By Nick Christophers
Mark Rechler grew up on Long Island among the sounds of artists like the Beatles, then more modern bands of his time like Elton John, Grateful Dead, Allman’s and Little Feat. They were the foundation for his love of music, but he also gravitated to genres like Worldbeat, classical, Ambient Chillout, Electronic, and Experimental. While he studied at Tulane University for Architecture in New Orleans he discovered the funky sounds of the Meters, The Neville Brothers, and The Radiators. Hence, Circus Mind is a potpourri of musical experiments just waiting to be engulfed.
He founded the band in 1998, but they did not settle on the band name till later since then, the band has evolved and garnered new members and delivered thought-provoking music. The band which includes Mark on keys and vocals, Brian Duggan on Guitar, Michael Amendola on Sax, Mathew Fox on Bass, Steve Finkelstein on Percussion and Dan Roth on Drums. Mark tends to touch upon either social issues or personal experiences in his lyrics. Such tracks like “Battle of Brooklyn” which was derived when he heard the story about the deep-rooted history of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary war. He meshed this footnote with the current battle in Brooklyn with the gentrification that has altered the face of the borough. But when it came to a single like “Barstool Hero”, it was born of a trance like state of mind. It was also when he lost a dear friend of his which could explain the direction of the lyrics.
“When I write songs, I rarely ever have an intention or direction, like “Let me try and write a song that sounds like X” but i guess through our musical DNA we are just going to touch upon all the glorious things we grew up on. My first albums were all hand me downs from my older brothers. The Beatles was and is the Foundation of everything I do and was the first thing I was listening to us a young kid, Followed by Elton John, Grateful Dead, Allman’s and Little Feat. Then Prog influences like Genesis and King Crimson in Junior High and the post punk like The Clash and Elvis Costello, Reggae like Bob Marly and Peter Tosh.”
The band has yet to release a full album but have put out five projects so far. Currently, they are planning to drop the rest of the 15 tracks they recorded every six weeks. Mark finds this better based on how the public gathers their music via singles rather than listening to whole album in one sitting. The landscape has changed in that area where in the old day’s music lovers would joyfully sit and lay out a full vinyl or CD and take it all in.
Presently, their new single “Melt Away” has garnered positive feedback from old fans and even newcomers. The comments about the new track are that fans are thinking that Circus Mind are in another departure from their sound but as we mentioned earlier, they are chameleons when it comes to meshing genres.
The band has graced the stage at many venues, but the Bitter End seems to stand out. Mark enjoys the room size, sound and Hammond organ that is available. The band seems to enjoy the smaller venues that offer a more intimate setting. The band has received accolades from such media outlets as Relix and The Rocktologist. Mark is looking forward to performing at more locales for the end of 2025 and developing more music moving forward.
