I Am What I Am...

"I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam!"

Sage advice from the spinach huffing sailor man of yore.

Watching Popeye cartoons as a kid, I don't think I ever fully appreciated the depth of that little pronouncement. Thinking back on it's meaning now as an adult, I realize it's quite a useful mantra when the idealism of youth yields to the cold, hard facts of grownups-ville. When things, maybe not turning out as expected on that bumpy road into town, force one to reconcile who they've become with who they thought they'd be.

I find the same applies in art as it does life.

With the first month of the new year almost a memory and 2010 fading into the distance, I've found myself running into many of those inevitable, year-in-review, "Best Of" lists folks in the music world, journalists and fans alike, enjoy assembling. I guess these compilations are fun to read but at the same time, probably a little dangerous to hold too much stock in especially if stuff you've created stands to very likely be omitted from such rundowns. That said, I also have to admit it's kind of flattering when the work you've done is actually included in the roll call.

Releasing "Queens English" back in the spring, I feared I might alienate some hardcore fans of the power pop vibe who've previously supported my music since "QE" is, stylistically, a touch outside the genre and a little different from what I've done in the past. As such, it was kind of cool and in some ways validating to see the album appear on a number of these aforementioned "Best Of" lists especially those within the pop scene. While certainly being a full on pop record in my mind, I also knew "QE" was not "Pop Job 2.0". With downtown guitars replaced by uptown horns and "Who's your daddy?" lyrical content substituted with tales of baby-daddies, it was, indeed, a bit of a change up but one, nonetheless, a sailor man with heart-on-his-sleeve leanings had to make. I really had no choice.

I am what I am... Hope you are too.

www.markbacino.com
www.dreamcrushmusic.com

Laugh Clown Laugh

(Mobile users click here to view video)

In keeping with a long-standing, self-deprecating (& honestly somewhat perplexing) tradition of making a fool of myself in the name of an album release (see here & here), I give you the video for "Happy", the single from my new album, "Queens English".

Obviously, it's one of those clips wherein you question whether this kind of behavior is beneficial to one's career... but since I'm never quite sure I actually have one, I figure I'm good to go; why not climb out on that shaky limb and have a little fun in the process?

Or who knows? Maybe I'm just one of those cryin' on the inside kind of clowns.

www.markbacino.com
www.dreamcrushmusic.com

The Gig

Ah, the gig... Simultaneously the thrill and bane of a performer's existence (or at least this performer's). A bubbling Diet Coke-meets-Mentos combination of nervousness and excitement - Will it suck? Will it be cool? Will five people come out or 150? Will the bartender cut off our free drinks?

In my case, all those questions are forgotten and invariably melt away as the first chord sounds and my attentions turn toward the simple joy of making music with friends and connecting with a live audience.

Such was, indeed, the case last week at our Pete's show in Brooklyn as a warm, summer Monday evening - not generally the recipe for record attendance - predictably yielded a small but loyal crowd while the band and I took to providing our take on the popular song format.

Later, during the after-set hang (sometimes just as much fun as the set itself), I found myself meeting, getting to know and having a blast with a very cool group of peeps who, flatteringly, care close to as much about my music as I do despite them being extremely intelligent and successful folks ;-) Always a humbling experience; one for which I'm eternally grateful and never take for granted.

Although the music business finds itself in a bad way these days, fraught with many pitfalls, I can think of very few "9 to 5's" (barring obvious philanthropic endeavors) that offer the kind of fulfillment and human connection described above.

Ah, the gig... Nice work if you can get it.

A low-res, iPhone vid from the show featuring yours truly and the band (from L to R): Matty Karas, Jay Sherman-Godfrey, John Lee, Cheri Leone and Bob Byrne



www.markbacino.com
www.dreamcrushmusic.com

Speakin' The Queens - (Episode 5)

Check out Episode 5 of "Speakin' The Queens"; the video portion of my Blog and the world's only music Vlog to come to you direct from a Queens, NY living room.

