Mark Kassa and Slight Return

Mark Kassa and Slight Return
Background information
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	rock blues funk
Years active	1996 (1996)–present
Members	Mark Kassa (guitar, vocals) William Pope (bass, vocals) Ronnie Karmo (drums) Tony Mitchell (percussion and vocals) Christian Vegh (guitar, vocals)
Website	slightreturn.com

Mark Kassa and Slight Return is an American Americana band from Detroit, Michigan. Their single "Weekend Homewreck" charted at #11 on Cashbox's top 50-rock airplay chart in 2021. ^[1] They have shared the stage with artists including Gin Blossoms, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk Railroad, Tesla, and George Clinton. ^{[2] [3]}

History

Mark Kassa and Slight Return was formed in 1996 by Mark Kassa (guitar, vocals) and was originally a three piece band. The trio received several major record deal offers but Kassa declined as he had young children at the time. ^[4] The group's lineup has changed over the years and now includes band members Garry Villasenor (bass), Robert Bennet (bass), Ronnie Karmo (Drums), and Tony Mitchell (percussion). ^{[5] [6]} Their genres have generally been classified as rock, blues, and funk and they have released 12 studio albums. ^[7] In 2001, the band received a fair amount of national airplay on CMJ's music charts. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]}

In 2017, the band won the WCSX "Band Wars" competition which included opening a show for Queensrÿche. ^[12] In 2019, their singles, "Vicious Tides (featuring Andy Vargas)" and "Warrior's Soul (feat. Andy Vargas)" both charted in Cashbox airplay's top 20. In 2021, "Weekend Homewreck (featuring Christian Vegh)" charted at #11 on the same chart. The band won a Prestige Award for "Band of the Year" in 2022 and Kassa won "Guitar Player of the Year" as well as being inducted into the Prestige Award Hall of Fame in 2024. ^{[13] [14]}

The music group released the album, "The D," (featuring musicians George Clinton, Billy Cox, and Dennis Coffey in 2024, which received favorable reviews and in 2025, the group was the house band for Detroit's second annual "For the Love of Buddy Miles" tribute, sharing the stage with such musicians as Tony Lindsay, Derek St. Holmes, and Peter Keys. ^[15]

Cashbox airplay charts

Year	Work	Category
			US
2019	"Vicious Tides (featuring Andy Vargas)" (single) [16]	Top 50 Rock Airplay	14
	"Warrior's Soul (feat. Andy Vargas)" (single) [17]	Top 50 Rock Airplay	19
2021	"Weekend Homewreck (featuring Christian Vegh)" (single) [1]	Top 50 Rock Airplay	11

Discography

Source ^{[18] [19]}

• 1997 - Red in the Face ^[20]
• 2002 - Dynamic Stereo
• 2006 - Corporate Pig
• 2012 - Information Overload
• 2015 - Welcome to the D
• 2017 - Vicious Tides
• 2019 - Don't Take the Bait
• 2020 - The Sideshow
• 2022 - Turn the Page
• 2024 - The D

References

1. "Cashbox top 50 rock airplay chart". Cashbox. June 29, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
2. "Slight Return Tours & Concerts". Concert Archives. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
3. "2024 - 7th ANNUAL SALUTE OUR WARRIORS EVENT AGENDA". Salute Our Warriors. July 11, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
4. "Mark Kassa of Slight Return @3:30". Bloomfield Township. February 24, 2025. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
5. "CONTINUING DETROIT'S RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE: AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK KASSA - An interview with Mark Kassa from Detroit rockers' Slight Return". Prestige Awards. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
6. "Creator Spotlight with Mark Kassa". Copyright Alliance. October 8, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
7. "CONTINUING DETROIT'S RICH MUSICAL HERITAGE: AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK KASSA - An interview with Mark Kassa from Detroit rockers' Slight Return". Prestige Awards. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
8. "CJM Radio 200 Airplay" (PDF). CMJ. October 15, 2001. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
9. "CJM Radio 200 Airplay" (PDF). CMJ. October 22, 2001. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
10. "CJM Radio 200 Airplay" (PDF). CMJ. November 12, 2001. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
11. "CJM Radio 200 Airplay" (PDF). CMJ. November 26, 2001. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
12. "Congratulations Band Wars Winners!". WCSX. September 20, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
13. ""THE D"® BY MARK KASSA AND "SLIGHT RETURN®"". Prestige Awards UK. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
14. "Slight Return selected 2022/2023 "Band Of The Year" by Prestige Awards". Galaxie Video Productions. October 1, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
15. "Check out our latest piece on the 2nd annual 'For the Love of Buddy Miles Tribute Show". Music Addict. March 18, 2025. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
16. "Cashbox Music Charts 6-27-2019". Cashbox-magazine.com. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
17. "Cashbox Music Charts 11-23-2019". Cashbox-magazine.com. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
18. "Slight Return discography". Discogs. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
19. "Slight Return discography". Apple Music. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
20. "Music Men - The beat goes on with these Chaldeans by Crystal Jbiro". DChaldean News. Retrieved May 2, 2025.