buzz C&C MANAGEMENT PROVIDING CAREER MANAGEMENT AND Mark Olson’s ‘Salvation’ SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. “In The Jayhawks, I would be responsible to write about five songs every three years. We provide the following: Then I would show up to play acoustic guitar O Finding the right photographer for in a rock band. I needed more of a challenge, your headshots. I guess.” By Halloween of that year, Mark O Quality professional looking Olson would quit The Jayhawks. resumes Being married to Victoria Williams would O Contacting and arranging auditions prove to be all the inspiration Olson would O Mailing of demos, headshots, etc. need, as the pair began to record and perform O Audition preparation in the loose organization known as The All this, and much more! Creekdippers. Free to create at his own pace, Olson developed a do-it-yourself approach C&C Management is ready to help actors, to the music. He took on the responsibility authors, directors, film makers, artists, singers, of engineer during Creekdipper recording musicians & backstage workers reach their sessions. He acted as tour manager, and potential and help them realize their dreams. until the demand became too much for one “You work on your art, we’ll do the rest!” person to handle, he fulfilled mail-orders for Creekdipper Records. Over time, however, Contact Us Now: 732-763-4574 Olson’s relationship with Williams would Email: [email protected] deteriorate.“I basically came home one day from touring Europe and my life had totally fallen apart.” While he’s not specific on the details, Olson takes responsibility for the breakdown, and in 2005, he and Williams divorced.“At the time,” Olson admits, “music really wasn’t on my mind at all.” But an invite from a couple in Wales would soon turn WE OFFER THE BEST SERVICE Olson around. WITHOUT THE ATTITUDE! Olson first met Charlotte Grieg, a writer ALL TYPES OF and musician, and John Willams, a writer, while on tour in Europe.“They would get up INSTRUMENTS by Daniel Michael Alleva Jayhawks blazed once forming in 1985. Olson, at six o’clock in the morning and they would After the last of four performances by Mark then interested in folk music like Woody just write all day.They were putting me to EXPERT REPAIRS Olson at Mo Pitkin’s House of Satisfaction, Guthrie, met Marc Perlman in a rehearsal shame, and they basically inspired me to the talented singer/songwriter shares a table studio in Minneapolis. He would then go get up and do something.”The subsequent LESSONS WITH in the back of the Lower East Side haunt with on to meet Louris, who he had seen singing writing sessions would produce The Salvation INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS Michele Gazich, an Italian pianist and violinist and playing around town. The trio found a Blues—a poignant collection of introspective who plays in Olson’s band, and another common bond in the desire to electrify folk narratives that provokes strong vision through RENTALS gentleman who was once an aide to John music and soon began rehearsing regularly song. “My songs usually have some moral Kerry during his 2004 presidential campaign. with a local drummer.“We played really loud. situation within them, and then I’m either SALES going to resolve it or not. I used to read a lot “You know why I like him?” proclaims Olson, It certainly didn’t sound like folk music.” Open 7 Days a Week, Monday – Friday 10am to 9pm, speaking about a potential candidate in the Minneapolis provided enough inspiration of the Irish writer Frank O’Connor, and I Saturday 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 12pm to 5pm 2008 election.“He seems like a guy you could in the sense that there was already a scene, learned a lot about how to write short stories call up on an afternoon and do nothing with.” but as Olson recalls, “We certainly weren’t through him. I focus a lot on spirituality and The comment sounds strange coming from the most popular band in Minneapolis. I think the turning of corners in life, because I do a man who professes to like keeping busy. that because we weren’t so popular, we were believe there is some overall plan, it’s not — FINANCING NOW AVAILABLE. CALL FOR MORE DETAILS. — “And he tells the truth.”That sounds more able to just keep writing. We had other all just rage and madness.” like Olson. interests, anyway.”The Jayhawks played Mark Olson’s travels have taken him to As fast as the two weeks he has been in blues and rock clubs for two years, while far and away places, and after 20 years of New York seem to have passed by, so do the Olson and Louris began crafting the signature creating, the idea of mentioning to him how topics of conversation. “I’m going to tell harmonies that Olson now refers to as “The much he has inspired current trends in music you something right now that you would never Univoice.”Very few singers in rock music can seems futile. know: the Italians love Desire.” Gazich’s eyes kill a harmony. No doubt Crosby and Nash “One of the things I love about the music Rock Fantasy light up at the mere mention of the 1976 Dylan come to mind. Olson and Louris are those industry is that there’s a process and it has release.“There’s something real macho about types of singers. The caliber to which their a flow to it.” Once recording wrapped up on ORANGE COUNTY’S ONLY HARD ROCK HEAVY METAL CONCERT SHOP that album that the Italians really love.” Holding voices blend is remarkable. The Salvation Blues, Olson’s consistent • LARGE SELECTION OF UNDERGROUND MUSIC court, Olson goes on.“You know…they really The Jayhawks were already several national motions found him back in the studio once WE BUY & • IMPORTED DEATH & BLACK METAL CD”S study our music. To us, it’s just a dirty old tours deep, with a pair of indie releases to again, this time with Louris, as the pair SELL USED • BODY JEWELRY recorded an album together with Chris VIDEO GAMES record, but to them, it’s something much their name by the time Blue Earth reached • WE BUY & SELL USED CD’S AND DVD’S Robinson of The Black Crowes serving as OR SYSTEMS more.There are music fans everywhere, but the ears of George Drakoulias, then doing • CONCERT & NOVELTY T-SHIRTS & POSTERS producer. Set for release sometime in 2008, X-BOX, PS2 I was taken aback at just the depth of the A&R for Def American.The band was quickly • OFFICIAL WWE MERCHANDISE & OTHERS knowledge they had.” Olson’s connection to signed and the result was the eloquent Olson says that the album is “very folksy. It the European community has been Hollywood Town Hall album. On the legs of focuses a lot on our voices and half the record Newly Renovated & Expanded Selection is just me and Gary, while the other half is longstanding. His latest release, The Salvation MTV’s rotation of the “Waiting For The Sun” TOBACCO ACCESSORIES with a full band.” As far as his past is Blues (Hacktone Records), was written video, The Jayhawks quickly found a wider HANDBLOWN GLASS concerned, there is no time wasted by moving throughout parts of Poland, Norway and fan base and support gigs in America, opening CIGARETTE PAPERS • DETOX PRODUCTS Wales. But throughout the early ’90s, Olson for the likes of The Black Crowes, and Tom in reverse. “I feel that my relationships with found great success in Europe—and to a Petty And The Heartbreakers soon followed. Gary and Victoria are still very good, I just 75 West Main St. • Middletown, NY 10940 • 845-343-7300 Just a Short Drive lesser extent, America—as co-founder with But by 1995, Olson started to feel differently don’t have to rely on them all the time to www.rockfantasy.com From Northern NJ Gary Louris in the roots rock outfit The about his responsibility to The Jayhawks. make music. It took me 20 years to figure Jayhawks. “I had just gotten married and bought a house, that out, but it’s either go at it once again or Together, Olson and Louris were the Lewis and I can’t really explain it, but suddenly there do something different. I’m going at it again.” & Clark of alt-country, the starting point for was just this switch in me.” He would soon The Salvation Blues is available now. contemporary roots rock in America. The come to find that the system in which major For more, visit bands that would emerge after them can label rock bands operated would not lend myspace.com/markolsonmusic trace their success back to the path that The itself to his concepts about playing music. or hacktone.com www.theaquarian.com ARTS WEEKLY JUNE 13, 2007 11.