This episode features music* from yours truly and special guests Cheri, Matty and Chris, collectively known as The Trouble Dolls; a great pop band based in NYC. The T Dolls are currently in the studio working on a new collection of songs while their 2003 album, “Sticky” (Half a Cow), is a must have for fans of all things melodic. Those with a keen eye might also recognize Cheri and Matty from their moonlighting gig as longtime members of my live band.

Many thanks to The Trouble Dolls for doing the show. Please visit them on the web at -

www.troubledolls.com


*All songs copyright 2010 by their respective artists.
www.markbacino.com

Rock Show

Just a quick, save the date, note this week to let you guys know that the band and I will be playing a gig at the world's famous Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn, NY Monday August 2nd at 8pm.

Kickin' out jams old and new, please join us and celebrate the release of my album, "Queens English".

To get the band psyched for the gig, I've begun weekly pep talks post-rehearsal. Since you all are like family, I thought I'd record one and share it (listen here). Hopefully you too will find this little speech inspirational.

See you in August!

Show details...

Mark Bacino Live
Mon. August 2, 2010 - 8pm
Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718.302.3770
www.petescandystore.com
*Free Admission*

The Band -

Matty Karas
Cheri Leone
John Lee
Bob Byrne
Jay Sherman-Godfrey

www.markbacino.com

Speakin' The Queens - (Episode 4)

Episode 4 of "Speakin' The Queens"; the video portion of my Blog and the world's only music Vlog to come to you direct from a Queens, NY living room.

This episode features music* from special guests Jay Sherman-Godfrey and Laura Cantrell as well as a tune from yours truly.

Jay is a singer/songwriter, producer and guitarist who has worked with Laura Cantrell, Amy Rigby, They Might Be Giants and Michael Shelley to name a few.

Laura is an acclaimed singer/songwriter with several albums to her credit and a fanbase that includes Elvis Costello (whom she's toured with) and Lucinda Williams.

Big thanks to Jay and Laura for doing the show. Visit them on the web at -

www.jayshermangodfrey.com
www.lauracantrell.com


*All songs copyrighted 2010 by their respective artists.
www.markbacino.com

Brooklynese

Thought I'd take up a little Blog space this week to talk about my new album's little, rough-around-the-edges cugino - the "Brooklynese" EP.

Conceived as a sort of completist's companion piece to the "Queens English" LP and included as part of the "QE" Deluxe Edition , "Brooklynese" contains some outtakes and demos culled from the "QE" studio sessions.

Since the "QE" LP received a track-by-track breakdown on this Blog in the weeks leading up to it's release, I figure it only fair to give it's King's county counterpart the same treatment in similar (albeit condensed) fashion so here goes...

"Brooklynese" EP -

Trk. 1: "Neighborhood Girl" - Discussed briefly in this space via an earlier post, this tune was actually the first song recorded for the "QE" album. Although lyrically in keeping with the theme of the record, as the recording of the album progressed, "Neighborhood Girl" unfortunately began to reveal itself as musically the odd-man-out amongst this collection of new songs. With it's modern pop production values stylistically more at home, say, on a Fountains of Wayne record than on one of my records, I ultimately made the tough call of excluding the song from the final "QE" running order. I think I made the right choice in terms of the overall sonic vibe of the album but that said, I was sad to see the song cast to the wilderness. Featuring long-time Rollins Band drummer, Sim Cain, I'm happy "Neighborhood Girl" can finally get her day in the sun via this EP.

Trk. 2: "Muffin in the Oven (demo)" - Recorded as a rough and tumble blueprint intended as a guide for the session players on the official album recording and featuring maybe the world's first heavy metal kazoo solo, this demo is not without it's homespun charm. Another highlight (or possible attempt to avoid further kazoo abuse) features a decision to flesh out what would eventually become the track's horn arrangements using the vocal prowess of 'The Markettes' (I know them pretty well and they work cheap).

Trk. 3: "Bridge & Tunnel (demo)" - Recorded as a sketch for what would eventually become a solely orchestral rendering on the album and featuring a more earthy, acoustic-driven, back-porch feel, this demo presents a totally different and (hopefully) interesting take on this "QE" cut.

