Nick Marko

Last updated

Nick Marko
Birth nameNicholas Thomas Marko
Born (1978-11-24) November 24, 1978 (age 45)
Origin Dearborn, Michigan, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)Multi-Instrumentalist
Years active1993–present
Labels
Website

Nicholas Thomas Marko (born November 24, 1978) is an American musician, known for being a multi-instrumentalist, playing the guitar, drums and piano for bands such as The Holy Fire, Singer & Soldier, Leaving Rouge, and Levagood in the 2000s and 2010s. He is also an entrepreneur, having started up the company ALP Music, LLC in 2010.

Contents

Musical career

Marko joined his first band, Gutwrench, as a drummer in 1993. Three years later in 1996, he played drums in his second band The Habs. Disgruntled at not being able to find a guitarist who liked Fugazi, Marko picked up the guitar in 1998 and proceeded to record his first three-song CD in Joe "Butter" Reynolds' Detroit-area basement studio. Having acquired a better understanding of recording & songwriting, he and childhood friend - bassist Frank Muscat, formed the band Levagood in 1999, which Marko fronted. They released one album "Never Trust The Experts" in the year 2000, recorded at 40 Oz Sound Studios in Ann Arbor. Later on that year, the band played many shows; opening for acts like O.A.R. at the famed Ann Arbor venue the Blind Pig. They then recorded a second album at Woodshed Studios under the direction of Tim Pak from the bands Angry Red Planet and Salt Miners. The album "Curse of A Thousand Legends" was never released. Disgruntled by the band's breakup, Marko moved to Sherman, Texas, where he worked as a roofer. He started the foundation for what is his current project: Singer & Soldier during his time in California, Arizona, and Texas. Marko moved back to the Detroit area in 2003. Upon releasing the Singer & Soldier EP, he met his bandmates for The Holy Fire. On January 1, 2004, the Holy Fire recorded their debut album in Toronto at Signal to Noise Studio. The project was engineered by Canadian music producer Jon Drew. The band's first show was on April 9, 2004 at the Magic Stick Detroit, opening for TV on the Radio. Their Toronto EP made it into the hands of Flaming Lips bassist Michael Ivins, who would go on to produce their first EP at Ferndale's Temper Mill Studios. After this, they started playing and touring on a constant basis, playing with bands such as Metric, the Constantines, and Easy Action. Their second album was recorded at Tar Box Studios in New York and released nationally on February 21, 2006 to positive reviews under The Militia Group record label. During this time, Marko also recorded drums for the Leaving Rouge album "Elsewhere", released by Portland-based record label Greyday Productions on March 21. The Holy Fire's original lineup would eventually disband in the summer of 2006. Marko went on to record and play shows for various projects, including Grammy winner Dave Feeney's American Mars and Ohio's Most Beautiful Losers. Around mid-2016, Marko started collaborating on songs that he had written with his ALP cofounder Darrell Bazian. Marko's project Float Here Forever involved work with Grammy-winning engineer Alan Douches. [1] ESPN recently featured one of ALP's backing instrumental tracks on a 30 second advertisement for "The All-American Cuban Comet" in 2020. [2]

Reception

Marko's drumming has earned him great recognition from various magazines and music critics. [3] In their review of the Holy Fire's album "In The Name of The World", Revolt Media (formerly Running With Scissors Magazine) praised Marko by saying he is "right on point on this song 'Hate Your Smile' as well, serving up a killer rolling drum track at just the right times, keeping the song barreling along, driving it right through the intense conclusion". Furthermore, in reviewing the Holy Fire's self-titled EP, Amplifier Magazine commended Marko by saying he "drives his drums like a rental with 16th notes, his flutter kicks and stop start dynamics pushing the music to great results". Transform Online has called Marko a "money drummer", and lastly, Cloak & Dagger gave Marko's drumming rave reviews, noting "the opening drum beat alone" was enough to catch their interest. The Singer Soldier album "Illusions of Stability", particularly the song 'Bones to Ashes', was lauded by Musings From Boston for its "fragile beauty, delicately floating vocals", as well as the "sparkling of determination". [4] Additionally, Canadian indie music connoisseur website The Revue celebrated the "beautiful punch and eloquent orchestral accompaniment". [5] Real Detroit Weekly hailed the Holy Fire's music, saying "Hands down this EP redefines what a rock band from Detroit should sound like. These guys toss out the garage revival and burn the trashcan with their ability to blend original rock riffs and a dark pop influence". [6]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzzcocks</span> British punk rock band

Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band that singer-songwriter-guitarist Pete Shelley and singer-songwriter Howard Devoto formed in Bolton in 1976. During their career, the band combined elements of punk rock, power pop, and pop punk. They achieved commercial success with singles that fuse pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy; these singles were later collected on Singles Going Steady, an acclaimed compilation album music journalist and critic Ned Raggett described as a "punk masterpiece".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ataris</span> American rock band

The Ataris are an American punk rock band from Anderson, Indiana. Formed in 1996, they released five studio albums between 1997 and 2007. Their best-selling album is So Long, Astoria (2003), which was certified gold. Their high-charting single is their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" from So Long, Astoria. The only constant member throughout their history has been singer/songwriter/guitarist Kristopher "Kris" Roe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modest Mouse</span> American rock band

Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members were lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green and bassist Eric Judy. They achieved critical acclaim for their albums The Lonesome Crowded West (1997) and The Moon & Antarctica (2000) and found mainstream success with the release of Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004) and its singles "Float On" and "Ocean Breathes Salty".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Astbury</span> British singer (born 1962)

Ian Robert Astbury is an English singer, best known as the lead vocalist, frontman and a founding member of the rock band the Cult. During various hiatuses from the Cult, Astbury fronted the short-lived band Holy Barbarians in 1996, and later from 2002 to 2007 served as the lead singer of Riders on the Storm, a Doors tribute band that also featured original Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger. Astbury replaced Rob Tyner during an MC5 reunion in 2003, and has contributed guest vocals on several recordings by other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samhain (band)</span> American rock band

Samhain was an American rock band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983, immediately following his departure from The Misfits. Glenn Danzig originally planned Samhain as a side project with Eerie Von. After the Misfits' contentious 1983 dissolution, Samhain became Danzig's full-time band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dandy Warhols</span> American alternative rock band

The Dandy Warhols are an American psychedelic/alternative rock band, formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1994 by singer-guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor and guitarist Peter Holmström. They were later joined by keyboardist Zia McCabe and drummer Eric Hedford. Hedford left in 1998 and was replaced by Taylor-Taylor's cousin Brent DeBoer. The band's name is a play on the name of American pop artist Andy Warhol.

<i>Slay Tracks: 1933–1969</i> 1989 EP by Pavement

Slay Tracks: 1933–1969 is the debut EP by American indie rock band Pavement. Pavement—at that time, a duo of just its two founding members Stephen Malkmus and Scott Kannberg (guitar)—recorded Slay Tracks with producer and future member Gary Young (drums) during a four-hour session. Pavement self-released the EP as a 7" vinyl record on the band's own record label Treble Kicker in 1989. The music of Slay Tracks was influenced by indie and punk rock bands such as Swell Maps and The Fall, and many of the lyrics were inspired by life in the band's hometown of Stockton, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuomas Holopainen</span> Finnish songwriter, producer and keyboardist

Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the primary songwriter, keyboardist, and a co-founding member of symphonic metal band Nightwish. He has stated that his songwriting is influenced by harmonic film music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derek Grant (drummer)</span> American musician, singer and songwriter (born 1977)

Derek Richard Grant is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known for being the third and longest-serving drummer for punk rock band Alkaline Trio from 2001 to 2023. He is also a member of Chicago "supergroup" Dead Ending. He was previously a member of The Suicide Machines, Telegraph, Gyga, Thoughts of Ionesco, Remainder, Walls of Jericho, The Exceptions and Broken Spoke. In addition to playing the drums, Grant is a guitarist and vocalist, and has filled in as guitarist for both Face to Face (1998) and The Gaslight Anthem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Benson</span> American musician (born 1970)

Brendan Benson is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, and drums. He has released eight solo albums and is a member of the band The Raconteurs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Matos</span> Brazilian singer and musician (1971–2019)

André Coelho Matos was a Brazilian singer and musician. He was involved in the heavy metal bands Viper, Angra, Shaman and Symfonia. Since 2006, Matos had been dedicating his time to his solo career. In 2012, he was ranked No. 77 at the list of 100 Greatest Voices of Brazilian Music by Rolling Stone Brasil.

Longwave is an American indie rock band. The band was formed in 1999 by guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Steve Schiltz; guitarist Shannon Ferguson; bassist David Marchese; and drummer Jeremy Greene. The band was active from 1999 to 2008. As of 2018 the band had reformed and was recording new music. Longwave's fifth album ‘’If We Ever Live Forever’’ was released October 25, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muruga Booker</span> American musician

Steven Bookvich known as Muruga Booker is an American drummer, composer, inventor, artist, recording artist, and an autonomous Eastern Orthodox priest.

The Holy Fire is an indie rock band from Detroit, Michigan.

Leaving Rouge was an indie rock band from Detroit, Michigan.

Full Devil Jacket is an American alternative metal/post-grunge band from Jackson, Tennessee, formed in 1997.

Search the City was an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan who released two EPs and two studio albums.

Abandon is an American Christian rock band from San Antonio, Texas. The group had five members: brothers Josh and Justin Engler (guitar), cousins Stevan (guitar) and Dave Vela (drums), and Bryan Fowler (bass).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roddy Hart</span> Scottish musician

Roderick John Hart is a Scottish singer–songwriter, composer and broadcaster from Glasgow. As a solo artist, he has released three records – Bookmarks, Sign Language and Road of Bones – and one EP, The Dylan EP. Hart also releases albums with his band the Lonesome Fire, the first of which was the self-titled Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire produced by Danton Supple. Released in late 2013, the album was nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year Award in April 2014. Their second album, Swithering, was co-produced by Paul Savage and released in 2016. The band made their American network TV debut on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on 17 February 2014 and proved so popular they were invited back the following week to perform a week-long residency on the show.

References

  1. ↑ "Rock Band Float Here Forever has momentum". metrotimes.com. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  2. ↑ "ESPN Films & SEC Network to premiere documentary The All-American Cuban Comet". espn.com. October 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Nick Marko Reviews". nickmarko.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Introducing...Singer Soldier". bostonsurvivalguide.net. March 12, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  5. ↑ "The Matinee May 15th". therevue.ca. May 15, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ "The Holy Fire Electronic Press Kit". sonicbids.com. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.