Rock 'n Roll Realtor
Popular Gainesville musician Mark Gaignard’s soulful voice and passion for songwriting are unmistakable in the release of his first solo album “We All Need Lies.” The collection of songs is the first for the singer/songwriter since his days as the lead vocalist of the popular Gainesville band Big Sky.
For a decade, with Gaignard as the charismatic front man, the band played before hundreds of people a night, averaging 180 shows a year, touring from Miami to Los Angeles as they opened for superstars Sheryl Crow, Matchbox 20, Soul Asylum, Gin Blossoms and The Wallflowers. Unfortunately, the five UF grads never quite hit the “big time.” Even though they had just released their most acclaimed work and still drew large crowds, they made the painful decision to go their separate ways in 2005.
Produced by Atlanta’s Backspace Records, “We All Need Lies” reflects on the emotional roller coaster of the pursuit and loss of a dream. After the band’s break-up, Mark experienced a deep low period in his life. “I was numb and filled with regret after we split up. The experience was like a ten year marriage that ended in divorce, only messier and with more debt.” Gaignard laughs and adds, “It took a few years to lick my wounds and find my path through the 9 to 5 world with a noon to sunrise resume.”
His marriage and life with wife, Tracy, and success as a Realtor with Cornell & Associates has helped him reach a happy and stable phase in life. Mark has also enjoyed rediscovering Gainesville through his Real Estate customers. “It’s an honor to help families during the unique process of buying and selling their homes. They have all becomedear to me.” Music never left Gaignard’s heart, however. He has been regaining his “chops” at local gigs like the intimate Dionysus Wine Bar, with fellow musician Richy Stano, where his two careers delightfully cross paths. “Often it is my customer’s faces that I get to see in the crowd.”
The lyrics on “We All Need Lies” are accessible to all ages and the performances are top rate. The Mixtape Maestro blog gives it high raves: “The premiere effort takes Gaignard’s matured male reflections on everything from relationships and the struggles of everyday mundane living to the false facades of Hollywood and neatly wraps them in a crisply produced package of radiofriendly guitar-pop with a slight rootsy edge.” Gaignard hopes old fans and new will join him for his CD release party on January 16 at the Common Grounds.