Bruce, now Neil? 

Okay, so I've broken down and done a Bruce cover. I guess I should break down and do a Neil Young cover, although it is funny to play a Neil Diamond song whenever someone asks me to do a song by Neil. Most people don't get the joke. I don't really do any Neil Diamond songs, although Cherry, Cherry should be one. It's bound to get people to sing along.

The Neil Young cover I think I'm going to do is Old Man. I heard it on the radio this morning and figured I could put my own twist on it. Do you have any suggestions? Are you aware of Neil Young's connection to Rick James, of Super Freak fame? If not, look it up. It's kind of funny and involves the US Navy.

After pondering the way so many people refer to celebrities by their first names, like Neil, or Jerry, or Jewel, or Dido, I think I'm just going to start going by Mark. Sure, it would be hard to tell me from the other Marks, but hey, if Neil can do it, why can't I? I know several Neils and several Jerrys and several...well, there's goes that argument. I did notice once while reading the linear notes from a Dido album (the Dido album?) that there were entirely too many people involved with that album that went by one name. There should be a limit. Why hasn't that issue come up in the presidential debates?

Friday... 

Hey, it's Friday. I had a great gig at the Southside Tavern in Skowhegan last night. I love playing there. I'll be there again on December 13th. You should come, even if it means driving to Maine. Skowhegan is the town the Richard Russo loosely based Empire Falls on. It's a really cool place, with a New Balance factory outlet and American Made Shoes. I may be biased but New Balance are my favorite running shoes. They put on good sales in Skowhegan and it's right around the corner so I like to take advantage of their generosity.

I debuted my first Springsteen cover last night. I did "Atlantic City" and I got a great response. It's a good song. My thoughts have been with people along the coast this week, especially a canine friend who is living in Connecticut. I know he was in a safe place with his family but I haven't heard how their house did.

Have a great weekend and keep stopping by to comment and read whatever it is I have to say. I'm thinking of doing an online cd release party soon. Get your copy of Progressions in time for the holidays. It makes a great stocking stuffer.

Day after... 

Halloween was great, as usual. We had warm weather and occasional rain showers, but it was fun. I love the community.

So if you're in Skowhegan, Maine tonight, stop by the Southside Tavern to hear me play. There's always an interesting group of locals that hang out here and I've yet to be there and not meet someone coming through town. Hope to see you.

Happy Halloween... 

Happy Halloween! It's one of my favorite times of year, when ghouls and goblins go door to door begging for candy. I'll bet the dentists love it, too. Really, though, what a great way to build community. It's such an important thing.

I'm playing tomorrow night at the Southside Tavern in Skowhegan, Maine. This will be a special, note-worthy performance because I'll be playing my first ever Springsteen cover. It'll go down in history, I'm sure. It's going to be "Atlantic City". Quite relative to the current events, eh? There was going to be a rumble on the boardwalk but they're going to have to postpone or find somewhere else to fight. I know I've altered the lyrics a bit for that joke but I still think it's funny.

I finally figured out why I'm not a Springsteen fan. Other than my thought that he puts way to much physical effort into every note, I don't think his songs have the same structure that I enjoy. Tom Petty builds a very good song, as do many of the other artists I respect. The different sections are very neat and distinct. Springsteen doesn't seem to do that. As an example, there's a mini-bridge in the middle of "Atlantic City". His phrasing doesn't follow a set course either. I'm thinking of Thunder Road as well. He has something to say and he says it and it doesn't seem to matter to him whether the chord progression fits. It's interesting and I can appreciate it, I'm just not sure yet whether the epiphany I've had about it will bring me around to doing anything more than appreciating it. Maybe that's all anyone needs to do. What do you think? And I'm originally from the Philly area so I know that no absolutely love Bruce is akin to blasphemy.

Have a good Halloween and enjoy either getting or handing out the candy. Please don't be one of those losers who just puts out a bowl of candy and a sign saying something or other about the honor system. Meet your neighbors, and their kids. Have a laugh!

Fourth day in a row... 

Hello, Markfans....is that a cool name or what? I said I'd do more blogging and here's the fourth in a row. Joe recommended some Fountains of Wayne instead of Genesis. I love Fountains of Wayne. I only have "Welcome Interstate Managers" but I've heard some of their other stuff and it's good old American Rock and Roll.

So Henry Rollins is appearing at Cony High School in Augusta on Sunday. I don't think I'm going to make it. I was never a fan of his singing but I like his message and I like how he uses his reputation to spread positive messages. If you're in the Augusta, Maine area on Sunday, please go check it out for me. Maybe I'll still go, I don't know.

Here in Maine, deer season starts on Saturday. I think I'll go for a bit, more for birds but if a deer wanders my way, well. Let's face it, I ususually spend most of my deer hunting time napping under trees. It's okay, no matter how serious I get about it, not getting a deer hasn't bothered me. I do enjoy being outside during a beautiful time of year, napping under trees, and the manly feeling of carrying a loaded firearm through the woods. Maybe I'll write a song about it.....

My choice is going to be... 

