MARCUS STARR

The life of a musician is certainly not dull. You get to meet beautiful and otherworldly people. Get to play summer festivals and camp in muddy forests. Get ripped off, underpaid… okay now I'm quoting Bon Scott (it's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll…).

Something happened last weekend on the way to a wonderful summer festival in Collingwood ON. I was playing two sets in two separate bands. It's a 2.5 hour drive. I was borrowing my GF's car. She was away in London England. Everything was normal, the car - dubbed Mystic - was running smoothly. 

I drove to Collingwood, tunes cranked. Ten minutes from the gig, the car conked out. Battery and all. I was smack in the middle of a busy intersection. Frantic, I texted my GF, praying she would reply. She was halfway across the world, so I didn't hold my breath. Then I called a tow truck, and waited… and waited… and waited. 

Anyway, long story short, it was an hour long wait for the tow truck driver to arrive. I had to be on stage in 1.5 hours. And I was hauling 3 guitars, a large amp, band merch, pedal board, and briefcase full of randoms. Ugh. 

I texted my bandmates, looking to be picked up. No one was replying to my messages. I was literally stranded on the side of the road, and did not want to miss the gig. Heck, I needed the money to pay for the tow truck! Plus, it was the hottest part of the day. I was sweating.

Enter Good Samaritan. 

Forty five stressful minutes later, a van pulled up behind me and a young man stepped out. He asked if I needed help. “I sure do!” I replied. The idea of missing the show was looming large. Then I told him my situation: waiting for a tow truck, late for a gig, and needed to transport a HUGE amount of heavy gear. 

His fiancee and mother stepped out; they asked if I liked dogs.  They had two beautiful huskies in the back of the van. As we started hauling my gear out of the car into the van, the tow truck arrived. Just in time! So did the cops. The tow truck driver took care of the cops and we drove away. I arrived just in time for the show. Phew! 

Adding to the stress, I had an early afternoon show the following day in Port Dover. I needed to get home that night. But the car was waiting in a garage. I snagged a ride with the sax player and dealt with Mystic on Monday. The festival was a blast. And it warms my heart knowing there are still Good Samaritans in the world, ready to offer a  helping hand. We all need help from time to time.

Peace.

MS  

Well it's been a while. Hope you're doing well. Hope your dreams and ambitions are being fulfilled. Mostly, I hope you are happy. Me? I've been super busy…which is great. A busy musician is a happy musician. Recently, my band Aster Nox played a great summer festival and camped out all weekend. I needed that. Sometimes, you just gotta dance. 

This weekend, I'm performing four shows with Rae Melvin: two electric, two acoustic. This will require four guitars: Fender Strat, Gibson SG, Taylor acoustic, National Resonator. WOOT. That's a fine bunch of guitars. Rae Melvin – if you don't know – is my drummer. He's great. Rae is also an incredible front man, and I'm lucky enough to play guitar in his blues band. So much fun.  

Anyway, gotta get packing! Have a happy Canada Day, Independence Day, and wonderful weekend. 

Peace,

Marcus

greetings earthlings ^^

strange sounds from afar

i dont get it

kinda funky though

rockin too

turn it off!

phew

im baaack

lez watch again

micro dosed and toes tappin

ah yeeeaaah

i dig

gruntin groanin in 10/4 atonal time

gimme more

thats more like it

angine de poitrine is on the scene 

and the scene if funkin weird  

i hope their visit on this lofty planet is a long one

and enjoyable 

bye for now… ^^

Been reflecting lately. I do that sometimes. Especially in the dead of winter. What new music have I been listening to lately? I was surprised that many of my current favs were in fact from 2024, not 2025. Oh well, here's my top 2025 list:

