In June of 2006, a pairing of musical minds began collaboration on a song. Mark Phillip Lopez and Dave Schweizer and met at a songwriters networking group in Pasadena, California. A short time later Dave sent Mark a few lyrics he had no music for and within a week Mark developed the basic structure for what would become “Ticket To Your Town”. Two recording sessions later the arrangement was finalized. The results made both musicians realize that a continued effort would net them something far greater than what they could accomplish individually. With a streamline writing and recording approach, ideas flowed effortlessly and within eight months the first Maple Bridge CD had been completed.

The first song is the aforementioned “Ticket To your Town”. With the bass line driving the rhythm and with syncopated guitars layering an arrangement reminiscent of JJ Cale. The song speaks of a guys effort to get to the locale of a girl he has a passion for, but the feeling isn't exactly reciprocal.

“Goodbye 21” is straightforward old country with Dave’s lead guitar bends and Mark’s honky-tonk piano at the break. This song is about running into old flames and yet acknowledging that you can't go back and that life just moves on.

"Tequila Tide” takes you into a Jimmy Buffet world of South Sea Islands and an endless shore. Mark sings a character that is enamored of his beautiful, flinty companion whose nature changes with her prodigious intake of alcohol. This piece contrasts Mark’s input of marimba sounds evoking the peaceful paradise and Dave’s choppy guitars riffs and slightly sour leads to emphasize the woman’s increasingly drunken state.

“This Old Car” showcases Dave’s clever lyrical metaphor of a guy trying to get back to his girl who dumped him for someone living in the “fast lane”. Mark’s melody and harmony accent this sweet and sentimental song over Dave’s driving piano and guitar.

“A Drifter And A Settledown” is sung from the third person view of a friend commenting on the impending crossroads of a couple that may or may not hook up. Dave’s use of overdrive guitar layers the arrangement until the bridge where Mark softens the sound with a string quartet. Then the song builds with both strings and guitar into a powerful finish.

“Pour Me A Stronger Dream” is a surreal tale of a person dealing with a dream that goes from good to bad. Mark provided the simple arrangement of piano and strings along with the vocal.

“Halfway Between Heaven And Home” is a gospel styled song about meeting ones spiritual and creative goals while living in the world of material and creature comfort. Mark overdubbed several vocal tracks for a choir like call and response chorus. Dave implements the arrangement with a lively country lead guitar.

“My Love For You Is Blind” has a distinctive zeydeco shuffle rhythm that propels this tale of a guy whose girl has not been so up front about her activities. Dave’s clean rhythm guitar and Mark’s vocals have brought comparisons of this song to Paul Simon.

“Zero Zero One (Lonely Lane)” is a blues influenced country song. Both Dave and Mark layered tracks of rhythm guitars under Dave’s slide guitar work to back this tale of a guy whose stubborn attitude condemns him to self-exile.

“Fine” concludes the CD with a pop arrangement slightly off the beaten path. This song borders the realm of optimism and pessimism both lyrically and musically. Mark infuses the break with a funky clavinet sound while Dave counters with a syncopated guitar over a weird grunting vocal sound. The result is unique and slightly tongue-in-cheek fun.