"Live Album Recording at Blaine's Pub" by mark

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:17:00 GMT

Mark David Manders was 15 years old when he attended his first live concert. It was that show, a Willie Nelson concert, that hooked the Texas Country musician on live music.

Friday night Manders will record his first live music album at Blaine’s Pub.

The Plano native is a staple on the San Angelo music scene and chose the Blaine’s stage because “San Angelo fans are the best. When I play there, I know people want to hear the music and are more genuine.”

Manders first performance in San Angelo was in the 1990s at the former SWIG Cafe on Concho Street, now Miss Hattie’s Cafe. He remembers one night after performing at the SWIG, on their way to Terlingua, he left his entire traveling fund on the bar and made his way on to his next stop.

“We made it there on fumes.”

In his return trips to the San Angelo area, he has performed at Graham Central Station, Blaine’s and headlined at the Miles Cotton Festival. He’s also performed at the Blaine’s Picnic, both in San Angelo and Boerne, and is looking forward to being invited to the next picnic.

Manders is known for fan favorite songs such as “Beer” and “Three Fingers Tequila” and his Manders Tracks are now local legend.

A devout Rolling Stones fan, the singer/songwriter hinted that “we may record an obscure Stones single on this live album.”

Standard-Times: You’re cutting your first live album at Blaine’s Pub. Why Blaine’s and why San Angelo?

MDM: I love San Angelo. I love the crowd at Blaine’s. When we play there, we know that the crowd appreciates the music.

You said your first live music experience was a Willie Nelson concert. What was that like and how has it influenced you?

Well, it was the first show I’d ever been to. My dad took me and some friends to the show in Dallas when I was about 15. I remember being so excited for Willie to come on the stage. We were standing there waiting for him to come on and someone tapped me on the shoulder and said “Excuse me, can I get by?” It was Willie.

It was an amazing show and I think that’s when I was hooked on live music. Years later, we played at his picnic.

Can you explain the origins of “Manders Tracks?”

My buddy had done the artwork for an album for us. He e-mailed me some of the photos. In one of the photos, I’m sitting there with a row of shot glasses, cigarette butts and empty beer bottles around me. (I’m not exactly the neatest person around.) That ended up in a newspaper article about me and so we put it on our Web site and that’s where Manders Tracks began.

Where did the beer-flinging to the beat of “Beer” begin?

It actually started during a show at Blaine’s. We were playing a song and I think a college kid started flinging away and after that it was like someone started the sprinkler system.

Why does “Beer” only contain two words in the entire track? Beer and tequila.

”Beer” is about our three-piece band, which is we started out as. We were invited, years ago, to perform in a Americana festival in Nashville. After we performed, we were approached by some record company execs that invited us to play a few songs for them. After we played, one of the execs said, “Mark, you’re too wordy and not universal enough.”

We loaded up and came back to Texas and were at Russ’ mom’s new house and were sitting around still stewing. All she had was a fridge and nothing else and we had brought over a 12-pack. David was playing the fiddle and I was picking at my guitar. Russ got up and I said “Hey Russ, could you get me a….” and we all said “BEER!” So that’s where the song came from. Six months later, that record company went belly up and I don’t mind telling you, we celebrated.

You do a spot-on Mick Jagger impersonation during your shows. Are you a big Rolling Stones fan?

The Rolling Stones are the greatest band in the history of rock-and-roll. I’ve been backstage at their shows three times. We were able to have a jam session with some of their back-up band members after one of those shows.

You seem to have an affection for San Angelo and have a regular routine when you come to town. Do you feel at home here?

People in San Angelo are great. I do have a routine. We get up and go work out at the YMCA and go to Mary Anne’s (Ashley’s Barber Shop) for a haircut. And we always go to either Armenta’s or Hidalgo’s for lunch. We’re usually in by Thursday and set up and do a sound check early. And we used to stop by Blaine’s on Sundays for the fish frys.

Others in the “Red Dirt” and Texas Country genre are making a jump to mainstream country music. Will you do the same or are you a “Texas Country” musician at heart?

I like to say I’ve got black clay gumbo around my house. Really, I think the industry has become a popularity contest. No one really seems to mean what they’re writing about anymore.

I plan on doing exactly what I’m doing.

If you go

What: Live album recording by Mark David Manders.
When: 9 p.m. Friday and 9 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Blaine’s Pub, 10 W. Harris Ave.
Cover charge: $7 for 21 and up.
For more information, call Blaine’s Pub (325) 653-7074 or go to blainespub.com.

By Sandy Rojas, Go San Angelo

Mark David Manders comments on Live Album Recording at Blaine's Pub

"Live Album Recording at Blaine's Pub" by mark