Trk. 4: "Make Something Happen" - Loosely intended to be fashioned into a song for the "QE" album, this tune's basic chord changes and melody line ultimately became the basis of a pitch my 'shilling-for-the-man' alter-ego made for, of all things, an Amex commercial jingle. Sadly (or fortunately depending upon how you look at it), the track never made the cut. When listening try and picture Ellen DeGeneres dancing to this Wilson-esque little ditty. Sorry if that mental image is distressing.

For more info on the "Brooklynese" EP or the "Queens English" Deluxe Edition, visit DreamCrush Music.

www.markbacino.com

Speakin' The Queens - (Episode 3) Album Release Day!

Episode 3 of "Speakin' The Queens"; the video portion of my Blog and the world's only music Vlog to come to you direct from a Queens, NY living room.

So with album release day finally upon me, thought I'd do a quick video, raise a glass and toast all the fine folks who helped make "Queens English" a reality.

Many thanks to you all for your kind words of support during the making of this album. I truly hope you guys enjoy the record.

Cheers! Salute! Mazel tov!

...Man, I'm drunk.

XO,
-mb

"Queens English" song samples and purchase info can be found here -

www.dreamcrushmusic.com
www.markbacino.com

Speakin' The Queens... Pt. 11

As the release date for my new album, "Queens English", approaches (5/18), I thought it might be a fun idea (if only for me) to try and maybe dissect the record here at the old Blog space. A bit of a behind the scenes look under the hood so to speak. Since I've always dug reading about some of my favorite albums track-by-track, I thought that might be an interesting way to approach. Eleven tracks in eleven installments? Can I pull it off without boring even myself? I suppose the answer is 'yes' since this marks the final chapter but anyway, pull up a metal recliner and crack open a Piels, there's still one more question that needs to be addressed...

Track 11: "Who Are Yous?" -

As I focus on the last track of the record this week, I realize the song's title could also be used to sum up the musical journey of self-discovery traveled in the creation of this album. From the very DIY production methods I found I needed to employ in order to achieve my vision, to the (sometimes unknowingly) autobiographical nature of the songs, this project, ultimately, helped me come to terms with where I'm at and what I'm about these days.

Written from the hard-boiled perspective of a neighborhood old-timer and intended as a response to the gentrification celebration that is the album's title track, "Who Are Yous?" also, hopefully, serves as a minimalistic mini-metaphor, highlighting those occasions of flux in our lives when we're forced to look within, ask big questions and reconcile, for ourselves, who we are with who we were and who we thought we'd be.

Who Are Yous?

Who are yous?
Who are yous?
Speak when you’re spoken to
Who are yous?

Could always sit out here
My lawn chair and a beer
And listen to the game

But since you kids appeared
With your long hair and your beards
Nothing is the same…

Who are yous?
I said who are yous?
Speak when you’re spoken to
Who are yous?
What’s this world coming to?

Who are yous?

Much love to everyone who has read and listened over the course of these eleven weeks. I truly appreciate your interest and support. Thank yous!

www.markbacino.com

Speakin' The Queens - (Episode 2)

Episode 2 of "Speakin' The Queens"; the video portion of my Blog and the world's only music Vlog to come to you direct from a (tastefully furnished) Queens, NY living room.

This episode features some recently unearthed footage from a show the band and I did at The Living Room, NYC back in May of '09.

www.markbacino.com

Speakin' The Queens... Pt. 10

As the release date for my new album, "Queens English", approaches (5/18), I thought it might be a fun idea (if only for me) to try and maybe dissect the record here at the old Blog space. A bit of a behind the scenes look under the hood so to speak. Since I've always dug reading about some of my favorite albums track-by-track, I thought that might be an interesting way to approach. Eleven tracks in eleven installments? Can I pull it off without boring even myself? Stick around, find out and meet my one boy cuddly toy, my up, my down, my pride and joy.

Track 10: "Ballad of M & LJ" -

In an attempt to add a little balance to the album when it came to the subject of parenthood, I thought it would be cool to include a track that would vouch for the sheer awesome-ness of being someone's Dad. As such, "Ballad of M & LJ", written for my son, celebrates life with my boy and also serves as my self-response to the polar opposite sentiments on child rearing offered up earlier in the album with "Camp Elmo".

