Depending on the day, Marc Gladstone goes with the flow of the music.
It's just easier that way, says Richmond's veteran keyboard player, who currently belongs to eight bands scattered across the Lower Mainland.
"There's only 24 hours in a day, and every band wants to rehearse," says Gladstone who has performed for the past 30 or so years with the likes of Prism, Stone Poets and The Jardines. "Luckily, I listen to and enjoy all kinds of music.
"Playing the different styles is not as hard as the juggling of time to rehearse," he says. "Plus, I like having a different outlet for the creative stuff."
Taking up part of Gladstone's time for the past few years has been the band Abandon Paris, which is set to release the video to their song Hollywood at a red carpet event May 8 at The Roxy.
"We're kinda all over the map musically, really," he said, adding the musical influences from band members range from Nine Inch Nails to a folk pop sound like Ryan Adams. "We've been compared to The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sublime, Lincoln Park - it's hard sometimes to categorize... It's a rock sound, for sure." Abandon Paris includes Scott Jackson (vocals); Dagriff (vocals); Bryan Jasper (guitar); Chris Murray Driver -(drums/percussion); Shafer Carson (bass) and Gladstone (keyboards/vocals).
For the gig at The Roxy, the video for Hollywood spoofs the popular American Idol reality TV show.
"We did that just because of the way pop stars are made and manufactured these days that we all basically don't agree with," Gladstone said. "We (band members) subscribe to the grab a guitar, get in the garage and suck for a couple of years before you're any good. I believe that's the best way to do it. Success doesn't really happen overnight. American Idol and The Voice kinda make it seem that way."
In the video, one of the four contestants is a prime example of the fabricated, win-at-all-costs competitor.
"She does pretty much all the things you shouldn't do in the business to get ahead," Gladstone says. "It's all in fun." Fans planning to attend the event are encouraged to dress up as their favourite Hollywood icon and take in the video release and live performance.
