User:Marksinnis

Mark Sinnis, Singer songwriter born Aug 25, 1963. Founder of New York City bands Apostates and Ninth House and solo artist. Apostates formed in 1988 as a melodic Punk/Rock band. The band was started by brothers Mark Sinnis (Vocals/Bass), and Francis Xavier (Drums). In 1989 the band released a Demo and appeared on several Lower East Side N.Y.C. compilations. After the compilations Apostates released a Single, "Burning World Of Hate" on the California label, Vinyl Communications.

In 1990, after one of many line up changes, the bands primary songwriter Mark Sinnis decided to move the direction to a darker Gothic sound. In 1992 a self released full length album "In Vain" was released. Around this period Apostates also released several songs on the German label OX Records. In 1995 they released their last CD "Ashtray", but by this time Mark Sinnis was already moving into another new direction.

After ten years Apostates made their mark in the New York City Punk/Gothic scene playing everywhere from underground lower east side squats to the Limelight and CBGB'S. In 1998, after a ten year run, and numerous revolving door line-up changes, Mark Sinnis and Francis Xavier ended the band.

Mark Sinnis started Ninth House in 1998. He took many of his songs that he wrote for Apostates, and still performs them today, both solo and with Ninth House. Francis Xavier continues to play drums with him and Ninth House.

Ninth House, Ninth House is a New York City band that has been playing a distinctive blend of alternative country and dark rock since it's inception in 1998. With a sound summed up as "Gothic Johnny Cash meets The Clash" they manage to blend varied influences to produce their haunting and unforgettable "Cemetery & Western" sound.

The band was created by singer/songwriter Mark Sinnis (bass, vocals) following the ten year run of his previous band Apostates. Mark is joined in Ninth House by former Apostates drummer Francis Xavier. N.Y.C. music scene veteran Keith Otten plays guitar.

Ninth House has three full length CDs to date. The first release in 2000, “Swim In The Silence” featured the single “Injury Home” which appeared on the Fox TV show “ANGEL”.

In 2005, the band released their second album, “The Eye That Refuses to Blink”. Their CD, “Realize And It’s Gone”, was released in June 2007, and features the Johnny Cash classic “Ghost Riders In The Sky". In 2009 the band released "11 Cemetery & Western Classics" solidifying the bands identity as "Cemetery & Western". Coined by writer John Ambrose.

Ninth House remains active playing the New York City and tri-state area music circuit and have built a devoted following. All of Ninth House's music is available through 9th Recordings.

Mark Sinnis present:

Mark Sinnis is a New York music scene veteran. He has been writing a dark blend of Rock, Country and Alternative music since 1998 to create his signature modern "Cemetery & Western" sound, with thought-provoking lyrics.

Mark, whose music spans over two decades, started his music career as the co-founder and singer/songwriter of the N.Y.C. Punk turned Gothic band Apostates, which lasted for 10 years from 1988 -1998 and released two full length albums and 2 singles. In 1998 he started his current band, Ninth House, and is the sole songwriter for the group.

With a distinctive voice that has been acclaimed as a hybrid of vocal greats like Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison, Sinnis’s music incorporates dark undertones as well as traditional Country music with a contemporary modern edge.

Mark's debut album “Into An Unhidden Future” contained 19 tracks and was released in 2008. It contained both old songs from Apostates and new ones, all introduced with his new acoustic stripped down sound. The album “A Southern Tale” followed in 2009, which contained the title song about Memphis and Elvis's Graceland. This album, although subdued, captured a more focused "Cemetery & Western" sound.

In 2010, Mark's third album "The Night's Last Tomorrow" was released and listed as one of the top albums of 2010 by music critic Mick Mercer. In Mercer’s words: "He’s like a swashbuckling son of Johnny Cash, swaying and crooning dramatically". "Like Roy Orbison walking down subterranean corridors, alone in the dark". This album showed off Sinnis's broad vocal range with unique renditions of classics like "Gloomy Sunday" and "St. James Infirmary".

In June 2011, "The Undertaker In My Rearview Mirror" was released and contained 13 tracks. This fourth release continues Mark's journey into life, love, relationships, and death. This album explores Sinnis's darker side of Country music with songs like "The Undertaker In My Rearview Mirror", a spoken word song about how death always lurks around us.

The album also contains two unique renditions of classic country songs "Ghost Riders In The Sky," and "Fifty Odd Hours" (Sixteen Tons). With "Ghost Riders In The Sky," Sinnis takes you on an ominous, dark ride in the sky right out of a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. "Fifty Odd Hours" is a modern spin on the classic "Sixteen Tons" that would surely make the original author Merle Travis proud.

The album ends with the song “I’ll Have Another Drink Of Whiskey, ‘Cause Death Is Not So Far Away” which music blog Lucid Culture called the drinking anthem that pays homage to the patron saint of doomed drinkers, Shane MacGowan.

Mark Sinnis prides himself in starting his own genre called "Cemetery & Western" which is a modern style that combines the best of Gothic and Country music to create his fresh new sound; "The Undertaker In My Rearview Mirror" solidifies this.

Mark Sinnis will be released his fifth solo studio album "It's Been A Long Cold Hard Lonely Winter" March 8, 2014. This album continues Mark's "Cemetery & Western" journey of love, loss, death and heart break.

Catch Mark live with one of his 2 bands "Mark Sinnis & 825" (more on the country side) and Ninth House (more on the rock side). 2 bands but the same "Cemetery & Western" songs.

All of Mark's solo albums along with four full-length Ninth House releases are available through his label 9th Recordings on CD Baby and iTunes.

--Marksinnis (talk) 16:51, 14 April 2013 (UTC)Mick Mercer review