From an intellectual standpoint, the writing of a tune like this can be kind of tricky - too overly sentimental and some folks will inevitably tune out; Not sincere enough and it can all seem disingenuous. Thankfully I quickly came to my senses, kicked all those conscious thoughts to the curb and just wrote from the heart. Seemed like the better plan.

Ultimately, "Ballad..." presented itself as a very simple narrative chronicling a day in the life of Mama P's two boys busy doing nothin'; highlighting those everyday little minutes that don't seem to count for much but, in reality, add up to it all.

Musically speaking "Ballad of M & LJ" features the fine French horn work of Rob Jost, the pretty backing vocals of LJ's Mom herself, Mrs. Bacino and yours truly on all other sonic embellishments.

Hey LJ, this one's for you, big; it's your song. Think of your ol' mom and pop sometime when you hear it. Love u.

Ballad of M & LJ

Hangin’ with Lee Joseph
It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever known
Just kicking cans and skippin’ stones
With you…

Hangin’ with Lee Joseph
No two finer pals the world has seen
A one and one half wrecking team
Us two…

We might eat three ice cream cones
We might even listen to The Kinks
When your Mommy’s not home

Singin’ La, La, La, La…

And there will come a day
When you say, “Daddy, aw go away”
That’s okay…

We might finger-paint the cat
We might even do a little dance
On that bubble wrap

Hangin’ with Lee Joseph
It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever known…

Next time on "Speakin' The Queens...", we come to the end of our musical word parade with Track 11, "Who Are Yous?".

Speakin' The Queens... Pt. 9

As the release date for my new album, "Queens English", approaches (5/18), I thought it might be a fun idea (if only for me) to try and maybe dissect the record here at the old Blog space. A bit of a behind the scenes look under the hood so to speak. Since I've always dug reading about some of my favorite albums track-by-track, I thought that might be an interesting way to approach. Eleven tracks in eleven installments? Can I pull it off without boring even myself? This week visit Middle Town and find out...

Track 9: "Middle Town" -

Leaving Manhattan and moving back to Queens in the fall of 2001, I randomly Googled the name of my new hood one evening if for no apparent reason other than late-night boredom; Having grown up within fairly close proximity, I knew a decent amount about the neighborhood but in reading the town's history I came to discover a good deal more. It seems this working-class area situated in central Queens was once considered by it's early English settlers to be the mid-point between the towns of Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Jamaica, Queens on what was then known as the Williamsburg/Jamaica Turnpike (now Metropolitan Ave). Tired farmers often spending the night in this hood during their long, horse-drawn commutes to and from market in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Given the serious middle class makeup of my neighborhood in it's current incarnation, this apropos bit of logistical history kinda stuck with me, hitting home over time, as a pretty cool metaphor.

A few years down the line as the writing of this new album progressed and began revealing it's core theme to me as heavily influenced by my current life in the outer-boroughs, I thought it might be cool to work the idea of my aforementioned 'middle town' into the mix. Springboarding from there, I started to think about a lot of the peeps I grew up with and a lot of the folks I currently live alongside; most of them straight-shooting, hard-working, hard-core locals who have no need for or interest in (beyond maybe their work life) what's going on in "the city" (aka Manhattan) making for one seriously ironic, near-middle American, small-town credo tucked inside one of the largest, most progressive cities on the planet.

As a teen dreaming self-absorbed, bright lights/big city dreams of rock stardom in his Queens bedroom, I judgmentally found this "provincial" mindset to be kind of lame and uninspired - the brightest and most creative minds from all points are gathering 20 minutes across the river and you'd rather hang out on the stoop and listen to the ballgame?!

Life's funny, isn't it? As you make that personal commute, all the square, unimportant stuff your parents filled your head with (if you were lucky) - hard work, family, a sense of place and belonging - it all, somehow, seems a bit less square over time. The act of simply putting food on the table and a roof overhead becoming a more than noble struggle.

Maybe, like every know-it-all teen and twenty-something before me, I needed to teeter on mountain's edge before I could come to value and respect the stability of some solid middle ground.

