#el marko

The Brothers El Marko...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 2nd, 2010

Click image above to view album teaser video

Mr. Gnome announces spring tour dates, new EP recorded at Josh Homme's studio

"Even better than their last album, which I loved. Sounds like ethereal icelandic fairies being pummeled by concrete guitars in a dirty Cleveland parking lot. AKA: awesome." 'Eight Criminally Underrated Albums of 2009' -- Paste Magazine

"The Rollicking 'Plastic Shadow' is a rust bucket rocker that Cat Power should have recorded, and 'Pixie Dust' glitters like some lost 4AD band from 1988: light as a feather, but heavy enough to weaken the knees, much like the album as a whole." -- Bust Magazine

"The awesome rush of sound that comes out of Nicole Barile's lungs and guitar and Sam Meister's drums seems much bigger and more powerful than anything two people are capable of. Mr. Gnome don't really sound like anyone else, and their ghost-ridden songs only make sense with a dreamtime logic." -- LA Weekly

Critically-praised Cleveland duo Mr. Gnome has announced U.S. tour dates beginning in March in support of a new EP due out later this month. The EP, titled Tastes Like Magic will be released on vinyl and digital download on March 16th. The new songs were recorded at Josh Homme's (QOTSA, Them Crooked Vultures) Pink Duck Studios in Los Angeles, where Mr. Gnome also recorded its recent album, Heave Yer Skeleton.  Check out an MP3 for the lead track, "Three Red Birds" from Tastes Like Magic HERE. The band has also released a third song from its latest full-length, Heave Yer Skeleton -- the swooning "Plastic Shadow" is available HERE. 

Chan "Cat Power" Marshall fronting Queens of the Stone Age? Karen O leading Death From Above 1979? Cleveland duo Mr. Gnome has been given many unusual comparisons, all of which seem to indicate the band's spectacularly unique sound. And, while none seem to fully capture the band's loftily heavy-beautiful music, Mr. Gnome continues to captivate and inspire writers and audiences alike. The band's stunning performance video for "Spain" is a perfect example. Watch HERE. 

Upon completing recording in Los Angeles, the endlessly touring pair of guitarist/vocalist Nicole Barile and drummer/vocalist Sam Meister mixed the tracks at Butch Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, WI with Beau Sorenson (Death Cab For Cutie, Sparklehorse, The Secret Machines, Garbage, Tegan and Sara). Extending and experimenting on elements only touched on in their first full-length, Mr. Gnome’s Heave Yer Skeleton was released on November 10th, 2009 via El Marko Records. 

Mr. Gnome on tour:

03/27  Brooklyn NY @ Union Pool

03/28  Arlington, VA @ IOTA Club and Cafe

03/29  Philadelphia PA @ North Star Bar

03/30  Winston-Salem, NC @ The Garage

03/31  Charlotte NC @ Evening Muse

04/01  W. Columbia SC @ New Brookland Tavern

04/03  Atlanta GA @ Drunken Unicorn 

04/04  Orlando FL @ Backbooth 

04/05  Pensacola FL @ The Handle Bar

04/06  Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe (w/ Red Sparowes, Doomriders)

04/07  New Orleans, LA @ The Saint

04/08  Houston TX @ Rudyard's British Pub

04/09  Austin TX @ Stubb's JR

04/10  Dallas TX @ The Cavern

04/12  Denver, CO @ The Hi-Dive

04/14  Salt Lake City UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge

04/15  Boise ID @ The Bouquet

04/16  Portland, OR @ Kelly's Olympian

04/17  Seattle WA @ Sunset Tavern

04/19  San Francisco CA @ Elbo Room

04/20  Los Angeles CA @ Silver Lake Lounge

04/21  San Diego CA @ X1FM Studios (live show and radio broadcast)

04/22  Phoenix AZ @ The Sail In

04/23  Tucson AZ @ Plush

04/24  Albuquerque NM @ Atomic Cantina 

04/26  Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory   

04/27  Springfield MO @ The Outland Ballroom

04/28  Lawrence KS @ Replay Lounge

04/29  Iowa City, IA @ Gabe's

04/30  Madison WI @ The Frequency

05/01  Grand Rapids, MI @ 

05/05  Nashville, TN @ Springwater

05/06  Indianapolis, IN @ Vollrath Tavern

05/07  Ft Wayne IN @ Columbia Street West

05/08  Columbus, OH @ Ruby Tuesday

05/13  Chicago, IL @ The Darkroom

05/14  St Louis MO @ The Firebird     

06/04  Newport, KY @ Southgate House

Artist: Mr. Gnome

Release: Tastes Like Magic EP

Label: El Marko Records

Release Date: March 16th, 2010

01. Devil Be Gone

02. Three Red Birds (MP3)

Artist: Mr. Gnome

Album: Heave Yer Skeleton

Label: El Marko Records

Release Date: November 10th, 2009

1. Spain (VIDEO)

2. Hills, Valleys and Valium

3. Slow Side (MP3)

4. Plastic Shadow (MP3)

5. Sit Up & Hum

6. Titor

7. Vampires (MP3)

8. Cleveland Polka

9. Pixie Dust

10. Today Brings a Bomb

11. Searider

12. Heave Yer Skeleton

On the Web:

www.mrgnome.com

www.myspace.com/mrgnome

www.mr-gnome.blogspot.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 6th, 2009

Click image to watch video

Mr. Gnome releases video for "Spain" off forthcoming Heave Yer Skeleton, continues tour in support of album recorded at Josh Homme's studio

Cleveland duo mr. Gnome releases the first video from its sophomore album, Heave Yer Skeleton today, a live performance version of the disc's opening track, "Spain" (watch it HERE.) The clip is authorized for reposting. The band also returns to its lengthy U.S. tour starting on November 11th, keeping them on the road until late December. The trek is in support of the November 10th release of the band's sophomore album, which was recorded at Josh Homme's Pink Duck Studios and the vinyl release of its previous disc, Deliver This Creature. Please see complete tour dates below.

Chan "Cat Power" Marshall fronting Queens of the Stone Age? Karen O leading Death From Above 1979? Mr. Gnome has been given many unusual comparisons, all of which seem to indicate the band's spectacularly unique sound. And, while none seem to fully capture the band's loftily heavy-beautiful music, mr. Gnome offers up two brand new tracks from Heave Yer Skeleton for your consideration. Follow the links to MP3s for "Slow Side" (CLICK HERE) and "Vampires" (CLICK HERE).

Upon completing recording at Homme's studio in Los Angeles, the endlessly touring pair of guitarist/vocalist Nicole Barile and drummer/vocalist Sam Meister mixed at Butch Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, WI, putting the finishing touches on the album.

The psychedelically syncopated sounds of Cleveland's mr. Gnome draw on a visceral mix of contrasting textures. Masculine and feminine, soft whispers and shrill yelps, pounding drums and soothing lullabies combine to form a discursive indie-rock collage. The duo's jagged symphony of sound has them compared to a scattershot of artists ranging from Portishead, Cat Power, Massive Attack, and Joanna Newsom, to Death From Above 1979, Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Heave Yer Skeleton, the follow-up to mr. Gnome's debut full-length, Deliver This Creature, promises to be no less a musical twist than the last offering. Returning with the same basic, minimalist ingredients; a soulful, feminine power and inventive, dynamic drumming, the two are suspended in a sea of drug-induced themes pouring from their simplistic set-up. The id, dreams, silver giants, hallucinations, flying horses, the devil, Armageddon, vampires, and ghosts are just a few of the hauntingly, hypnotic subjects floating between pleasure and pain in the soundscapes of Heave Yer Skeleton.

In April 2009 the duo received an invitation to record at Josh Homme's (Queens of the Stone Age) Pink Duck Studios located in Los Angeles. Studio manager and engineer Justin Smith (QOTSA, Eagles of Death Metal, Arctic Monkeys, Spinnerette) recorded the sessions and the location served as the perfect creative environment for mr. Gnome's sophomore effort. After returning to Cleveland, the album received last minute touches and additional tracking at Ante Up Audio with Adam Korbesmeyer.

