Mike Trask & MudHill
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Mike Trask & MudHill

Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

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Press


"CD Review - Trevor Savory"

"For months there was a buzz surrounding the countless industry showcases that featured scintillating sets by Mike Trask & Mudhill, not to mention his raucous shows in Porter’s Lake. And between gigs at Junofest and the Halifax Harbour Festival, Trask & Mudhill were biding their time in the studio prepping their debut album The Show. It captures the same fiery intensity of their blistering blues-rock live show, and thanks in part to Trask’s gravelly delivery, tracks such as “Jazzman” and “Carry Me to Mary” sizzle. Though it’s a bit heavy-handed, it’s only the band’s debut—there is plenty of room for growth. Ultimately this is one show worth buying a ticket for."

The Coast -Trevor Savory

- The Coast


"Todd MacEwen"

"Having seen Mike Trask and Mudhill perform, I'm pleased to say that they have captured that same energy in the studio. "The Show" features some of the most assured song writing I've heard in some time and performances that support each and every song. The power and sincerity of the songs and Mike's voice, from someone so young, is incredible. If I hear a better album this year, I'd be very surprised."

Todd MacEwen C102FM - C102 FM


"Nova Scotia Music Week"

"My night of showcases came to a loud, sweaty end with Mike Trask and Mudhill’s raucous set at Lane’s Privateers, as the gruff-voiced vocalist tore through a set of classic rock-inspired originals with passion focused like a laser beam."

STEPHEN COOKE, The Chronicle Herald Nova Scotia Music Week - The Chronicle Herald


"CD Review - JC Douglas"

“It’s hard to see Mike Trask perform and not come away thinking you’ve seen the future of rock and roll. With ‘Boots For Flying’‘, Mike’s writing and recording finally capture the energy and intensity of his stage show. You’ll be surprised where this record takes you.” - JC Douglas, Director of Programming, NewCap Halifax (Q104-FM/780 KIXX-AM/Kool 96.5 FM)
- Newcap Radio


"Tom Schoch"

"Some artists just look good and some only sound good in studio by Mike Trask delivers on every level. He brings a real attitude back to rock, a grittiness you can't manufacture. He's going to kick the crap out of the music industry and best thing you can do is get behind him or risk losing some teeth. I won't say he's the next big thing because he's a guy beyond that kind of hype. He's just real and he will be heard. Mike Trask IS entertainment." - Tom Schoch, Host, The Morning Show, 92.3 Fred-FM.

- Fred FM


"Live Performance Review"

"Mike Trask and Mudhill are the band I've been waiting for all my life." - Leitha Haysom, Music Director, CKBW FM Bridgewater

- CKBW Radio


"CD Review - Farley"

"Honestly, it's like the whole album beats you up while you listen to it, I find. The Guitar punch you in the gut a few times for good measure, the bass-lines are little jabs to the kidneys, the drums hold you down, and Mike's lyrics manage to bash in your brains...
But in a good way." Farley - Fredericton's Classic Rock, 92.3 FRED FM

- Fred FM


"CD Review - Rob Forbes"

Mike Trask & Mud Hill - Boots For Flying (Independent)
Mike Trask’s debut record has a dodgy name and a worse cover. Beyond that, it’s difficult to be negative. Trask and his band play energetic roots and blues rock in a style which recalls early Bob Seger, Springsteen, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, and (thanks to a voice which I’m currently using to strip paint from my doors) Joe Cocker in his pomp. As a songwriter, Trask is no storyteller, but he does get under the skin with both ease and regularity. “There It Goes” whips up an addictive groove, “Don’t Touch The Money” is the sort of thing rock radio should be all over and “Tryin”, with its spoken vocal and disjointed funked-up bass, could be a Minutemen track tidied up for mass consumption. Lead guitarist Mike Barnes generally plonks a meaty solo in the middle of the songs to round them off, and the whole thing rattles along with considerable panache. Great stuff. www.mudhill.ca
Rob F. - Leicester Bangs


Discography

Mike Trask and MudHill "The Show"
Mike Trask and Mudhill "Boots For Flying" - March 15th
Radio Single - Don't Touch the Money - Feb 08
Radio Single - Federal Pen - Oct 08
Radio Single - Under The Dirt, Apr 09

Photos

Bio

Accustomed to the life of lobster fishing in Musquodoboit Harbour, Mike Trask developed a keen interest in music at the age of 9, listening to Johnny Cash through a battery-operated Sony tape player with a built-in speaker built under his pillow at night. As he went through the archives of Cash’s albums his mother introduced him to the music of Bob Dylan in the summer of 1997 when Mike was just 12 years of age. This introduction to Dylan encouraged Mike to pick up a pen and begin writing poetry of his own.

Mikes next musical adventure was that of The Doors, and through that period he also became familiar with the music of CCR, Neil Young, and Tom Petty. Upon receiving the gift of a guitar from his parents, it was then that Mike moved from writing poetry into the art of songwriting. Although having no real teacher, Mike had little interest in learning existing songs but opted to begin writing songs of his own. Recording through a Fisher Price tape recorder Mike would write tirelessly for hours on end. With neither real rhyme nor reason the tunes would pour out somewhat effortlessly. Soon thereafter Mike was introduced by a friend to the music of an icon who became a major influence in Mike’s life, a “gravel-pit of a performer”, Tom Waits.

A new resident of Musquodoboit Harbour and neighbour of the Trask family, Jim Henman, one of the initial founders and performers of April Wine, took Mike under his wing and helped to teach him songwriting and singing techniques and then helped him to record his first demo “Ten Nights in a Brogham” in his home studio. Henman introduced Mike to Marina Atwell of Velocity Entertainment who subsequently worked with the marketing and branding of Mike Trask and his music by providing him with unique performance and recording opportunities ranging from Rebecca Cohn Auditorium to CTV and a CBC video in support of youth’s tolerance for differences in people resulting in a DVD program which took on the name of the song written by Mike “Some of Us”.

Mike and his band MudHill went on to record his debut album “The Show” at Fortress Studios during which time they had major showcase opportunities ranging from The ECMA’s, the JUNO’s, the CFL, and Stan Rogers Folk Festival to name just a few. Upon the release of “The Show” at the Halifax Harbour Festival in September of ’06, Mike Trask and MudHill went on to win the Q-104 Battle of the Bands in the summer of ’07 and performed on the HRM Canada Day stage as well as headlining Tall Ships Nova Scotia Festival main stage.

Mike released his second full length studio recording "Boots for flying". With the explosive response to his first album and his high-energy stage shows, coupled with his classical voice training of late, the gravel-voiced Mike Trask is feeling more confident than ever that his music is making a tremendous impact on his audiences, promising that this album will deliver a show better than that of the album released under the same name. The current singles "Don't Touch The Money" and "Federal Pen" already receiving regular air play in Halifax, Fredericton, and throughout Nova Scotia's South Shore, followed recently by the release of "Under the Dirt".

Mike is getting ready to record his next studio album sheduled for release in November of this year.