slothtrop's artists
Mister Vague
Modern Minimalist Pop
From a murmur to a meltdown - that's what you'll get from Mister Vague. The group based in Reno, Nevada, blends varied influences -- Laurel Canyon folk rock, Midwest post-punk, aggressive dissonance and modern minimalist pop.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Earnest first used Mister Vague as a moniker for his early 21 st century open mic appearances in Reno. Wanting to jettison a career turnstile of hard rock bands, Earnest picked from songs he wrote since the mid-1990s and decided to find like-minded musicians to flesh 'em out.
Mister Vague became a full-time gig in mid-2003, with a recurring cast of characters. Mark's expressive vocal parts and idiosyncratic guitar playing are supported primarily by Neal Kramer, who adds bass and guitar for plenty of contrast and shading. There are a variety of drummers -- including Earnest and Kramer -- for the studio work. That looseness in personnel translates to the live show, which may be an intense solo bout with Earnest or a dynamic double-guitar show with Kramer. Mister Vague plays it loud and vibrant in its guitar/bass/drums mode. In whatever configuration, Mister Vague has earned a loyal following on the West Coast.
