| Day | \Date | \Time | \Venue | \LineUp | \
| "+eval('gig'+i+'day')+" | \"+eval('gig'+i+'date')+" | \"+eval('gig'+i+'time')+" | \"+eval('gig'+i+'venue')+" | \"+eval('gig'+i+'lineup')+" | \
Mark’s musical apprenticeship started in high school where he did lunchtime gigs with \ the other music students as part of their assessment.
\“Those high school gigs were the best experience I could have ever had.”
\He then joined his first band, Eclipse, founded by two brothers from school, Adam and Darren \ Roach where Mark played rhythm guitar and sang back up and some lead vocal.
\From there he joined a Hawkwind tribute, in which he played bass and sang. Then it was a \ 70’s tribute, Blockbuster, again with the Roach Bros.
\After that he and Adam Roach formed a duo, where they went on to perform on New Faces and \ Pot Of Gold, winning an encouragement award and then first prize for playing their originals.
\His next venture was Prior Conviction, a Rock and Blues cover band, which eventually became \
The Adrenaline Junkies. It was during this time that Mark first encountered Mr. Bluez.
\
“I went out with Steve (the drummer for Adrenaline Junkies) to see his friend Chris’ \
band, Mr. Bluez. I was so impressed, I said to him that if I was going to put together a blues \
band, it would be Mr. Bluez. I just had to get rid of the singer!!!”
As luck would have it, they were soon in need of a singer, but it wasn’t to be.
\“I called up to audition from an ad in the paper, but they had already found a singer. \
I was too late.”
\
But their paths would soon cross again.
\
“I got a call from my old buddy Adam Roach, who wanted us to enter a battle of the bands \
together and play some originals. He wanted to bring another guitarist in that he taught with \
because of his great blues feel- it was none other than Chris Natoli from Mr. Bluez!!!”
Needless to say, the two got on like a house on fire, and Chris soon asked Mark to fill in \ for Mr. Bluez until they found a permanent singer. Of course Mark jumped at the chance. When \ the time came to make room for a permanent singer, Mark wasn’t budging. “It’s \ a good thing that they didn’t find a replacement, because I was having way too much \ fun. I wasn’t going anywhere!!!”
\And the rest, as they say, is history………
\
\
Mark’s Favourite Artists and Influences
\
Stevie Ray Vaughan
\
Paul Rodgers
\
Gov’t Mule
\
Jimi Hendrix
\
Gary Moore
\
Robben Ford
\
Tower Of Power
\
Renee’ Geyer
\
Jonny Lang
\
Ian Moore
\
Jeff Healey
\
Kenny Wayne Sheppard
\
Susan Tedeschi
\
The Allman Brothers Band
\
Stevie Wonder
\
Donny Hathaway
\
Earth Wind and Fire
\
The Hoax
\
Chris Duarte
I started playing harmonica when I was around twelve years of age, but not really seriously. \ I’d try and play what my father played, which served me well in terms of playing chords \ and melody rhythmically together.
\Around this time, my parents wanted my brother and I to learn keyboard, but they couldn’t \ afford to buy a piano, so we ended up learning Piano Accordion for five years. We ended up \ doing accordion duets at a few Eisteddfods around Melbourne and country Victoria. At the time \ I kind of hated the accordion, but I’m glad I learnt it as the experience taught me \ how to discipline and apply myself to music, and read music to a reasonable level, especially \ treble clef.
\The first vinyl LP I bought was Fats Domino. I was, and still am, a sucker for New Orleans \ rhythm and blues. (These days, check out Anders Osborne, Tommy Malone, and the Subdudes!!) \ This Fats Domino album was followed closely by The Animals, and The Rolling Stones records. \ Hearing Brian Jones incredible playing really turned me on to blues harp (just listen to his \ playing on “Now I’ve got a Witness”). Little did I realise that his solo \ on “Honest I Do” was Jimmy Reed note for note. I hadn’t even heard the black \ dudes they were covering. I didn’t know about 1st position, or the difference between \ that and “cross harp”, otherwise known as 2nd position, either.