1. Billy Strings - Highway Prayers: this album is my road-trip-go-to. It's a long album, but every song is a banger. His band is on fire, and the production is perfect. I got to see him recently and he played the song I wanted to hear the most (the only song I've learned to sing and play): Seven Weeks in County. A grim, gunslinger ballad that could've been written two hundred years ago. Catch and Release is another banger, but so is every other song. 
2. Slash - Orgy of the Damned: the album I didn't know I needed. Terrible title aside, it's an instant classic. He recorded it live-off-the-floor in less than a week, then rounded up some singers to add vocals. The vibe is huge, his guitar sounds better than ever, and his special guests are incredible. Demi Lovato sings Pappa was a Rolling Stone; on paper, this sounds awful. It shouldn't work. But it does. Perhaps the best track on the album. Gary Clark Jr. doing Crossroads is another highlight. 
3. Phish - Evolve: I have a love/hate relationship with this band. I'm hugely influenced by their 90's era: Billy Breathes, Story of the Ghost, Slip Stitch and Pass, and Hoist being my favs. Their newer stuff, not so much (sorry, not sorry). So I was pleasantly surprised when I gave this album a listen. It's great. The production and performances are crisp, and the songs have energy. It sounds like they were really into it. Not too jammy (save that for live performances), and the guitars sound huge. Wave of Hope and Hey Stranger are rippin'.
4. Kingfish - Hard Road: this album is from 2025. So there. The importance of Christone “Kingfish” Ingram cannot be understated. I dig the blues. And he's the best there is, in my opinion. This album is pure gold. Voodoo Charm is great, but it's tough picking one song that stands out. Go listen to it's entirety. On a side note, it's got a sexy vibe, so if you're with someone special, this is a great ‘mood’ album. 
5. Erin Harpe - Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt: (also from 2025) Ah man, where do I begin… MJH is my favourite old time musician; I play his music nearly every time I pick up my acoustic. And Erin Harpe does his music perfectly. Candy Man is pure gold. I'd love to meet her and jam sometime. But if wishes were horses… 

But enough about me, what are your current favs?

Snow day… 

Imagine explaining this to someone living in Hawaii. That it snowed soooo much, the city took a day off, and stayed inside. 

Seems ridiculous.

It's like the hand of God reached down and said, “Take a day off, you deserve it!” Then God throws a giant snowball at us, and we spend hour after back-breaking hour shoveling it! Then, while grumbling about the dreaded ‘white stuff’, we relax. Have some hot chocolate. Some French toast, perhaps. Snuggle up in your favourite chair with your cat, and chill out.

Today, it's a Monday Morning Snow Day, I'm working at home, preparing for a book launch, an album release, plus a picture-video for Aster Nox's ‘Vibes in the Valley’. Then I'll meditate, and become One. Then, perhaps, I'll take my own advice the chill. My cat thinks I should. 

But where the time???

MS 

OM

Breathe in…. breathe out…. breathe in…. breath out.

Relaxed???

Good!

Let's begin, shall we?

Not many people know this about me, but I've been studying meditation for many years. The benefits I've accumulated are incredible. It's my favorite pastime… although that's not the correct term. But lets not get hung up on the details. Okay?

Sit comfortably, with your hands on your lap, thumbs gently touching. Then, you start settling your mind. Why? Because your mind is KEY. It's where your feelings come from. Where pain, happiness and indifference comes from. In fact, everything you do comes first from MIND. Controlling your own mind is of the utmost importance. 

If it's so important, than why don't we learn this in school?

Good question.

If everyone meditated, half of the world's problems would disappear almost overnight. And it's easy. Well, sort of. And there's many types of meditation. To begin with, a simple breathing meditation is quite effective. Concentrate on the sensation of your breath touching your nostrils as it enters and exits your nose. Breath naturally. Within a minute, you will start to relax. 

For some meditators, that's the extent in which they meditate. And that's cool. BUT… what if I told you there's more?  If you want to get the most bang for your buck (and I'm sure you do), then after a minute or two, turn your mind towards something virtuous. World Peace or Universal Love. THAT will make your meditation extremely powerful and meaningful and beneficial. 

How?

Imagination, of course. Imagine the entire world acting as friends and family. Imagine everyone in the world being considerate and loving. Imagine everyone holding hands. Sounds corny, perhaps. But it shouldn't. We've become quite jaded. And the best part: it works! Once you've imagined this, concentrate and BELIEVE. Your heart will open up and a feeling of bliss will arise. 

