The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
46°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

HARD-CORE ROCKING

The Black March is a heavy punk rock group that features, from left, Rick Eyre, Dave Brezinski, Chris Barr, Jason Anderson and Eli Bickerton. (Amanda Smith / The Spokesman-Review)
Isamu Jordan (509) 459-5299
The Black March is a heavy punk rock group that features, from left, Rick Eyre, Dave Brezinski, Chris Barr, Jason Anderson and Eli Bickerton. (Amanda Smith / The Spokesman-Review)

Black March is a relatively new band in town, but its members are no strangers to the local scene.

The band members – drummer Chris Barr, bassist Rick Eyre, guitarist Dave Brezinski, guitarist Jason Anderson and vocalist Eli Bickerton – were once all-ages scenesters who have become 20-something dads and day-jobbers.

The band incubated for nine months in the basement of original drummer Merv Eggleston’s house before going public with its distinct blend of punk, metal, hard-core and classic rock.

Black March has played a little more than a handful of shows since its explosive maiden voyage in March at Mootsy’s 10th anniversary party (also the reunion show of Cause and Intifada).

Black March is part of a powerhouse lineup of locals tonight at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside Ave. Also on the bill is bands A Silenced Memory, Takeover and The Midnight Society. Showtime is 9:30 p.m. There is a $6 cover.

Each of the Black March’s five members is a veteran in the local scene. Brezinski and Anderson played in After Eyes are Gone, where Brezinski continues to spend time. Eyre was a member of Cause, along with Eggelston. Bickerton’s screams are familiar from his run with Intifada. And Barr is a hired-gun studio session drummer. Eggleston left Black March after just three shows because of creative differences, Anderson said. Barr replaced him two days later.

“It started as more of a side project. We were looking for a sound like Neurosis or Isis, more hard-core punk rock and less metal, almost an epic sound, but we progressed into something totally different. It’s a composite of all of our influences,” said Anderson who defected from After Eyes Are Gone to Black March earlier this year.

Black March is a band of average Joes. The members all have day jobs. Eyre and Anderson are fathers: Anderson is expecting his second child; Eyre has a toddler and a newborn.

That was one of the major differences for Anderson in playing with After Eyes are Gone.

“I couldn’t bring my daughter to those practices. With these guys our kids can play together,” Anderson said.

Black March is in the process of laying scratch tracks at the Nautilus Sound studio (formerly Jello Tree) for an album the members hope to finish after the new year.