Interview

It takes a willing suspension of disbelief to purchase tickets to see a band you followed around in their heyday and who have replaced two of their founding members. I’ve seen more than my share of shows that were, as some comedian said, “Axl Rose and the guys who aren’t Slash.” When I saw that my favorite band from the early 90’s, Dramarama, were playing at the Blender Theater on October 4th, I was on the fence about whether to get tickets or not.

The thing about a suspension of disbelief, though, is that if you give in to it, it can result in magic, and that’s what I got that night. Afterwards, I caught up with Mark Englert, aka Mr. E Boy, lead guitarist for the band, a major cult hero and someone I hadn’t seen in…yikes…17 years?!? Mark was kind enough to answer some questions for me.

How do you manage to play so fast, hard and well for so long? Where do you get the energy?

I have been playing since 1968. At the time I first started playing the guitar, lead guitarists were considered the big man on campus. I wanted very much to emulate that attitude. The energy part of the question is interesting because I have often been compared to Jekyll and Hyde in that I am very quiet before the show and then a much different person on stage. The energy is my wanting to give as much to the moment and for the people who come to pay for a ticket with their hard earned money. To me, our shows are a celebration of life. Somehow, we manage to get through the complexities of our days and with the show being everyone’s moment to relax and have fun, playing never gets old for me. As long as people are asking, I will always be happy to plug in a guitar and play.

How’d you find new guys that meshed so well with the original members? As a purist fan, it was hard for me to admit, but the new rhythm section knocked me out.

Both Mike Davis (bass) and Tony Snow (drums) were found through mutual friends and have been with us ever since. At the risk of stroking their egos, their contribution have been more than I would have ever imagined. It is rare to be able to get musicians who can play anything thrown at them on a dime, but these two have done so. They are my favorite drummer and bass player who have played with us and by far the best bassist and drummer we have had, not to discount any earlier members.

What was different about this tour compared to previous tours?

We don’t do tours. We play weekends. Therefore, one might consider it a never ending process. In effect, this is the world’s greatest part time job, next to working at a Target, should they ever accept my job application.

Who were your favorite bands growing up?

I am a product of the late 60’s/early 70’s time frame. The Byrds, Kinks, Beatles and Rolling Stones are only a few. However, I do very much listen to more recent records such as Beck and Radiohead. I also like Yo Yo Ma, the classical cellist, in that I think he does some radical recordings of classical music that takes some chances, which is much needed in any genre.

Who are your guitar heroes?

Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Dave Davies, Ronnie Wood are a few that come to mind. I tend to scope out those styles which, while technically they may not be great, give more emotion by hitting one note. I like those better then those who play scales super fast.

Do you have a favorite guitar?

I am always a Gibson player and use the Les Paul Jr as well as the ES-335. The 335 is my most prized in my arsenal. However, since playing, I have gotten up to twelve guitars at home, with the most unique being a Fender Stratocaster with an upside down headstock. The Fender brings a different feel and sound and is a welcomed addition to my collection.

When can we expect a new album?

When John (Easdale, the lead singer/songwriter of Dramarama) feels he has enough material and it is recorded properly, we will then release it. However, our main focus at this time is to concentrate on live shows so there is no date for a next record. However, I record my own material all the time, having recently put a Protools Studio in my home. The recordings are my own result of taking my time. As stated before, anyone can find these recordings for sale on iTunes, Amazon MP3, CD Baby, or contact me at my My Space page: myspace.com/phatborisstudios. If anyone has any questions, they can hit me up there or contact me at mark_englert@yahoo.com.

Where can I find copies of Wonderamaland and Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, since my kids stepped on them?

eBay and Amazon.com are two great places to find any and all recordings. We also have music on iTunes so the catalog may be there. Also, in a shameless piece of self-promotion, I have solo records on iTunes and Amazon MP3, as well as CD Baby. So check it out.

Even people who don’t recognize the name Dramarama know the song “Anything, Anything.” Do you ever get tired of playing it?

This is a lighting strikes song in that we paid 200 bucks to record it and look at the longevity! If only I had 20 or 30 more songs like this. For this reason, I will never tire of playing it because of the identity many have with it. However, I hope those who like it will take time and examine the rest of our catalog.

What’s YOUR favorite Dramarama song and why?

This is hard to say, as it changes from night to night. I like those songs in which I can solo, obviously. “Tiny Candles” and “Earthday” are two that come to mind. “Tiny Candles” because I can go postal on it, and “Earthday” is my other favorite because of the message of the song. While I do not beat the drum for any sort of cause, the earth belongs to all of us. If we do not take care of it, the consequences could be disastrous. We must do whatever we can to preserve it. If not for our sakes, for those who come after.

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