The album was mixed at Butch Vig’s Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin by Beau Sorenson (Death Cab For Cutie, Sparklehorse, The Secret Machines, Garbage, Tegan and Sara). Extending and experimenting on elements only touched on in their first full-length, mr. Gnome’s Heave Yer Skeleton is scheduled for a November 2009 release.

mr. Gnome on tour:

11/11/09 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Melody Inn

11/12/09 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency

11/13/09 - Chicago, IL @ The Darkroom

11/16/09 - Lawrence, KS @ The Replay Lounge

11/17/09 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive

11/18/09 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Vegas

11/20/09 - Portland, OR @ Kelly's Olympian

11/21/09 - Seattle, WA @ The Sunset Tavern

11/23/09 - San Francisco, CA @ Elbow Room

11/24/09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge

11/25/09 - Long Beach, CA @ Alex's Bar

11/27/09 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush

11/28/09 - Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina

11/29/09 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory

12/01/09 - Dallas, TX @ The Double Wide

12/03/09 - San Marcos, TX @ The Triple Crown

12/04/09 - Houston, TX @ Rudyard's British Pub

12/05/09 - New Orleans, LA @ Banks Street Bar

12/06/09 - Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box (w/ Jay Reatard)

12/07/09 - Pensacola, FL @ The Handlebar

12/08/09 - Orlando, FL @ The Backbooth

12/11/09 - Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor

12/18/09 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern

12/19/09 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle

Artist: mr. Gnome

Album: Heave Yer Skeleton

Label: El Marko Records

Release Date: November 10th, 2009

1. Spain (VIDEO)

2. Hills, Valleys and Valium

3. Slow Side (MP3)

4. Plastic Shadow

5. Sit Up & Hum

6. Titor

7. Vampires (MP3)

8. Cleveland Polka

9. Pixie Dust

10. Today Brings a Bomb

11. Searider

12. Heave Yer Skeleton

On the web:

www.mrgnome.com

www.myspace.com/mrgnome

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

October 1st, 2009

Mr. Gnome launches U.S. tour, previews tracks from forthcoming album Heave Yer Skeleton

Cleveland duo mr. Gnome launches a lengthy U.S. tour today that will keep them on the road until late December. The trek is in support of the November release of the band's sophomore album, Heave Yer Skeleton and the vinyl release of its previous disc, Deliver This Creature. Please see complete tour dates below.

Chan "Cat Power" Marshall fronting Queens of the Stone Age? Karen O leading Death From Above 1979? Mr. Gnome has been given many unusual comparisons, all of which seem to indicate the band's spectacularly unique sound. And, while none seem to fully capture the band's loftily heavy-beautiful music, mr. Gnome offers up two brand new tracks from its forthcoming album recorded at Josh Homme's Pink Duck Studios in Los Angeles. Follow the links to MP3s for "Slow Side" (CLICK HERE) and "Vampires" (CLICK HERE).

The endlessly touring pair of guitarist/vocalist Nicole Barile and drummer/vocalist Sam Meister is currently mixing at Butch Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, WI putting the finishing touches on its sophomore album, Heave Yer Skeleton, slated for release in November.

The psychedelically syncopated sounds of Cleveland's mr. Gnome draw on a visceral mix of contrasting textures. Masculine and feminine, soft whispers and shrill yelps, pounding drums and soothing lullabies combine to form a discursive indie-rock collage. The duo's jagged symphony of sound has them compared to a scattershot of artists ranging from Portishead, Cat Power, Massive Attack, and Joanna Newsom, to Death From Above 1979, Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Heave Yer Skeleton, the follow-up to mr. Gnome's debut full-length, Deliver This Creature, promises to be no less a musical twist than the last offering. Returning with the same basic, minimalist ingredients; a soulful, feminine power and inventive, dynamic drumming, the two are suspended in a sea of drug-induced themes pouring from their simplistic set-up. The id, dreams, silver giants, hallucinations, flying horses, the devil, Armageddon, vampires, and ghosts are just a few of the hauntingly, hypnotic subjects floating between pleasure and pain in the soundscapes of Heave Yer Skeleton.

