NEAF '13 Feature Artist: Mark Kilianski

And today's feature artist is a gent I hold very dear to my heart. My good pal and occasional musical collaborator, Mark Kilianski. Mark firmly plants his feet in the roots/folk/bluegrass realm but is as versatile a musician as they come. He really is one of these people who is in this business because he loves music and that feeling is so genuine with him its hard to not just be swallowed up by his music and personality. Mark answered our questions laying down on his couch while I recorded them on my iPhone (I guess I was kind of like a musical shrink?)...I transcribed that conversation to the best of my abilities. Here you go:

1) First and foremost, who are you, what do you do? That is, what band are you in or are you

a solo artist, what have you guys been up to leading up to the festival, anything exciting we

should all know about? Your chance for shameless self promotion…go!

(photo by Olivia Christina Photography)

 

MK: I am Mark Kilianski and I grew up in New Jersey where I played a lot of rock and jazz music. Living close to New York City, it was a good place to learn about jazz and I picked up the guitar when I was 13 and started off playing rock, got into jazz, and then when I got to Berklee I found the roots music scene with all the bluegrass, and oldtime and celtic players and stuff. I had a taste of that before but never really got super into it and so once I was surrounded with players of it I just fell in love with it. Now that’s the basis of my sound as an artist. I am a songwriter and I now consider myself a “singer” – after many years of trying and failing (laughs). So I write songs in that vein, learn traditional songs and play songs in the traditional bluegrass and folk idioms. I just want to spread good music and good messages throughout the world

2) Name a record that shaped you as a musician early on. What music initially made you want to sing, or pick up an instrument and make music?

MK: What made me want to play guitar was actually stuff I don’t like at all now. I was really into Korn and Limp Bizkit and Godsmack…all that stuff because I was 13 and I was really angry. I guess I really identified with that music and it kind of spoke to me. So I wanted to play guitar because I wanted to express that and express myself and share the good feeling playing gave me with other people. From there my tastes changed, obviously and my guitar teacher got me into good music. You know, classic rock like Zeppelin, Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath “Paranoid”  was the first album that I like played, I put on the album and I just played along to the whole thing. Through the whole album and so that was my introduction to what I was primarily in to for the beginning of my musical life. The blues rock, classic rock, heavy metal kind of thing.

3) What are you listening to now that you think folks should be aware of? Anything local that just

stands out and people should know about?

Let’s see, local stuff….there’s this guy that I played a few gigs with and I recorded a guitar track on his album and his name is Eric Law. He is a cello player and he plays some bass too and he is just a great songwriter. He is kind of in the same vein as me, as he takes great inspiration from old time music and traditional music. You know, American roots music and he just writes the saddest, most lonesome songs…and he is a killer cello player too! I would say he is probably the one person that people should check out.

4) Music festivals, in general, are fairly well known for surprise sit ins, improvisational jams

and collaborations. If you could see any two of this year’s acts collaborate on stage at this year’s

NEA Festival, who would you like to see?

                    

(photo by Olivia Christina Photography)

MK: Hmmm, I am going to have to think about that. Well we have got all the regulars like Brian Carroll, John Colvert, Patrick Coman, The Whiskey Boys, Chasing Blue, Eva Walsh, Mark Whitaker. Ummm Dietrich Strause, who I haven’t really heard. I have heard about him a lot and I know him from around town but haven’t heard much of his music. It would be kind of cool to hear Eva Walsh and John Colvert because their singing styles are so different, if they sang a duet it would be like in Beauty and the Beast (laughs and re-thinks the phrasing of that). And that’s not a bad thing, I think that would be really cool. Just a really cool collaboration.

5) New England Americana and the Fest firmly plant their roots and morals in “community”.

The event is a culmination of a community of musicians and artists that is going on all year.

What does that community mean to you?

MK: For one it’s a chance to foster creativity by sharing our music with each other. With people who we know as friends and have a lot of love for one another and we respect each other through enjoying each others music. When all these people you respect like your music and the feeling is mutual, its just really good for everybody. Also, business wise and promotion wise it’s a really good thing too. We are all helping each other and promoting each other. None of us alone could really do this much, the festival is a combination of everybody and by that happening…it’s the New England Americana Festival. It started out as a not very big thing that sounded pretty big, and now it’s grown into an actual really big thing. And that is good for all of us.

 (photo by Lucas Pool)

6) Why is creating music important to you? Why do you pick up your instrument and write

songs? Why do you play that dive bar on a Thursday night? What keeps you going?

 

It’s the best way I have to express myself. Its really the best way that I have to connect with other people. When I started playing, I was 13, you know, you are super awkward and in puberty. I went to middle school and I realized that all of my friends were assholes. I was probably an asshole too, because everyone is an asshole in middle school. But music helped me make goood friends and the relationships that you create through music are great. Like the people that I see around town at shows and collaborate with. They are people that you may not see every day of your life. You could go weeks or months without seeing them, but when you see them again and you just hug each other. It’s just great, it’s a beautiful thing.

