Girl at the Rock Shows

I’m not going to say that things are back to normal up here in the Twin Cities. Truthfully, I don’t think any of us know what normal is anymore, but things have calmed down a bit. There are still masked agents on the street. There are still people being disappeared but it’s a bit more hidden now, a bit more tactful. That being said, nobody will ever forget about what happened up here this winter. The names Alex Pretty and Renee Good will echo on for decades if not only from all of us reminiscing but also from all of the art that is coming up because of this volatile time. One piece of that art is “Point Blank” a song written by Mark Ward in response to the murders of Renee and Alex. I wanted to know more about Mark. What pushed him to write this song? Did it bring up a feeling of connection to Minneapolis? And, of course, if he were to rob a bank, what would the getaway song be?

Where in the world has the best music scene do you think and why is it Minneapolis?

I can only speak from experience, and while Minneapolis has produced some of the true greats, I’ve never been there. What I can say is that Anchorage has a pretty great local music scene. I think it’s far enough away from everywhere else, but big enough to produce a lot of local music. Since musicians are all stuck with each other, everyone tends to be helpful and supportive (going to shows, helping with recordings, etc.) It’s a great music scene and it’s one of the biggest things I have missed since we moved to Washington.

Favorite lyrics of all time?

Oh, that’s a hard one because I’m a lyrics guy. But there’s a few that come to mind. There are many from Gord Downie (The Tragically Hip.) The song called “Poets” off Phantom Power: “Outside, there’s hectic action. The ice is covering the trees. And one of them is interconnected with my Chevrolet Capris.” If you’ve ever seen a freezing rainstorm in the Pacific Northwest, you’d know exactly what that image is. The whole song “You’re Not the Ocean” from World Container is a masterpiece as are most off that record. Others that come to mind are James McMurtry’s Hurricane Party… “I don’t want another drink. I only want that last one again. It gave me such a fine glow, smokey and slow, now I should probably be homeward bound. But there’s no one to talk to, when the lines go down.” The other off that album is Ruby and Carlos. The whole song is literally cinema. James comes by it naturally being Larry McMurty’s son. Then don’t even get me started on Kathleen Edwards. Her song Alicia Ross absolutely kills me.

Have you ever been able to finish a Rubik’s Cube?

No. I’ve never been a game person and generally don’t see the point as I’d rather be doing something more creative or productive.

What was the first concert you ever went to?

I’m going to date myself here. Technically it was Little River Band while I was going to school at OSU. But I had actually snuck in the backstage entrance and saw part of a Grateful Dead show in Anchorage before that.

What’s an old-school fad that you wish would come back?

Going to see local live bands. I feel like kids these days have really missed out on the whole rebellion thing that was punk and loud rock.

What’s your favorite method of listening to music?

My medium of choice is still CD’s. At least they are 16-bit wav files and there is just so much data that is trashed during the mp3 conversion. I listen on either good quality closed-ear studio headphones or via a rebuilt Yamaha 100w M-4 amp driving my dad’s old re-coned Advent stereo speakers (circa 1974.) They still just kick ass.

What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?

I went to see Jenny Lewis a few years ago. Her opening act was some sort of hip-hop thing. The sound was not only mind-numbingly loud but was only frequencies below 100hz. That is, you could not hear or understand anything that was happening. You could only feel something. It wasn’t just us, but our entire row got up after the second number started and retreated to the lobby. We simply waited for it to be over. Then Jenny Lewis was so so good!

What’s your go-to purchase at a gas station (outside of gas) when on a road trip?

Dove bar!

What’s the worst job that you’ve ever had?

Selling men’s attire at the Galleria Mall in LA.

What’s the best and worst part about being raised in Alaska?

When you live there, it’s easy to take for granted the natural beauty and ruggedness you are surrounded by. The sheer scale of things is truly humbling. They say the best part about living in Anchorage is that Alaska is 20 minutes away. The sense of community is fantastic and there are a ton of great breweries. The worst part is the dark winters and continually having to clear your driveway of snow.

Have you ever seen a giant bear?

Oh hell yes. Been bluff charged by a huge grizzly sow with cubs in Prince William Sound. Have taken many close-up photographs of brown bears on the Alaska Peninsula.

How many salmon have you eaten?

Haha. That is a hilarious question. I’d say something under a thousand, but still counting!

Were you on Deadliest Catch?

I was not. But I fished salmon commercially in Bristol Bay for seven years, worked on a submarine salvage vessel during the Exon Valdez Oil Spill and sailed our sailboat 20,000 nautical miles from Seward Alaska to New Zealand and back, so that should count for something I’d think.

