thebigreason Blog » Americana
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I'm Mark. I play the double bass, ukulele, fix amplifiers, and build websites. Since 1998, thebigreason has played many rolls. It currently serves as a vehicle for me to publish my musings on the things I love; some of which include the double bass, new music, web development, and vintage amplifiers. Explore the Americana section as I review Americana and root music.
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
The light that burns twice as bright burns only half as long ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
I was looking up some directions the other day and couldn’t help but notice the footprint of our local Target Distribution Center. It’s HUGE! After a quick scan of the surrounding area, I determined that not only is it the largest building in town, but the largest in the county, and the greater Sacramento area as a whole ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
The light that burns twice as bright burns only half as long ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
A number of Tuesdays have passed since Julianna Riolino’s incredible first full-length solo record, dropped (and 188 Tuesdays have passed since I last shared new music with you !), but this record is just so good that I had to break the silence ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
Longtime visitors to my website will remember that I once worked my ass off to land a job in the town where I live that was only an 8-minute bike ride from my house. That job moved to a neighboring city at the start of the pandemic, and has been the cause of much turmoil ever since ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
I’ve been studying the art of tube amplifier design for about ten years now, and actually repairing them for about five. I love analizing schematics, pouring over the inside of an amp chassis, and studying the layout choices made by the designer. It was only a matter of time before I took a crack at it myself. That time finally came.   ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
Starved for live music during the pandemic, Kristyn and I stumbled upon one evening as we desperately scoured social media to find artists streaming online. We were instantly lost in the somber, delicate delivery of her songs, punctuated by the most tastefully haunting electric guitar. It would be three more years before we got the chance to catch her live ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
I played 100 shows last year, and I’m on track to play at least that many again this year. These aren’t back-to-back touring shows with the same band every night. There is no tour manager, itinerary, or even a single set list to memorize. This is by far the busiest I have ever been, and it’s really quite challenging to manage a schedule like this. I get asked quite frequently how I do it. This is the answer ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
1y ago
It’s not terribly common for a band to stick together for a whole decade, let alone two! This year, the Bottom Dwellers celebrate our 20th anniversary! We even threw a big ol’ block party. I figured this would be a good occasion to share a few stories ..read more
thebigreason Blog » Americana
2y ago
, I got word that my office was moving to another city about 20 kilometers away, and that I would have to saddle up for a big kid commute. Well, two months ago, that day finally came. This is how it’s going ..read more