Marnie Stern

Musical career

In early 2007, Kill Rock Stars released Stern's debut CD, In Advance of the Broken Arm. It was well received by critics, and most favorably by The New York Times, citing it as "The year's most exciting rock 'n' roll album." In mid 2007, Stern toured the U.S. and UK with Hella's Zach Hill and The Advantage's Robby Moncrieff, in support of her debut album. In 2008, Stern was named one of ''Venus Zine'''s "Greatest Female Guitarists of All Time", Spring 2008 issue and was nominated "Female Artist of the Year" and "Punk Album of the Year" for the 2008 Plug Music Awards.

Stern's second album, This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That, was released October 7, 2008. Upon release, it garnered the title of "Best New Music" as well as No. 44 on "The 50 Best Albums of 2008" from Pitchfork Media. Stern toured Europe and the U.S. in support of This Is It with former U.S. Maple guitarist Mark Shippy, bassist recruit Malia James, and a varying line-up of drummers.

Backed by bass player Nithin Kalvakota and former Tera Melos drummer Vincent Rogers, Stern spent most of 2010 and 2011 touring North America, Europe, and Australia in support of her self-titled third album. Highlights include several winter festivals in Europe as well as support dates with the Flaming Lips. She was chosen by Les Savy Fav to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curated in December 2011 in Minehead, England. In 2011, Stern was named one of Elle Magazines "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists", and was chosen as a voter on a panel of top guitarists and other experts for the Rolling Stone Magazine "100 Greatest Guitarists List". In 2012, she was named No. 87 on the Spin Magazine list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time".

In December 2012, it was announced that her next album The Chronicles of Marnia would be released on Kill Rock Stars. The title track of the album was debuted that same week on the website of Spin Magazine in an article about Stern. On March 4, 2013, The Chronicles of Marnia was made available exclusively on NPR's First Listen. During 2013's SXSW she was featured in ABC News' 7 Emerging Artists on the Rise article. Stern started off as a fill-in guitar player for Late Night with Seth Meyers 8G Band when bandleader Fred Armisen was absent, and then became a full time member of the Late Night house band until 2022.

In August 2023, Stern announced her return with a song titled "Plain Speak". It features on her fifth studio album, The Comeback Kid, which was released on November 3 via Joyful Noise Recordings. Rolling Stone named Marnie Stern as one of "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".

Influences

Stern has cited many musical influences that contribute to her sound, including Hella, King Crimson, Lightning Bolt, Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Yoko Ono, Don Caballero, U.S. Maple, Royal Trux, Television, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, and Talking Heads.

Discography

Albums

• In Advance of the Broken Arm (Kill Rock Stars, 2007)
• This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That (Kill Rock Stars, 2008)
• Marnie Stern (Kill Rock Stars, 2010)
• The Chronicles of Marnia (Kill Rock Stars, 2013)
• The Comeback Kid (Joyful Noise Recordings, 2023)

References

References

1. [https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/9919-in-advance-of-the-broken-arm/ Marnie Stern: In Advance of the Broken Arm: Pitchfork Record Review]
2. AJ Wolosenko. (March 6, 2008). "Marnie Stern: In Advance of the Broken Arm Review". Prefixmag.com.
3. (February 26, 2007). "New CDs". The New York Times.
4. (February 2, 2007). "Marnie Stern: In Advance Of The Broken Arm (2007): Reviews". Metacritic.com.
5. [http://www.venuszine.com/articles/music/features/2574/The_Greatest_Female_Guitarists_of_All_Time_O_Z The Greatest Female Guitarists Of All Time, Venus Zine] {{webarchive. link. (December 4, 2008)
6. "PLUG: Independent Music Awards". Plugawards.com.
7. [http://www.killrockstars.com/ Kill Rock Stars announces new album] Retrieved on July 9, 2008.
8. (October 9, 2008). "Pitchfork: Marnie Stern: This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That". Pitchforkmedia.com.
9. "ATP Nightmare Before Christmas". Atpfestival.com.
10. Julie Vadnal. (August 2, 2009). "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists". ELLE.
11. "100 Greatest Guitarists". Rolling Stone.
12. (May 3, 2012). "Spin's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time | SPIN | Best of SPIN | All Time". SPIN.
13. "New Marnie Stern Album, ''The Chronicles of Marnia'', Out 3/19/2013!". Kill Rock Stars.
14. Bevan, David. "Inside Marnie Stern's 'Less Nutso' New Album 'The Chronicles of Marnia'". Spin Magazine.
15. Johnston, Maura. "First Listen: Marnie Stern, 'The Chronicles Of Marnia'". NPR.
16. Wong, Mimi. "SXSW 2013 Music Picks: 7 Emerging Artists on the Rise".
17. Brunner, Nick. (October 9, 2020). "Capradio – Interview: Seth Meyers Guitarist Marnie Stern On Playing In A Pandemic And Her Love Of Sacramento Pizza".
18. (August 30, 2023). "There's A New Marnie Stern Album(!) And She Told Us All About It".
19. (October 13, 2023). "The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
20. (January 3, 2011). "Marnie Stern's guitar-intensive songs".