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Ahhh… So these last few months have been all about downtime, and getting lots of non-musical crap done. Lots of stressful things that I doubt anyone is interested in. But I am now pretty clear of most of it, so that’s cool. Musically, it’s not like I have been doing nothing, just not as much. That being said, I have recorded a bunch of new songs. They need some vocals and organ, for the most part, but this new batch of songs will be very straight-forward, rock’n’roll type stuff – vocals, guitar, bass, drums and farfisa. Lots of covers, too. Stuff I had wanted to do for a long, long time. I figured out a new recording technique using my trusty 4-track cassette machine. It sounds pretty sweet. Anyway, this seems to all be a way to precurse a tour I wanna do at the end of the year. With a full band mirroring this new recording set up, playing from my catalogue of shit, me frontmanning the whole thing. IF this actually happens, it will be really fun and, I think, pretty cool. I’m working on some ideas for the band, so if anyone is reading this: promoters, labels, musicians… Folks who wanna put stuff out, play along, book these shows, just find my email address or find me on facebook or whatever. This hypothetical tour would also be to usher in the inevitable anti-apocalypse, a time of laughs and illumination, but sure, a time of darkness. But fuck the darkness. It’s full of assholes.
Until that time comes, until that tour possibly happens, I will be playing from April onwards, hopefully hitting most of Europe, Russia, Turkey, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Reunion, Madagascar and for sure hitting the US and Canada, as you can see below. Most of these shows are happening in conjunction with the vinyl release of my ‘War On Rock’n’Roll’:

Dig the GARY PANTER artwork!! So thrilled about that! Anyhow, it’s an off-the-cuff, stream-of-consciousness, live recording I did while I was in Brazil, on a very revealing tour… Anyway, it also marks the first time I attempted to incorporate a floor tom, ride cymbal and some delay into my sound, some improvising, etc… The digital version can be still found on this page somewhere, possibly archived, with a better description, and also with its manifesto, which rounds out the whole thing, putting into context. FIND IT!! Out this month on IN THE RED.
Also quickly wanted to mention to look for possibly TWO Jumbo Lions shows in July, as well as one Sexareenos show in June. HUZZAH!
So, that’s it… Labels, musicians, promoters, bookers… contact me. By email. Or facebook. Not here. And if you can go see my tour (dates below), please do. And tell your friends. I may even revert to the set-up I experimented with on the album.

https://www.facebook.com/events/348861051820746/

And here are the dates, so far… EUROPEAN BOOKERS, write me. I am currently piecing together an AUGUST/SEPTEMBER tour

WAR ON ROCK’N’ROLL US TOUR:

April 24th: Tallahassee, FL – Waterworks
April 25th: St. Augustine, FL – Cafe 11
April 27th: Miami, FL – Vagabond
April 28th: San Juan, PR – Abracadabra
May 2nd: Orlando, FL – Will’s Pub
May 3rd: Costa Mesa, CA – Detroit Bar
May 4th: Phoenix, AZ – Trunk Space
May 5th: San Francisco, CA – The Hemlock
May 7th: Denver, CO – Hi-Dive
May 10th: Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
May 11th: New Haven, CT – Cafe 9
May 12th: TBA
May 23rd: Detroit, MI – PJ’s Lager House
May 24th: Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
May 25th: Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club
May 26th: Minneapolis, MN – Turf Club
May 28th: Omaha, NE – The Slowdown
May 29th: Oklahoma City, OK – Blue Note
May 31st: Dallas, TX – City Tavern
June 1st: Austin, TX – Scoot-Inn (Chaos in Tejas)
June 2nd: Houston, TX – Continental Club
June 4th: Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone
June 5th: Nashville, TN – Zombie Shop
June 7th: Cincinnati, OH – Motr
June 8th: Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
June 9th: Cleveland, OH – Beachland
June 15th: Montreal, QC – Sala Rossa
July 6th: Moncton, NB – The Manhattan
July 7th: Halifax, NS – Michael’s Bar & Grill

EUROPEAN TOUR – HELP WANTED!!!

