Marcus Foster: London to LA… and back again

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Back from his first US tour, Marcus Foster is getting noticed on both sides of the Atlantic – what’s keeping him in the spotlight is his talent.

As well as the co-written “Let Me Sign”, featured in one of the most popular movies of 2008, “Make It Easy” features on the soundtrack to $5 A Day, featuring Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a Marcus Foster fan – I first saw him live a few months ago and have been catching shows as I can ever since – his songs have lyrics that speak to you, layers of sound that resonate and, to top it off, he seems like a genuine guy.  So, although I’m going to write as honestly as I can, I can’t promise I won’t be a just little bias.

Back in the West London Troubadour, Marcus crowds out the 500-something-ft space that he plays semi-regularly. A testament to his burgeoning popularity is the sign-in sheet at the door – more than three-quarters have come to hear Marcus.

Opened by the sweet and soulful “Polly and the Billet Doux” (listen to them on iTunes here) and accompanied by Sam Harley (banjo, mandolin, electric guitar) and Yeorn Starvi (double bass), Marcus makes nervous banter with his audience with musings about The Rock of Love … no – really.  But his songs quickly do the talking for him as he opens into fan favourite “I Don’t Mind“.

With a range that reaches from folksy undertones – akin to his good friends Bobby Long and Sam Bradley – to vocal hints of his musical heroes – such as the gritty Tom Waits – and a stylistic touch of blues, the certainty of this emerging talent is never in doubt.

Debuting two new songs, “Bones” and “I Belong” – the latter of which was written on a 22 hour Greyhound bus ride from LA to Colorado, with nothing but desert scene and a Bill Cosby double as his driver-slash-narrator for inspiration – Marcus breaks midpoint to concentrate, which immediately hushes the room. Rather than joke and shrug it off as some might, Marcus maintains his commitment, taking a moment to refocus amidst the crowd’s palpable mental encouragement and continues to an intent audience.

Closing with – my personal favourite – the haunting “Tumble Down“, mesmerizing the out-standing quarter of the audience, who are already queuing up for his live album (available on iTunes here).

Currently, Marcus is planning his follow-up US tour, whilst writing his thesis at the prestigious Royal College of Art and is scheduled to play in London October 14^th at Behind the Mic at The Library – see you there!

- Laura Fuller