In May 2006 Mark Bates is set to release his second solo album, "Wish I Was There", and his first release since the break up of Catapult nearly two years ago. "Wish I Was There" showcases a more "modern" Mark Bates. From songs like "Can't Forget (Away)" and "Satellite #2" that bring the rock, to the sweet acoustic yearning of "(Won't) You Come Home?", to the electronic mayhem that is "Do You Ever Smile?" the album takes the listener through one heart stopping emotion after another.

Although produced by Mark Bates, "Wish I Was There", had a lot of help from some of Boston's best musicians. Former Catapult band mates Karl Haas and Erick Ellison both lend their talents to the record, with Karl playing drums on a majority of it. Other Boston heavy-weights, such as, Scamper, Chris Toppin (Fuzzy, Bathing Beauties), Tom Polce (Letters To Cleo, Crown Victoria), and Bill Janovitz (Buffalo Tom, Crown Victoria) all pitched in to make the album the most memorable of Mark's career.