Mark Gaines
aka Mystic, Progdog

Mark (4th from left) partying with the enemy.


E-mail:  mysticmg@bellsouth.net
AOL Or Instant Messanger: Waterboy2858

Some background on me:

I must confess to being one of the old guard when it comes to listening to progressive music, perhaps age has something to do with musical habits and listening observations and their developments which shape tastes over time. My directions were influenced in the early 70's by seeking out all forms of music, as I was never satisfied with what the commercial world had to offer. Digging deep into all genres of the musical world, I began listening to all forms of expression, ie Blues,(John Lee Hooker,Charlie Patton,Robert Johnson,etc) Jazz,(Coltrane,Monk,Powell,Sun Ra) Rock, Classical, Country, (traditional country via Jimmie Rodgers,Merle Haggard) etc. Being a musician at the time I was always driven to seek out any form of structured and unstructured musical expression and stumbled upon some of the most amazing statements that I knew would become eternal within the progressive world. PFM, Peter Hammill & Van Der Graaf, Gentle Giant, Beggars Opera,YES to name but a few, struck me as things that had that unique underlying musical message that was so often lacking in commercial ventures geared for mass consumption. So now here I am in 2002, still listening,still searching, and commenting on those same unique and soul rendering statements that struck a spark so many years ago, while seeking new musical statements on a continuing basis. I’m glad to be a part of The Giant Progweed site and hope to inspire many of you to seek out those interesting and inventive moments on CD or whatever your preferred tool.
 

Geographical location: Birmingham, Alabama

DOB: 1/28/54

Enjoy these styles and musical qualities: RIO - Not everyone one's cup of tea but a joy for the seasoned listener who still seeks thrills and hair raising moments in their search for other worldly musical structure and vibes. Not recommended for the faint of heart, but highly rewarding in the long run. Examples: Thinking Plague, Henry Cow, Art Bears, Slapp Happy, etc. Recommended reading for the beginner: "File Under Popular" by Chris Cutler. CLASSIC PROGRESSIVE/FOLK/AVANT GARDE - This category just about encompasses all those groups past and present that appeal across the board to a vast audience, contemporary and pre-contemporary, I am especially drawn to those artists of an obscure nature from foreign lands. Music communicates beyond language and its message is understood to those with an open mind.

Dislike these styles and musical qualities: There is really hardly any music that I am not drawn to as each musical instrument and musician has something unique to say no matter what the circumstances may be, we just need to ears to listen and the heart to feel to come to an understanding of what is being communicated no matter what the genre.