Mark Growden

I want to devote this blog post to the wonderful people that surround me and support me,… my team.

Photo by Eric Gillet

Here they are:

The Label:
Porto Franco Records
Peter Varshavsky – owner
Sergei Varshavsky – owner

The Ensemble:
Seth Ford-Young – upright bass
Myles Boisen – guitar
Chris Grady – trumpet, cornet
Alex Kelly – cello
Jenya Chernoff – percussion

The Visual Art Team:
Mona Caron – “Saint Judas” artwork
Jenya Chernoff – print design
Isabella Demeulenaere – set designer for CD release concert, merch presentation, and wardrobe

The Administrative Team:
Will Chase – producer of CD release concert
Adelaide Donnelley – advisory board & manifestation specialist
Helena Price – public relations/media outreach/personal branding/photography
Ty McKenzie – bad ass, super woman, go-to girl
Kari Park – Advisory Board, bookkeeping
Pat Brody – Advisory Board
Judith Zissman – Advisory Board
Karin Demarest – vision facilitation
Violet Blue of Swordfish Media – online media engagement consultant
Ben Metcalfe of Swordfish Media – online media engagement consultant

I’m blessed to work with such great people.

We have been working our asses off to bring you my newest album and CD release concert that is going to be very special indeed.

When we arrived in Olympia, WA our friend Julia took us to the Artesian Well.  What a surprise to find a well in the middle of a parking lot.

At least 4 different groups of locals came to fill water containers while we were there.

Our drummer Andrew Collberg enjoyed the water too.

Here are some photos of the wall beside the well:

The highlight of Seattle was visiting Billy Davis, my dear friend of 21 years.  Billy is the artist who did the drawings for the packaging of my albums Downstairs Karaoke and Inside Beneath Behind.

Here’s Billy standing in front of an installation he hung in the artist’s lofts where he lives on the border of the Central District and the International District in Seattle.

On Sunday morning we walked through the International District to Qwest Stadium to attempt to sneak into the Seattle Seahawks Football Game.  We failed, but we had lots of fun in the process.

International District, Seattle, WA.

Qwest Stadium

On the way back to his place we ate Vietnamese pancakes.

Yum.

Portland is lovely in the Autumn.

I got to spend time with my friends Genia, Tia and Miriam.  Miriam is an incredibly articulate 19 month old.

We played at McMinniman’s Mission Theater.  A beautiful old Swedish American Hall.

The Mission Theater from the Stage

The show was fun.  I got to connect with several fans that I recognized but hadn’t met before.  They all mentioned my CD release concert at Mississippi Studios in Portland on Sunday, November 22 with 3 Legged Torso.  I’m hoping it’s packed.

The next morning Genia and Tia took me to check out a performance space where I may do a residency in the spring.

Michael Roderick from Mood Area 52 and I.

Michael Roderick from Mood Area 52 was our host in Eugene.  We played at a local pub.  It was a fine show.  I’ll admit that pubs are not may favorite venues.  I prefer theaters, concert halls or tunnels.  Hopefully I’ll find the right room in Eugene.  I’m going to look into  The Shedd Institute.

Just like my last visit to Eugene, my favorite part was riding a bike along the Willamette River.

It was strange to be “visiting” my home city of San Francisco while on tour.  But I suppose I’d better get used to it.  It looks like I’ll be gone most of the next year and only home for short visits.

This short visit was enjoyable.

We pulled into town and went to my studio to pick up my iPod (which I had forgotten when I flew out to Tucson) and some men’s t-shirts.

Here’s a photo of my father wearing one of the t-shirts – taken in August.

Marty Growden - Saint Judas T-Shirt

After my studio, we went to my house wear I live with the De Meulenaere family.  We relaxed around the house and had a lovely dinner.

That night I was backing Marianne Dissard at the Hemlock Tavern.  Lots of friends came out to say hello which was sweet.

But the big new is: I signed a record contract with Porto Franco Records!

Peter Varshovsky and I after the signing of the contracts. - Photo by Helena Price

This is very exciting for me.  I’ve never had the support of a label that I didn’t own behind me.  I’ll be writing about this more later I’m sure.

I celebrated Helena Price, Will Chase, Shalaco, Whitney Riter, Alain De Meulenaere and Isabella De Meulenaere until I could barely stand from exhaustion.

We left Topanga yesterday morning.  It was nice to have some time with my buddy Vordo.  He’s the DJ for my upcoming CD Release Party/Concert at the Cowell Theater on Friday, November 13th.  He’s also remixing my new album “Saint Judas”.

The drive north was blustery and rainy.

We arrived in San Luis Obispo just in time to play our in-store at Boo Boo Records.  It was special for me to play at this record store.

