PRESS
A sincere thank you to Rascal and company for a terrific show here at our historic Opera House. These folks were awesome to work with, and we hope to have them back again sometime! - Red Cloud Opera House
Nebraska native Rascal Martinez has one of those sound qualities that goes straight to the gut, the kind of raspy resonance that stirs a fire in the blood. During Winslow’s Earth Day Festival, Rascal’s growling voice filling the air with moody originals along with familiar old tunes. Within just a few songs in, he had the crowd on their feet. - City of Winslow, AZ
He is extremely professional in his dealings behind the scenes and understands he is on the venues time clock and always does what’s best for the crowd. He is an entertainer through and through. - Cody Schmick - Kinkaider Brewing
Local singer, Rascal Martinez, releases his fourth album, 'Hard Love'
February 14, 2020 // Job Vigil
Popular local songwriter and musician Rascal Martinez will release his fourth album Feb. 28. A pre-album release party is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Prairie Arts Center. Rascal and other local musicians will perform. The new album is titled “Hard Love” and the songs are all originals written by Rascal.
“We have a new single that came out Feb. 7 and another one on Valentine’s Day,” Rascal said. “The singles are available on any music streaming site including Spotify and others.” The album has nine songs and will be coming out on vinyl as well. “The vinyl albums will be available sometime in April because it takes a while to press them,” Rascal said. The album contains a number of newly written songs. “I’ve been working on the album since the beginning of last year,” Rascal said. “There are a couple of songs I wrote a few years ago, but most of them are new and fresh.” He said the stories behind the songs “are real, just about life and love and everything.” “We’re really excited to release this,” Rascal said. “It’s probably the best I’ve done so far.”
Rascal has toured the American West, usually in the spring, but he is changing up his schedule a bit this year. “We are going to be doing a run in Nashville, Tennessee, in March,” Rascal said. “We’ll do some Midwest tours throughout April and May and we have a pretty big run in May through Chicago and Iowa.” He said he wants to stay close to home for a while. “I’ve booked a lot of stuff for the summer around Nebraska,” Rascal said. “I’m going to see where the record kind of gets some attention and then I’ll base my tours off that. I love doing those tours, but I want to be a little more strategic with it.” Rascal said he wants his touring to be worth the effort instead of driving thousands of miles where folks might not know of his music. “It’s easy to lose a lot of money traveling if you’re not playing the right places and getting the right demographic or exposure,” Rascal said.
Last year Rascal signed with a small company, but has since disconnected with it. “We were signed with a label, but I did drop that label because it just wasn’t working out for our side,” Rascal said. “We are totally independent now and I’m totally fine with that because I get to call my own shots."
February 14, 2020 // Job Vigil
Popular local songwriter and musician Rascal Martinez will release his fourth album Feb. 28. A pre-album release party is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Prairie Arts Center. Rascal and other local musicians will perform. The new album is titled “Hard Love” and the songs are all originals written by Rascal.
“We have a new single that came out Feb. 7 and another one on Valentine’s Day,” Rascal said. “The singles are available on any music streaming site including Spotify and others.” The album has nine songs and will be coming out on vinyl as well. “The vinyl albums will be available sometime in April because it takes a while to press them,” Rascal said. The album contains a number of newly written songs. “I’ve been working on the album since the beginning of last year,” Rascal said. “There are a couple of songs I wrote a few years ago, but most of them are new and fresh.” He said the stories behind the songs “are real, just about life and love and everything.” “We’re really excited to release this,” Rascal said. “It’s probably the best I’ve done so far.”
Rascal has toured the American West, usually in the spring, but he is changing up his schedule a bit this year. “We are going to be doing a run in Nashville, Tennessee, in March,” Rascal said. “We’ll do some Midwest tours throughout April and May and we have a pretty big run in May through Chicago and Iowa.” He said he wants to stay close to home for a while. “I’ve booked a lot of stuff for the summer around Nebraska,” Rascal said. “I’m going to see where the record kind of gets some attention and then I’ll base my tours off that. I love doing those tours, but I want to be a little more strategic with it.” Rascal said he wants his touring to be worth the effort instead of driving thousands of miles where folks might not know of his music. “It’s easy to lose a lot of money traveling if you’re not playing the right places and getting the right demographic or exposure,” Rascal said.
Last year Rascal signed with a small company, but has since disconnected with it. “We were signed with a label, but I did drop that label because it just wasn’t working out for our side,” Rascal said. “We are totally independent now and I’m totally fine with that because I get to call my own shots."
Rascal Rocks Espresso Shop
November 17, 2018 // Joe Chitwood
Rascal Martinez entertained a full house Friday night at the Espresso Shop with a performance that captivated the audience from the opening chord to the final stanza of the last song. The standing room only crowd clapped, cheered and sang along as the Sutherland song writer and musician worked his way through two, hour-long sets that featured songs from all three of his CDs. “Tonight, is a special night,” he said. “It is the first time since 2016 that I get to play again with Shelby Burke, Forest King along with my brother Marcello Sanchez, all together.” His country twang mixed with strong lead guitar licks, a pounding bass guitar, strong drum beats and Burke’s backing vocals held the audience in rapt attention. Martinez said a lot of the love songs he has written were for former girlfriends, but “Now they are your songs for whoever you love.”
Along with material from his CDs, Burke joined him in a toe-tapping rendition of Johnny Cash and June Carter’s Jackson. Burke and King took a break from the band to attend college at Kearney. Martinez took a break during the show to invite them to talk about their lives. “Tell us what’s been going on in your lives,” Martinez asked. “I graduated with a degree in music education and am teaching 6-12 grade music at Kearney Catholic,” Burke said. “I love it.” “I went to school at Kearney with Shelby and got a degree in computer science,” King said. “Basically I fix computers.” “So, what do I do if our computer screen goes blue,” Martinez asked. “Buy a new one,” King replied. “Hmm, already you are trying to sell me something,” Martinez said.
Martinez just returned from a tour that included stops in Nashville and Chicago and the east coast. He said it was the first time he had been on an extended solo tour. “It was something different I wanted to try, and it was a good time,” he said. Martinez said he is grateful for all the support people in the North Platte area have given him over the years and was excited to come play a special one-night concert for them. Next year he plans on a west coast tour, “among other things,” he said. “We are still making plans for the spring and summer.”
He ended the night with a new ballad he wrote, Never Alone, from his latest CD, Far from Home. “People sometimes ask me what I am going to do when I get old,” he said. “Hopefully what I am doing now. I love it and want to do it for a long time.” “If you find something you like to do, you should do it,” he said. Martinez told the audience he loves coming back home where his career started. “When I am home, sometimes you will see me hanging out in here, probably setting in the corner and drinking too much coffee,” he said. “Thanks for all you do for me and thanks for the Espresso Shop for having us here.”
