VISITING ACT | Mark Broussard
In Step with the Funk: Marc Broussard's boogie grabs hold of the soul
BY ANDREA WARNER
A Natural: Marc Broussard
“Blue Jeans” from the album Momentary Setback
Marc Broussard's butter-rich drawl and slow-groove guitar licks have likely aided plenty of late-night booty calls in dorm rooms and trailer parks alike since the singer-songwriter self-released his debut album, Momentary Setback, at the tender age of 22. That's a lot of loving Broussard's responsible for, and the songs on his newest album, Keep Coming Back, indicate that the boots will be knockin' for some time.
This southern singer-songwriter is just a "white boy singing soul" (by his own admission), but his deft blend of blues, sex, and sweet emotion has won him fans and a commercial following. "Home" is one of those songs instantly familiar and catchy, with a chorus that sticks inside the brain way longer than necessary. It's a small testament to Broussard's versatility. "Home" layers its blues with deliberate doses of funk, combining sexy with slightly sinister.
For all the hot 'n' heavy funk of songs like "Home," there's ample evidence of Broussard's spirited rock days on a few of his newest songs. The R&B-infused "Come in from the Cold" beckons a girl with cold feet closer, and possesses an intense '80s feel, punctuated by staccato saxophone and some lower register falsetto. Yet the song still guarantees slow dancing at the hip, much like "Why Should She Wait" which actually encourages his girl to get on her way since he can't give her what she needs.
Broussard's style is rooted in the history of his home state of Louisiana. His father, Boogie Kings' guitarist Ted Broussard, was inducted into the state's Hall of Fame, and Broussard grew up surrounded by blues, funk, and soul music. He's also a natural entertainer with a reputation for a killer live show, an atmosphere Broussard attempted to capture while making Keep Coming Back. Recorded over 11 days in Nashville at the famous Ocean Way Studios, most of the album feels like eavesdropping on a jam session with old friends. Well, old friends who make down and dirty music, sure to stoke the home-fires well after closing time. —Andrea Warner
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