MAHOGANY RUSH- “RAW ENERGY”

FRANK MARINO OF MAHOGANY RUSH DURING A DAYDREAM I HAD ONCE ON MT. TAMALPAIS. PHOTO-ART BY BEN UPHAM.

MAHOGANY RUSH-
“RAW ENERGY”
THE BRANDON SUN
BRANDON, MANITOBA, CANADA
APRIL 11, 1980

Veteran rocker Frank Marino formed his own band when he was 15, about 10 years ago. Since then, Quebec based Mahogany Rush have been almost full-time travellers on the grinding American rock circuit.

The group’s ninth album, What’s Next?, was released in early March, just as the band started its most arduous rock tour yet — 48 concerts in 57 days throughout the U.S.

People have been predicting big things for Mahogany Rush for years but the band has yet to produce that platinum hit album that would launch Marino and cohorts Jimmy Ayoub, Paul Harwood and brother Vincent Marino to real stardom.

Sitting in his favorite haunt in the old working-class Point St. Charles district of Montreal, Marino, the lead guitarist, professed an almost philosophical patience as he readied himself for the tour. “I’m a veteran and yet I’m only 25. I haven’t put in this much time for nothing. I look upon this year as a building period. “Next year should be the year we really break out.”

Despite his curiously anachronistic hippie appearance, Marino talks like a young man who knows exactly where he’s going. Relaxing in Montreal between tours, he had been producing an album by Quebec rock-disco queen Nanette Workman and his New York management has assigned him to produce a couple of new acts. He also has high hopes for the group’s new album. “It’s going to be a lot easier playing this album on stage than some of our earlier records, where I tried to show how versatile Frank Marino was (with electric pedal, synthesizers and the like.) This one concentrates on raw energy. “It’s more of a team effort, just one lead, one rhythm guitar and a minimum of overdubs.”

Touring is the same old grind, but consistently its own reward with increasing exposure to greater numbers of record buyers. “There’s not much chance to do anything while touring. You’re up at seven to get to the place you’re playing that night. You’re picked up by a limousine, you go to the hotel, freshen up, then go to the sound check, then you change and get ready in the dressing room. “After the show you might meet back at the hotel bar, go to bed late, and start all over again the next day.” Still, the grind has paid off for Mahogany Rush, which Marino describes as basically financially secure.

FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH
DISCOGRAPHY:

1973 Maxoom
1974 Child of the Novelty
1975 Strange Universe
1976 IV
1977 World Anthem
1978 Live
1979 Tales of the Unexpected
1980 What’s Next
1981 The Power of Rock ‘N’ Roll
1982 Juggernaut
1986 Full Circle
1988 Double Live
1990 From the Hip
1997 Dragonfly (Best of)
2000 Eye of the Storm
2004 Real Live
CLICK THE LINKS BELOW TO SEE MAHOGANY RUSH PHOTOS & ART:
MAHOGANY RUSH PHOTOS BY BEN UPHAM (1975-1978)
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MAHOGANY RUSH PHOTOS BY BEN UPHAM (1979)
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MAHOGANY RUSH ART BY BEN UPHAM
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MAHOGANY RUSH FINE ART AMERICA IMAGES BY BEN UPHAM