Mark Minelli

"Mark Minelli (MySpace) (Sonicbids EPK) is a Chicago based solo artist hailing originally from a small town near the the city that gave us Les Nessman & Herb Tarleck . Like other acoustic and folk artists, he was enticed and inspired by the non-stop life of the big city. Mark is a new breed of folk singer, infusing his acoustic stylings at times with Spanish & Classical rhythms while maintaining the realism associated with the music. That doesn't define him however as an artists, he is just a comfortable and talented in the traditional acoustic vein. Among the usual suspects, Mark also lists Seu Jorge & Kings of Convenience as influences. Mark is currently unsigned, but artists are proving every day that record labels are becoming less and less vital. Check out four cuts from his latest album, Grenade, Grenade!(Everybody Get Down) and get out there and see him if he happens to make it your way. Also, order a copy of his first record, How Can I Help You? now and the new record very soon here." - Visions and Revisions

"Mark Minelli (MySpace) (Sonicbids EPK) is a Chicago based solo artist hailing originally from a small town near the the city that gave us Les Nessman & Herb Tarleck . Like other acoustic and folk artists, he was enticed and inspired by the non-stop life of the big city. Mark is a new breed of folk singer, infusing his acoustic stylings at times with Spanish & Classical rhythms while maintaining the realism associated with the music. That doesn't define him however as an artists, he is just a comfortable and talented in the traditional acoustic vein. Among the usual suspects, Mark also lists Seu Jorge & Kings of Convenience as influences. Mark is currently unsigned, but artists are proving every day that record labels are becoming less and less vital. Check out four cuts from his latest album, Grenade, Grenade!(Everybody Get Down) and get out there and see him if he happens to make it your way. Also, order a copy of his first record, How Can I Help You? now and the new record very soon here." - Visions and Revisions

"You can almost taste summer in Chicago right now and it's a perfect time to start gearing up for our summer concert plans. Mark Minelli is a very unique and talented artist who has donated a countless amount of time to our cause. He will be playing a show for us at Hamilton's Bar and Grill this Wednesday at 9:30 pm. You can enjoy him as a powerful solo act or catch him jamming along side his brother in a band called Damn Fool Crusaders. Check out his myspace page or his website and show him some love. You wont be dissapointed.
cheers" - Artist for Harmony

"You can almost taste summer in Chicago right now and it's a perfect time to start gearing up for our summer concert plans. Mark Minelli is a very unique and talented artist who has donated a countless amount of time to our cause. He will be playing a show for us at Hamilton's Bar and Grill this Wednesday at 9:30 pm. You can enjoy him as a powerful solo act or catch him jamming along side his brother in a band called Damn Fool Crusaders. Check out his myspace page or his website and show him some love. You wont be dissapointed.
cheers" - Artist for Harmony

"You know, I just have to say that I have heard independent artists and musicians for a couple years now. Some who were ok and kept recording albums. One guy who worked with a couple theatre companies in town with music from Chicago (supposed to have been a latin sensation). But these recycled artists can't compare to the talents of a good hearted and straightforward musician.

Ambition and talent always outweighs who you know. And I have to say that Mark Minelli is BRILLIANT. And his CD release party is coming out soon. He is FAR better than John Mayer and I have a couple secrets about his musical inspirations straight from his bro who is also an amazing composer with his band called ROAR. Another top notch independent rock group.

But talk about music that has changed my life. If you can find him now...GO GO GO. Google the guy, add him and love him. He is unbelievable. And it seems that he has a cool personality from his music. Not an asshole or someone who is an ego maniac. He's taking it as it comes. But Mark and his brother Bobby deserve success.

I can't stop listening to him. And YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST- I TELL THE TRUTH. He is going to be FAMOUS. Not well known, not well liked- FAMOUS. LIsten to his song that I put on my profile called SOME SORT OF FOOL.

wow...just, wow." - Carmen Aiello-Casting Associate LA CA

"You know, I just have to say that I have heard independent artists and musicians for a couple years now. Some who were ok and kept recording albums. One guy who worked with a couple theatre companies in town with music from Chicago (supposed to have been a latin sensation). But these recycled artists can't compare to the talents of a good hearted and straightforward musician.

Ambition and talent always outweighs who you know. And I have to say that Mark Minelli is BRILLIANT. And his CD release party is coming out soon. He is FAR better than John Mayer and I have a couple secrets about his musical inspirations straight from his bro who is also an amazing composer with his band called ROAR. Another top notch independent rock group.

