The Ledge
by Scott Hudson
From Tempest
Magazine
Date: 8/6/97
My first clue that something
was up should have been the answering system at Deep South Records. Along with the usual
instructions for leaving messages for radio and press people was an extra option for
"A&R" inquiries.
For those of you unfamiliar with the workings of record labels, A&R (Artists and
Repertoire) executives are those folks that seek out artists for their label. And labels
are highly protective of their artists. So you can imagine my surprise at hearing a
message from a label actively accepting calls from another's A&R reps.
According to Floyds guitarist Butch Walker, the extra message was added to handle the
industry buzz concerning his latest project, the Marvelous 3. What's even more surprising
is that the Marvelous 3 was initially designed to keep Butch from "going crazy."
Here's a little history before we go into that. Walker, along with bassist Jayce Fincher
and drummer Mitch "Slug" McLee, had been playing together for around a full
decade in various projects before they met vocalist Chrystina Lloree almost four years
ago. Impressed with the petite blonde's smoky vocals, the trio lured her away from her
L.A. band and formed Floyd's Funk Revival.
A year later, they released their first CD, Creamy , which has reportedly
sold over 10,000 copies. A year ago, they shortened their name to simply the Floyds and
released a self-titled disc that Walker says blows the earlier disc out of the water.
"When we recorded (Creamy ) we had been playing those songs live for
about a year. We were already kind of burnt on them. (On The Floyds ), it was
almost all brand-new material, so what you got was first-take rawness and quality."
This second disc effectively captured the band's hyper-kinetic energy that had developed
from their rigorous touring. 250 shows a year was the rule, not the exception. At least it
was until earlier this year when Chrystina became pregnant.
Butch says that even after becoming pregnant, Chrystina carried on as long as she possibly
could. "We toured until she was almost eight months pregnant, which means we worked
our butts off until we just couldn't work it anymore." (Three days before this
interview, July 27, Chrystina and Jayce became the proud parents of Holden Riley Fincher.)
As noted earlier, Butch honestly says that he cringed at the thought of taking time off.
"I knew that I was going to go crazy if I just sat around. There was no way that we
wanted to sit around and wait on that. We were excited for them to have their baby, and we
wanted them to come out strong with a new kid, our 'little baby Floyd'."
At no time did the band even consider replacing Chrystina. "We're still too close of
a family, and too close of a hard-working and good-working unit, that it would just not be
right to replace anybody. We knew that once Chrys had the baby that she would have to take
the time off from playing and touring to concentrate on being a mother before she gets
back into doing music full-time. Which she will do again soon."
Not only was a replacement not a possible option, there was definitely no thought as to
going out on the road under the band's moniker. "We didn't want to confuse the issue
and go out as the Floyds without Chrystina. And there's no sense going out there playing
Floyd's songs if they are not going to sound as good as when the whole group was playing
them."
Obviously, if Butch was indeed going to escape boredom it was going to be with a
completely new project. Luckily, he had some extra material lying around. "I had a
whole catalog of songs that I had been writing over the past year or two that were of a
completely different side of the spectrum than the Floyd's songs. The way I liked to write
for the Floyds was for that band, which was definitely for that style. Then I had this
other side of my brain picking at me that was saying 'Butch, here's your power pop three
minute melodic rock songs.'"
Besides the difference in musical styles, Butch adds that this hidden stash of material
would have never worked lyrically with the Floyds. "A lot of these songs were from a
male point of view, which kind of makes it hard for a male/female vocal team like the
Floyds. These songs just would not have worked."
With all of this material waiting for the right moment (and "to keep sanity"),
Butch, Slug, and initially a bassist known only as "Nightmare," put together the
Marvelous 3, which Butch says "has become more than a project but a real band. It's a
three piece power pop, hard rockin' type trio."
Immediately after forming, Butch took the band into his homemade studio and bashed out a
debut record which will hit stores next week. Butch says the band's attitude was pretty
relaxed. "We just figured what the hell; we'll throw it out there. We need something
to sell while we're on the road playing so that people who like the songs won't be going
'how do I get a copy of them?' It's better to do a CD than just make tapes."
This twelve song self-titled debut is capturing the attention from many in the record
business, which explains Deep South's answering machine instructions described above.
"We've had a lot of record companies already get a hold of the tapes and freak out on
it. We've had a number of people inquire about the band that knew about the Floyds. For
some reason they just didn't need a band like the Floyds on their roster but liked the
band anyway. When they heard about this band through the grapevine or through the press
and stuff, they started calling."
Although he admits that it's a "touchy situation," Butch says, "we're
running with this. We really believe in the Floyds as a band, and we've always said that
we will never break up. Right now, for health reasons we need a break. And if this thing
takes off everybody's real supportive of it. We push and support each other on their own
endeavors. Whether that's the Floyds or the Marvelous 3 or anybody's individual efforts.
We plan on keeping this bond and a working relationship to some degree. Whatever it may
be. If that means I have to be in two bands, I'm going to be in two bands. Since the
Floyds are going to be inactive for quite some time, I'm as serious about this as my life.
If it means that this never gets off the ground and in six months the Floyds are ready to
go again, we'll give it another whirl."
Although it's a brand new band, Butch agrees that there is bound to be some sort of
confusion, especially now that Jayce has replaced Nightmare on bass. "Obviously,
there is a tie-in with the Floyds. We've been billed as 'members as the Floyds,' and some
places have sunk as low as to actually billing us as the Floyds, which is the wrong thing
to do. When that happens we have to immediately jump onstage and say, 'OK guys, leave if
you have to but this is not the Floyds. But we'll be glad to entertain you with a brand
new style of music and a whole new batch of tunes.'"
Playing all-new material is a refreshing challenge for the band, says Butch.
"Obviously, we had a good comfort level worked up with our fans across the country
with the Floyds because they were all familiar with the material, the songs, and the show.
The crowd gave a lot more back because they felt comfortable and knew what they were
hearing. This is a lot different because obviously people are coming in not knowing what
to expect. And they're coming in going 'we don't know the songs so we're just going to
stand here and look at you funny and take it in.' But it has been going great. People have
been taking it in very well. After we finish a song people have been giving their stamp of
approval."
This stamp of approval will ultimately include Sioux Falls, which hosts the Marvelous 3 at
the Pomp Room on August 18. Butch admits that the Floyd's warm reception in this city was
a big surprise to the band. "People seem to really appreciate original music there,
and that meant a lot to us. You wouldn't expect the larger cities like Chicago, Atlanta,
or New York to be tough, but those cities are less personable. They are a lot harder to
break or get your band some recognition because they have that 'been there, done that,
seen it all' attitude. And it's harder to win people over. When we came to Sioux Falls a
while back, people really took to the band and it's been one of those places that we've
always been welcomed with open arms. It's really an honor to be so far from home and still
be so respected.
**Tempest Magazine - Original Link**