michael cleary band

Artist Information

Biography

The Michael Cleary band is a Hartford institution. They are celebrating their 20th year of making original blues/funk/rock music with a twist. In 2009 MCB was voted Best Jam Band in the Hartford Advocate Readers poll and they are previous winners of the "Best Rock" and "Best Blues" categories.

They have played with Tower of Power, Little Feat, Average White Band, Joan Osbourne, Peter Wolf, NRBQ and countless other regional and national acts. Their previous release, "MCB Live" was released in January 2007, and their new release "This Life" is available now.

Their shows have been described as great songs, monstrous solos, epic jams, funky grooves, wacky humor; all in all a diverse, joyous musical stew played and sung by talented musicians who love what they do.

Instrumentation

Michael Cleary - Guitar / Vocals.
Lee Sylvestre - Guitar/ Vocals
Jedd Chlebowski - Bass.
Edmund Peart - Drums/Vocals
Vin Delaria - Keys / Vocals
Frank Bauer - Percussion.

Discography

Call It What You Like 1991
Here 1994
Peace Finally Comes b/w Mr. Positive 1994
E=Mcb 1995
Tales From The Cup 2004
MCB Live 2007
This Life 2008

Audio

• Child Inside (live)
  Listen   Download
• mind made up mixA
  Listen   Download
• u got my luv mixA
  Listen   Download
• Free jb mix final 1
  Listen   Download
• Burn Brite w/new guitars
  Listen   Download

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Reviews for MCB Live [+ Show ]
  

  Check out these reviews/ comments raving about MCB Live! These guys have been dishing out their ...Check out these reviews/ comments raving about MCB Live!
  
  These guys have been dishing out their R&B/blues (with a bit of funk tossed in to get the rumps shaking) for nearly 20 years. Their latest album, recorded live at Black Eyed Sally's in Hartford, is a fine recording. It has lots of solos that actually work, some extend-o-jams that keep the crowd up. It's all that you'd expect from a established, polished band. 3/14 Craig Gilbert/New Haven Advocate
  
  MCB Live
  Live records are typically best saved for bands that have either a tremendous live show like Kiss or for bands that have a legacy that warrants as much ala The Rolling Stones. So reviewing a live record from Hartford act The Michael Cleary Band is a bit of a pre-loaded gun. The Michael Cleary Band has been carving out their niche as the areas preeminent blues-based rock band for almost 16 years now and they are great at what they do: check the solo at the tail end of Never Gonna Let, the harmonies on Stand, or pitch perfect classic rock stand-in Zydeco. The live setting suits them and it´s the relative coziness of the venue that yields a hominess as you have fans squabbling, the band´s inner dialogues and if you listen hard enough you can hear the clinking of pint glasses between sets. 3/21 David Lewis/Play New Haven magazine
  
  Michael Cleary Band ~ MCB Live
  For the uninitiated, MCB Live is a great introduction to the Michael Cleary Band, the closest you´ll come to experiencing them live. For area fans who´ve followed MCB´s near 16-year road of music-making in our region, it´s a cool souvenir to be savored, a colorful snapshot of these musicians completely in their element.
  Recorded at Hartford´s own Black-Eyed Sally´s, MCB Live delivers an evening´s worth of funkified songs capable of moving both hearts and feet. Brothers Ed and John Corvo lay down and power the grooves here with soul and precision, abetted by Paul Bozzi´s engaging percussion; keysman Vince Delaria at times conjures up the late great Kenny Kirkland with his wondrously colorful lines; and Cleary presides over his ensemble with soulfully agile vocals and guitar.
  Groovier than the Allman Brothers and more riffalicious than Tower of Power, MCB´s sound is an audibly tempting brew seasoned with skill and feeling. High points "Zydeco Girl," TOP-esque groove-fest "Funky 16" and closer "Child Inside" joyfully illustrate their musical bond is as energetic and entertaining as ever. Catch them live in Middletown on April 6th at La Boca. Guy-Michael Grande/Ear Candy/Rare Reminder
  
  This disc RIPS!!! The solo on All To You is ridiculous. Alan Veniscofsky / Rane
  
  5 Stars - Incredible live performance...
  This disc is a great example of a soulful, incredibly talented band at their absolute best. Mike and the boys sound so tight, you can feel the energy on this disc...it's a great representation of how powerful they are live! Lee Sylvestre / Bill Carlton Band
  
  I enjoyed the heck out of your live performance ...and certain parts really brought a smile to face. Elliott Randall / Steely Dan / www.elliott-randall.com/

Setlist

Originals

When all else fails
edge of feeling
heart takes flight
big red dez
lazy boy
peace finally comes
mr. positive
back no more
walking on fire
lovin
one more day
merely strangers
buzy bass
child inside
Uptite song
1-900
all to you
flipside
genie
good vibe
go to bed
gimme what you got
what goes on
small cruelties
hi hello
good thang
never gonna let
y dont know
burn brite
livin it up
just get along
zydeco
bye 2 love
only on this road
back to the world
angel
coffee
funky 16
barfly
song of love
free james brown
stand
where to run
who we are
you got my love
mind made up
highlight of my day
take me away-o


covers:
We Want The Funk- George Clinton/Parliament Funkadelic
Oye Como Va- Santana
steal my kisses-ben harper
the way it is-bruce hornsby
sex machine-james brown
maria maria-santana
i'm a man-spencer davis/chicago
celebrate-rare earth
Evil Ways- Santana
mind trick-jamie cullum
thank you for lettin me be myself-sly stone
dreadlock holiday-10cc
Could you be loved-bob marley
What's goin on-marvin gay
inner city blues-marvin gay
what the people say-the meters
Hey pocky way-the meters
Wait in vain- bob marley
heaven-los lonely boys
Late in the Evening- Paul Simon
upside down-jack johnson
Stitched up-herbie hancock
mama's trippin-Ben Harper
titerope- Stevie Ray Vaughn
gimme what ya got-keb mo’
brother jake-neville bros
telephone song-Stevie Ray Vaughn
save tonight-eagle eyed cherry
wind cries mary-Jimi Hendrix
back no more-gus factor
life during wartime-talking heads
take me to the river-Al Green
and she was-Talking Heads
I thought I’d see you again-macy gray
no such thing-john meyer
what is hip-tower of power
superstitious-stevie wonder
musicology-prince
when you get back-jon cleary

Basic Requirements

Calendar