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NEW ALBUM OUT NOW

“Small Town Vampire – A Melodic Odyssey Of Raw Authenticity”
Dulaxi.com

“It’s like the vision that rock’n’roll is going to save us, all enveloped in a sound which weaves a seamless path from the jangling guitar of The Byrds straight through to the thunderous post-punk rhythms of the Stranglers”
Louder than War

“For a decade-and-half Mark Vennis and crew have been delivering biting social commentary that’s sweetened somewhat by a punk-infused new wave sound …‘Small Town Vampire’ chronicles the struggles we all face and then wraps them up in an easily digestible three minutes. It takes a real artist to find the beauty in such circumstances”.
Midlands Rocks

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SMALL TOWN VAMPIRE (Single)

“Short, sharp, and shockingly good, “Small Town Vampire” is the sound of the seeds of punk still finding fertile soil in the modern era”
Dancing About Architecture

“Vennis’ lyrics have a very distinctive blend of dark humour and stark sincerity to them that places them exactly at the crossroads between the classic punk snarl and a deeper, more introspective attitude”
Music is to Blame

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WILD SUBURBAN BOY (Single)

“It’s a song for those who refuse to be moved by hypocrisy and lies, instead choosing to embrace punk rock’s DIY ethos and the limitless possibilities of an open mind”
SWIISPA.COM

“It’s a breath of fresh air in today’s auto-tune-laden world, reminding us of the raw vulnerability and realness that music was built upon”
rockcharts.news

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FIGHTING ON ALL FRONTS (Album 2020)

“a certain cinematic quality that runs throughout this record” and “13 tracks of finely restrained
aggression that succinctly commentates on the perilous state of the nation”
Pulse Alternative Magazine

“same street fighting musical mould as Paul Weller, The Clash, Bob Marley and others” and “Maybe,
just maybe, albums like this will shake enough of us awake to respond”
Get Ready to Rock

“thirteen snapshots of overlooked lives lived in the hard shadows of contemporary Britain”
Rock n Reel Mag

“he delivers his tales of the downtrodden, the oppressed and the pissed off with a raggedy, raw and
very English delivery reminiscent of Jam era Weller or Billy Bragg” and “eclectic mix of cool tracks”
Red Guitar Music

“Lyrically shrewd and intelligent”
Amp Magazine

These songs, all written by Mark Vennis, are about the underdogs, the oppressed, the forgotten, the downtrodden and down at heel, These are the people you don’t read about: the loved, the lost, the sinking, the drowning, the burning. ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ is an album about the insecurity of modern life, tales from the end of the world, and that age-old battle with yourself. There is light and shade and there are good times and bad.

Hailing from South of Guildford and North of Portsmouth Mark Vennis & Different Place write and play songs with attitude.

“We are just trying to make sense of it all the only way we know how – through our songs.”

Mark Vennis and Different Place are Mark Vennis, Dave Sweetenham, Sean Quinn and Brian Gee.
“Fighting on all Fronts” was produced and recorded by Duncan LeFeuvre at Gravel Track Studios.

Fighting On All Fronts
Waste Away
Cut Me Loose
House on the Corner of the Road
Light Summer Rain
Messages From A Messed Up World

More In Sorrow
The Shark
Spinning Gold
The Edge Of Everything
Backwater
As The Crow Flies
Shadowboxing

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Fighting on all Fronts : Album trailer
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Reviews for Fighting on all Fronts

RNR Magazine Jan 20:

Redguitarmusic.com:

Mark Vennis & Different Place – Fighting On All Fronts (Album Review)

JANUARY 28, 2021 IN ALBUM REVIEWSPUNKROCKREGGAEROOTS ROCK

Mark Vennis is probably best known as a film producer with an impressive list of screen credits including the Maxine Peake comedy ‘Funny Cow’ (a Mark Kermode ‘Film Of The Week’ with music by Richard Hawley no less) and musical biographies of The Slits ‘Hear To Be Heard’ and Don Letts ‘Rebel Dread’. Away from what might be called his day job, Vennis has also released three records the latest of which ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ in late 2020 via Cadiz Music. A glance at the subjects featured in Vennis’ films will point the way to where he’s going musically but, as luck would have it, there’s rather more to ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ than initially meets the eye.

