Pierre Marche is a familiar name to Reno music fans, as he’s been behind the drums for melodic punk groups such as Stevedave, Big in Japan, and Engine Fire for more than 30 years. He’s still drumming for ska-punkers Sucka Punch and is the drummer for longtime Illinois punk band Screeching Weasel, which he’s been doing since 2011.
But since 2020, Marche has been leading a true passion project, singing and writing songs for his own band, Irreplaceable Beings.
“We say we’re pop-punk, but it’s way more pop than punk,” Marche said of the music he makes with the Beings. “A punk-rock purist would have a tough time calling us a punk rock band, you know? And I’m OK with that.”
In late February, the group released its first full-length album, Aftermarket Parts, and it features the most stable lineup of the Beings since it began playing shows in 2022: Marche on lead vocals, Ryan Fockler on guitar, Tony Kasper on bass, Jason Thomas on drums and Sara Rucker on harmony vocals. This lineup has been together since 2024.
Marche may write all the songs, but the band contributes its own parts and offers arrangement ideas throughout the process.
“I equate it to a painting,” Marche said. “I can paint the lines that make up a horse, and I can get (the lines) perfect, but I need other people to color it and to bring it to life. And that’s why this band is actually a collaboration.”
Aftermarket Parts is also the first Beings record to feature all the band members. For its previous four EPs, Marche sang and played drums in the studio, while Reno musician Chris Fox (Boss’ Daughter, Vampirates) played guitar and bass. While he said he’s very pleased with Aftermarket Parts, Marche did say that the album took longer to complete than those EPs.
“Trying to get four other people, besides myself, to agree on things was a lot harder,” he said. “Everybody had their own opinions when it came to the mix or things like that. But I didn’t want this just to be all my ideas, you know? Because I find that the more somebody else contributes, the more value that project has to them. If your heart and soul are into something, it becomes priceless to you. I didn’t want to keep making records by myself with a hired gun. I wanted the cohesiveness you get, and the camaraderie, in a band, because I think that does translate into a record.”
Aftermarket Parts continues Marche’s songwriting style of hook-laden rock with excellent storytelling among the upbeat, mega-catchy grooves. There are some changes here and there, though. He’s written many love songs to his wife, Lauren, but the new record has a song about her called “Swept Away” that’s got a different tone.
“I wrote it based on a dream I had after an argument we’d gotten into, and I dreamed that she was breaking up with me,” Marche said. “And the dream was so vivid and real that I sort of woke up in a panic. In the dream, she came out of our house and was out on the front porch, sweeping with a broom and pissed off. So even in my dream, I took that as a metaphor, like she’s sweeping me away.”
There’s also “Defector,” which Marche said is “a love story about a guy in South Korea who falls in love with a girl who lives in communist North Korea and is sneaking across the border at night.” Even that song, though, comes from some experience: Marche was stationed in South Korea while in the Army in the early ’90s.
Marche wrote the title track about the inevitability of getting older.
“I was prescribed hearing aids for the first time, which I didn’t get used to, so I don’t wear them,” he said. “So, I’ve got those; I got teeth implants; I wear contact lenses; and it occurred to me that it’s just like a car getting aftermarket parts. That’s what we all are.”
Fans of Irreplaceable Beings—replacement parts and all—will hear those new songs and more at the band’s record-release show, at which CDs will be available, with vinyl to be released later. It takes place at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 25, at The Alpine, at 324 E. Fourth St.
More details on the show are available at thealpine-reno.com, and more details on the record and the band can be found on its Instagram page.
Mr. Johnson and His Loaded Dice break up
Followers of Mr. Johnson and His Loaded Dice, a terrific local country band with a punky edge, found out via the band’s social media on March 22 that the group was splitting up.
“It is with great displeasure that I have to make the announcement that (the band) will no longer be performing,” wrote guitarist and lead singer/songwriter Zachery Johnson. “The Loaded Dice has disbanded, and Mr. Johnson is going to be no more. Thank you very much for the support, the love and the fun.”
In an interview a few days after that post, Johnson said several factors led to the split.
“As any musician knows, band chemistry is almost the toughest part of the job,” he said. “Direction and creative aspects don’t always align when you have multiple people sharing a similar goal, and with some changes in our personal lives, we needed to slow down on the booking, which ultimately led to a disband.”
Unfortunately, the Loaded Dice didn’t leave behind any newly recorded material, and its band pages have been removed from social media. They do have some songs on Bandcamp and streaming services, though.
As for the line in the announcement where he said, “Mr. Johnson is going to be no more,” Zachery Johnson clarified that in his follow-up interview.
“Of course, upset from the outcome, I initially was not wanting to perform anymore, but I do have some things I plan to do this year that will be solo,” he said. “Or maybe I will have some friends come sit in and give me a hand. I can’t stay away forever.”
Devo be dammed: Two Reno bands co-host release party
One of the most hyped shows coming to the Grand Sierra Resort is Devo, as the legendary post-punk “spuds” will play this Saturday, April 4. But with available tickets ranging from $74.20 to over $250 (or about $335 for a single “Premium VIP Booth” seat), the price is out of range of some fans.
But remember: This is Reno we are talking about, and other shows are happening on April 4 that cost considerably less at the door. One of those features two younger local bands—Snub and MySpace Girlfriend—who are each releasing new albums on that day. It takes place at 7 p.m. at the Holland Project, at 140 Vesta St.
Snub is a four-piece band, including a sax player, that combines the instrumental dynamics of post-rock with quirky and sometimes loud modern indie rock. MySpace Girlfriend (I love that name) is a trio with an appropriately mid-’00s take on alternative rock, but with extra noise-rock influences in the guitar tones.
Both are fun groups creating distinctive takes on the loud stuff—and it’s hard to beat that $12 price at the door. More details at the Holland Project’s website.
And The Scattering’s new bassist is …
I wanted to follow up on my story about local hardcore band The Scattering, who announced its new bassist at the show on March 21 at 4th Street Brewery/Coffeebar, which was a farewell for former bassist Rashidul Kader, who’s moving to Detroit.
That new bassist is one that hardcore and punk fans will know well: multi-instrumentalist Dave Masud. Currently the drummer with Vampirates, and about to release his second solo album in early May, Masud has also played with bands such as 2Corporate and Sucka Punch (yes, like current member Pierre Marche above).
During his Scattering debut, Masud played two new songs with the band, both with lots of head-spinning but effective time changes and diverse punk styles represented. It bodes well for the band, which plans to return to the scene once they have a new set of material with Masud ready to perform.
Let me know about the scene
I’d love to hear about your new band, your old band’s new stuff, big changes to your band, or whatever else you feel is fit to post. Reach me at markearnestwriter@gmail.com or follow me on Instagram.