Hi everyone, hope you survived the holidays OK!
Grandpa Burg playing mandolin
I had a great time up in Tawas spending time with my fiance’s family and hometown friends last week. One of the highlights was getting to see Natalie’s grandfather perform a Christmas medley for us on violin and mandolin (watch a video here). Grandpa Burg is 90-years-old and still performing violin at church monthly! Plus, his violin was made in 1820. It’s an impressive instrument.
After performing some music, Grandpa and grandma shared stories of their lives traveling through 48 of the States in an camper after their retirement. These are type of dreams people only talk about doing. Powerful stuff!
Anyways, January brings me to my own travels, my first official tour. I’ll be playing in 13 different cities, four states, and Canada this month. One of the highlights of the tour is that I’m joining Paul Federici’s CD Release Show in St. Catherines Jan 29. I met Paul at Catherine North Studios when I was working on my third release, and he was in the middle of working on his own. Paul shared some of the early tracks, and I was an instant fan. I’m a sucker for City and Colour styled vocals over interesting chord progressions. Paul’s got a voice! Plus, Kirk Starkey added cello as well! (Kirk’s playing on my song “I Will.”)
There are a bunch of Michigan dates this month that are really cool, too, three being full band! The Great Lake Effect will be performing with me at the Trinity House in Livonia this Friday, the Majestic Essential Listening Party in Detroit (1/17) and the Raven Cafe in Port Huron (1/14) later this month.
My future mother-in-law got to spend lots of quality time with our pups, Lois and Gunshy, over the holidays!
Anyways, thanks for checking in with me. I’ve got a little back of acoustic songs I’m hoping to record in March or April, so expect a fourth release and singles coming soon. I’ve really got the urge to keep putting new material out this year, and I’m hoping the gigs keep coming to help me book some more studio time soon.
Sincerely,
Mike
PS: Our 16-week-old puppy is already 30 pounds! Ah!
Last Night’s Tribute to Townes Van Zandt @ Old Town
I had a great time at Chris Buhalis‘s tribute for Townes Van Zandt last night. Chris, who knew Townes, has been doing this yearly tribute at Old Town in Ann Arbor since the great songwriter’s death on New Years Day 15 years ago.
My friend Mark, who knows every lyrics to every Van Zandt song, and I planned to go last year, but things got a little out of hand during our New Years Party and we weren’t in fine health to attend. This year, Mark promised himself he would attend, and he was successful at convincing me to attend too. I’m glad I said, “yes.”
Chris was accompanied by Jason Dennie (pictured on left) on mandolin and Dave Keeney on slide guitar.
While it’s fun to find new songwriters, it’s often better to revisit older ones that came before us. I’ve always appreciated “Dead Flowers” by Townes, but this was the first time for me to really take in his extensive catalogue of songs. I’ll never get to see Townes live, but this tribute night is the next best thing. Chris met Townes in the 90s. Townes was the first person to tell Chris to pursue songwriting professionally, and there is a great level of respect in how Chris performs these classic songs.
My friend Mark made quite a few requests, including Rex’s Blues. Chris said, “Yeah! I’ll play that! I was just talking to Rex a few days ago on the phone!” I especially enjoyed hearing stories about Townes’s friend Blaze Foley, the Duct Tape Messiah, and hearing songs Townes wrote about (or for?) his eccentric Austin friend.
Chris also choose some fun Hank Williams tunes since Townes was largely influenced by the country great. The crowd singing-a-long to “Move It on Over” was a nice moment:
Plus, Old Town is always a great spot to see live music on Sunday’s. It’s a rare treat to see quality music on a Sunday night with an appreciative crowd. Students reading poetry at the bar, fellow musicians from the area (Dave Boutette and Nick Strange were in attendance)… Mark’s Uncle TK, who is Ann Arbor’s most popular hippie, joined us at the show. The myth is you can send an envelop to “TK in Ann Arbor” with no address, and it will still arrive to his house.
Anyways, it was a fun night to enjoy some Short’s Huma-Lupa-Licious on draft at take in Townes Van Zandt’s lyrics.
Top 10 Hidden Live Music Spots in the Mitten
My Top 10 Hidden Spots with Live Music in MI
Many blogs and writers have already listed their top 10 bands for 2011 (Fusion Shows, LSJ Noise, etc), so I thought I’d share my favorite places that are hosting live music in Michigan.
Now, this list doesn’t feature conventional concert halls. Instead, these spots are smaller rooms (100 or less), often overlooked venues, coffeehouses, or bars that are hosting live music. Many places that people have responded, “Oh! I didn’t know they do live music there!”
Here are some places to checkout unique Michigan music!
10. Kahuna Coffee in Hartland
This coffeehouse has been hosting some open mics, jazz groups, and unique showcase of local musical talent. Michigan folk talent like Robert Marr to young, local talent like Stephen Schlaak.