The crowd gave the band a standing ovation.
November 17, 2018 // Joe Chitwood
Rascal Martinez entertained a full house Friday night at the Espresso Shop with a performance that captivated the audience from the opening chord to the final stanza of the last song. The standing room only crowd clapped, cheered and sang along as the Sutherland song writer and musician worked his way through two, hour-long sets that featured songs from all three of his CDs. “Tonight, is a special night,” he said. “It is the first time since 2016 that I get to play again with Shelby Burke, Forest King along with my brother Marcello Sanchez, all together.” His country twang mixed with strong lead guitar licks, a pounding bass guitar, strong drum beats and Burke’s backing vocals held the audience in rapt attention. Martinez said a lot of the love songs he has written were for former girlfriends, but “Now they are your songs for whoever you love.”
Along with material from his CDs, Burke joined him in a toe-tapping rendition of Johnny Cash and June Carter’s Jackson. Burke and King took a break from the band to attend college at Kearney. Martinez took a break during the show to invite them to talk about their lives. “Tell us what’s been going on in your lives,” Martinez asked. “I graduated with a degree in music education and am teaching 6-12 grade music at Kearney Catholic,” Burke said. “I love it.” “I went to school at Kearney with Shelby and got a degree in computer science,” King said. “Basically I fix computers.” “So, what do I do if our computer screen goes blue,” Martinez asked. “Buy a new one,” King replied. “Hmm, already you are trying to sell me something,” Martinez said.
Martinez just returned from a tour that included stops in Nashville and Chicago and the east coast. He said it was the first time he had been on an extended solo tour. “It was something different I wanted to try, and it was a good time,” he said. Martinez said he is grateful for all the support people in the North Platte area have given him over the years and was excited to come play a special one-night concert for them. Next year he plans on a west coast tour, “among other things,” he said. “We are still making plans for the spring and summer.”
He ended the night with a new ballad he wrote, Never Alone, from his latest CD, Far from Home. “People sometimes ask me what I am going to do when I get old,” he said. “Hopefully what I am doing now. I love it and want to do it for a long time.” “If you find something you like to do, you should do it,” he said. Martinez told the audience he loves coming back home where his career started. “When I am home, sometimes you will see me hanging out in here, probably setting in the corner and drinking too much coffee,” he said. “Thanks for all you do for me and thanks for the Espresso Shop for having us here.”
The crowd gave the band a standing ovation.
Far From Home. The New Album by Rascal Martinez
July 2, 2018 // WC Turck
Loss. If there was only one word that would describe the theme of the new Album from Nebraska’s Rascal Martinez, Far from Home, it would have to be loss. Recorded in Nashville in just two days, Far from Home captures the energy and live stage feel characteristic of Rascal Martinez’ live performances. The resulting sound evokes recollections of Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Steve Young’s heart-wrenching I Can’t Sleep, with addictive melodies reminiscent of Ernest Tubb’s I’m Walkin’ the Floor over You. Guitar, bass, 6 piece drum kit and occasional piano; Far from Home is unpretentious, straightforward and Rascal’s most heartfelt album to date.
Back a year of so ago, after a phone conversation Rascal revealed he was struggling with a broken heart after a long distance relationship soured. Rascal poured that pain and emotion into his Art with Why you Gotta Say Goodbye, a danceable two step lament, backed by brother and drummer Marcello Sanchez. Older, declaring “We got older, and we got other things to do…” brings it all full circle, finding perspective; the songs we once swathed ourselves in to help mend broken hearts. Hold On is pure Rascal, a potent and melodic mix of rich American musical themes ripped straight from the heartland, but All That I Need is destined to become a classic, and easily one of the best songs Rascal has written among a retinue of consistently great music.
Rascal has found his place as a singer songwriter. Far from Home feels closer to home than ever. “The world can come crashing, fall all around you,” Rascal bleeds in All That I Need, “and change in a moment’s time, but don’t let it fear you, we can get through this, because I know that you are mine...” Who writes lyrics like that anymore, but someone with both feel and his soul planted firmly and confidently in a truly beautiful album?
Far from Home is available on Spotify, Youtube and by visiting https://www.rascalmartinez.com/
July 2, 2018 // WC Turck
Loss. If there was only one word that would describe the theme of the new Album from Nebraska’s Rascal Martinez, Far from Home, it would have to be loss. Recorded in Nashville in just two days, Far from Home captures the energy and live stage feel characteristic of Rascal Martinez’ live performances. The resulting sound evokes recollections of Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, Steve Young’s heart-wrenching I Can’t Sleep, with addictive melodies reminiscent of Ernest Tubb’s I’m Walkin’ the Floor over You. Guitar, bass, 6 piece drum kit and occasional piano; Far from Home is unpretentious, straightforward and Rascal’s most heartfelt album to date.
Back a year of so ago, after a phone conversation Rascal revealed he was struggling with a broken heart after a long distance relationship soured. Rascal poured that pain and emotion into his Art with Why you Gotta Say Goodbye, a danceable two step lament, backed by brother and drummer Marcello Sanchez. Older, declaring “We got older, and we got other things to do…” brings it all full circle, finding perspective; the songs we once swathed ourselves in to help mend broken hearts. Hold On is pure Rascal, a potent and melodic mix of rich American musical themes ripped straight from the heartland, but All That I Need is destined to become a classic, and easily one of the best songs Rascal has written among a retinue of consistently great music.
Rascal has found his place as a singer songwriter. Far from Home feels closer to home than ever. “The world can come crashing, fall all around you,” Rascal bleeds in All That I Need, “and change in a moment’s time, but don’t let it fear you, we can get through this, because I know that you are mine...” Who writes lyrics like that anymore, but someone with both feel and his soul planted firmly and confidently in a truly beautiful album?
Far from Home is available on Spotify, Youtube and by visiting https://www.rascalmartinez.com/
Rascal completes western and Midwest tours, has southern trip on the schedule
March 14, 2018 // Job Vigil
Rascal Martinez travels extensively sharing his music across the country. The Sutherland native has grown his audience outside the area and continues to write and perform at large and small venues. In January, Rascal and his brother Marcello took their annual tour into Southern California. “We did a lot of shows and we played at NAMM, which is the National Association of Music Merchants,” Rascal said. “It’s a huge convention and we got to play on one of the big stages during the event. The show is in Anaheim, California, and music industry vendors gather to share new technology. Rascal said performers submit an application online for the opportunity to share their music, and he was selected. “There are over 1,000 submissions and they pick 130 people to perform,” Rascal said. “There were a lot of musicians, a lot of (music) industry people, so it was really good to be in front of that kind of crowd.”
