Like all the best folk-rock duos, the chemistry between Mark Messerly and Brian Ewing has become almost seamless. The two comrades play off each other musically, picking up the slack and lightening the load. There's a driving down the highway at two in the morning, guitars on the back seat, splitting a bean burrito, kind of friendship here that translates into a kinetic energy in their music and a confidence that comes from knowing you've got someone to help carry the load. 'We both went it alone as musicians for years in various parts of the country east of the Mississippi,' said Mark, 'and pretty much ended up back in our basements -- not so much giving up but just tired. Tired mostly of the nightly requests to play, 'Brown Eyed Girl,' 'Margaritaville,' or anything by James Taylor. It took both of us pushing to get the car out of the ditch, but we realized quickly how much more fun it is to have someone to tell your stories to, and take up the slack on those nights when maybe one of us just isn't seeing the ball as clearly as usual. And for some reason, when there's two of you, people don't expect to hear 'Margaritaville. Mark Messerly and Brian Ewing grew up on opposite ends of Ohio. Mark was born and raised in Stow, just outside of Akron. Brian has spent his whole life in Cincinnati. Mark began playing music at coffeehouses and bars in his home town, and continued in Boston while attending the Berklee College of Music. Brian first played music with a high school band, going solo when all the other members left town for college. Brian has seen great success as a solo performer, being named a finalist in the Mid-Atlantic Song Writing Contest and opening for national acts like Paula Cole, Mark Curry, and Michael Penn. Mark and Brian met in 1994 after Mark moved to Cincinnati. They played the same coffeehouses and open mics and hit it off immediately. They began performing together on and off until 1996 when they decided to record their first record together. After six years of playing together there is still nothing Mark and Brian love more then throwing the guitars in the truck and heading off to play live in some small club where music doesn't come from a Juke Box.
