Melbourne rock musician Marc Welsh has landed back onto the music scene with his debut solo album, Press the Flesh, after a hiatus which included working as Killing Heidi’s stage tech and fill-in guitarist.
Welsh, who in the past 10 years has done everything from co-front power-pop outfit Sodaracer with Bodyjar songwriter Phil Rose, to perform in crazy, dress-up cover band The Accidents with Killing Heidi drummer Adam Pedretti, has been working on his debut solo album for the past nine months and is ready for Melbourne to listen.
"A couple of years ago I was asked to reform my old Sydney band, Asylum, for some benefit gigs in both Sydney and Melbourne," Welsh explains. "After performing those shows, I got that insane rock and roll buzz back and started writing. Before I knew it, I had more than enough strong material for an album."
Long-time friend and legendary rock drummer Venom (Electric Mary) recorded the drum tracks on Press the Flesh All instrumentation and vocals were recorded by Welsh.
Renowned music writer Jeff Jenkins says Press the Flesh is Welsh’s best work yet – a notable accolade coming from a journalist who has followed Welsh’s career from Sydney band Asylum in the 80s through to Melbourne bands Have a Nice Day, Floor 13 and Starworld in the 90s, and then Sodaracer.
"Press the Flesh is an eclectic mix of flamboyant rock and roll," Jenkins says.
"Marc Welsh has had many great live bands over the years, but he’s never truly captured that vibe on record. Until now."
Welsh’s latest works include a hot and heavy rock track written about 2012 Penthouse Pet of the Year Nikita Sage and a haunting and melodic ballad, Anxious. Bring Back Aussie Rock and Roll pays homage to Aussie greats including Hush, TISM, Midnight Oil and Spy vs Spy while having a gentle dig at the more electronic tunes from, Welsh says, "the kids of today."
The other 11 songs on the album are, well, diverse.
"This album isn't written to any formula," Welsh explains. "It’s an album which can’t be pigeonholed into any specific genre. And that's the way I planned it."
While Welsh recorded, produced, and even did all the artwork for the album, he can't launch it alone. He's teamed up with ex-Argonauts bass player Kevin Hunter and guitar-slinger Ross O’Driscoll, and of course, Venom, to launch Press the Flesh in a couple of weeks.
"I can't wait to play these songs live at the best pub in Melbourne, the Rev, on 15 June with my old buddies," Welsh says "It's great to be back."
