Right now I'm playing at a few little places in NYC. Some of my favorites are The Sidewalk Cafe, Earth Matters, Mickey's Blue Room, The Infrared Lounge...

Special moment... when the ceiling at the Infrared Lounge collapsed from an over flowing bathtub in the apartment above.
-OR-
When the PA speakers literally caught fire at a show in Ellensburg, WA.

Initially, the implementation of a global music exchange platform will be embraced as an ultimate means for the independent artist to gain exposure, breaking the control over distribution that corporate media has held predominantly since music and the performing arts were industrialized. A renaissance of the independent artist will surge and become the new standard with assistance from the technology of the internet.

But not without struggle. Corporate media will make many efforts to suppress the efforts of the independent artist. Smaller labels will be bought out and controlled by the parent companies, new laws will be introduced to govern control of music traffic on the internet. Fines will be issued; even jail time will be sentenced for "extreme offenders." But the artist will fight back. The Great Independent Music Rebellion will come to a head as part of The Revolution. There will be conflict. Sacrifices will be made, lives will be lost. But in the end, the independent artist will prevail, and there will be a new beginning. Music will be shared freely throughout the world for the years to follow.

However, the unabated exchange of music between all nations and creeds will have an internalizing effect. Lines of cultural distinction will dissipate. Eventually, over the course of hundreds of years of gradual stylistic permutations, all music will congeal into one universal song. This is what the song will sound like:

"BLONG."

Inhabitants of neighboring planets will remark:

"Geez... these guys suck!"

Yes, but under the condition that I retain the final decision making regarding the music. Particularly how the music is arranged, mixed, and which songs make the final cut for CD release. Choice of producer is also key. A producer's additional input is an important beacon to have as a constructive source of feedback, so this relationship would rely on good chemistry & like vision. And as any artist with creative instinct would need, there will be a list of demands... absolutes that will make my creative environment the most harmonious and productive.
The list includes, but is not limited to:

1. At least one (1) bag of "Mother's" brand frosted animal cookies placed in all facilities inhabited by myself (heretofore known as "The Artist") for entertainment or performance purposes. (Recording studios, dressing rooms, staging areas, et al)
2. A well-read lackey to explain the meanings of witty flippant remarks overheard at parties to The Artist, as well as laugh aloud at the seemingly random remarks The Artist may feel compelled to contribute at said parties.
3. Upon entering any room, The Artist shall be greeted by all inhabitants thereof with the phrase:
"Good morning, Mr. Baxter!"
to which The Artist will reply:
"Good morning, girls!"
Upon leaving the room, The Artist will say:
"Good evening, girls."
to which all inhabitants of the room will reply:
"Goodnight, Mr. Baxter!"
4. A private, solid-chrome touring bus for The Artist and his two trained Cockatiels, boa constrictor, and pet monkey.
5. The complete Tom & Jerry cartoon collection. (DVD only!)
6. The complete absence of that awful duet by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. All efforts must be made to GUARANTEE that this historical debacle never transcends the hearing range of The Artist. Sheryl... Oh, Sheryl... what were you thinking?

1987 "Slutboy-3" - Project in college, my first original music collaboration.

1989 "Deliverance" - Cheesy metal band in Portland. A "let's get stoned and get laid" band if there ever was one.

1993 "Lead Pipe Cinch" - Progressive metal band in Seattle, WA.

1995 "The Free Range Chickens" - Theatrical music group in Seattle doing rockabilly/surf/country-blues riffs over satirical vocalizing ala Frank Zappa, Fred Lane.

1997 "The Evaders" - Garage/Punk rock band in Seattle fronted by vocalist Elise Sauer. Drummer Wishbone also played for "Stink," and guitarist Ian now plays bass in "Quick 66."

1998 "The Bare Sharons" - My first band as a frontman/primary songwriter in Seattle. Too many incarnations to ever really get off the ground.

Today I continue to write and perform as a solo artist. I occasional sit in with other projects and am looking for others to play out with on my material as well.

Where it all began

When me and 3 of my school buddies were about 11-12, we started making a routine of getting together and cranking up our acoustic guitars through the stereo mics, overloading the preamp so the guitars would distort. We were four little Chuck Berry wannabes. We all messed around on the piano as well; somewhere along the way we came across a drum kit, and eventually we got the bright idea to play separate instruments so we could be an actual band.

I actually wanted to be a drummer, but there's no way my mom could afford a drum kit. Besides the expense, I think my mom realized just how f***ing loud drums would be, especially in an apartment, so that option was quickly vanquished the same day we went to the music store. But there was a used bass & amp for sale at that same store, so I asked if I could get a bass instead. It seemed like a harmless substitute at the time, and it stuck. I'm glad I ended up on bass. It became by far my favorite instrument to play. The four of us played our first show as a guitar/bass/piano/drum consortium for our classmates in the sixth grade.

WAY too many over the years to mention them all.

HA! Like I'm going to tell YOU! My favorite spot is a quiet, serene place that I hope will stay that way for many years to come. In the unlikely event that I blow up huge like Kurt Cobain, the last thing I'd want is the place being overrun, polluted, and exploited and have some asshole put up a statue of me there. Actually, what am I worried about? My favorite spot on earth is The White House, our great nation's capital. (located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC)

I play Rickenbacker 4001 basses through an SWR head and a Hiwatt 4x12 cab.

Have a fun summer! And check out my site, buy my stuff, come see my shows. And, what the hell... go ahead and put up a statue of me at my favorite spot on earth.

Mark Walker
markwalker4001@yahoo.com
http://www.thewalkersite.com/