Mike Shupp

Artist Information

Biography

"Big hooks, sharp pop instincts"
- THE WASHINGTON POST

"Once again Shupp has crafted a fantastic CD full of the sounds radio should be yearning for... great melodies... 4 stars"
- PASTE MAGAZINE


Washington, D.C.-based Mike Shupp writes American guitar pop songs in the way that Matthew Sweet, Tommy Keene, REM, or Paul Westerberg do. Like those artists, his songs conjure the heartland, cruising through summer nights with one hand on the wheel, and the unlimited potential in tomorrow. With his buzzing and crunching guitars, soaring vocal harmonies, and hooks that he seemingly has written into every other line of every song, Shupp's music, and his newly released "This Time" (Private Mind Records), is classic American pop. Recorded at Shupp's own City Park Sound studio, and mixed by Grammy-winning producer/engineer Don McCollister (Sister Hazel, Shawn Mullins, Indigo Girls) at Nickel & Dime Studios in Atlanta, the critically acclaimed "This Time" is Shupp's third full-length solo release.

The Jan-Feb 2003 issue of Amplifier Magazine printed "[Shupp] has just released his third solo album, 'This Time', and it's a killer… must-have."
All Music Guide writes "This album is teeming with catchy melodies and sweet pop/rock arrangements… Fans of the Replacements 'All Shook Down' album should find comfort in much of the record... extremely well done..."

Shupp plays all instruments on "This Time" except drums, and laid down the tracks in his home studio during July and August of 2002 (with a harmony vocal assist on "She'll Come Around" from brother Bill Shupp, who is also drummer with The Deathray Davies). After tracking drums at Mike Harvey's Actiondale Recorder (performed by Chris Zogby), Shupp packed up the studio and travelled to Nickel & Dime in Atlanta, setting up there to add a few finishing touches, while McCollister simultaneously mixed tracks in the main control room.

Shupp, formerly signed to Paradox / MCA Records as guitarist with D.C.'s Big Bang Theory lives outside of Washington, D.C. in Falls Church, Virginia. "October Sun", was the debut solo release from Shupp, receiving radio play on 43 stations nationally, and charting at three CMJ reporting stations. Shupp was mentioned in SPIN Magazine as one of the SPIN/GeoCities Unsigned Band Contest winners.
While playing with the world beat/dance/pop Big Bang Theory, and providing the cutting guitar presence which eventually helped the group land deals with EMI Publishing and Paradox / MCA, Shupp was writing some of the first songs which would eventually become "October Sun", and help to define his own, more melodic sound. Recording the Big Bang Theory major label debut with three-time Grammy winning producer Glenn Rosenstein (Talking Heads, Ziggy Marley, Grey Eye Glances), he crafted the guitar sound which gave BBT its edge.

For 2000's "The Key", his second full-length CD release, Shupp worked with producer Jeff Murphy in Murphy's Short Order Recorder studio outside of Chicago. Murphy was a member of the legendary, power-pop band The Shoes, and producer for Material Issue (including "Valerie Loves Me"), Local H, Tommy Keene. Shupp again played all instruments on "The Key" except drums, played by Chris Zogby.

The Washington Post called the "The Key" "an excellent new CD... a blast of righteously rocking power-pop... 'The Key' shimmers... " while The Fairfax Journal printed, "... a rocking and emotional gem"... "Local music- one of this year's top 10 releases." National college and Triple-A radio stations again spun tracks.

Shupp has opened for such artists as Lisa Loeb and Tommy Keene at sold-out shows at D.C.'s 9:30 club, and has shared stages with such artists as Marvelous 3, Good Charlotte, Citizen Cope, By Divine Right, Sara Lee, Push Stars, as well as being included in The Washington Post's "Night Lights of '97" top 20 local shows. Shupp will perform regionally and tour in support of "This Time" during Spring and Summer 2003.

Instrumentation

Mike Shupp: guitar, vocal
Chris Zogby: drums, percussion
Chuck Dolan: bass, vocal

Discography

"This Time"/CD(2002)
"The Key"/CD(2000)
"October Sun"/CD(1997)
"A Little Fun"/single(1997)

Official Website

http://www.mikeshupp.com

Links

• MySpace
• Last.fm
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Artist Store

Audio

• Another Life
  Listen  
• Good Again
  Listen  
• Set Me Free
  Listen  
• This Time
  Listen  

Lyrics

• Another Life
• Good Again
• Set Me Free
• This Time

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" Private Mind [+ Show ]
  

  "...the former Big Bang Theory guitarist has something to say... his most intriguing songs neatly su..."...the former Big Bang Theory guitarist has something to say... his most intriguing songs neatly summarize personal history and lingering tension... Shupp’s sharp pop instincts are an even bigger plus..."
  — Mike Joyce
  The Washington Post
  January 9th, 2004

• [Iota Club and Cafe, 9/6/03] [+ Show ]
  