See,… I was born in San Luis Obispo.  My folks moved north when I was one year old, but my grandparents had a little cabin in Morro Bay (just north of SLO) where the family would often gather for holidays.  As a teenager growing up in the mountains far away from any record store, I’d save up my money so that on vacation, I would go to Boo Boo Records to purchase cassette tapes and records.  I remember buying cassettes of Bauhaus, The Cure and The Cocteau Twins there.

After the in-store we went to the venue for the evenings concert, The Steynberg Gallery.

The show was magic.  It was a sit-down listening room.  The kind of venue I’m accustomed to playing.  The rest of this tour has been in bars.  I’ve made due, but I prefer a theater setting.

The audience was enthusiastic and receptive and as soon as I finished my set, the owner approached me about coming back.  I’m happy to say that I’ll be returning to the Steynberg Gallery on Friday, December 4th.

Now we’re off to San Francisco.  I won’t be playing a set on tonight’s bill.  I’ll be backing Marianne Dissard.

It’s kind of strange passing through my home on tour.

I had a wonderful time in Joshua Tree, but I admit that I was looking forward to getting to LA to wash the dust off and shine my shoes, which I did promptly after I awoke on Monday morning.  I stayed with friends in Venice so I caught a bus down to the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica where there is a shoe shine booth.  Apparently  the fellow shining my shoes is about to be in a film with Duke Ellington,… no small feat.  I was impressed.

(Duke Ellington died in 1974).

While in LA I got a treatment from The Musician’s Physician – Dr. Sarah Murphy.  She gave me acupuncture and advised me on supplements that would be good for me on the road.  Thank you Dr. Murphy.

As much as I enjoy being on the road, it is taxing on my body.  I don’t get near enough sleep or exercise.

That evening I accompanied Marianne Dissard for her set at the Hotel Cafe.

After that we drove downtown to the Redwood Bar where I was to perform a set before Delaney Davidson from New Zealand and Eric McFadden.

When I walked into the bar a fellow named Craig Rose immediately introduced himself to me.  Turns out he and his wife have been following my music for years.  They were excited to see me.  They called all their friends and filled the venue up.  The show ended up being a total blast.

The bookers were there and they want me to come back to do a residency there.  It’s exactly what I’m looking for as I’ve decided that I’m spending most of December, January, and February in Southern California.  I’ll be living with my buddy Vordo in Topanga Canyon.

Vordo and I late night at the Redwood.

After my set, Delaney Davidson played a set.  Please check him out.  He’s brilliant.

Toward the end of his set he called Eric McFadden and I up.  We did some Howlin’ Wolf and some of Delaney’s originals.  The three of us fit well together.  We’re hoping to make an album as a trio.

Eric McFadden, Marianne Dissard, Delaney Davidson and myself.

We stayed the night at my friend Vordo’s house.  It was nice to see the house I’ll be living in this winter.  It is lovely.  I’m looking forward to building my network in L.A.

After the show in San Diego we stayed the night at our friend Rick’s in La Jolla.

Rick had about a dozen different surfboards nestled into the rafters of his living room.

After breakfast we drove to Joshua Tree for the Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival.

Here are some photos from the drive:

When we arrived at the music festival, my first thought was, “The only shoes I have are my dress shoes.”  The festival is held in a dusty desert campground, which isn’t a problem, but cowboy boots would have been more appropriate and practical.

The second thought was, “This is M.A.S.H. on L.S.D.”

We arrived just in time to set up on stage and play our set with Marianne Dissard.  The set was fun, but incredibly hot and dry.  Usually when I play bari sax, I need to empty the spit valve after each song.  But in the dry heat, I didn’t need to empty in once the whole show.

Here’s the view from the stage:

Here’s a view from the crowd (I was able to step off the stage at one point to take a few photos).

After our set, the stage manager excitedly told me that they were having a party that night and that Eric McFadden was going to play.  I was thrilled.  Eric and I are good friends and if he and I are ever in the same town we sit-in with each other.  We’re also planning on making an album as a duo.

Eric and I spent the evening relaxing and planning.  We’re considering doing a tour of the southern US this winter.  It was good to catch up with him.  He was the only person I really knew at the festival.

His band and I played for the staff and the other artists late into the night.

Wally Ingram

Paula O'Rourke

Eric McFadden

I also had the pleasure to meet and hear Delaney Davidson.  I brilliant fellow from New Zealand who plays americana.

After we finally finished playing – which was about 3 hours later – the crowd asked me to do a solo set for the folks gathered around the burn barrel.

This proved to be challenging at first because there was a guy who was plastered and hell-bent on singing cheesy pop lyrics along to my songs.  But eventually he passed out in the dirt at my feet and I was able to sing in peace.

Here are a few more shots I’m fond of: