I stop by Mark Charles Heidinger’s “homecoming” and Vandaveer performance, his most recent project, where he plays lead guitar, writes songs, and harmonizes with vocalist Rose Guerin and drummer Robby Catholic (with guest appearance by John Thomas on Banjo/Slide), but first, he answers a few questions for me.
So, you’re from Lexington, Kentucky. Which is it, Clark, Bourbon, Jessamine, Scott, or Woodford?
I was born in Ohio, raised in the rolling hills of Jessamine County, and also a resident of Lexington for a decade more directly thereafter.
Are you attending the Festival of Bluegrass this year?
I will be attending the festival of mowing my grass this year, for when I am not on tour, I am far away from stages, tending to the home, garden and roost.
Stab in the dark: Favorite Bourbon/Whiskey?
All of them. But more specifically, I like the 12 year old “Lot B” Rip Van Winkle, Basil Hayden’s, Bulleit, Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek, and, of course, Maker’s Mark, where I proudly serve as an honorary ambassador.
Vandaveer
Coming from the land of bluegrass, you chose folk (some pop, jazz, and rock), why? Is it the story-telling? Is it what you were raised on?
I was raised on pot roasts, egg souffle, mashed potatoes, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but I do like all those genres you just mentioned. Not sure I consciously chose one style of music over any other. More just the nature of absorbing and reinterpreting and imitating… Repurposing might be a good way to put it…
In being a part of groups like Apparitions and These United States, was Vandaveer something you wanted for your own?
I think Vandaveer was very much a reaction to my experience with The Apparitions. Bands can be precarious, especially when you try to democratize them. Ruling with an iron fist is much easier. That being said, These United States and Vandaveer came about in the same period. Were I able to be in three places at once, I’d like to think I would be involved in all three projects, but I haven’t quite figured that trick out just yet. I certainly miss the camaraderie.
You mentioned in another interview that “then came Rose” [Rose Guerin, Vocalist], which sounds like a heavy phrase, what exactly does that mean for you and Vandaveer?
Having Rose means having the prettiest harmonies on planet Earth in your songs. She finds her sonic place fairly quickly, and I rarely question what she brings to the table. We’ve had quite a run together so far. Nearly all of it enjoyable, too…
[There was sadly, no Ukele. “My little boy broke my uke a few months ago in a fit of euphoria. Pete Townsend would be proud.”]
I thoroughly enjoyed your Roman Candle performance video on La Blogotheque; I believe if folks watch it, they will feel compelled to attend a show. Having never seen you live (excited to do so on Saturday), and after watching you stomping the streets of Tolouse, I thought to myself, “Do you think Mark could stand still on stage?”
So, what are your “moves” on stage? Do you do a standard “chicken stomp” or do you favor “axl” with the side to side?
I enjoy standing still from time to time. But, I also very much like to be on the move. I don’t know what the “chicken stomp” actually looks like, but I think Axl was ace back in the day. Not so much anymore. He never should’ve kicked Steven Alder out of the band (or in the groin).
How are you feeling about the new record Dig Down Deep? Does it still feel new; do you still love it like your third-born LP?
Funny you should ask that… We’re on tour right now supporting Dig Down Deep, and most nights I mention the new record and talk about it very much like my third born… Technically we’re up to 3.5.
What makes it different from the prior records (Grace & Speed and Divide & Conquer)? (And why no ampersand in this title?!)
For starters, there’s no ampersand, so, right there, way different… Secondly, I rekindled my love for Pink Floyd during the making of this album. The other marked departure on this record was the tune “Spite.” My good friend Scott Fields wrote a poem with the same name, which I tinkered with until it became a song. That was a first for me. A fun first, too… Ben Sollee plays cello on that one, too. Have you heard Ben? He’s a beast. A gentle beast.
What are you listening to these days? And what are you listening to them on?
I’m listening to a whole bunch of Ferraby Lionheart at the moment. We’re on tour together right now, so we hear him every night on stage. “This American Life” podcasts, Loretta Lynn records, a lot of our friends’ music, and a healthy dose of Patton Oswalt…
Ferraby Lionheart
As Mark mentions above, the “tinkered with” tune “Spite” was a departure; it stood out in a rare and delightful way Saturday evening with clever lines like “He cut out his sleep to spite his dreams / Picked all the flowers to spite the beans / He burned his bible to spite the lord… Life is such a wretched affair, I’m gonna hold my breath to spite the air.”
A home town favorite, the crowd listened intently to Vandaveer’s style of dark alternative folk.
The opener Ferraby Lionheart, which Mark mentioned above, joined the ranks of sweet Northwestern folk voices (Fleet Foxes, Ivan & Alyosha, and Grand Archives) that have grown ever popular recently. Ferraby Lionheart smartly added Rose Guerin to a few of his songs, where she added her seamless accompaniment and indelible ooohs and aaahs. Unfortunately, he lost me when he sang “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be),” but he strengthened his finish with the songwriting in “Dear Corinne.”
“Should the medicine fail me today, send a prayer, if you can, my way / If my body breaks, then my heart you’ll take this time. Without you, it’s hard to sleep. It’s a wooden shack but it’s mine and it’s cheap / and a half a block from the job I got. Hank shipped off, yeah, did you hear? / Mother’s a mess and we all live in fear / And nature, she’s gonna take her course / And when the night falls black over me, and the moon crawls over the sea, if my body breaks, then my heart you’ll take this time.”
Rose shined Saturday night, acting as the wave of sound that Mark caught and rode effortlessly. Vandaveer is still working on the set list (new record) and working out a few kinks (terrible Stephanopoulos joke) but with gems like “Spite,” “Roman Candle,” “Fistful of Swoon,” Mark and Rose will be just fine.
