The Fall

Up Next For MMZ... We're all working hard towards getting things moving for the fall, and there's no time like the present to get stuff done!  We're all working as a unit, and I'm so psyched about all the new material that we have to work with.

Soon I think we'll have to put our noses to the grindstone and really make the next material that we write even deeper and more challenging and more epic than ever before!  I'm particularly excited about one of the new ideas that Mark brought to the table recently.  Great work bro!

Lining up a tour for the fall has its challenges, but I'm confident that the people that are working in tandem with us will make something really cool and unique happen.  I'm just happy to go out and perform our music for people who have never heard us play before!  I always look forward to playing Crimson Red live, like we did this past weekend in Hartford and in Waterbury.  The great part about a song like that is that it is never exactly the same twice!

For those not familiar with Crimson Red, I have a long improvised solo in the middle (think La Villa Strangiato for all you Rush fans) and then the section immediately after is an "anything goes" atmospheric section with everyone improvising the texture as they see fit.  This is one of the great things about our band.  You can see us play the exact same song live 6 times, and every time there's something new to appreciate!

More to come from the MMZ camp soon!

- John

The Beginning of the Beginning…

So we’ve got new everything it seems… new website, new CD, new logo, new tunes, new pics, new team of people we’re working with, and a new excitement about everything, with the same old group of guys I’ve had the pleasure of working with for years.  We’re all really psyched for the potential of what’s to come in the next months and years.  I can honestly say that I’ve never been more excited for what could happen, and we’ve been playing for… a while, to say the least. The last few shows we’ve played have been great, taking over rooms at the Webster and Heirloom and getting some killin’ bands to play along with us.  It’s gratifying to know that MMZ can pull off organizing an entire show front to back, have a great turnout, and then we can just sit back and rock!

I’m excited for everyone to hear the new tunes as well, as they’ve already started to infiltrate our recent set lists.  There’s nothing like playing new tunes, especially live, and once they new record is released and you get more familiar with them, you can rock out just as hard with me at the shows!  Until then, enjoy the new site and keep a lookout for more new MMZ stuff along the way.

- Ryk

MMZ's New Album & Home on the Web

This album is the culmination of all the work we’ve done over the years. Dave, Tim and I have been playing together since High school, and it’s been amazing listen to our progression, and seeing how far we’ve come. We’ve begun to truly find our sound and refine our songwriting.  This album stands out amongst other modern rock records as something different, with a new twist on a nostalgic sound. It was honor to work at Applehead studios where so many great artists have recorded. Mike and Chris did an amazing job of capturing our live sound into a dynamic powerful record. The album is really diverse showing each side of the band, from intense, layered progressive pieces, to straight ahead rock songs, and even stripped down acoustic sections. “Mile Marker Zero” is the perfect representation of where the band is now and lays a strong foundation that we will continue to build and expand on with future albums.

Thanks so much to Tony for building our brand new internet home. It is truly an innovative, and interactive place where we can interact with our fans, and keep everyone updated with everything going on with the band like never before.

Getting Things Started

Hi everyone!  Things here are getting ramped up for our brand new album Mile Marker Zero to be released at the end of June!  We're all very excited about the future of MMZ and are working hard towards perfecting our live show so that all of you who come out and see us leave with your jaws on the floor!  I personally just purchased a brand new PRS Custom 22 guitar, which I'm really wishing I had for the recording of the album.  You'll see it in action when you come see us live! We're sounding tighter than ever, and we're more driven than ever.  Our hope is that everyone who buys the album is treated to an experience they've never had before.  We've really stepped up our game, with songs like "Peril Aerial" , "Laceration", and "The Reaping Tide" diving into topics and moods that we've never achieved before.

Get ready for the ride of your life.  MMZ 2009!

- 2e

Reflections on the New Album

I've been listening to the final version of our self-titled album "Mile Marker Zero" for a couple of weeks now and can genuinely say that I'm really proud of how much of ourselves we've poured into these 10 tracks. Although I may be slightly 'close' to this project, I really feel that this this effort is noticeable after listening to the album from front to back - I couldn't be happier with the results. With MMZ we've always had the goal of writing music without boundaries and refusing to allow ourselves to be limited by anything other than our ability. While tracks like "Reaping Tide" and "Peril Aerial" are some of our heaviest and most intense songs to date, they still flow really well with our way more intimate and elegant songs, such as "Hush" and "Passive". In my opinion, being able to create a final product this diverse is what makes MMZ special, and why I'm so pumped to be a part of it.

