Keep up with Mark here:
www.myspace.com/thefaminedestroys
www.myspace.com/mag5150
www.myspace.com/theaftermathofclosure
www.solidstaterecords.com
Mark Garza was born in Arlington, Texas. He was a founding member of Embodyment and was a member from 1993-2002. He is currently a member of The Famine.
Discography
THE FAMINE
The Raven and the Reaping (2008, Solid State)
The Famine EP (2008, Independent)
EMBODYMENT
Embrace the Eternal (1998, Solid State)
[1993-1996] (1999, Independent)
The Narrow Scope of Things (2000, Solid State)
Hold Your Breath (2001, Solid State)
Songs for the Living (2002, XS Records)
Demos
Persistent Sin (tape under the band name “SUPPLICATION”) – 1993
Corrosion Of The Flesh – 1994
Embodyment (3 song demo) – 1996
Industry Demo (an early version of Songs for the Living) – 2002
Non-Album Tracks
“Halo Of Winter” from This Is Solid State: Volume 1 (1998)
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Mark Garza Interview:
SD.com: How old were you when you started playing?
Mark: I started playing drums when I was 13 years old. I had always wanted to play drums since I was a kid and finally got my opprotunity to play when I went into junior high school here in Arlington Texas.
SD.com: Did you play in a school band or any drum corps?
Mark: I started playing around seventh grade. I focused on snare drum, primarily, at first then graduated to a 4 pc. drum kit later on in junior high school. In high school, I played everything I could get my hands on, from marching snare and drum kits to quads and performing in the Orchestral percussion section. I briefly attempted corps until I was bitten by the band bug and dropped out of the music program all together during my senior year and joined a band!
SD.com:: Who are your top 5 influences?
Mark: Vinnie Paul, Carter Beauford, Alex Van Halen, Phil Collins, and Lance Garvin
SD.com: Assuming that influences doesn’t mean favorites, who are your favorites?
Mark: I am a huge fan of Vinnie Paul simply because that guy had a connection with his brother that made him one of the most complimentary drummers of all time. What I mean is that he is bad to the bone but he he would never overplay and ruin a groove that the band was trying to set up. He was, and still is capable of incredible speed and complexity, which is not that hard these days with all of the tricked out gear and pedals, but he knew how to do it tastefully. You could listen to him and he would pound a 4/4 beat to death and then to intenisify it, he wouldnt speed it up or make it more complex, he would slow it down and half time it and rip your face off.
SD.com: Let us know 5 CD’s that are in your current rotation
Mark: Im kind of weird when it comes to music I listen to.
1. Elliot Smith – XO
2. Colin Hay – Going Somewhere
3. Radiohead- Hail The Thief
4. Radiohead- In Rainbows
5. Imogene Heap- I Megaphone (yeah, I know).
SD.com: What do you do to warm up before a show?
Mark: I eat as many bannanas that I can get my hands on. I also stretch my legs out a bit and throw up a prayer to God.
SD.com: Can you remember a night you think was your best playing ever? If yes, when and where?
Mark: I play best when im angry for some reason but we play a stint in Florida last month (June 2008) off of the “Stronger Than Hell Tour” that took us to the House of Blues in Orlando, where our band, THE FAMINE, was banned by Disney from playing that night. Something about us not being “family friendly”, whatever, but we played St. Petes and Jacksonville afterwards and I was still angry about being unfairily targeted by the evil mouse that we decided to punish Florida for the next two days. I actually punished my self and my gear and broke tons of sticks, but I felt better and felt that I played with as much intensity as I could and had some of the best shows of the tour.
SD.com: Do you have a favorite brand of drums or cymbals?
Mark: Ive played TAMA my whole life and had 2 rockstars and currently have a Maple Star Classic that I love. Im really into the DDRUM line of acoustic drums right now as well.
SD.com: If you could give one piece of advice to young drummers, it would be…
Mark: The only advice I could give is the same advice that I would roll my eyes to every time: practice, practice, practice! But really, there is no substitution. Start young and forsake everything else that you could see as being a distraction. There are people out there making money playing drums, and you can too. But dedication is manadatory.
SD.com: Who gave the best live performance you’ve ever seen?
Mark: Carter Beauford is always impressive. The kiddos should check him out.
SD.com: If you had to stop drumming, what would you want to do with your life?
Mark: Walk towards the light……..
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