Brian Marquis (ex-Therefore I Am) signs to Equal Vision Records

Brian Marquis, former guitarist of the beloved Boston-based post-hardcore outfit Therefore I Am, has signed to Equal Vision Records as a solo artist.

“I am extremely excited to be teaming up with Equal Vision Records for my first solo full length. I feel confident that they know where I’m coming from and are genuinely excited about where I’m headed with my new music,” shares Marquis. “Having played music for a while now in different scenarios, one of the most important things to me now, is working with people who are just as passionate about what they do as I am about my music. It’s that enthusiasm and foresight that make me proud to be a part of the EVR family.”

Marquis will release his debut solo full-length album, Blood & Spirits, on May 13 – following his run on the first ever Acoustic Basement UK Tour, which will also feature Geoff Rickly (Thursday), KOJI, and Rob Lynch.

This Summer, Marquis will perform and run production on the Acoustic Basement Stage on the 2014 Vans Warped Tour for the third consecutive year – a stage that he founded in 2011 under the guidance of Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman.

The semi-indoor tented stage features a wide variety of established acts performing acoustic sets, offering a break from the signature full-band stages of the massive annual touring festival. Artists who have performed on the stage include the likes of Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music/The Revival Tour), Into It. Over It., Transit, Anti-Flag, William Beckett (The Academy Is…), and many more. The Acoustic Basement has now expanded beyond the US Vans Warped Tour, having now completed two independent US tours and will have the aforementioned inaugural UK run kicking off on April 20 in Southampton, UK.

Following the disbanding of Therefore I am, Marquis set out on his own musical path as a solo artist, straying away from the in-your-face rock that had been a part of his life for so long, and now presenting a softer more soulful side of his musical prowess.

Marquis’ deep, earthy vocals shine on Blood & Spirits, offering introspective, poetic lyricism, undeniably catchy melodies and a dynamic collection of songs that range stylistically from bright, memorable sing-alongs (“Paralysis by Analysis”) filled to the brim with Boston pride (“From Boston”) to dark, emotional tales crooned out with just the right amount of Americana twang (“Hem & Haw”, “I’m Still Chasing You”) and full-hearted genuineness (“Drink You Up”). One can simply feel the raw, honest truth and passion behind each and every word Marquis pours out on Blood & Spirits.

The new album was recorded in Los Angeles, CA with producer Doug Grean (Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, Stone Temple Pilots).

While a positive spirit has always been at the core of Marquis’ true being, it wasn’t until his recent brush with a potentially untimely fate that pushed him into the truly extraordinary territory of greater meaning and purpose displayed on Blood & Spirits.

This past summer, while attempting to preserve the safety and integrity of the Acoustic Basement Stage of the 2013 Vans Warped Tour in the midst of a sudden, aggressive storm in Florida – Marquis was unimaginably struck by lightning. While the serious scare (that promptly landed him in the hospital) left him with no known long-term side-effects or ailments, the scarring event proved to be a stark reminder of the fragility of life, the importance of friends and family, and – above all for Marquis – to live life with real purpose and make music with real meaning.

Marquis’ message is clear and powerful on the forthcoming album, his first release of new music since the incident, as he leaves his heart and soul on the table and truly makes the most of each and every note on the record. With Blood & Spirits, Marquis has officially found his voice.

TRACKLISTING – Blood & Spirits
1. Drink You Up
2. Paralysis by Analysis
3. I’m Still Chasing You
4. Burn the Bridge, Swim the River
5. Highways and Heartache
6. Hem & Haw
7. From Boston
8. Young and Dumb
9. Never Disappear
10. Breathing in Ghosts

TOUR DATES
Divided Heaven w/Brian Marquis
Mar 30 Los Angeles, CA @ Redwood Bar

Acoustic Basement UK Tour 2014
Apr 20 Southampton, UK @ Joiners
Apr 21 Cardiff, UK @ Clwb Ifor Bach
Apr 22 London, UK @ Borderline
Apr 23 Bristol, UK @ Thekla
Apr 24 Norwich, UK @ Epic Studios
Apr 25 Nottingham, UK @ Basement
Apr 26 Wolverhampton, UK @ Slade Rooms
Apr 27 Glasgow, UK @ ABC 2
Apr 28 Sheffield, UK @ Corporation
Apr 29 Leeds, UK @ Cockpit – Room 2
Apr 30 Manchester, UK @ Deaf Institute

Vans Warped Tour 2014 – Acoustic Basement Stage
Jun 13 Houston, TX @ Reliant Center Parking Lot
Jun 14 San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
Jun 15 Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
Jun 17 Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater
Jun 18 Mesa, AZ @ Quail Run Park
Jun 19 Las Vegas, NV @ Luxor Lot
Jun 20 Pomona, CA @ Pomona Fairplex
Jun 21 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
Jun 22 Ventura, CA @ Seaside Park
Jun 25 Chula Vista, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Jun 26 Wheatland, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheatre
Jun 28 Southeast Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheater
Jun 29 Portland, OR@ Portland Expo Center Parking Lot
Jul 02 Maryland Heights, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul 03 Noblesville, IN @ Klipsch Music Center
Jul 04 Toronto, ON @ Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
Jul 05 Montreal, QC @ Parterre Île Notre Dame at Parc Jean-Drapeau
Jul 06 Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Concert Center
Jul 08 Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Jul 09 Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion
Jul 10 Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center (formerly Comcast Center)
Jul 11 Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center
Jul 12 Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Amphitheater
Jul 13 Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre (Formerly Comcast Theatre)
Jul 15 Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
Jul 16 Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
Jul 17 Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center
Jul 18 Auburn Hills, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Jul 19 Tinley Park, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Jul 20 Shakopee, MN @ Canterbury Park
Jul 22 Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
Jul 23 Virginia Beach, VA @ Farm Bureau Live At Virginia Beach
Jul 24 Atlanta, GA @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Jul 25 St. Petersburg, FL @ Vinoy Park
Jul 26 West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheatre
Jul 27 Orlando, FL @ Central Florida Fairgrounds
Jul 28 Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte
Jul 29 Nashville, TN @ Tennessee State Fairground
Jul 30 Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre
Jul 31 Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater
Aug 02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Utah State Fairpark
Aug 03 Denver, CO @ Sports Authority Field at Mile High