Mark Geary
Encyclopedia
Mark Geary is an Irish
singer-songwriter
and musician
born in Dublin, Ireland
into a large family with ten siblings, one of whom is actor Karl Geary
. In 1992 he emigrated to New York City after being called up for a lottery-won green card. Living in New York's East Village, Geary began playing the local circuit, in venues such as the Sin É alongside Jeff Buckley
, and other artists. Geary also worked in popular New York bar The Scratcher.
he had the chance to jump right in at the famous Sin-é bar, however his lack of experience in front of an audience was intimidating. “It was a huge amount of pressure,” said Geary. “I walked in and saw Jeff Buckley
, Katell Keineg
, Sinéad O'Connor
.” Humbled, Geary packed up his guitar and began seeking out gigs at less exalted local spots. He built a reputation playing at Sidewalk Café and won a regular slot at the Pink Pony. Eventually, Geary worked his way back to Sin-é, where he found himself on a regular bill sandwiched between Keineg and Buckley.
Geary released his first album Mark Geary in 1999, but the record label went out of business before it could properly find an audience.
In 2002, his “new” 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
. The album also came in at number 68 in the HotPress readers' poll for the Top 100 Greatest Irish Albums.
Geary regularly tours throughout the year all over Europe, the U.S. and Australia. In August 2005, Geary played at the Kennedy Center.
He has supported major artists all over the world, in 2008 he supported the Oscar winning duo, The Swell Season
on their European tour. Other acts he has played with include, Josh Ritter
, Bell X1, The Frames
, Coldplay
, Elvis Costello
, The Pretenders
and Joe Strummer
.
Geary’s latest studio recording, Opium, was released in 2008.
His most recent live recording in 2009, Live, Love, Lost It - NYC took him back to his New York roots and features songs recorded at various shows performed in the summer of 2009.
and 2006’s Steel City.
Most recently he composed the score for a new film, Sons of Perdition, featured at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival
.
Geary’s songs have been featured in various films including the 2006 movie, The End of Silence. The film features Geary’s song 'Hold Tight' over the closing credits. His songs have also been featured on television including the One Tree Hill
, which featured his songs South (season 2) and Angel (season 6).
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
born in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
into a large family with ten siblings, one of whom is actor Karl Geary
Karl Geary
Karl John Geary , is an actor and club owner. He moved to the United States at the age of fifteen in 1987; he later got a green card in a visa lottery for Irish illegals, and ultimately became a naturalized citizen. He has seven brothers and sisters.He appeared in Madonna's Sex book...
. In 1992 he emigrated to New York City after being called up for a lottery-won green card. Living in New York's East Village, Geary began playing the local circuit, in venues such as the Sin É alongside Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
, and other artists. Geary also worked in popular New York bar The Scratcher.
Career
When Geary arrived in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
he had the chance to jump right in at the famous Sin-é bar, however his lack of experience in front of an audience was intimidating. “It was a huge amount of pressure,” said Geary. “I walked in and saw Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley , raised as Scotty Moorhead, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was the son of Tim Buckley, also a musician...
, Katell Keineg
Katell Keineg
Katell Keineg , is a Breton-Welsh singer-songwriter, based in Dublin and New York.-Early life:Born in Brittany and raised in Cardiff, Katell Keineg is the second child and only daughter of Breton poet and playwright Paol Keineg and his then wife, Judith, a Welsh political activist and...
, Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
.” Humbled, Geary packed up his guitar and began seeking out gigs at less exalted local spots. He built a reputation playing at Sidewalk Café and won a regular slot at the Pink Pony. Eventually, Geary worked his way back to Sin-é, where he found himself on a regular bill sandwiched between Keineg and Buckley.
Geary released his first album Mark Geary in 1999, but the record label went out of business before it could properly find an audience.