Yeah, simply meditating on World Peace for five minutes won't solve the world's problems (it would if millions of people did it), but it will bring you great inner peace and confidence. It's like magic.

Don't believe me? 

Try it. 

You won't regret it. And besides, what have you got to lose? Other than five or six minutes of relaxation.

Okay, that's all I wanted to talk about today.

Peace

MS 

Bob Weir… ah man…. where to begin? The beginning, I suppose.

My Grateful Dead journey started during my college years. I was an avid rock and blues enthusiast, and I dug the 60's hippie vibes (Beatles, Floyd, Zep, Stones), so the Dead seemed the logical next step. It was… but it took time. 

Getting into the Dead isn't easy. Especially for someone who missed out on catching Jerry Garcia live. Their music isn't four-minute pop rock. Nor is it conventional. And many of their albums are dreadful (a few notable exceptions, of course). But I liked the ‘idea’ of the Dead. The scene, the dancing (I don't dance, but I play a mean air guitar). Problem was, I hadn't heard the bootlegs. 

After seeing the Fat Cats (local jam gurus) I started to ‘get it’. Then I heard a bootleg tape show 6-9-77 Winterland. I was enamored! I couldn't believe my ears. The grooves, the tone, the songs, the jams… I was sold. I got it. Then I went down the rabbit hole… and stayed there.

Initially, I dug Bob's voice the most. He'd really come into his own in the ‘70’s, and was very relatable. Yes, Jerry was the heart and soul of the band… but I’m not hear to discuss Jerry. Back in my college years, I was primarily a rhythm guitarist. I could solo over rock songs, but couldn't improve much in the way of solos. (I hadn't learned my scales yet.) So Bobby's rhythm playing was tremendously important to me. Although my lead playing was limited, my rhythm skills were vast. I could get funky on a dime, and I loved playing the supporting role (and still do).

Let's fast forward, shall we? My first Dead & Co show was Blossom Amphitheater, 9/7/21. WOOT! What a show! The show was an official release, too, so you can check it out for yourself. I met a famous rock star while waiting in line for the restrooms (but that's a story for another time). 

Bob Weir aged like fine wine. That's the best part. He carried himself well, and kept the mystique. And his legacy lives on. See you on the other side Bobby. 

Balance.

Balance is the key to life. Is it not?

They say a busy artist is a happy artist. And they are correct. Busy is good. Great, in fact. 

So what have I been up to lately? Well, I've penned a couple short stories: a Halloween haunt about a kid's costume which comes alive (with terrifying results), and a 5-part story about a musician who works for monsters. 

Fun stuff. 

Also, my next full-length novel is completed. Just waiting on publishing (it's moved to early 2026). 

Aster Nox – original mystic rock band – is completing an 8-song album. WOOT! It's coming out great. Recorded at Blue Tilt Studio in Hamilton ON, the studio boasts the former analogue tape machine from Electric Ladyland Studio. You know, the same board that recorded Weezer's debut album. ZING.

Whiskey Chasers – blues and rock classics – is busy as ever. 

Plus I'm booking, booking, booking. 

Well, gotta go. Bye for now.

MS

Weekend is upon us. I've just finished Part 2 of my latest series: I'm a Musician: I Write Songs for Monsters. Now I'm off Stonewalls Restobar to open for a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. Nice weather. Great day. Sometimes, life really is good. If only my bank account had a few more zeros, and my beer fridge was stocked. Oh well. 

Did some meditation earlier today: WONDERFUL. I'll be discussing meditation in future blogs. One thing I won't be discussing, however, is social/political narratives. Sigh. Let this be a space where everyone can visit and forget about life for a while. That's what art is for, in my humble opinion. A healthy, fun, and sometimes (hopefully often) rewarding experience. 

Let's tune in, and tune out together, shall we. My stories have just begun. many surprises in the near future. 

MS