But talk about music that has changed my life. If you can find him now...GO GO GO. Google the guy, add him and love him. He is unbelievable. And it seems that he has a cool personality from his music. Not an asshole or someone who is an ego maniac. He's taking it as it comes. But Mark and his brother Bobby deserve success.

I can't stop listening to him. And YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST- I TELL THE TRUTH. He is going to be FAMOUS. Not well known, not well liked- FAMOUS. LIsten to his song that I put on my profile called SOME SORT OF FOOL.

wow...just, wow." - Carmen Aiello-Casting Associate LA CA

There are a lot of musicians trying to make a name for themselves in Chicago, but it's safe to say that few are as passionate as singer-songwriter Mark Minelli. Just take a listen to his music - which is acoustic-yet-lively, rooted in folk-yet-unconventional - and you'll know he's one worth discovering. He recently released the 7-track "Grenade, Grenade! (Everybody Get Down)" and is currently working on his first full-length release.
Mark took the time to fill us in on his sound and style, living as a musician in Chicago and what Robin Williams thinks of him. Read on.

How do you describe your music?

When trying to describe my music to people, I try to stay away from comparisons to other artists. I always want to pick someone awesome (obviously), but then I come off sounding arrogant. I can’t very well be like “Ever heard of Bob Dylan? Yeah, I’m just like that.” So, instead I try to relay what it might feel like to hear my music. I write and play, primarily, on a nylon string guitar, and it provides the beat as well as the rhythm. I sing in manner that is smooth, yet aggressive. My music is rooted in simplicity. I find that the most beautiful songs are, often, the simplest. The content of my lyrics are not metaphors and poetry to be decrypted at a later time. They are, simply, my words giving you insight into what I feel. I think my music makes you feel good. I want to make people be moved and want to move.

Who are your biggest influences?

I put my influences into two different categories: Those who made me want to make music, and those who I want to make music like.

The reason I decided to play music, wanted to play music, was because of my father. He has been a folk guitarist and songwriter for 40 years. He introduced me to artists and albums that would throw fuel on my fire to make music. "Moondance" by Van Morrison and "Freewheelin’" by Bob Dylan changed forever how I looked at music and life. Those influences that made me want to make music then led me to find artists that I wanted to play like. I was born (and probably will die) a folk guitarist; however, there are many ways to define “folk.”

My main influences, stylistically, are globe trotting. I play the nylon string guitar because of my love for Studio Sessions with Seu Jorge. Seu Jorge is a Brazilian artist that covers David Bowie Songs in Portuguese on the classical guitar for a Wes Anderson film. I fell in love with that album, and it’s probably my most listened to of all time. A close second, though, is "Riot on an Empty Street" by Kings of Convenience. They are a Norwegian duo with the most amazing talent for harmony and melody.

When and how did you start making music?

My father convinced me in eighth grade to pick up the bass guitar. He and my older brother Bobby (The Gentlemen’s Club) already played guitar. So I did, and was immediately playing in the coveted high school garage band. Playing bass didn’t fulfill what I need creatively; however, it did instill in me a great ear and finger style skill. I didn’t use a pick on bass then, and I don’t use one on guitar now either.

I moved to Chicago in 2002 to chase scholarly pursuits (that went nowhere), and here my life as a guitarist/songwriter began. I didn’t feel I had the capability to start up a full band living on campus in a new city, so my brother, already a resident, and I started playing out as an acoustic duo. My brother eventually moved on to the full rock band, but I found my passion in solo performance. Since then I have been playing out relentlessly and writing constantly. It’s a “do it yourself” time in the music industry and that’s how I’ve been spending the last five or so years.

What has been your most memorable experience as a musician to date?

I was musical act playing as a part of the comedy Sunday night Entertaining Julia at Town hall Pub in May 2008. Jena Friedman (Check her out!), who ran the show, had been doing some shows at the Lakeshore Theatre, and Robin Williams came in one night. He was in town filming the Ellen Degeneres show, and they got to chatting about Town Hall. So, he stopped by the following Sunday. The Julia show is always great; it was packed, and I did a couple songs for everyone. After my set Robin came up and did some stand up for us. He spotted me from the stage and said, “You’re fu**ing awesome,
brother! Wasn’t he fu**ing awesome?” He proceeded to do a bit on how I use Latin influences in my tunes to get laid. We got to chat a bit after and he got a CD of mine. It was pretty wild. The people I meet while playing out are what I remember; regardless if they’ve won an Oscar or not.

How does your songwriting process work?

