‘The Punch List’ with Mark Bryan
Metronome Charleston‘s weekly Punch List puts local musicians on the spot with a questionnaire that touches on music, venues, gear, records, vices, and more. This week, guitarist, songwriter, and educator Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish and the Occasional Milkshake takes a turn.
1. What is your favorite local hang and why?
“I would have to agree with Hank Futch [of the Blue Dogs and Occasional Milkshake] and choose the Windjammer due to my history there, but this town is full of great spots. Hootie started playing and packing the Windjammer in the early ’90s, and I still love playing there with the Occasional Milkshake. Any place where you can get a great burger, play a killer show, drink your face off, then go skinny dipping in the ocean is tough to beat.”
2. You know you’ve played an excellent show when…
“They want to hear more, and more, and more, and you want to keep playing.”
3. What was the last show you attended that really got you fired up in a good or bad way?
“Just saw the Who with my son in Greenville. Pete [Townshend] is such a grumpy old bastard now, but he still brought it at almost 70 years-old, so I figure I still have many good ones left in me.”
4. Define your musical style in exactly 10 words.
“High-energy rock and roll from the heart and soul.”
5. What’s your theme song?
“That makes me think of the pimp in the movie I’m Gonna Get You Sucka that had the band Fishbone following him around playing his theme music live. I would choose their song ‘Party at Ground Zero.’ It reminds me to make the best out of the worst of times.”
Singer/guitarist Mark Bryan (provided)
6. Gear-wise, what’s is your irreplaceable baby?
“These days it’s probably my Fender Super tube amp [1963]. I use it pretty consistently on recordings and at shows. Thanks to Bryn Wilson [of local band the Hed Shop Boys] for selling it to me in 2000.”
7. What’s the most overplayed album in your collection?
“That’s tough because I try and constantly keep up with new stuff, and I make a lot of mixes. I think Abbey Road is probably the one I have listened to front to back, the most times.”
8. When was the last time you were genuinely star-struck?
“I sang the National Anthem for Andy Roddick’s tennis tour stop in Columbia a few years ago, and it was right when he met Brooklyn Decker. All I kept thinking was that’s the girl from the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue that’s sitting at my house right now, and I could barely get a word out because the pics kept popping in my head. I asked Andy how he met her, and he said half-jokingly, ‘A lot of stalking.’ He also said he figured jail would have been worth it. He’s really funny.”
9. What’s your poison?
“I’m mostly a beer drinker, but I love a Crown and Ginger.”
10. In 10 years, I will be…
“A 55-year-old father of college students, still making relevant music, and inspiring others to do the same.”
Mark Bryan is a founding member of the acclaimed S.C. pop/rock band Hootie and the Blowfish. He resides in the Charleston area. When he’s not performing with Hootie or his local side band the Occasional Milkshake, he collaborates with other musicians on stages and in studios.
Bryan also teaches a music marketing class at the College of Charleston, and he serves on the Board of Directors for Carolina Studios, a program that provides youth and young adults an “opportunity to be in a self-contained, safe after-school environment that promotes productive use of time through music technology, graphic arts, digital photography, and video technology.” Bryan’s Chucktown Music Group regularly releases new music from budding Southeastern artists through the online “Song of the Fortnight” series.
Visit markbryanmusic.com for more.
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About the Author
Ballard Lesemann is a musician and writer. Born and raised in Charleston, S.C., he spent years playing in bands and working for Flagpole Magazine in the bustling music town of Athens, Ga. He returned to his hometown and served more than seven years as the Charleston City Paper's music editor. He's better at drumming than he is at playing guitar.
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