Punk Globe: Thanks so much for doing this interview. Are you originally from New York? 

Mark:I am originally a military brat and I lived all over. I first touched down in the East Village in 1989.

Punk Globe: Tell us about your latest release Bodega Flowers is it a self-release or are you with a label?

Mark: Bodega Flowers in an Indie album on Train Faces Records. It has major distribution through IDC in San Francisco. 

Punk Globe:   You have heavy hitters playing on your CD. Do they also play live with you?

Mark: Jimmi Bones (Joan Jett, Blondie) is with me whenever I take the stage, and he produced and plays guitar on Bodega Flowers. The rhythm section on Bodega Flowers is Thommy Price (Joan Jett, Billy Idol) plays drums, and Kasim Sulton (Joan Jett, Utopia, Todd Rundgren). I use a variety of musicians when I play live and they’re always world-class. 

Punk Globe: Tell the readers the talent you have on Bodega Flowers?

Mark: Joining the four-piece band of me, Jimmi, Thommy, and Kasim are Arno Hecht (Dion, Rolling Stones) on sax, Joan Chew (Lez Zeppelin) on keys, Johnny Pisano (Willie Nile) backing vocals, and Cynthia Longley Richards on cello. 

Punk Globe: Who are some of your musical influences?

Mark: The music on Bodega Flowers, and the Month of Sundays album before it, are heavily influenced by a variety of New York sounds. You will hear influences from New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, Dead Boys, Lou Reed, Dion, and a ton of Lower East Side swagger. 

Punk Globe: Any videos that you have released in support of the release?

Mark: There are three videos out right now in support of Bodega Flowers. The videos are for “Astroland”, “Avenue A is Dead”, and the title track, “Bodega Flowers”. I will be releasing at least two more videos in the coming months.