The Doug Mikula Band

Mikula makes list of potential Grammy nominees with his idols
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer
Doug Mikula was thrilled to see his name next to those of his heroes, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

But he’ll be even happier to bury them at the 2006 Grammy Awards.

Mikula, a rock guitarist from Tinton Falls, has been selected for nominations in five Grammy categories for his instrumental rock work.

Though the competition is stiff, Mikula is hoping he’ll receive enough votes from the Grammy committee to make it onto the nomination lists, each of which usually includes five artists.

So yes, it is a long road, but Mikula said it all seems like a dream come true anyway
“It’s kind of surreal,” he said in announcing that he had made it onto the list of potential nominees. “Seeing my name on a ballot with names like Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Les Paul and Eric Johnson. I’d be happy with a nomination in just one category.”

As it stands, he’s a candidate for nominations in Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Rock Album and Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

According to Mikula, his chances are best in the latter category, due to the relatively low number of other entries, about 40.

Just being nominated “would be amazing,” he said. “That would be like a dream come true.”

He said his promoter submitted the album to the Grammy committee, which led to his selection.

Mikula, who is self-taught, plays in the band Drive, which “does straight up rock with catchy tunes. It’s a good, fun rock band.”

But the music that got him the Grammy shot is from his instrumental band, the Doug Mikula Band, which includes drummer Erik Laisi, bassist Andy Stanish, and occasional rhythm guitarist Tom Bellis.

Mikula and bandmates Laisi and Stanish met while students at Monmouth University. Bellis is a senior at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls.

The self-titled album contains six songs and was not actually intended as an album. Mikula said he recorded the songs as a demo “but they came out sounding pretty good,” so he decided to release them. He’s hoping to get his band into the studio soon to do a full-length album.

The songs were inspired by the guitar work of some of Mikula’s heroes like Vai and Satriani. In fact, Mikula even uses the Peavey Joe Satriani signature amplifier, which works well with the Gibson Les Paul guitar he slings, he said.

Vai and Satriani came to prominence in the 1980s with their unique guitar-based rock. Satriani, who has played with Mick Jagger and Deep Purple, actually was Vai’s teacher.

Their unique styles are hard to categorize, but contain elements of hard rock, heavy metal, fusion, classical and just about everything else you can think of. Despite their eclecticism, both men have played on hit songs.

Vai had the honor of replacing Yngwie Malmsteen in the band Alcatrazz, then played with David Lee Roth, essentially replacing Eddie Van Halen. He got his start when Frank Zappa, also known for his gonzo song writing and guitar playing, heard him.

Commercially, both Satriani and Vai have languished since the shred guitar craze went out of fashion in the early 1990s. So cries of sellout are the last thing you’ll hear aimed at Mikula.

Mikula, who used to play piano, drums and bass, said he tries to focus on the song writing.

“Some people just shred a lot, but I’ve been trying to focus on songs and melody,” he said. “It’s pretty good guitar-based instrumental rock with a really talented band.”

Though it is pigeon-holed as a rock album, the songs range in style from “techno to neoclassical to hard rock,” he said.

Mikula tries to keep his playing “lyrical” in order to make up for the fact there is no vocalist.

“I try to focus on the lyrical side and make you not miss the vocals when you listen to it,” he said.

One contest he’s already won was at Broadjam.com. The victory allowed him to perform at the New England Musician’s Expo in Hartford, Conn. He won the contest by performing his original song, “As the Tide Breaks.”

Though Drive is still together, Mikula said the members also have solo projects.

The Doug Mikula Band plays in the tristate area; information on upcoming shows can be found at the Web site www.dougmikula.com

- Atlanticville/Hub

Doug Mikula kicks off his demo CD-R with the techno/dance rhythms and shredded grooves of "Bombs Away" (which was written for his friends into techno music), and serves notice that whatever the background or rhythm section, he's going to dish out mega-heavy, fluidly-played and blazingly fast solos - matching speed with precision. His second track, "Two Face" takes a neo-classical approach, and similarly slams the listener's face to the floor with ripping leads. "As The Tide Breaks" is a high-energy number, more lyrical than the first two, while maintaining an aggressive style and delivering several hot-wired solos. "Lynette" closes out the demo, and is a showcase for his highly developed, two-handed tapping style, in which he manages to interject some classic Spanish pieces into the arrangement. This is a good start in the instrumental arena, and he probably only needs to decide where to place his focus musically in order to further his development.
Doug started playing guitar in 1997 after his other musical ventures on piano, bass, and drums. He currently plays guitar for the band Drive and also performs with Course of Evolution, DWI, and Jody Joseph and the Average Joes. Over the past few years, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and other instrumental guitarists have hugely influenced Doug. These great guitarists have inspired him to start an instrumental project of his own. The Doug Mikula band presents a unique and diverse brand of instrumental rock with styles ranging from hard rock to neoclassical metal to techno and more. In 2003 and 2004, he attended Berklee summer guitar sessions and won scholarships both times, but has no plans to attend Berklee full-time. This year, he took a year off college to write, play and record music.

Mikula would love to play and write music 24/7;until then, he'll continue to teach guitar and gig with his many musical projects.

MP3 Songs
Bombs Away
Two Face

Contact Information
Doug Mikula
6 Williamsburg Drive
Tinton Falls, NJ 07753
United States

E-mail: Doug Mikula
Web site: www.dougmikula.com
- Guitar9.com