Broussard live music proves no 'setback'
On the opening track of his debut CD, "Momentary Setback," Marc Broussard, Louisiana native, pines, "I am not the man I used to be," and while this may be the first I've seen or heard from him, I believe it. He surely is no longer the goateed and t-shirted country fella that he is in his press packet. He can't be that same guitar-bearing hombre on the disc's cover, as the music within attests to him being the living reincarnations of such gospel-soul artists as Boyz II Men or Brian McKnight.
Although it is more or less an acoustic album, which will no doubt draw reviews comparing him to headlining crooners John Mayer and the tripping billy Dave Matthews, Marc Broussard joins the R&B ranks much like Manitoban fellow-white-boy Remy Shand did with the neo-soul movement last year.
"The Wanderer" is a "Four Seasons of Loneliness" take off, feathered with the southern story of a "Kerouac-esque hobo", leading the eight-song-deep-album off, and it only gets smoother from there. "Just Like That" is something Craig David could join on should he grow himself a more gravelly baritone as Broussard displays here.
There is a maturity in this kid's howl, one that has been raved about in shows around the south, most notably at the Cite des Arts fundraiser in Baton Rouge this past June, where with the band GTO he belted out the Otis Redding hit "I've Been Loving You Too Long". According to local press, Broussard, "acted out and lived the song right there on stage by bending at the knees with his back arched and head thrown back. And Broussard brought the stinging gentle vibe of what he calls "Cajun funk" to a near packed crowd at Juanita's Monday night, chilled and barefoot. The crowd never got to see the LA headliners Maroon5 who opted out of the snowy evening. The show was tight, and loud, for an acoustic guitar and bass player, who shifted to the drums for the latter songs in the set. Living up to the reviews I'd seen going in, and eclipsing even what I'd expected, Broussard let no attendee go home unsatisfied, bellowing hellfire baritone to the rafters between complaints about the outside northern ice. Though you may not hear Broussard on the radio, his brand of bar star rock-not quite a radio staple sound-his disc, "Momentary Setback" and appearances across the south should do this lad as fine as they did him Monday night between the storms and drinks in downtown Little Rock.
Bryan Jackson/February 26, 2003
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