Major Murphy
A Day in the Life of…Jacob Bullard of Major Murphy
“We all had played in various bands together in and around Grand Rapids,” guitarist and vocalist Jacob Bullard tells us, of how he and Jacki Warren (bass/vocals), Brian Voortman (drums) and Chad Houseman (guitar/keys/percussion) became a band. They named themselves Major Murphy from a book about the paranormal. “It comes from a book written by a French astrophysicist that examines UFO phenomena and cults. Major Murphy was an alias of someone in the book,” Bullard explains. From Grand Rapids, Michigan himself, Bullard believes the city was just the right size to explore their talents as musicians. “Being a mid-sized city there is a pretty good happy medium between having opportunities but not being super competitive. It was really reasonably priced to live here for a while too and that made...
SPIN Sessions Presents: Major Murphy
There are many pieces of wisdom artists acquire from their inception, to their big break and beyond. Navigating the beginnings of a fruitful period in their career, Major Murphy is surely learning that artistry and success requires balance. Major Murphy is the Grand Rapids indie-rock band that’s been turning heads with their recently released LP, Access, which highlights the many lessons humans encounter in the face of dealing with everyday life – specifically, the power of decisions and balancing the weight of their consequences. What’s special about the four member band is the way they explore the range of these existential concepts through their playful and cohesive sound. The album develops in a way that challenges linear thinking, embodying much of the counterculture they are inspired...