Mark Vennis & Different Place approach ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ with a D.I.Y. punk rock/garage band attitude and a smattering of reggae influences.  Needless to say when Vennis and his band get a mention The Clash is always going to be an easy comparison (I’d also throw The Kinks and Canvey Island’s finest Dr Feelgood into this musical melting pot). I don’t generally do much punk beyond the classic 70s stuff or reggae for that matter (despite just buying a Bob Marley box set) I’m obviously on shaky ground with the musical stylings on show here. So, I was pleasantly surprised when ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ turned out to be so enjoyable. It reminds me that there’s plenty of cool and interesting music out there if I leave my comfort zone to explore musical genres I rarely dabble in or know barely anything about (delete as appropriate).

Now I’m hopeful that Vennis will forgive me when I say, he’s not the greatest singer. This proves to be irrelevant as he delivers his tales of the downtrodden, the oppressed and the pissed off with a raggedy, raw and very English delivery reminiscent of Jam era Weller or Billy Bragg. Tune in, and it works perfectly, especially when coupled with Duncan LeFeuvre’s unfussy production that unfolds to reveal hidden sonic depths, most notably on the terrific ‘More In Sorrow’ a wonderfully dubtastic voyage of discovery, with what sounds suspiciously like a backwards guitar break. ‘Sorrow’ is one of many tracks on the record anchored by the potent rhythm section with Dave Sweetenham’s monstrous bass sound a real highlight.

Opener ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ perfectly encapsulates the album with tales of people who’re “Still living the life” in a haze of cheap beer and maxed out credit cards (been there, done that) energetically delivered via some tasty reggae guitar chops. There’s even space for a surprisingly deft instrumental breakdown mid-song. I doubt Vennis will be writing anything too cheery anytime soon especially when many of the people he writes about are struggling in a pandemic ravaged Britain that is seemingly careering uncontrollably down a highway to hell and the breaks have failed.

The album is certainly blessed with an eclectic mix of cool tracks like the almost summery reggae of ‘Cut Me Loose’ where floaty saxophone breaks are seemingly at odds with the lyrical bleakness of wanting to improve on your surroundings. ‘Light Summer Rain’ is another highlight as this outwardly pretty tune, with an unexpected almost jazzy guitar solo, gains more than a hint of despair due to Vennis’ languid vocal delivery and LeFeuvre’s production choices resulting in an overall vibe reminiscent of the Stranglers back in the day. Elsewhere the driving old-school hard rock riffs of ‘The Shark’ are an unexpectedly welcome side step while ‘The ‘Edge Of Everything’ stands out due to Vennis’ ravaged vocal delivery and the rock-solid rhythm track. The album concludes with the striking ‘Shadowboxing’ which transcends an initial feeling of despair with a complex arrangement that reveals a lovely melody.

‘Fighting On All Fronts’ won’t be for everyone. If you like silky smooth then I’d be inclined to look elsewhere but if any of the acts I’ve mentioned in this review are in your wheelhouse or you’re looking for something a little different to discover then Mark Vennis & Different Place should be firmly on your radar.

The Midlands Rocks: The title track is also the album opener and it comes out with all fists flying. It’s a bright and breezy number that tempers it’s effervescent, upbeat nature with a gritty lyrical realism. The Pretenders, Billy Bragg and Hugh Cornwall all rolled into one ‘Fighting On All Fronts’ is a call to arms for the damned and downtrodden but here’s the rub: it’s all wrapped up in a delicious melody which makes Mark Vennis & Co such a tantalising proposition. Like a musical version of Larry David ‘Waste Away’ explores the frustrating minutiae of modern life and delivers it with a lyrical astuteness (“I saw a dirty old vicar/Eating burger and fries”) but there’s that ever-present focus on tune that carries things forward.

