In The Spotlight: My Mourning Belle (Mark Allen)
                  

My Mourning Belle is the vision of Milwaukee-based singer-songwriter Mark Allen...

As is evident on the first single, "Start Again," the music of My Mourning Belle blends the lyrical and melodic sensibilities of a classic singer-songwriter with the passion and exuberance of anthemic rock. The result is a sound that is both uplifting and melancholic with themes that are at once cynical and romantic. Lyrically, Allen addresses all of the usual topics of life, death, love, and relationships. The most persistent theme, however, concerns the challenge of being true to one's self in the face of the more conventional ideals of the world around us. Whether with the soaring chorus of "See You Around," the haunted soul rock of "Lorelei," the aching beauty of "Tears in a River," or the doomed romanticism of "The Hopelessness of Hope," Allen fuses our sadness, hopes, and fears into melodies that we can sing along to.

Allen made his debut as My Mourning Belle on Good Friday 2007 with an acoustic set in front of a capacity crowd at Linneman's Riverwest Inn. Since then, he has distinguished himself as an artist to watch, captivating audiences with his emotive voice and ardent live performances.

Moving forward, Allen is nearing the completion of the first My Mourning Belle EP, which he has been recording with Medavon, the voice and mastermind behind the Milwaukee band, Lockjaw. Once the EP is complete, Allen plans to take his show on the road to a venue near you in 2008.