Middle Town

Hear the bells, hear the sound
Noon is coming ‘round, in this middle town
Took a break from the pace,
Left the rats to race, in that city town

Took the kids to school, I’m still their Dad,
Say hello to Mrs. Leary,
“Sit on the stoop with me lad”

I was born, I was raised
Seven blocks away, in this middle town
I never bothered, never cared,
Never chased the fad, in that city town

Happy just to hang with my boys
Standing around down on the corner
Yeah, you know we made some noise

There’s no shiny towers here
We built them in the city town
Just some kids and they’re running ‘round
Chasing Softee down…

Hear the bells, hear the sound
Evening’s coming down, in this middle town
The working day’s had its say, make your getaway
From that city town

Tired subway rides, half alive
Trying hard just to remember
How noble it is to survive… and hold your ground
In your middle town

In your middle town
In your middle town

Next time on "Speakin' The Queens...", people let me tell ya 'bout my best friend with Track 10, "Ballad of M & LJ".

Speakin' The Queens... Pt. 8

As the release date for my new album, "Queens English", approaches (5/18), I thought it might be a fun idea (if only for me) to try and maybe dissect the record here at the old Blog space. A bit of a behind the scenes look under the hood so to speak. Since I've always dug reading about some of my favorite albums track-by-track, I thought that might be an interesting way to approach. Eleven tracks in eleven installments? Can I pull it off without boring even myself? Got me. Stay tuned and find out... Hey, does this jacket make me look fat?

Track 8: "Blue Suit" -

Not quite sure what provoked such a random thought, but it occurred to me one day, likely while staring blankly into my closet, that a lot of dudes probably own only one dress suit (don't say you weren't warned about the randomness). Maybe I'm generalizing but I'd venture to guess that most non-corporate-raiding types, such as myself, usually have that one, all-purpose Men's Wearhouse sitting under the dry cleaner's plastic patiently awaiting it's call to arms like some sort of sensible, low-thread-count sentry. Riffing on these thoughts like a mentally disturbed haberdasher, "Blue Suit" soon made it's way out of my head and onto the rack.

As I sketched out the bones of this melancholy lyric, I found my lonely, well-dressed comrade becoming more character than metaphor. A manic depressive figure that only seems to materialize 'round the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Kinda like that old, grade school friend you only see at weddings and funerals these days who still knows you better than most, having seen you through your best and your worst.

Blue Suit

Saw it hanging there today
Neatly pressed and tucked away
Oh, my blue suit, my blue suit

Stood above my father’s grave
The sadness like a tidal wave
In my blue suit, in my blue suit

It’s kinda worn and frayed
It’s seen my worst and better days

Humbled by her wedding gown
The clouds gave way, the sun shined down
On my blue suit, on my blue suit

It’s never worn the doldrums of an ordinary day
Its only world, black tie and pearls, sunshine and gray

It’s kinda worn and frayed
It’s seen my worst and better days

Probably wear it one last day
Say goodbye and go our way
Oh, my blue suit, my blue suit…

Next time on "Speakin' The Queens...", I try and hit one to center with Track 9, "Middle Town".

Speakin' The Queens... Pt. 7

As the release date for my new album, "Queens English", approaches (5/18), I thought it might be a fun idea (if only for me) to try and maybe dissect the record here at the old Blog space. A bit of a behind the scenes look under the hood so to speak. Since I've always dug reading about some of my favorite albums track-by-track, I thought that might be an interesting way to approach. Eleven tracks in eleven installments? Can I pull it off without boring even myself? Got me. Stay tuned, find out and meet me 'cross the river.

Track 7: "Bridge & Tunnel" -

In keeping with the New York-centric theme of the album, "Bridge & Tunnel" attempts to take a classic Manhattanite snobbery and turn it inside out. Generally a pejorative term aimed at the residents of the outer-boroughs, my "Bridge & Tunnel" quietly reverses the subject of disdain via a lush bed of strings and the proud internal dialog of one B & Ter's late-night drive back home across the river. A hard-core piece of townie retribution for sure and to be honest probably a long overdue one at that.