Pulse Alternative Magazine: Punk, and in particular the Clash, are obviously a big influence on Mark Vennis particularly in his employment of world music and that’s most evident on the lazy reggae vibe found on the lyrically defiant ‘Cut Me Loose’. ‘House On The Corner Of The Road’ seeks to make sense of a mixed up world while ’Light Summer Rain’ is a dreamlike affair that seems tailor made for somnambulists and gently cascades with bright guitar lines. ‘Message From A Messed Up World’ picks up the pace and is a real call-to-arms in the best traditions of Joe Strummer. On an album that’s always shifting gears ‘More In Sorrow’ is heavy on the echoplex with lyrics that’ll throw you into a hex.

Amplified Mag: It features a dizzying array of styles mainly influenced by the raw sound of Punk Rock. However, lyrically, he is shrewd and intelligent covering films, books and the state of the world – just check out the track Messages From a Messed Up World, the title says it all really. We hear about the insecurities in modern life, but there is good and bad, light and shade.

Get Ready to Rock Mag:

Moviehouse MD and modern day renaissance man, Mark Vennis, fresh from producing acclaimed documentary, Rebel Dread, has just released his third album, Fighting On All Fronts.

His abrasive, roots rock style is self admittedly in the same street fighting musical mould as Paul Weller, The Clash, Bob Marley and others. And his edgy yet efficient vocals are the perfect vehicle for this ‘three chords and the cold unvarnished truth’ approach.

It’s a brand of musical social realism that looks hard for inspiration in humanity, finding voice in songs as varied as ‘Waste Away’, a sharply observed litany of suffering and ‘Cut Me Loose’, a defiant, reggae shaped cry from the heart.

His voice has soul, he keeps a tight rein on the sharp objects that rattle about his vocal melodies, and he delivers with emotion and conviction. Most especially on ‘Light Summer Rain’, and ‘The Shark’. One a relaxed, folk/country rock song, exalting the healing power of the rain, and its ability to wash away our woes. The other is one of the most disconcerting tracks on the album, as a menacing, mysterious character cuts through the city streets, smelling “blood in the water”.

The bluesy, Stonesy ‘Edge Of Everything’ is as emblematic of the album’s Raison D’etre as you could get. Its doom laden quality tests Vennis’s empathy for wounded souls to the limit, as the song’s despairing commentary describe a town, a city, a world descending into chaos.

Maybe, just maybe, albums like this will shake enough of us awake to respond. Who knows.  [3.5 out of 5]

Review by Brian McGowan

Click to view original article.

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about-the-band

Mark Vennis & Different Place are a punk rock roots band from Petersfield in Hampshire. They play original songs written by Mark from an eclectic set of influences including The Clash, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash and Paul Weller. The core members are Mark Vennis, guitar and vocals, Sean Quinn, guitar and percussion, Dave Sweetenham on bass and Brian Gee on drums.

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"SMALL TOWN VAMPIRE"
From the album 'Small Town Vampire'

He threw a punch and it missed his face
He fell over and he lost the race
He flicked a cigarette at the copper
That was the first of his many mistakes

Small town vampire big time dreams
Just another bloodsucking scene

She smiled drunkenly thru the haze
He mistook that for something else in his daze
It all went wrong later that night
She stormed off and he got into the afore said fight

Small town vampire big time dreams
Just another bloodsucking scene

It’s another little drama at another party
Another piece of you another little piece of me
An uneasy truce that really won’t last
With yourself and everyone else

She laughed as he moved in for a kiss
Well he was glad he’d bought that fizz
He thought he was down with the kids
Steampunk hair and skinny jeans

Small town vampire big time dreams
Just another bloodsucking scene

Sad little tale from another small town
A long list of boredom which gets you down
It’s a circus top with all those clowns
More small talk in which you drown

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Reviews for A Beautiful Lie Or The Ugly Truth

Vive Le Rock August 2018: 8/10 “There’s a palpable warmth and humanity on display here that’s very welcome in the harsh and perplexing world of 2018. “A Beautiful Lie or The Ugly Truth” is a gem of an album that deserves to reach a wide audience.”