"Crimson Red" and "In Loving Memory of..." are my two personal favorites due to their lyrical content - a struggle of a young man fighting a war and facing the possibility of never returning home. Its really moving and I still feel the emotions in these songs every time I either hear or play them live. I'm looking forward to seeing what you think about these songs and the rest of the album too - leave some comments for me!

Its Finally Here, EVERYTHING!!!

Solitary Tree

The past few months have been long ones for us in the band. It's AMAZING to see the recording of the new material and design of our new album and logos, website construction, photo shoots and behind the scenes work finally starting to surface!! I write this tonight, while in my room listening to the edits we are making of some of the tunes for our TV performance, shooting on June 26th. I feel that it is time for me to give everyone a crash course in MMZ 2009 to date. I have a ton of things I want to share so lets get started.

First Up - The New Self-Titled Album

Many people may be asking why we are using this title for our record. We have been a band for a few years now but only within the past 8 months have I truly felt we are coming together. I finally feel the 5 guys in this band are clicking both in live performance, song writing and buisness workings or the group.  This album is the true launch of Mile Marker Zero. It is only fitting to have the album be self-titled.

The recording process was an amazing one for us. Working with Mike Birnbaum and Chris Bittner at Applehead was awesome. Both those guys are true professionals and it was a ton of fun recording there as well as mixing with them.

We were lucky enough to tag team these recordings with the guys at Telefunkin. Alan and Joe not only did an amazing job, they really helped us above and beyond expectation.  This album is full of tracks that mean a lot to myself and the rest of MMZ, and the team behind the recording helped bring it to life.  There's a lot of personal connection to the music on the disk and it's raw sound is full of honesty. I love it.

Second - The New Website

This site is KILLER! It looks and feels great and has a very interactive plan to it. I can not wait until some of the features are fully launched for you to all see. Tony is an AMAZING graphic designer, web wizard and great friend. Kudos to him for drawing up something high tech, yet simple and elegant. These are qualities that fit MMZ perfectly! This new site will be the hub for all the MMZ news and tour information in the coming future. It will be the source for MMZ videos/photos and blogs. It will also be our medium to keep in touch and communicate with all of our fans and friends.  BOOKMARK THIS BABY!

Third - The MMZ Team

We in Mile Marker Zero have been lucky enough in the past months to garner some relationships that have really made our lives easier, more professional, more rewarding and more fun.  First I want to say thanks to Paul for all he has done and is doing to help guide 5 musicians through the industry. This band has become a well-oiled machine thanks to his supervision. We are also working with our new publicist BMM - Big Machine Media, out of NYC. Their credits speak for themselves and working with them so far in 2009 has shown me how powerful the media is. You guys are AWESOME!

All photography for MMZ's press and website was done by Kristine Larsen. Kristine is a true professional and made MMZ feel comfortable behind the lens, the photos look epic. As you can see on the website they came out great. The album artwork for "Mile Marker Zero" was created by Jeff Chenault, who's credits include everyone from Nickleback to Wu-Tang to Stabbing Westward.  The art is very reflective of the music on the album and has great depth and meaning  to it. The logo, website and cyberspace work for MMZ is being led by Tony Baldascino, who has worked in the corporate sector as well as for acts such as Aubrey O'Day of Danity Kane. The branding and imagery for MMZ looks solid and fresh thanks to Tony's guidance and professional touch and the website is interactive and slick.

Lastly - A Personal Note & Many Thanks

I have been playing music in and out of Connecticut for years now in various groups. I have been lucky enough to tour the country and play with some amazing people. Yet through all these groups and tours I believed in Mile Marker Zero and have stuck it out. For myself, the album release and launch of this band is a personal achievement for me.  Working so hard for so many years and I feel like we actually have something going now. Its exciting! All I can say YESSSSSS!! And thank you to all!

Thank You To...

All of my friends for putting up with my freaking out about deadlines and piles of work to do. To my girlfriend for understanding when I have "buisness" calls to take even though we might be watching a movie together. To those who asked me to hang out within the past three months for understanding why Im not up for partying after being up the night before working graphics with Tim. To my parents for their love and support in getting this band off the ground and running. To my band mates for believing in the project and trusting the project as we have.  To the MMZ team for believing in a young band and what they have to say as musicians and people, To the CT music scene for the opportunity to get out there spread the word.

Lastly to all the fans and friends of MMZ who come out to shows and keep reminding us why we are doing this. To all of you I say thank you, and look forward to a big 2009 for MMZ!

Love you all - Dave Alley