There's this guy who plays guitar...
Sometimes you can't get a particular song out of your head; it's there
when you wake up, at embarrassingly awkward points throughout your day,
and only disappears when there's another to replace it. Music gets under
your skin and no matter what "sensible"/"paying" careers you pretend to
pursue, it's in your blood like some catchy disease.
The Haradas weren't the Jacksons or the Von Trapps, but music was always
around. Mark's first love was Deborah Harry, his first hobby, collecting
KISS cards. Always in the background: a scratchy Beatles record fighting
it out with an Irish folk cassette.
A Jesus-like absence (pre death of course) was years spent pursuing
sports and girls and other healthy/normal things. But Mark, like Tweedy
sings, "was maimed by rock n' roll". Singing and playing bass in the
alternative pop/rock band Spaceed - he claims no nerdy association with
Star Trek - he discovered the joy of playing live to a receptive
audience. And although this collaboration of musical soul mates did not
last beyond a few years, it was more than enough for Mark to realise
that writing and performing his own music felt like home. A place that
he would always return to.
Maybe music became more something he listened to than made because a
walkman was lighter. Travelling the world without a guitar, wearing the
Monday-Friday suit and showing the true loss of his Samson/Cobain like
strength - he cut his hair and got a job.
But still the Music called...[Insert gothic music here]
Although not trained professionally, Mark educated himself on "stuff
that sounded good and made him feel". His songs are the much used onion
metaphor - each layer peeling to reveal the raw green bit, the part that
makes your eyes water and your breath stink.
So here we are. Playing gigs in pubs and to a nephew who can only
vibra-dance and giggle. Playing music that is hard to fit into any of
the categories provided by myspace or the record store around the
corner. Playing music that reminds you of simple stuff made complicated.
Just playing music.
Wow it's been about a million years since I've checked the ol' myspace page, so thought it would be rude not to say hello - so hello! how's tricks matts? lovely to speak to you the other day on Skype, say hi to Gaya for me xx
hey man hows it?? hope the gigs are going well and youre getting noticed. im in a Black Sabbath covers show now. hahaha!! + starting to get to know everyone up here so if ya want some gigs my friend books the big three venues. the acoustic thing is bigger than bands here. neways, take it easy dude. catch up with ya soon.
Hello my friend, I can see you're an artist now, it's cool a thing!!!Well, i received a link to a video on myspace and my browser says it might be dangerous, is it sent really from you or just a spam?Take care mate
Thanks for tracking me down. Enjoyed your set on sunday; as I said you've got a really sweet voice and it matches your guitar sound perfectly. Hopefully next time we meet it'll be in a venue with a better pa.
Yes indeed, went just been in Croatia for my hols which was fab, and was working in Spain last weekend, so tough life indeed ;-) plus summer's finally made an appearance in London and we've got a whole weekend of sunshine and warm weather!
How's the job going? Oh and I'm going to be coming back for Christmas!! Fly in on Sun 23rd Dec for 2 weeks xx
Hey Mark, Sorry I didn't make it last time - I wanted to but was trapped at home with stupid retarded flu. I will be there Sunday for sure - look forward to seeing you then xxx Em
so i see you decided to change it to "Excess consumption may have a laxative effect." how ate ligaya came up with that, i will never know. i did think of one myself, "Risks of an uninfluenced delinquent." haha.
Hey Mark! Awesome to see you are getting out there... I will be there on the 14th, and will force people to come with me. Hope all is well dude, talk to you soon xxxx
Online Now!
