The651.com

Local madman/pianist Mark Mallman has been known more for his stunts than for his well-crafted pop songs, thanks to antics like playing inside a refrigerator box for ten hours and jumping a ramp on a motorbike onstage. But more than anything, he’s been known for his iconic marathon performances – the first of which was a 26-hour performance in 1999, the second a 52.4-hour performance in 2004.

Mark Mallman

This time, he’s promising a 78-hours-straight performance, said to include more than 400 pages of lyrics and more than 100 different backup performers. Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, the indie rock hero will begin singing the song “Marathon 3,” and he’ll finish sometime Sunday. The rules: no sleeping, no audience between 2:15 a.m. and noon (when the venue is closed), just the odd bathroom/meal break and Mallman being himself: a musical treat, but totally off his rocker.

You can stop in any of the three nights, or watch it live at www.markmallman.com.

“Why,” we all ask? “Because,” says Mallman. Good enough of an answer for us.

Beginning 8 p.m, Friday through Sunday, $7, 21+, Turf Club, 1601 University Ave., St. Paul