Mark Helm

"More hooks than a fly fisherman's vest..." -The Washington PostA decade ago, Mark Helm was a member of the sterling Washington power-pop band, radioblue (a staple headline act at the famous Niteclub 9:30 and other D.C. venues). After that group split, Helm returned to his second home in Denmark, and spent some time troubadouring in Scandinavia (which explains why "everything's ok' features recordings made in Copenhagen, Oslo and Rejkavik)."Mark Helm writes the kind of songs that put a smile on the face of blind ambition." --The Los Angeles TimesIn 2001, 'everything's ok' was released by Not Lame Recordings to rave reviews (see blog: "Parise for Everything's OK"). The record was championed by NL president and powerpop guru, Bruce Brodeen. Here are Brodeen's thoughts: “Everything’s ok" is one of those moving, deeply personal recordings that seeps into your soul, exposing bitter struggles, and life-threatening weaknesses; but ultimately, there's a break in the clouds. Evoking the transcendent spirit of such artists as Badly Drawn Boy, Elliot Smith, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Grant Lee Buffalo, and The Eels, Mark’s searching musical phrasings whisper inside a chilly private room, hinting at the darkness inside a life shot through by love and loss. Think Big Star’s "Sister Lovers" meets Neil Young’s "Tonight’s the Night" (with the spirit of The Beatles and Brian Wilson popping in and out) and you’ll hit the mark. "Everything’s OK" is a soundtrack of the soul. Slain in the spirit of refreshing originality with no pretense for fame or fortune, Mark Helm is a writer for the ages."" Sister Lovers and Tonight's The Night, is it? How completely and utterly fantastic! You deserve it, and you owe it to yourself to finish the evil lost second album," --Pat Fish (AKA The Jazz Butcher)In early 2003 Helm began work on a follow-up to 'ok' (tentatively titled 'the artificial heart'). Successful sessions in Odense, Denmark (with studio whiz and collaborator Henrik Krog Christensen) produced a moving cover of Danish songstress Lise Westzynthius' 'cross my heart' (from her breathtaking debut 'heavy dream;' visit www.westzynthius.dk), a collaboration with one of Helm's long-time musical inspirations, Danish writer/performer/producer/ indie label owner, Nikolaj Norlund (visit www.norlund.com), and several original tracks detailing the personal demons that eventually brought work on the record to a grinding halt. He has not written, recorded, or performed since that time.Late last year, however, Helm resurfaced. He is currently on the English Department faculty of a respected local college. There are no immediate plans to return to perfroming, or to continue work on 'the evil lost second album.' ....or are there??!!?(-Bio by Dan "Da Man" Tollerfson) Live! at IOTA (Arlington, Va.)

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the band: lu bango (bck vocals), scott mcknight (guitar), mike harvey (guitar), tony flagg (bass), evan pollack (drums)