Based in Ocean Beach, Markland features brothers Justin and Aaron, their father Tunker, and family friend Randy Jones (the Clairemonsters).
Justin and Aaron, born and raised in Ocean Beach, were introduced to their father's record collection at an early age, absorbing a wide range of music such as Steve Miller, Allman Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Muddy Waters, Minor Threat, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. While in high school, the brothers formed a hardcore punk band, Soylent Green. Aaron later went on to record a solo acoustic album with producers Robert Vaughn (CBS, Sony) and Chris Julian (Queen Latifah, Billy Idol) at Treefort Studios in Los Angeles.
Performing as the Markland Brothers and the Seawall Prophet, the brothers recruited their father to infuse Delta blues riffs and punk rock energy into their set, with Jones' arrival providing some old school beats. The band recorded their self-titled debut CD at Head Trap Studio. Says Justin Markland, “We're all just monkeys on the track, playing our cymbals until the train comes.”
“The best gig we ever had was the Ocean Beach Farmer’s Market,” according to Aaron F. Markland. “Crowds were dancing, tips were flowing, OBcians with percussion instruments were joining in, and a homeless man kept shouting compliments at us. Later, that man pissed himself and passed out, but I like to think it was because of the extreme fun he was having.”
“The worst gig we ever had was at a brewery in Taos, New Mexico. We took a shortcut through a farm and ended up lost in the middle of nowhere. When we finally showed up, the headlining band didn’t want us on the stage so we had to set up on the floor. We closed the night with 'Simple Man,' in which several members of the Latin band booed us. We didn’t get paid for that show and, the worst part of all, we didn’t even get a free beer!”