Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Who, the Jam, the Beatles, the Easybeats,
Powderfinger, the Sunnyboys, Canned Heat, the Doors or any blues influenced artists
Gav was born in the Northern NSW town of Moree and grew up on a property 40 miles from town. His early influences were classic country and 60’s pop rock from the local radio station 2VM as well as his older brothers & sisters record collection which consisted of Red Hot Hits style albums and classic 60’s rock albums.
Gav’s first musical training came when he was taught classical piano for five years in primary school and played at a number of Eisteddfods in the local area of Bowral, where he went to boarding school. Unfortunately he was taught with the idea that a mistake was rewarded with a ruler-across-the-knuckles so to this day is not fond of classical music. However, he does have a fair grounding in music theory from this experience.
In high school Gav was given the option of rock drumming and took to it, until it gradually turned into training for military drumming, where upon he left. However, this gave him a fair grounding in rhythm. He also at this time started lyric writing.
Gav became sick of being taught by others so decided to teach himself guitar. He would put on school Concerts for his year featuring all the musos in that year. In his last few years of schooling Gavin started writing full songs with the guitar.
Also while a teenager Gav was searching for a musical style that fit him. He initially landed on the boogie blues of Status Quo, before broadening into the Who and finally embracing elements of New Wave and Oz Pub Rock.
While at University, Gav formed a number of garage style bands, with him as the lead guitarist, with names like From The Hip, FARQ, FARQ2, etc. He also started getting a few years of guitar lessons with Harvey James (ex Sherbet) initially at Venue Music then at Harvey’s home. Gav finally help form a band, Hurley Burley, that would last a number of years and play gigs from the top of skyscrapers to parties in Orange.
After Hurley Burley folded Gav basically recorded his songs on 4 track recorders, sending them off to publishers and counting the rejection slips. It wasn’t until he’d talked to Noel at Rock’n’Jazz music shop that he found out about the Society of Australian Songwriters (It changed it name to the Songwriting Society of Australia in 1997) in 1992. Gav played his first live pub gig at the Petersham Hotel that year. In 1995 he became Editor of the Society’s monthly newsletter, a position he still holds. Gav has been President and Vice President at various times in the Society.
With the Songwriting Society Gav has played his songs live at the Petersham Hotel, the Annandale Hotel, the Occidental Hotel, the Agincourt Hotel, the Lansdowne Hotel, the Excelsior Hotel, the Iron Duke Hotel, the Cauliflower Hotel, the Harbourside Hotel, etc.
In 1995 Gav formed a duo with Kevin Komene called Harley D & the Professor, playing a type of country rock blues. All originals, the duo played many venues, from the Illinois (Five Dock) Hotel to the Cartoon Club at Dee Why. At every venue the management would offer gigs and the punters would crowd round. Kevin had to call it a day due to travel distances and Gav went solo again. During this time he’d taken up quiet a number of years of singing lessons to improve his vocals.
In 1998 Gav attended a Potatoes & Poetry Night put on by some of his Irish friends. He’d taken along a guitar and wound up writing a song called “The Butterfly Dance” for the girls to dance to. As he was leaving to get a cab Peter Day offered him a lift home and on the way told him he was a bass player. At a Songwriting Society gig Gav noticed another songwriter, Ross Bruzzese, had great piano skills and suggested forming a band. Gav not long after had gone to see some friends, the Flaming Barstools, play at the Excelsior Hotel. Their drummer, Dave ‘Dad’ Alexander introduced Gav to Peter Thompson, who was looking for an originals band.
This was the initial beginnings of the band Velvet Road which lasted from 1999 to 2006, went through a number of members, but put out an self titled EPCD and a full album CD ‘Saturday Morning’, which was recorded at Sound Dog Studios and mastered at Turtle Rock. Gav was always the lead guitarist and main vocalist.
Velvet Road’s initial EP had two songs, “Cold Outside” and “Mr Menagerie” put on mp3.com.au and both songs went to Number 1 in their respective genres. Unfortunately this didn’t lead to extra album sales, nor more punters at gigs, so the practice wasn’t continued.
In their time Velvet Road played at many venues including the Hopetoun, the Excelsior, the Forest Inn (Bexley), the Occidental Hotel, the Harbourside Hotel, the Three Weeds (Balmain), the Cat & Fiddle, the Bat & Ball, the Coogee Hotel, the Harp, etc and were one of the headline acts at the Kangaroo Valley Music Festival. Their songs were played on radio stations across Australia, with interviews on stations like WOW FM (St Mary’s) and even playing live in drive time on Triple R. They were also invited to be on the same A&R CD and magazine (January 2005) as Jimmy Barnes and Steve Morse that was promoted through Europe and America. Because of this Velvet Road was played on some English radio stations.
Unfortunately, even though the band was musically playing well, and all were still friends, the work of practicing each week and the slog of finding new gigs without any success caused the members to call it a day.
Since then Gav has been playing solo and has recorded a solo album of original songs at Sound Dog Studios with Stewart Havill (Fantastic job, mate!). The new album, "Just", came out in February 2008, was mastered at Kitty Groove Productions (Ultimo), by Sven Tyderman, who did a brilliant job.