The tour was 2½ weeks. In addition to NAMM, Rascal and Marcello performed in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego. “We did New Mexico and Arizona when we went through and came back,” Rascal said. “It was just a good trip.” He said all along the way, people seem to enjoy his music. “We played a show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it’s such a good town,” Rascal said. “We’re actually going to be back there in June because we’re going to be doing a southern tour. There were a lot of good people there.
Following that tour, the Martinez brothers did a shorter Midwestern tour. “There was a big gala we played at out in Indiana, which was the main reason for the trip,” Rascal said. “I booked a few shows going up and coming back.” The tour was eight days and they performed six times. “We played Omaha, Iowa City, Davenport, Chicago and then Kansas City and Omaha on the way back,” Rascal said. “It was a short trip.” He said he loves Chicago. “It’s ginormous, such a big city,” Rascal said. “We have some good fans there. My buddy WC Turck is one of my good friends I met through radio. He always plays (our music) on the radio up there.” Rascal has made friends in other places in Chicago as well. “I go to the Old Town School of Folk Music a lot when I’m in Chicago,” Rascal said. “They have jam sessions where you sit in a big circle and play music together. It’s a good community there.”
Not only does Rascal perform his originals, he covers a lot of songs from the 1950s and ’60s. “I love the ’50s and ’60s because it’s so timeless,” Rascal said. “It’s just so good. It’s simple, just like three or four chords in a song, and they’re just good songs.” He said his audiences are pretty young. “My audiences are usually pretty young and many of them have never heard those songs before,” Rascal said. “I think the songs just bring you back to a simpler time.” He said it is important to do a good mix of originals and covers. “It’s good because we do a lot of private shows and weddings and you’ve got to have that balance,” Rascal said. “At the end of the day, if you want to have a job, you’re going to have some covers.” He said the opportunity to open shows for some good bands has recently opened up as well. “The last couple of months we’ve opened up for some pretty cool bands, the Steel Wheels and the Lucky Dutch out of Chicago,” Rascal said.
In the next few weeks, Rascal will be doing some traveling again. “I’ll be doing some solo trips, going to Nashville at the end of March,” Rascal said. “Shortly after that I’m going to Los Angeles for a couple of weeks doing some smaller shows.” He said he still enjoys what he is doing. “It’s been a good ride so far,” Rascal said. “I’m just going to keep working on it.”
March 14, 2018 // Job Vigil
Rascal Martinez travels extensively sharing his music across the country. The Sutherland native has grown his audience outside the area and continues to write and perform at large and small venues. In January, Rascal and his brother Marcello took their annual tour into Southern California. “We did a lot of shows and we played at NAMM, which is the National Association of Music Merchants,” Rascal said. “It’s a huge convention and we got to play on one of the big stages during the event. The show is in Anaheim, California, and music industry vendors gather to share new technology. Rascal said performers submit an application online for the opportunity to share their music, and he was selected. “There are over 1,000 submissions and they pick 130 people to perform,” Rascal said. “There were a lot of musicians, a lot of (music) industry people, so it was really good to be in front of that kind of crowd.”
The tour was 2½ weeks. In addition to NAMM, Rascal and Marcello performed in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego. “We did New Mexico and Arizona when we went through and came back,” Rascal said. “It was just a good trip.” He said all along the way, people seem to enjoy his music. “We played a show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and it’s such a good town,” Rascal said. “We’re actually going to be back there in June because we’re going to be doing a southern tour. There were a lot of good people there.
Following that tour, the Martinez brothers did a shorter Midwestern tour. “There was a big gala we played at out in Indiana, which was the main reason for the trip,” Rascal said. “I booked a few shows going up and coming back.” The tour was eight days and they performed six times. “We played Omaha, Iowa City, Davenport, Chicago and then Kansas City and Omaha on the way back,” Rascal said. “It was a short trip.” He said he loves Chicago. “It’s ginormous, such a big city,” Rascal said. “We have some good fans there. My buddy WC Turck is one of my good friends I met through radio. He always plays (our music) on the radio up there.” Rascal has made friends in other places in Chicago as well. “I go to the Old Town School of Folk Music a lot when I’m in Chicago,” Rascal said. “They have jam sessions where you sit in a big circle and play music together. It’s a good community there.”
Not only does Rascal perform his originals, he covers a lot of songs from the 1950s and ’60s. “I love the ’50s and ’60s because it’s so timeless,” Rascal said. “It’s just so good. It’s simple, just like three or four chords in a song, and they’re just good songs.” He said his audiences are pretty young. “My audiences are usually pretty young and many of them have never heard those songs before,” Rascal said. “I think the songs just bring you back to a simpler time.” He said it is important to do a good mix of originals and covers. “It’s good because we do a lot of private shows and weddings and you’ve got to have that balance,” Rascal said. “At the end of the day, if you want to have a job, you’re going to have some covers.” He said the opportunity to open shows for some good bands has recently opened up as well. “The last couple of months we’ve opened up for some pretty cool bands, the Steel Wheels and the Lucky Dutch out of Chicago,” Rascal said.
In the next few weeks, Rascal will be doing some traveling again. “I’ll be doing some solo trips, going to Nashville at the end of March,” Rascal said. “Shortly after that I’m going to Los Angeles for a couple of weeks doing some smaller shows.” He said he still enjoys what he is doing. “It’s been a good ride so far,” Rascal said. “I’m just going to keep working on it.”
Rascal Smokes the Elbo Room in Chicago
February 24, 2018 // W.C. Turck
Here’s the conundrum; If you have not seen Rascal Martinez live yet, wait, it’s likely he’ll visit your town soon. Just don’t wait too long or you’ll miss the opportunity to say, I saw that guy live in this great club. Rascal Martinez, with a mix of rockabilly, folk and classic country, with a subtext of Latin melodies, his unique American-style roots music awakens memories of Buddy Holly and early Van Morrison with accessible and heartfelt originals, as well as an impressive catalogue of covers and standards.
Last night, accompanied by brother Marcello on drums, the duet rocked Chicago’s Elbo Room in a tight two hour set. It’s amazing how full Rascal sound with such a plug-in and play foot print. The change in the room from the first chord was palpable. The room came a live as the audience danced and joined Rascal for familiar chorus’s to re-awakened and freshly rendered classics like Twist and Shout, Bad Leroy Brown as well as a blistering rendition of newer classics. You haven’t heard The Lumineers – Ho Hey, Ophelia until you’ve seen Rascal perform it live. A voluminous body of Rascal’s originals helped to seamlessly round out the set.
To find out more about Rascal Martinez, including upcoming tour dates, albums and new music from this prolific American singer, songwriter and performer visit his website at rascalmartinez.com or on Facebook at RascalMartinezMusic.