  "...a pleasure to hear Shupp play his tuneful songs, the best of which should air regularly on the p..."...a pleasure to hear Shupp play his tuneful songs, the best of which should air regularly on the phantom Top 40 in every power-pop fan's mind..."
  — Mark Jenkins
  The Washington Post
  September 8th, 2003
  

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "The former Big Bang Theory guitarist has just released his third solo album, This Time, and it's a ..."The former Big Bang Theory guitarist has just released his third solo album, This Time, and it's a killer... his songwriting is unpretentious and straightforward, almost transparent... hooks come easy, are unforced and populate each tune—from the title track, with its declarative power chord opening, to Another Life, Set Me Free (those shimmery acoustics in the intro are something else too), Ordinary Way and She'll Come Around... Glistening guitar lines caress melodic bass signatures... when he sings, you listen and are transported. The ability to come across as approachable, coupled with winning songs and smart, uncluttered arrangements, makes This Time a must-have..."
  — Larry O. Dean
  Amplifier Magazine
  Issue 34 · Jan-Feb 2003

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "On Shupp's delightful third solo release "This Time," he gives the discerning music lover just what..."On Shupp's delightful third solo release "This Time," he gives the discerning music lover just what the doctor ordered - catchy melodies, tight guitar playing, and songs with substance. A true rarity, as you out there still hooked on radio no doubt realize... Once again Shupp has crafted a fantastic CD full of the sounds radio should be yearning for. "This Time" should be the perfect time for those who love great melodies and clever lyrics to discover Mike Shupp... 4 stars"
  — Scott Homewood
  Paste Magazine
  Issue #5, Q.3 2003

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "From the Velvet Crush-meets-Tom Petty title track to the lovely yearning of "All Over Town," Shupp,..."From the Velvet Crush-meets-Tom Petty title track to the lovely yearning of "All Over Town," Shupp, accompanied by Chris Zogby's propulsive drumming, offers a series of tightly focused, well-turned songs. For aficionados, a veritable pop feast..."
  — John Micek
  Big Takeover Magazine
  Issue 52, Spring 2003

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "...teeming with catchy melodies and sweet pop/rock arrangements. From the opening notes of the tit..."...teeming with catchy melodies and sweet pop/rock arrangements. From the opening notes of the title track or the shimmering "All Over Town," Mike Shupp resembles a cross between Tom Petty and Michael Stipe as drummer Chris Zogby propels the music forward... Fans of the Replacements All Shook Down album should find comfort in much of the record... the album is extremely well done..."
  — Jason MacNeil
  All Music Guide
  March, 2003

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "Does anyone remember when songs like Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" conquered mainstream radio? Sadl..."Does anyone remember when songs like Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend" conquered mainstream radio? Sadly, that seems like such a long time ago. Mike Shupp's latest disc is a power pop clinic, and another fine representation of precisely what's missing from the airwaves these days..."
  — Mike Sweeney
  Swizzle-Stick.com
  April 15th, 2003
  

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "...Mike Shupp knows what works in guitar power pop. The short but alluring opening title track conj..."...Mike Shupp knows what works in guitar power pop. The short but alluring opening title track conjures up songs by BoDeans and Bash & Pop with its tight feeling while still being able to jangle at times... There's a lot of Tom Petty figuratively heard in these ten songs, particularly in the airtight Another Life, a mid-tempo melodic pop number. The quality of each track is what sets him apart from so many others... Set Me Free has to be the best track here... a very solid album..."
  — Jason MacNeil
  PopMatters
  April 1st, 2003

• MIKE SHUPP "This Time" [+ Show ]
  

  "I have each of D.C. area artist Mike Shupp's previous releases, but his latest disc—This Time—is fa..."I have each of D.C. area artist Mike Shupp's previous releases, but his latest disc—This Time—is far and away his best album yet..."
  — Eric Sorensen
  Fufkin.com
  December, 2002

• MIKE SHUPP "The Key" [+ Show ]
  

  "Three years ago, Mike Shupp released his first solo album, a solid set of made-in-Virginia pop-rock..."Three years ago, Mike Shupp released his first solo album, a solid set of made-in-Virginia pop-rock. For its follow-up, Shupp traveled to Illinois, where he recorded with producer Jeff Murphy, whose Shoes helped define power-pop... Shupp wrote the songs and played all the instruments except the drums – "The Key" shimmers even more appealingly than its predecessor... ringing guitars, high harmonies and heartbroken lyrics... buoyant songs as "Head on Straight" and "Right Through Me" compare well to the work of Shupp's models..."
  — Mark Jenkins
  The Washington Post
  February 2nd, 2001
  

Setlist

45 - 60 minute set typically, longer if needed.

This Time
Head On Straight
The Key
Another Life
Came To This
When I Die
Letter To Annette
Good Again
Right Through Me
Ordinary Way
Set Me Free
What Did You Mean
She'll Come Around
Keep Me Waiting

Basic Requirements

PDF Rider

Mike Shupp Input List - Stage Plot

Calendar