Marine Lacoste takes the stage at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, AZ. (Chris Ortiz/CPC)
It was a warm August night when we first became familiar with Marine Lacoste, a 33 year old keys player from Montreal, Quebec. The Canadian was on tour with Uncle Kracker as they opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top as they played at the Talking Sticks Amphitheatre in Phoenix, AZ.
CPC was able to catch up with the talented musician post tour and talk about her past, Uncle Kracker, her future and life outside of the limelight.
When did you start playing keyboards?
I started playing classical piano at the age of 8 and it's around the age of 15 that I started listen to more rock and blues music and that I decided I wanted to study music on a more serious level to become a pro pianist!
I only started playing hammond organ around the age of 23.
Was keyboards your first instrument or did you start with something else?
I started with piano, then keyboard and synth and later the Hammond Organ.
What is your preferred set of keys (it is known that you play a Hammond and a Korg on this tour)?
My favorite set is having a vintage Hammond Organ and a Leslie with a cool piano/rhodes, I love the korg kronos but I don't own one yet! Definitely on my list tho!
You are the current keyboard player for Uncle Kracker, how did you get into that roll?
It was about 10-11 years ago, I was playing in an all girl cover band and we were playing at the motor city casino in Detroit about every 2 months.
And we were staying at the same hotel that Uncle Kracker was parking the tour bus back then!
One night around 2am, we were coming back from the show and the bus was there... The 2 guitar players were staying on the bus that night and we started talking!
After that the band came to see us play at the casino and with time we became friends. So when we were coming back to Detroit we were hanging out!
About 7 months later they had a gig in Toronto, CA and the old keyboard player at the time couldn't be at the gig, so they ask me to replace him! And I've been there ever since.
Will be 9 years in October!
How did you get into music in general (background)?
It was always my dream to play big shows and go on tour, so I studied music professionally and started playing gigs in bands and for artists!
How did you get into playing with bands and touring?
Played in my first rock band at the age of 16. Then kept playing in different situation with different artists until I was playing in Detroit at the Motor City Casino and that how I met the guys from Uncle Kracker! Started hanging out and when they needed a keyboard player the asked me...
Is this (playing in bands and touring) something that you always wanted to do?
Yes. Since I was 15 I knew that music was what I wanted to do!
What is it like being in such a male dominated field (music) especially on this tour (with ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd) where (outside of LS backup singers) you are the only female on stage?
It's great and not always easy! Everyone is being very nice and respectful tho, it's just that being on the road you have to adjust what you're use to have home for example with food or physical training!
I've never had a really hard time touring with guys, I'm very easy going! :)
Follow up question to that, what advice would you give to any child (female specifically) who is looking at getting into the music scene and want to follow in your footsteps?
Just do it and stay focus to the goal. If your main goal is to be the best version of yourself and become an amazing musician then do it. Focus on you and do the work! Anyone can do it, you just have to work for it.
It has been a little bit of time for me since I have been out on a tour, so can you tell the readers how life on the road has changed over time, especially for you, and how has it stayed the same in your more than 20 years of experience on the road?
Being on the road has good and bad side like everything else! The best part is to travel and play shows around the country! Haha. Playing and sharing music with people is amazing. Meeting new people just like on the last tour was also incredible, that's the magic of a tour!
On the other side, being away from home for long period of time or sleeping on a moving bus is not always easy. You don't get much privacy either since you only get a small bunk!
It's definitely a trip and a live style. It's not for everyone.
With sharing the stage with artist like Kid Rock, Sugar Ray, Eve 6, Pitbull, Bret Micheals, Better than Ezra, etc. who has been your favorite act to perform with so far? Any good/funny stories from the road?
This tour has been definitely my favorite so far. Everyone was so nice and great. Plus I've always been a fan of ZZTop and Lynyrd Skynyrd so for me to share the stage with these band is pretty incredible!
The last show of the tour was very funny... to celebrate the end of the tour everyone(band and crew) decided to get on the stage during our last song without us knowing haha. It was fun!
What does the future look like for you? What is the next big chapter in your book?
I'm following the tour schedule with Uncle Kracker and will see where that takes me!
I'm also building an online piano/keys school named Online Rock Lessons. I created tons of lessons for anyone who want to learn with me, on a budget and a schedule! Most lessons are pre-recorded and I offer livestream as well.
When I'm not playing show, that's what I work on the rest of the days!
You can have more info : www.onlinerocklessons.com.
Tell me a bit about the Highway Hunters and the future plans with them.
The pandemic has slowed down my work with Highway Hunters a lot. So for now, there's not much going on but I plan on working on new songs in a close future.
What are the plans for after this tour is done?
Playing more shows! Haha We still have headliner shows with Uncle Kracker until the end of the year. I'm also working on my online school Online Rock Lessons.
Anything else that you would like to share with the readers? Any last bits of information/wisdom?
Just that if you have a dream, go for it!