These days, quite a lot of music is being categorized within the ‘classic rock’ tag – from the hard rock, to roots in all its shapes and forms, with everything else thrown in along the way – from soul and R&B to singer-songwriter genre and power pop.
And lo and behold, that is almost everything that Vancouver Island-based multi-instrumentalist musician and producer Marc Robichaud, AKA Mr Missy presents on his latest album Looking for You. The album exudes such ease and confidence in crisscrossing genres, something that comes not only from capabilities, but also from years of experience on the music scene.
Whether it is the cross between The Band and The Allman Brothers Band of the opening title track, the subdued balladry of “When We Were Young,” or the countrified “The Story,” Robichaud seems to have it all covered, and all with such ease and aplomb, as if he has done it all his life.
Actually, for years, Robichaud was a professional guitarist for hire playing in corporate show bands, blues and jazz festivals. But then Marc took a 15 year hiatus from the music business to work as a carpenter. Does that hiatus show here?
Not at all, for sure, Robichaud handles any genre he picks here with such ease as he was born with them (probably was) and bundles them all into one fine rock-based veneer that gives them a personal. Mr. Missy stamp. It is so good to have Robichaud back in music, where he definitely belongs.
