I just wanted to let you all know I am still alive and well here in sunny Florida and am opening a cafe/bookstore! I am so excited and have an outreach for young musicians as well, offering free music lessons and support. I am not sure how many remember me but if you are ever in Florida look me up!

This week I am building the stage! Please check out the pics and visit our myspace, blog and main store site!

Recession got you down? Empty wallet keeping you at home?  Well there's no reason to give up your jonz for live music during the summer in Michigan. If you can walk, bike or hitch-hike there's a good chance you can catch some live music nearby. Several cities across our great state are hosting free summer concert series on a weekly basis and we've compiled a few for you to check out. 

Oh, and don't forget to check the calendar because we've added lots more free outdoor music festivals that will be happening in the coming months.

Click "Read More" below for just a taste of the weekly offerings.  We'll add more as we find them.

42 links and counting....

Mike Vial and Audio Artillary will host a benefit for Danielle Barber, a student of Holly High School who was the victim of an auto accident in 2008. 

This student-run show will take place at Holly High School Auditorium on May 30th 2009 at 7pm. Admission is $3 and all ages are welcome.

All proceeds will benefit the Barber family to help defray medical expenses. 

Click "read more" below for details.

Inspired by the latest release from Grand Rapids experimental band Paucity and motivated by a period of writer's block, former Satin Jones guitarist and vocalist Ryan Knott has committed himself publicly to releasing a solo record by late 2010.  But breaking writer's block can be a daunting task. To shake things up a bit, Knott chucked everything he knows about writing songs in favor of something a bit more ... prophetic. 

Click "read more" below.

Well, with everyone losing their jobs in Detroit, I thought I would experiment on a tune about being unemployed  I call this song, "I'm Broke up".  I started out the song using a electronic drum synth, and building it up from there.  When I finished recording all of the tracks,  I sat back and listened to it, to feel the vibe of what it brings to me. I started thinking it sounded like a Kid Rock song, or something in that area. I have never wrote a song like this one before. It is a kind of, Rock Rap song.  it definately has a funky groove to it, with a powerful message on how, and why, we are in the economical mess we are in today.

We did again..... "Raising My Standard" went # 1 in Soundclick.

This is Fifth #1 song to hit the top...

We just found out that we have been nominated for an award by the
International Country Music Association. The award we are nominated for is the "TRAIL BLAZER" award for our song "LIGHT IN THE WINDOW." You can visit www.radiocountry.org and then click on the button "about us" to read all about the International Country Music Assoc. Thanks to all of our families for the sacrifice's they've made. WE LOVE YOU!!! We couldn't of done it without your love and support.
Brenda, Scott, Bob, Gregg, Dave & Paul

Hey y'all.  Just got out of my final (aced it) and won't have to go back to school until the fall.  I just wanted to drop by to say congratulations to all of this year's winners of the 2008 Detroit Music Awards.  I didn't get a chance to attend myself (missed The Nuge dammitalltohell), but I wanted to give special congrats to some of my long time faves such as Ty Stone (outstanding rock/pop artist or group et al), Nadir (Outstanding Urban / Funk Vocalist et al), Billy Brandt (Outstanding Folk Artist / Group et al), Dave Feeny (Outstanding Country Instrumentalist), Rachel May (who should get an award for most consecutive awards - who does hold that record?), DJ Linda Lexy (Outstanding Electronic/Dance DJ), Liz Larin (Outstanding Electronic / Dance Writer Producer), Vinnie Dombrowski & Crud (Outstanding Rock/Pop vocalist, Rock/Pop Songwriter, Industrial Artist) and Luke Sayers (Outstanding Acoustic / Folk Recording) and to The Hard Lessons (Outstanding Live Performance).  To all those above and all the other DMA winners, sincere congrats to you all.

See ya 'round,

Mitch

"The Night Before Fathers Day" will be an acoustic celebration featuring local Fathers and their children performing songs for the sake of mothers with cameras creating memories. FREE admission for all on Saturday June 20 2009. So far I have 2 coffee houses locked in.

The Plymouth Coffee Bean in Plymouth MI from 8 to 11pm and Solid Grounds Coffee House in Northville MI from 6 to 9pm. Instantly I've received a dozen requests from fathers that want to participate. I didn't even advertize yet. This might be an interesting focus on a healthy Metro Detroit scene that is rarely seen. The Detroit area has a rich musical heritage of all styles. Acoustic music is spread throughout our Blues, Jazz, Rock, Country, Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Motown, Reggae, Dance, Metal, Punk, Rap, Polka, Eastern, Ethnic, ect… every single guitar player no matter what style occasionally plays an acoustic-something for self enjoyment. And many fathers simply play guitar yet have never performed on a stage for an audience.