The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

Martin breaks out on first tour

There is a bit of buzz coursing through the northeastern United States involving musician Todd Martin.

The 28-year-old will be trying to spread the buzz through the Midwest and the West Coast with a string of live performances, including a show in Milwaukee Sunday at the Bremen Café.

Originally from Philadelphia, Martin fell into music by picking up a guitar at the age of 15.

"I started off kind of slow, trying to self-teach myself. It was a really slow process at first. I wasn't dedicated and didn't realize how much fun it was. I put (the guitar) down through high school and was more of an athlete," he said.

Martin began writing and playing again in college to get his mind off school. The writing led to music and performances, but live shows have only come about in the last four or five years, he says.

"I had a great time playing in a band with a lot of friends." Martin said. "We played a lot of clubs and were known more for our cover show. I became a bit frustrated with booking smaller clubs for original work."

Martin says even though booking shows and getting paid for the covers was the way to earn some money, he wanted to break free. In 2003, he made the move to Boston in hopes of jumpstarting his career in the singer/songwriter market, like a few of his favorite musicians from the area.

"Coming back to Philadelphia, I do better here now that I left. Maybe I should move back and I'll do better in Boston," he jokes.

Music is now Martin's career of choice.

"I just recently quit my day job. If I was going to make it work it was going to happen before I was 40."

Martin gained some mainstream attention with MTV licensing music from his newest studio release How It Is That I'm Alone for "Real World" and "Road Rules."

He finds the attention really exciting and, since he doesn't get to watch TV often, it's great that the music was picked up by shows he and his friends watch.

"I'd love to see (my songs played) not just because of what it means for my music, but it would be funny to see a show and one of my songs playing in the background. It'd be surreal or entertaining to me if nothing else."

He takes life in stride — even when it's peculiar — like when he got a joke "hate letter" from a penguin named Wallace. He says it's quirky and weird — like he is.

Martin also performed in the "Rock the Cause 2005" concert benefiting VH1's Save the Music Foundation at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. recently.

Coming to Milwaukee is a first for him, not just in the touring sense.

"I've never been to Milwaukee," he said. "Never landed in Milwaukee, maybe I've connected through there to get to Detroit and Chicago."

Martin hopes to bring something new to the area, even trying loop samplers like Howie Day in order to build a song in front of his audience.

"My style of music plays well in our demographic. I put on an entertaining show. I'm not another boy with a guitar." Martin said.

Todd Martin will be at the Bremen Café, 901 E. Clarke St., Sunday at 8 p.m. with Patrick Thomas. For more information visit www.bremencafe.com or www.toddmartinmusic.com.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 3 2005.

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