Mark Growden & the Mockingbirds CD Release Concert – Saturday, June 23rd, 2012
Show at 8pm – Sliding Scale $10-$15
The Subterranean ArtHouse
2179 Bancroft Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
Mark Growden is a singer, writer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, visual artist, and the artistic director of the Marigny Opera House in New Orleans, LA. Growden has released several critically acclaimed albums, including Saint Judas, which was awarded “2010 Rekkid of the Year†by music blog Stash Dauber and ranked in the 2010 Village Voice Critics Poll. Growden has toured the the US extensively, performing at venues such as the The Fillmore, Cowell Theater, and Great American Music Hall in San Francisco; Snug Harbor in New Orleans; and The Knitting Factory and Tonic in New York. Mark has composed original musical scores for a number of Dance and Theater companies, including Joe Goode Performance Group and Alonzo King’s Lines Contemporary Ballet, with whom he and his collaborators won the Isadora Duncan Award for Best Original Score for a New Dance Piece. He has scored several films, including Blood Tea and Red String, which won Best Animation at both the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal.
Paul McNees (aka The Mockingbirds) is a musician, teacher, writer, and is pursuing a Phd exploring the deep roots of human music making from the level of metaphysics and philosophy. The MockinSendgbirds is a labor of love that gives expression to Paul’s dedication to music and his love of the alchemy of collaborative participation.
Paul has been involved in the Bay Area music scene since the early 90’s. As a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, he has added his talents to several bands and projects over the years: Bass Line Dada, Hoarhound (with Ari Fellows Mannion of Loretta Lynch), The Handshakes, Ramona the Pest, and Conception Vessel One. His first cd “Songs and Other Delusions” was performed almost completely solo. This time out, Paul is proud to be collaborating with an old friend and colleague – Mark Growden. The new Mockingbirds album “Lacuna” was inspired as a tribute to Paul’s father whom he lost in May of 2011. His songs have lost their sardonic edge and move toward the tender and transcendent. Paul will be joined by a cast of brilliant musicians: Lisa Mezzacappa – stand up bass, Alex Kelly – cello, Dan Cantrell – accordion, Clay Koweek – guitar and mandolin, and Mark Growden – baritone sax, banjo, and vocals. The album will be recorded during the second week of January and released in the early spring.
The Mockingbirds personnel:
Paul McNees – voice, guitar, banjo -Â http://hearitlocal.com/#!/sf/as_artists?detailID=7282
Mark Growden – voice, banjo, bari sax -Â www.markgrodwden.org
Dan Cantrell – accordion - www.bellowhead.com/
Alex Kelly – cello – alexkelly.com
Jameson Clay Koweek – acoustic guitar
Lisa Mezzacappa – upright bass -Â http://franconeroska.com/Lisa-Mezzacappa
