Michael Milligan & The Altar Boyz

Artist Information

Biography

MICHAEL MILLIGAN, raised in Angleton, Texas with roots In Louisiana, has been a working musician since the early 70's. Playing out of Iowa(Midwest Circuit), Colorado(Northwest Circuit) and Houston(Southeast Circuit) as a Lead Singer and Drummer. Moving to Austin in 1990 Michael then became a front man for the band "Memphis Train"and from 2000 thru 2004 was the front man for "DELTA ROUX" playing in the states and in Western Europe releasing two C.D.'s thru the "TAXIM" Label out of Germany.
In 2000 Michael began playing Harmonica and very quickly became one of the premire Harp players in Austin. In 2005 Michael was asked by Bassist Leland Parks to front for the "ALTAR BOYZ". The band has played over 900 gigs all over Texas and beyon.. From Alpine to Dallas, Nashville to San Angelo and in between, the group has been gaining a true blues following of fans and friends. In 2006 the band recorded and released their first studio CD called 'GOING UP' on the Indie Label Doc Blues Records. The title comes from the CD cover picture taken in the Austin famous Driskill Hotel elevator, but implies much more. Their second C.D. "HOLDIN' ON" was released in 2007. They have opened bigger shows as well with names like: Johnny Winter, Jerry LaCroix, Derek O'Brien, David Grissom, Nick Curran, Gary Clark Jr., Anson Funderberg, Whitey Johnson, Vallejo, Miss Lavelle White and others. Michael Milligan''s composing and lyric talents haven't gone unnoticed by the local, national and international media as well with glowing reviews in Blues Review Magazine, Blues Matters, Music News-Houston. MICHAEL MILLIGAN is know as "THE VOICE" on 6th Street and very often compared to the vocal stylings of Junior Medlow.
In 2009 for the first time ever, Austin held the local International Blues Society Competition. From all the worthy entries, MICHAEL MILLIGAN and The ALTAR BOYZ were judged the best act to represent Austin, Texas for the 2009 IBC Finals in Memphis,Tennessee.
Austin, Texas has the reputation for producing some world class bands, musicians, artists and one of the latest is MICHAEL MILLIGAN and The ALTAR BOYZ. On June 16th 2011 MICHAEL MILLIGAN was honored by the Austin City Council by proclaiming that day as "MIKE MILLIGAN DAY" in Austin, Texas.
Now MICHAEL MILLIGAN and the ALTAR BOYZ released their third C.D. entitled 'MY TIME' in April 2013. Michael Milligan's songwriting prowless has hit a new level and is well represented on the new release"MY TIME".

Instrumentation

Michael Milligan - Percussion, Harmonica, Lead Vocals
Leland Parks - Vocals, Bass
Mike Skiffington - Vocals, Drums
NATE BOFF - Vocals, Guitar

Discography

1.'Live At Nuno's' - 2005 Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz: Self produced

2.'Live' from Graham Central Station - 2006
Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz AM/FM Productions

3.'Live' on Austin Movie Network - 2007
'Walkin' Spell' by Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz

4.'Going Up' Studio CD - 2007 Produced by MMETEX Productions and released by Indie Label-Doc Blues Records; DB6810. This CD is distributed by Infinity Entertainment Group/Hep-Cat Records/Crosscut-European. Also listed at Amazon.com, www.docbluesrecords.com and www.cdbaby.com.

5. 'Holdin' On' MMETEX Productions CD on Doc Blues Records DB 6811. Official Infinity Entertainment Group Distribution Release Date Set for September 22, 2009

6. 'MY TIME' MMETEX Productions CD released in April 2013.

