Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Geary "33 1/3 Grand Street", 2002 Mark Geary sings inscrutable riddles over down-to-earth progressions, pairing a folk sensibility with contemporary beats. "Gingerman," the standout cut (so durable it's appeared on two Geary CD's, one EP, and two compilations), sounds great the first time and stays that way. Starting with "All Along the Watchtower" chords played acoustically, the band gradually surrounds the impenetrable lyrics ("Alison, the carousel / Broken hearts, another cell"), with a solid B-3 bottom, lovely harmonies, and funky fuzz-tone bass sounds. Geary knows how to work with words ("The Tappan Zee Bridge has grown ears / To hear the drowning volunteers") and connect the listener to emotional scenes of darkness and wonder © David Kleiner
- Minor Seventh.com
Mark Geary is bringing us a little singer/songwriter acoustic rock this week in the form of the track 'Ginger Man'. It's laid back typical singer/songwriter fair, but Mark shows that he's got the goods. The lyrics are great and he's got the talent for a great hook.
Mark's style is somewhere along the lines of Coldplay or David Gray. It's definitely got that Brit Pop vibe to it. And that accent that you're picking up there is due to the fact that he is from Dublin.
David Gray sold like a bazillion records, Coldplay's last album went multi-bazillion, and that means that alot of you out there dig that style of stuff. If that's the case for you then don't waste any time. Go ahead and get this track and start enjoying it now before everyone else in the world starts wearing it out. - gigatracks.com
Mark Geary sings inscrutable riddles over down-to-earth progressions, pairing a folk sensibility with contemporary beats. "Gingerman," the standout cut (so durable it's appeared on two Geary CD's, one EP, and two compilations), sounds great the first time and stays that way. Starting with "All Along the Watchtower" chords played acoustically, the band gradually surrounds the impenetrable lyrics ("Alison, the carousel / Broken hearts, another cell"), with a solid B-3 bottom, lovely harmonies, and funky fuzz-tone bass sounds. Geary knows how to work with words ("The Tappan Zee Bridge has grown ears / To hear the drowning volunteers") and connect the listener to emotional scenes of darkness and wonder © David Kleiner
- Minor7th.com
Mark Geary's debut CD contains 11 acoustic- driven tracks of quiet intensity that will appeal to fans of Nick Drake and David Gray. Sparse, tasteful production helps drive home the beauty of such songs as "It Beats Me" and "Volunteer", which was a hit in Geary's native Ireland. Wether singing about spiritual alienation ("Adam and Eve"), loss ("Here's to You"), or other verities of the human condition, the combination of Geary's honest songwriting, soulful voice, and straightforward guitar playing make for a cathartic experience. -Karen Hogg - Acoustic Guitar Magazine
Mark Geary's debut full-length release, "33 1/3 Grand Street" (sonaBLAST!) is actually a 1999 release that never got out thanks to a label's demise. he has made use of the time, building up a loyal New York singer/ songwriter fan base and opening regionally for bigger touring acts like Jimmie Dale Gilmore, the Pouges, Billy Bragg, and Elvis Costello. The range of those acts speaks to the range of Geary's appeal: he's part unselfrighteous Elliot Smith, part multi -faceted Van Morrison. Unafraid of electronic backing, Geary makes complicated production seem simple with emotionally honest lyrics and elegant, comfortable chord progressions led by acoustic guitar. In the unlikely event his songs don't arrest your ears immeadiatly, his words will win you over sooner or later. - Citysearch.com
Discography
GHOSTS
33 1/3 Grand Street
America (Revisited)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Singer/songwriter Mark Geary came to NYC in 1995 with a one-way ticket from Dublin, $100 in his pocket, and a green card. Recognized today as one of the East Village’s favorite performers and a top 40 artist in Ireland (the record spent half of February in the top 40 and is almost to GOLD there), Geary started out playing with Jeff Buckley at the legendary Café Sin-e (started by Mark’s brother Karl) and has since shared stages with the likes of Elvis Costello, The Pretenders, Coldplay, Midnight Oil, and Sinead O’Connor.
Booker Kio Novina calls Geary “one of the best acts around.” Film/TV producer Gill Holland became so enamored with Mark’s music (not realizing until a live show at the Mercury Lounge that Mark Geary was NOT a famous Dublin resident, but in fact, Gill’s local bartender) that he put Mark in the studio and recorded “33 1/3 Grand Street”. When released in late 2002, Mark’s song “Volunteer” hit the top ten on Radio FM in Ireland, and in January 2003 Radio FM named him the Witnness Rising Artist of the Week. Mark then performed at the Sundance Film Festival, where his music video had its world premier. In February 2003, coinciding with the Irish release of the record, National Irish Television aired a one hour special on Mark, featuring seven songs performed solo. The Irish Sunday Times Magazine ran a feature story on Mark, he performed on all the major Irish late night talk shows and at both Witnness and Lisdoonvarna Festivals. Mark played SXSW, MTV Spring Break – Barbados, and the Hamptons Film Festival where his songs were featured in two of the competition films. Gemma Hayes sings back-up on his EP “America.” So far in 2004, Mark’s song “Suzanne” has come out on the Starbucks – Hear Music Compilation. He was featured on NPR’s Open Mic and the nationally syndicated World Café with David Dye in February. He made his second appearance at SXSW Music Festival in March, where his songs were in two films. His next record “Ghosts” will appear this fall and features background vocals by Josh Ritter and The “Frames” Glen Hansard.
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