I love writing lyrics. Usually, I’ll have a line I heard somewhere or thought of and I’ll make it the cornerstone of a track. For example, on “Some Sort of Fool,” off of my most recent album, my girlfriend and I were at a bar and she said that line. I told her then that I was going to use it, a - www.windycityrock.blogspot.com

There are a lot of musicians trying to make a name for themselves in Chicago, but it's safe to say that few are as passionate as singer-songwriter Mark Minelli. Just take a listen to his music - which is acoustic-yet-lively, rooted in folk-yet-unconventional - and you'll know he's one worth discovering. He recently released the 7-track "Grenade, Grenade! (Everybody Get Down)" and is currently working on his first full-length release.
Mark took the time to fill us in on his sound and style, living as a musician in Chicago and what Robin Williams thinks of him. Read on.

How do you describe your music?

When trying to describe my music to people, I try to stay away from comparisons to other artists. I always want to pick someone awesome (obviously), but then I come off sounding arrogant. I can’t very well be like “Ever heard of Bob Dylan? Yeah, I’m just like that.” So, instead I try to relay what it might feel like to hear my music. I write and play, primarily, on a nylon string guitar, and it provides the beat as well as the rhythm. I sing in manner that is smooth, yet aggressive. My music is rooted in simplicity. I find that the most beautiful songs are, often, the simplest. The content of my lyrics are not metaphors and poetry to be decrypted at a later time. They are, simply, my words giving you insight into what I feel. I think my music makes you feel good. I want to make people be moved and want to move.

Who are your biggest influences?

I put my influences into two different categories: Those who made me want to make music, and those who I want to make music like.

The reason I decided to play music, wanted to play music, was because of my father. He has been a folk guitarist and songwriter for 40 years. He introduced me to artists and albums that would throw fuel on my fire to make music. "Moondance" by Van Morrison and "Freewheelin’" by Bob Dylan changed forever how I looked at music and life. Those influences that made me want to make music then led me to find artists that I wanted to play like. I was born (and probably will die) a folk guitarist; however, there are many ways to define “folk.”

My main influences, stylistically, are globe trotting. I play the nylon string guitar because of my love for Studio Sessions with Seu Jorge. Seu Jorge is a Brazilian artist that covers David Bowie Songs in Portuguese on the classical guitar for a Wes Anderson film. I fell in love with that album, and it’s probably my most listened to of all time. A close second, though, is "Riot on an Empty Street" by Kings of Convenience. They are a Norwegian duo with the most amazing talent for harmony and melody.

When and how did you start making music?

My father convinced me in eighth grade to pick up the bass guitar. He and my older brother Bobby (The Gentlemen’s Club) already played guitar. So I did, and was immediately playing in the coveted high school garage band. Playing bass didn’t fulfill what I need creatively; however, it did instill in me a great ear and finger style skill. I didn’t use a pick on bass then, and I don’t use one on guitar now either.

I moved to Chicago in 2002 to chase scholarly pursuits (that went nowhere), and here my life as a guitarist/songwriter began. I didn’t feel I had the capability to start up a full band living on campus in a new city, so my brother, already a resident, and I started playing out as an acoustic duo. My brother eventually moved on to the full rock band, but I found my passion in solo performance. Since then I have been playing out relentlessly and writing constantly. It’s a “do it yourself” time in the music industry and that’s how I’ve been spending the last five or so years.

What has been your most memorable experience as a musician to date?

I was musical act playing as a part of the comedy Sunday night Entertaining Julia at Town hall Pub in May 2008. Jena Friedman (Check her out!), who ran the show, had been doing some shows at the Lakeshore Theatre, and Robin Williams came in one night. He was in town filming the Ellen Degeneres show, and they got to chatting about Town Hall. So, he stopped by the following Sunday. The Julia show is always great; it was packed, and I did a couple songs for everyone. After my set Robin came up and did some stand up for us. He spotted me from the stage and said, “You’re fu**ing awesome,
brother! Wasn’t he fu**ing awesome?” He proceeded to do a bit on how I use Latin influences in my tunes to get laid. We got to chat a bit after and he got a CD of mine. It was pretty wild. The people I meet while playing out are what I remember; regardless if they’ve won an Oscar or not.

How does your songwriting process work?

