Artist description Blindman's Masquerade is a duo that mixes acoustic guits with alternative sound much like Days of the New, Alice in Chains, and other godfathers of that sound.

Music Style Eclectic to say the least

Musical Influences Metallica, Alice in Chains, Duncan Sheik, Eminem, just to name a few

Similar Artists Alice in Chains meets Duncan Sheik

Artist History In 1998 Blindman's Masquerade started as a one man operation. Singer/Guitarist Bob Marino had been thrown out of his previous band "PFA" which he had played with for five years as a bassist. While struggling with his departure from "PFA" Bob began fiddling with 6 string guitars starting first with an electric Epiphone copy of a Les Paul. The sound he was looking for was not there. The songs he wrote were sad, and depressing and did not sound right on the electric guitar. Next Bob found an acoustic guitar to play on and transfered 3 out of 7 songs which he had written and began his new band Blindman's Masquerade. The three songs "Poor Attempt", "My World", and "Suicide" began to take shape. At this time Bob went out and bought a cheap TASCAM four track recorder and recorded his first album "POOR ATTEMPT." Included on the tape were the three originals and three new songs "Until Eternity", "Dreaming My Reality", and the beautiful instrumental "Tuesday Rain". 100 copies of the cd were released and sold in very little time as Bob began playing at the minor venues and clubs. "Dreaming My Reality" became the first single and favorite song requested by fans. At this point, Bob sought another muscian by the name of Joe Gegeny and his solo project Joe's Room. The two began playing shows together trying to build off one another. As the shows grew the fans began to ask Bob why he left his roots of alternative music to perform folk rock. Bob's reply was that it was too difficult to play alternative music without a band. After much pleading by the fans however, Bob created another CD of harder music called "One Hundred Pounds". 30 copies were released to the fans with much delight. Joe left for Law School and Bob began doing more solo shows in attempt to promote the music. At some point in this mix, Bob's good friend and long time roadie Michael Everett Strout came by with a bass in hand and asked Bob if he wanted to jam. Bob never one to miss a jam session said sure. He showed Mike some of the newest tunes he had recorded including a new song he called "HOME" Mike never having picked up a bass before played the songs so well that Bob asked him to join the Masquerade that evening. From that evening on the two practiced a set of 12 songs which would become the first big cd project since "Poor Attempt". The album would be called "Home". The album marked the beginning of a new era for the band. It made them discover their "sound". Along with the help of long time friend Anjelo Laboy the band embarked on a journey to a studio owned and operated by Jay Rodriguez called D.U. Productions. After spending 32 hours in the studio spread over a month the band came out with "HOME", the first CD to have silk screening and a book with the lyrics inside. This was a major step for the band. On January 18th 2000 "Home" was released. The record release show was at the VFW in New Milford, CT and was a huge success. 100 copies of the CD were pressed with more than half of them being sold at the show. People began to look for the Masquerade. After the first show the band picked up another musician named Chris Garafola. At first the band was skeptical about his performance but after the first couple practices there was no doubt in their mind that they had found a great lead guitarist. The three of them played the VFW often bringing in 25-50 people with very little advertising or help. The band began fiddling around with some new material with the help of Chris. In 2001 after the September 11th attacks the band held a charity fundraiser along with another Danbury act called Carpe Diem. The two bands raised $300 for the American Red Cross. In 2002 Bob Marino was leaving for Law School in Massachussetts. The band decided to go its seperate ways for now in hopes that they would again get a chance to play. In 2002 Bob upgraded his recording gear and began work on another new album. After many many hours 12 new songs plus a few from the Chris era were beginning to take shape. During the summer of 2002 Mike went up to Bob's and recorded the newest album and biggest success "Masquerade Theater" a name chosen and voted on by the fans. The album included fan favorites "BLEEDER" and "AWAY" which had been performed just about everytime the band played together. Bob also compiled a limited edition CD which had an hour of extra songs and origianls never released. And with the help from his brother Troy Marino at THE BOX STUDIOS LLC the album is the best by far for the band. The fans came out again to support the Masquerade. The release of "Masquerade Theater" showed the fans that the band although hibernating was not finished and marked the beginning of another movement towards a harder sound. The end of the "Masquerade Theater" CD sounded more and more like rock and less like folk. In 2003 the Bob has begun recording new songs again this time sounding more rock than ever in hopes to one day again be on that stage.

Group Members Bob Marino Michael Everett Strout

Instruments Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vox

Albums Poor Attempt, 100 lbs., Home, Masquerade Theater

Location Lowell, MA - USA

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