Clubs
Radio Stations
Record Stores
Beer
Gear
Books
Politics
Clubs
As far as Mark's concerned, good food, good beer, and good music equal
a good night out. As such you can't go wrong playing or seeing a show
at Abbey Pub,
Nevin's Live,
Schubas,
Fitzgeralds,
Martyr's
and Beat Kitchen. Mark's
played some great shows at all these venues.
Another of Mark's favorite places to play is
Cal's Liqours
in the south Loop. It's about as close as Chicago gets to one of those tiny hole-in-the-wall
clubs in New York where band and the crowd are so close they're practically smoking each
other's cigarettes. If your taste runs more torward the roadhouse side
of things, head straight for the Hideout.
Radio Stations
In addition to being a champion of community radio and independent
music, WLUW-88.7FM
has been a huge champion of Mark and the band. Check out Tom Jackson's show,
Somebody Else's Troubles between ten and two on Saturdays.
Richard Milne, host of WXRT's
"Local Anesthetic" show, has also played Mark's tunes, as has Fred Friction on
KDHX in St. Louis, Lorraine Carron on
WMUK in Kalamazoo.
Overseas, Mark's music has gotten tons of play on Gerd Stassen's
"Hillbilly Rockhouse" show in Germany, as well as Jos van den Boom's
"Crossroads" and Theo Oldenburg's "Alt.country Cooking" in the
Netherlands.
Record Stores
If you're anywhere near Chicago and like poring over the stacks, you
have to visit Val's Halla
in Oak Park. Online, your best sources for cool-ass pop, rock, and americana are
Miles of Music
and Village Records.
Gear
Mark plays a bashed up '69 Fender Statocaster through
a Dr. Z Maz 18. Steve plays a pristine
Gretsch Duo
Jet through a custom-made Fargen Epic.
Though other pedals make their way in and out of
their respective signal chains, both Mark and Steve rely heavily on
their ZVex Super Dupers for extra drive and dirt. If you
hear an acoustic guitar on something, it's either Mark's
Martin
HD-28V or Steve's Gibson J-100Xtra.
Beer
Mark's beers of choice are
Three Floyd's Alpha King or
Guiness Stout.
Steve is partial to
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and
Pilsner Urquel.
But for both of them, their "crack-a-keg-at-my-funeral-because-I'll-be-drinking-it-in-heaven" beer
is Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale.
You can buy any of these fine beverages at
Archer Liquors.
Books
(So much to say, so little time to write. Let me get back to you on
this.)
News and Politics
If you're not already a regular reader, you need to visit
Slate.
Read Dahlia Lithwick's Supreme Court commentary, the
political analysis of Chris Suellentrop and William Saletan, even
Christopher Hitchen's reactionary ravings are worth the read. For the
best in independent, investigative world news, check out
The Guardian.