Mark at the 2011 La Honda Fair
by craig eddy
For some reason I assumed Mark Binion, this months Local Musician, would have started playing music as a young kid. Wrong. He is a keyboardist, guitarist, and singer. He got interested in doing more than just listening to bands like the Beatles, Bob Marley, Clapton, Moody Blues and Jackson Browne during highschool. He did take singing lessons but taught himself piano and guitar. Born and raised in Loma Mar, Mark's first project was the Loma Mar Store Band. Many of those bandmates are still playing music in the area. Back then they played for beer and food, oh wait, we all still play for beer and food. Next came the Kashmir Bums then The Rhythm Method. More recently Mark has played with This Way Up and Lighthouse and currently plays with Blue and The Mark Reid Band. That is one of the best qualities of the area we live in here, ton's of music and art. It was fun hearing Mark reminisce about the music scene in his early years in the La Honda area. He loved the Dixieland Jazz shows at Boots and Saddles on Sundays. He really misses the days of playing Apple Jack's when the music was in the front room with the big fireplace. His best gigs were with the Loma Mar Store Band opening two or three times for some local musician named Neil. I asked if he had any funny stories to share and he told of a rehearsal at bandmate Reid's studio when the stove pipe came loose and fell across his head. He said it was the best Stevie Wonder impersonation ever. You can see Mark performing these days mostly with cover band Blue. He is a regular at the La Honda Fair and the Pescadero Art Festival.