The North Platte Telegraph
November 24, 2016
Rascal Martinez was just a boy from Sutherland who earned the nickname Rascal for getting into trouble on the family farm. Then, he was a 20-something standing in front of a crowd at Chicago’s famous House of Blues. He’s still not entirely sure how it all happened, but he’s grateful that it has.Martinez listened to music growing up, but never had a burning desire to play music.“I was on tractors and working in dirt,” Martinez said. “I didn’t think about being a musician.”He was a teenager sitting in his aunt and uncle’s basement when his brother handed him a guitar and showed him a few chords.
Martinez wrote a couple of songs and began learning to play some of his favorites, including pieces from the “Juno” soundtrack “It was like, holy smokes, this is fun,” Martinez said. “So I started doing concerts and stuff.” His family believed in his potential and told him to keep going.“Now I look back and I obviously wasn’t that good,” Martinez said. “I had a lot of family support. They were never like, ‘No way, don’t let him play again.’ He improved and started getting paid gigs, then he realized that maybe this is what he was supposed to be doing.“I guess I don’t know when the light bulb turned on,” Martinez said. “I just know I haven’t ever quit.”
He went from recording albums in a home studio in his basement to the professional studios of Nashville, Tennessee, from searching for frets to sharing his soul through the strum of guitar strings. At 22, he’s built a successful business through music. He’s released three albums and regularly does “1,000-mile weekends” when he travels across the region to play shows. While he still plays covers during his shows, a lot of his material is original and has been molded by life in a rural Nebraska community.
“Sutherland is a small town,” Martinez said. “It’s very simple living. … The songs I write are very simple. They’re kind of a Midwest look at life and relationships.”He said he didn’t intend it to be that way, but the community and those who’ve supported him have contributed to who he is as an artist and a person.
It’s not easy to make music and share it. Martinez said it’s a 24-hour job. He and the band are usually on the road for shows Thursday through Sunday and they rehearse two or three hours a day Monday through Wednesday or anytime they’re not performing. Earlier in his career, he was fine with “winging it,” but these days he wants to make sure he’s giving his audience his all.“I want to make sure things are tight,” Martinez said. “It’s an important thing to me. It’s a crucial element to having a successful show.” When he’s not rehearsing or performing, he’s usually in a coffee shop somewhere booking shows and responding to emails.“I drink too much coffee,” Martinez laughed. When the coffee runs out, it’s back to playing.
At 22 he’s had more success than many artists have much later in life, but Martinez has his sights set higher. He wants to spend more time on the road, he said. “I just want to be everywhere,” Martinez said. He plays 150 to 200 shows a year. “It’s not easy.”
It can be exhausting to travel, even if he’s not driving. Being on the road often means long days and short periods of sleep. It means stressing over a delayed flight and risking a missed concert — and no paycheck if the weather is bad.“You just never know,” Martinez said. “It’s a little hectic sometimes.” He loves it anyway.
Right now, he’s planning a West Coast tour in California for next spring. He’s looking at 20 shows in 30 days, most of those shows will likely be three or four hours long.“That’s a lot,” Martinez said. “It takes a toll on you.” On the plus side, unloading and loading his equipment and singing for hours at a time keeps him in good shape.“As long as I keep performing, I don’t have to go to the gym,” he said, laughing. Although he wants to continue traveling the nation for shows, he still finds time to play at home. It’s not uncommon to walk into an event or even a nursing home and hear Martinez belting out “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” or lyrics from his latest album, “City Man.” “Performing is what I love to do,” Martinez said. “I don’t care who it’s in front of, I just want people to enjoy it.”
February 24, 2018 // W.C. Turck
Here’s the conundrum; If you have not seen Rascal Martinez live yet, wait, it’s likely he’ll visit your town soon. Just don’t wait too long or you’ll miss the opportunity to say, I saw that guy live in this great club. Rascal Martinez, with a mix of rockabilly, folk and classic country, with a subtext of Latin melodies, his unique American-style roots music awakens memories of Buddy Holly and early Van Morrison with accessible and heartfelt originals, as well as an impressive catalogue of covers and standards.
Last night, accompanied by brother Marcello on drums, the duet rocked Chicago’s Elbo Room in a tight two hour set. It’s amazing how full Rascal sound with such a plug-in and play foot print. The change in the room from the first chord was palpable. The room came a live as the audience danced and joined Rascal for familiar chorus’s to re-awakened and freshly rendered classics like Twist and Shout, Bad Leroy Brown as well as a blistering rendition of newer classics. You haven’t heard The Lumineers – Ho Hey, Ophelia until you’ve seen Rascal perform it live. A voluminous body of Rascal’s originals helped to seamlessly round out the set.
To find out more about Rascal Martinez, including upcoming tour dates, albums and new music from this prolific American singer, songwriter and performer visit his website at rascalmartinez.com or on Facebook at RascalMartinezMusic.
The North Platte Telegraph
November 24, 2016
Rascal Martinez was just a boy from Sutherland who earned the nickname Rascal for getting into trouble on the family farm. Then, he was a 20-something standing in front of a crowd at Chicago’s famous House of Blues. He’s still not entirely sure how it all happened, but he’s grateful that it has.Martinez listened to music growing up, but never had a burning desire to play music.“I was on tractors and working in dirt,” Martinez said. “I didn’t think about being a musician.”He was a teenager sitting in his aunt and uncle’s basement when his brother handed him a guitar and showed him a few chords.
Martinez wrote a couple of songs and began learning to play some of his favorites, including pieces from the “Juno” soundtrack “It was like, holy smokes, this is fun,” Martinez said. “So I started doing concerts and stuff.” His family believed in his potential and told him to keep going.“Now I look back and I obviously wasn’t that good,” Martinez said. “I had a lot of family support. They were never like, ‘No way, don’t let him play again.’ He improved and started getting paid gigs, then he realized that maybe this is what he was supposed to be doing.“I guess I don’t know when the light bulb turned on,” Martinez said. “I just know I haven’t ever quit.”
He went from recording albums in a home studio in his basement to the professional studios of Nashville, Tennessee, from searching for frets to sharing his soul through the strum of guitar strings. At 22, he’s built a successful business through music. He’s released three albums and regularly does “1,000-mile weekends” when he travels across the region to play shows. While he still plays covers during his shows, a lot of his material is original and has been molded by life in a rural Nebraska community.
“Sutherland is a small town,” Martinez said. “It’s very simple living. … The songs I write are very simple. They’re kind of a Midwest look at life and relationships.”He said he didn’t intend it to be that way, but the community and those who’ve supported him have contributed to who he is as an artist and a person.
