There is this guy named Mark Davison. No, not the photographer. The guy I’m talking about is a rock
musician who used to be the front man for a rock band called Cubic Feet.
Now Mark is the front man for another band. He restarted his career with a new band in 2006 and has
now put out an album. The name of this new band is Nuke The Soup. What’s in a name? In the
press release for the album, Mark explains that the name comes from a cold bowl of soup that his
sister had sent back at a restaurant. She told the waiter to “nuke the soup.” It was such a unique
request that Mark took it for the name of his band.
As for the title of the album, it is Make Waves Not War. Again referring to the press release, Mark
indicated that the title came from a surfer phrase used during the Vietnam War era. The theme of the
album is to be positive in this world of constant doom and gloom.
The first single from the album is Filled With Dread. A sliver of reggae can be heard along with a
Todd Rundgren styled of 70’s music. Mark’s vocals are lyrical and heartfelt. It is the second track on
the album.
The album was produced by Pete Solley who has worked with both The Romantics and Oingo
Boingo. In fact, Pete is a quasi member of the band, playing keys for the songs on the album. Brian
Simms plays the keys, Hammond B3, accordion and does a bit of backing vocals. Ronnie Grant is
on guitar. Mike Mennell is the bass player and Keith Cronin is on drums. Keith has worked on
albums by Thursday’s Child, Clarence Clemens and the Pat Travers Band. Mike has worked on
albums by such groups as Everlife. And Brian has been a member of the Junkyard Saints.
Aside from those guys, Mark had some other help on the album. Chester Thompson was on drums
on three of the songs. Andy Thurston played the mandocello on one song and the manola on
another. Mark St. Pierre was on percussion and Greg Hatza was on tabla for a song. Then there
were some backing vocals by both Meritxell Negre and Elena Martin. Elena has performed with
Ember Swift, who I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing before. As for Meritxell, she has performed with
Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle and Carlos Santana and is the new “Peaches” in the duo, Peaches
& Herb besides her own group the Meritxell Project.
Ocean is the first song on the album. Slightly haunting, it is an indie rock song that had parts of it
reminding me of Gordon Lightfoot.
Blind has a Tom Petty feel to it. Yin and Yang is a toe tapper and Big Green Jungle has a ‘70’s funk
rock feel.
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More Than You is an aching tune with great vocals and guitar.
Head For That reminded me of Canned Heat.
Another Reggae sound can be found in Seeds.
Finger of Friendship (Dolphin Song) is yet another toe-tapper.
Mark brings things back to a slow ballad with All A Dream.
The album ends with a solid alt rock anthem called Our Song.
Nuke The Soup is a unique band and the music on Make Waves Not War makes them a front runner
to be the next top rated indie band.
Check out the band’s web site at http://www.nukethesoup.com/ You can hear songs from the album
there. They can also be heard on the band’s MySpace site at http://www.myspace.com/nukethesoup
http://www.bvsreviews.com/nukethesoup.htm