Mark Jungers Band
San Marcos, Texas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"Aside from Mark's already proven strong songwriting and his passionate, honest delivery, what sets him apart is that he, along with The Whistling Mules, have created a unique sound that's stands out from anything else around. The playing is not only tight and energetic, but their use of instruments is brilliantly creative."
- takecountryback.com
"Aside from Mark's already proven strong songwriting and his passionate, honest delivery, what sets him apart is that he, along with The Whistling Mules, have created a unique sound that's stands out from anything else around. The playing is not only tight and energetic, but their use of instruments is brilliantly creative."
- takecountryback.com
As I put together my end-of-year top-ten-favorites list Jungers' was there...If I said that One For the Crow, the follow-up to Standing in Your Way, was more of the same it would be a compliment of the highest order. - Rockzilla.net
As I put together my end-of-year top-ten-favorites list Jungers' was there...If I said that One For the Crow, the follow-up to Standing in Your Way, was more of the same it would be a compliment of the highest order. - Rockzilla.net
This CD should be included in Songwriting 101. Actual human emotions embedded within personal experiences successfully communicated to the listener. So many who believe themselves songwriters miss this essential point. Others are just not talented enough to pull it off. Mr. Jungers, on the other hand, writes the book with this CD.
All the songs on this recording are his, except for his arrangement of the traditional 'Knoxville Girl.' That makes an even dozen great songs with interesting tunes. I never been quick to compare one artist with another, but cannot stop myself this time... think Slaid Cleaves with an edge, or Steve Earle acoustic.
This is real, honest-to-God Texas music. The swill that shallow, banal, drink-beer-till-you-puke posers call "Texas Music" is not the same thing at all. Mark has a similar voice as is affected by many of this genre, but when you talk to this man you know it is not something he puts on before stepping onto the stage. He knows what he is writing about. You can hear the similar musical roots between these tunes and that country-pop goop, but where they are a caricature at best, this has the energy without being frantic, this is a respectful derivation and not a warped mirror.
- Austin Americana
This CD should be included in Songwriting 101. Actual human emotions embedded within personal experiences successfully communicated to the listener. So many who believe themselves songwriters miss this essential point. Others are just not talented enough to pull it off. Mr. Jungers, on the other hand, writes the book with this CD.
All the songs on this recording are his, except for his arrangement of the traditional 'Knoxville Girl.' That makes an even dozen great songs with interesting tunes. I never been quick to compare one artist with another, but cannot stop myself this time... think Slaid Cleaves with an edge, or Steve Earle acoustic.
This is real, honest-to-God Texas music. The swill that shallow, banal, drink-beer-till-you-puke posers call "Texas Music" is not the same thing at all. Mark has a similar voice as is affected by many of this genre, but when you talk to this man you know it is not something he puts on before stepping onto the stage. He knows what he is writing about. You can hear the similar musical roots between these tunes and that country-pop goop, but where they are a caricature at best, this has the energy without being frantic, this is a respectful derivation and not a warped mirror.
- Austin Americana
Mark Jungers and his band manage to sound at once very Texan and yet miles away from what's hot in the Texas Music Chart for the moment. His rural roots, time on the road and knowledge of life function as a backbone for his songs. We get twelve of them here, plus one well-chosen cover, particularly "Knoxville Girl".Jungers' music is a real melting-pot of bluegrass, rock and folk. And his voice has to be situated somewhere between those of Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, Jack Ingram and Bob Dylan. With the latter for that matter he seems to be sharing a predilection for the use of the harmonica. His songs are shining like 24 carat diamonds. Especially "No Easy Way To Go" (about his father's death and the way the family dealt with it), "Going Nowhere" (about a quest for "the right place to be")and "Sentimental Guy" (about the importance of farmers in today's society). Conclusion: Standing In Your Way is by far the strongest effort to reach us from Texas recently! Five stars!"
- Alt. Country Magazine
Mark Jungers and his band manage to sound at once very Texan and yet miles away from what's hot in the Texas Music Chart for the moment. His rural roots, time on the road and knowledge of life function as a backbone for his songs. We get twelve of them here, plus one well-chosen cover, particularly "Knoxville Girl".Jungers' music is a real melting-pot of bluegrass, rock and folk. And his voice has to be situated somewhere between those of Robert Earl Keen, Steve Earle, Jack Ingram and Bob Dylan. With the latter for that matter he seems to be sharing a predilection for the use of the harmonica. His songs are shining like 24 carat diamonds. Especially "No Easy Way To Go" (about his father's death and the way the family dealt with it), "Going Nowhere" (about a quest for "the right place to be")and "Sentimental Guy" (about the importance of farmers in today's society). Conclusion: Standing In Your Way is by far the strongest effort to reach us from Texas recently! Five stars!"
