The Mid-Summer Report, 2004

"What's Mike been doing, yo?"

All sorts of exciting things—that's what. Mike's recent move to San Francisco had him focusing on things domestic for a spell, but now the usual musical juggling act is back full-force! Here's a sampling from July '04 and thereabouts:

• With Stand Up Eight continuing to wind down, Mike is focusing ever greater energy on developing a solo act. July saw the completion of a new tune, "New England Song," with several more on the drawing board. He made his second solo appearance at a Bay Area open mic on Thursday, July 29 at the Bazaar Cafe in the Richmond district, starting his two-song set at almost the exact moment John Kerry began his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention. Hence, the audience was small but really excited to hear some music, and both tunes—"Let's Turn the Motor Off" and "Ghost Dance"—enjoyed a warm reception. Later on in the evening, Mike reluctantly assented to the request of a stranger to lend him his mighty Taylor acoustic. ("I'm going on right now, and I forgot my guitar!" were the guy's exact words.) Although the Taylor made it through the two songs without incident, Mike's favorite pick, much to his sorrow, "mysteriously" disappeared.

• No longer just the teacher, Mike has become a student again, beginning private study with not one, but two fantastic teachers: composition with David Garner, a professor at the San Francisco Conservatory, and piano with Erik Walker, a freelance composer, pianist, and studio engineer. Under David's guidance, Mike has begun composing a suite for classical guitar inspired by Miguel de Cervantes and his masterpiece, Don Quijote (this following a remarkable convergence where Mike received a new translation of said masterpiece for Christmas, ended a long search for a new classical guitar by ordering a brand new Cervantes model in February, and in April found a new apartment in San Francisco—on Cervantes Blvd.) With Erik, Mike is having a great time learning the Bourree in E minor by J.S. Bach, "In a Mellow Tone" by Duke Ellington, "'Round Midnight" by Thelonius Monk, "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder, and some really cool Latin groove.

• Continuing work on the ongoing Stand Up Eight studio project, Mike spent a day at Chris "Spoony" Webber's new home studio in La Honda, laying down some guitar parts—including his most metallicious solo since his "Ballad of Yngwie Malmsteen," written and recorded with tongue in cheek at age 14.

• It has also been a great summer for performing with some top-notch musicians. Mike has recently played a few shows with acid-jazz cats Raw Deluxe (featuring Stand Up Eight's own Tony Jurado) at Bruno's in the Mission and Eastside West in the Marina. Last month also saw a reunion of singer-songwriter collective TEAM! at Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, CA, where Mike played mandolin alongside Mia Mustari, Jonah Blumstein, Josh Nadelberg, and Tony Jurado.

• Finally, Mike has had the pleasure of taking on some fantastic new students at his new San Francisco studio. A big welcome to Lisa, Sunee, Dale, Katie, Amanda, Chris, Kevin, and Lindsay!