Mark's website is
http://markkilianski.com/

He is playing two sets at the festival (and I am sure he may pop up in a few other performances as well!). On Friday night he is with his bluegrass outfit Mark Kilianski and the Moonshine Ramblers at 10:10 PM on the Tasty Burger Bar stage and then he will be playing with Brian Carroll as a guitar/mandolin duo yet to be named at Club Passim at 8 PM on Saturday.

NEAF '13 Feature Artist: Waiting for Neil

The kind folks in the 5 piece Waiting for Neil filled us in on whats up with them, playing the NEAF this year and why they make music...check it on out!

1) First and foremost, who are you, what do you do? That is, what band are you in or are you

a solo artist, what have you guys been up to leading up to the festival, anything exciting we

should all know about? Your chance for shameless self promotion…go!

The band Waiting for Neil was formed just over a year ago, by five members of a large family folk singing group (http://www.newtonfamilysingers.org/) who yearned to start playing more adult-themed songs - those timeless murder ballads, stories of jilted lovers, shipwrecks, infidelity and pursuit of eternal glory that comprise the core of traditional American roots music.   So we took our banjos, fiddles, mandolins, guitars, ukuleles, hands, feet, etc. and added 3 and 4 part harmonies to some of our favorite traditional tunes.  Got to admit that we are no preservationists, though, as we often kick-up the tempos and play with the rhythms.  In addition, we perform original songs and tunes that, while staying generally true to the genre, allow us to sing about current themes and events that move our spirits.

Over the past 8 months we've played out frequently in bars, restaurants and outdoor festivals, and we're particularly excited to be joining the crowd performing at NEAF this month.

2) Why is creating music important to you? Why do you pick up your instrument and write

songs? Why do you play that dive bar on a Thursday night? What keeps you going?
 

Younger musicians often wonder whether there can really be life after music.  Well, the members of Waiting for Neil have found music after life.  With a total of 8 kids at home and heavy-duty day jobs past and present, Andy, Monique, Greg, Stephanie and (. . . wait for it . . . ) Neil are have come together to discover and share the depth and excitement that comes from making music that bursts with life.

The band is online at http://www.waitingforneil.com/p/band.html and playing the festival on Saturday at 4:10 on the Brattle stage!

NEAF '13 Feature Artist: Black Marmot

Folk Rock may be a term not quite as overused as Americana, but I am going to go ahead and use it…Black Marmot plays folk rock, and do so incredibly well. Blending the best parts of story-telling folk music, with the catchiness that makes indie rock music so popular makes for a great combination. Great vocal harmonies, mixing acoustic instruments with guitar effects and drum beats give the band’s sound its signature likeable and friendly tone.

Linde Clark took some time to provide thoughtful and great answers for our questions. I cannot express enough how much I appreciate it when someone takes the time and really shows where they are coming from...so from this blogger and music lover to a band...THANK YOU!

Check it:

1) First and foremost, who are you, what do you do? That is, what band are you in or are you

a solo artist, what have you guys been up to leading up to the festival, anything exciting we

should all know about? Your chance for shameless self promotion…go!

LC: We are Black Marmot:

Linde Clark (me) - songwriter, lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele.

Tim Parker - electric guitar, vocals

Mike Zartarian - bass guitar, vocals

Ryan Callahan - percussion

We have recorded two albums, “Run Home” and “The Everyday Seeker.” We regularly play

around New England from Connecticut to New Hampshire, locally in Cambridge and

Somerville, and sometimes in people’s living rooms! We call ourselves alternative folk

rock, but you can call it whatever you want. This summer has been busy and a lot of fun;

some of the highlights include opening for the great Austin band The Oh Hellos, sharing a

bill with Luddy Mussy at the Lizard Lounge, and playing a great outdoor show at the

Fruitlands Museum. In the fall, we are planning on getting back into the studio for our 3rd

album.

2) New England Americana and the Fest firmly plant their roots and morals in “community”.

The event is a culmination of a community of musicians and artists that is going on all year.

What does that community mean to you?

LC: Growing up I have always been into local, live music (that probably comes from the fact that I

have a musical family and music has always been a part of my life.) There is nothing like finding

a great band and being able to experience a live show. It is great that you can now get your

music out there without having to be a part of a major label and you can easily make it

accessible to everyone. For whatever reasons, some communities just embrace this

americana/roots music, help it grow, support the bands, and really help promote the overall

scene. There are so many great communities in New England that do this: Boston, New London,

Portland, Providence; and we’ve had an opportunity to play in many of them.

