Biography
Hailing from Kansas, where early exposure to the Rolling Stones and Neil Young shaped his tastes, longtime Southern California resident Mark Insley issued his first record, Good Country Junk, in 1996; the set prompted comparisons to Dwight Yoakam, whose band members contributed to the sessions.
Having cultivated a rowdy stage presence across the West Coast, Insley delivered the long-delayed successor Tucson, marking his initial outing for Rustic Records. More abrasive than its predecessor, the album evoked the unclassifiable Americana associated with nonconformists such as Steve Earle and Buddy and Julie Miller. Co-production duties fell to Insley and Paul du Gre, whose résumé includes Los Lobos, Sheryl Crow, and Bad Religion; among the supporting musicians were Tony Gilkyson, drummer David Raven (Jim Lauderdale, Butthole Surfers), keyboardist Danny McGough (Tom Waits), and the widely traveled pedal-steel player and multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz. Additional appearances came from Albert Lee, Dave Alvin, Rick Shea, and Clare Muldaur. The recording traverses hard country, rock & roll, and blues without settling on any single lane. Its title proved oddly prescient, since Insley relocated to Tucson soon after completing the project.
Having cultivated a rowdy stage presence across the West Coast, Insley delivered the long-delayed successor Tucson, marking his initial outing for Rustic Records. More abrasive than its predecessor, the album evoked the unclassifiable Americana associated with nonconformists such as Steve Earle and Buddy and Julie Miller. Co-production duties fell to Insley and Paul du Gre, whose résumé includes Los Lobos, Sheryl Crow, and Bad Religion; among the supporting musicians were Tony Gilkyson, drummer David Raven (Jim Lauderdale, Butthole Surfers), keyboardist Danny McGough (Tom Waits), and the widely traveled pedal-steel player and multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz. Additional appearances came from Albert Lee, Dave Alvin, Rick Shea, and Clare Muldaur. The recording traverses hard country, rock & roll, and blues without settling on any single lane. Its title proved oddly prescient, since Insley relocated to Tucson soon after completing the project.
Albums
