My Pet Dragon

Artist Information

Biography

Featured in Filter Magazine's 'Discover The Undiscovered' and Deli Magazine for Best of NYC 2012 Emerging Artists. My Pet Dragon is led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Todd Michaelsen and actress/dancer/singer Reena Shah. MPD’s unique performances include Michaelsen's soaring vocals with strong pop melodies and Shah’s dancing influenced by the classical Indian dance style of Bharata Natyam, and nods to electronic music and stadium rock. My Pet Dragon’s anthemic songs and powerful live show has drawn comparisons to Arcade Fire, Coldplay, and Smashing Pumpkins. MPD enjoyed performances on the North American music festival tour circuit in 2012 which included: Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the US Cellular One Stage with MUTEMATH & The Walkmen, the inaugural Catalpa NYC Festival on Randall's Island with the Black Keys and TV on the Radio, the KahBang Festival in Bangor, Maine with Bassnectar and the Deftones, the Breckenridge Beer Festival in Colorado, Alive@Five in Stamford, Connecticut, Pittsburgh Pridefest with Melissa Etheridge -- and SAWFest in Salem, New York. and NXNE in Toronto.

You can hear their song "Moonshine" from their last LP Mountains and Cities featured in Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine's National TV Commercial Campaign. Todd also composed the score for the award-winning animated feature film, Sita Sings The Blues, and Reena was the speaking voice of Sita & rotoscoped dancer. They are currently working on a new My Pet Dragon LP -- set for release later this year.

Todd Michaelsen was named a Finalist for the International Songwriting Competition for his song Moonshine in the AAA Category out of 16,000 entries. Fuse TV featured My Pet Dragon’s official music video for Moonshine and is in-rotation on radio stations across the United States. Todd was named as a finalist for the 2011 Peacedriven Songwriting Award for Love Anthem, which was chosen to be a part of the Music for Occupy compilation Occupy This Album to support the movement. The compilation includes songs by Yoko Ono, Mogwai, Patti Smith, Tom Morello, Ani Di Franco, Thievery Corporation, Yo La Tengo, and more.

Todd Michaelsen has collaborated with world-renowned artists Karsh Kale, Nina Paley, and Anoushka Shankar. In 2006, he sang and co-wrote 3 songs off Karsh Kale's "Broken English" including Dancing at Sunset which received rave reviews and heavy radio airplay in Europe, India, and the U.S. In 2007 he co-wrote a song called Abyss on Karsh Kale and Anoushka Shankar's stunning "Breathing UnderWater" album which also featured Norah Jones and Sting. In 2008, Michaelsen composed the score and wrote original songs for Nina Paley's critically acclaimed animated feature film "Sita Sings the Blues" which has won numerous awards around the world and continues to garner a huge cult following. Most recently he teamed up with Kale again on his gorgeous "CINEMA" album on the song Phoenix Rising on which he sang and co-wrote.

Reena Shah was the speaking voice of Sita in Sita Sings the Blues as well as the rotoscoped dancer & singer in the film during the Trial by Fire - Agni Pariksha scene. She was the Assistant Choreographer and a dancer for the Universal Pictures film, The Guru, where she taught Indian dancing to Marisa Tomei, Heather Graham, Jimi Mistry, and Michael McKean. She has appeared with Conan on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in a comedic Bollywood Skit. Reena portrayed real-life gang-rape victim Mukthar Mai in the documentary play Seven produced by Vital Voices Global Parterhip at La Mama Theater in New York City, the Women's Forum for the Economy & Society in Deaville, France and Goldman Sachs Diversity Week in London, England. She also narrarted the PBS Independent Lens Documenatary, A Dream In Doubt. Reena appeared opposite actor Ajay Naidu in his directorial debut, ASHES. Reena has taught workshops and performed Indian Dancing at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts for Midsummer Night Swing, The Kennedy Center, The White House 2011 Easter Egg Roll, 2010 Sundance Film Festival, 2010 Maine International Film Festival, 2009 Wakarusa Music Festival, Central Park Summerstage, S.O.B.’s, Brooklyn Museum, the Queens Museum of Art, and in cities throughout Peru with the American Film Institute's 20/20 Program.

'Mountains and Cities' was produced by Stephen George, the former drummer of the band Ministry. George has worked with a wide range of pop artists including Iggy Pop, the Cars, & Common. The LP includes contributions by members of Mercury Rev, Gov't Mule, & Hurricane Bells.