In April 2009 the duo received an invitation to record at Josh Homme's (Queens of the Stone Age) Pink Duck Studios located in Los Angeles. Studio manager and engineer Justin Smith (QOTSA, Eagles of Death Metal, Arctic Monkeys, Spinnerette) recorded the sessions and the location served as the perfect creative environment for mr. Gnome's sophomore effort. After returning to Cleveland, the album received last minute touches and additional tracking at Ante Up Audio with Adam Korbesmeyer.

The album was mixed at Butch Vig’s Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin by Beau Sorenson (Death Cab For Cutie, Sparklehorse, The Secret Machines, Garbage, Tegan and Sara). Extending and experimenting on elements only touched on in their first full-length, mr. Gnome’s Heave Yer Skeleton is scheduled for a November 2009 release.

mr. Gnome on tour:

10/1/09 - New Haven, Conn. @ Cafe 9

10/2/09 - Cambridge, Mass. @ All Asia

10/3/09 - Winooski, Vermont @ The Monkey House

10/4/09 - Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar

10/5/09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall (w/

10/14/09 - Nashville, TN @ The End

10/15/09 - Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn

10/16/09 - Murfreesboro, TN @ Spring Hause (833 Spring St.)

10/17/09 - Birmingham, AL @ Magic City Wholesale

10/31/09 - Cleveland, OH @ The Sachsenheim Ballroom

11/11/09 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Melody Inn

11/12/09 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency

11/13/09 - Chicago, IL @ The Darkroom

11/16/09 - Lawrence, KS @ The Replay Lounge

11/17/09 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive

11/18/09 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Vegas

11/20/09 - Portland, OR @ Kelly's Olympian

11/21/09 - Seattle, WA @ The Sunset Tavern

11/23/09 - San Francisco, CA @ Elbow Room

11/24/09 - Los Angeles, CA @ Silverlake Lounge

11/25/09 - Long Beach, CA @ Alex's Bar

11/27/09 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush

11/28/09 - Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina

11/29/09 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory

12/01/09 - Dallas, TX @ The Double Wide

12/03/09 - San Marcos, TX @ The Triple Crown

12/04/09 - Houston, TX @ Rudyard's British Pub

12/05/09 - New Orleans, LA @ Banks Street Bar

12/07/09 - Pensacola, FL @ The Handlebar

12/11/09 - Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor

12/18/09 - Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern

On the web:

www.mrgnome.com

www.myspace.com/mrgnome

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 22, 2009

Mr Gnome offers first tracks from sophomore album recorded at Josh Homme's studio, Cleveland duo compared to Cat Power-meets-Death From Above 1979 to tour in fall

"The excellent "Night of the Crickets," where great swipes of serrated guitar slash across Nicole Barille's gooey vocals. The absolute antidote to all those shrinking violets we've been big upping lately." - Rolling Stone

"'Rabbit' from mr. Gnome's debut full-length, Deliver This Creature, pulls a heckuva lot of noise out of a small hat, pretty much just Sam Meister's tribal drums and the reverberating vocals and sludgily atmospheric guitar fills of Nicole Barille." - Pitchfork

Chan "Cat Power" Marshall fronting Queens of the Stone Age? Karen O leading Death From Above 1979? Cleveland duo mr. Gnome has been given many unusual comparisons, all of which seem to indicate the band's spectacularly unique sound. And, while none seem to fully capture the band's loftily heavy-beautiful music, mr. Gnome offers up two brand new tracks from its forthcoming album recorded at Josh Homme's Pink Duck Studios in Los Angeles. Follow the links to MP3s for "Slow Side" (CLICK HERE) and "Vampires" (CLICK HERE).