Another tour has come and gone, this time it was North America. I ended up having to book the thing myself, pretty short notice. It was stressful to book, but I managed. It was stressful to get through, due to short-notice routing, but I did it. I had ups and downs, but it was mostly a great trip and a great time. I finally saw Puerto Rico, and if that ain’t one of the best places to play and visit, I dunno what is. Very few shows were disappointments, but the couple that were took place in cities I had expected better from. Now I know. I also realized that I am an outsider to the press, and even to the people in whatever ‘scene’ I may be dragged into. This in particular was not depressing or surprising, but kind of amusing to me, in that I seriously have had a major role in influencing a lot of the same stuff that is being written about and heavily attended – whether people wish to know or acknowledge that or not. I think a lot of folks, for example, don’t realize just how much I wrote and sang in The King Khan & BBQ Show or if I was even there at all, hahaha! But I was. And my contributions may not be respected right now, down to the biased, side-taking reviews, lack of coverage, the sullying, the vilifying etc… but my music and its breadth will be remembered in the future, when image and this moment’s attitudes are forgotten for the façade that they are. The music will always rise to the top – even if it is coveted by few. One thing I DID, however, find unsavoury was how some ‘friends’ and music buddies I had made through the last few years had no problem turning their backs once they had concluded that I am not part of something ‘hip’, anymore. That would be my assumption. That some folks are scared to not be ‘cool’ and possibly face lensless judgement. I guess I had just assumed that kind of clique-y desperation was happening far away from my world. The truth is that no matter how tiny the ‘scene’, how inconsequential the music, however 3rd rate the media coverage and ‘celebrity’, people are consumers and suckers for the most part, generally reverting back to their adolescent insecurities and mechanisms. Oh well. Good riddance. You follow the leaders, and I will be over here doing my own thing.

I am proud of my many contributions. I am proud of my 2 (3!) new albums. I am proud to be doing something perceived as being cloying, while remaining pure. I am proud of my live show. I will paraphrase and combine what I was told once in NYC and once in Paris. My patience and defeat are often rewarded in observations like this from excited strangers, who feel how much I give from my soul at a show and inspire me to continue:

“When I close my eyes I hear pirate radio, complete with the static, with the sound of the signal cutting, the styles changing, tempos crashing, vinyl popping and scratching, like on a juke-box. I am excited to hear what will happen next. When I open my eyes, I see only one man lovingly sacrificing himself for a purpose he doesn’t quite understand. It’s magic.”

I love everyone who helped me out, housed me, drove, promoted me, lied to me, loved me, hated me, had a drink with me, laughed with me, lent me gear, bought my stuff, played with me, came to the shows, tried to fight me, fed me – even those who prove me right by saying shit like, “He doesn’t wear a turban live?! I’m not going.” I just want to play my music, make my music. It is what keeps me going.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

Months ago, I was trying to book a small tour around the holidays in Europe. But like with anywhere else, it has proven unnecessarily difficult. Here is what was managed:

Dec 15th: Copenhagen, DK – Stengade
Dec 16th: Stockholm, SW – Vielle Montagne
Dec 17th: Goteborg, SW – Showdown
Dec 22nd: Rome, IT – Init
Dec 27th: Bergen, NO – Garage
Dec 28th: Berlin, DE – Monarch

My plan is to come back to Europe in 2012 and play some other cities and see some friends. If you read this and promote, feel free to write me with ideas.

MARK

To be clear, I don’t even know dubstep. I am a hypocrite. I also like to lie. Live however you wanna live. I realize it’s better to print the worst parts of interviews, but I honestly don’t think I am better or worse than anyone – just living my life. I enjoy being facetious and if that gets you to listen to my music, I’m happy, cuz it seems there is no other way.
 
- Mark

SIDE A
Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 1
In Future Worlds
Satisfied And Lazy
Pancakes
Party Crasher
Not Another Day
See Them Wave Goodbye

SIDE B
Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 2
Let Me Freeze
Apophis To the Slaughter
Sweeter Than Wine
For Those Who Don’t Exist

Mark Sultan has two new albums waiting to be released on vinyl in the US and beyond sometime in the fall on In The Red Records out of Los Angeles, California. The names of the albums are ‘Whatever I Want’ and “Whenever I Want’, respectively, with a CD release entitled ‘Whatever/Whenever’ following their heels containing 7 songs from each album, 14 of a total 26. The songs are in a similar vein that he has mined of late (and for years): early rock’n’roll, psych, avant garde, free jazz, doo wop, early r&b, garage punk, punk rock, etc… thrown in a pot and simmered over his incredible vocals. Covers of such artists as Ultravox, The Stains, The Four Lords and a couple more round out the collection. Collaborators include Choyce (Red Mass), Jared (Black Lips), Cole (Black Lips), Erin (Spits), Danny (The Gories), etc…”

The first 200 on each LP are on blue vinyl. Get at In The Red.