It’s not easy to make music and share it. Martinez said it’s a 24-hour job. He and the band are usually on the road for shows Thursday through Sunday and they rehearse two or three hours a day Monday through Wednesday or anytime they’re not performing. Earlier in his career, he was fine with “winging it,” but these days he wants to make sure he’s giving his audience his all.“I want to make sure things are tight,” Martinez said. “It’s an important thing to me. It’s a crucial element to having a successful show.” When he’s not rehearsing or performing, he’s usually in a coffee shop somewhere booking shows and responding to emails.“I drink too much coffee,” Martinez laughed. When the coffee runs out, it’s back to playing.
At 22 he’s had more success than many artists have much later in life, but Martinez has his sights set higher. He wants to spend more time on the road, he said. “I just want to be everywhere,” Martinez said. He plays 150 to 200 shows a year. “It’s not easy.”
It can be exhausting to travel, even if he’s not driving. Being on the road often means long days and short periods of sleep. It means stressing over a delayed flight and risking a missed concert — and no paycheck if the weather is bad.“You just never know,” Martinez said. “It’s a little hectic sometimes.” He loves it anyway.
Right now, he’s planning a West Coast tour in California for next spring. He’s looking at 20 shows in 30 days, most of those shows will likely be three or four hours long.“That’s a lot,” Martinez said. “It takes a toll on you.” On the plus side, unloading and loading his equipment and singing for hours at a time keeps him in good shape.“As long as I keep performing, I don’t have to go to the gym,” he said, laughing. Although he wants to continue traveling the nation for shows, he still finds time to play at home. It’s not uncommon to walk into an event or even a nursing home and hear Martinez belting out “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” or lyrics from his latest album, “City Man.” “Performing is what I love to do,” Martinez said. “I don’t care who it’s in front of, I just want people to enjoy it.”
The Daily Nebraskan
March 9, 2016
Every kid wants to be a rock star when they grow up — or an astronaut, a wizard, a ballerina or maybe even a dinosaur. The point is, we all have dreams, and sometimes, they’re impractical. One day, Rascal (Matthew) Martinez woke up and realized he was living that dream.
Martinez is a singer/songwriter from Sutherland, Nebraska, who admits he never sat down and planned a career as a musician. Instead, he made a hobby of playing at local weddings and parties and eventually started traveling around the country to play. Soon, he noticed people seemed to like what he was doing, and realized he could actually make a living out of his passion.
“One day, I just realized how much I loved it,” Martinez said. “I can’t live without music.”
Martinez grew up surrounded by music. His parents would play records from the ‘50s and ‘60s, and he would pretend to play along until finally one of his brothers showed him a few chords. At 14 years old, he was hooked. Immediately after getting his own guitar, he started writing music and teaching himself to play the soundtrack to “Juno,” his favorite film at the time.
After his debut solo performance in his parents’ basement, family friends started asking Martinez to play at weddings and parties. He started a business called Rascal’s Entertainment to manage booking events and to get his name out, and also started making business cards, shirts and koozies to pass out among family, friends and customers.
At 5, Martinez loved messing around with tractors and playing outside on his grandfather’s farm. His grandfather started calling him Rascal because of the ruckus he would cause there, and the name just stuck. When he decided to start his business, “Rascal” seemed to be the perfect stage name.
At the start, Martinez was more of a disc jockey than a performer. As he improved his guitar and vocal skills and writing more music, he began to play more solo gigs and started to cover some of his favorite music at events, rather than just DJing.
While Martinez loves the support he has in his hometown, he said he feels Nebraska does not offer the best performance opportunities. He started traveling to Colorado, Nashville and Chicago to share his music with a broader audience.
Nashville has been his favorite place to perform, he said, because the city has such a rich musical culture. He recorded both of his albums there and has been visiting frequently to work on a third.
Unfortunately, not all shows pay well and not all audiences love the music.
“I know I shouldn’t care about the money when I’m getting to do what I love, but it’s still my job,” Martinez said. “It’s tough to get on stage and see that your audience would rather get drunk and yell at you than listen to the music.”
For Martinez, it’s worth it to hold out for the people who can relate to a song or simply love the music he plays. Everything in life has its ups and downs and if you want to succeed, you just have to keep trekking. He says his friends and family have supported him since the beginning, and with their help, he has been able to learn from his mistakes and remain optimistic rather than giving up in the face of criticism.
“Rascal continues to develop and amaze me and his audiences,” said his aunt, Catherine Martinez. “He has a genuine charm about him that makes for great chemistry with the audience.”
Martinez will be touring the country throughout this year and plans to release an album and a music video within the next few months. More information about his shows and music can be found on his website.
Brew Fest
August 22, 2015
"Alongside dozens of Nebraska beverages and sausages, one crucial component of the Sept. 12 Craft Brew & Sausage Fest will great be music. Patrons attending the inaugural event will be serenaded by melodies from North Platte’s Rascal & The Pack.
“We are very excited to come and perform for you all,” said Rascal Martinez, lead singer and guitar player. “It's going to be a great time.”
The group’s appearance at the Liederkranz’ picturesque courtyard will mark the group's first performance at a brew festival. The band's melodies will form the backdrop for patrons to sample Nebraska’s best breweries’ beverages and sausages. With great food, beer and music, the Craft Brew & Sausage offers an unparalleled opportunity to contribute toward a great cause: the preservation, restoration and enhancement of one of Grand Island's most important historical landmarks.
Rascal & The Pack formed in 2010 and has performed all over Nebraska. The Pack consists four-piece band, with Sutherland-native Rascal Martinez on guitar and vocals, Forrest King of North Platte on bass, Marcello Sanchez of Lincoln on drums and fellow Sutherland-native Shelbi Burke on backup vocals.
The Pack performs a mix of alternative folk and soft rock, performing a wide range of tunes hailing from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s in genres that include Country, Oldies, Classic Rock and Alternative.
Rascal & The Pack released their album “The Long Road” in 2012, which features the entire band and Martinez released a solo acoustic studio album this year entitled “The Original.” Both of these albums are available on iTunes."
March 9, 2016
Every kid wants to be a rock star when they grow up — or an astronaut, a wizard, a ballerina or maybe even a dinosaur. The point is, we all have dreams, and sometimes, they’re impractical. One day, Rascal (Matthew) Martinez woke up and realized he was living that dream.
Martinez is a singer/songwriter from Sutherland, Nebraska, who admits he never sat down and planned a career as a musician. Instead, he made a hobby of playing at local weddings and parties and eventually started traveling around the country to play. Soon, he noticed people seemed to like what he was doing, and realized he could actually make a living out of his passion.
“One day, I just realized how much I loved it,” Martinez said. “I can’t live without music.”
Martinez grew up surrounded by music. His parents would play records from the ‘50s and ‘60s, and he would pretend to play along until finally one of his brothers showed him a few chords. At 14 years old, he was hooked. Immediately after getting his own guitar, he started writing music and teaching himself to play the soundtrack to “Juno,” his favorite film at the time.
