ar. Mark dabbled in all styles to find his own musical voice. In his search, he found singer-songwriters like Richard Thompson, Sandy Denny, and Donovan, and groups like Fairport Convention and The Corries. Through these influences, an acoustic guitar, and open tunings, Mark found his musical path. He originally ever intended to be a live performer and made two CDs as "The Basement Gypsies," a tongue-in-cheek reference to his intense stage fright. Friend and future musical partner, Ivan Martin invited Mark two play some of his original tunes during a break from Ivan's own band, Raw Earth. And, thus, the seeds for Casting Runes were planted. Mark is married to local photographer and sometimes Rune, Kristy Creighton, and enjoys cycling, movies, astronomy, and all the pets his wife adopts.
* Ivan 'the Red' Martin
(lead percussion, djembe, dun duns, doumbek, riq, tar, Turkish bass, vocals)
From the milds of Illinois to the wilds of urban tribal fusion...
Ivan stirs one of the most eclectic cauldrons of sound to be found in St. Louis and beyond. His percussion skills have been honed by one of the few local djembe instructors who performed with the Kathrine Dunham troop. Casting Runes brings world rhythms to compliment Celtic themes, melding traditional; and non-traditional instrumentation. Ivan's role as the co-leader has been to arrange and program the sound to bring an awakening to past events with an eye on current affairs captured through song and sound throughout the ages. Ivan is married to local artist, Jane Wees Martin, and is an avid cyclist, local promoter, and is involved in community activism.
* Steve Lewis - AKA "Silent Steve"
(Djembe, doumbek, dun duns, Turkish bass, miscellaneous percussion, vocals)
Like most American drummers, Steve started out playing snare drum in his grade school band. Around the age of 12, he got a drum kit, but just sort fooled around on it through high school and college. As he looks back now, however, Steve realizes he always enjoyed playing on the toms, noting possibly an early affinity melodic drumming, hints of a frustrated tonal musician, or an early promise of the West African groove that would come later on. After college, Steve fell out of drumming for awhile, dabbling in stand up comedy, considering film school, but eventually, he landed in law school. One day, Steve was in a music shop with his wife, Marilyn, who was, at that time, a lead singer in a band. While she was shopping, Steve wandered off into the drum section and an urge to take up drumming again flared to life. He soon started taking West African percussion classes at the local community college and discovered djembe, dun dunus, congas, and new, refreshed hunger for drumming. Steve is happily married and, when he isn't behind drums for The Runes, The Universal Groove Society, or Mobile Alien Research Unit, he is a trial attorney in the Public Defenders Office.
* Kevin Gagen - Runic Nickname TBD
(Acoustic guitar, vocals)
Kevin is the newest member of Casting Runes. He retired from Washington University Physicians (not a doctor) and resides in Belleville, IL. Kevin was a professional musician/singer-songwriter in the '70s and '80s with bands Acre, James, Keith & Gagen, Automatic, and Jasmine, as well as solo work. Keith set down his guitar for 30 years, but, sometime in 2023, he picked it back up. He has been playing solo gigs around the Belleville and St. Louis areas and now welcomes the opportunity to reacquaint himself with the Celtic and other varied genres the Runes bring to their sets. In addition to his musical career and his career at Wash U Physicians, Kevin also is a former owner of an Irish pub.
* Kristy Creighton - AKA "KC Pirata"
(Vocals, Professional Egg Shaker, Amateur Toe Tapper)
Kristy is a Sometimes Rune. She grew up with an avid interest and involvement in film and theatre, including musical theatre, and performing on stage is nothing new to her. She had professional vocal lessons as a teenager and has enjoyed sitting in with musician friends as a vocalist and rhythm keeper throughout her life. While encouraging her daughter's passion for a career in theatre and her husband's efforts to create and expand Casting Runes, she was content to relegate her own musical talents to the shower, car, and backyard BBQs. She could frequently be found performing the entire score and lyrics to "Jesus Christ Superstar," which she knows in its entirety by heart, for her annoyed pack of rescue dogs, cats, birds, and tarantula. But, once Mark and Ivan brought Casting Runes to life, they relentlessly nagged her to join the band as a vocalist, and she finally acquiesced, much to the relief of her animal pack. Kristy is a professional photographer and an art photographer. She will take in any animal in need at a moment's notice (whether her husband, Mark, likes it or not) and you can find innumerable pictures of them on her personal Instagram page. Kristy also works for a local school district, is involved in community activism, and her interests include interior design, history, theatre, books, classic film, and any projects that include the use of power tools.