SIDE A
Axis Abraxas
Livin’ My life
Calloused Hands
Graveyard Eyes
Quit The Human Race
Just For a Moment
No Worries

SIDE B
Song In Grey
If I Had a Polaroid
Blood On Your Hands
Just Like Before
Repulse Me, Baby
I Turned Them All Down
Never Coming Home

Mark Sultan has two new albums waiting to be released on vinyl in the US and beyond sometime in the fall on In The Red Records out of Los Angeles, California. The names of the albums are ‘Whatever I Want’ and “Whenever I Want’, respectively, with a CD release entitled ‘Whatever/Whenever’ following their heels containing 7 songs from each album, 14 of a total 26. The songs are in a similar vein that he has mined of late (and for years): early rock’n’roll, psych, avant garde, free jazz, doo wop, early r&b, garage punk, punk rock, etc… thrown in a pot and simmered over his incredible vocals. Covers of such artists as Ultravox, The Stains, The Four Lords and a couple more round out the collection. Collaborators include Choyce (Red Mass), Jared (Black Lips), Cole (Black Lips), Erin (Spits), Danny (The Gories), etc…”

The first 200 on each LP are on blue vinyl. Get at In The Red.

Neither BRADFORD COX or KING KHAN appear on the new mark sultan releases. This is COMPLETE BULLSHIT.

So much news!! Holy shit! What the FUCK am I doing to myself!?!? Hahahahaha…OK, so firstly, I dunno if I addressed this yet, but thanks to Rob and everyone at the Reverberation Appreciation Society for an awesome time at the Psych Fest show in Austin. Great folks, great bands, etc…Thank you.

What else have I been up to show-wise…Hmmm…Well, chronologically, my next shows are gonna be in SOUTH AMERICA!!! Starting NEXT WEEK!!

AUGUST
25 – Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL: Hula-Hula A-Go-Go @ Saloon 79
26 – Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL: A Obra Bar Dançante
27 – Goiânia, BRAZIL: Metropolis
28 – Porto Alegre, BRAZIL: Santander Cultural

SEPTEMBER
2 – Curitiba, BRAZIL: Wonka Bar
3 – São Paulo, BRAZIL: Clube Berlin 6th Anniversary Bash!!
9 – Valparaíso, CHILE: Bar La Cantera
10 – Santiago, CHILE: Bar Loreto
11 – Montevideo, URUGUAY: TBC

I am really stoked to be able to go back and see friends and visit such wonderful places, and play some shows with BlackNeedles. Gonna be so much fun! I hope to drink ayahuasca and eat a toucan. I DO know that I will be recording in Sao Paulo. Fucked up tropicalia meets synth meltdown meets doo-wop – fucking STOKED!!!

Right after South America, I go to Montreal, where I will be practicing with Les Sexareenos for our Pop Montreal gig! A reunion? Sorta, I guess. Just a bunch of friends playing for kicks – we might even record us a new single!

A few days earlier, I will be joining Bloodshot Bill for The Ding-Dongs’ second show EVER! At L’Esco! That will be wild!!

SEPTEMBER
20 – THE DING-DONGS at L’Esco
24 – LES SEXAREENOS at TBA (Pop Montreal)

Check out each band’s respective new facebook pages with full, up-to-date discographies to listen to and videos to watch.

Speaking of The Ding-Dong’s discography, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we have a new 4-song EP coming out on my newly revamped label, SULTAN RECORDS!!! Here is a link to its facebook page, with all the old stuff that was put out back in ‘98/’99 available to listen to. Some may sound dated, I dunno…but that’s what was up in Montreal (and Toronto), at the time.

I will add some new songs from these new Sultan releases in the next week or so!:

Mark Sultan Livin’ My Life (alt) / Pounding / Shadow With The Golden Eyes	The King Khan & BBQ Show We Are The Ocean / Terrapin	The Ding-Dongs Lucky Day / The Dump / Zach / Weekend

All are 7” 45rpm, all 1000 pressed (650 black, 350 white), all vinyl only. Distributed through Revolver & FAB. All other copies go to bands for sale. I won’t be doing mailorder, as I don’t have time. So go to your mom n pop’s and DEMAND them (they should be out in a few weeks) OR catch these bands on tour or wherever. MORE STUFF TO COME!!!

After these releases, or sometime during, will come this fantastic split 7” I did with Black Lips for Hozac.
Black Lips – ‘I Wanna Dance With You’
Mark Sultan – ‘Song In Grey (alt)’

Ok, so what then…AHHHH! My two new albums are coming out on In the Red in October. The two LPs are called ‘Whatever I Want’ and ‘Whenever I Want’. Both will be released with a limited colour vinyl run.

