A Rock Opera for our place and time - Pasadena Right Here Right Now.
THANK YOU PASADENA! Wow, what a night at the Crown Theatre on Saturday June 6 - a full house, and full hearts on stage that’s for sure. We can’t wait to take to the stage again soon and continue developing the music and story. Video and photos coming soon. But in the meanwhile 9 songs are up at Bandcamp now - labeled demos cuz the real string quartet hasn’t been recorded yet.
Stream right here ——→
And click on the album title to head to Bandcamp and see the whole album.
Music
A coupld of pre-release songs are streaming now at Bandcamp and the demos of all these songs drop on June 6, so keep an eye here. Are We At Peace is also available on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
Press
Read up on the project and the progress, from the first article back in 2025, to pieces dropping today in Pasadena Weekly, Pasadena Media, and more!
BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS PROJECT
The Pasadena Arts Commission cautioned that most projects don’t get fully funded through their grant and indeed that’s the case here. So I’m seeking additional funds, as well as community partners. If you would like to be a benefactor for this project you’re invited to do so. All contributors will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes updates, mixes, videos, and more. You can donate any amount but see below for the donation levels that have perks attached.
MARCH 2026 - We are partnering with Street Symphony, an amazing non-profit whose founder Vijay Gupta is an Altadena resident. You can make a tax-deductible contribution to them, and the funds raised will be used to hire string musicians for the recording and performance of the project!
CONTRIBUTE TO THE STRING QUARTET via STREET SYMPHONY - TAX DEDUCTIBLE + Donation MATCHED up to $1000 by anonymous donor!
Click below, select an amount for your one-time donation, go with the default campaign (Street Symphony Donation), then on the next page select “YES” and type “Pasadena Rock Opera” and on the acknowledgement line type my email address, letsrock@russellmarkmusic.com. See correctly filled-out form example.
CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO PROJECT CREATOR RUSSELL MARK - Not tax-deductible -Donation MATCHED up to $1000 by anonymous donor!
If tax-deductibility isn’t an issue, feel free to donate directly to me, and the funds will be used for everything from staging, to printing, rock band musicians, and the myriad other things necessary to write and produce this piece.
ZELLE - 323-823-1805 (Russell Mark Wiener)
LINCOLN AVE SUPPORTER
$100 - The basic supporter package gets you the music, the behind-the-scenes content, and a shout-out on social media!
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
ROSEMEAD BLVD SUPPORTER
$200 - Kicks it up a notch with a pair of Contributor reserve tickets to the final performance
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
2 reserve table tickets to the show
GREEN ST SUPPORTER
$300 - Adds a credit as Green Level Sponsor on website, event program (digital and/or print)
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
2 reserve table tickets to the show
Mention on website and show program as Green Level Sponsor
ORANGE GROVE SUPPORTER
$500 - Adds 6 more Contributor tickets, plus 8 Contributor reception tickets, 8 signed CD copies of album upon release
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
Mention on website and show program as Orange Grove Level Sponsor
8 total table tickets to show with Contributor reception (wine and apps)
8 CD’s of the final recording
COLORADO BLVD SUPPORTER
$800 - Adds company or personal logo and name to all digital and printed materials throughout the project’s duration. Just 3 available at this level.
Digital Download of album
Access to exclusive behind-the-scenes audio, video, blog for duration of project
Thank you on social media
8 total front row table tickets to show with Contributor Reception
8 CD’s of the final recording
Mention on website and show program as Colorado Level Sponsor
Your company name/logo on all digital and printed materials for the duration of the project
Exclusive access to a recording session with food and drinks
Special Thank you gift
BIG BANG SUPPORTER
$??? - Got a brilliant idea worthy of Cal Tech genuises that’s different from the above? Lemme know! Trying to keep things simple but I’m open to almost anything!
Less than $100? Just donate above and thank you! More than $100? Reach out at letsrock@russellmarkmusic.com and let me know what ya have in mind!
The Project
In Mayor Victor Gordo’s address at our 1st Annual Pasadena Neighbor Day celebration, he put forth the proposition that Pasadena is the center of the universe. Let’s just assume for a moment that’s true. Well then what does that mean? Are we a bright shining core? An eye of a storm? A super-massive black hole?
What is the gravity that holds us together? Commerce? Science? Arts? No. We must simply continue listening to his speech for the answer -
Pasadena is the center of the universe because of its people.
Through a series of public gatherings across the city I will get to know the people of this town. We will discuss what’s on our minds. What are our hopes right now? Our fears? What are we optimistic about? What do we love about our city? What is our biggest challenge in the coming year?
These meetings will form bonds between strangers, we will find out what brings us together, what differentiates us, and I will write, produce, and record a series of songs based on the themes that are evoked in these sessions, and will then stage a live performance in Pasadena in May or June 2026. It will be a sort of rock opera to serve as a time capsule of our place and time - right here, right now.
Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Take our anonymous survey and let us know more about you, your goals, your challenges, and your city.
Project Goals
Here are some of my goals, intentions, and guidelines for this project.
For anything I’m spending money on, from musicians, to print shops, venues, etc, I will use Pasadena residents and businesses wherever possible
I will keep contributors well-informed of the progress of the project, in fun and engaging ways that people wouldn’t often get a glimpse into. It’s important to note that the terms of the Pasadena art grant dictate that I MUST finish and stage the final product by mid 2026. This means contributors should have no concerns that they will not receive the agreed-upon perks and rewards, I am firmly committed.
I will create a recorded album that will serve as the next Nextdoors release (my band with my wife, cellist Mika Larson)
The final performance will be free of charge, and all ages, so every Pasadenan will have the ability to attend if they so wish.
I will stage multiple performances if possible and if the demand is there, to be as sure as I can that both contributors and simply curious residents can see the performance
I will work with city government and civic groups to reach out to participants in the most responsible and effective way I can
I will strive to reach a wide cross-section of the population, including ESL, elderly, and other groups that may br less likely to actively engage
I will focus on common humanity and positivity, and not on politics or divisiveness
Absolutely no AI will be used in the writing, recording, or performing of any music or lyrics in this project.
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
Official Project Meetups
We have had 10 fantastic meet-ups all around Pasadena. Meeting folks, hearing their stories, their goals, their challenges, their ties to Pasadena, and what’s on their mind has been eye-opening and wonderful, and we’re looking forward to more in 2026.
Stay tuned for announcements!