\When I was about fourteen years old I heard Sonny Terry with Brownie McGhee, and thought \ “What the ??!!”. How in heck does he do that? I still marvel at his brilliant \ and tasteful accompanying rhythms and his “whoopin’ and hollerin’”. \
\About this time I bought a cheap acoustic guitar (from money earned by delivering the morning \ newspapers) and started to teach myself from a couple of “Sing Out” magazines \ and some chord books of American Folk and Blues songs. The guitar’s action was high, \ but after initially drawing blood, it helped me to form good calluses. I could now play a \ simple song and sing at the same time ………… I was playing folk music \ – Pete Seeger, Kingston Trio, Burl Ives, Bob Dylan, etc.
\In 1965 the cover of the “Paul Butterfield Blues Band” intrigued me – three \ white guys and two black – they sure looked tough, street-wise, and absolutely cool. \ When I put that record on, it simply blew me away!! Such powerful energy. Blues that rocks!! \ Folk music was no longer enough. Like Dylan, I had to go electric! I also now knew that I \ had to learn much more about harmonica playing.
\I got Tony Glover’s instructional book and album, the only harmonica instruction around \ at the time. Working through this fantastic book I began to search out albums from Sonny Boy \ Williamson 2 (Rice Miller) and Little Walter, as well as more Sonny Terry. I found out that \ to get a bluesy harp sound you usually play in a different key to the band!! This “missing \ piece” opened up incredible new and authentic blues sounds for me. In listening and \ playing along with their records, I began to learn a few licks here and there. However, it \ took me at least 6 to 8 months before I could bend notes. I read about soaking your harps \ to make the wood swell and make them more airtight. I did this with all ten harps I had. A \ few days later when I took them out of the plastic bag I kept them in, the wood had swelled \ up above the tops of the harps, and they were all mouldy!! I kept sucking in green mould and \ cutting my lips on the wood. I had to throw them ALL out. That was an expensive exercise!! \
\I agree with Tony Glover – Sonny Boy Williamson 2 “was the all-time, non-stop \ BOSS of blues harp”!! Not only his expressive playing, but also his heartfelt songs \ and the way he sings them.
\Paul Butterfield’s playing remains a steady favourite. He lived and breathed the blues. \ His tone and elegant choice of notes is still something I aspire towards. I keep going back \ to his first two Elektra records, and the two “Better Days” albums in the mid-seventies, \ and continue to be inspired by his playing, singing and the incredible grooves and togetherness \ of the bands he led. His playing on the double live album on the track “Driftin’ \ and Driftin’” has to be one of my all-time favourite harp solos. Everything you \ need is right there. …………..
\From the mid sixties onwards, other harp players I continue to listen to include (in no particular \ order): Bob Dylan (he really can play!!), John Mayall, Sonny Boy Williamson 1, George “Harmonica” \ Smith, “Big Walter” Horton, Junior Wells, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Reed, Rhythm Willie, \ Paul Oscher, Sugar Blue, Lonnie Glosson, Snooky Prior, John Sebastian, Charlie Musselwhite, \ Magic Dick, Rod Piazza, Charlie McCoy, Norton Buffalo, Paul deLay, Mike Stevens, Blind Mississippi \ Morris, Studebaker John, Tom Ball, Terry McMillan, William Clarke, Rick Estrin, Mark Hummel, \ Mark Ford, Ralph Shine, John Popper, Dennis Gruenling, Greg “Fingers” Taylor, \ King Biscuit Boy, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Jim Conway, Broderick Smith, Carlos Del Junco, \ Howard Levy, etc.
\I trust this gives some idea of where I’m coming from!!
\
1962 - 1964 “Point 4” - 4 Piece Cover Band formed at High School
\
\
pwt on vocals -
\
playing Rolling Stones and other current covers at school dances, etc.
\
1965 - 1966 “Tarriers” - Folk Trio
\
\
pwt played acoustic guitar and harmonica, vocals -
\
playing Dylan, Weavers, Pete Seeger, etc. in Melbourne coffee lounges and folk clubs.
\
1969 - 1975 “Bookends” - Cover Band (4 Piece)
pwt played Fender Jazzmaster guitar, harmonica and Hammond organ, vocals -
\
playing Eagles, Booker T, Ray Stevens, Chuck Berry, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.
regularly played at Collingwood Football Club,
\
and the legendary infamous “Smokey’s Sunday Sippers” at South Melbourne \
Football Club, as well as lots and lots of pubs and parties all over Melbourne and Victoria.