After his debut solo performance in his parents’ basement, family friends started asking Martinez to play at weddings and parties. He started a business called Rascal’s Entertainment to manage booking events and to get his name out, and also started making business cards, shirts and koozies to pass out among family, friends and customers.
At 5, Martinez loved messing around with tractors and playing outside on his grandfather’s farm. His grandfather started calling him Rascal because of the ruckus he would cause there, and the name just stuck. When he decided to start his business, “Rascal” seemed to be the perfect stage name.
At the start, Martinez was more of a disc jockey than a performer. As he improved his guitar and vocal skills and writing more music, he began to play more solo gigs and started to cover some of his favorite music at events, rather than just DJing.
While Martinez loves the support he has in his hometown, he said he feels Nebraska does not offer the best performance opportunities. He started traveling to Colorado, Nashville and Chicago to share his music with a broader audience.
Nashville has been his favorite place to perform, he said, because the city has such a rich musical culture. He recorded both of his albums there and has been visiting frequently to work on a third.
Unfortunately, not all shows pay well and not all audiences love the music.
“I know I shouldn’t care about the money when I’m getting to do what I love, but it’s still my job,” Martinez said. “It’s tough to get on stage and see that your audience would rather get drunk and yell at you than listen to the music.”
For Martinez, it’s worth it to hold out for the people who can relate to a song or simply love the music he plays. Everything in life has its ups and downs and if you want to succeed, you just have to keep trekking. He says his friends and family have supported him since the beginning, and with their help, he has been able to learn from his mistakes and remain optimistic rather than giving up in the face of criticism.
“Rascal continues to develop and amaze me and his audiences,” said his aunt, Catherine Martinez. “He has a genuine charm about him that makes for great chemistry with the audience.”
Martinez will be touring the country throughout this year and plans to release an album and a music video within the next few months. More information about his shows and music can be found on his website.
Brew Fest
August 22, 2015
"Alongside dozens of Nebraska beverages and sausages, one crucial component of the Sept. 12 Craft Brew & Sausage Fest will great be music. Patrons attending the inaugural event will be serenaded by melodies from North Platte’s Rascal & The Pack.
“We are very excited to come and perform for you all,” said Rascal Martinez, lead singer and guitar player. “It's going to be a great time.”
The group’s appearance at the Liederkranz’ picturesque courtyard will mark the group's first performance at a brew festival. The band's melodies will form the backdrop for patrons to sample Nebraska’s best breweries’ beverages and sausages. With great food, beer and music, the Craft Brew & Sausage offers an unparalleled opportunity to contribute toward a great cause: the preservation, restoration and enhancement of one of Grand Island's most important historical landmarks.
Rascal & The Pack formed in 2010 and has performed all over Nebraska. The Pack consists four-piece band, with Sutherland-native Rascal Martinez on guitar and vocals, Forrest King of North Platte on bass, Marcello Sanchez of Lincoln on drums and fellow Sutherland-native Shelbi Burke on backup vocals.
The Pack performs a mix of alternative folk and soft rock, performing a wide range of tunes hailing from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s in genres that include Country, Oldies, Classic Rock and Alternative.
Rascal & The Pack released their album “The Long Road” in 2012, which features the entire band and Martinez released a solo acoustic studio album this year entitled “The Original.” Both of these albums are available on iTunes."
Revolution and Beer Radio Show
May 26, 2015
"On this very special show we explore the songwriting of Rascal Martinez, a fresh new singer/songwriter from Nebraska. You may have heard him on the show before, but his new album, The Original Acoustic Sessions, is powerfully inspired. If you like music from the heart, you'll find this exclusive interview soul-soothing. For those who grew up listening to Buddy Holly or Johnny Cash, and you wonder what happened to music..."
May 26, 2015
"On this very special show we explore the songwriting of Rascal Martinez, a fresh new singer/songwriter from Nebraska. You may have heard him on the show before, but his new album, The Original Acoustic Sessions, is powerfully inspired. If you like music from the heart, you'll find this exclusive interview soul-soothing. For those who grew up listening to Buddy Holly or Johnny Cash, and you wonder what happened to music..."
North Platte Telegraph
January 21, 2014 by Heather Johnson
The music of a Sutherland man has attracted national attention. Rascal Martinez, 20, of Sutherland, has seen his business skyrocket after he was featured on a two-hour radio special in Chicago about three weeks ago. “Most of my weekends are full for this year,” Martinez said. “I’m currently booking shows for December.” Although relatively new to the industry, Martinez is not new to music. It’s something that has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. “I was always running around strumming a fake guitar when I was a kid,” Martinez said. “My parents would put on the oldies — it was something I grew up with.”
Martinez took music classes in high school and college, but taught himself to play guitar about six years ago. That branched into writing his own songs. He writes about relationships and other relatable subjects. When not using his own work, Martinez sings cover songs. “I like the old sound because it’s simple and complex at the same time,” Martinez said. “I do a lot of ’60s and ’70s country, but also dip into other genres. I’m a big fan of Elvis and Johnny Cash.”
His deep, raspy voice and alternative folk sound have quickly gained in popularity. His band, “Rascal and The Pack,” won the Texaco County Showdown in North Platte in May. Martinez has also performed at the Nebraska State Fair twice, is a frequent act at local nursing homes, weddings and community celebrations and just wrapped up a tour in Colorado. At the end of December, he was featured by radio host Nate Fellows on “The Morning Dammit” show in Chicago.
Martinez has released two CDs — “Older” and “The Long Road” — and is working on a third. His music is available on iTunes, Amazon and a variety of other online retailers. His dream is to one day go on a world tour. That will have to wait, however, until he is done pursuing an education at Mid-Plains Community College. “My parents always pushed me to get an education first,” Martinez said. “I need something to fall back on in case the music thing doesn’t work out and I need to get a real job.”
Until graduation, Martinez is taking things one day at a time and enjoying all the experiences that come his way. “It’s been a fun ride,” Martinez said. “The best part has been making other people happy with my music. North Platte has really helped me. If not for the support of the community, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have.”
January 21, 2014 by Heather Johnson
The music of a Sutherland man has attracted national attention. Rascal Martinez, 20, of Sutherland, has seen his business skyrocket after he was featured on a two-hour radio special in Chicago about three weeks ago. “Most of my weekends are full for this year,” Martinez said. “I’m currently booking shows for December.” Although relatively new to the industry, Martinez is not new to music. It’s something that has been part of his life for as long as he can remember. “I was always running around strumming a fake guitar when I was a kid,” Martinez said. “My parents would put on the oldies — it was something I grew up with.”
