Mark Kerr

Mark Kerr is a modern blues rock guitarist who stacks up with the best of them. I hear more than a hint of later year Stevie Ray Vaughn in his songs. All the musicians are excellent and Mark leads them well in both the vocals and guitar fretwork. If you like your southern fried blues a bit rocking with blistering guitar licks then this is for you. - The Chicken Fish Speaks-Music Reviews--Grog (2006)

Blues guitarist Mark Kerr debut album “One Drink Away From The Blues” is an extraordinary compilation to be added to any avid blues fan’s collection. Mark breathes life and feeling into his work. Mark’s vocals lack any stereotypical husky smoking and drinking resonance emblematic to the blues genre, modern and classic alike. However, his lyrics fall right in line with the ever popular blues manner. ”There's a storm blowin in and I’m feelin a little blue. Gonna pour me a few friends while I think about you.” His pure vocal tone almost contradicts the intensifying sound of his guitar. Mark provides a fresh look at modern blues. While remembering the key lessons of blues music, Mark keeps his approach real and on the level even as he incorporates his many influences of rock, jazz, and funk.
Mark’s blend of rock riffs and blues licks create an atmosphere of laid back fun and encouraged toe tapping. His years of experiences are visible on every track of this album. His rockin’ blues on “Low Down Dirty Shame” provide a brilliant contrast to his country side with “Country Side Blues”. His runs are extremely impressive and the qualities of his recordings are incredible. Mark Kerr offers any blues fan an enjoyable experience with “One Drink Away From The Blues” whether they are looking to curl up on the couch or dance in their socks across the kitchen floor. He dishes up tracks for every occasion. Accommodating and talented, what more could you ask for? - Lindsey Meeker / Northeast In Tune Magazine

A native of Tennessee now living in Louisiana. Mark Kerr is nonetheless a Texas roadhouse rocker at heart. The guitarist, whose credits include stints with Curtis Mayfield's "Impressions" and Percy Sledge, offers eight originals and a pretty straight cover of The Thrill Is Gone, B.B. King style. Kerr's blues vary from rockin' and rowdy on Thick Side to fast and funky on Low Down Dirty Shame and Thinkin And A Drinkin' to slow and steamy on Wishin Well and the title track. The Disc closes with two sharply contrasting instrumentals in the pop-jazz inflected Elevator Love and the sprightly country romp Country Side Blues, giving Kerr a chance to showcase the breadth of his considerable skills. - Living Blues Magazine-by (JDK)

Blues guitarist Mark Kerr debut album “One Drink Away From The Blues” is an extraordinary compilation to be added to any avid blues fan’s collection. Mark breathes life and feeling into his work. Mark’s vocals lack any stereotypical husky smoking and drinking resonance emblematic to the blues genre, modern and classic alike. However, his lyrics fall right in line with the ever popular blues manner. ”There's a storm blowin in and I’m feelin a little blue. Gonna pour me a few friends while I think about you.” His pure vocal tone almost contradicts the intensifying sound of his guitar. Mark provides a fresh look at modern blues. While remembering the key lessons of blues music, Mark keeps his approach real and on the level even as he incorporates his many influences of rock, jazz, and funk.
Mark’s blend of rock riffs and blues licks create an atmosphere of laid back fun and encouraged toe tapping. His years of experiences are visible on every track of this album. His rockin’ blues on “Low Down Dirty Shame” provide a brilliant contrast to his country side with “Country Side Blues”. His runs are extremely impressive and the qualities of his recordings are incredible. Mark Kerr offers any blues fan an enjoyable experience with “One Drink Away From The Blues” whether they are looking to curl up on the couch or dance in their socks across the kitchen floor. He dishes up tracks for every occasion. Accommodating and talented, what more could you ask for? - Lindsey Meeker / Northeast In Tune Magazine

Blazeing blues licks sets his guitar on fire.Hendrix and Vaughn are gone , now Kerr brings it home. Bending strings and lightening fast fingers flash notes up and down the blues scales , all in time. Low Down Dirty Shame opens with a bang and doesn't let up. Drums pounding the beat straight to your heart with the rhythm rolling on , never failing to hold everything together . The lyrics and vocals blend classic bluesmen like T-Bone Walker and the late Gatemouth Brown into the future of the Blues.
- Joie Chautin / Indie Ear Radio

Blazeing blues licks sets his guitar on fire.Hendrix and Vaughn are gone , now Kerr brings it home. Bending strings and lightening fast fingers flash notes up and down the blues scales , all in time. Low Down Dirty Shame opens with a bang and doesn't let up. Drums pounding the beat straight to your heart with the rhythm rolling on , never failing to hold everything together . The lyrics and vocals blend classic bluesmen like T-Bone Walker and the late Gatemouth Brown into the future of the Blues.
- Joie Chautin / Indie Ear Radio

