"I'll Share These Moments With You" (a tribute to Mark Brink)

DISCLAIMER:  This blog may be "all over the place," more so than usual.  I apologize if that's the case and will probably go back to edit later.  However, I felt that this needed to go out sooner rather than later.  I'm sure it'll make sense as it unveils itself.  Thank you.  D Kav

“‘Cause sometimes the load can make you weary
Oh, and sometimes the road just seems too long to carry on
Oh, but remember if you call me, reach out your hand. Mine will be there, too
Oh, yes, and I’ll share these moments with you”
(from the song "These Moments With You."  Music/lyrics by Mark Brink)

(Video below)

I was playing my usual set at Potbelly on Southport yesterday afternoon.  I was "going through the motions," as it were.  Sleep deprived, weary, fatigued (much the same as I am now in writing this. ) This is a result of a g/f who works overnight.  No blame on her - she can't help it, and apparently, neither can I.  "No matter - much gets done," I tell myself.  "I'll just play this set and go back home to CRASH!"

As I play my set, I check my phone seeing that I got tagged in a note on Facebook.  It is titled "The Saddest Song that I Never Wrote..."  Intrigued, I open it.  The note was written by Kat Fitzgerald - a dear friend and fellow musician.  She also hosts Open Mics at The Uptown Lounge and Sunday Showcases at Let Them Eat Chocolate.  Seeing as I haven't heard from her since my show at LTEC on August 8th, I read on (or rather, I skim it since I'm still "on the clock," as it were.)  I scroll down and stop to see the last sentences of the note:

"Mark Brink passed away last week. His music will stay here with us, for all time, for one simple reason...

~ I don't know where the music comes from, but I know we are not supposed to keep it ~

Kat "

My eyes stopped, my jaw dropped, my heart sank.  I was in utter disbelief (still am, actually.)  In short, I truly had no idea.  I had to go back and play the next 50 minutes of my shift.  I'm not gonna lie - it felt empty.  I was looking towards the end of the shift where I can check TweetDeck and call Kat immediately thereafter.  

I made a phone call - no answer.  I text her, "Are you going to be at LTEC this afternoon?  If not, where?  In short, where are you (please?)"

She replies with a text, "Hanging out at home.  I'm ok.  Have work to do and plenty of ben and jerry's."

"Heh," I reply with text, "That's literally how I replied.  I don't know if you listened to my voice message or not.  But I'm taking your advice to the fullest:  I love you very much, Kat Fitzgerald.  I always have.  (I'm missing him more and more.  Had no idea..)"

What was her advice, you ask?  It was posted in both her FB and in a Tweet from her yesterday, 

"so today, the highest category on my scope is "Love @ 84%" - To all my friends and adopted family - to all the musicians I care about so much, I just want you all to know how much you mean to me... I love you all..."  

if anyone else could bring a community of musicians, friends, family members and people together, it would definitely be Mark Brink who could perform such a feat.  The first time that I went to the Open Mic at Uncommon Ground (at the time when Kat Fitzgerald was still the host,) I remember a gentleman sitting in the front row of the back room at the Grace/Clark location with a cheesy yet All too genuine smile on his face.  I remember thinking, "WHO is that happy?  My God!"  I remember he would banter back and forth with Kat while she would begin the Open Mic for the evening, explaining how it worked, what the rules were, etc.  I remember the jokes being corny and the laughs were plentiful.  As bitter as I was at the time (guilty,) I would think, "alright, already!"  

As the night progressed onward, I noticed something about this man.  I saw him watch me...but I mean, Really watch - not just waiting for his turn to play, per se.  He clapped and said, "very nice."  I said, "thank you."  

