ILLUMINATING DRINK: 2013

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Updates from Mark Mikel

http://markmikel.bandcamp.com/album/yesterdays-window-vol-i-episode-1-monsters-in-the-sea
35 years ago today I recorded my first multitrack recording because my parents bought me a Teac 4-track machine for my 17th birthday. I know I promised the celebratory boxed set on Sept. 2 but the hard copy will take just a little longer. However, under the wire, here is the downloadable (at 96/24 or below) and streamable version. Go to the posts below and there are 4 new albums worth of songs from the late 1970s ("Monsters In The Sea', "Spiders In The Basement", "Music In Your Eyes" and 'Murals In Your Head"). Recorded during my senior year at E.L. Bowsher High School- the same year I flunked music theory. ;) Featuring some appearances from all the guys from Marikesh ( Scott Tabner Ian McCormack Dan Rhyand) plus a 19 year old pre-Damien Chuck Stohl and more. Many of my old high school friends will probably remember many of these. Also I'm going to perform a 35th Anniversary Concert at The Maumee Indoor Theater Nov. 23rd at 8pm. Along with the same band performing with me on the Progressive Nation at Sea 2014 ( Jeff Kollman, Bill Hubauer, Ian McCormack, Zak Freed, Brad Babcock and The Monclovian 1st Irrational String Quartet). We'll be performing songs from the Marikesh days to lots of Pillbugs to the present. Tickets are $25 and go on sale online this Friday 6th of September 2013.
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http://www.progressivenationatsea.com/lineup/player/id/831/

This is THE biggest news I've ever had!!!: I've been asked to perform along with the greatest musicians in the world on a cruise ship to the Bahamas. Progressive Nation At Sea 2014. Does life get any better than this?
Mike Portnoy (everybody's favorite drummer) asked me to bring my band and perform. I still can't believe it. And my band is killer: Jeff Kollman on guitar, Bill Hubauer on keys, Ian McCormack on bass, Zak Freed on keys/guitars and Brad Babcock on drums. Check out who's also on the bill. We're going to play lots of Pillbugs songs for Mike.

Mike Portnoy:" Better late than never: I'm just discovering the (sadly defunct) brilliant psychedelic pop band The Pillbugs and the talents of Mark Mikel...these CD's are must-hears for fans of The Beatles, Zappa & Jellyfish (big thanks to Chris Herin from Tiles for turning me onto them...)"

The amazing Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre, Transatlantic, Flying Colors, The Winery Dogs) is obsessed with The Pillbugs? We must've done something right, yes? He's one of the greatest drummers/musicians on the planet. And they don't come any cooler either. Mike, thank you for the endorsement of a lifetime!!!

My new CD "Dark Ocean Colors- Close Enough To See" is available today on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc...
For fans of Sorghum Pudding and The 3-Dimensional In-Popcycle Dream. This could be my best CD ever. Very rocking. Featuring my partner in crime, musical genius Scott Hunt plus John Grafing, Chris Shutters, Cecilia Johnson (violin), Carla Weltin (Violin), Jim Anderson (cello), Florian Simioanca (viola). Check it out please because I really believe you'll love it! For actual CDs you'll have to contact me for now because I haven't distributed them yet. . Peace and Love! Mark

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/close-enough-to-see/id646046318

read a review here lhttp://active-listener.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/dark-ocean-colors-close-enough-to-see.html

Mark Mikel Yesterday's Window Vol. I Episode 4 - Murals In Your Head

Mark Mikel Yesterday's Window Vol. I Episode 3 -Music In Your Eyes

Mark Mikel Yesterday's Window Vol. I Episode 2 - Spiders In The Basement

Mark Mikel Yesterday's Window Vol. I Episode 1 - Monsters In The Sea

Welcome to the multicoloured world of The Pillbugs

Official Bio. The origin of The Pillbugs can be traced back to January of 1991. That's when Mark Kelley first called Mark Mikel up and asked him to form a new band. Kelley brought in drummer Dan Chalmers and Mikel brought in vocalist Dave Murnen and a guitarist who would eventually be replaced 4 times until they found the perfect fit with Scott Tabner (a mutual friend of Kelley and Mikel's).
They became The Mark Mikel Hallucination and started performing shows around Toledo. In 1996 after a respectable amount of local recognition and radio airplay, Mikel wanted to create a new identity for the group. "They deserved to be seen as equals and not just my backing band," Mikel said, "I came up with the idea of The Pillbugs and that we'd go WAY deeper into psychedelia. We released our first album on CD in 1998 on our own label (Omniphonic). I believe it was the first debut release to contain a double CD's worth of new and never-before-released music. Until someone proves me wrong - that's what I believe. The point is we wanted to make something people had to notice." This first release took off very slowly but eventually (with the help of the internet) became a somewhat sought after CD.
The second Pillbugs CD "The 3-Dimensional In-Popcycle Dream" (originally another double set) was completed in early 2001. With no real money to put behind it, it sat on the shelf until 2003 until later when they signed with indie label (Proverus). "Proverus had us strip down the album to 1 CD (a brilliant move actually) and then we inserted a 3D Viewmaster reel to make it really crazy," Mikel reveals.
That album was released during the summer of 2003. Proverus helped the group get a lot of notoriety (especially on the web) and also helped to book and manage gigs. 3D sold out of the first run in a matter of 2 months (most of them going to Japan). That was successful enough for Proverus to want a follow-up. The next summer they released their 3rd CD "Happy Birthday" though dark times were looming.
Mark Kelley had been diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in 1999. By the time "Happy Birthday" was released in August of 2004, Kelley had lost his voice completely and could hardly stand on his own two legs.
Knowing their wasn't much time left, the 5 friends took to recording one last album together. "Buzz for Aldrin" sessions began in Sept. 2004, just as Mark Kelley took another down turn and was admitted to the hospital. Recording continued with The Pillbugs not knowing if Kelley would ever return.
He eventually did return and was able to contribute the bass guitar to most of the album from his wheelchair- with a permanent breathing machine surgically attached to his throat. Then the studio recording equipment broke down and it was in repair for over seven months. "By the time the guy got around to fixing it," adds Mikel, "Mark Kelley was past the point of being able to record with us. It took me a long time to get back into the groove and finish the album."
"But we eventually finished it though the recording sessions seemed jinxed from start to finish."
To provide the right grandeur for the release, The Pillbugs employed renowned California artist Mark Roland* to supply the CD art.
The new Pillbugs double disc set "Buzz for Aldrin" was released by Proverus on June 19, 2007.
The Pillbugs signed with Rainbow Quartz and their first CD with RQ, "Monclovia" was released on Oct. 30, 2007.
Everybody Wants A Way Out their second rainbow Quartz album was released Nov. 10th, 2008.
In March 2011 Mark formed two new combos, The Mark Mikel Band and Dark Ocean Colors with Scott Hunt, with two albums by the latter coming soon on Rainbow Quartz

*Mark Roland is indeed a very talented artist look here for a few more examples of his art
http://www.orycon.org/orycon26/markroland.html

update...and his new website is here
The Art Of Mark Roland
http://www.rolandscapes.com/