Imagine opening up the most fragile parts of your life and laying them on public display. Imagine doing this honestly, and not having any of it glossed over by other commentators or reviewers.
Now imagine having your music bared to scrutiny. Although theres no real obligation to tell the perfect truth, nor are there people there to demand so, when there's a simplicity in the writing process, there's an energizing honesty conveyed.
Mark Kerr's latest release, One Drink Away from the Blues, is a modern blues album with a wide sonic palette. Fusing together a variety of blues, rock, jazz and even metal techniques, its outright honesty unfolds and offers up an emotionally-engaging snapshot of some of Kerr's troubled days gone by.
With a timeless voice, and huge feelings rustling beneath every song, gone are all traces of artificiality, revealing a magnetic charisma and charm that's well traveled, with plenty of stories to share.
With a mouth-watering tone that could even make Santana weak kneed, Kerr's earnestly passionate and technically stellar guitar runs dominate much of the record.
While his incorporation of simultaneous lead and rhythm parts draw many comparisons to B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn, his use of tone and attack cite players like Steve Vai and Jimmie Hendrix as immediate influences.

Unlike those who've taken another turn and have gone the wrong way, Kerr's open and visible celebration of his influences adds a new flavour to a very familiar genre. "Low Down Dirty Shame" is an all-out, emotionally-driven duel between tortured lyrics and spine
tingling guitar leads. This passion and complexity reappears in tracks like "Thinkin and Drinkin" and "The Thrill is Gone", leading listeners through troublesome tales with a reflective evaluation of the days gone by. Kerr's guitar acrobatics mixed with his gut-deep vocal testimonials are never anything less than satisfying.

Even with the clearly dark subjects in many of the tracks, there is an underlying theme to this album that shines throughout: beauty and grace. It is an expression of frustration and maturation inspiring change.
Highlighted in tracks like the beautiful instrumental, "Elevator Love", it is a bold statement of readjusting priorities and changing directions in life. The only detail that may stand in the way of Kerr's obvious talent is the recording quality.
Dating "One Drink Away from the Blues" back to the mid-1980s, an overhaul of the audio positioning and the tonal quality of the drums and bass begs for more attention than given.
But because there's not a bad performance here, the outstanding compositions are good enough to cover up the production missteps. Mark Kerr's ability to make his guitar talk and wail with the coloured depths of human emotion is what makes One Drink Away from the Blues an album that could push the boundaries of the blues even further.
It's openly straightforward in its intent, begging the question: what else could you ask for ? - Alex Jasperse - Muse's Muse Magazine

From the opening note of Mark Kerr's debut CD, One Drink Away From The Blues. You will be engulfed in the conflagration of Kerr's scorching licks. Kerr arranges in an innovative way to deliver his line up of well-written blues-rock tunes. Kerr plays with attitude and belts out a true Texas sound with color. - Lucky Boyd, Academy of Texas Music

From the opening of "Thick Side" to "Low Down Dirty Shame," Kerr delivers his blistering licks and impressive picking skills. "Thinkin and a Drinkin" and "Woman With No Shame" continue as standouts with Kerr's gravely vocals. "One Drink Away From The Blues," is a showcase for kerr's guitar work and great lyrical package. Kerr's remake of B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone" is funky updated rendition which does honor to the classic hit. - Anthony Davis, Texarkana Gazette

"Alligator Records"

You play with a good sense of melody and flow, and nice attention to tone.
Your approach is very confident and professional, and your soloing is dynamic.
I like the way you use turnarounds. In fact, I was sorry for the fadeout on "Thick Side."
Very classy soloing on "Wishin Well" with good dynamics.

Mark, I'm quite impressed by your guitar work.
It's interesting, mature and very confident.
Your guitar playing is some of the best I've heard in recent times from an unknown (to me) player.

Bruce Iglauer
President of Alligator Records - Bruce Iglauer

Mark Kerr's "One Drink Away From The Blues," is the indie find of the year. Kerr reminds me a lot of Gary Moore, with that blistering guitar sound and full tilt punch. The title cut "One Drink Away From The Blues," is played in a way that cuts you to the bone. "Elevator Love," is a beautiful Jazz / Blues groove. I find no flaws in this CD. A most remarkable debut performance. - Ray Galetka

I have recorded many great bands and players over the last twenty years, some of which have gotten record deals. I would have to say Mark Kerr is one of, if not the greatest guitarist to walk through the doors of my recording buisness. He sounds great in all genres from rock to jazz. I think his CD proves that beyond any shadow of a doubt. - Bryan Jefferies, Over The Edge Studios

Mark Kerr's "One Drink Away From The Blues," is the indie find of the year. Kerr reminds me a lot of Gary Moore, with that blistering guitar sound and full tilt punch. The title cut "One Drink Away From The Blues," is played in a way that cuts you to the bone. "Elevator Love," is a beautiful Jazz / Blues groove. I find no flaws in this CD. A most remarkable debut performance. - Ray Galetka