Then Mark Brink took a stage with a song.  The song was "These Moments With You."  I remember him stating that he was a bit nervous since it's been a while since he played.  I swear to you all - you couldn't tell - not in the slightest.  I remember his soothing voice, his soft and casual demeanor in talking to the audience on the mic beforehand.  Most of all, it was the way his fingers slid across the neck of the guitar.  The chord structures that he made were those that my brain could not wrap itself around to save my life.  I was extremely impressed and touched - forever changed by his music.  His voice was incomparable.  I can't think of anyone to reference vocally.   I can tell you that his guitar skills were that of the late Jim Croce sans the overdubbing and multi-layering that one is accustomed to in listening to Mr. Croce's recordings.  With all due respect, Mr. Brink outshined him since he played his beautiful melody and rhythms on one guitar.  (The thing is - I can feel him blushing as I type this.)

To top it all off, Mark Brink was very, very modest.  In such a huge city and with the competition being as it is in the business, he could've carried himself in a much different way if he chose to.  However, he was such a warm spirit, a kind soul.  He was everyone's "biggest fan" of their music.  In getting to know Mark Brink, he could melt a heart that was icy and you can feel warmth that you haven't felt in quite a long time.  With that being said, I remember looking forward to his joking banter and smiles towards Kat and to everyone else while they were on stage.  It would seem as if  the world was off-balance if he wasn't at the Open Mic that week to share his jokes and his music.

The last time that I saw him alive was at the Midsommarfest back in June.  I was scheduled to play on a Saturday.  It was threatening not to be so since the rain was really coming down.  I had a group of people coming out to see me.  Kat made it clear that the performance was about to be cancelled.  I couldn't blame her in the slightest.  She had brought her own PA and equipment for the festival itself and the canvas that was hung overhead to protect the equipment wasn't doing its job very well.  Threats to drown said hardware were very imminent.  Needless to say, I was very upset.  Kat kept apologizing profusely.  I kept insisting (and it was true) that it wasn't her fault and that I didn't blame her in the slightest.  Another performer slated to perform after me, Katie Scrantom, offered to ask if A Taste Of Heaven would be willing to give us the space for a last minute, impromptu show.  She came back and said that they were willing to do so.  All was good and scheduled to be fixed.  I told my group of peeps that the "show was on."

Amidst the change-up and rearrangements, I noticed a man approach me very closely.  He was wearing a hat (ballcap, if I recall correctly) glasses and had the beginnings of a beard.  He looked right at me with a smile until it hit me...

"Mark!" I stated.  "Wow. I had no idea it was you!"

"You didn't know it was me?" He laughed.

"No!"  I couldn't hold back my laughter.  "I swear to God!  Wow!  No, the beard is a different look.  Not bad .. just.. How are you?!?  Good to see you!"

He came across the street to hear my set.  He stayed for the whole time.  I played my set.  I saw him bopping his head to my rendition of "Crystallize Me."  It felt good to see him there - to feel his support.

I remember at the end of Katie's set when he came up to me and said, 

"it's good to see you again.  I've gotta go."

"ok.  Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm just tired."

That would be the last time I would see him.  Little did I know that another regret would form a couple of months after that.  The reason?  Mark had always suggested that we get together to jam, learn off of each other.

"Learn from me?" I exclaimed.  "Umm, ok.  I don't know what I could teach you.  You have more command and control over the guitar than I do."

"Not really," he said.  "Truth be told, I pretend to know how to play."

"Pretend?!?!?"  I shouted (when don't I?)  "Are you kidding?  Wow.  I wouldn't have ever guessed that if you didn't tell me.  Umm, ok.  When?"

"Whenever.  No rush.  We'll figure it out."

With a deep sigh, I close this blog and will send it out.  There is an Open Mic tonight (Monday, August 30, 2010) at Uptown Lounge - 1136 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640.  The Open Mic will start at 7 pm and go...probably all night.  This Open Mic is in dedication to the memories, the music, the stories and the love for Mark Brink.  If you knew Mark and were touched like we were in the singer/songwriter/music community, this would be the perfect opportunity to share the love that he shared and to carry on his legacy - the way and in the fashion that Mark Brink would done so.  

Mark, thank you for the memories, the laughs, the openness and the music.