There are many times fans question themselves on how bands come up with their names. And it is usually some strange or obscure reason. This may be the case for the eclectic band “Circus Mind” that originated in Long Island then set their flag in Brooklyn. The founder of the band, Mark Rechler, explained how it all came to be.
“Circus Mind was forming unnamed around 1998. I was looking to find musicians in my new neighborhood of Oyster Bay Long Island. I was introduced to our original drummer George Hooks via my wife who met his wife at Palates class. George and his wife had just got off touring with the Ringling Brothers Circus for about 15 years. She was an elephant rider, and he was a drummer in the band. He knocked her up and though they raised their daughter with the Circus for about 5 years they ended up back where she grew up here on Long Island. George was and is an outstanding and wild drummer and could make you feel like you were walking across a high wire while you were playing with him. He left the band after our 2nd album to explore other projects as he had moved out of the area. We are still close. Circus Mind was named after George and the beautiful Chaos that goes along with that feeling, and its take from a verse in Jimmy Hendrix Little Wing.”
Since then, the band has evolved and garnered new members and delivered thought-provoking music. The band which includes Mark on keys and vocals, Brian Duggan on Guitar, Michael Amendola on Sax, Mathew Fox on Bass, Steve Finkelstein on Percussion and Dan Roth on Drums. They have a gift of shifting from one genre to another without losing a step which is original as it gets. Mark was influenced by the Beatles first then more modern bands of his time like Elton John, Grateful Dead, Allman’s and Little Feat. These influences were not the only style of music he gravitated toward but also Worldbeat, classical, Ambient Chillout, Electronic, and Experimental. While he studied at Tulane University for Architecture in New Orleans he discovered the funky sounds of the Meters, The Neville Brothers, and The Radiators. Hence, Circus Mind is a potpourri of musical experiments just waiting to be engulfed.
Lyrics that Mark pens are pierced dreams he has or social events that engage his creativity. Such tracks like “Battle of Brooklyn” which was derived when he heard the story about the deep-rooted history of Brooklyn during the Revolutionary war. He meshed this footnote with the current battle in Brooklyn with the gentrification that has altered the face of the borough. But when it came to a single like “Barstool Hero”, it was born of a trance like state of mind. It was also when he lost a dear friend of his which could explain the direction of the lyrics.
Even though the band has not released a full album they have released five singles so far and are looking to drop the rest every six weeks. They have recorded 15 tracks currently. Mark finds this better based on how the public gathers their music via singles rather than listening to whole album in one sitting. The landscape has changed in that area where in the old day’s music lovers would joyfully sit and lay out a full vinyl or CD and take it all in.
Presently, their new single “Melt Away” has garnered positive feedback from old fans and even newcomers. The comments about the new track are that fans are thinking that Circus Mind are in another departure from their sound but as we mentioned earlier, they are chameleons when it comes to meshing genres.
The band has graced the stage at many venues, but the Bitter End seems to stand out. Mark enjoys the room size, sound and Hammond organ that is available. The band seems to enjoy the smaller venues that offer a more intimate setting. The band has received accolades from such media outlets as Relix and The Rocktologist. Mark is looking forward to performing at more locales for the end of 2025 and developing more music moving forward.
Website – www.circusmindband.com/