake-tsunami disaster between now and April 15th. 

For all of you iTunes users, we have arrived...http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rob-marcus/id425589624

Don't forget to rate it :-)

I am so excited to announce that several boxes arrived at my door today containing 1000 copies of the Rob Marcus EP.  The imagery turned out beautiful and truly ecapsulates the inspiration I found while on my travels throughout S.E. Asia. 

The EP is available on the music section of this page.  When you order a physical CD from my site, it includes a free digital download in the format of your choosing.

I hope you enjoy the music and please, spread the word.

All the EP music and artwork has been submitted and we'll be receiving hard copies in two weeks.  In addition to that the EP will be available electronically on iTunes and Amazon among other sites!  Stay tuned...

Stay tuned for the EP Release of Rob Marcus this spring!

Isaac, Rick, and I played our first live set and boy was it fun!  Folks at the Oxford Saloon were dancing around and we we're excited to have trumpeter Ron Hendee sit in on "Blue" for a really sweet sound.  We'll have to invite him in for some recording sessions when it comes time to lay that song down.  Onward to more shows and soon the EP release party.

I'm excited to announce two new talents to the line-up!  Today I met with Rick Bowen on drums and Isaac Seidman on bass together for the first time in a rehearsal.  The session was filled with new ideas, laughter, funky jams, and resulted in the final selection for our upcoming live set at Nectar Lounge.  Securing these two talents has me overjoyed.  Let the collaboration commence.  

While some have been bugging me, relentlessly, to get the EP out no matter what state it's in at the moment, I have to tell you, I simply can't resist the opportunity to include cello on a couple of the tunes.  I've asked cellist Gazelle Samizay to come into the studio to perform on "Exit Left" and "Mind's Eye Open".

We've just finished up the tracking for "Exit Left" and I'm absolutely thrilled with the result.  Sending that one over to Bubba Jones at Contact Create Studios for mix down tomorrow.  We're very close here....I can feel it.  Fans and family, I'm sure you'll appreciate what your patience allows.

So much of my music is written with an acoustic guitar.  While I wanted to collaborate with some of the amazing musicians in Seattle, I also wanted to keep the acoustic, unplugged feel for this upcoming release.  That's when I thought of Jim Watkins, who I've been following in his various projects including Furniture Girls &The Shawna Locey Band.  

I loved what Jim did on the Furniture Girls EP with his acoustic bass and asked him to come in for some sessions.  Not only did he bring the acoustic, but he surprised me with his new acoustic/electric stand up seen in the background.  Super sweet sound.  Okay, back to editing...

A new video clip of "Elephant Island," performed at The Mix in Seattle has just been added to the website. Check it out! 

Rob Marcus playing with the Furniture Girls, Suicide Kings, Veritas April 3rd!