"Folking cool
...honesty, integrity, simplicity, humour, understatement, restraint, a ‘joire d’vivre’ that can only be found in folk who know exactly where the bottom and the top can be found, catharsis, realisation… This is a rootsy, country, bluesy exposition of the highest order. Its partly Lambchop that you can actually hear, partly 1950’s country music that realises that this is the twenty first century, partly damn fine music that X-Factor fans should be required to listen to..." -Paul Villers, Americana UK magazine
"...Mark Cool and the Folk Stars is music that is well-grounded, even earthy and gritty in its texture. Yet, it moves forward in an upbeat dynamic way that finds its mark straight to the heart. I trust his words and the authenticity of the music. ... I highly recommend it to you." -Reid Baer, menstuff.org
Bio:
What sets Mark cool's music apart is the earthy, gritty, integrity in his voice, and the honesty and insight of his lyrics, laced at times with wry humor. These qualities have earned him frequent comparisons to Townes Van Zandt and Nebraska-era Bruce Springsteen.
"...Honesty, integrity, simplicity, humour, understatement, restraint, a certain joire de vivre that can only be found in folk who know exactly where the bottom and the top can be found, catharsis, realisation..." says Paul Villers of Americana UK Magazine in describing the Durham, NC songwriter's August, 2007 release, "Introducing Mark Cool and the Folk Stars."
Cool is currently on tour in support of the album, combining traditional venues with his "100 house concerts tour."
Mark Cool (yes, that's his real name), formed the band "Mark Cool and the Folk Stars" in 2006 and started playing shows locally in Durham and surrounding areas. The cd was recorded over an 8 month period at Durham's Sound Scripture Studios, with special guests Dom Flemons (of the Carolina Chocolate Drops), Ben Palmer, and others. Americana UK Magazine picked the disc as one of the top 20 of 2007 alongside Wilco, Okkervil River, Paul Case and Crowded House, and the disc has received radio airplay on public radio in north carolina and in europe, one week topping the country/folk/bluegrass chart on WXDU, and also topping Nessmp3, of Scotland's charts.
With a Feb. 08 solo tour of Scotland already under his belt, MC plans to continue the "100 house concerts tour" alongside more conventional venues, and to expand his radius to include the Northeast US and southern states as well. A house concert attendee had this to say about his live show: "The house concert was fabulous! Mark Cool's music is sweet - and sometimes funny - it has a depth and power that taps into a tender appreciation for living- even when it's edges are hard - that makes us want to wake up and feel more alive. Mark's voice and presence take us to that place, along the trail he's traveled and come through singing." -Joanna H. Another UK tour is in the planning stages for july /august '08, and a new cd is expected to be done by early '09.
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