To read all of the posts in the series “Questions With” click here.
Marc Broussard sounds a lot older on the phone than I expected. After noting his age, I figured him to be more of a green singer-songwriter type rather than the old Southern soul that he actually is. One listen to his song “Home,” and I was convinced that his appearance was a complete deception. He may look like your average college frat boy, but his heavy voice and soulful lyrics reach way beyond the typical Southern rock sound. It may be that surprise factor that really makes Broussard stick out like a sore thumb.
He inherited the music gene from his father, Ted Broussard, guitarist of Louisana Hall of Famers The Boogie Kings. He’s gone on to make quite a name for himself by winning ovations while playing major festivals like Bonaroo, South-by-Southwest (SXSW), and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He’s playing the Winspear this Friday, November 2nd. As per usual, I got to ask some pretty imaginative questions for this interview, but I was relieved to find that Broussard was all too willing to go along with the premise.
FrontRow: What time do you usually go to sleep?
Marc Broussard: 2-3 a.m. I don’t go down willingly. I fight every last second awake.
FR: If you could choose anyone to be leader of the free world, who would it be?
MB: Billy Stark, who’s the father of a very good friend of mine named Joe. He’s an amazing dad and just a good dude. After Hurricane Katrina, there were 1,200 people homeless at this civic center. Billy and his wife decided to cook them all spaghetti and meatballs. He asked the people in charge, “What do they need?” They needed a clean shower. So, he designed a six-stall shower out in the parking lot and everybody had their own private stall. It worked like a charm. You could see the joy in their faces after having a nice, cool shower after what seems like an eternity. He’s a joy. I would vote for him to rule the world.
FR: What do you make of the commercialization of youth culture?
MB: I’m not sure. It falls right in line with the commercialization of every other culture. If something gets hot, you’re gonna have corporations latch onto it and ride it to the rails. We saw a beautiful example of that with the Red Bull leap from space. It’s a publicity stunt in its purest form. To be honest, when it comes to commercialization and music, I try my best to steer my children to the classics. I try to keep them away from the more commercial forms of entertainment. Luckily, my kids have good taste in music – everything from Zeppelin to Stevie Wonder.
FR: If you could choose anyone in the world as your partner, who would it be and why?
MB: I’m married and I would choose my wife. For a music partner, that’s a good question. I would probably say Gabe Dixon, who’s a great artist and a great friend.
FR: What instrument do you wish you played?
MB: Piano. It’s just the most amazing instrument ever conceived. It’s such an expressive thing and you can do so many things with it. It’s my favorite instrument.
FR: What do you hate most about performing?
MB: That’s a good question. I don’t hate very much about performing. I would have to say being away from my wife and kids, which is generally the case when I’m performing.
FR: Who would you want to tour with most, who you’ve never toured with before?
MB: I hear Zac Brown’s got some amazing food on tour.
FR: If you weren’t playing music and had the talent and circumstances to do anything else, what would it be?
MB: Maybe teach. I’d like high school social studies or American history or something along those lines. Or music, but I’d have more fun teaching a core subject.
FR: How does the theory of evolution and natural selection make you feel?
MB: Really insignificant.
FR: If global warming melted the ice caps covering 90 percent of the known world with water, what city would you hope was spared so you could live there?
MB: New Orleans, cause it’s a freaking great place to live.
FR: What is the best thing (food/substance/drink/thing) you ever put in your body?
MB: My aunt Barbara’s king cake.
FR: If immortality was achievable by downloading your consciousness into a database and spending eternity in a virtual reality, would you do it?
MB: Yes, absolutely.
