Like some kind of caffeinated single malt whiskey, Mark Reeves’ acoustic roots-rock goes down smooth and easy, but packs a powerful kick that can’t help but move you. From the infectious, jangly roots-pop anthem The Way to the playful lascivious title track, Mark’s album, Sure is a Pretty Name (2004) is a top-down, full throttle romp through twelve songs of hope, heartache, and gutsy good humour. His third solo record, this clearly his most mature, and none have come close to capturing the frenetic, vivacious rapture of a live Mark Reeves performance the way his new studio album does.
A fresh breath of air, Mark is a classic example of one of those rare, blazingly talented independent artists who leaves unsuspecting audiences slack-jawed and eager for more. Pierre Guerin, former artistic director of the famed Winnipeg Folk Festival and past president of the North American Folk Alliance, agrees, “Mark is not only at ease performing, he owns the stage, even more impressive is the attention and care he pays to his craft as a songwriter”.
Mark is one of those artists who’s been around, building steam, making records and touring in support of some of the world’s best-known roots artists. The past two decades have seen Mark stream through a journey from busker to seasoned performer with masterful chops and the kind of mesmerizing stage presence that most artists never achieve in a lifetime. Turning heads because of youthful talent, he won a scholarship to Boston’s Berklee College of Music at 19, paid his dues in the blues clubs, made a record with Los Lobos producer Keith Keller’s at Keller’s mansion in New Orleans, won a sackful of awards, and warmed up stages for everyone from Robert Cray and Blue Rodeo to Colin James and Jesse Winchester.
The phrase “all hits, no misses” may be trite and outworn, but there is no question that Sure is a Pretty Name is Reeves’ most brilliant effort to date, one of those all-too-frequent musical gems that just hums along front to back and leaves you reaching for the replay button. You slip this music on like a worn, favourite leather jacket and take a laid-back cruise down a back-dirt road through a rootsy Americana populated with ordinary characters looking for life in all the real places. It’s been said that if Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett had a love child, Mark Reeves would be it. Fans of Lovett and Martin Sexton will eat up Reeves’ hard-earned positive vibe, rock solid rhythmic groove and kick-ass Motown horn section which adds a pleasant double-espresso kick to the mix. Anybody who loves R&B will immediately be inspired by Mark’s infectious, dance-all-night grove thang, but there are profoundly beautiful moments here, and unpretentious lyrical wisdom that makes you sit back while you catch your breath.
“I wrote most of these tunes over a three week period in a backwoods cabin in Canada with no electricity and no road access,” says Reeves. “I wanted to create something a bit more laid back than before, something that would leave people with a real good feeling”.
It was a pleasure meeting you the other night and I pray that you escaped Bemidji before the storm. If not, I will see you around until May when this all finally thaws and the passes open once again.
Hi there Mark Reeves first of all we'd like to say thanks for being our myspace pal. We wanted to make sure you knew the reason incase we suddenly vanish off of your friends list. The movement we've started for indie artists has grown significantly and consumes all of our time these days. We seldom sign into our myspace account and this is making several people believe that we are ignoring them. We are not ignoring anyone, we wanted everyone to know that. What we're doing has become so busy we just don't have the time for myspace any longer, so in all honesty we are probably going to just close our myspace account.
Many people wanted to use us in the future so if you were one of those people make sure you bookmark the link below so that in the event that we do close our myspace account you won't loose contact with us. I wish you the best of luck in your music career. Thanks again for being our myspace pal.
wow i'm so amped! okay...ya see those offers being passed to other people? me, really i thought it was a hoax..., but i did one a bit ago, for a free cash card worth like $500 for Macys, and amazingly it did work i couldn't believe it. you might want to click here and grab one too, you see...?
hey! my papa saw you up in winnipeg like 5 years ago and i stumbled across an album of yours this spring and its great! I listen to pillowcases when i'm sad!
Mark - Great hearing you at Home County Folk Festival. I've been enjoying your cd. Saw some good pics taken of you there. Email me for the link. Take care. Leah Morise www.leahmorise.com
Hey my friend. I hope you're having a great summer.
Just stopping by to let you know that I've decided to take advantage of the blogging tool so I hope you'll come by my page and subscibe when you get a chance.
Mark!!! I'm such a huge fan now... and I've got your CD so I can listen while I'm in my VW. ;) (I don't have to wait for the CBC to play it) Great working with you... you should be way more famous than you are... Cheers, Mike 8)
Well, I was a tad disapointed to see that you were not at the last workshop, but Manitoba Hal informed me that you werent even suposed to play...oh well....Have a safe trip home.You played awesome shows all weekend...Untill next time...
TIME TO GET U BACK IN THE CLOUD.... MY GLOBETROTTER BAG.....NEEDS UPDATING .. MARY AND BO.......MISS YA.....SO DO TEDDY.....CHARLIE.....STRETCH.....AND MANY MORE..............I'VE GOT THE V W VID ON MY SITE..........BEEP BEEP N' BEEP BEEP.............Y E A ...... INCREDIBLE.....
Hey Mark. Just thought I would say hello. I have seen you since you played with my friends Easily AMused at the Sidetrack in Edmonton. Are you ever comingout here again? Say hi to your wife( I think she's you're wife), all I remember is she was super nice and we had a great time dancing! Hope to hear how you're doing..
Hey Mark
This is my new project. Really it's a solo project with a band name. Anyway the first single "Riddles" is my "Broken Me". Thanks for being one of my biggest influences. Your awesome. Let me know when you are playing again. Maybe I/we could open for you. I am itching to play these songs live!
Take it easy
J
I can neither confirm nor deny this Reeves, but I think there's someone in your very close circle that is NOT one of your top friends, that should be. Just saying. You may want to take care of that.
Come check out Joel Fafard at The Folk Exchange this Friday night, January 2. He is that rare breed of instrumentalist: the kind whose appeal reaches far beyond the realm of serious guitar enthusiasts. We really think you'll like him. For more info or to buy tix call the Folk Fest Music Store at 231-1377. Love, Folk Fest
Hey Mark! Long time no see. I took one of your CD's to the gym with me yesterday and got to thinkin' you should come back to Camrose sometime. I miss ya. Hope all is well we you and your family and your music. Take care. ~~Myra Marshall~~
Hey Mark! Good to see your face on MySpace!! Let me (Rob) know when you're comin' back to London again ... I've got the single malt and Cubans laid in. I actually have a spare bedroom now so you don't have to sleep in the livingroom! Thanks for the add.
Cheers,
Rezonators
Hi Mark Reeves, just a quick hello from the Jazz Pistols - hope you are doing fine and have a nice christmas season. Thanks for being our friend and good luck for the things you do. Best regards - Christoph
Our Live-DVD will be released on the 1st of February 2007!
If you would like to hear more tunes of the Jazz Pistols you can check out our homepage and get the Jazz Pistols CDs in our own shop - if you are living in the USA it will be cheaper to get them at CDBaby, Abstract Logix or as digital download at iTunes. Please join our newsletter if you are interested in our tour schedule and upcoming releases.
Hey Mark!! Thanks for the add. I'd sure love to see you in Camrose again some time. I hope you are doing well and have a very special Christmas! ~~Myra Marshall~~
Hey, happy to have found you on myspace. I saw you at the Karma house in Calgary a couple years ago..got to say that you inspired me to craft my songs even though they are in french.
Hey, happy to have found you on myspace. I saw you at the Karma house in Calgary a couple years ago..got to say that you inspired me to craft my songs even though they are in french.
