Wisconsin Proves There Is Hope for Justice

How about those Wisconsin voters? 

By the way, if you plan on showing up somewhere on Saturday, April 5th to march with some friends , and you need a tune to let folks know how you feel -- if you are feeling the same things I'm feeling, here is a tune I wrote a while back. I sang the melody and lyrics to a nice young man with a guitar named Jackson, and I tried to give him writing credit, but he refused. 

You can find it on bandcamp, Spotify, etc. 

Ox, 

Mari 

Lucca This Friday, 4/4! | What is a PBM?

Hey Everybody! 

Hope you all had a great weekend. I enjoyed catching up with a dear friend on Friday, and she brought me a bunch of oranges from her tree. Bonus - an orange blossom in the bag, which made the whole kitchen smell so good. Granted, we have a very small kitchen, but citrus blossoms have a heavenly fragrance! 

Anyway, I'm very excited to be playing Lucca this Friday in Benicia. Downbeat is 6:30 pm. David will be singing his song, and we will be celebrating his birthday as well, so, hope you can make it. 

Saloon on the 2nd Saturday at 4 pm, as usual. Still looking for a Marin home base for a regular gig. Let us know if you find a venue with an audience that appreciates musical exploration, where we can build community, preferably with live stream capabilities. Tell us about it and also ask the venue to book us! 

Btw - Do you know what a pharmacy benefit manager is? 

PBM explanation from 2024 : 

https://youtu.be/145p57c-knE?si=6C1noba1IPHSXVE-

February 2025: 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGjmd4NuSEb/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

I plan to expand upon this issue on my substack, so please subscribe over there. It's free, or you can choose to support me through a paid subscription.

As always, thanks for reading. 

Remember to create some joy for yourself. 

Ox, 

Mari 

Live Music Dates April

April 4th - Lucca's in Benicia

6:30 downbeat, Dave's birthday! We play until about 9, if memory serves.

April 12th - The Saloon 

North Beach, San Francisco

4 pm downbeat, we go until 8, maybe 8:15 the latest, because we like to clear the stage for the next band. 

Recordings: 

Reminder, you can find the new album under Mari Mack & Livin' Like Kings on your favorite streaming service. 

We included "OALAEHOAIS" as a bonus track! It's not exactly blues, but the subject matter is about opinions, which can certainly give you the blues! 

If you cannot make it to a show, you can choose to support my musical efforts by buying directly from marimack.bandcamp.com or support my writings by subscribing to my substack:  Cafe Tamburo. 

Thanks so much for being here. We need each other. 

Be water. It finds a way. 

Ox, 

Mari 

Save the Dates! April 4th in Benicia, April 12th in San Francisco

Hey Everybody! 

Thanks for being interested in what we are doing to read this note. We had a good rehearsal last night, and I am grateful for that. 

First things first - 

April 4th at Lucca's in Benicia - 6:30 downbeat. We will be celebrating Dave's birthday, and his mom is coming to town! It will be a party.

April 12th in San Francisco downbeat 4 pm - we go to 8 pm! 

Keep speaking up for what is good and true - 

We the people! 

Ox, 

Mari 

When Silence Is Not Golden

Some people protest by canceling an appearance.  Times have changed and we need every voice. 

Please click this link to an interview of folk musicians

Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman, folk musicians who chose to use their platform to express their thoughts on recent changes at the Kennedy Center. 

Music 1, Tyrant 0

If you know me at all, you know that I am an advocate for music education and that I believe in the power of music to bridge divides. 

Did you see this episode of "60 Minutes" recently? 

If I may, I would like to share a story about how some veteran musicians stepped up for some kids who were selected to play with the Marine Band, then almost lost that opportunity. 

Here is a link to it on You Tube

Feel free to send me a message and share your thoughts. 

I hope you have the best day possible. I wish you love in your heart and peace in your soul.

Ox,

Mari 

p.s. Have you heard the rumour that France wants to take back the Statue of Liberty? I'm going to check on that and get back to you. 

Just In Case

Wear some green today so you don't get pinched. 

Practice your left hook in case you do.

Ox, 

Mari 

Thank You!

Thanks to everyone who showed up in real life (IRL) to our show in North Beach this past Saturday! 

We dedicated a Marcia Ball tune (Get You a Woman) for International Women's Day. We had fun, and everyone seemed to have a good time.

And a thanks to my bandmates in Mari Mack & Livin' Like Kings: Arne Frager, Dave Powell. Richard Wood, and Martin Cunningham.

We will be back at The Saloon every Second Saturday from 4 - 8 pm until further notice, so save those dates!  

East Bay friends, please join us at Lucca's in Benicia on Friday, April 4th. Downbeat is 6:30 pm.

Speaking of Lucca's, Dave Powell released a

single back in November, so we are hoping he will sing it on that gig. Give it a listen and some support!

If you are not able to be with us IRL yet, thanks for listening and subscribing on Spotify or Apple Music wherever you listen.

Apologies if my music being listed as Mari Mack for some songs and Mari Mack & Livin' Like Kings for some others is confusing. It's a long story, and suffice it to say, I'm still doing that inner work we all need to do at some point.

In the meantime, hang in there. If you are feeling anxious about current events, read this for some historical perspective.

Stay active, even if it is just taking a walk in your neighborhood and calling your elected representatives. 

Be kind to yourself. 

Speak truth. 

Ox,

Mari