Hi guys,

Please check the tour dates and for the most up-to-date news, the blog.

This is brand new: "The Things That Count" and "The Price Of Sin" are now available for download at markusrill.bandcamp.com Other albums will follow!

The new album - recorded in February with Christoph Reiss (bass), Felix Leitner (guitar), Christoph Beck (drums) and Andi Obieglo ( piano & accordeon) with Tom Ripphahn at analoghaus near Frankfurt/M - is all mixed and about to be mastered at YesMaster in Nashville these days. (There's more info on our recording sessions in the blog.)
We recorded 18 songs, 13 of which will be the album probably entitled "Wild, Blue & True". Soon as I receive the mastered album from Nashville, Blue Rose will get to hear the album and decide whether they're going to release it (like they did the last three studio albums). I sure hope they will because I feel like it's a real strong album.
If they do, experience has taught me that it may take awhile. In case the album is not going to be out this year, there's a plan B. In that case, the five other songs - which all came out really good as well - and probably one extra song will be released asap as an EP.

There's a bunch of other projects in the pipeline but, honestly, my main focus right now is on my new album. I'm also depending on some other folks to help finish these other projects so I have less control over these things. But here's what else is cookin':

The live DVD
We videotaped our band appearance at the Umsonst & Draussen festival in Würzburg in June 2009. This material needs to be edited and mixed. I've set aside a week in September and hope to get pretty far with the video editing in that time. Christoph Reiss will take care of the audio mixes.
The plan is to have two very different shows on one DVD: The above-mentioned full-band show and the duo show Andi and I played in '07. That one came out alright, is mixed and all done.
I think it would be really nice to present that DVD with a gig at the U&D in 2011. That should be doable.

The Smokey Hormals
The Smokey Hormals are Thorsten Wingenfelder (of Fury In The Slaughterhouse fame), Tom Ripphahn (ex-Hands On The Wheel), my buddy Robert Oberbeck and me. We got together on a weekend in April 2009 and recorded an entire album. You’ll find the first unmastered mixes at http://www.myspace.com/thesmokeyhormals
Right now, Thorsten is focusing on a new band project with his brother, I'm focusing on my record. So I can't really say when and in what shape this album will see the light of day.

The b.o.s.s.-Rill-project
My friends Hubert Treml and Franz Schuier from Regensburg are b.o.s.s. They have released three albums of original songs, written in Bavarian dialect and arranged in a very Springsteenesque way. It’s hard to explain but when you hear their stuff you’ll know what I mean: Lots of passion,  glockenspiel, Roy Bittan-type piano licks (courtesy of Franz) and plenty of really beautiful songs.
A while ago Hubert approached me with the request to translate some of his songs into English and sing them. Our original plan was to embed my vocal into their already existing recordings and voila, an album would be done. Needless to say it didn’t work as planned. We did quite a bit of work on those songs, drastically rearranged some, added guitar, harmonies, harmonicas and other goodies.
I've recorded all my parts and am waiting to hear from Hubert & Franz.
Last I heard, Hubert was going to start editing and mixing soon.

Anyway, do come out to some upcoming live gigs and keep in touch.

Take care,
Markus