Uberrock June 2018: “Vennis may have found a long-lost Clash songbook, and then cross-referenced its contents with Billy Bragg and Frank Carter… The mix of styles, which possibly could jar with each other but instead flow neatly and complementarily, No Safety Net’ maintains the societal commentary, but without being aggressive or confrontational: in fact, it sounds more resigned than rebellious, sort of turning the punk ethos which underpins much of the album on its head!”

Link to full review

Getreadytorock: April 2018 ★★★★ “It’s not a shiny, polished, big production, and in some way it benefits from that – allowing the songs and delivery to flourish. And while acknowledged influences include Johnny Cash, The Clash, Steve Earl, The Ruts, Springsteen, John Lee Hooker, Howling Wolf, John Martyn and Ry Cooder, the overarching vibe is one of the mid- Seventies when there was an explosion of raw talent”

Link to full review

Fireworks magazine, July 2018: “Vennis’s sneering  slightly off key Punky delivery is well to the fore in the sharp “Little Caesar” …. “ Achilles and That Heel” has more spite…this deeply personal project has a very interesting feel, from heartfelt acoustic riffing to bright riffing and an early eighties feel (“Ain’t no Choice”)”

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A beautiful lie or the ugly truth : Trailer
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Uncharted Water (album)

Reviews for Uncharted Water, faded glory and other stories

Mint South: “Singer/guitarist Mark Vennis has recorded a sonic tribute to Portsmouth, in the form of Uncharted Water, Faded Glory And Other Stories, telling tales of a life lived on the other side of the Gosport ferry route- starting appropriately enough with Portsdown Hill, both lovelorn lament for younger days and recognition of an icon, as good a summing up of the intent behind the project as any most likely”

Louder than War: “Now, he is a terribly talented man who has crafted some excellent songs here…….these are country and roots rock songs, just the same as in America, mirroring songs by John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen” Full review here:

Read the full review

Vive Le Rock: “An ode to the highs and lows of growing up near Portsmouth, this opening track from ‘Uncharted Water, Faded Glory and Other Stories’ is a soulful/indie rock ‘n’ roll track from Mark Vennis and his band, Different Place. With two Strummerfests under their belts, this is the real deal.”

Rock Regeneration: “I love their sound, and the vocals always hook me in. There is a quality, a certain something to the sound. A rebel attitude, a DIY mentality; and the sound is uncompromising. Yet betraying this are the quality and production values. The songwriting hits that perfect spot of storytelling – not simple ideas regurgitated, but heartfelt tales of normal folk. It just sounds great and they have a habit of writing poignant songs and catchy tunes. This EP is no different, mixing their Indie/Rock sound with elements of Blues and that hint of Punk attitude. … There is a raw honestness to the album which gives it a vibe that captures the ethos of Cash and Clash. The album possesses the theme of traveling, let Mark guide you, as he has crafted some interesting and intimate stories for you to listen to”

Review of the album Uncharted Water
Review of Last of the Holdouts EP
Review of We Were Only Boys Back Then EP

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"SHADOWBOXING"
From the album 'Fighting on all fronts'

You can hear them out in the streets
Playing tricks on the tourists
The smile fades from your lips
As you dive into another doorway

Lost in a world without a map
Everything feels like a trap
Gonna wrap your self up in the flag
Little England strikes back again

And in the half light you don’t see
The gathering dust and the dreams it brings
Dreams of all the people who have been and gone
Forgotten voices forgotten songs

No one talks about those who fled
Run for your life see how they bled
Another town full of begging kids
The ads say you better place your bids

Laughing boy smoke another spliff
Another tourist trying to be hip
The switchblade flashes in the light
As your fever grips you through the night

In the half light you can’t see
All those little things
just another enemy
inside of me

shadowboxing again
another round another day

My mind always plays tricks
In this room and on these dirty streets
As I lie awake and alone
Waiting for an answer from your phone

You can’t fight what you can’t see
all those lies and multi national companies
they’ve been mining here over the years
leaving behind this trail of tears

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