The Mark Austin Band - Dallas, Texas
The Rebirth of Fusion
By Pat Ferris

Fusion had its heyday back in the '70s, when jazz was transforming the boundaries of music with giants like Weather Report, Spiro Gyra, and Tower of Power.  Fusion was (in my opinion), the pinnacle of music creativity; incorporating every musical influence and attracting the finest musicians world-wide.  

The popularity of rock, especially in the United States,  overshadowed fusion to the degree of keeping it out of the mainstream, but bands like The Grateful Dead created a new genre of rock...one that catered especially to the live audience.  The jam band was rock's answer to fusion, and after the passing of Jerry Garcia, the popularity of jam bands has continued to grow. Bands like Phish lead armies of vendors from city to city, creating an event more than just a concert.  The defining factor of a jam-band... the ability to jam of course!

Mark Austin was one of the first featured artists on HotBands.com, and hails from Dallas, Texas.  I've always been a fan of big bands with horns because I was always impressed with the ability for more than three band members to get along!  Seriously, it takes a lot of effort to get several people working together to make a good sound, and The Mark Austin Band is all over it! Total pros attracted to the ability to push the limits of music.

His band has recently had tremendous success at MP3.com, attaining the #1 position in the 'psychedelic rock' category and #35 overall, with nearly 2000 downloads in a single day.  

Aside from being an accomplished bassist leading a band brimming with talented musician's, Mark is a very spiritual, intellectual and gracious man.  It was a pleasure to have a second interview with him.

<HotBands> Hey there! Great to talk with you again

<Mark Austin> My pleasure Pat

<HotBands> It's been a pleasure watching your band grow over the last couple of years. I believe this makes 26 months since we featured you. When we first talked, you were basically just getting off the ground with the band. Give a short play-by play of what has happened over the last 2 years.

<Mark Austin> It's been even more a pleasure for me as well, in fact for all that's been involved. We have 16 tunes in the makes and that is a very lengthy project, and we are ALMOST finished with our first studio CD, and we will have five or six tunes left for the next CD.

<HotBands> Even thought this is your first ‘official CD’ you've released several 'bootleg' CDs to date.

<Mark Austin> Essentially yes. One is now selling, and we’ve taken the other off the market. In fact, we just sold some CD's through mp3.com to Japan and Italy. Since the first of the year, things have really been crazy in a good way. Things just started taking off We are topping out on the charts at mp3.com and that has been a big boost.

<HotBands> I see that. I'm wondering what happened on the 12th of March when your traffic went to almost 2000 downloads that day?

<Mark Austin> Our song I Think of You went to #1 three days in a row in the psychedelic rock category, and to #35 overall of mp3.com.

<HotBands> How did you promote your music? How did you get found?

<Mark Austin> That’s the funny thing….NOTHING!!! Absolutely nothing! It just took off by itself.

<HotBands> I'm wondering who or what it was that suddenly got the attention of everybody with that song…a gig? Radio play?

<Mark Austin> It (the song) was on the site for a year or so before this happened, so I guess after a while the trickle of people added up. I’m pretty sure it wasn't just that song either, because I uploaded four new mixes, took everything else off and three of the four went to # 1 at different times.

<HotBands> So from the time since our last interview, you've landed yourself a steady gig at a Dallas club, have had a serious amount of downloads at MP3.com, and have had substantial airplay on the radio. You obviously work hard at your craft! How did this evolve?

<Mark Austin> I think it just evolved naturally. I got the host-gig going which is still going strong every Monday night at O'Riley’s in Dallas. As far as downloads, they can download the 'Bootleg' CD...actually I've been selling a few copies. I've been getting radio airplay here in Dallas on KNON, in Brazil (Sao Paulo state 11,000,000) twice a week, and several internet radio stations have been playing our music. I have to say, to answer your question a little more thoroughly, that the band and performing has really been driving the ship. The drive of the motivation comes back to the initial reason we starting playing in the beginning I guess

<HotBands> So it's the same group of guys still playing together for the love of the music?

<Mark Austin> Yes, except Lewis Hutcheson is now in the guitar slot, and I'll be adding a lady singer to the live line-up soon

<HotBands> I’m listening to Wake Up right now… what a JAMMING song! Excellent bass work on that! I remember that one from the last time I interviewed you...I still have the CD somewhere among the hundreds of others stacked on the desks, chairs and couches in this mess I call my office!

<Mark Austin> Thanks for the compliment!

<HotBands> Have you done much touring? I know that all of you are long-time pros that have done the gig thing and were looking for a hometown gig because of family etc.

<Mark Austin> Just about to get going on that. I hadn't needed to until I had product. Now we're getting close...only one more mix. We are in the process of putting together a road plan that includes the fact that I just signed a two-year non-exclusive with an agent. I have a business manager showing up, suiting up and making it happen…it's just all in due time…kind of like my typing!

<HotBands> Good thing the readers don't read fast!

<Mark Austin> :-)

<HotBands> So you guys are about to go out and hit the road again huh? It seems that 'Jam Bands', a rock cross over from acid-jazz, is what is becoming the defining sound of this decade. You guys got together at the right time for sure. With seven of you, doesn't that make scheduling tours difficult?

<Mark Austin> Well, if it’s not a great tour, we won't do it. This project has been a blast since the get-go and that's what it's about. Really, it seems to have a place of it's own, I'm just the driver. It's been falling right into place without effort so to speak.

<HotBands> That's great! The good vibes show thru in the sound of your band. I'm listening to 'Calling out my name' right now, you remind me of Jaco (Pastorius) on bass...I'm sure you've heard that before.

