Matchstick Mike : Guitar / Vocals,
Tom Blizzard : Drums,
Peter ( Pino ) Palmer : Upright & Electric Bass,
Occasionally : Bird Stafford, Joe Murphy, Phil Potvin - Harp, Little Barry Cook - keys
Influences
T-Bone Walker, Poor Charlie Robertson, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dutchy Mason, Carter Chaplin, Brian Setzer, Jimmy Vaughn, Little Walter, my dad, Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Freddy King, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, WC Clark, Stevie Ray...his approach was ultimate, Jimi Hendrix, my mom, Ginger Baker, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry again, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johny Cash, Lylle Lovette, Steve Earl, Emmy-Lou Harris, Vince Gill...whoa... !!, my uncle Gerald...one of the finest men I have ever met, Brian May, J. Giles band, Steve Miller, Comander Cody, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong, Myles Davis, Mingus, Chet Baker....Chet, I have to talk to you in the next life, Ray Charles, Morgan Davis, Colin James, Collin Linden, John Hiatt.....Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, Marty Stuart, Ricky Scaggs, Jerry Douglas....man, I wish I could get one hour lesson with him !!.......there are sooooooo many countless guitar players that I have seen over the years that I have borrowed stuff from .....thanks all of you.
Special note to the following men who have treated me like a little brother: Allen Whitney ( Thanks for the 1,000 games of chess (( I never won - but learned how to cripple my other friends )), appreciation for classical greek literature / FAST motorcylcles....and the purest friendship I have ever had ), Lou Greenhough ( I'm not even sure your still alive friend...just put out...hell yeah man ), Roger Hovey ( for showing me how to be cool, getting me started playing lead guitar and letting me drink beer when I was 14. Being ina band with you is one of my all-time favorite memories . You were so great when you played.) Peter Menzes a.k.a. Pedro Martinez - Stinky - Pants...my dearest pal....you are such a pro !! Your advice...on whatever I can ask about is priceless. Three time zones away...without you ...It would be lot tougher....you been there ...done that ), Marcell Berube ( This is as talented a musician, writter and man as I have ever met...and you always made me and your brother feel like we we were equalls...man...your a freak. I love you. And Sister Mercy was as cool a band as ever their was....we burned guitars and peeled paint..literally...I miss your folks and your super talented drummer brother Jason...we had fun )
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival CBC Galaxie Rising Star ‘06 and Toronto Blues Society’s ‘06 Best New Blues Artist Runner Up, Matchstick Mike Bidlake has developed a sound all his own from the years of searching and honing his craft into a show that can be as quiet as a church mouse one minute, and have the crowd kicking stuff over the next from all the frantic dancing action. Having been compared to a genetic freak meld of Jimmie Vaughn, T-Bone Walker and Muddy Water’s, Mike’s traditional Texas Blues style is infused with insane energy and will leave you with warm memories when you wake up with stale liquor breath and sore dancing feet the morning after a show. “Did I just get hit by a truck?” you will ask …. Nope, just one smoking maritime blues party.
Having been playing roots-based music for 30 years, since the age of 7 when his father introduced him to the mandolin, bluegrass and country, along with early rock and roll were staples in the household. Guitar and popular music were soon to follow for several years until the early 90’s when Mike discovered traditional Delta Blues as interpreted by Poor Charlie Robertson. “Having met Charlie and his wife, Beverly was such a wonderful experience …… hearing Charlie connected a few missing dots, stylistically for me. It was those dots that I had been looking for, the ones that gave me chills man !”
Matchstick has been working his craft both writing and performing 70 to 100 shows a year of upbeat, dance-inspiring music across Canada and the East Coast. Recently released and critically acclaimed freshman record, “Baby Won’t You Please Come Home” is approaching the 2,000 unit sales mark after 14 months of independent marketing and the single, “It’s Alright Now” has received national airplay by several radio stations. Also, a live album recorded by Radio Canada at the ‘06 Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival is about to be released featuring Canadian Blues Legend Joe Murphy on harmonica.
Since returning from a Canadian Forces Show Tour which took Matchstick to Afghanistan to play for our UN troops, Mike has had several trips to Southern Ontario building a substantial following. The hi-lite so far of 2007 is a tie between an incredibly warm reception at the Maple Blues Awards in January where Mike wowed the audience with an All-Star band consisting of Jeff Healy’s Jazz Wizzards Bass Player, and Maple Blues lifetime achievement nominee, Terry Wilkins, Maple Blues Drummer of the year nominee, Bob Vespaziani, World renowned Harmonica player, Mark “Bird” Stafford, and Geoff Daye (JW Jones Band) on piano,That could only be matchsed by being asked to open for Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin (Muddy Water’s lead guitar player from 73’-80 ) and then being called to the stage to close the show to house crammed full of crazed blues fans litterally frothing at the mouth by the spectacle.
The Show can be seen regionally until June. Then it’s to Southern Ontario for 10 dates from June 10th- - 23rd . Mike then has a cross Canada tour booked starting August 2nd in Halifax and then working west to the Nanaimo Blues Festival for August 25 – 26 and a week at the Blues On Whyte in Edmonton September 3-8. Then back again to play at the the ‘07 version of the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival, where Matchstick has already confirmed 5 shows in 3 days!!!
Over the years, Matchstick Mike has had the opportunity to open or jam with the likes of “Steady Rollin” Bob Margolin (Muddy Water’s Band), Room Full of Blues, North Mississippi All-Stars, Zack Harmon, Toni-Lynn Washington, Matt Guitar Murphy, Jack Dekeyser, Sam Moon, Joe Murphy, Shirley Jackson, John Campbell-John, Carson Downy, Brant Parkins, Bill Dowey and the Blues Devils, Ronnie Burk and Little Voodoo as well as numerous rock and country acts such as Dr. Hook, Wide Mouth Mason and the Cruzeros.
Hello Good Friends! We're releasing our album Next Week! October 22nd at Le Divan Orange We're hoping you can swing by and pick up a copy... Thanks and Take Care! Kevin, Rosa, and Brandon
Howdy! Come on out to Le Divan Orange this Wednesday (June 25th) for the last OKgiraffe show of the summer! We'd love to see you there... Thanks and Take Care
Hey mike! whats up buddy? i havent talked to you in forever. how are lessons going? i thought we'd add you because you helped me be such a good guitarist! haha. anywho, have a listen to our songs, and tell us what you think! Thanks! -Sandy
Hi Mike, Thanks for adding me. I enjoyed your songs, and also your blogs and interview. I admire your social conscience, and positive outlook. Cheers from Nova Scotia, Avard #50 & #61 on LWW www.neilyoung.com
Hey Matchstick! We all had a great time at the Jazz Harvest Festival! We will be working on that double bill for the Miramichi and will keep you updated! Keep On Keepin On Bro! Rattle Cab Blues Band
