Mark Geary

Mark Geary is an Irish singer-songwriter born in Dublin, Ireland into a large family with seven siblings, one of whom is actor Karl Geary. In 1992 he emigrated to New York City with a one-way ticket after winning a lottery green card. Living in New York's East Village, Mark honed his craft and sang alongside the best of them in Sin-é cafe, including the late Jeff Buckley.

Mark Geary
Mark Geary sings the exquisite Vital Signs

Mark Geary
Background information
Birth nameMark Geary
Born31 January 1971
OriginDublin, Ireland
GenresFolk, indie rock, folk rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, singer, actor
InstrumentsVocals, guitar, drums
Years active1992–present
LabelsSonaBLAST!
WebsiteOfficial Mark Geary Site
Mark Geary performing Adam and Eve

Time Out NY said, “His delicate songs about love and defiance recall Richard Thompson and John Lennon.”

Career

When Geary arrived in New York he had the chance to jump right in at the famous Sin-é bar. However, he felt a little intimidated at that early stage in his career. "It was a huge amount of pressure," said Geary. "I walked in and saw Jeff Buckley, Katell Keineg, Sinéad O'Connor." So Geary began to seek out gigs at less exalted local spots. He built a reputation playing at Sidewalk Café and won a regular slot at the Pink Pony. Geary also worked in a popular New York bar The Scratcher.[1] Eventually, working his way back to Sin-é, where he found himself on a regular bill sandwiched between Keineg and Buckley.[2]

In 2002, his debut album, 33​1⁄3 Grand Street was released on SonaBLAST! Records.

His second album, Ghosts, released in 2004, brought him critical acclaim in Ireland and the States and was voted Album of the Year (2005) by the Irish Voice. The album also features songs with guest vocalists Glen Hansard and Josh Ritter.[3] The album came in at number 68 in the HotPress readers' poll for the Top 100 Greatest Irish Albums.

In August 2005, Geary played at the Kennedy Center.

Geary's third studio recording, Opium, was released in 2008. Following this, Geary released a live recording Live, Love, Lost It – NYC that took him back to his New York roots and features songs recorded at various shows performed in the summer of 2009.

Geary subsequently released a fourth album, Songs about Love, Songs about Leaving, in 2012 and features vocals by Glen Hansard and Jenna Nichols.

Geary's fifth studio album, The Fool, came out in October 2017.

Touring and live performances are still Mark's lifeblood. Interchanging between his beloved Martin, Gibson, vintage Spanish and electric guitars, Geary’s sound is stripped back. He treats his songs with trade-mark Geary honesty. His voice might be drenched in Irish honey, but his lyrics slice through to the core revealing a life laid bare of human emotional frailty, failed relationships, tenderness, hurt, making amends, desire and parting.

Geary has supported major artists all over the world throughout his career. In 2008 he supported the Oscar-winning duo, The Swell Season on their European tour. In 2010 he supported Glen Hansard on Hansard's European solo tour. Other acts he has played with include, Josh Ritter, Bell X1, The Frames, Coldplay, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders and Joe Strummer.

Plus extensive headlining tours in Europe, the US and more recently in Switzerland where he received critical acclaim.

The single The Forestreleased in May 2020 is exquisite. Its quietness is cathartic and evocative. It set a new path for Geary’s sound. It builds to a crescendo reminiscent of overflowing verdant Summer Irish forests. Mark says: “I woke up from a dream and there was a storm outside the window from my cottage in the forest, one of those real cinematic storms, with trees bending and lightning. I kept looking out at it all night, some nights there’s a tempest – whether it’s outside or in you. The day after, I wrote the song in one burst”. The refrain ‘come into the light – come into the light’ was a mantra; a release.”

Mark’s new single Spectre released in December 2020 is beautiful, dark and haunting and features deftly interwoven layers of acoustic guitars. It was written during a time of intense, unbroken reflection, surrounded by nature. Mark says: “I'm writing and singing differently to my other songs, this comes from a place of understanding and forgiveness. It’s about loss, grief, desire, ancient stuff. I’m just so immersed in the creativity of what it is that I do.”

Talented musician Ruth O’Mahony [ROMY] produced both The Forest and Spectre.

There's a lot more to come from this prolific and talented songsmith. Mark says this time in lockdown has been a catalyst for deep thinking, picking up his pen and writing. His treasured guitar collection is always close at hand, each set up in a different tuning for the various songs he's currently writing.

During lockdown Mark desperately misses touring, but he's been doing live shows via Facebook and Instagram and attracting huge audiences with views of 10,000 people after a weekend. Making this connection and building a community fulfils him like no other.

Movie & TV Soundtracks

Geary has composed the score to three films, 2005's Loggerheads and 2006's Steel City.[4]

Most recently he composed the score for a new film, Sons of Perdition, featured at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival[5] and chosen as one of the first films included in the OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Documentary Club.

Geary's songs have been featured in various films including the 2006 movie, The End of Silence.[6] The film features Geary's song 'Hold Tight' over the closing credits. More recently Mark's song 'Don't Break' from The Fool was in the 2019 movie Before/During/After. His songs have been used on many television programmes including the One Tree Hill,[7] which featured his songs 'South' (season 2) and ' Angel' (season 6).

Discography

Studio albums
  • 33​1⁄3 Grand Street (2002)
  • Ghosts (2004)
  • Opium (2008)
  • Songs about love, songs about leaving (2012)
  • The Fool (2017)

Live albums

Singles & EPs

Compilations
  • Even Better Than the Real Thing, Vol. 3 (2005), "All I Want is You"
  • Independent Music for Independent Coffee Drinkers Vol. 1 (2007), "Here's to You"

Full Movie Scores
  • Vito After (2005)
  • The Hermit of Manana (2006)
  • Mentor (2006)
  • Ben's Plan (2007)
  • Toxic Soup (2009)
  • The Dish & the Spoon (2011)
  • Before/During/After (2019)

Television Soundtracks
  • One Tree Hill (2 episodes, 2005–2009)
    • "Angel", Episode: Show Me How to Live (2009)
    • "South", Episode: Between Order and Randomness (2005)
  • Bones (1 episode, 2005)
    • "Hold Tight", Episode: The Girl in the Fridge

Acting Credits

References
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 May 2007. Retrieved 27 April 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 January 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/33141/steel-city/
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450140/
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0666216/soundtrack
  8. Regan, Jarlath (7 May 2016). "Mark Geary". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (138 ed.). SoundCloud. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
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