Okay, so I commented on it and now I'm going to expand on it. I think the Springsteen cover is going to be...Atlantic City, although I'm digging Thunder Road, too. I must admit, I'm not a Springsteen fan. I was playing the Rack in Carrabassett Valley in June and a delightful young lady asked me to sing a Springsteen tune. I told her I didn't know any because I like good music and she was angry. I thought I was being funny but I guess she didn't think it was. While not a fan, I do respect the fact that he's been able to survive, thrive, and build such a huge following over the years. He's also a great musician and he's surrounded himself with great musicians. There's another thing I like about him, too. He's been playing the same telecaster for years. I'm sure he has more than one but it would be really cool if he really had only one.

So Genesis has been suggested as well. I don't know if I'll be able to bring myself around to do Genesis. I have several really good friends who are huge Genesis fans, so maybe I should trust their judgement and torture my ears to see if I can get anything out of it, hehehehe...Will I have to get an electronic drum machine? (I'm guessing you know how I feel about those.)

I received in the mail a really cool book in the mail. It's Keith and Rusty McNeil's "Colonial and Revolution Songbook". I spoke with Keith's son on the phone last week and had a very cool conversation. The McNeil's built a career out of teaching history through music. I love their example and I'd love to follow in their footsteps. When I was in college at Kutztown University, I met a gentleman who had graduated from Kutztown with a geography degree and he put together a group call the "History Alive Boys". They went around and played period songs in period constumes. I would have had a blast doing that. Maybe I will....what do you think?

Springsteen and more... 

So a good friend recommended "Born in the USA." Any others? I'll have more tomorrow, I'm sure.

So Mandy recommended a book of shape note singing. I'm not a huge fan of shape note singing but the history of it in colonial New England is interesting. The Puritan fathers didn't like the tradition of tavern singing in New England. I'm looking to learn such titles of the era as "Kiss Me Quick, My Mother's Coming", "Bonny Lass Under a Blanket", and "Sweetest When She's Naked". Maybe I need a Delorian with a flux capacitor to really hear these songs. If anyone knows of these melodies, please let me know. I'd love to dress up like a pilgrim and sing them at a tavern on Thanksgiving. I know that has almost nothing to do with shape note singing but maybe the melodies were taken from church music and new words were improvised after a little ale.

I'm thinking of making some more simple videos of songs I like to sing. Lately, I've really been enjoying singing "If I had a Boat" by Lyle Lovett. I also feel the need to share "Dunderback". Anyone else know this great song?

Getting more blogging 

So I need to do more blogging. I'll have to make it a habit. I'm doing some interesting research on folk songs during the American Revolution. I haven't figured out how I'll work them into a set at a pub but maybe if I'm playing a house party. Would you listen to some historical music? Maybe if I soup it up with some wild guitar playing. I'm going to be doing some recording of it and I'll link it.
I need to play a Springsteen song. Put a comment on here to let me know which one I should do. I'm not a fan so I don't know his stuff. Thanks in advance for your help. Hope to see you at the Southside Tavern in Skowhegan on the 1st of November. Give me a Springsteen suggestion and I'll have it ready for you on the 1st!

New CD 

   My new CD is on my website. Shipping is included and I know you want one!

   My trip to Eastport was great. I played at the Rose Garden, reconnecting with Al and Linda and meeting some new friends. On Saturday, I meandered back along the coast and even ran into an impromptu mandolin jam in Edmunds at a friend's house. I stopped at a beach in Stockton Springs, went for a swim in Penobscot Bay, and made it to the New England Music Camp in time to see my friend Rich conduct the concert band. I had to jump into Messalonskee after the concert. I've never been able to stay out of that lake. It was a whirlwind 30 hour trip.

   My project at home this week is to replace the oil cooler gaskets and the exhaust on my '71 VW Bus. I got the engine out on Monday and discovered a few things about the engine. I found a couple of broken bolts on the engine cradle that I might not have noticed had I not pulled the engine. It rained today so I didn't get the exhaust on or the engine in. I should by tomorrow or by Thursday. Anyone wanna come help? I can't wait to hear the new exhaust, as the old one was virtually non-existant.

   I'll be in Hallowell at Higher Grounds on Thursday from 5-8. Hope to see you there. I'll have cd's for sale and I hope you'll come in to hear some good tunes!

Getting the Blog Started 

     So this is my first blog entry. I'm a little behind technologically, as everyone close to me knows I tend to be. I'm really excited because my new cd's should be here tomorrow and I'm planning a release party. I'll keep everyone up to date. July is shaping up to be busier than I thought it would be and I'm really excited. I'll be back at the Rose Garden in Eastport after a few years and I'll be playing again at Higher Grounds in Hallowell. I'll be playing a couple of Farmer's Markets in Farmington this month and I always enjoy playing there.

   In addition to music, I love the outdoors. I'm planning on heading up to Carrabassett Valley on Sunday to ride the new single track trails and Evan and I will be canoeing the Sandy River tomorrow. We also plan on watching fireworks in Industry in the canoe on Saturday night. Anyone interested joining us in their boats? We could make a pretty cool flotilla.

  I'll keep posting here on occasion so subscribe if you'd like. I'll keep you up-to-date on Mark's world.....