<Mark Austin> This band has been set up since the beginning by a musician, (me) and has a very functional type existence, meaning for one thing since we are all reading charts, we can have subs on the gig and welcome them. Hell, Steve Howard is a sub on this gig, and now a good bud too. As far as my bass playing… Jaco...how can you not love Jaco?....don't answer that...thanks

<HotBands> You play a Fender?

<Mark Austin> Yessir! I do play an old Roland bass synth on a few things like Taste It

<HotBands> You and a lot of your band members have a pretty extensive background playing with some pretty major heavies. Are they/you doing other side gigs, some doing day-gigs, studio work, freelancing? Are they regulars in the DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) music scene?

<Mark Austin> Yes, they all are pros and make their living here in Dallas pretty much aside the occasional road trip. Everybody pretty much works in lots of different situations as well as has their own projects. In fact we all play around on each other’s projects sometimes. One of the members is involved with Palmyra Studios, host to Erykah Badu and many other well knowns in the industry.

The credits that the members have are a list of who's who starting with the Eagles, Woody Herman Orchestra, Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, Bob Hope, Andy Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Lou Rawls, Cab Calloway, Billy Eckstine, and Joe Williams, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Rita Moreno, Toni Tenille, that's mainly just one guy.

<HotBands> Which guy?

<Mark Austin> Larry Spencer trumpet/co-producer of this project

<HotBands> Where from here? You've been at it steady for the last couple of years. Would you say that in-fighting and tensions found in most bands are present with you guys, or have you all matured past that?…no offense if you haven't! J

<Mark Austin> Past all that here! We have been in this long enough that on MY gig it doesn’t happen because everybody loves it. If everybody gets to participate to his or her fullest, it's a cakewalk. Also, this thing is set -up so that the person walking on stage (providing they can) gets to kick butt! It's a great therapy…It promotes, and we promote harmony. We are at the age where we enjoy empowerment to a real degree verses all the young ego struggles of the younger years

<HotBands> Too bad we weren’t blessed with that wisdom earlier in life!

<Mark Austin> It’s all part of the journey.

<HotBands> So is The Mark Austin Band project pursuing studio releases, touring, or are you content with your growing fan base and flexibility to do your other projects and have a life outside of The Mark Austin Band?

<Mark Austin> I intend on making the Band happen to the degree that it will on balance. I am planning on touring, and laying out a map for the band. I will of course have to be available for my son as he grows (4 in June), but will take this as far as we can.

<HotBands> When do you expect your first studio release date? Are you going to be touring this summer? If so, where?

<Mark Austin> All but one of the songs from the new CD is available on our mp3.com site. The last mix I expect to finish within the next two weeks. From there, we will actually take the whole thing to a different set of ears to master. So we should have it released within the next two months for sure. As far as touring, we will work with showgigs.com on their dates, and at that time we will pursue a venture with our agent to work for a major radio breakout, tracking from Billboard etc.

<HotBands> Are they studio or live cuts?

<Mark Austin> They will be the studio cuts. Depending on how the gig thing goes, we may be pursuing a regional plan as well. Our Song will not be on the CD, the horns will be re-cut and it will be re-mixed with Lewis Hutcheson on guitar. MP3.com will be only place that this song will be available.

<HotBands> Do you have dates for summer yet?

<Mark Austin> Possibly, with ‘The Outside Resource’ in July in Chicago, which may be tied in with the radio promotion. I also have a gig working in Estes Park, Colorado on the 4th of July for a spiritual conference...that should really be a blast! Other than that, my business manager is putting together plans to move regionally.

<HotBands> You are SMOKIN’ on the bass on this song (Don’t be Scared) I'm listening to right now!!!

<Mark Austin> Thanks bro! It would be great if you could sometime visit here for our Monday thing as we get other players up after we do our first set and it's always fun.

<HotBands> I'm sure that if I'm in Dallas I'll be there!

<Mark Austin> I’d also like to mention my solo site on mp3.com/mark_austin . I was featured today on mp3.com.

<HotBands> Where were you featured?

<Mark Austin> I was featured in the rock category under the featured tab with the song Taste It. What’s wild is that the bootleg stuff is beginning to be pretty popular on the charts too!

<HotBands> That is also something that seems like it's becoming more popular these days (thank the Grateful Dead for laying the groundwork for that).

<HotBands> One thing I'd like to ask is how our initial interview helped you.

<Mark Austin> Oh, it's been a part of our complete press pack since day one. It's the weight you carry bro! It's been a driving force for traffic and ultimately that is a difference that can make a difference my thanks and appreciation for your continued efforts and the heart that it is done with. I wish you continued success and good things.

<HotBands> Well, any last thoughts or wishes you'd like to pass on to the readers?

<Mark Austin> Just a VERY HEALTHY THANK YOU! YOU CAN HEAR!!!! Many thanks Pat. You are a powerful force for good music!

<HotBands> Is there any advice that you may want to pass on to some of the up and coming musicians? (you know...like 'keep your day gig', 'get out while you can..' etc.)

<Mark Austin> Ha! :-)   I followed my heart and in the end that’s my best advice.

<HotBands> Thanks so much Mark. I look forward to many more years of great music from you and hope to see you touring up in the Seattle area soon!

<Mark Austin> Thanks again Pat. As I say, keep up the GREAT work bro. It makes a HUGE difference. I'm not sure if we can fully know to what extent these efforts achieve. Looking forward to our next get-together. Cheers!