John Hurlahe
Frankenmuth, Michigan, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Mac’s Bar in Lansing is known for its atmosphere, its booze and of course, its great acts. The night of March 19 lived up to these expectations. John Hurlahe and Ned Sasi, The Blue Effect, Loune and Piss Disco had their audience singing, dancing and clapping beneath flashing, colored lights.
This was the second performance that John Hurlahe and Ned Sasi did together, and the crowd loved them. Opening with a cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A’Changin’,” they established a folksy feel that would continue throughout their performance.
With Hurlahe on acoustic guitar and harmonica, Sasi on banjo and both singing, they took the audience back to the ‘60s. Twice during his performance, Hurlahe jumped off stage and joined his audience. He walked the crowd of dancing and clapping people, strumming away as he went.
They played songs from both musicians’ solo careers, and a cover of “Baby, I’m An Anarchist” by Against Me!. Overall the crowd enjoyed them, which goes to show that the singer-songwriter genre is going strong.
- Spartanedge
Discography
"Cass River County Line" (LP - 12 tracks)
Photos
Bio
I grew up in the little town of Frankenmuth, MI (a german themepark with the most loving interest in Christmas... really a wonderful place if you can make it for a visit sometime). As a young boy I spent many days sitting around with my guitar and my dog on the front porch. Thus, I wrote music. Therefore, I am here now. Well, that’s pretty much the long and the short of my story.
Just kidding...
I mean, I’m not kidding when I say that I did all of those things, but I am when I say that was it. Drawing from experiences gained growing up in a rural community, studying at the University of Michigan, being alive, living life, chasing love, and always dreaming, I’ve come to the conclusion that my music is just a manifestation of everything I’ve ever felt before. Music has always been a home for me, an outlet and deliverance from a life sans-soundtrack. So, I hope you like the music, I hope you like me, and more than that, I hope you find something in this music to call your own... to bring you home.
Now, if you're a bit more interested in my musical style, I should tell you a few things. First, I grew up listening to much more than simply the folk music that I play. Of course, like any aspiring singer/songwriter one of my favorite artists is Bob Dylan, closely followed by Neil Young, John Prine, Elvis Costello, and many other story-telling geniuses. Yet, artists such as Against Me!, the Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jay-Z, Bright Eyes, Animal Collective, the Gin Blossoms, Weezer, and all of those old Irish drinking songs my grandpa used to listen to have been flooding into my ears ever since I can remember.
Thus, my musical style, while securely settling under the broad heading of folk, has influences and roots from all across the board. It is for this reason that I believe most people would find at least something familiar, something to hold onto, and something to call their own in my music. And really, what more could I hope for as a singer/songwriter than to have people draw their own interpretations and inspirations from my music?
Finally, I am comfortable playing solo, three piece, or full band, and have a full backing band that frequently accompanies me for larger shows.
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