Indiana's Indie Music Source
“Michael J has released 10 independent records… performed thousands of shows all over the USA, and has shared stages with acts such as The Goo Goo Dolls, Sister Hazel, Howie Day…” ~ MichaelJMusic.com
Zack Daggy: Where did you grow up and how did living there influence your sound?
Michael J: I grew up in Rochester, NY. My father plays Jazz sax and as a result I was exposed to a wide variety of music as a kid. Everything from Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven to Chick Corea and Miles Davis, to Billy Joel, Foreigner and the Beatles. There were a lot of great live rock bands in the NY clubs in the mid 80’s to mid 90’s also. Once I saw live music in a club for the first time I was hooked and knew what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I guess you could say my sound draws from all those places, bands, and styles of music that I was exposed to. Living in Rochester gave me an appreciation for all kinds of music and made me more well-rounded.
ZD: How long have you been performing?
MJ: I have been performing since I was very young. When I was in kindergarten I used to put on and promote shows for the neighborhood kids in my parent’s living room. All I could do was lip-synch to some old records back then, but no one knew the difference. My first band started playing in nightclubs before we could legally even BE in them. Around 15 or 16 years old to be exact. My mom used to drive me… and sometimes the whole band AND our gear in the family station wagon to and from our gigs because none of us had our night licenses.
ZD: What made you decide to pursue a career in music?
MJ: It was pretty obvious early in my life that I wanted to be a performer. I worked a bunch of really awful jobs through the years and decided that I didn’t want to spend my life being miserable doing something that I didn’t love. I quit my last day-job in 1996 and haven’t looked back since. Everyone who knows me really well would tell you that music is less “what I do” and much more “who I am”, so being a musician full-time is just me being honest with myself about what makes me happy.
ZD: How would you describe your style?
MJ: I can be a tough guy to pin down sometimes because I like to experiment in a few more than several different stylistic areas when I’m working on new material. I’m a sucker for a good melody and good lyrics, but I also love a great, loud, messy rock tune, so if you had to find one thing that ties my soft side, my rock side, and my alternative sides together it would be melody first. At heart I think I’m a pop artist though. You can dress it up any way you like, but a good song is always a good song.
ZD: What is your favorite song to perform and why?
MJ: My favorite song at the moment is my newest one “Gotta Keep From Falling”. That’s usually the case because my newest creation is almost always the freshest and least “tired” sounding. I also do an acoustic version of “Closer” by NIN that sounds nothing like the original, and that’s always good to get a bit of aggression out onstage. People love that one also and that always helps the energy.
ZD: How would you describe a typical Michael J live show?
MJ: It’s something a bit different every night… at least I try to make it that way. I don’t write a setlist anymore because I find that to be very limiting. Some nights I feel like playing certain songs and others I don’t, so I really try to keep it as spontaneous and as fun as possible. Some of the in-between song banter/stories are similar but that’s the case with every band or performer from night-to-night. The trick is making it look spontaneous.
ZD: Ever have anything embarrassing happen during a live show?
MJ: I was playing a big gig with my first band Exploding Boy back in 1994 or so at an event called Roch-a-palooza in our hometown of Rochester, NY. It was an all-day, multi-band gig. We were one of the featured acts and there were at least 1,500 people there. I stepped out in front of the monitor wedges during our set to do a guitar solo, lost my bearings as I backed up, and tripped and fell backwards onto the stage flat on my back. We were a three-piece band back then so there was no real graceful way to cover for it. Nothing will kick you out of your onstage persona quicker than that. We recovered, but my ego remains bruised to this day. (heavy sigh)
ZD: Where do you usually play?
MJ: I usually play in the state of Florida (Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, Daytona, Jacksonville), but when I can make it happen, I tour the east coast a bit up to Washington, D.C., Northern VA and as far north as NY in whatever club or venue will have me.
ZD: What would be your dream gig?
MJ: Being asked to open for U2.
ZD: Which line from one of your songs best describes you?
MJ: “I will fix what makes you hurt, but I will only hurt myself” from my song “Let Me Down Easy”. I most always put others before myself, often at my own expense emotionally. I’m proud of that fact but am still trying to find a balance.
Mothpod 161 (Available November 9th, 2009 at Mothpod.com)
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