Official Website

http://www.docbluesrecords.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Doc Blues records

Audio

• Run Daddy Run
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• Walk A Mile
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• Forever
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• Dangerous
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• Wash Over Me
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• FIRST TRAIN
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• MY TIME
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• MUST'VE BEEN VOODOO
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• BOOGIE WOOGIE BACKBEAT SOCIAL CLUB
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• YOU KNOW I LOVE YA
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Video

'Walk A Mile'

She's My Woman

Photo Gallery

Press

• 'Going Up' DB 6810 [+ Show ]
  

  Austin's Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz stretch beyond the Texas Blues sound, laying down spacio... Austin's Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz stretch beyond the Texas Blues sound, laying down spacious, cool, night-driving sounds like "Run Daddy Run", dishing out rootsy rock on "Lucinda Blues", and drenching the eight ball blues ballad "Forever". Tasty solos from harpist Milligan, and ace guitarist Scott Unzicker adorn most of the set....A Louisiana flavor permeates "Going Up" on Doc Blues release number 6810, evident in the slamming funk of "Don't Mistreat Me" and "Walkin' Spell ". the haunting "Voodoo Lover", and the rumba blues "Up In Here." Milligan's vocals are heartfelt, and the recording is excellent, capturing some of the most present bass sounds on CD, from the fingers and amplifier of Leland Parks and mixing Unzicker's tone-ful guitar to perfection.

• Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz - 'Going Up' [+ Show ]
  

  Austin Texas has the reputation for producing some world class bands and musicians and one of the l... Austin Texas has the reputation for producing some world class bands and musicians and one of the latest, Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz, are beginning to make a serious splash as well. Featuring Mike Milligan on vocals plus harp and Scott Unzicker on branding blues guitar. Leland Parks on bass and Dave Novak on drums, plus percussion, are far more than just a rhythm section. As with all great jamming bands, they are both the rock that the music flows from and critical to the flow of the music.

• Austin Based Blues Band - Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz [+ Show ]
  

  Austin based R & B Blues Band, The Altar Boyz featuring Mike Milligan on harp and vocals, blew us a... Austin based R & B Blues Band, The Altar Boyz featuring Mike Milligan on harp and vocals, blew us away this month at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar.
  In fact, we were all praying that they quickly come back to Houston and perform again. Scott Unzicker, you play a mean guitar, keep it going !
  

• 'Altar Boyz' Work Blues Groove at Maxine's [+ Show ]
  

  Besides gladly accommodating audience requests, Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz play a slew of ori... Besides gladly accommodating audience requests, Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz play a slew of originals, including some excellent cuts from their 2007 album entitled 'Going Up'. Milligan, who skillfully transits between "meaty and calm" as he plays harmonica, trades licks with precision guitarist Scott Unzicker. The interplay between the duo seems to be a large portion of band's chemistry. Drummer Dave Novak and bassist Leland Parks further emphasize the relaxed feeling that permeates the group's playing. Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz have already opened for Texas blues giant Johnny Winter and performed at venues as famous has Austin's world renown Antones.

• MIKE MILLIGAN and the ALTAR BOYZ; Talent and Attitude weekly on 6th [+ Show ]
  

  Mike Milligan has a great smile. It’s toothy, wide and does a great job communicating his warm and ...Mike Milligan has a great smile. It’s toothy, wide and does a great job communicating his warm and approachable personality. When he walks on stage, though, and all of that vanishes. Once he grabs that microphone and takes center stage, Mike Milligan is six feet two inches of energy, growl and talent. A consummate frontman, he grabs your attention and doesn’t let go till he and his band are done with you.
  
  Mike Milligan & the Altar Boyz have been performing “Texas Blues with Louisiana Attitude” in Austin and around the country for more than 8 years, rolling out a unique blend of music that is equal parts blues, rock, bayou and pure energy. Powered by Mike’s amazing 41/2 octave vocal range and unique vocal tone, you find yourself being very impressed with the band as a whole and Mike himself as a frontman. Then, he uncorks the harmonica. The sheer level of fury and staccato punches to the face he blows through that instrument will leave you breathless. He pulls sounds from his “Hohner Special 20” harmonicas (different harmonicas for different keys) that vary between powerful, low and sweet, and even tortured as he squeezes, twists, coaxes and wrangles notes and tones from it, bending and stretching beyond capacity for thought. I have personally witnessed open mouthed awe occur across a club when he starts playing. Conversations get left in mid-sentence, never to be revisited. You owe it to yourself to experience what this man does to your definition of “playing a harmonica”, because I promise you, it won’t be the same when he finishes.
  