I love writing lyrics. Usually, I’ll have a line I heard somewhere or thought of and I’ll make it the cornerstone of a track. For example, on “Some Sort of Fool,” off of my most recent album, my girlfriend and I were at a bar and she said that line. I told her then that I was going to use it, a - www.windycityrock.blogspot.com

"You're f***ing awesome brother! Wasn't he f***ing awesome!" - Robin Williams

LOCAL WATCH: MARK MINELLI
Mark Minelli, 24, found his songwriting muse when he moved up to Chicago a few years ago. The Cincinnati native broke away from his brother, with whom he formed an acoustic duo, pursuing a solo project. Now, after making inroads in the Windy City, he's returning home to play for local friends and fans this weekend. He told me about his new album, Grenade, Grenade (Everybody Get Down), and an Irish boxer.

Q: What's your favorite track on Grenade, Grenade (Everybody Get Down)?

A: Now, I wrote all the tracks, so obviously I like them all. But track No. 7, "Murder in the Streets," is my personal favorite. I pride myself on my lyrics. As a solo performer I don't have the comforts of supporting musicians to provide fills, solos, and so on to keep the listener hooked. I use my words as that "hook" to keep the listener interested and grooving. In this track, I believe, the poetry - if that's what you want to call it - is particularly strong.

Q: What's a "Lovin' Disease"?

A: I think that "Lovin' Disease" is kind of how a woman might feel about the romantic intentions of a suitor. You know when you're hitting on somebody, there is always that voice in the back of your head that's like, "She's just humoring you, dude." I don't know; let's just say one man's treasure is another woman's trash. At the same time if you can infect her with your "lovin' disease," who knows where it might lead.

Q: Does the album allude to the current war times?

A: I didn't have any aspirations on making wartime commentary with the album. When I wrote the album, I wanted people to hear it and want to move. I wanted them to be overcome with rhythm. You know, it's like (a) warning. I'm saying, "Put the album on, but watch out - it's going to explode and your only escape is moving with the blast."

Q: You're playing at Molly Malone's on Feb. 8. What's your favorite Irish brew?

A: Guinness! I was in a bar in Chicago. I was 18 and it was St. Patrick's Day. An Irish boxer named Wesley offered to buy me a drink. He got me a Guinness. I took a sip, and he said, "That's not how you drink a Guinness, you gotta pour it down." He lent a hand - and then I threw up on the sidewalk outside. I still love it in spite of (that).

DON'T MISS: Mark Minelli at Molly Malone's, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington. $5. 859-491-6659 or www.mollymalonesirishpub.com. Hear Mark at www.myspace.com/markminelli.


- Cin Weekly

LOCAL WATCH: MARK MINELLI
Mark Minelli, 24, found his songwriting muse when he moved up to Chicago a few years ago. The Cincinnati native broke away from his brother, with whom he formed an acoustic duo, pursuing a solo project. Now, after making inroads in the Windy City, he's returning home to play for local friends and fans this weekend. He told me about his new album, Grenade, Grenade (Everybody Get Down), and an Irish boxer.

Q: What's your favorite track on Grenade, Grenade (Everybody Get Down)?

A: Now, I wrote all the tracks, so obviously I like them all. But track No. 7, "Murder in the Streets," is my personal favorite. I pride myself on my lyrics. As a solo performer I don't have the comforts of supporting musicians to provide fills, solos, and so on to keep the listener hooked. I use my words as that "hook" to keep the listener interested and grooving. In this track, I believe, the poetry - if that's what you want to call it - is particularly strong.

Q: What's a "Lovin' Disease"?

A: I think that "Lovin' Disease" is kind of how a woman might feel about the romantic intentions of a suitor. You know when you're hitting on somebody, there is always that voice in the back of your head that's like, "She's just humoring you, dude." I don't know; let's just say one man's treasure is another woman's trash. At the same time if you can infect her with your "lovin' disease," who knows where it might lead.

Q: Does the album allude to the current war times?

A: I didn't have any aspirations on making wartime commentary with the album. When I wrote the album, I wanted people to hear it and want to move. I wanted them to be overcome with rhythm. You know, it's like (a) warning. I'm saying, "Put the album on, but watch out - it's going to explode and your only escape is moving with the blast."

Q: You're playing at Molly Malone's on Feb. 8. What's your favorite Irish brew?

A: Guinness! I was in a bar in Chicago. I was 18 and it was St. Patrick's Day. An Irish boxer named Wesley offered to buy me a drink. He got me a Guinness. I took a sip, and he said, "That's not how you drink a Guinness, you gotta pour it down." He lent a hand - and then I threw up on the sidewalk outside. I still love it in spite of (that).

DON'T MISS: Mark Minelli at Molly Malone's, 112 E. Fourth St., Covington. $5. 859-491-6659 or www.mollymalonesirishpub.com. Hear Mark at www.myspace.com/markminelli.


- Cin Weekly