Paul Mark Vocals, guitars James Strain Bass Dan Schnapp Hammond B3
Influences
Today’s newspaper, the crappy ads that appear randomly on our MySpace pages, Joseph Conrad, Warner Bros. cartoons, Howlin Wolf’s shoe size, yesterday morning’s NPR broadcast, B.B. King, Third Stone from the Sun (the song, NOT the bad TV show), Lost in Space reruns, Elmore James, the dog’s daily walk schedule, Sergio Leone, Central BBQ in Memphis, Albert King, Excello Records, Orgy of the Dead, Blvd St. Germain in Paris, W.G. Sebald, those rubbery cream-filled oatmeal cookie sandwichs that don’t break when you bend them at a right angle, wildass Texas guitars, any and all forms of bureaucratic disruption.
Sounds Like
A rusted 50-gallon drum sliced in half and converted into a barbecue smoker slamming shut with great force.
WHO ARE THESE GUYS? Americal Idol fans, keep surfing...this ain’t your thing...Barroom tested and road-weary tuff, PAUL MARK & the VAN DORENS carry on the tradition of live, no-holds-barred roots rock/blues with a difference: original songwriting that goes beyond my-baby-left-me-clichés to cover contemporary turf. These metropolitan R&B shuffle freaks kick up a subversive vibe that makes today’s adult radio fare sound like an accounting roundtable.
The band delivers an unsurpassed, churning roar, a sloppy southern blues approach that slams into gear and violates every rule required for MTV rotation. Fierce guitar tones, reckless rhythms that relentlessly grind, caveman vocals that stop you in your tracks, these guys are rootsy, rough and real.
Hailing from New York City and touring for years in a beat-up van, Paul Mark and his band are unforgettable to the thousands of fans who’ve seen them perform. Their most current release, TRICK FICTION, was recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis TN and is Mark’s sixth CD on NYC-based Radiation Records.
In Winter 2008 Paul Mark headed back to Memphis to begin work on a new collection of original songs. Slated for Summer 2008 release, the working title is BLOOD AND TREASURE.
“…[Trick Fiction] is a bluesy R&B set that feels as funky and spontaneous as [Memphis’] finest music… the performances are consistently inspired…Mark’s lyrics go places other blues-based artists just don’t try... Mark knows his way around the guitar, and his understated approach is unusual for a six-string frontman.” - BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE"Trick Fiction is roots rock with that deep soul vibe...While the Van Dorens play rough, ragged and relentless music that will get you on your feet, the real attraction is the wit and wisdom of singer/guitarist Paul Mark, who definitely mines seldom-explored veins with his original lyrics." - BLUES BYTES
"Mark and his group have always swung sexy like their suicide bombshell namesake. But what sets them apart on Trick Fiction are Mark’s stories, hipster view and turn of phrase." - Frantic Frank DeBlase, City Newsweekly
PAUL MARK & the Van Dorens's Friend Space (Top 12)
Hi Paul, it's me again! gonna play five songs from your new superb album in my radio show "BerndsBluesCorner" tomorrow 10.October. Your album got a wonderful review in one of the best Blues magazins BLUES-NEWS. You find the playlist and more information on my myspace site (Blog) or on my homepage at:www.bernhardschulte.com Bernd Radio DJ Lingen/Germany
Thanks for the add! Hope to see you guys at Dino BBQ Rochester. You rocked at Chenango Blues Fest last summer despite the miserable weather. Been a huge fan since first seeing you at the ORIGINAL Dino in the mid-90's (Metro Swamp Days!) Thanks!!
Paul its been great to know you and your work is inspiring. You are one of roots music's most prolific and intelligent songwriters. Keep at it! Hope to catch you at the Tap....
Thanks for the add. Hopefully you got my message from earlier. I look forward to hearing you live again soon. I'll bring Brandi (DuranDuranDiva) with me since she's the one that introduced me to your awesome music. Love the new stuff from "Trick Fiction!" :)