  Now, to be sure, there are lots of guys who can play a decent harmonica, and more than that who can sing. So what is it that makes Mike Milligan and the Altar Boyz so special? Mike brings a level of professionalism and talent that few have seen, but before going any further we should talk about the Altar Boyz. Every great frontman needs a great band, and I think you’ll agree with me that the Altar Boyz are world class.
  
  Bass player Leland Parks is left handed, and plays a custom-made, left-handed and inverted bass that he plays upside down, and goes back to the beginning of the group over 8 years ago. He’s been in the Austin music scene for more than 35 years, and has played with greats such as Johnny Winters, Buddy Guy and the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan over a career spanning more than 50 years in music (he has a great story about taking Paul McCartney’s bass out of its case and plunking on it in 1965 after a Beatles concert!).
  
  Mike Skiffington rounds out the rhythm section, and hearing him, Leland and Mike all locked into a tight 6/8 groove rolling along at a nice 120 bpm clip is a real treat. Mike (the drummer) brings originality and variety to his approach to the drums while not going overboard and making a drum show out of a gig.
  
  Nate Boff is the newest member of the band, and plays an outstanding Fender Stratocaster, ripping off blistering solos that measure up quite well to Mike’s face-peeling harmonica work. His rhythm playing is very good as well, and keeps the groove going when it’s time.
  
  They have a new album of 11 new songs written by Mike (4 are co-writes) they’ve just released, “My Time”, and played several songs from it on Monday night at their weekly gig hosting the most respected jam in Austin. Between Leland and Mike, they attract the top talent in town (Gary Clark Jr. played on stage with them on April 2), and have been hosting “Blue Monday” at Maggie Mae’s since 2006.
  
  I highly recommend all their songs (they played “Trouble’s Coming”, “You Don't Know Me” and “She's My Woman” among others), but I particularly enjoyed “Boogie Woogie Back Beat Social Club”. Like many of Mike’s songs, it has the kind of stops, intro and other rhythmic elements that can only be performed by a band that is tight, or “in the pocket”, at a very high level. These guys certainly fit the bill on that score.
  
  Bottom line, go see Mike Milligan & the Altar Boyz. If you have friends in town, make yourself a hero and take them to one of Mike’s shows. There’s a good chance you’ll never hear the end of it.
  
  
  
  

Setlist

....................Original Songs.........................

1. You Know I Love Ya
2. Run Daddy Run
3. Forever
4. Walkin' Spell
5. Must've Been Voodoo
6. Bad Case of You
7. Papa Blues
8. First Train
9. Trouble's Commin'
10. Walk A Mile
11. Lucinda Blues
12. Wash Over Me
13. You Don't Know Me
14. Let's Get Naked n' Run Buck Wild
15. She's Dangerous
16. Always
17. Let It Ride
18. Let's Get Busy
19. She's My Woman
20. Permanent Insanity
21. I'm Gonna Love Ya' Baby
22. Any Day Now
23. Rockin' Blues Rhythm
24. Bad Case Of You
25. Boogie Woogie Back Beat Social Club
.................Copy Songs.........................
1. Chicken Shack
2. Blue Shadows
3. Statesboro Blues
4. Come To Papa
5. Got It Made
6 .Wang, Dang, Doodle
7. Keep Your Hands Out Of My Pockets
8. Whippin' Post
9. Help The Poor
10. Fayo On The Bayou
11. Come Into My Kitchen
12. Albert Collins Medley
*Plus many more R & B/Blues Classics*

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Official Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz Contract/Rider.

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