Are you sick of my cliche Alaska questions yet?

Not at all. I’m used to it. lol

If you could compare yourself to an insect, what insect would it be and why?

Wow. The only things I can come up with are bees or ants. I’d pick those because they have a specific purpose and responsibility to their societies.

What’s your favorite menu item at Taco Bell?

The thing they can’t possibly hide mystery ingredients in. A bean burrito.

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?

Charmer by Kings of Leon.

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Cake – outdoors in the Mooses Tooth parking lot. Killer band. Killer show!

What’s one thing I should know before listening to “Point Blank”?

You won’t need to know anything. It’s pretty blunt. But I guess the thing to know is that I’ve got a full album coming out May 8th. It’s called Godless Country and is along the same theme.

Obviously, this is a super political song. Is this the first time you’ve dove into that category? If so, why now? If not, what makes you want to put out music like this that could lead to some critique from the other side?

Oh boy. We’re getting into it now. It is not the first time. In fact, one of the songs I’m including on the upcoming album was written in 2016…for the same reasons. Why speak up now? Well, I feel like it’s really one of the only things I can do. There is power in the pen and in a voice and if I didn’t love this country, I wouldn’t give a rip. But I do and I’m not going down easily. Speak now, stand up now, or lose everything. Critique from the other side is just a way of life now. This – situation – has resulted in the division in our country – to the extent that I no longer speak to my parents. Respect is something earned, won, and lost. It’s sad as hell, but here we are.

Stylistically, this song has an almost up-beat 90’s vibe to it, but this song is far from an upbeat kind of song. Was this an active choice or just how the music hit you?

It was. Firstly, I am from the 80’s/90’s so I hear music through those ears. I’ve always felt like the best songs are sad songs. But the juxtaposition of an upbeat happy sounding song, with lyrics that tell a different story can be powerful as well. It’s part of the reason I chose the dancing rotor video. Some people can only cope with tragedy by dancing in the face of it. If that’s all you can do, do it. If you can do more, do that.

What came first? The lyrics or the instrumentation?

Each song is different, but of late, I’ve been writing the music first and then finding snippets of lyric lines that fall into place. When I get enough of those written down, they start to reveal a theme and a feeling and then fall into place.

There’s a lot of powerful lines in this song. What line is your favorite and why?

I guess my favorite verse is: “You call and talk about nothin’. Talk talk, talk about nothin’ at all. You call and ask me how I’m doin’. Don’t ask.”

We’re all just trying to pretend like everything is fine. It isn’t. And I’m not ok.

This song was written in response to the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. I know you are from Alaska and now live in Washington state but did you feel close to what happened here in Minneapolis and, if so, how did it effect you?

I do feel close to what happened there. As an Alaskan, I am fiercely strong-willed and independent. You have be to survive in 40 below zero when your snowmachine breaks down. You don’t give up. You fight for your life, and you help your neighbor who might also freeze to death. When someone threatens my rights, I fight back. This we have in common with Minnesotans.

I hear you will be releasing a full album this spring. Will “Point Blank” be on it?

Yes. As will “I Don’t Care,” the other single I recently released which is essentially about the lying press secretary.

Other than the new album, what comes next for Mark Ward?

What comes next for any of us? I don’t know. I hope that we can live in a world that feels a bit less threatening and more positive. I hope we can stop hating and vilifying our neighbors. I hope we can live in a world where the news each day isn’t worse than the day before. I hope we can enjoy friends, family, nature, music, wildlife, sailing, Irish fiddling, the sun, life. I hope.

Is there anything else you want everyone to know?

I suppose. I don’t want to end on all doom and gloom. One of the songs on the upcoming album is called “King Without a Crown.” That song has a section in it that says: “And with a great election, a voice the people found. And we threw him out of office, this king without a crown.” Upon hearing it, my wife said, “wow, that’s pretty optimistic.” It is, and I still am.

I came for the protest energy here and fell completely head over heels for the charm of Mark Ward. Not only does he put heart into everything he does, he is able to have some fun (and put up with my Alaska questions). Mark talked about feeling connected to Minneapolis as an Alaskan and something about that resonated with me. I’ve never met Mark and, as fun as these questions were, I feel like it takes so much more than this to feel like you know someone but that’s not the case here. Between listening to “Point Blank” on repeat and re-reading these answers to my quirky questions over and over again, I feel like I know Mark. He has nothing to hide and isn’t afraid to put his blood, sweat, tears, and heart into everything he does and that comes through loud and clear.

Make sure to check out “Point Blank” and throw Mark on a follow on his socials so you don’t miss what comes next for him!

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