"Highways" Singer Returns to Common Grounds

Fans of Highways and Oceanshores will be excited to hear that lead singer, Mark Risser, will be returning to the Common Grounds next week. He will be playing an acoustic set, accompanied on several songs by fellow senior Chris Rutt.

Many students are familiar with Mark and his music from Highways shows over the last three years. This performance will have a much different atmosphere. The set will be a much mellower one than a Highways show. Mark describes it as "just a guy and his guitar." Still, fans of Mark's former band will still be pleased to hear at least one Highways song, and more of his original songs.

Chris Rutt, who transferred to EMU last year from Cornerstone University, will be playing guitar and singing with Mark on several songs. Before college, the two attended Central Christian High School together, where they played together in a band called Borderline.

Mark described their former band as "pretty standard rock" featuring the typical electric guitar, bass, and drums. Since those days, Mark and Chris have played acoustic music together for fun, and Mark has wanted the two to do a performance together.

Mark has shown definite enthusiasm about playing with Chris again, praising his singing and guitar playing. Chris is equally excited to see "what emotions come back the second time the lights go up." Both artists have been involved in music of some sort since elementary school.

The set will include at least one Highways and Oceanshores song, several of Mark's original songs ranging from three years to one week old, and a handful of covers. The two picked songs to cover together, trying to pick songs that "are fun for people to sing along with."

Mark says he is particularly excited to play some of his original songs, as each is special to him. He added, "The lyrics are so personal, and any time I play them I am taken back to the situations and people that inspired them." He claims that they have no social or political message, but are "just me talking about my experiences."

The show will take place on Monday, Dec. 4th in the Common Grounds at 9:00. Admission is free and everyone is welcome and should prepare for a relaxing atmosphere, but "be ready to participate by singing along and more."