Marc Broussard will be bringing his home-brewed Louisiana soundto the Mud Island Amphi- theater when he opens for the ViolentFemmes on July 5.
Broussard, a mere 21, said in a phone interview that he stillhas some trouble using his ID to get in bars.
"I'm traveling the country with a new Louisiana ID and I alwaysget looked at funny.
"The bouncer always flips it over to make sure there is amagnetic strip on the back and everything," said Broussard.
But the young musician who plays everything from rock to soul toR&B is used to people being surprised at his age because he hasalways has a voice well beyond his years.
At age 5 Broussard was already up on stage with his father,Louisiana Hall of fame guitarist Ted Broussard, singing "Johnnie B.Goode."
"I was bred into it. I definitely couldn't escape music. My daddiscovered I had 'it' at 5 years old," Broussard said.
"My father, my grandfather, my aunt-- my whole family ismusical. I could probably take my whole family on a tour and have agood go of it," Broussard said.
Broussard said the music his family played constantly had alarge impact on the soulful style he has developed. His biggestmusical influence, according to Broussard, is Brian McKnight.
In middle school, he was so obsessed with the R&B hitmakerthat friends teasingly called him "Brian McWhite," according toBroussard.
"June has been fun, busy-- I've been enjoying the hell out ofit," Broussard said.
"Two nights ago I supported Maceo Parker, the original hornleader for James Brown.
"Their whole band came and watched, and that was a great honorbecause they have all spent many years playing with some greatbands," Broussard said.
According to Broussard, the title, Momentary Setback, talksabout getting through life thinking about the next move before youdo it.
"It's basically a snapshot of two years," Broussard said.
"2000-2002 were pretty crazy years. I graduated, moved out, andthings kind of fell apart," Broussard said, speaking of his breakupwith his old band, long-time girlfriend and his string of dayjobs.
"Thank goodness I got all of that out of my system as fast as Icould," Broussard said.
Broussard's Momentary Setback, a sampler album that is helpingsearch for a good record deal, shows his diversity of musicalinfluences and abilities.
The song "French Cafe" is a Louisiana folk song that Broussardsings with a soft ad mature voice, but the synthesized beats of his"Blue Jeans" brings out his McKnight influence.
The quiet "Jeremiah's Prayer" shows his Christian upbringing andbeliefs.
However, one of Broussard's biggest criticisms is his lyricalna�vet�.
"I haven't hit my stride lyrically. I'm not able to verbalize alot of my feelings," Broussard said.
"But when I do do it, I am enjoying the direction I am going in-- becoming less na�ve, less juvenile -- and I'm lookingforward to what's going to happen in the next few years," Broussardsaid.
Broussard said he plans on going home to Louisiana before comingback to Memphis for his July 5 performance.
"It's been way too long since I've been home. I miss my familytremendously," Broussard said.