Instrumentation

Todd Michaelsen - Trumpet, Guitar, Lead Vocals, Songwriter
Reena Shah - Vocals, Percussion, keyboard, Sampler, Dance

Discography

2012 - "New Year's Night" - Single
2011 - "Mountains and Cities" LP
2010 - "Flow" maxi single
2010 - "Lover in Hiding" maxi single
2006 - "First Born" LP

Official Website

http://www.mypetdragon.net

Links

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• Follow Lead Singer/Songwriter Todd Michaelsen
• Follow Dancer/Singer/Actress Reena Shah
• Lead Singer/Songwriter Todd Michaelsen's Website
• Actress/Dancer/Singer Reena Shah's Website
• My Pet Dragon - Bandcamp

Audio

• Moonshine
  Listen  
• Flow
  Listen  
• Majestic Lovers
  Listen  
• Lightning Inside
  Listen  
• Love Anthem
  Listen  
• Lover In Hiding (Reprise)
  Listen  
• Between Us
  Listen  
• U R
  Listen  
• Lover in Hiding
  Listen  
• Siren
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Moonshine
• Love Anthem
• Majestic Lovers
• Lover In Hiding
• Lightning Inside
• Flow
• Between Us
• Siren
• U R

Video

My Pet Dragon - 'Moonshine' Official Music Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• My Pet Dragon might just be the next best thing in the new indie music scene. [+ Show ]
  

  My Pet Dragon might just be the next best thing in the new indie music scene. They have really catch...My Pet Dragon might just be the next best thing in the new indie music scene. They have really catchy hooks and busting tracks that just get your feet moving. These guys make songs that not only get stuck in your head; they make you feel good about it. All the critics agree, these guys are way underrated and it won’t be long before they are standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the big boys in indie rock.
  My Pet Dragon are veteran musicians, making music since 2006 with their first LP “First Born”. Their second LP, “Mountains and Cities”, came out just last year, and the single “Moonshine” from that album has been featured on Fuse TV. But My Pet Dragon isn’t just a good recorded band; they are known for their powerful live shows that not only show off their fantastic musical talents, but also their dancing skills as front-woman Reena Shah shows off some Indian style dance.
  My Pet Dragon are on their way to indie rock stardom, so pick up “First Born” and “Mountains and Cities” now so you can show off to your friends later and say “I liked them back when…” Here is their single “Moonshine” to get you going.

• Discover the Undiscovered: My Pet Dragon [+ Show ]
  

  Strong pop melodies and lead singer/songwriter Todd Michaelsen's soaring vocals define their newly r...Strong pop melodies and lead singer/songwriter Todd Michaelsen's soaring vocals define their newly released LP, Mountains and Cities. The 5-piece melodic rock band has been compared to Coldplay, the Smashing Pumpkins, and the Flaming Lips.

• My Pet Dragon's Love Anthem featured on Occupy This Album with Yoko Ono, Mogwai, Debbie Harry, Tom Morello, Third Eye Blind, and more... [+ Show ]
  

  Occupy Wall Street now has an A-list soundtrack: the compilation Occupy This Album, which was announ...Occupy Wall Street now has an A-list soundtrack: the compilation Occupy This Album, which was announced today and will be released sometime this spring. The record will feature music from Debbie Harry, Jackson Browne, Yoko Ono, Third Eye Blind, Crosby and Nash and many more. Several of the contributors, including Joan Baez and Crosby and Nash, performed at the New York OWS site while it was still active.
  
  Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/occupy-wall-street-album-to-feature-tom-morello-crosby-nash-yoko-ono-20120123#ixzz1kVVY7JTh
  

• My Pet Dragon are the Ambassadors of Great Music [+ Show ]
  

  The response from radio programmers to the My Pet Dragon single “Moonshine” has been stellar, and on...The response from radio programmers to the My Pet Dragon single “Moonshine” has been stellar, and one look at this studio performance of the track for Indie Ambassador TV will tell you why. Enjoy!