Martinez took music classes in high school and college, but taught himself to play guitar about six years ago. That branched into writing his own songs. He writes about relationships and other relatable subjects. When not using his own work, Martinez sings cover songs. “I like the old sound because it’s simple and complex at the same time,” Martinez said. “I do a lot of ’60s and ’70s country, but also dip into other genres. I’m a big fan of Elvis and Johnny Cash.”
His deep, raspy voice and alternative folk sound have quickly gained in popularity. His band, “Rascal and The Pack,” won the Texaco County Showdown in North Platte in May. Martinez has also performed at the Nebraska State Fair twice, is a frequent act at local nursing homes, weddings and community celebrations and just wrapped up a tour in Colorado. At the end of December, he was featured by radio host Nate Fellows on “The Morning Dammit” show in Chicago.
Martinez has released two CDs — “Older” and “The Long Road” — and is working on a third. His music is available on iTunes, Amazon and a variety of other online retailers. His dream is to one day go on a world tour. That will have to wait, however, until he is done pursuing an education at Mid-Plains Community College. “My parents always pushed me to get an education first,” Martinez said. “I need something to fall back on in case the music thing doesn’t work out and I need to get a real job.”
Until graduation, Martinez is taking things one day at a time and enjoying all the experiences that come his way. “It’s been a fun ride,” Martinez said. “The best part has been making other people happy with my music. North Platte has really helped me. If not for the support of the community, I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have.”
10/11 News "Rascal: My Story Through Music"
January 19, 2015
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. Music can have a big impact on many people and their lives. Rascal Martinez loves music and entertaining other people. Recently he shared some of his music with 1011 North Platte Anchor Adam Uhernik, during his Thursday jam session at the Pop Corner in North Platte.
"I've been playing music for about six and half seven years now. I kind of got started my family was big into listening music anyway," said Martinez. Rascal says he loves what he does and when he sees people that are happy that is what makes entertaining others all worth it.
"I think thats what it's all about," said Martinez. "I play anything from 60's to 70's Alternative and Country. Anything like that to get everyone involved." Martinez says he only plays music he loves 100-percent.
January 19, 2015
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. Music can have a big impact on many people and their lives. Rascal Martinez loves music and entertaining other people. Recently he shared some of his music with 1011 North Platte Anchor Adam Uhernik, during his Thursday jam session at the Pop Corner in North Platte.
"I've been playing music for about six and half seven years now. I kind of got started my family was big into listening music anyway," said Martinez. Rascal says he loves what he does and when he sees people that are happy that is what makes entertaining others all worth it.
"I think thats what it's all about," said Martinez. "I play anything from 60's to 70's Alternative and Country. Anything like that to get everyone involved." Martinez says he only plays music he loves 100-percent.
Chicago Radio Review "A Revolution and Beer Music Review" AM1710
January 2, 2014 by WC Turck
"It’s dangerous but natural in rock and roll to evoke comparisons with other musicians. Rock is replete with pretenders, borrowers and copycats, but once in a great while comes an artist who channels a spirit with a fresh yet familiar and resonant style. Channeling a mix of rockabilly, folk and country, with a subtext of Latin melodies deftly integrated, comes the first EP from Nebraska guitarist and vocalist Rascal Martinez, or simply, Rascal. Rascal’s vocals come up out of the Nebraska plain like cool summer swell, evoking the sounds of a reincarnated Buddy Holly. But here is where comparisons from seven deceptively simple songs on “The Long Road” ends. The lyrics are straightforward, carried by addictive melodies. The lyric is where these songs derive a timeless power. “I needed you, but you left me. I didn’t know what to do. You said you would never leave,” begins the first toe tapping song on the EP. Backed by Marcello Sanchez on drums, that competent and assured beat rounds out a lean but full and almost painfully introspective sound. I wish that I could take credit for finding this CD, but that credit goes to morning talk host Nate bell on The Morning Dammit show in Chicago, AM1710, and streaming at www.que4.org weekdays 7-9am. Bell, with co-hosts Celia Forrest and Shaun Rosten featured Rascal Tuesday morning. From the opening of their show I was hooked.
Track 2, “The Times are Over,” and Track 6, “Figure Yourself Out” are the defining pieces. “Please Come to Me” is heartfelt and moody. It borders on the absurd that bragging rights for Rascal and the Pack include winning the 32nd Annual Texaco Country Showdown in North Platte, Nebraska as part of the annual Honky-Tonk Barbeque competition, beating out eight other contestants. There is a clearly a talent here that resonates far beyond Honky-Tonk and the sunburnt fields of Nebraska. Certainly there will be a story one day told by Rascal that goes something like this “...and then we won the Texaco Country Showdown!” Doubtless that will come at the beginning of a long train of accolades.
It’s likely you’ve never heard of Rascal Martinez, but like a storm brewing over the plains, it is only a matter of time before you do. In the meantime, this rare collection of unpretentious songs can be found through the artist. http:// www.rascalsentertainment.com/. “The Long Road” is only a taste, but given the beauty of this CD, I can hardly wait for the main course."
January 2, 2014 by WC Turck
"It’s dangerous but natural in rock and roll to evoke comparisons with other musicians. Rock is replete with pretenders, borrowers and copycats, but once in a great while comes an artist who channels a spirit with a fresh yet familiar and resonant style. Channeling a mix of rockabilly, folk and country, with a subtext of Latin melodies deftly integrated, comes the first EP from Nebraska guitarist and vocalist Rascal Martinez, or simply, Rascal. Rascal’s vocals come up out of the Nebraska plain like cool summer swell, evoking the sounds of a reincarnated Buddy Holly. But here is where comparisons from seven deceptively simple songs on “The Long Road” ends. The lyrics are straightforward, carried by addictive melodies. The lyric is where these songs derive a timeless power. “I needed you, but you left me. I didn’t know what to do. You said you would never leave,” begins the first toe tapping song on the EP. Backed by Marcello Sanchez on drums, that competent and assured beat rounds out a lean but full and almost painfully introspective sound. I wish that I could take credit for finding this CD, but that credit goes to morning talk host Nate bell on The Morning Dammit show in Chicago, AM1710, and streaming at www.que4.org weekdays 7-9am. Bell, with co-hosts Celia Forrest and Shaun Rosten featured Rascal Tuesday morning. From the opening of their show I was hooked.
Track 2, “The Times are Over,” and Track 6, “Figure Yourself Out” are the defining pieces. “Please Come to Me” is heartfelt and moody. It borders on the absurd that bragging rights for Rascal and the Pack include winning the 32nd Annual Texaco Country Showdown in North Platte, Nebraska as part of the annual Honky-Tonk Barbeque competition, beating out eight other contestants. There is a clearly a talent here that resonates far beyond Honky-Tonk and the sunburnt fields of Nebraska. Certainly there will be a story one day told by Rascal that goes something like this “...and then we won the Texaco Country Showdown!” Doubtless that will come at the beginning of a long train of accolades.
