Title - Bodega Flowers
Artist - Mark Duda
For those unaware, set for release July 29th, 2022, Bodega Flowers is an emotional journey packed with characters, experiences, and swagger straight from Manhattan’s lower east side.
Mark Duda is a New York City-based artist and storyteller who sings, plays guitar, and writes great rock and roll songs. Duda shines on his debut full-length album Bodega Flowers, which journalist and musician Phil Mitchum praises as a transformative album from a generational songwriter.
Indeed, Duda seamlessly blends all of the NY flavors he’s soaked up over the years, from Dion to Lou Reed, The NY Dolls, the Dead Boys, and beyond, bringing his own signature update to the New York rock and roll sound and continuing to forge the musical identity he first introduced with his Month of Sundays EP from 2017.
Bodega Flowers proudly features the legendary rhythm section of Kasim Sulton (bass) and Thommy Price (drums), collaborating here for the first time in 30 years!
Jimi K. Bones further energizes the record with his guitar playing and background vocals. Arno Hecht (Dion, Rolling Stones) returns to play saxophone on several songs, and Johnny Pisano (Willie Nile) sings backing vocals throughout the record.
Cynthia Longley Richards, who was featured on Month of Sundays, returns to the band to play cello on several songs, and Joan Chew (Lez Zeppelin) contributes keys.
1. Ambulance Song
2. Bodega Flowers
3. Astroland
4. Avenue A is Dead
5. Hush Money
6. Don’t Wanna Be Right
7. Black Eyed Susan
8. Wednesday
9. My Stash
10. There Goes the Band
11. Dead Again
With the album including eleven brand new original Duda songs that are sure to make a fan of anyone who loves New York style rock and roll and is looking for something new to add to their rotation, it opens on rambunctiously fantastic Ambulance Song and the studiously-crafted rock within the titular Bodega Flowers and they are followed by the atmospherically-charged rocker Astroland, the mid-tempo, low key ebb of Avenue A is Dead and then comes the Springsteen-esque Hush Money.
Next up is the aching balladry yearn of Don’t Wanna Be Right and the all-out R n’ R of Black Eyed Susan and then they are in turn backed seamlessly by the foot-tapping rhythms within the triumphant Wednesday, the old school rock of My Stash, the album rounding out with the ’80s-imbibed There Goes the Band, coming to a close with the surf-rock-embued Dead Again.
A singer/songwriter above all else, Duda is influenced by Dion, Buddy Holly, Lou Reed, David Bowie, and Willie Nile. These influences are effortlessly delivered through the glam rock lens he grew up with, and shine through on Bodega Flowers.
Just as Jesse Malin emerged from the glam punk of D Generation to carve out his niche as an important voice for New York singer-songwriters, Duda is now bringing his own unique voice to the scene.
Over his storied career, Duda has collaborated with rock and roll royalty from New York and beyond. Recent collaborations include legendary guitarists Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys), Jake Cinninger (Umphrey’s McGee), Pat Travers, and Steve Hackett (Genesis). Mark has also recorded with bassist Kenny Aaronson (Billy Idol, Joan Jett), bassist Kasim Sulton (Todd Rundgren, Joan Jett), drummers Bobby Rondinelli (Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult) and Thommy Price (Joan Jett, Billy Idol), and saxophone legend Arno Hecht (Dion, Rolling Stones).
Bodega Flowers was executive produced by Mark Duda and produced by Jimi K. Bones (Blondie, Joan Jett, Jonas Brothers, Willie Nile.) Jimi’s crisp production and arrangements perfectly showcase Mark Duda at his finest.
Two-time Grammy nominee Kostadin Kamcev served as both recording and mastering engineer for Bodega Flowers, while also contributing keys.
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