• My Pet Dragon aims to raise the roof on an arena near you. [+ Show ]
  

  "Majestic Lovers", the band’s wise choice lead single, is chimey anthemics — and that’s this band’s ..."Majestic Lovers", the band’s wise choice lead single, is chimey anthemics — and that’s this band’s sweet spot. Equally soaring, "Love Anthem" takes the guys into Muse/Coldplay/Temper Trap, even Linkin Park alt arena territory, “Crystal Ball” is pretty and driving, & “Lover in Hiding” recalls Bono & Co. circa Atomic Bomb. Which is not to say they don’t throw a few curve balls. The retro bounce of “Darling”, the rollicking "Moonshine" and the wistful, acoustic "Siren" are nice departures. Still, this is big, audacious & brimming with hooks. Considering that’s only kind of rock that gets the big boys to notice anymore, do not be surprised if you’re hearing more from and about My Pet Dragon, and soon.

• "Todd Michaelsen has a tenor voice that falls somewhere between Thom Yorke & Muse's Matthew Bellamy." [+ Show ]
  

  “My Pet Dragon plays well-crafted alt-rock and vocalist/songwriter Todd Michaelsen has a tenor voic...“My Pet Dragon plays well-crafted alt-rock and
  vocalist/songwriter Todd Michaelsen has a tenor voice that falls
  somewhere between Thom Yorke & Muse's Matthew Bellamy."

• Musical Giants: My Pet Dragon headline a big show at The Space in Hamden on Feb. 4 [+ Show ]
  

  My Pet Dragon is not your typical Brooklyn N.Y.-based rock band. Seemingly gimmick-less, this five-p...My Pet Dragon is not your typical Brooklyn N.Y.-based rock band. Seemingly gimmick-less, this five-piece creates sweeping, anthemic, atmospheric rock songs, and sounds larger than five members strong. With vocals that soar, a multitude of layers, and a handle on catchy melodies, My Pet Dragon bring their enveloping sound to The Space on Sat., Feb. 4. If ever there was a band on the rise coming through town, this would be it. Don't miss it.

• My Pet Dragon's Love Anthem featured on Occupy This Album with Third Eye Blind, Yo La Tengo, Ladytron, Devo, Crosby and Nash, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne, Warren Haynes, and more... [+ Show ]
  

  As NBC New York has been reporting, storied songwriter Jackson Browne, alt-rock survivors Third Eye ...As NBC New York has been reporting, storied songwriter Jackson Browne, alt-rock survivors Third Eye Blind and LA folk-rockers Dawes plays Zuccotti Park on Thursday. This will be the first time high-profile musicians have played for Occupy Wall Street protesters since the park was raided two weeks ago. Jackson Browne and Third Eye Blind will also appear on Occupy This Album, a benefit album compilation organized by Music for Occupy.
  
  A final tracklisting is not available yet, but Crosby and Nash, Jackson Browne, Warren Haynes, Aeroplane Pageant, DJ Logic, Yo La Tengo, Lloyd Cole, Devo, Stephan Said, Lucinda Williams, Toots and the Maytals, Tao Rodriguez Seeger, Third Eye Blind, My Pet Dragon, Alex Emanuel, Joel Rafael, Ladytron, Chroma, Cosmonaut, Jennie Arnau, Dylan Chambers, Global Block, Mystic Bowie, Harry Hayward, Mike + Ruthy, Jay Samel, Matt Pless, Mike Rimbaud are listed as appearing.
  
  Music for Occupy will donate all proceeds from the album to, as its website says, "directly towards the needs of sustaining this growing movement."

• My Pet Dragon featured on Indie Ambassador TV with a 3 Song Live Taping at Strewnshank Studios [+ Show ]
  

  Sessions: My Pet Dragon (Brooklyn) Written by Aidan Rush Posted in: Sessions on January 10, 2012 ...Sessions: My Pet Dragon (Brooklyn)
  
  Written by Aidan Rush Posted in: Sessions on January 10, 2012
  
  Serendipity is a word defined as “an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.” It’s also the term Todd Michaelsen used to describe how he met band mate and now wife, Reena Shah. Now if Todd's desirable discovery stopped there it wouldn't be newsworthy, but Todd and Reena's happenstance was just the beginning of the serendipitous journey that would soon befall Brooklyn-bred five-piece family My Pet Dragon.
  
  Through his newly formed relationship, MPD core songwriter and founder Todd Michaelsen suddenly found himself half a world a way in India where the people and the culture impacted his songwriting more than he could have imagined. Just as Todd and Reena had thrived despite their economic hardships in Brooklyn, the people of India were loving life despite the immense poverty they were a part of. The result of this musician boy meets dancing girl, travels to India, and gets engaged fairytale is an aural experience that’s upbeat, anthemic, and life-affirming. Think similarly global sounding bands like Coldplay or U2 before they were international superstars and the music was still authentic. Add in Reena’s classical Indian Bharata Natyam dance and you’ve got one hell of a concert.
  