Now to be totally fair, myself having lived on both sides of the East River, I can honestly say the derogatory B & T moniker is not entirely unfounded on occasion. I can tell you first hand that one truly hasn't lived until three custom Jeeps laden with kids from the Bronx and satellite dish-sized woofers all decide to park under your apartment window at 3am, tune to the same radio station and proceed to have an impromptu rave on a Thursday night. I get it. It's a bit much.

That said, there's still that defiant, little working-class voice of a kid from Queens inside of me that wants to yell up to that three-thousand-dollar-a-month apartment window and join the boogie-down chorus.

On record, "Bridge & Tunnel" features the multi-layered string work of Jacob Lawson, the cello of Steven Stalker and the upright bass of Lee Alexander, Norah Jones' longtime producer and bassist, recorded at Norah's home studio, The Coop. Many thanks to Lee for graciously lending his talents and doing me a solid.

Bridge & Tunnel

Bridge and tunnel
Take me where I long to be
The real NYC
Oh, bridge and tunnel

Disco queens
Hopes and dreams
The living and the dying
The laughing and the crying
In-between

Traffic might be moving slow
On the other side of the road
But I’m rolling like the river below
‘Cause I’m going where nobody wants to go…

Brooklynese
“Beater” tees
Struggling, surviving
Resourceful, enterprising
If you please

Bridge and tunnel
Make Manhattan disappear
‘Cause no one’s really from here
So give ‘em all a Bronx cheer
Just for me…
‘Cause the butt of all their jokes
Are the wheels and the spokes…of the city.

Next time on "Speakin' The Queens...", I try Track 8 on for size, "Blue Suit".

Speakin' The Queens... Pt. 5

As the release date for my new album, "Queens English", approaches, I thought it might be a fun idea (if only for me) to try and maybe dissect the record here at the old Blog space. A bit of a behind the scenes look under the hood so to speak. Since I've always dug reading about some of my favorite albums track-by-track, I thought that might be an interesting way to approach. Eleven tracks in eleven installments? Can I pull it off without boring even myself? Got me. Stay tuned, find out and get yer furry, red boots on...

Track 5: "Camp Elmo" -

Becoming a parent for the first time is a pretty awesome experience. That said, I'm not gonna lie, as some of you undoubtedly know it's also a pretty terrifying exercise and probably one of the hardest things to wrap your head around. I mean the enormity of the event is fairly staggering. At least it was/is for me. From the beautiful nothing comes a beautiful something, and suddenly you're someones Mom or Dad with all the accompanying joy, privilege and heartache those titles carry. Pretty heavy weather indeed, but in addition to the existential connotations, the gig also brings with it some of the most intensive physical and mental punishment you'll ever experience short of a stint on a chain gang. As you stagger those seemingly thousands of miles of late-night floorboard, babe in cramping arms, your sleep-deprived mind also inevitably finds itself with far too many sadistic opportunities of the self-interrogating variety - What happened to me? How did I get here? Why is there poop on my sock?..

Safe to say "Camp Elmo" was born from the monotony and exhaustion of many a pre-dawn, soul searching moment.

Camp Elmo

Living here in Camp Elmo
And how we got here I don’t know
We’re building jungle gyms
And cleaning diaper bins
Living here in Camp Elmo…

Living here in Camp Elmo
The melancholy red Day-Glo
We used to drink all night
Now we’re up at dawn’s first light
Living here in Camp Elmo…

Don’t get me wrong,
It’s not Guantanamo
No heavy metal, late night drills,
Just one song
That plays on and on
And breaks my will…

Living here in Camp Elmo
Where hanging on means letting go
So trade in all your dreams
And sign up for the team
It’s easier in Camp Elmo

Living here in Camp Elmo…

Next time on "Speakin' The Queens...", no sleep 'till Brooklyn, yo; Track 6, "Angeline & the Bensonhurst Boy".

Speakin' The Queens - (Episode 1)

Welcome to Episode 1 of "Speakin' The Queens"; the video portion of my Blog and the world's only music Vlog to come to you direct from a Queens, NY living room.

In addition to the written Blog I have cooking here in this space, I thought I'd try my hand at a video version as well complete with cheesy theme song (Hey, you try and rhyme Blog with something).


www.markbacino.com