As well, Velvet Road came back together for a nostaglia gig at the Songwriter's Day, in Darling Harbour in November, which everyone said was excellent. Since then they have played at the Coogee Bay Hotel & Excelsior Hotels in unplugged mode and in another great gig at the Cat'n'Fiddle in Balmain in December. Even though the gigs are good the band doesn't want to go back to the same level of activity it previously had.
Gav launched his solo CD, "Just", at the Monkey Bar, Balmain in March 2008. The CD contains 14 orginal songs done at Sound Dog Studios and mastered at Kitty Groove Productions. Two of the songs, "Got Me On My Knees" & "Weird Wild Wonderful Woman" were highlighted internationally through the August A & R Publication which goes to 8000 Industry specialists worldwide. Gav also was interviewed on Radio Skid Row, with tracks from the album being played as well as playing a live set to air. As well, Velvet Road came together once again for November's Songwriter's Day at Darling Harbour. Ross and Peter, from Velvet Road, have recently backed Gav on a number of successful acoustic gigs.
Gav has been playing many acoustic gigs, sometimes with Peter and/or Ross. A keen slide guitarist he's been asked to do a number of slide backings for others songs. Recently he's brought an electric SW and an Dobro resonator lapsteel to write on and play live with. While at the Byron Bay Bluesfest Gav met Seasick Steve. Gav told Steve he felt he was an inspiration as at 48 Gav felt too old. Steve told him in no uncertain terms "Young man, you have a lot of time left!" Gav was also inspied by Watermelon Slim, Eric Bibb and Eugene
Hideaway Bridges at the Bluesfest.
Hey there, if you are near the wireless today, listen into 2SER 107.3 The Departure Lounge. Drew and I will be talking and playing some new tunes (remix heaven) with Mr Elchino himself. lots of lub
Very glad you like it Gav and thank you for the kind words. It means a lot from someone who has played around as much as you. I actually wanted to put more tracks on there but was dissuaded by the guy recording it and my guitar teacher. Five is the right number for an EP apparently!!
Was just listening to a couple of your tracks mate. Did you use synth in Evening Sky? Very cool. Love the punky grunge feel of Classify and it's such a tight recording too!! Not sure if I've heard you play it live but certainly hope to.
Hello there! How you going? I wrote a new song today and recorded it and put it on myspace. Its called BIGGEST MISTAKE. Please have a listen and leave comment when you have time. Cheers Adam
Hi Gav We wanna thank you for your very important support in those sad days.
This thanx are in our name, in the name of Enrico's wife Paola and in the name of his sons.
Enrico Micheletti's ashes are flyin' throughout the universe and we hope his soul is finally arrived at a beautiful destination.
What about his music and the music we had recorded toghether?
We finally decide to get it out. We wanna remeber Enrico in this way. In the first quarter of 2009 we will publish all our and Enrico Micheletti' s materials on Itunes and many other stores on the web.
We'll send you a message when it's all ready.
God bless you!!!
Marry Christmas and Have a wonderful 2009!!!
KEEP THE BLUES ALIVEEEE!!!!!!!
Ciao Gav ti volevamo ringraziare per le tue parole e per il tuo sostegno in periodo così difficile per noi.
Questi ringraziamenti non sono formali, sono veramente sinceri a nome nostro, della moglie di Enrico Paola e a nome dei suoi figli.
Le ceneri di Enrico Micheletti sono disperse nel mar Tirreno e stanno viaggiando nell' universo. Noi speriamo che anche la sua anima abbia raggiunto finalmente il miglior approdo possibile.
Cosa fare del suo materiale in nostro possesso e del materiale che abbiamo registrato insieme?
Dopo aver pensato a lungo sul da farsi abbiamo deciso di pubblicarlo. Lo pubblicheremo su Itunes ed altri siti così tutti potranno trovarlo se lo cercano. Glielo dobbiamo. Glielo deve chi lo ha conosciuto.
Cercheremo di pubblicare tutto ciò che è in nostro possesso nei primi mesi del 2009.
Appena sarà tutto pronto ti faremo sapere.
Per adesso ti auguriamo Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo. Dio ti benedica
WE ARE VERY SAD... WE DON'T HAVE WORDS TO SAY ANYMORE... OUR SINGER AND DOBRO PLAYER ENRICO MICHELETTI IS DEAD. GOODBYE ENRICO KEEP THE BLUES ALIVE WHEREVER YOU ARE!!!!
Hi Gav, How are you - Haven't seen you in a while. Love to see you at Sydney Chapter of Nashville Songwriters Association International. Next one is Mon 1 Dec 08. Will you be at Pat Pattison in Jan 09? We'll be there!
Hey Gav, Lovely to meet you the other day and thanks for hanging around and listening :) Will try to make it to the Raglan next thurs! See you soon, Cassandra
Hey Gav, I replied to your email.. but just today it bounced back like a big ol' bouncy thing! Are you at the Cat tonight/Raglan on Thursday..? R4L xxx
hey gav thanks for adding and messaging us really appreciate your feedback on the songs. we're currently selling gigs at CDs. We've got Paypal but haven't put up a link on the website yet. oops ... i think there may also be some copies in laughing outlaw records too. let me know if that all sounds too hard and we can try to figure something else out! hope to catch u round on the scene sometime. cheers ben@happenstance