  Over the past five years, members of My Pet Dragon have composed original scores for film, collaborated with famed DJ Karsh Kale, and had a record produced by Stephen George, the original drummer of legendary act Ministry. The band's future plans include pushing their project in an up-tempo and psychedelic direction, and playing regional dates around New England during spring 2012. While you’re waiting for new material to drop, be sure to look for their song “Love Anthem” off Mountains and Cities as part of the Occupy compilation coming out in February, also featuring the likes of Lucinda Williams, Jackson Brown, Ladytron, Yo La Tengo and many more. For the closest thing you can get to an MPD concert without being there in person, check out the band's performances of "Flow", "Love Anthem" and "Moonshine" in our latest IAtv Session!

• My Pet Dragon Nominated for Best of 2011 Emerging Artists by The Deli Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  "My Pet Dragon singer Todd Michaelsen belts his tenor up to the rafters. Playing anthems better suit..."My Pet Dragon singer Todd Michaelsen belts his tenor up to the rafters. Playing anthems better suited to arenas than small Brooklyn clubs, it's really only a matter of time before this band is all over the radio."

• Against the faded flags of many Brooklyn outfits, My Pet Dragon stands out sharply. [+ Show ]
  

  The group moves away from the roughed-up sounds of its noisier contemporaries, favoring a more highl...The group moves away from the roughed-up sounds of its noisier contemporaries, favoring a more highly refined approach that recalls the anthem hits of U2.

• "Catchy vocals, melodic guitar riffs, and steady drumbeats meld into a breezy indie/pop-rock album." [+ Show ]
  

  "the ideal soundtrack for that cross-country, convertible drive under Augusts’ everlasting sunshine...."the ideal soundtrack for that cross-country, convertible drive under Augusts’ everlasting sunshine." -- Madi Silvers

• "An upbeat, soulful soundtrack. The kind of album you play from beginning to end and along the way you find yourself lost in the melody – your head swaying, with a smile on your face because the lyrics were written for you." [+ Show ]
  

  "Brooklyn-based band My Pet Dragon just released their new album, Mountains and Cities on Gimme That..."Brooklyn-based band My Pet Dragon just released their new album, Mountains and Cities on Gimme That Sound Productions– and it’s a winner. Already receiving rave reviews, Mountains and Cities is your – drive down the coast, wind blowing your hair, destination unknown – kind of album." --Geetanjali Dillon of Republic of Brown

• "As U2 and Muse are already packing stadiums around the world... it’s really only a matter of time before My Pet Dragon is doing the same." [+ Show ]
  

  "As U2 and Muse are already packing stadiums around the world... it’s really only a matter of time b..."As U2 and Muse are already packing stadiums around the world... it’s really only a matter of time before My Pet Dragon is doing the same. Thanks to Michaelsen and his musical compadres, they’ve already got the hooks and chutzpah to make it happen. Now all they need is opportunity to knock on the door." —Crispin Kott

• Todd Michaelsen becomes a Top 4 Finalist for the 2011 Peacedriven Songwriting Award for 'Love Anthem' [+ Show ]
  

  “Love Anthem” has aggression in the music and unity in the lyrics, overall delivering a song that i...“Love Anthem” has aggression in the music and unity in the lyrics,
  overall delivering a song that is so fitting in a year filled with global outcry." –Peacedriven

• "Hazy, Flaming Lips-Esque ethereal tunes highlighted by a melodic tenor"
  

  "Hazy, Flaming Lips-Esque ethereal tunes highlighted by a melodic tenor" --CMJ Festival Guide

• "A band to keep your eye on in 2011 -- My Pet Dragon" [+ Show ]
  

  "A band to keep your eye on in 2011.... MPD’s music has influences which range from U2 to mid-80s ..."A band to keep your eye on in 2011....
  MPD’s music has influences
  which range from U2 to mid-80s electro pop...
  in addition, backup singer Reena Shah’s Indian dancing
  keeps the band visually exciting."

Setlist

45 minutes - 1:30 hour setlist

Basic Requirements

Calendar