Check out the trailer for the upcoming indie feature "29000 Wishes. 1 Regret" featuring music by Grand Spark: http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi716874009/
Multi-instrumentalist Mario Ponce has been writing and recording music since the age of thirteen. Hailing from Lawndale CA, he has been a member of a series of local bands throughout the (so.cal) south-bay area as a drummer, bass player, lead guitarist and singer. After years of recording various eight and four-track demos, and after the release of his first eight track Grand Spark EP (The Fall Of Lawndale) the groundwork was laid for his first self-titled full legnth debut CD, "Grand Spark". Since then he has released two additional Grand Spark EP's and a string of releases not under the Grand Spark name (check out Daydream Deluxe and EOIQ on iTunes.com) that have been described as a cosmic blend of the Cure, U2 ,Echo and theBunnymen,The Cars, and Radiohead. He is currently in the studio working on the second full legnth Grand Spark LP "Pentimento". Already being regarded as a master work, "Pentimento" will see a spring 2012 release.
-BMI Member
-Two EP's, Three LPs released on iTunes / Napster / Amazon / Rhapsody
Song placements on:
-VH1's Scott Baio is 46 and pregnant
-Lifetime's Lisa Williams (life among the dead)
-MTV's wanna come in? / Score! / I Used To Be Fat
Current Song placement:
-Movie Score in upcoming thriller "Machine Head"
-Feature Song Placement "Machine Head
-Three songs featured in the upcoming independent feature film.
"29000 Wishes. 1 Regret".
-Song feature in "The Last Trip" independent feature film.
-PAZTURNER Fashion "Video Go See" song feature promotions
-Mighty Generation (licensing and placement)
******
With influences ranging from The Beach Boys to The Cure the path was laid for
Grand Spark. Written, produced, and performed by Mario Ponce, this labor of love
is ripe with freshness. This first, full-length self-titled debut is best
described as being "a cosmic blend of Pete Yorn, U2, Travis, The Cars, and
Radiohead." Starting off solid with strait ahead rock, then ending lost in
dreamy pop, every song has it's own identity.
Debut LP "Grand Spark" is available on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, and more.
Exclusive Unreleased EP "On Again, Off Again" is available at
www.reverbnation.com - search grandspark
T
yt REVIEWS: ********
"Over a gorgeous,, super-charged blend of rhythm & lead guitars, bass, and
simple yet catchy drums that drive the momentum, Ponce sings with an
unfathomable sense of depth, sadness, hope, and a feeling of life beyond the
stars in the universe. Grand Spark turns the mundane into a cosmic array of
abstract essence as we know it, but can’t vocalize, whether we’re working,
playing, or dreaming. Ponce evokes these abstractions with a hip, modern sense
of romance and powerful, laid-wide-open sensitivity. Powerful is the effect, for
sure; because when Grand Spark dreams, they dream in motion; and it’s a motion
that moves insistently with an arresting impact on the rhythm."---
Greg Debonne (Music Supervisor - Bongo Ent - Lifetime Channel / MTV / VH1)
-Check back soon for more info...
******
With influences ranging from The Beach Boys to The Cure the path was laid for Grand Spark. Written, produced, and performed by Mario Ponce, this labor of love is ripe with freshness. This first, full-length self-titled debut is best described as being "a cosmic blend of Pete Yorn, U2, Travis, The Cars, and Radiohead." Starting off solid with strait ahead rock, then ending lost in dreamy pop, every song has it's own identity.
This CD is also available on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, and more.
REVIEWS: ********
"Over a gorgeous,, super-charged blend of rhythm & lead guitars, bass, and simple yet catchy drums that drive the momentum, Ponce sings with an unfathomable sense of depth, sadness, hope, and a feeling of life beyond the stars in the universe. Grand Spark turns the mundane into a cosmic array of abstract essence as we know it, but can’t vocalize, whether we’re working, playing, or dreaming. Ponce evokes these abstractions with a hip, modern sense of romance and powerful, laid-wide-open sensitivity. Powerful is the effect, for sure; because when Grand Spark dreams, they dream in motion; and it’s a motion that moves insistently with an arresting impact on the rhythm."---
Greg Debonne (Music Sup - Lifetime Channel / MTV)
"Grand Spark is the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Mario Ponce, a Southern California-based individual who has effectively recorded this entire CD by himself, handling the vocals as well as the guitars, bass, and percussion on this disc. This came about following many stints in various bands about his locality, where he regularly found himself performing different duties, and so he's now going it alone, as Grand Spark.
"The eleven songs strewn across this self-titled effort straddle emotion, romance, and all retain a somewhat dark evanescent feel a la the ON project of (former Failure/current Year Of The Rabbit frontman) Ken Andrews. The overall feel of the music is of a bygone era, harking back to earlier times when material such as that found on this disc could be allowed to grow popular through the power and integrity found within, as opposed to the brainwashing promotional schemes afforded to the majority of frankly awful acts looking to make an impact in the charts." iateyourmicrophone.com
"Here is a new band from California that is playing to the beat of a different drum. Grand Spark sounds like a cosmic blend of Pete Yorn, U2, Travis,The Cars, and Radiohead. The sound is a thick wall of processed guitars with a light airly vocal sound overlaying everything. Really neat stuff and absolutely recommended!"--jamrecordings.com
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