DJ Mikey Shanley

"Come as you are and dance how you want.”
That’s the motto of one native Pittsburgh disc jockey who’s traveling home Aug. 15-17 for a performance at the Tristate Underground Music Festival—48 hours of music and lasers that will turn on the Butler Fairgrounds 45 minutes north of Pittsburgh.
Although Mikey Shanley will be one of many electronic dance DJs performing at TriUMF, it’s his emphasis on creating a safe, open environment that he believes sets him apart.
In a scene bursting with stereotypes, Shanley stresses the importance of making his dance floor free from judgment about everything from sexuality to clothing style to dance abilities.
“I try to promote positivity, openness and freedom,” Shanley says. “I want to let everybody feel welcome.”
Though Shanley hopes to promote positive change in the dance music scene, which he feels has strayed from its music-driven roots, he’s quick not to call his work activism.
“It’s more just how I was raised,” he says. “I’m just doing what I know how to do. I couldn’t do anything else.”
Shanley grew up primarily with his mother and grandfather, both of whom were active Pittsburgh DJs instrumental in shaping his attitudes and piquing his musical interest.
A third generation family DJ, Shanley says his grandfather, Mike Metrovich, known better as Mad Mike Metro, was somewhat of a ’50s and ’60s DJ legend who played a collection of oldies and obscure punk rock.
“There was always someone stopping us and chatting,” Shanley says, “and as a young kid that really had an affect on me to want to be in the music business.”

Also an important influence was his mother, Michelle Metrovich Shanley, who primarily played mellow, soul music on several Pittsburgh radio stations.
However, after drawing off of his radio DJ background and playing punk rock shows from age 15, Shanley decided to slide into the dance-techno realm five years ago.
“I got myself turntables and locked myself in my room for months,” he says. “I fell in love with it, and I never looked back.”
Since then, Shanley has made it a priority to couple his talents and abilities to please a crowd with his desire to create an all-inclusive environment.
“Coming from such an artistic but industrial city like Pittsburgh and moving to the celebrity-packed Miami Beach has really given me a certain spectrum to chew on,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if you are a model on South Beach or a punk rocker drinking a 40 on Semple Street [in Oakland]. The one thing I ask is that you are humbled with respect and love. If you don’t have that, I don’t have time for you.”
In addition to speaking to his crowd, Shanley says he tries to throw in a little bit of something for everyone.
“It is hard to always hear someone in a club or feel good enough to go that extra mile after leaving a pint of sweat and blood on stage,” he says, “but I try my best. I think people appreciate that.”More information on Mikey Shanley is available at www.mikeyshanley.com.
- Out Magazine, Laura Kingsbury

Short List: Week of August 14 – 20 - Fri., Aug. 15

I guess we don't call these "raves" anymore, do we? Call it what you will, but we're calling it a good time. TriUMF -- that's Tristate Underground Music Festival -- is a 48-hour electronic-music fest taking place Fri., Aug. 15, through Sun., Aug. 17, at the Butler Fairgrounds. The large list of DJs includes Basebin Twins, DJ Delirium, DJ T-1000 and Kaenow, as well as returning native son Mikey Shanley (not to be confused with CP contributor Mike Shanley). A second stage allows attendees to sign up to spin on the spot; also expect lasers, a slammin' soundsystem, camping and, of course, dancing. AJ 1127 New Castle Road, Prospect, Pa. $40 ($50 at the door). All ages.
- Pittsburgh City Paper (Aaron Jentzen)

• Mikey Shanley, a Pittsburgher now based in Miami, is one of the many DJs heading for the Butler Fairgrounds this weekend for TriUMF (Tristate Underground Music Festival), a blast of urban music in a rural setting.Also on hand among the slew of spinners will be Bassbin Twins, DJ Swamp, Delirium, Kaenow and Tattoo Detectives.
Shanley, grandson of local legend Mad Mike, recently made it to the finals of a DJ contest held by a local city paper in Miami.
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 8/14/08 (Scott Mervis)

SON OF A SON OF A DJ
Pittsburgh native Mikey Shanley reached the finals recently of a national deejaying contest in Miami.

Spinning tunes must run in the family for Shanley whose grandfather was Mad Mike Metro, a Pittsburgh DJ legend who in the 1960s and 1970s introduced radio listeners to garage rock, via his program at WZUM-AM in Carnegie and later at WYEP-FM.

Shanley, a former Green Tree resident now deejaying regularly in Key West, says he’s looking for a gig back home in western Pennsylvania. Check out his diverse mix of dance music at 10 tonight, when he’s interviewed and performs in a radio program streamed at www.wsou.net.
Writer - Scott Tady
URL - www.timesonline.com
Date - Sunday March 30, 2008
- Beaver County Times (Scott Tady)