Marshall's mixed bag

Bruce Marshall may have gone pro in 1974, but that’s not when he started playing guitar and singing for audiences.

“I found a set list from my 8^th grade band,” the 58-year-old Marshall says, noting he just may resurrect one of those blasts from the past when he plays a solo show Sunday at the Coppertop.

Of course, Marshall is bound to play just about anything. A musical omnivore, Marshall can deliver with the blues, primal rock ’n’ roll, R&B, and country. He knocks out more than 200 dates per year, some as a solo artist, some with his namesake band, and some with fellow travelers _ he and James Montgomery make a pretty nice team, and for a few years Marhsall was a mainstay in former Marshall Tucker Band member Toy Caldwell’s band.

Bruce Marshall

“It’s been good for my head, maybe not for my career,” says Marshall of his genre hopping; more than one record label has praised his craft but passed on signing the artist who does not fit a niche.

But over a series of self-produced albums and handful of recordings for independent record labels, Marshall has kept a pretty recognizable voice to his work regardless of the stylistic slant he gives a song.

Most things begin as a chorus or title penned in Marshall’s “Book of Hooks.” Technology makes it pretty easy to capture and flesh out ideas on handy devices such an iPhone; there’s no more having to call his own answering machine to preserve a melody or lyric.

Marshall and his band recently made a video for his song “Victor Talking Machine,” included above. The clip is in contention for “video of the month” to be aired on WooTube television program. Public balloting determines the vid to be aired. To vote on videos, go to facebook.com/wootube.

Regardless of the voting outcome, the song is a winner _ a nice rocker with swing blues beat paying homage to the days of vintage vinyl. Look for it on Marshall’s next album now in the works.

To sweeten his debut at the ’Top, Marshall has set up some lift-ticket discounts. For details, email Dave Giammatteo at Dave@GolfAndGamble.com. Show time is 4 p.m.