Michael J
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Michael J

| INDIE

| INDIE
Band Alternative Acoustic

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


""Spin" Review #1"

"Spin's familiar-feeling alterna-pop musings feature Michael J's earnest tenor vocals in a variety of modern rock settings. Jangly guitars and radio-friendly harmonies accent soul-searching lyrics and inoffensive melodies" - Listen.Com


"Industry Review"

"Michael J is an extremely successful singer/songwriter that has a mountain of success behind him and a bigger mountain of success in front of him".  
- Robert Metzgar - Legends Hall Of Fame Producer


""Spin" Review #2"

"Michael J's solo effort is spirited, hook-filled guitar rock with buoyant melodies and emotive, easy-to-sing-along-with-vocals. "Spin" is a vibrant all-day record that will fit right in next to Live, Collective Soul and Matchbox 20". - The Album Network


""Spin" Review #3"

"Michael J's songwriting skills, which were always aces, have just gotten better, and his vocals are still strong and memorable. "Spin" as a whole is a quality modern rock endeavor". - Freetime Magazine - Rochester, NY


""Blue" Review"

"Michael J is an extraordinary artist with an exceptional sound. Every song on "Blue" has refined and catchy instrumental sounds and polished vocals that immediately entice the listener to listen on. Michael J is most comparable to prominent bands such as U2 and Live. Rating: 4 out of 5". - The Gator Times - Gainesville, FL


""Static Confusion" Review"

"Many believe that the responsibility for having rich guitar tone on an acoustic record falls entirely on the engineering team. Fact is, the engineer cannot manufacture such warmth if the player isn't providing it via delivery skills on the instrument.
Michael J's guitar has the kind of colorful, textured tone that marks a seasoned, confident player. His vocals provide an ideal counterpoint; strong, soulful, and creative while maintaining a musical sensibility that centers around the performance.
A cover medley (come together/imagine) is the exception among 9 originals. Michael impresses me as much as a writer as a performer.
THIS STUFF ROCKS!" - Fusion Magazine - Gainesville, FL


Discography

Videos, additional bio info, and audio samples of all the CD's listed below are available at www.michaeljmusic.com or www.myspace.com/michaelj.

New Generation (1992) - Full Length CD with the band Exploding Boy.

Burn (1995) - 6 song Live EP with Exploding Boy.

Communication Is Dead (1997) - Full Length CD with Exploding Boy.

Spin (2000) - Full Length Solo CD

Blue (2001) - 6 Song Solo EP

Static Confusion (2002) - Full Length Solo Acoustic CD.

Music From Falcon Beach (2006) - 2 song EP.

3 Needles (2006) - 3 song EP.

Kiss The Universe (Live and Unreleased) (2006) - Full Length CD.

Live At Zig's (2006) - Full Length Live CD

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio


From his beginnings in Upstate NY in 1986 with the band Exploding Boy to his current success as a solo artist, perseverance has been a constant for Michael J. "I've been fortunate enough to be able to sustain a career for much longer than most major-label bands even though I've been flying below radar for so long. I've flatly refused to change my music to fit trends. The only thing I've ever been interested in is finding my own voice musically and that's often a more difficult road for an artist to take".

During the course of his career, Michael J has released 10 independent CD's (3 with Exploding Boy and 7 solo records), performed thousands of shows all over the United States, and has shared stages with acts such as The Goo Goo Dolls, Sister Hazel, Howie Day, Colin Quinn of SNL, Cheap Trick, Joan Osborne, Angie Aparo, and Art Alexakis of Everclear. He has maintained a strong presence in the world of independent music for many years and continues to do so today.

In 1991, Michael J made his national television debut with Exploding Boy in "YAMAHA'S SOUNDCHECK Rock Music Showcase" in Hollywood, CA ranking in the top five from a field of over 2,500 unsigned bands. The syndicated special was hosted by Dweezil Zappa and Holly Robinson-Peete. Judges for the event included Robin Zander of Cheap Trick, the late John Entwistle of The Who, and Randy Jackson of "American Idol" fame. Exploding Boy made their final public appearance as musical guests on "The Jenny Jones Show" in 1998.

Shortly before disbanding in August of 1999, Michael's song "Every Mistake" made Exploding Boy one of the "Top 12 Best Unsigned Acts of 1999" according to Billboard and Musician magazines. The song appeared on a subsequent compilation CD released on Atlantic Records.

In 2000, Michael J released his solo-debut "Spin" which featured a tightly focused modern-pop sound that drew comparisons to bands such as U2 and Live for its emotional and sonic content. Later that year, the title track was featured on The Album Network's Rock Tune Up #233 compilation CD along with Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes, Sevendust, and Phish. "Spin" also won the "Best Music" category in the 2000 Abet Music Songwriting Contest.

In Late 2001, Michael composed the theme song for a sitcom pilot written by Paul Guay who co-wrote the hit films Liar, Liar, and Heartbreakers. "I have an interesting relationship with Hollywood. You really have to know how to be political when you work out there, but the rewards can be huge. I've always wanted to expose my music to the widest audience possible. Any artist that tells you otherwise is lying".

In June 2002, Michael released a six-song EP called "Blue" and worked with Stan Lynch, legendary drummer for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Producer/Songwriter for Don Henley, Tim McGraw, The Eagles, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Ringo Starr, John Mellencamp, Aretha Franklin, The Eurythmics and the late George Harrison among many others.

Michael's career reached even further heights later that same year when he and his new band Starfish opened Gator Growl 2002, the largest student-run pep rally in the world, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL to a capacity crowd of 56,403. Comedians Bill Cosby and Harland Williams also performed at the event.

Michael J's third CD "Static Confusion" was released in January 2003 to rave reviews that compared him to everyone from David Gray, Edwin McCain and Ryan Adams to Coldplay and John Mayer. "Static" marked a departure from his earlier work in that it is a live solo-acoustic recording. "I've always enjoyed live records by other artists and I felt that it was time to show a more stripped-down side of myself. By the time I started recording "Static" I had played over 700 shows in three years and it was obvious that the live versions of the songs had taken on stronger personalities than the originals".

Michael's song "Spin" appeared in the internationally released feature film "3 Needles" starring Lucy Liu, Stockard Channing, Sandra Oh, Shawn Ashmore, Olympia Dukakis and Chloe Sevigny in late 2006.

Another of his songs, "Nothing To Say" was also recently featured in "Episode 109 (Papa Was A Rolling Stone)" of ABC Family's hit television series "Falcon Beach" which is currently airing in 18 different countries including France, Germany, Scandinavia, and the UK.

Michael is currently working on his 8th solo release which will feature guest appearances by Eric Stock and Jens Funke of "Stroke 9"and Steve Schiltz of "Longwave".

He is currently performing over 300 shows a year in the Eastern United States.