Charlie Mars, who is slated to perform at Rick’s Caf Thursday night, recently signed his first record deal with V2 Records and is promoting his self-titled album.
The 29-year-old musician from Laurel, Miss. has been on tour for the past eight months, traversing the nation twice.
“We’ve played pretty much everywhere,” said Mars. “It’s the never-ending tour.”
After eight months on the road and an upcoming show in Scandinavia, Mars said he’s ready to be home in Mississippi.
“I’m really excited to be back in Starkville. There’s nothing more important to me than coming home and playing to a home crowd. I’m proud of Mississippi and I want the people of Mississippi to be proud of me,” Mars said.
Pam: You’ve been playing since college. Tell me about your first gig.
Charlie: My first gig was in high school. I was in the band. When I was in college in Texas I had a friend who was making his own record so I hired the same people to make a record. I had no idea what I was doing, but it was fun. I ended up selling 15,000 copies of that record and decided to be a full-time musician. Now here I am 15 years later. That record was called “Broken Arrow.”
Pam: What got you started in music?
Charlie: I played in the band in high school, and I started getting serious about it when I was about a junior in college. And then once I finished school I moved to Atlanta and then Athens and then toured full-time. In that time I made two records. Then I took some time off and then I made the record that is out now, and then I signed to V2 Records.
Pam: Of the songs you’ve written what’s your favorite and why?
Charlie: Probably “When the Sun Goes Down” off the new record. I’m really proud of it. It sounds good to me. The Seattle Sympphony they played on that song.
Pam: What is your all-time venue to play at?
Charlie: The Orange Peel in Ashville, North Carolina. It’s amazing. We played with Dave Matthews last week. That was pretty cool.
Pam: Having lived in Oxford for the last five years, what’s it like coming to play in Starkville?
Charlie: I’m more of a Mississippi State fan than an Ole Miss fan. I love Starkville. I’ve probably been to 100 Mississippi State games. My mother went to Mississippi State, my father went to State, my grandfather went to State. When Ole Miss and Miss State play, I pull for State.
Pam: What inspires your music?
Charlie: I’m inspired by other bands that I think are great. If I here a great song, I want to write a great song. Music for me is an emotional outlet, so when I go through a tough time I tend to write songs about it.
Pam: Who was your favorite musician growing up? Is it the same now?
Charlie: REM. I’d say it’s the same now. I’m going to be opening for REM the month of November. It’s a dream come true, really.
Pam:You’ve been compared to U2. Are there any other artists whose styles are similar to your own?
Charlie: No. I have a hard time doing that. I don’t really know who we sound like. There’s a lot of people I like that I think influence my music.
Pam: Your song titled “Bay Springs Road,” is it based on your life in Mississippi?
Charlie: There’s a road in Laurel called Bay that runs from Laurel to Bay Springs. We called it “Old Bay.” We used to cruise up and down it in high school. Everybody has that if they grew up in a small town.
Doors open at 8 p.m. Thursday with opener Rooster Blues at 9 p.m. Mars will take the stage at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
“I’ve known Charlie for a long time. I’m very proud of him signing with V2 records and very proud to have him back at Rick’s,” said Rich Welch, owner of Rick’s Caf Americain.