Revitalized Built to Spill brings tour to House of Blues

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 23, 2003 | 9:16 a.m.

Doug Martsch doesn't profess to being computer savvy. Far from it, the indie guitar legend lives his life far from the World Wide Web in bucolic Boise, Idaho.

"I don't really do the Internet at all. I don't even have e-mail," Martsch said. "My wife has a computer and she won't let anyone else use it."

As a result, Martsch is blissfully unaware of the level of fanaticism surrounding his band, Built to Spill, from extensive online discographies to one website chronicling more than 10 years of live dates.

"I had no idea," Martsch said in a recent phone interview from his Boise home.

Martsch, 33, is quite cognizant, however, of the rumor that ran rampant last year that Built to Spill had broken up. Although the band never released an official statement, many fans assumed the band had ceased to be when Martsch released his solo debut in September.

But, as the saying goes, reports of the band's demise proved to be greatly exaggerated. Built to Spill is back on tour, and makes its Las Vegas debut Sunday night at 7 at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay. Fellow Boise band Draw and Tucson outfit the Solace Bros. open.

Martsch said the band's hiatus was not a sign it was breaking up.

"It was definitely a planned break. When we were working on our last album, I talked to everyone and we were all up for taking a little break, because we'd been working solid pretty much for years," Martsch said.

"I think because the solo record came out, that might have fanned the fire. But it just looked like we were done. There was never an intention of being done at all."

Created from the ashes of Martsch's former band, the Treepeople, during the early 1990s, Built to Spill has released consistently strong albums since its earliest days, from 1993's "Ultimate Alternative Wavers" through 2001's "Ancient Melodies of the Future."

The band is preparing to begin work on its sixth proper studio effort, and fourth for major label Warner Bros. For now, though, Martsch, second guitarist Jim Roth, bassist Brett Nelson and drummer Scott Plouf are simply dusting off their back catalog for a month-long West Coast tour.

"The idea was to get back together and write songs, but it just took us all the time that we had to really get our chops back, because we took over a year off," Martsch said. "So we relearned our old songs and we learned some old songs that we'd never played live before. But after this trip we'll definitely start writing songs."

Built to Spill's compositions range from short poppy numbers such as "Girl" and "Joyride" to longer, multifaceted pieces such as "Time Trap" and "Randy Describes Eternity." Martsch's distinctly high, whiny vocals top off the music, giving it an instantly recognizable quality.

Many critics consider 1997's majestic "Perfect From Now On" to be the quintessential Built to Spill statement.

Not a band to stick to a formula, however, Built to Spill has gradually scaled back its approach over the past six years. Songs were shorter on 1999's "Keep in Like a Secret," and shorter still on "Ancient Melodies."

Then came Martsch's solo album, "Now You Know," a tribute to blues heroes such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Martsch's most stripped-down, straightforward statement yet.

Rock fans who show up to see Built to Spill for the first time are still likely to hear a few songs they know. The band regularly includes covers in its set lists, from Cheap Trick's "Dream Police" to Macy Gray's "I Try."

Martsch & Co. have even taken a shot at that most requested of all live numbers, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird."

"It started as sort of a joke," Martsch said. "We do a shortened version of the regular song, just one verse and the chorus. But then we go into the guitar solo and as it unfolds, we're actually going through all the parts. And it's pretty great."

"Free Bird" or no, listening to Martsch talk about his band's first Vegas experience, you get the feeling he has something special planned for this weekend's show.

"It's fun to play for people that are seeing you for the first time," he said. "Some of these cities where we play, I assume there's a lot of repeat business. And that's interesting in a certain way.

"But I just remember the excitement of seeing a band for the first time. That's one of the most fun things in life. So I'm pretty excited."

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