Mike Lynch

Mike Lynch, from St.Catharines, Ont, has been working the Canadian scene for some time. His troubadour approach to his music is often compared to mentors Fred Eaglesmith, Stompin' Tom, and Willie P. Bennett and the like, and he takes the same path with his original songs, many of them inspired by his travels across Canada.
While the 'Canadiana' content here is truly refreshing, the real gems come in his hardcore hurtin' blues tunes, with solid efforts in Love' Em And Leave Em' Kinda Games and Two Steps From Cheatin' and Lyin'.The album's title tune Entertainer Tonight is a fun, tell-it-like-it-is, that portrays the lifestyle of a Canadian country troubadour. There's another 'fun' song here in Big Black Bear, but radio people should be warned about some lyrical vulgarities that wouldn't work well on-air. Perhaps the very best item on the album, and one that certainly must be considered for radio airplay, is the countrified Ballad Of the Actress and the Singer, a duet with Lynne Hanson, who provides a tasty vocal contribution.
The bulk of the album has a 'Canadiana' landscape flavour. Tunes like I Wanna Live Everywhere, reflect Mike Lynch's Personal favourite 'settling down towns: If You Don't Vote is a politically motivated mesage song; and First Time to the Maritimes is obviously self descriptive. Wayne's song is a special tribute to the memory of cowboy singer Wayne Chapman, who passed away tragically in 2007.
Entertainer Tonight, a follow-up album to his 2007 MJL Was Here package, was recorded at Whine Cellar Studios in St.Catharines, Ont. All songs were written by Mike Lynch!! - Country Music News; July 2009

It's been a busy year of touring for musician Mike Lynch.
But when organizers of the Niagara Wine Festival called the St. Catharines country/folk music artist to be part of this year's lineup, it didn't take much convincing for him to say yes.

"This is my home base, here in St. Catharines, but I don't play here often," Lynch, who performs at 4 p.m. Sunday on WestJet Centre Stage, said in an interview Wednesday. "So it's kind of special, because usually I'm out of town."

"It's always nice to let your own town know what you're up to," said the Beamsville native, figuring the last time he played in Niagara was more than six months ago in a sold-out show at a local restaurant.

The past year, he said, he has been touring across the country. This is only a brief break. Following his performance at the Wine Festival, followed by a performance at the Welland Food Festival on Oct. 4, he will be back on the road again.

He's been playing songs from his album "MJL was here", released about a year ago, mixing in songs from the performers who have inspired him, such as like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Conway Twitty.

Lynch is hoping his local fans, along with any new fans, will come to the show Sunday. "It's going to be a great time," he said.

For more on Lynch, including links to his music, visit www.lynchmusic.ca.

- Niagara This Week

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Review in The Echo, Manitouwage

From one small town to another, MJL was here

"You've got a special spot here." said Mike Lynch during his performance on Sunday evening at the Capri.
Mike Lynch a Canadian singer/songwriter was the entertainment at an intimate dinner and music performance at the local restaurant.
Owners Jocelyne and Randy Myles were all smiles as the small sold out crowd of 50 sat and enjoyed the music styling of Mike Lynch from Beamsville, Ontario.
Mr. Lynch was making a cross Ontario trip heading to Manitoba for a few shows out there.
Mike at the age of 24, wrote and recorded his first album. "I headed down to Nashville in 2001 where I finished my first album 'Shindig'.' he stated before singing "I Remember Everything" off of that album. Mike sang a great range of his own material and some classics, even playing AckDuh (AC/DC) Mike Lynch style.
Mike was an entertainer through and through, telling stories between songs of his comedic encounters. One in particular was out in British Columbia in Stewart, where he explained that he was in a very small town and was told by a local man to go to Hyder, Alaska the town over the border.
So he did, but to get there he would have to travel through a border crossing. He pulled up to the border check and the guard asked him where he was going. He said "'Hyder." So the guard let him through.
While driving through Hyder, Mike ran into a few dead-end streets, and he began to realize there wasn't much to Hyder. So he decided to turn back and headed back to Stewart. "Now, this has been like five minutes or so." said Mike. He arrives up at the border crossing and the guard asked Mike "Where you going?"
"Over there," said Mike. "And that's my Stewart-Hyder story."
Mike wasn't alone in his travels this time, he was accompanied by Jeff Mackie. Jeff played along side Mike, as well as shared his own stories of travelling with Mike. Jeff was the butt of many of Mike jokes. But Jeff came back with some of his own.
A great evening for everyone who attended. The meal of caesar salad or soup for an appetizer followed by barbeque ribs and chicken wings with vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes was delicious. Followed by a great dessert selection.
Mike's latest album features new songs from the road - "My Life Is A Big Vacation", "Highway of Dreams", "She Called Me Lover" and the title song "MJL Was Here" - a song about a guy who carves his name in a park bench in Winnipeg, but you'll have to hear it to find out what happens! Mike Lynch's new album - MJL Was Here!
For more on Mike Lynch visit his website at www.lynchmusic.ca and watch your local paper for the possibility of upcoming dinner and music shows at the Capri

