Mark Governor, an accomplished film score composer, record producer and Carmel transplant, has written musical scores for 20 films and 30 television series, including indie darlings like Nebraska and The Brave as well as shows like Friends and The Daily Show. He’s also behind the under-the-sea dance beat, “The Jellyfish Jam,” featured on SpongeBob SquarePants (and numerous remixes on YouTube).
More recently, he emerged from a three-year journey of composing 20 hours of original music for the extended DVD release of The Hobbit.
Eight months ago, he relocated from L.A. to Carmel and brought with him a brainchild for giving exposure to up-and-coming musicians: the Under the Influence series. “Playing clubs in L.A. doesn’t make money, unless you’re pushing a new album,” he says. “I came up with this concept for session musicians and singer/songwriters.”
That concept: Assemble artists to play stylized covers from popular groups as well as their own original music.
Governor is a regular attendee of KRML’s “Live in the Vines” concerts at Folktale Winery. Along the way he began conducting live recordings of shows for artists who play there, and pitched an Under-the-Influence idea to manager John Fitzgerald and KRML GM Jeff White. Both embraced it.
Governor hand-selected artists Lillie Lemon, Vincent Randazzo, Linda Arceo, Mike Lent, John Sherry, Dane E. and Stevie Rae Stevens to showcase a few original songs, plus a cover of an unconventional holiday tune. Lemon will cover the folk ballad “Sister Winter” by Sufjan Stevens. Governor will play three originals plus The Pogues’ punk Christmas carol, “Fairytale of New York.”
Proceeds will benefit Rancho Cielo, a trade school for at-risk young adults. Its students cater the food with one of their mentors, Tarpy’s Chef Todd Fisher.
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE HOLIDAYS 7-9pm Wednesday, Dec. 21. Folktale Winery, 8490 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. $20/advance; $25/door. 293-7500, www.folktalewinery.com
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