Month: May 2011

Marcellus Hall first made a name for himself as the frontman of Railroad Jerk, which released four albums on Matador between 1990 and 1996 before breaking up. Hall and RJ drummer Dave Varenka went on to form White Hassle the next year, issuing a handful of records until disbanding in 2005. These days, Hall is pursuing a solo career, and he just released his debut album, The First Line, on Isaac Brock’s Glacial Pace label. Aside from the music, the 13-track LP also shows off Hall’s other big talent: illustration. Since moving to New York City in the late ’80s, Hall has seen his artwork appear in the likes of The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and The First Line features a 44-page book showcasing his art. Not only is Hall guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week, he’s also drawing illustrations to accompany everything he writes about. Read our brand new Q&A with him.

Hall: Is there a difference between a charmer and a charming person? Some questions remain unanswered. Every year you ask your tax accountant if you can deduct library fines on your return. “No,” she says, unamused. You pay the fines without complaint, though, because there is nothing more awesome in society than a library. You are almost loathe to write about it for fear that the secret will get out. Where else can you order DVDs, CDs and books online and have them delivered to your branch for free?

Video after the jump.

Marcellus Hall first made a name for himself as the frontman of Railroad Jerk, which released four albums on Matador between 1990 and 1996 before breaking up. Hall and RJ drummer Dave Varenka went on to form White Hassle the next year, issuing a handful of records until disbanding in 2005. These days, Hall is pursuing a solo career, and he just released his debut album, The First Line, on Isaac Brock’s Glacial Pace label. Aside from the music, the 13-track LP also shows off Hall’s other big talent: illustration. Since moving to New York City in the late ’80s, Hall has seen his artwork appear in the likes of The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and The First Line features a 44-page book showcasing his art. Not only is Hall guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week, he’s also drawing illustrations to accompany everything he writes about. Read our brand new Q&A with him.

Hall: You rose with the rising sun and consulted your list of things to do. Sipping black tea, you circled the most important things. Among them was writing hit songs, illustrating masterpieces and circling important things. These things being done, you crossed them out with a Sharpie ®. Finding true and everlasting love was next on the list. You set out for the library on your bike. The most pressing thing to do, of course, was written in ballpoint pen on your hand: “Return DVDs.”

“As I got on the city bus and found a vacant seat/I thought I saw my future bride walking up the street/I shouted to the driver, ‘Hey conductor, you must slow down/I think I see her/Please let me off the bus.’” —”Nadine” by Chuck Berry

Video after the jump.