Mark Sebastian – A Trick of the Light
To older music enthusiasts, the Sebastian name is often associated with that guy from The Lovin’ Spoonful, John Sebastian, who also added the wail of a classic harmonica on the hit Doors song “Roadhouse Blues.” But this effort is John’s younger brother Mark, who does have a page of rock history. He co-wrote the huge Spoonful hit “Summer In the City.”
This 9-track, released earlier in 2025, finds the acorn doesn’t fall too far from the…older acorn. There are 7 self-produced songs on A Trick of the Light (Dropped 2025/Black Sheep Global Recordings/34:33) that feature a tight array of musicians. Two cuts, “You Made a Monkey Outta of Me,” & “Hard-Hearted” were produced by Mark (guitars/vocals/bgv) with Joe Wissert. String arrangements were by Van Dyke Parks. A tinge of the Sebastian DNA comes in Mark’s voice with a more watercolor hue to John’s bright, oil-colored, friendlier tone.
But these aren’t hybrid Lovin’ Spoonful compositions; they’re expressions of Mark Sebastian. The zeal rises to the brim on the jazzy “You Made A Monkey Outta Me.” Mark’s songs explore the romantic battleground between men & women. There are different musical stylings spread across the set. More diversity than his brother would expend. Mark gets a little more challenging with what appears to be a Lovin’ Spoonful with bite – not something that band would actually record in the ‘60s.
“Roll With Me” has the necessary bluntness. “I tried to hold you, but our weapons got in the way.” Nice. Despite Mark not having much of a vocal range, his vocal interpretation does hit the target. There are moments Mark cruises into the tradition of Spoonful-style. How can he not? It’s obvious he carved out a niche wholly his own.
Some words he holds notes on aren’t the wisest. The lyric “word” has no vowel to hold a note brightly. However, the tune “The Way Back Home” with tweaking is still a good song. While “Riverrun” has a Beach Boys tint. Harmonies are attractive. Yet, too many words with hard “r’s” don’t allow the easy flow of lyrics to be sung with musical fluidity.
A quirky-played Spoonful-sounding “Beneath the Sheets” would’ve brought a more mature level Spoonful era into focus. The song has that quality. Whereas “Hard-Hearted” is too muscular. Mark does it with skill. It’s where he should be. The low-brow horns accentuate wonderfully. “Get Up & Move” has Mark flying too close to Prince’s ground.
Highlights – “You Made A Monkey Outta Me,” “Roll With Me,” “Riverrun,” “Beneath the Sheets,” & “Hard-Hearted.”
Musicians – James Gadson (drums), Bob Glaub & Freddie Washington (bass), Billy Hulting (vibraphone), Leah Kunkel, Billy Nichols (bgv), Johnnie Lee Schell (lead guitar), Bill Payne (organ), Don Randi (piano), Mark Pender & Joe Sublett (horns), & Wah Wah Watson (guitar/synth drums & horns/vocoder).
An 8pp lyric insert is included. Color image courtesy of Lee Lawrence. CD @ Amazon & https://marksebastian.com/home & https://www.hemifran.com/news/detail/p/2143/Mark%20Sebastian/A%20Trick%20Of%20The%20Light/