\
1976 - 1982 “Riff Band” - 5 Piece Funk’n’Covers Band
pwt played guitar, harmonica, and keyboard (Solina String Ensemble), vocals -
\
playing some original instrumentals, as well as funkified re-arrangements of well known and \
not-so-well-known songs including Joe Walsh, George Benson, Boz Scaggs, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, \
James Taylor, Carol King, Ned Doheny, Crusaders, Steely Dan, Average White Band, etc.
regularly played at The Weathercock, The Grainstore, and The Roxy,
\
appeared on “Hey Hey, it’s Saturday” two or three times (“I can’t \
remember exactly!”), performing 5 or 6 songs live (which was rare, as most acts mimed). \
Daryl Somers used to regularly sit in on drums with the band on Saturday afternoons at the \
Weathercock , where many of the “Hey Hey” crew would unwind after doing their \
show in the morning.
\
The band was known for Ross Inglis’ instrumental and harmony arrangements and it’s \
two (and sometimes three) guitar harmony parts.
\
1982 - 1983 “The Flaps” - Acoustic Duo
pwt played Maton acoustic guitar and harmonica, vocals
\
playing America, Eagles, etc.
\
1984 - 1985 Martin, Barton & Fargo - Trio with midi backing
pwt played acoustic guitar, harmonica, Roland Guitar Synthesizer,
\
DX7 Synthesizer, vocals -
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formed with the two guitarists from Riff Band, Ross Inglis & Garry Whelan.
\
Played mainly The Grainstore - Ross Inglis incredible arrangements triumphed once again!!
\
1986 - 1991 Wheels & Croft” -Two Man Band, with midi backing
pwt played guitar and harmonica, vocals -
\
playing rock’n’roll, and other stuff from people like those above.
\
Played regularly at The Roxy and heaps of pubs all over Melbourne and Victoria.
\
1997 - 2002 “Bluescasters” - 7 piece Blues band
pwt playing harmonica, vocals -
\
mainly playing St Andrews, and Sturt St. Blues Club in Ballarat
\
1999 - 2001 Bourne, Thorn & Friends, aka “the housewreckers” - 4 Piece Blues \
band
pwt playing harmonica (& occasional organ, & acoustic & electric guitars), vocals \
-
\
mainly playing St. Andrews, & Rainbow Hotel Fitzroy, & Sturt St Blues.
\
2001 – now Mr Bluez – 6 Piece Blues Band
pwt playing harmonica, vocals.
"; var less_matt = "I was born in 1978 in Gippsland and took to playing my fathers piano \ at a young age. I received my first formal lessons at the age of 8 and..."; var more_matt = "I was born in 1978 in Gippsland and took to playing my fathers piano \ at a young age. I received my first formal lessons at the age of 8 and jazz and blues were my \ first influences. Particularly ballads like 'Stormy Weather' and 'Misty'.The guitar riffs from Chris Natoli are the stand out here, we have one talented musician \ on our hands and It really does justice to listen to this one a few times as the more you \ listen, the more licks and riffs you discover. As expected from any live situation there are \ a couple of small areas that are rough edged, but basically it is a solid and faithful reproduction \ of those days long gone by, when we used to hang out in dimly lit pubs and grog on to the \ sizzling sounds of our favorite artists. I'm going to go and grab a bottle of Jack Daniel's \ and party on..
\Available from the band at gigs, and also the following stores in Victoria: Music Jungle \ - 746 High St, Northcote and also JB HiFi - Murray Road, Preston. It doesn't hurt to have \ a few covers on the shelf, but the raw live CD's such as this do far more than the polished \ studio attempts to recreate the golden era.
\Oh and I forgot, wicked artwork on the front cover... makes you imagine they are a heavy \ metal band.
\REVIEW and Copyright by Mark 'radar' Watson (Mr Blues) November 2000
"; var radio1 = " - This interview was recorded on 102.7 3RRR in Melbourne on the \ \"Son of Crawdaddy\" Programme. It covers a bit of our history and we talk about our original\ songs and the newly released Mr Bluez Album \"Time for a Change\". Three of the Six band \ members (Chris, Mark and Peter) perform 3 acoustic songs live (\"Blue on Black\", \"Time for\ a Change\" and \"Monday Blues\"). The full interview goes for 27 minutes so please enjoy !"; // ----------------------------------------------------------------------