CHAMPAIGN PIONEERS
PLAY LIKE A MAN by Rose Marshack
F
( University of Illinois Press ) ollowing decades of fan engagement through road diaries and groundbreaking podcast predecessor Radio Zero , Poster Children bassist Rose Marshack has gathered stories and experiencefor thisfast-pacedand wide-rangingbut well-balanced rock / tech / spiritual memoir . Hardwon lessons , road stories , tech geekery , entertaining anecdotes and lessons from the Buddha are plentiful .
Marshack relates practical knowledge gained about things like whether to throw your best guitar into a crowd or provoke hostile Midwest audiences during opening sets with bands such as Public Enemy . She speaks with authority and experience on the presence of women in the music industry and on stage in particular , and the slow struggle toward any sense of normality after decades of work by predecessors for acceptance . She describes the balancing forces of martial arts , and her love of teaching technology at the university level .
Anticipated scenes include the pitfalls inherent to working with a beloved but vulnerable independent label like Twin / Tone . Next comes navigation of life on major label Sire while maintaining independent spirit and managing not to go bankrupt thanks to uncommonly wise and practical stewardship . Rule number one : never take tour support from the label . Habit : treat your fans appropriately as an actual community and sleep on a benevolent stranger ’ s floor rather than racking up hotel bills when you can . Overarching rule : Engage the authentic experience to the fullest degree . The indie rock band ’ s DIY ethos has extended to all areas . Poster Children funded their own recordings and tours , ran label 12 Inch Records to elevate other great bands from Champaign like Hum and Steakdaddy Six , and developed innovative Enhanced-CD content including a handmade video game during their stint on Sire . Marshack describes arranging screen-printing lessons and equipment access from a supportive manager at Champaign ’ s Weiskamp Screen Printing in order to save costs on manufacturing t-shirts , the lifeblood of many independent touring bands .
For those who encountered Poster Children during the late ‘ 80s and early ‘ 90s on hometown turf in Champaign , Illinois , there are tales of local characters including venue owner George Chin , whose summary of career-saving geometry and legal wrangling “ hypotenuse save my ass ” has become a local David-vs-Goliath-style legend . Other local friends mentioned or quoted include scene-establishing promoters Josh Gottheil , Chris Corpora , and Ward Gollings , as well as peers from bands including the Didjits and Menthol . ` Marshack honors the five years before the term “ podcast ” was coined . There ’ s also plenty of light shone onto beloved band brothers including partner and singer-songwriter-guitarist Rick Valentin . There are stories of van conversations to pass the miles , ranging from philosophical and intellectual to bizarre and hilarious . The coping mechanisms developed for dealing with other humans in cramped quarters day after day make the band sound as much like a family as listeners might have guessed . Gurus along the path toward enlightenment include engineer Steve Albini and Minor Threat / Fugazi frontman ( and Dischord Records co-founder ) Ian MacKaye .
By Jeff Ebel
Poster Children ’ s run on the 1995 touring version of Lollapalooza is recalled , playing on a vibrant sidestage alongside other underground heroes including Pavement , SonicYouth , Yo La Tengo , and the Jesus Lizard . This was during the months following the release of Junior Citizen , with its wistful should-have-been-a-hit single “ He ’ s My Star .” The band made a valiant but vain attempt to muster label and radio support for the worthy song . “ So , this is what it was like being on a major label , but not really playing along with the game ,” writes Marshack .
Aconjunction of events along the road prompts a story of the connection between “ He ’ s My Star ” and David Hasselhoff , and a broader Learning Experience ( setbacks are dubbed “ Learning Experiences ”) about “ pursuing the Golden Nugget .” Struggle and frustration are found at practically all levels up the ladder . Marshack acknowledges the pitfalls of social media and the danger of self-absorption , while her observations underscore the Buddhist axiom “ ego causes suffering .” The book is embedded with the author ’ s experience while learning to shed ego and attachment , and the serenity found while effectively becoming an ascetic during long touring runs . It seems that Marshack ’ s happiest experiences arise when she ’ s untethered to anything but band family , free of possessions and heading across countless miles with an open mind and heart to meet whoever and whatever the day brings . As for the book ’ s provocative title , it becomes clear that “ play like a man ” was intended as a genuine exhortation from a trusted mentor and never as an insult . Marshack ’ s jazz trumpeter ( and dentist ) father would repeat the phrase during Marshack ’ s childhood piano lessons in order to remind her that she never need settle for being considered second rate at anything or succumb to societal stereotypes . She already possessed the power to command any instrument or stage alongside heroes and peers regardless of gender . Thankfully , Marshack took those lessons to heart and eventually embarked upon the 35 + year career that is celebrated in this stirring memoir .
march 2023 illinoisentertainer . com 19