Well....my first blog and I am not even sure that I have anything of real value to say. Okay so this is the part where you ( the reader ) will simply sigh and say either to yourself or aloud, "Alright jackass, do you have something to say or am I wasting my f***ing time here?!"

I am certain that I do and I assure you that I will get right to the point. A thought really. A series of thoughts. Not quite an undirected stream of consciousness, but an onslaught of ADD- infused thoughts none the less.

I was walking on the treadmill in between trips to the chinese buffet across the street from the gym when I thought about "the question". Usually in friendly conversation at a work or social function someone will mention that soft musical underbelly known as my music career to an unfamilar party. Usually this friend or colleague will put his arm around my neck and tell the other person something like, "Hey man, this boy can play and sing." At this point I display at least the required level of artificial modesty and say, "Well I don't know about all that...but..uhh..I play a little."

That is when it happens. Out of what is sure to be social politeness or just basic conversational instinct the third person will ask,"So Mark, what kind of music do you play?" I usually reply with a 12-part run-on answer that leaves the person looking confused and sometimes put in the position to simplify my answer by responding with, "Oh, country right?" Unfortunately, it is common when your talking to a person for the first time to simplify all of their answers to your questions in order to reconcile your own ignorance.

For example:

Tardwell: So, what do you do for a living?

Tardsmith: Well, I am the VP of information technology for a fortune 500 company.

Tardwell: Oh...so..uhh you do computers and all that stuff.

I digress. However, I usually respond with something like, "Well it is kind of a roots, alt-country, americana sound with a Steve Earle or Lyle Lovett or Richard Buckner type feel. Make sense?", I ask with eyebrows rasied.

Not that I am saying I sound like any of the above-mentioned cats. It is just that they are somewhat recognizable even to folks that might not be plugged into this most excellent music. It is really hard sometimes to help mainstreamers understand what roots means or americana for that matter.

So, in an effort to further confuse our main stream brethren, I am adding yet another name to this dynamic genre(s). From now on when asked what type of music I play I will simply reply with, "Rancho-deluxe." Nothing more. Nothing less.

It has a nice ring to it. So much that I might use it for the title on my first ever studio album slated to finish this summer.

Until the next time I have a moderately interesting brain fart to share,

Peace be with you and around you,

MM