ARTS & entertainment
ARTS & entertainment Mark Kassa: Groceries and guitar solos BY KEN MARTEN PHOTO BY Grocer by day, rocker by night. Mark Kassa leads a double life of sorts. In one sense, he exemplifies the typical Chaldean success story. Kassa is one of five partners, all third-generation grocers who have worked together since childhood, who own four stores in Metro Detroit. He, wife Marilyn, and daughters Marie, Katherine and Kristen are West Bloomfield residents. But Kassa is also the leader of the hard rock band Slight Return. Its namesake is the classic Jimi Hendrix tune “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” and Kassa is a huge Hendrix fan (it’s even his license plate). The band has existed for nearly 20 years and has released five albums. The latest, “Welcome to the D,” hit the market in March and has received several positive reviews. “I live two lives and basically, I don’t sleep,” Kassa said. “I do everything for the band. I’m the owner of the band. I write all the music. I’m the guitarist, vocalist, producer and manager. “You’ve got to approach a band like it’s a business,” he added. “A lot of musicians, they have the art side down, but not the business side. For the business aspect, you get the right side brain usage. For the music, the art, you get the left brain creative side.” Rounding out Slight Return are drummer Ronnie Karmo, bassist Robert Bennett and percussionist Tony Mitchell. A Slight Return gig isn’t the stereotypical dive bar show that ends with last call and a smattering of tipsy applause. When the band performs, it’s usually as the opening act for a touring band at Freedom Hill, DTE Energy Music Theatre, or the Royal Oak Music Theatre. “When we gig, it’s fairly significant,” Kassa said. “We don’t do a lot of gigs. I’d say we perform 12 to 20 times a year. I prefer the atmosphere of a big stage. A bar isn’t a bad gig, but it’s a whole different ballgame than a venue.” It’s been a long road to Freedom Hill. Kassa’s interest in music began during his senior year at Detroit Catholic Central. He saw Robin Trower at Chene Park and Stevie Ray Vaughn at Meadowbrook, both in 1986. “I was mesmerized,” he recalled, and promptly found himself at Wonderland Music, where he bought a Peavey guitar and amplifier. Kassa enrolled at Wayne State University and idled for two Slight Return’s new CD. Mark Kassa lets loose on stage. years before heading west to study at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. “I met students from all over the world,” Kassa said. “The musicians at that school were some of the best I’ve ever dealt with.” Upon returning to Metro Detroit, Kassa formed Tower in 1992 and played with a few cover bands. He formed Slight Return in 1996 and focused on writing original material. Alberto Rosal, who was also Kassa’s best friend, was the band’s vocalist until he died of cancer in 2005. Kassa paused for about a year and pondered the band’s future. “Around the time when Alberto died, we had some major label interest in the band,” Kassa said. “Something inside me told me it’s just not the right thing to do. Now, the twins are about to go to college, and it might be time to pursue bigger things.” “Welcome to the D” is Kassa’s opus and brainchild, a 12-track barrage of energy that he executive-produced. It features a host of notable guest musicians including George Clinton, Funk Brothers guitarist Dennis Coffey, Hendrix/ Band of Gypsies bassist Billy Cox, and Montrose and Robin Trower vocalist Davey Pattison. The album was edited and mixed by Jack Endino and mastered by Chris Hanszek – Seattlebased wizards known for developing the grunge scene and sound. Guests and big names cost money. Kassa declined to specify the album’s overall cost, but admitted to funding the entire project over 18 months. “I could have had two kids by the time this album was done,” Kassa said with a laugh. “I’m glad I did it. I had to test myself and see if I could pull something like this off. There are Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and huge industry leaders on this album, and I was running the whole thing.” Music critic Steve Roby praised “Welcome to the D” in a recent review for SF Bands and Music Magazine (also known as SFBAM). “I can definitely hear Chili Pepper and Rage Against The Machine influences, but with a more contemporary feel,” Roby wrote. “Slight Return have had the distinction of opening for the legendary guitarist Robin Trower, and no doubt are on their way to headline status soon.” What if Roby’s prediction comes true? “I can’t give a direct answer until the time comes,” Kassa said. “I feel like we’re going to get some recognition off of this album. I feel like we’ll get some national airplay. All it takes is one thing to break. But on the flipside, it’s not why I do music. I play what I play and I love it.” “Welcome to the D” is available on Amazon, iTunes, Google Music and other download sites, but Kassa also released it as a CD. “People don’t buy many CDs anymore,” Kassa said, “but when you’re promoting, when you’re in the promotional phase, a CD is like a press kit. They need something they can touch and feel.” And referring to Detroit as “The D?” That was Kassa’s idea, born out of the song that he originally wrote and recorded several years back. “The D” is a trademark registered to him through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Kassa offers a full line of clothing featuring “The D” and similar slogans. There’s one more project that Kassa has shoehorned into his schedule. He hosts “Welcome to the D,” an hour-long show filmed twice a month that airs on Middle Eastern American TV. He’s working on a second show, titled “Top 10 Now and Then,” to be co-hosted by metro Detroit-based singer Dal Bouey. Learn more about the band at SlightReturn.com. 34 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE MAY 2015
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