In 2002, his “new” debut album, 33 1/3 Grand Street was released on SonaBLAST! Records
SonaBLAST! Records
sonaBLAST! Records is a Louisville, KY-based independent record label founded by film producer Gill Holland in 2002. The label kicked off with Irish singer-songwriter Mark Geary, whose 2004 release Ghosts is nearing Gold status and received critical acclaim in Ireland and the USA.-Artist...
. 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
Glen Hansard
Glen Hansard is the Academy Award–winning principal songwriter and vocalist/guitarist for Irish group The Frames and one half of folk rock duo, The Swell Season...
and Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.- Early life :Josh...
. The album also came in at number 68 in the HotPress readers' poll for the Top 100 Greatest Irish Albums.
Geary regularly tours throughout the year all over Europe, the U.S. and Australia. In August 2005, Geary played at the Kennedy Center.
He has supported major artists all over the world, in 2008 he supported the Oscar winning duo, The Swell Season
The Swell Season
The Swell Season is a folk rock duo formed by Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová. "The Swell Season" name is derived from Hansard's favourite novel by Josef Škvorecký from 1975 bearing the same title...
on their European tour. Other acts he has played with include, Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter
Josh Ritter is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and author who performs and records with The Royal City Band. Ritter is known for his distinctive Americana style and narrative lyrics. In 2006 he was named one of the "100 Greatest Living Songwriters" by Paste magazine.- Early life :Josh...
, Bell X1, The Frames
The Frames
The Frames are an Irish band based in Dublin. Founded in 1990 by Glen Hansard, the band has been influential in the Dublin rock music scene. The group has released six albums...
, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, The Pretenders
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are an English rock band formed in Hereford, England in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde , James Honeyman-Scott , Pete Farndon , and Martin Chambers...
and Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
.
Geary’s latest studio recording, Opium, was released in 2008.
His most recent live recording in 2009, Live, Love, Lost It - NYC took him back to his New York roots and features songs recorded at various shows performed in the summer of 2009.
Movie & TV Soundtracks
Geary has composed the score to three films, 2005’s LoggerheadsLoggerheads (film)
Loggerheads is an independent film written and directed by Tim Kirkman, produced by Gill Holland and released in the United States by Strand Releasing in October 2005. After its debut at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, Loggerheads screened at...
and 2006’s Steel City.
Most recently he composed the score for a new film, Sons of Perdition, featured at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival
Tribeca Film Festival
The Tribeca Film Festival is a film festival founded in 2002 by Jane Rosenthal, Robert De Niro and Craig Hatkoff in a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the consequent loss of vitality in the TriBeCa neighborhood in Lower Manhattan.The mission of the festival...
.
Geary’s songs have been featured in various films including the 2006 movie, The End of Silence. The film features Geary’s song 'Hold Tight' over the closing credits. His songs have also been featured on television including the One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill (TV series)
One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
, which featured his songs South (season 2) and Angel (season 6).
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
- LoggerheadsLoggerheads (film)Loggerheads is an independent film written and directed by Tim Kirkman, produced by Gill Holland and released in the United States by Strand Releasing in October 2005. After its debut at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize, Loggerheads screened at...
(2005) - Steel City (2006)
- Sons of Perdition (2010)
- Angel (2011)
Movies With Featured Songs
- Vito After (2005)
- The Hermit of Manana (2006)
- Mentor (2006)
- Ben's Plan (2007)
- Toxic Soup (2009)
Television Soundtracks
- One Tree HillOne Tree Hill (TV series)One Tree Hill is an American television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003, on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and, since September 27, 2006, the network has been the official broadcaster...
(2 episodes, 2005–2009)- "Angel", Episode: Show Me How to Live (2009)
- "South", Episode: Between Order and Randomness (2005)
- BonesBones (TV series)Bones is an American crime drama television series that premiered on the Fox Network on September 13, 2005. The show is based on forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology, with each episode focusing on an FBI case file concerning the mystery behind human remains brought by FBI Special Agent...
(1 episode, 2005)- "Hold Tight", Episode: The Girl in the Fridge