When you are surrounded by other musicians that are writing great songs and by people that

truly enjoy hearing a new song and seeing it performed, you can’t help to be inspired to keep

doing it. It’s hard to say exactly what “roots” music is, but that is how I envision it. It’s a musical

scene that supports itself from the bottom up, that is comprised of people that are passionate

about music and by musicians that are passionate about writing a great song to share. My

songs are directly influenced by the music that I am listening to at the time, the people I am with,

and the experiences that I have. I have become a friend and fan of many New England

musicians and have met many local music lovers and in that way the roots music scene

naturally finds its way into my songs.

3) Name a record that shaped you as a musician early on. What music initially made you

want to sing, or pick up an instrument and make music?

LC: My dad always played Jethro Tull and Neil Young on guitar for me, I think that is what initially

made me want to play music, to be like him (and them). In high school I listened to a lot of Pink

Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Buckley, and Alice in Chains. I always liked writing and poetry so

adding guitar seemed like a natural choice for me. That being said, our band has so many

different musical influences. No one member has the same taste, but they all seem to overlap

somewhat which allows us to do our own thing and kind of meld all of those sounds.

4) What are you listening to now that you think folks should be aware of?

LC: Right now I am listing to a lot of Middle Brother, Midlake, Father John Misty and old Pink Floyd. I

know Ryan is very into Dub Apocalypse and John Brown’s Body. Mike is a huge Wilco fan and

Tim… who knows what Tim is listening to.

5) Music festivals, in general, are fairly well known for surprise sit ins, improvisational jams

and collaborations. If you could see any two of this year’s acts collaborate on stage at this year’s

NEA Festival, who would you like to see?

LC: I would love to see Dietrich Strause rock some honky tonk rock and roll with Girls, Guns, and

Glory.

6) Why is creating music important to you? Why do you pick up your instrument and write

songs? Why do you play that dive bar on a Thursday night? What keeps you going?

LC: We are all friends in Black Marmot, we have fun together on stage and off, and we all love

playing. It is easy to keep playing as a band when you get along so well and have fun doing it.

As for writing songs, I have always been into music and writing. Before Black Marmot, I wrote

songs for my friends and myself without ever playing them out. I couldn’t imagine not creating

music now because it just seems like a natural outlet for me.

Black Marmot will be kicking it at Tommy Doyle's at 7 PM on Saturday night. Get there early for these guys!

blackmarmotband.com

NEAF '13 Feature Artist: Liz Frame and the Kickers

I admittedly didn't know much about Liz Frame and the Kickers before seeing them on this year's NEA bill...

But after the first listen…you folks have got my attention and I am listening. Raw energy and rootsy goodness here folks. Check out what they had to say in our next RLR NEAF 13 feature.

1. First and foremost, who are you, what do you do? That is, what band are you in or are you a solo artist, what have you guys been up to leading up to the festival, anything exciting we should all know about? Your chance for shameless self promotion…go!

LF: We are Liz Frame and the Kickers, and all-original Americana outfit based out of the north shore. We have just returned from a 3 week, six state, 10 venue mid-Atlantic tour and will be opening for Dawes later this month at the Kent State 'Round Town Music Fest! We've played some great rooms, like The Purple Fiddle, in Thomas, WV and the 5 Spot, in Nashville,TN. We have a headlining show coming up in December at Tupelo Music Hall, which will be our second time there. We are busy!

2. New England Americana and the Fest firmly plant their roots and morals in “community”. The event is a culmination of a community of musicians and artists that is going on all year. What does that community mean to you?

LF: Musical community means supporting each other by going to live shows, buying local music and offering up one's services for non-profit organizations. The kickers play an awful lot of benefit shows because we believe in giving back to the community that supports us. And it's fun!

3. Name a record that shaped you as a musician early on. What music initially made you want to sing, or pick up an instrument and make music?

LF: When I was quite small I became enthralled with the big band sound. I still love it. I also fell in love with a recording of a live performance by the weavers, a group my parents listened to a lot. I still love their music.

4. What are you listening to now that you think folks should be aware of?

LF: These days I listen to groups like the black keys, the ben miller band, jim lauderdale. That last one is someone most people don't know about but should. He is fantastic!

5. Music  festivals, in general,  are fairly well known for surprise sit ins, improvisational jams and collaborations. If you could see any two of this year’s acts collaborate on stage at this year’s NEA Festival, who would you like to see?

LF: Frankly, I'd like to see the kickers do something with girls, guns and glory:)

6. Why is creating music important to you? Why do you pick up your instrument and write songs? Why do you play that dive bar on a Thursday night? What keeps you going?

LF: I have no choice but to make music. If I don't, I go mad. It's really that simple. And I love, love, love playing live! This is what I was born to do.

Online at:http://www.lizframeandthekickers.com/
At the fest: 7:40 PM Friday night at the Tasty Burger bar!