Name  Mark Bryan

Best known for  Lead-guitarist, Hootie & the Blowfish

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Current city  Denver

Really want to be in  Denver, rocking Fiddler’s Green on tour with my dudes.  Salt Lake next…

Excited about   New solo album, POPPED!

My current music collection has a lot of  The last two playlists I made were, an ‘80s alternative college radio DJ collection for a potential specialty show in the style of Little Steven’s Underground Garage [radio show], and a vintage funk juke box called “Funky on Your Back.”

And a little bit of  Everything (not to be confused with, but including the Dawes song with that title).

Preferred format  I love listening to vinyl at home, and my collection includes everything from my parent’s and grandparent’s stuff from as far back as the ’40’s/50’s, to my first Columbia House purchases as a teen. I also still buy new music on vinyl.

I still make CDs as a great way to share physical copies of my albums, but I haven’t listened to one in a long time.

Streaming is an amazing way to find whatever you want to hear on the spot, but the business model for it is dysfunctional and sad so far. 

5 Albums I Can’t Live Without:

1

Who’s Next, The Who

I’ve often called this the greatest rock album of all-time.  Starting with “Baba O’Riley,” and ending with “We Won’t Get Fooled Again,” pretty much says it all, but there is much brilliance in between, including “Bargain,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” etc.  Who’s Next is the greatest combination of pure, rock energy, and master song craft, that I’ve ever heard.  Highly inspirational!

2

Revolver, The Beatles

This is that moment in the Beatles’ catalog where you can literally hear them transitioning from young mop tops to mature songwriters experimenting with different styles, instrumentation, and subject matter. Listening to this album is a reminder to always try and stay in that headspace of challenging yourself creatively. 

3

Closing Time, Tom Waits

There are certain albums that you just put on when it’s the right time, and the music takes you to a place emotionally that can’t be described, only experienced. This happens when I play Closing Time. I’m somehow transported to that feeling you get when life, and the party, all magically align, and everything’s okay for a little bit.

4

Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology, The Meters

Music has never made me feel better. The Meters’ vibe makes me want to dance, jam, sing, and share the feeling with everyone else!  

5

(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis

Noel, you bastard. I was in Germany, basking in the glory of the success of [Hootie & the Blowfish’s 1994 album] Cracked Rear View, and our first European Hootie tour, when I started listening to this album, and not stopping, and becoming obsessed with it all the way through.  It’s just an absolute masterpiece that keeps on giving. Liam, your voice has the perfect combination of grit and sweetness, and you’re a complete bastard as well.

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