Merry Crimble! Happy Holidays!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Crimble and say a quick thanks to all the kind folks who came out to the Pete's gig on 12/8. As always, 'twas a joy and honor to bring the jams your way.

Hope everyone has an awesome holiday season and thank you for all your support in 2009. I'll see you in 2010 with more live shows and the new album release (more on that soon).

Here's hoping Santa brings that cowbell you wanted. Cheers!

XO -mb

Last Licks: Final Rock Show of 2009!

The band and I will be kicking out the jams (and downing awesome grilled sandwiches) at the world famous Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn, NY on Tuesday Dec 8th, 2009. Admission is free so come on down, get your holiday buzz on and join us for our last rock show of the year. See below for details and more info. Happy Holidays! -XO, mb

Mark Bacino
Tues. Dec. 8, 2009 - 8pm
Pete's Candy Store
709 Lorimer Street
Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 302-3770
www.petescandystore.com
Click here for directions
*No Cover*

The Band - Cheri Leone, Matty Karas, John Lee, Jay Sherman-Godfrey and Bob Byrne

Welcome Back...

Hey everybody, welcome back. Sorry I've been a little negligent on the Blog front of late. Thought I'd check in quick and say thanks again to all who braved the nasty weather and came out to The Living Room in NYC last month. 'Twas a blast kickin' and screamin' for you guys. I'm hoping to possibly sneak another show in before the holiday season descends upon us in all its egg nog-spiked fury so stay tuned for info on that gig.

In other news, I'm real, real close to settling the fine-print regarding the release of my new album, "Queens English". Will definitely let everyone know the street date, details, etc. as soon as they become available. Looking forward to finally getting this project out into the world. I truly appreciate all the words of encouragement and support I received from you fine folks during the making of and beyond; it's been a long road indeed.

Well, guess that about does it for now. Thought I might leave you with this mellow little jam (below) from the last show that seems oddly apropos. This lo-fi talkie and others from that night can also be found here.

And oh yeah Julie, did I ever tell you about?... ah, never mind.

XO -mb

Rock Show - Part II

Just wanted to remind all about the big rock show next week (details below). The band and I intend to play a mix of old and new jams for you fine people so please join us if you can.

In preparation I’ve been listening to “Kiss - Double Platinum” and my Paul Stanley stage-patter CD. Damn. Made me realize as a songwriter I’ll probably never be able to come up with a lyric as rich and inspired as, say, “Hot, hot, hotter than hell, you know she's gonna leave you well done” but all I can do is promise you I’ll never stop trying.

Mark Bacino
Thurs. Oct 15, 2009 - 7pm
The Living Room, NYC
154 Ludlow St
New York, NY 10002
(212) 533-7235
www.livingroomny.com
*No Cover*

The Band -
Cheri Leone
Matty Karas
Ed Klinger
John Lee
Jay Sherman-Godfrey
Bob Byrne

with...

The "Who Are Yous" Horns -
Rob Jost
Jesse Neuman

Love Shack

Quickly becoming a NY institution, Manhattan's "Shake Shack" is a carnivore's dream. With its slightly highbrow take on the all-American lowbrow classic: the hamburger, Shake Shack has become quite the gastronomic destination. Located within a city park (Madison Square Park, right off 23rd St. & Madison Ave.), the Shack is a great place to sneak a break from the rigors of the urban jungle and indulge in the pleasures of the flesh.

Typical to the menu at Shake Shack is, of course, a very juicy, semi high-style hamburger, fries, hot dogs, shakes, dessert custards and a pretty amazing mushroom burger for those vegetarians among us. But of course like many things in NYC, all this goodness comes with a price...as you can kind of see from the picture above, there is the not so little matter of a line. In order to secure your cow-crafted goodies you must wait... and wait... and wait some more. However, for a town and its inhabitants both known for their breakneck pace, there's a surprising amount of zen-like patience permeating the mood of the Shake Shack line. It's odd. Like folks queuing at the gates of heaven to have a chat with St. Peter in a ketchup stained robe. I suppose even New Yorkers don't mind waiting if they know in the end they'll eventually get their just deserts (or desserts). Wouldn't it be great if some of that mantra muttering calm could be exported to the unnerving line at the Post Office just a few blocks east of the Shack? Maybe Uncle Sam should start serving a side-order of fries with every parcel sent.

Visit the Shake Shack for some gooey, heavenly love; allow 30 to 40 minutes for delivery.

PS - Before you go, check the "Shack Cam" on Shake Shack's site to get a real-time view of the "shack-mosphere" aka - the line (or lack thereof).

Rock Show

Every so often there comes a time in a man's life when he must put aside foolish pursuits and turn his mind toward more important endeavors... Such as creating quality, live rock for all the good babies out there. Once again, I find myself at that crossroads...Shall I rock? Rock I shall (or at least I'll try, ya know my back's been killing me lately...). Please join me, won't you?


Mark Bacino
Thurs. Oct 15, 2009 - 7pm
The Living Room, NYC
154 Ludlow St.
New York, NY 10002
(212) 533-7235
*No Cover*

The Band -

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

with...

The "Who Are Yous" Horns -
Rob Jost
Jesse Neuman

A Tree Grew in Brooklyn

Well, Queens actually... and just beyond my backyard to be exact.

(Warning: navel-gazing post ahead)

When people die we morn their loss. Roman Catholics organize wakes and funeral masses to mark a passing; the Jews sit Shiva to similarly pay their respects. Even when an animal or a pet passes on folks sometimes pay tribute in various ways but when something like a tree - arguably just as much a miraculous, living entity - meets its demise no one really takes much notice, do they?

One morning bright and early this week my wife and I were woken by the dulcet tones of buzzing chainsaws. Lifting the blinds and shaking off my sleepy fog, I realized that my neighbors across the way (whom I don't know) had hired a very adept team of tree killers who were unceremoniously chopping down the beautiful, healthy tree that sat at the edge of my neighbors' property. The Mrs. and I were shocked and saddened as we watched this example of nature's exquisite and patiently crafted handiwork decapitated and extinguished within a matter of minutes. Although this technically wasn't "our" tree we had both grown accustom to its stately presence; it masked a majority of our concrete surroundings, bloomed with the most amazingly vibrant white-pink flowers in the spring (a cherry blossom tree?) and could be seen from our bedroom and kitchen windows in a flurry of said white-pink, green or red depending upon the season.

A few hours after the execution I couldn't help but assess the damage up close, paying my respects to what little remained of this silently beautiful old giant. As I stepped into the alleyway behind my yard, I was surprisingly met with my lurking neighbor's unprompted, almost guilty explanation - "We had no choice, it was pushing on the fence". I said nothing and walked back inside after taking a quick look at the dilapidated, ancient and weathered-beyond-repair fence in question. A decrepit, inanimate possession obviously invaluable to this pavement loving patron of urban decay.

As those personally acquainted with me know, I'm not much of a nature lover; pretty much a city boy born and bred and maybe I'm becoming lamely sentimental in my old age (having a kid will do that to you) but today as I stare out my window at a paint-peeled, worn fence starkly illuminated by the late-afternoon sun, I can't help but notice the void and morn the loss of our pink and white homeB.

Godspeed the tree.