Press & Reviews

During his childhood in North Carolina he already listened to Johnny Cash, Mark Brown would never let go of that striking music with stories that illustrate the raw essence of American life. His first concert with Tom Waits in 1975 is another determining factor for his further musical development. The singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has now moved to New York, made music there with his band Uncle Buckle and musician friends.

On his third solo stage, those old friends provide instrumental backing, alongside guitarist Ken McGloin, Dean Jones adds atmospheric accents to the string playing of . These diverse musical styles are explored here, and it is not just the somewhat ragged, hoarse voice timbre that is reminiscent of Waits and Cash.

The title song comes close to the performance of 'The Man In Black' with an exuberant western passage running past at an extended trot. With Long Time we remain emphatically in the prairie atmosphere, warm pedal steel sounds blend in with the other string work.

Gasoline Hands refers to the rhythm of steel bands from the Caribbean. Acetone also combines elegant organ sounds with exotic rhythms. In passing, Brown talks about the similarities and differences about customs on both sides of The Mason Dixieline in Davenport and Deer Cut and Wrapped.

The fourteen tracks invariably have a loose, informal atmosphere, it starts on the cover of the sleeve with a photo of Mark Brown among seagulls foraging on a garbage dump.

Mark Brown's album Happy Hour was released independently on July 5, 2024.