It’s likely you’ve never heard of Rascal Martinez, but like a storm brewing over the plains, it is only a matter of time before you do. In the meantime, this rare collection of unpretentious songs can be found through the artist. http:// www.rascalsentertainment.com/. “The Long Road” is only a taste, but given the beauty of this CD, I can hardly wait for the main course."
North Platte Bulletin: "Rascal Hits the Airwaves in Chicago"
January 17, 2014 by George Lauby
Singer, guitarist and songwriter Rascal Martinez not only performs in the Nebraskaland Days parade, Rail Fest, and the Nebraska State Fair, but he recently hit the airwaves in Chicago too. Rascal's song were broadcast on 1710 AM radio in Chicago, which featured him on Dec. 30 during a two-hour morning talk show. The radio hosts played five of Rascal’s original songs from his extended play recording, The Long Road.
Co-host Nate Bell met Rascal in North Platte when he was passing through.
“I’d driven all day from Arches National Park in Utah and I was exhausted,” Bell told his radio audience. “They invited me over to the Lakehouse and bought me a beer and we talked about things.” In mid-December, Bell asked Rascal if he would send some of his music to play on the show. The show is satirically called The Morning Dammit.
Rascal sent his CD.
The six songs not only impressed Bell, but also the station manager, W.C. “Bill” Turk, when he heard them on the air. "From the first song, I was hooked,” Turk wrote later in an enthusiastic review of Rascal’s simply stated recording. “Rock is replete with pretenders, borrowers and copycats, but once in a great while comes an artist who channels a spirit with a fresh yet familiar and resonant style,” Turk wrote.
Turk said Rascal’s music channels a mix of rockabilly, folk and country, with a subtext of Latin melodies and his vocals “come up out of the Nebraska plain like cool summer swell.” Turk was most enthused about Rascal’s lyrics, which are simple statements of deep emotions. For instance, the title track says, “I needed you, but you left me. I didn’t know what to do. You said you would never leave.”
In Please Come to Me, Rascal delivers a prayerful request. “Savior please/ come to me/ and take away/ all of my misery.” “The lyrics are straightforward, carried by addictive melodies,” Turk said. “The lyrics are where these songs derive a timeless power.”
Rascal also played bass on the recording, flashing is growing versatility as a musician. Marcello Sanchez delivers a “competent and assured beat” on the drums, Turk noted.
Rascal won the 32nd annual Texaco Country Showdown in North Platte during the Honky Tonk Bar-B-Que festival last spring, beating out eight other contestants. He competed in the state showdown finals during the Nebraska State Fair. Although Rascal didn’t win the state showdown, he was selected to perform two longer sessions just for the fairgoers, entertaining the crowd as they passed through the grounds.
Turk said Rascal clearly has a talent that resonates far beyond the Honky-Tonk and the sun-burnt fields of Nebraska. He said one day the Rascal story will list the Texaco Country Showdown at the beginning of a long train of accolades. Host Celia Forrest said Rascal is a fun name and he’s a good looking guy.
In early January, Rascal played in Glenwood Springs, Colo. at a mountain café.
Rascal also offers a dee jay and sound system for hire, as well as his own recording studio. He can be contacted through is website at rascalentertainment.com.
The Chicago radio station is a "community station operating in the artist’s communities" of the Windy City, according to its website. It bills itself on air as “your home for activism and the arts.” The 1710 AM mission is to “provide a healthy alternative to mainstream media by creating a station that is not only for the people but entirely created by the people.” The Morning Dammit show streams live on the Internet at www.que4.org on weekdays from 7-9 a.m.
January 17, 2014 by George Lauby
Singer, guitarist and songwriter Rascal Martinez not only performs in the Nebraskaland Days parade, Rail Fest, and the Nebraska State Fair, but he recently hit the airwaves in Chicago too. Rascal's song were broadcast on 1710 AM radio in Chicago, which featured him on Dec. 30 during a two-hour morning talk show. The radio hosts played five of Rascal’s original songs from his extended play recording, The Long Road.
Co-host Nate Bell met Rascal in North Platte when he was passing through.
“I’d driven all day from Arches National Park in Utah and I was exhausted,” Bell told his radio audience. “They invited me over to the Lakehouse and bought me a beer and we talked about things.” In mid-December, Bell asked Rascal if he would send some of his music to play on the show. The show is satirically called The Morning Dammit.
Rascal sent his CD.
The six songs not only impressed Bell, but also the station manager, W.C. “Bill” Turk, when he heard them on the air. "From the first song, I was hooked,” Turk wrote later in an enthusiastic review of Rascal’s simply stated recording. “Rock is replete with pretenders, borrowers and copycats, but once in a great while comes an artist who channels a spirit with a fresh yet familiar and resonant style,” Turk wrote.
Turk said Rascal’s music channels a mix of rockabilly, folk and country, with a subtext of Latin melodies and his vocals “come up out of the Nebraska plain like cool summer swell.” Turk was most enthused about Rascal’s lyrics, which are simple statements of deep emotions. For instance, the title track says, “I needed you, but you left me. I didn’t know what to do. You said you would never leave.”
In Please Come to Me, Rascal delivers a prayerful request. “Savior please/ come to me/ and take away/ all of my misery.” “The lyrics are straightforward, carried by addictive melodies,” Turk said. “The lyrics are where these songs derive a timeless power.”
Rascal also played bass on the recording, flashing is growing versatility as a musician. Marcello Sanchez delivers a “competent and assured beat” on the drums, Turk noted.
Rascal won the 32nd annual Texaco Country Showdown in North Platte during the Honky Tonk Bar-B-Que festival last spring, beating out eight other contestants. He competed in the state showdown finals during the Nebraska State Fair. Although Rascal didn’t win the state showdown, he was selected to perform two longer sessions just for the fairgoers, entertaining the crowd as they passed through the grounds.
Turk said Rascal clearly has a talent that resonates far beyond the Honky-Tonk and the sun-burnt fields of Nebraska. He said one day the Rascal story will list the Texaco Country Showdown at the beginning of a long train of accolades. Host Celia Forrest said Rascal is a fun name and he’s a good looking guy.
In early January, Rascal played in Glenwood Springs, Colo. at a mountain café.
Rascal also offers a dee jay and sound system for hire, as well as his own recording studio. He can be contacted through is website at rascalentertainment.com.
The Chicago radio station is a "community station operating in the artist’s communities" of the Windy City, according to its website. It bills itself on air as “your home for activism and the arts.” The 1710 AM mission is to “provide a healthy alternative to mainstream media by creating a station that is not only for the people but entirely created by the people.” The Morning Dammit show streams live on the Internet at www.que4.org on weekdays from 7-9 a.m.