Hot Town, Summer in the City.

So, in the past couple days I have passed the 100,000 play mark on my MySpace page. I know in this modern age of technology this may not seem like a lot-- but was really a cool moment for me. I wanted to say thanks to everyone who has stuck by & supported me in doing what I love over the years. There is some exciting news on the horizon, and I can't wait to share it with all of you.


Speaking of exciting-- I am so stoked for my tour dates in August. I can't wait to show you all what I've been up and to get some bottled up energy out on stage.


"Silent Running" by Mike & the Mechanics just came on my iTunes... man, I love this song. Can you hear me? Can you hear me running? Anyways, in addition to my new music I've been working on, I've also spent a little time with some of my favorite songs. A friend commented to me not so long ago, asking why I always cover 80's songs. For starters, it was a fantastic decade, and not just because of my birth. But they had a point in asking, so I will be posting a new cover for you guys shortly that ISN'T from the 1980's. In fact, it was originally recorded in 1971. Any ideas what it could be? My only clue is that I decided I should cover it over the 4th of July weekend.


After Mike & the Mechanics comes Miles Davis... "Kind of Blue" to be specific. I should probably dim the lights a bit before I keep typing.


Actually, I'll just end this blog post right here. You know what is sweet? Between now and my next blog post I just might be seeing Lionel Richie perform a free outdoor concert on Lake Michigan. That will most likely deserve it's own blog post. Strike that-- it's own blog.

Salt Peanuts,
Salt Peanuts,
Mark

Aces & Eights

There is no feeling quite like watching part of your world die.

peaks and valleys

It's not until you truly hit rock bottom that you realize how good feeling average felt. However, it's not until you soar to new heights that you realize how far from average you really are. Success and failure all seem too relative at this point. It's all the "middle of the road" stuff that can really get you down.

Let's Get to the Grillin'

Ah yes, Memorial Day weekend. Last year, I attempted to make a "bullet" blended frozen beverage for all of my friends at a backyard BBQ bash. Allow me to explain. You know those popsicles that are red, white and blue-- most commonly from an ice cream truck or the grocery store? They are often called bullets- probably due to their shape and the association of guns with patriotism in the US of A. Back to my drink... I got three blenders. I made frozen pina coladas in two and strawberry daiquiri in one. I also brought blue food dye to add to the second pina colada, to create one white, one blue and one red beverage. Then I used clear plastic cups, and poured in the frozen drinks in layers, as to re-create the "bullet" popsicle appearance.

Long story short, I failed. The drinks pretty much came out purple. In my mind, this drink was going to work out perfectly. The taste, however, was a success. I believe this drink is actually known as a Miami Vice-- pina colada & daiquiri together. Not a bad combination, especially if you're wearing an open Hawaiian shirt.

I need to come up with something sweet to add to tomorrow's BBQ. I also really wish I had been spending my time brusing up on my 4-square skills, as the last time I played was probably last year's BBQ. How am I suppose to dominate? I'll play hard. That's for sure. In it to win it.

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend!

Wearing a denim vest,
Mark

Studio

I am in the studio right now... and it feels so right.

I was on mini-tour / vacation last week... and it felt so right.

I will be enjoying Chipotle about two hours from now... and it will feel so right.

In short: I can't complain right now.

I take that back, what is up with the Kars 4 Kids radio advertisements? They've got what they wanted, here I am blogging about it. Any promo is good promo, right? But seriously, I can't handle that song even one more time in my life. Within the very first 1/2 second of that first piano note I've already changed the station, but I still feel like I've lost the battle having heard it at all. Good cause aside, I really hate that song. If I'm in bad traffic, it's ten times worse.

Listening to an egg shaker,
Mark

This is normal.

All Purpose

I was thinking about the concept of something being "all purpose". If something can really be applied to everything, than how good can it really be at anything? An all purpose cleaner, for example, can be used on tile floors, the kitchen table, in the bathroom, on the microwave, on your front door, and so on and so forth. How good of a job could it possibly be doing at all of these things? It's like when you walk into a restaurant and the menu is just a little too eclectic? I remember a place in Eudora, KS (town where Spitalfield recorded "Stop Doing Bad Things") that was a Chinese/Mexican food restaurant. Honestly, the food wasn't too bad-- but you had to have your doubts. You make Chinese and Mexican food? Okay, cool, I'll have some general tao chicken and a beef taco.

I think the only thing in my life I'd really like to be "all purpose" would be my best friends. And even then, I'd probably prefer "all porpoise". Think about that.