9. Capital Music in Holly
Not only a great music store in a new Downtown location behind My Sweet Holly, but also a great room to perform! Capital Music has a stage, PA, lights–it’s an intimate room to catch live music or perform at their open mics. Right now, their website isn’t updated for events regularly, but so I’d link up to their Facebook page.
8. Old Town in Ann Arbor (Acoustic Sundays)
Sundays at Old Town is becoming a hoping spot with a regular crowd checking out local talent. Bluegrass, folk, singer-songwriters, etc are performing at this Sunday showcase.
7. Carrick’s House Concerts in Clarkston
Craig Carrick’s cancer is in remission, and his house concerts are kicking off for another great year of music. This is my favorite house concert series in Michigan.
6. Pump House in East Lansing
I love this place. Volunteers have redesigned an historic pump house building into a small concert venue nestled in the center of the neighborhood. This is a great spot to see folk, rock, country or singer-songwriters.
5. Raven Cafe in Port Huron
A pre-Civil War era building with Michigan local beer and coffee, and a stage above the door! Weekly, acoustic music showcases and electronic music happen here.
4. Stout in Brighton
OK, I admit I play here quite a bit! (Twice a month) But I love performing at Stout because it has an intimate stage, lights and house PA, perfect for acoustic shows. Stout features an Irish bar’s atmosphere. Quite a few cover acts play here on Friday and Saturdays. In the summer, live music is on the back porch with the outdoor fire pit.
3. Lunch Studio/Flint Local 432 in Flint
The music community is excited to have the Flint Local’s return, and they are already hosting shows at the Lunch Studio.
2. GW’s Black Crystal Cafe in Ann Arbor
This house concert series at GW’s home is a music haven. Picture a gorgeous stage and lights in the basement featuring national acoustic acts. It’s stellar. Plus, GW also has a lyrics contest called ForSongSake!
1. Trinity House in Livonia
My favorite spot to see an intimate show hasn’t changed since high school. The Trinity House is often overlooked on 6 Mile in Livonia, right by I-275, but the white theater is a beautiful room that features the feel of the Ark in Ann Arbor.
Runner-ups:
- Bluegrass Wednesdays at Circus Bar in Ann Arbor
- Fenton Winery & Brewery in Fenton
- Kettle Coffee House inside the Hartland Music Hall in Hartland
Lansing Noise Top 10 Pick of 2011!
Thanks to the Noise for naming my EP Where the Sand Meets the Tide a top ten pick of 2011! You can still download it freefree here. The Noise article: http://t.co/uKV2Dq7J
In response to my last blog, I thought I’d list places where I discover new music. Please note, my favorite genres leans towards roots, folk, indie rock, indie pop, and sometimes blues. I’ll keep adding more when I find time.
Music Streaming Subscription Sites:
- Spotify – I have a subscription to Spotify and share new music with friends. Other friends of mine use Rdio, Grooveshark or MOG.
Free Downloads:
- Noise Trade – great site where artist offer free downloads.
- TheSixtyOne – a music adventure, artists post music and listeners explore and stream
Blogs:
- Hypemachine – a music search engine that indexes audio files on blogs
- Pitchfork and Stereogum,the biggies in the music blog world.
- Daytrotter Sessions – You have to pay now, but there’s a free trial
- HearYa
- SoundsthatMatter
- Mostly Midwest
Video Take Away Shows:
- La Blogotheque
- SouthernSouls
- Daytrotter should be here, too.
Radio Shows:
- Ann Delisi’s WDET’s Essential Listening Parties at the Majestic Cafe (Third Tuesday of the month)
- Ann Delisi’s show Essential Listeing on WDET (Sat and Sun from 11 AM – 2 PM)
- Pam Rossi’s morning show at uDetroit Cafe (weekdays from 11 AM-1PM)
- The Set List with Rick Westover on WCMU
- Jeremy Baldwin’s Roots Music Project on WEMU
Print/Online News:
- I’ve always read Metrotimes and Real Detroit Weekly
- Lansing Noise section in the LSJ by Anne Erickson
- I subscribe to American Songwriter Magazine. They also have a website.
Concert Promoters
- Fusionshows – I check Howell based Fusion’s events to see which new groups are coming to town and what locals are playing in the state.
Venues:
I like to check these Michigan venues’ calendars. I also follow venues’ Twitter accounts or like their Facebook pages to see their updates:
- The Ark in Ann Arbor
- Blind Pig in Ann Arbor
- Old Town in Ann Arbor’s acoustic Sundays
- The Trinity House in Livonia
- The Strutt in Kalamazoo
- Old Dog Tavern in Kalamazoo
- The Intersection in Grand Rapids
- Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids
- MXTP in Grand Rapids (sadly closing in Jan 2012.)
- Magic Bag in Ferndale
- Majestic Cafe in Detroit
- uDetroit Cafe in Detroit
- Flint Local 432 (grand opening coming soon)
- Callahan’s in Auburn Hills
House Concerts:
- Carrick’s House Concerts in Clarkston
- Pump House in East Lansing
- GW’s Black Crystal Cafe in Ann Arbor
