Marcia Claire is one busy bassist -- as of 2010, plays in four bands: Citizen Band ("power country rock on ephedra, caffeine, and Jameson"); the Cindy Lee Berryhill Band; the Barbara Nesbitt Band ("beautiful harmonies you need to hear to believe"); and, on occasion, the Cathryn Beeks Ordeal. She adds, "I've also played with Dave Howard, Gregory Page, Lisa Sanders, Tim Flannery, Sven-Erik Seaholm, Chuck Schiele, Christopher Dale, Spud Davenport, Girl Trouble, the Coyote Problem, Not Your Mom -- a girl band! -- Frank Williamson, and Dani Carroll."
Claire went to junior high and high school with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. "We were acting partners in our freshman year at San Dieguito High in Encinitas." At the age of 19, her band Main Street Magic performed as a finalist at the International Youth Talent Competition at the Memphis Coliseum.
Claire also plays piano, mandolin, and flute. Her favorite guitar is "My main bass, 'Goldie,' a 1982 Custom Fender Jazz with gold hardware. Quite the pimp bass. So, yeah, do the math: I've had her for 25 years. She plays so great, and she's been with me to Memphis, on USO tours, and, most importantly, she's always there when I'm going through bad times. Goldie is my favorite friend; she's a great listener."
Claire feels music, right now, "has got to go back to its roots. Stuff like what the Meters did in the '70s -- music that makes you move in that way that electronically assisted music just can't. We're in the midst of the pendulum effect," she claims. "We went very techno in the late '90s, just based on the idea that we actually could go techno. But the soul of music was compromised in the process. There are plenty of good producers, both internationally and right here in San Diego, that are committed to bringing the soul back. The pendulum will swing back to the real funk and soul."
In 2011, the frequent SDMA nominee became a certified Notary Public.