- Alt. Country Magazine
Texas, by way of Minnesota, singer/songwriter Mark Jungers has released an accomplished first solo album, after playing in several Austin-area bands the past few years. Helping him are numerous Austin musicians, including members of Charlie Robison's and Monte Montgomery's bands.
The album features 16 well-crafted, instantly appealing songs that should certainly please fans of guys like Greg Trooper, Buddy Miller and Steve Earle. Like those musicians, Jungers writes good songs, tells interesting stories and combines twang and edgy pop with touches of blues, rock and bluegrass. There are no bad tracks, but standouts include "You and the Wind," "Think About You," "What More Can I Do," and "Long Train."
The songs have a rich, full sound thanks to the variety of instruments used, including fiddle, banjo, mandolin, steel guitar, piano and Hammond B-3.
Hopefully, Junger's self-released effort does not slip through the cracks and will lead to much-deserved recognition for a very talented musician. - Country Standard Time
Texas, by way of Minnesota, singer/songwriter Mark Jungers has released an accomplished first solo album, after playing in several Austin-area bands the past few years. Helping him are numerous Austin musicians, including members of Charlie Robison's and Monte Montgomery's bands.
The album features 16 well-crafted, instantly appealing songs that should certainly please fans of guys like Greg Trooper, Buddy Miller and Steve Earle. Like those musicians, Jungers writes good songs, tells interesting stories and combines twang and edgy pop with touches of blues, rock and bluegrass. There are no bad tracks, but standouts include "You and the Wind," "Think About You," "What More Can I Do," and "Long Train."
The songs have a rich, full sound thanks to the variety of instruments used, including fiddle, banjo, mandolin, steel guitar, piano and Hammond B-3.
Hopefully, Junger's self-released effort does not slip through the cracks and will lead to much-deserved recognition for a very talented musician. - Country Standard Time
Discography
Black Limousine (2000)
Standing in Your Way (2002)
One For the Crow (2004)
Silos & Smokestacks (2007)
Whistle This (2009)
More Like A Good Dog Than A Bad Cat (2011)
Photos
Bio
Mark Jungers
Mark and his band exemplify what lies at the heart of the best of Americana: gutsy, unpretentious music with soul and spirit.
Mark Jungers was born and raised in a small farming community in Minnesota. When his father died young, Mark and his brothers were left to carry on the family farm or lose it. It was then that the steadfast work ethic of the American farmer was instilled in Mark. Greg Roberts of Country Line Magazine writes "this guy works harder than anybody I've ever seen. The list of clubs he's played looks like the yellow pages; he's everywhere."
Jungers was a major player in the mid 80s Austin music scene, playing with a number of different bands including Hell's Cafe and The Masons. In the fall of 1994, he left Texas for Connecticut, where he began a solo career, and where his songwriting really began to prosper. He found regional success as the lead singer of The Motel Preachers, but Texas was calling, and he returned to the Austin area in 1997. The songwriting continued and he soon formed what is now Mark Jungers & The Whistling Mules. 2000 saw the release of Mark's first album, "Black Limousine", which gained him a strong Texas following. 2002 brought forth the second album "Standing in Your Way", and 2004 saw the release of "One for the Crow", which gained Mark national attention. The CD spent 14 weeks on the Americana Chart, 26 weeks on the Roots Music Report, 2 months on the F.A.R. Chart, and reached no. 2 on XM Radio's X-Country Weekly Rank List.
Marks commitment to the art of songwriting remains evident on his fourth release, the self-produced Silos and Smokestacks, released in 2007. The honesty of his songs, in a delivery totally without pretense, captures the true American spirit.
"Mark Jungers writes and sings about the type of human condition that is the true reason this country is able to stay on the course of greatness. He's got grease on his hands and dirt and blood on his shirt. He connects, and that what music is supposed to do" says Mattson Rainer, Program Director of KNBT in New Braunfels, Texas.
The uniqueness of Mark Jungers music is well demonstrated by the variety of bills the band has shared. Mark and the Mules have played with Fred Eaglesmith, The Derailers, Guy Clark, Gary P. Nunn, Slaid Cleaves, Slobberbone, Sisters Morales, Trout Fishing in America, Billy Joe Shaver, Charlie Robison, Cory Morrow, The Gourds, Terri Hendrix, and the list goes on.
Mark's reputation as one of Austin's premier songwriters continues to grow, as an increasing number of musicians are performing his material. Adam Carroll and Susan Gibson, generally recognized as two of Texas' finest current batch of songwriters, and Canada's Roger Marin frequently collaborate with him on songs. He has also written songs for Sunny Sweeney, who is bursting onto the country scene.
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