Here are the track listings:

SIDE A Axis Abraxas Livin’ My life Calloused Hands Graveyard Eyes Quit The Human Race Just For a Moment No Worries SIDE B Song In Grey If I Had a Polaroid Blood On Your Hands Just Like Before Repulse Me, Baby I Turned Them All Down Never Coming Home	SIDE A Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 1 In Future Worlds Satisfied And Lazy Pancakes Party Crasher Not Another Day See Them Wave Goodbye SIDE B Keep Em Satisfied Pt. 2 Let Me Freeze Apophis To the Slaughter Sweeter Than Wine For Those Who Don’t Exist	Axis Abraxas Satisfied And Lazy Song In Grey Just Like Before Calloused Hands In Future Worlds Let Me Freeze If I Had A Polaroid Never Coming Home Graveyard Eyes Party Crasher No Worries For Those Who Don’t Exist

And here is a little more about these albums:
“Mark Sultan has two new albums waiting to be released on vinyl in the US and beyond sometime in the fall on In The Red records out of Los Angeles, California. The names of the albums are ‘Whatever I Want’ and “Whenever I Want’, respectively, with a CD release entitled ‘Whatever/Whenever’ following their heels containing 7 songs from each album, 14 of a total 26. The songs are in a similar vein that he has mined of late (and for years): early rock’n'roll, psych, avant garde, free jazz, doo wop, early r&b, garage punk, punk rock, etc… thrown in a pot and simmered over his incredible vocals. Covers of such artists as Ultravox, The Stains, The Four Lords and a couple more round out the collection. Collaborators include Choyce (Red Mass), Jared (Black Lips), Cole (Black Lips), Erin (Spits), Danny (The Gories), etc…”

I will be adding songs from the new albums onto this site and also the player on this facebook page. When and how many? Could be now and again. Could be as many as I please. Best advice is to check.

These albums will be followed in the Spring by the rerelease, but as far as I am concerned REAL, OFFICIAL release of my 2010 album ‘$’, which was totally left for dead by people who gained my trust and shit on it, as well as one more NEW ALBUM. These, too, will be released simultaneously.

And ya, in the fall I will be doing a Canadian/US tour. All I can say for now is that it starts in late October in the Canadian West and goes everywhere else, including Puerto Rico, finally. I can also tell you I am playing this awesome festival:

I will announce these finalized tourdates in the coming weeks.

SEE YOU ALL SOON. XO
Mark

twitter | facebook

Write me for interviews and In Ihe Red for promo.

Mark Sultan – Livin’ My Life +2 7″EP
The A-side appears (in a shoddier mix) on Mark’s upcoming ‘Whatever I Want’ LP, one of TWO LPs he is releasing in October on In The Red. The other two tracks are both unreleased, and one is a cover of Lee Maye’s 1958 classic, ‘Pounding’. This EP shows Mark easily transitioning back to early soul sounds he loves. 350 on white vinyl. 650 on black.
Release# SLTN703

a) Livin’ My Life (alt. mix)
b) Pounding
Shadow With The Golden Eyes

audio samples forthcoming!

The King Khan & BBQ Show – 7″
Recorded in Berlin at King Khan’s Moon Studios in the Spring of 2011, this was the first time Khan & BBQ (Mark Sultan) had worked together since their infamous breakup a year previous. The melancholy that is puked forth gives listeners a chance to understand their tumultuous blood-bond and psychic brotherhood. Great downer rock’n'roll sounds with an LSD coating, featuring a stellar cover of Syd Barrett’s classic ‘Terrapin’. 650 on black, 350 on white.
Release #SLTN704

The Ding-Dongs – Lucky Day +3 7″EP.
The Ding-Dongs are Mark Sultan and Bloodshot Bill, two heavyweights of rock’n'roll, old friends both hailing from Montreal . Bloodshot Bill has been wowing crowds across the world with his incredibly authentic (but not cheesy) rockabilly sounds as a one-man band and beyond. Mark Sultan (BBQ) has been touring incessantly with a soulful voice commandeering his own one-man band, based in chaos and RnR/RnB of the most sincere kind. Together as the Ding-Dongs, they make rock’n'roll of the highest caliber. The real shit. Which is why Norton Records put their first album out last year. The EP has 4 songs, including 2 cover versions of great, lost rock’n'roll gems. 350 on white vinyl. 650 on black vinyl.
SLTN705

a) Lucky Day
The Dump
b) Zach
Weekend