News & Updates
JULY 2025 NEWSLETTER
AN INVITATION
Over the past year, I’ve made a concerted effort to use my ID cane to navigate at night, or in crowded, dimly lit environments. Sight is rarely a binary thing—100% acuity versus total darkness—most blindness falls somewhere on a continuum. I can see fine under many conditions, but my experience hinges upon simply turning my head, or an overhanging tree shadowing a road, or my position relative to a window. I often try to pass for a fully-sighted person, and without my cane I mostly can. But when conditions aren’t ideal for me, I can either awkwardly explain my visual nuances to those around me...or just use the &$#@ing cane.
When I give up trying to conceal my disability, I become acutely aware of the privilege my appearance normally affords me. I'm not proud of it, but I sometimes feel a desire to maintain a traditionally "fully-abled" appearance to those around me. I have to force myself to get over myself and use the cane. Earlier this year, my cane came in handy when flying home from some shows with Josh Ritter. Unable to purchase early boarding, I was extremely nervous that I’d have to gate check my expensive acoustic guitar. So when they called for those who needed extra time to board, I slung my guitar over my shoulder, caned down the jetway, and simply walked onto the plane. When the flight attendant saw my cane she actually helped me lift my guitar into the overhead bin. I think I thanked her, but I remember her kindness leaving me grateful and a bit uncertain, wondering if I was giving up one privilege only to exploit another.
Maybe some were confused when I pulled out my Kindle, with its enlarged font and heavily backlit screen, and read for the whole flight. But no one gave me any grief and everyone was unfailingly nice, some going above and beyond to assist me without request. I could “see” the whole time, but the experience truly opened my eyes: we could simply choose to be this nice to each other, regardless of our situation or physical capabilities, all the time. Kindness doesn’t necessarily require extra effort. In fact, it’s almost always more arduous and exhausting to go out of your way to be an asshole. The cane is an empowering tool, allowing the blind to navigate with safety and independence. It’s also a symbol that invites others to treat the cane user with a bit more grace.
But what if we didn’t have to ask for it or telegraph the request in some way? What if we simply assumed this invitation, freely extending others the kindness and grace that any of us would surely appreciate? In today’s political and cultural climate, I think we’ve forgotten the deep, transformational power inherent in the golden rule. The chasm between this moral choice and the rhetoric, behavior, and policies of the current administration is deep and wide, but we can devote ourselves to this path, regardless of political affiliation. Speaking from personal experience, I can assure you that it will lead to multiple moments of radical, eye-opening optimism and gratitude.
I try to do this in song, too. I sing from a place of honesty and respect, each song an invitation to join me in consideration of some observation, emotion, or idea. I don’t assume everyone agrees with me, or even want you to see everything as I see it. I do it with the understanding that we are all capable of occupying the same space for three and half minutes without being triggered into disrespect or petty partisanship. If this is something you need more of in your life, come see me this summer…consider this your invitation.
MP3 of the MONTH
Seems fitting that this month’s offering is a live take on “A Little Kindness” captured during an exceptionally wonderful trio show with Andrew Stern (electric guitar) and Zack Hickman (bass) back in March of this year. It’s available for free for the month of July on my Bandcamp page. Enjoy!
TOUR DATES
Lynda Cohen Performing Arts Series (free!)
Sat July 12 - AMC Highland Center, Bretton Woods NH - 7 pm
A free outdoor show in the heart of New Hampshire’s White Mountains? Yes please, sign me up! I’m playing with a very special band for this show, featuring Paul Kochanski on bass and Dave Brophy on drums, with my son Owen holding down the keys (but not all of them at once). Band shows have been pretty rare for me in the last year or so, so I’m super-psyched to let loose with this unit.
Thu July 17 - Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport MA - 7 pm
Pretty hard to beat Newburyport in the summer! I’ll have Andrew Stern on electric guitar, and we’ll break out all the summer jams, maybe even “Boys Of Summer” AND “Summer Boys” in the same set? I mean, that’s just crazy talk.
Sun July 20 - Hayloft at the Dragonfly Barn, Bridgton ME - 7:30 pm
Never played this venue before, but I’m always looking for an excuse to return to Maine…especially when it’s not snowing. I think we’re pretty safe in July, but if the flakes start falling, rest assured I have plenty of depressing, seasonally-appropriate winter songs to play, plus all my Bill Morrissey covers. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, and we can all settle in for a nice solo acoustic set, the first I’ll have done in awhile.
Fri Aug 22 - Music Hall Lounge, Portsmouth NH - 8 pm
I love this cozy venue up on the NH seacoast. Great vibe and great sound in a great town. You might even be able to find a lobster roll somewhere, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Masterclass Songwriting Workshop & Performance
Sun Sept 7 - Arts Wayland, Wayland MA - 2 pm
I’m excited for this multi-faceted event, which will feature a bit of history and perspective on my career, some discussion on my architectural approach to songwriting (and listening!), a Q & A, all followed by a solo acoustic performance. Intimate, informative, and interactive is what we’re going for here, and I hope you can join me.
A Night of Co-Writes with Dinty Child
Fri Sept 12 - The Word Barn Meadow, Exeter NH - 7 pm
Sat Sept 13 - Scenic Songs at World’s End, Hingham MA - 3:30 pm
Sun Sept 14 - Tourists, North Adams MA - 8 pm
Some of you may have caught one of the shows I did back in January sharing the stage with my friend Dinty Child, jointly performing an entire set comprised exclusively of the songs we’ve written together (“Look Up,” “The Western Veil,” “Rose-Colored Rearview,” and many more). We had so much fun that we’re reuniting for another trio of dates…and since January we’ve even written another song to add to the setlist!
A WORD ABOUT PATREON
JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!
One of my hopes for 2025 is to double my number of Patreon subscribers.
I know we can do it!
The best way to sustainably support my creative output is by getting a subscription to my Patreon. As you're thinking about what you want to support in the coming show, I'd be honored if you made my music one of those things. For as little as $5/month ($60/year), you can help me do things like release new songs, make new albums, and tour consistently. In return, you get early access to all new music, and starting in 2025, invites to quarterly virtual community events.
peace,
mark
Watch Mark’s performance from the 2019 Americanafest at the Ryman Auditorium!
You can check out a special episode of Austin City Limits featuring highlights from this year's Americanafest (like yours truly performing with Lori McKenna, Josh Ritter, J.S. Ondara & Shawn Colvin) on PBS starting this Saturday at 10 pm CT! Check out this teaser video & go to http://acltv.com/watch/tv-schedule/ & click on "check your local PBS listings" to find out exactly when it will air in your market.
