So Marc Rustigan. Who is Marc? So the first time I saw Marc was playing guitar in "Rockstar J's" band RAW. He has a certain humbleness in in stage presence, yet a gentle self assurance. As the band started to get the set moving, around the second or third song. I could not take my eyes off the guy wielding the ax beside the front-man. He started to enter a trance like state swaying his head back and forth, eyes pointed at the floor, he would occasionally glance out at us in the bar. Occasionally, a quick grin would flash on his face and back into the trance he would go. As my stay turned from tourist into main stay drop out. I saw more and more of Marc's musical gift. On several occasions I can remember standing on my chair in the crowded bar giving "devil horn salute" and undivided attention to the wizard. He has a style similar to the jazz men I saw play in New Orleans. Although, his technique is tight and precise... it had a certain dirtiness to it. I call that "soul". Like many superstars I've seen throughout my middle aged life I could see right off this man was completely plugged into his guitar. There was only Marc... there was only music. He was his guitar, and his guitar was him. It's beautiful this connection people have with music. These are the artists that change the world.
In time... I got to know more of Marc. Like most of us creative free thinkers, sometimes we suffer with serious drug or alcohol problems. Marc was no exception. His "kryptonite" was a stiff drink... or a gallon or 2 of stiff drinks. I think Guaro is his poison of choice these days. Strong and cheap... but that hangover is a real doozie... even for me. It's sugar cane based. I digress, Marc was in one of the original Puerto Viejo rockstar groups with Eric Haller called "Action Pants". I never personally had the pleasure of hearing them... but I hear Marc was playing a stand up bass with electric out. I've only heard of the legend. Never the sound. Apparently Caribbean climate is strenuous on wood string instruments. It has, since past on, to where dead instruments call Heaven, I assume. It was a legend in it's own right apparently had an interesting rock-star life in the hands of Marc. The band was gonna re-join about 2 months ago for Rocking J's birthday party. It never vaporized... something about permits? Anyhow... it's a small town with massive world wide foot traffic. So people passing through still tell me stories of some legendary live sets.
So Marc, of course has rock-star taste in women, so his will obviously make him a stronger artist but emotionally tormented at the same time. Graciela his wife is an eccentric, crazy, smart, witty, rock-star doctor. Loves loud music and tormented men. She's a handful for herself... so with Marc trying to rein her in... you can imagine. HOW MUCH I WANNA GET HIM RECORDED! LOL. He's an emotional basket case with that girl. Amen. Marc... nothing but LOVE. I do how ever feel like this place usually manifests everything you want but it comes with consequences. The girl of his dreams is the girl i n his nightmares too. Pura vida!
On as a Jedi... he has, a Grammy reputation as a sound engineer. He's hopefully gonna be the mastering dude on my first LP. If he doesn't fall through the Vortex before I do. Marc is an amazing guitarist, has written articles for major music magazines, and is genuinely connect rockstar with the likes of Sublime under his belt. He's truly gifted and sometimes truly tormented. A truly amazing musical genius with a true rock-star sensibility. We'll see if we can manifest an "Action Pants" reunion someday with a wood stand-up bass.
