July 3, 2009 - The Austin Chronicle

MUSICLaura Scarborough and Marshall Styler are as similar as blackand white keys on a piano. Both locals are quick to point out thatthey employ synthesizers, and the resemblance ends there.Styler and Scarborough represent opposing ends of the rock generation for whom the piano isground zero. Styler, 52, is old-school, embracing 25-year-old synthesizers he buys on eBay, whileScarborough, 35, believes smaller is better. She loves her laptop. Styler traded an MTV career inthe 1980s to concentrate on his vision, while Scarborough’s plate is overflowing with projects.She qualifies as a human balancing act.What these two bring to the Austin table is more than just a passion for music. It’s a lifelongcreation of new sounds and songs in major and minor keys.– Margaret MoserI Write the Folk SongsMarshall Styler’s wordless grooveHoopingLaura Scarborough plays around on Suzanna ChoffelLaura Scarborough is busily packing up,moving across the hall in her Kansas Cityhotel, where she’s staying as composerfor the Quixotic dance company. Nothingwrong with the original accommodation,only the new digs have a king-size bedinstead of two queens, thus leaving her moreroom for hooping.That’s hula-hooping to you and me, alark that’s become like Zen to the 35-yearoldlocal who describes herself as a pianist,composer, singer, performer, producer, and“eklectronik” musician. Although June findsher out of state with the dance troupe, she’sback in July to perform with Suzanna Choffelat Central Market. Right now, Scarborough –born in San Antonio and a University of Texasgraduate with a degree in classical piano –sounds completely pleased with her life.“Electronic stuff, that style with the laptopand heavy synthesizer, I’m doing moreof that with Quixotic up here in KansasCity,” she explains, her voice bell-clear onthe telephone. “I’m responsible for all thelaptop programming for the show.“I hate to make the comparison, but it’s alittle like Cirque du Soleil, except we’ve gotmore of an edge. We’ve got that circus-artelement mixed with ballet, a modern dancestyle with a girl in pointy shoes. It’s reallybeautiful. I play vibraphone, glockenspiel,synthesizer; run all the electronics; and dovocals, too. I’m so excited to be doing somethingon this larger scale.”Scarborough joined the troupe some threeyears ago when its founder discovered hermusic on MySpace. Within a short time, shewent from her Laura Scarborough Projectto writing music for dancers, a change thatappealed to her on a variety of levels. Shealso found herself taking a job as a sidemusician in a band. While playing torchsongs, covers, and “Disney classics” in alocal jazz trio called the Mingtones, her fellowband members Eldridge Goins and BradHouser talked up their other gig with risingstar Suzanna Choffel. Naturally, one thingled to another.CONTINUED ON P.50Much to Marshall Styler’s surprise, his pastis alive and well on YouTube. Best known todayfor his keyboard-driven instrumental albums,Styler wore one of the rock & roll crowns of the1980s in recording for the royal Motown labeland reigning on MTV in his band Duke Jupiter.Duke Jupiter, fromupstate New York, foundedin the late 1970s, hitin 1982 with “I’ll Drinkto You,” which charted atNo. 58. Two years later, inthat brief window when avideo could hold its ownagainst the chart hits, theband’s “Little Lady” beatZZ Top to the tube forthe babe-with-big-hair-in-a-tough-car video.“Little Lady” went to No. 68 on the singlescharts, though the album, White Knuckle Ride,didn’t break the Top 100.Duke Jupiter’s rising star paired them onthe road with not only ZZ Top but decadeheavyweights such as David Bowie, Bob Seger,B.B. King, Toto, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon,and Robert Palmer. An Austin show becamean epiphany.“That was fun for a while, but I had to getout,” says Styler.In 1991 came therelease of CamdenRoad, and the formerrock star became, forlack of a better term,a New Age icon.48 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E JULY 3, 2009 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mHis voice suggests time and distance fromhis rock-band years. Styler’s muscular, soulfulvocals propelled Duke Jupiter as much asits relentlessly catchy songs. AllMusic.comassessed Styler’s playing and singing thusly:“[The] best bet is just settle in and mellowout to the polarizationof shimmering keys setagainst Allman-roastedroughshod vocals.”“I lived on a bus forever,”he explains. “I had aninkling I wanted out whenwe were on tour openingfor Stevie Ray Vaughan &Double Trouble. We wereplaying Palmer Auditorium,and it was a cold rainy night. There was a partyat Chuy’s after the gig. I remember walkingaround – there wasn’t much on Barton Springsthen, a couple of restaurants – and I said tomyself, ‘I’m going to move here.’”First, Duke Jupiter had to break up, whichit did in 1985 after The Line of Your Fire fellshorter of its mark than White Knuckle Ride.Not knowing a soul in Austin, Styler left hishome, loaded his belongings in a truck, andin 1986 headed south to Texas.CONTINUED ON P.50COURTESY OF MARSHALL STYLERTODD V. WOLFSON“The pianois a verymelancholyinstrumentfor me. Iwanted toget awayfrom that,to writelightermusic, andthat’s howI got intoelectronicmusic.”