Guitarist, harmonica player, and singer/songwriter Mark Jungers (pronounced Youngers) released his debut, Black Limousine, in 2000. His Standing in Your Way album is a 2002 release. Standing in Your Way is a roots mix of country with bluegrass influences. The album features a dozen original songs, from the engaging Sentimental Guy to the title tune, Standing in Your Way. Mo Humble of Humble Time Radio Show called Mark Jungers, "Another star on the rise in the musical Texas skies." Tom Geddie, of Buddy Magazine states that, "Mark Jungers combines the spiritual voice of the black-land farmer with a weary, hillbilly mindset to create a distinct take on modern American populism."
Heartland music rooted deep in the soil, Black Limousine is an Americana collection of country songs in the well-traveled tradition of Steve Earle, Joe Ely, and Son Volt. Produced by bassist and high harmony singer Dave Ray ? with whom Jungers played in the Austin band, The Masons ? Black Limousine features Adrian Schoolar on lead guitar and harmony vocals, Bobby Snell (of Charlie Robison) on steel, Wes Green on mandolin, Rachael Dreas on fiddle, Dave Boyle (of the Scabs) on Hammond B-3, and Phil Bass (of Monte Montgomery) on drums.
Jungers grew up on a Minnesota family farm amidst the sounds of piano, guitar, and accordion. However, given the responsibilities of owning a small farm, his parents and four older siblings instilled in him a steadfast work ethic to go along with their love for music. As he says now of these formative years, ?We stayed up late a lot of nights playing, but the family always had to get up at 5 A.M. to milk the cows.?
He came to Austin after finishing school. After a brief stint in the band Straight Up, Jungers formed Hell?s Café and later played with The Masons. Jungers moved to Connecticut in the early 90's where he experienced a songwriting epiphany. ?We were up there for three years and I really had a chance to work on my songwriting,? he says. ?Everything changed when I started writing for myself ? as opposed to writing for a band, which is what I?d always done. Music was fun again, and I realized, ?This is how you?re supposed to write a song.??
Black Limousine is clearly the product of Jungers? renewed commitment to the art of song craft. His motivation now is less commercial than it is artistic. As Winton Porterfield wrote in The Chautauquan, ?Mark?s music reflects time on the farm, time on the road, and a sense of the heartland.?
Keep an eye out for him in clubs in Austin and around the hill country. As Greg Roberts of Country Line Magazine wrote, "The list of clubs he's played looks like yellow pages, he's everywhere."
Visit markjungers.com. Get his music at CDBaby.
