Mark Erickson (Colorstore, Sweetbleeders, Gospel Claws, Roar) Memorial Service/Benefit Announced

See also: R.I.P. Mark Erickson of Colorstore, Roar, and Gospel Claws See also: Download: Colorstore's Shambolic, Fuzzy "My Life As a Beaver" See also: Serene Dominic Interviews Colorstore

Per the site:

The local music community is still reeling from the unexpected death of Colorstore/Sweetbleeder musician and co-founder Mark Erickson. There will be a celebration of his life this Friday at 6 pm First Baptist Church of Scottsdale, 7025 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

In addition, friend and fellow band member Jef Wright started a fund on Colorstore's Facebook page for Mark's two children Sophie and Jack. You can donate in three ways:

1. PayPal donations to [email protected] 2. Visit a B of A branch and donate to account #45702655 3. If you'd prefer to send a check or money order, please contact Jef at [email protected] for a mailing address

*Please note that we prefer no wires, as they do cause a fee for the account. The account number is for direct contact with Bank of America. If you have any trouble, please let Jef know.

In a May 2012 interview, Erickson discussed "My Life as a Beaver," a two-minute fuzz pop gem from Colorstore's album Afire. He said the song was inspired primarily by his son Jack:

"[The lyrics are about] my son Jack. [He's] a bit intense. Never met anyone quite like him. He's half me and half of his mom. A strong-willed, dramatic, thick-headed, emotional, intense wildfire (sweet and smart too, but, you know). So I guess I tried to come with some things to say to him. Life lessons, or something like that, with a ruckus sort of sound."

But the song was also about himself, Erickson said.

"The second idea for the title probably has more to do with the song's subject. [It's] an analogy of somebody spending all their time damming things and losing purpose. I guess I could possibly view that person as myself, considering I spend a great deal of time doing such things with no great purpose and usually with a not-so-good outcome. So [it's] sort of that age-old "Don't do what I've done" sort of speech a parent might give their child. A lot of the lyrics on the song ended up a bit more simple than that idea (thankfully), but I think that was the idea."

Colorstore offered the song to Up on the Sun as a free download.

Download:

If you have photos of Erickson, Colorstore's members would like those too (the higher resolution the better, they note).