The endlessly touring pair of guitarist/vocalist Nicole Barile and drummer/vocalist Sam Meister is currently mixing at Butch Vig's Smart Studios in Madison, WI putting the finishing touches on its sophomore album, Heave Yer Skeleton, slated for release in November. Leading up to the album's release, mr. Gnome will take to the road throughout October and November. Please see complete tour dates below.

The psychedelically syncopated sounds of Cleveland's mr. Gnome draw on a visceral mix of contrasting textures. Masculine and feminine, soft whispers and shrill yelps, pounding drums and soothing lullabies combine to form a discursive indie-rock collage. The duo's jagged symphony of sound has them compared to a scattershot of artists ranging from Portishead, Cat Power, Massive Attack, and Joanna Newsom, to Death From Above 1979, Blonde Redhead, Sonic Youth, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Heave Yer Skeleton, the follow-up to mr. Gnome's debut full-length, Deliver This Creature, (now available on vinyl HERE) promises to be no less a musical twist than the last offering. Returning with the same basic, minimalist ingredients; a soulful, feminine power and inventive, dynamic drumming, the two are suspended in a sea of drug-induced themes pouring from their simplistic set-up. The id, dreams, silver giants, hallucinations, flying horses, the devil, Armageddon, vampires, and ghosts are just a few of the hauntingly, hypnotic subjects floating between pleasure and pain in the soundscapes of Heave Yer Skeleton.

In April 2009 the duo received an invitation to record at Josh Homme's (Queens of the Stone Age) Pink Duck Studios located in Los Angeles. Studio manager and engineer Justin Smith (QOTSA, Eagles of Death Metal, Arctic Monkeys, Spinnerette) recorded the sessions and the location served as the perfect creative environment for mr. Gnome's sophomore effort. After returning to Cleveland, the album received last minute touches and additional tracking at Ante Up Audio with Adam Korbesmeyer.

The album was mixed at Butch Vig’s Smart Studios in Madison, Wisconsin by Beau Sorenson (Death Cab For Cutie, Sparklehorse, The Secret Machines, Garbage, Tegan and Sara). Extending and experimenting on elements only touched on in their first full-length, mr. Gnome’s Heave Yer Skeleton is scheduled for a November 2009 release.

mr. Gnome on tour:

10/1/09 - New Haven, Conn. @ Cafe 9

10/2/09 - Cambridge, Mass. @ All Asia

10/3/09 - Winooski, Vermont @ The Monkey House

10/4/09 - Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar

10/5/09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall

10/14/09 - Nashville, TN @ The End

10/15/09 - Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn

10/16/09 - Murfreesboro, TN @ House Pride (House Partay)

10/17/09 - Birmingham, AL @ Magic City Wholesale

10/31/09 - Cleveland, OH @ The Sachsenheim Ballroom (Halloween Party)

11/11/09 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Melody Inn

11/12/09 - Madison, WI @ The Frequency

11/13/09 - Chicago, IL @ The Darkroom

11/14/09 - Covington, KY @ Madison Theater

11/16/09 - Lawrence, KS @ The Replay Lounge

11/18/09 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Vegas

11/21/09 - Seattle, WA @ The Sunset Tavern

11/27/09 - Tucson, AZ @ Plush

11/28/09 - Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina

On the web:

www.mrgnome.com

www.myspace.com/mrgnome

I dont know how and why it came to be, but at some point during the past 5 years, I became semi-obsessed with trying to find a Flair El Marko. Well the search is over, and I have one in my collection now. Big thanks to DIET for unearthing this gem.

FLAIR EL MARKO 

Top to bottom greatness. Simple cylindrical cap. Sleek design. Gloss black tube tapers out and ends with a roundish square base so it can stand up. Simple sticker labeling. Has the silhouette of el Marko, with simple wordmark and lettering filling that empty space. I liked the idea of this mystery character known as el Marko lurking in the background, as the selling point for something like a marker. Seems like a strange advertising idea. Made in USA. Chisel Tip. Super smooth application. Rich, dark black ink. Gives nice fade. Even after all these years, this thing works super well. Search for my marker Holy Grail is over.