Q&A: Old Man Markley on Blending Bluegrass & Punk

Posted by RiffYou On June 10, 2014 0 Comment

Since 2007, Old Man Markley has held a unique spot within the music community as a collective of artists that can’t help but blend two of their passions – punk and bluegrass – into one sound.

By no means a traditional combination, the band – Johnny Carey (vocals, guitar), Annie DeTemple (autoharp, vocals), Joey Garibaldi (bass, vocals), Jeff Fuller (drums), Ryan Markley (washboard), John Rosen (banjo, vocals), and Katie Weed (fiddle, vocals) – have found definite acceptance with the punk rock community, while still attempting to crack the occasionally fickle bluegrass one.

Now with two full-length albums (Guts N’ Teeth and Down Side Up) and the freshly pressed Stupid Today 7” just released, Old Man Markley isn’t being held back from anyone.

Recently, Riffyou.com caught up with DeTemple, the group’s amazing autoharp player, to discuss where this unique sound came from, as well as how tough it’s been convincing some that two very different musical worlds can mesh.

RY: It’s fascinating that your band has been able to meld punk rock and bluegrass so well together. How did you come to the conclusion about that being the direction you wanted your sound to go?

Annie: “When we started, it was the fact that we had the bluegrass instruments around. My dad had been a bluegrass banjo player for years and is an instrument builder, so instruments have always been readily available to us. There was a party aspect [to bluegrass music] that had always been engrained in my life…at parties with my family. I’ve been friends with Johnny and Joey for so many years, and they’d always come to these parties. So, I think it was a natural progression [that led to] seeing where things could go.”

RY: I know more about the punk rock community than I do the bluegrass one. However, what I do know about both is that they are very dedicated to their genres. Has there been any trouble trying to convince one community over the other to accept both elements of your band?

Annie: “The punk community – since we’re on Fat Wreck Chords and have been predominantly touring with punk bands from the get go – has been really easy to crossover into. Bands like Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, and The Pogues, who have used some type of folk music with a rock or punk edge, has made [acceptance come] easier.

“But, on the bluegrass side of things, bluegrass traditionalists don’t necessarily want to hear drums with their picking. They don’t want to hear amplification. They want to hear that you’re standing in front of a microphone. So, it’s been harder in that respect, but more and more bluegrass festivals are making a transition to being a little more ‘new-grass,’ or ‘progressive.’ So, more and more I’m seeing bands at bluegrass festivals that are similar to us.

“We would’ve liked for our album to have been reviewed by the California Bluegrass Association, but they didn’t see us as a bluegrass band.”

RY: That has to be tough, because obviously you have respect for both genres. Coming from the background you’ve described, is it extra frustrating that the bluegrass community isn’t easily accepting you guys?

Annie: “Not really, because I think we have such a good family in the punk rock community and we are already established there. We have to, maybe, pay our dues with the bluegrass community. As a touring band, or any type of musician, you always have to pay some kind of dues. That just comes with the territory. But, I think we’ll get there.”

RY: You mentioned having that bluegrass background, so I’m wondering what it was that drew you to punk rock?

Annie: “When I was growing up, all of my friends were into punk rock. They loved NOFX and were in bands that would emulate Bouncing Souls and other ‘90s punk bands. I was always going to punk rock shows and was usually the merch girl for friends’ bands. Finally when this band came around, I was like ‘okay, I’m going to be in this band…I don’t want to sell merch anymore!’”

-Adam Grant

Tour Dates:
06/12/14 Vancouver, BC Canada at The Biltmore Cabaret
06/13/14 Victoria, BC Canada at TBA w/ Fire Next Time
06/14/14 Whistler, BC Canada at Garibaldi Lift Company
06/15/14 Kelowna, BC Canada at Fernando’s w/ Fire Next Time
06/16/14 Rossland, BC Canada at The Flying Steamshovel
06/18/14 Edmonton, AB Canada at The Pawn Shop
06/19/14 Calgary, AB Canada at Ship & Anchor Sled Island Music
06/21/14 Winnipeg, MB Canada at Park Theatre
06/27/14 London, ON Canada at Blackshire Pub w/ Miracles
06/28/14 Guelph, ON Canada at Van Gogh’s Ear w/ Miracles
06/29/14 Hamilton, ON Canada at Absinthe w/ Miracles
07/02/14 Kingston, ON Canada at The Mansion w/ The Stanfields
07/03/14 Montreal, PE Canada at Divan Orange w/ Stanfields
07/04/14 Ottawa, ON Canada at Mavericks w/ The Stanfields
07/05/14 Toronto, ON Canada at Fort York Toronto Urban Roots Festival
09/19/14 Murrieta, CA at Town Square Park