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- The Echo, Manitouwadge Ont.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

NORTH BAY NUGGET REVIEW!!

Country singer riding into North; 2004 tour inspired Lynch's new album:Posted By Brandi Cramer

Mike Lynch is not a real cowboy and has never ridden a horse.
But the country singer-songwriter has had some experience with the lifestyle.
"I mucked stalls for one year and was a horse groomer for a couple of summers," he said, adding he once travelled to a horse show in Kentucky and had to sleep next to the horse in an empty stall.
"It stunk."
The St. Catharines musician will make his way to Powassan Sunday to perform at Danuto's Grill House.
Raised in small town Beamsville, Lynch comes from a family of hockey players, but when he realized his career wouldn't reach the NHL, he "decided to cut my losses."
A short stint in a theatre program at Sheridan College was a stepping stone to his singing career, he said.
Lynch draws inspiration from Canadian band Blue Rodeo and relates to country greats like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams. "Not that I want to emulate anyone, but their music is closer to what I am doing," he said, adding often newer country has been "beaten to death by some guy out of Nashville that has a nice smile."
In 2001, he travelled to Nashville to finish his album, Shindigg, which had two top-50 hits on Canadian Country Music radio - I Remember Everything and Round Here (Everybody Knows My Name).
His sound has a strong cross-over appeal and he has shared the stage with a variety of acts including Moxi Fruvous, Skydiggers, Great Big Sea, Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp), Ron Sexsmith, Jason McCoy, Ronny Hawkins and comedian Dave Coulier.
In 2004, Lynch quit his day job and embarked on his first Canadian tour, performing at gigs from Ontario to the Yukon.

The tour was a launching pad for his newest album, MJL Was Here, featuring road songs including My Life Is A Big Vacation, Highway of Dreams, She Called Me Lover and the title song MJL Was Here.

A short tour of Northern Ontario starts Thursday with stops in Sudbury, Haileybury, South Porcupine and finally in Powassan Sunday. Venturing North is appealing to the artist after a recent tour to Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa and Manitouage proved fruitful in CD sales.
"It might be partly because in Northern spots, (the audience) wants to pay attention a little more and wants to support you."
Lynch will be a Danuto's Grill House in Powassan Sunday from 8 to 10 p.m





- North Bay Nugget

MIKE LYNCH MJL Was Here (Independent)

August 25th, 2007
MJL Was Here is the product of Ontario singer-songwriter Mike Lynch's cross-country road trip that took him and his guitar to Dawson City and back.

On the title track you meet the Winnipeg cop who wasn't impressed with his park bench-carving abilities, the girl who left him broke(n) in the Yukon, the misfits who introduced him to marijuana and more.

Blending country influences both old and new, Lynch's plaintive vocals will garner comparisons to Stompin' Tom and Jim Cuddy (seriously), while stripped-down arrangements evoke Johnny Cash and Steve Earle. Lynch has the unique gift of making you feel like you're right there with him on that highway. Real stories. Real heart. Real music.

-- Bruce Lepere
--4.0 out of 5








- Winnipeg Free Press, CD review