Mike can be found on stage alone or with the following accomplices: Chris Merenda (aka Chewy), Ken "the Fury" Maiuri, Ruth Ungar, Carter Little, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, Jose Ayerve, Jacob Silver, Pierce Woodward, Ben X, Robert S. Blake, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Influences
Dylan. Buckner. Bukowski. Ginsberg. Phair. Guthrie. Petty. Young. Harrison. Lennon. Clash. Pixies. Galaxie 500. Morphine. DiFranco. Specials. Operation Ivy. Hamell on Trail. Lucinda Williams. Syd Barrett. Lou Reed. Paul Brown. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Aaron Ross. Jeffery Lewis. Dan Bern. Utah Phillips. Dave VanRonk. Carter Little. Jose Ayerve. Dinosaur Jr. Lightning Bolt.
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"Merenda is one of the best songwriters of his generation - literate, political, melodic, alternately angry and satirical and sensual.” - Michael Simmons, High Times
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"Every decade has its state-of-the-art folk-rock band. This decade's is the Mammals, most often noted for featuring Pete Seeger's grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger and fiddler Jay Ungar's daughter Ruth. But the band's secret threat is songwriter Michael Merenda, seemingly descended not just from one famous folkie, but the entire folk tradition itself. His songs range from sensitive, breathy ballads to audibly grinning political broadsides." - Jeff Rosenberg, Willamette Week
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"Folky and rootsy feel with witty and brilliant lyrics. Moments of Dylanesque depth and vocal delivery, others of They Might Be Giants wit, some fine acoustic guitar picking, lap steel, and Hammond organ. Male vocs primarily but a girl in there sometimes. All songs are really good. Remember basic good songwriting? This will remind you." - KZSU Stanford **************************************************************************
"What distinguishes Merenda bucolic bebop from a host of other indie singer/songwriters? Honesty. Well, that and the fact that he's exponentially more creative than others. Election Day avoids playing into tired folk cliches by delicately juggling genres and glorifying traditional simplicty. Not only is this stuff eccentric enough for college radio, but its professional enough to dazzle the Americana airwaves - great crossover music."
-Ryan Hoffer - Shut Eye Records
Michael Merenda is a wordsmith, vocalist, guitarist and banjoist who has long recognized that a good song has the ability to improve the world. On both an intensely personal and universal level Merenda’s work strives to entertain as well as illuminate. His early fascination with the socially conscious writings of Bob Marley and Bob Dylan met head-on with the arrival of young, smart, outspoken artists such as Ani Difranco and Dan Bern, furthering the young writer’s blossoming ideology that politics need not be polarizing and dry, but alive, vibrant and inspiring.
Merenda’s inventive approach to songmaking has been described as “zen.” He’s not one to premeditate a song or to fish stories out of newspapers, but rather he hoists his antenna and dials in frequencies already alive inside himself and the atmosphere. As a result, there are plenty of catchy hooks and memorable lines, but they come at you like approaching headlights on a dark, two-lane highway.
His travels with internationally acclaimed string-band, The Mammals, have made Merenda exceedingly comfortable on stage. His signature breathy voice has hints of Nick Drake and M.Ward and in performance this soft delivery works like a magnet. Familiar yet enigmatic, Michael Merenda is a talent to watch in this songwriting renaissance of the 21st century.
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Next shows: October 28, Jazzbones in Tacoma, WA October 30, Mississippi Pizza in Portland, OR October 31, Nana's Irish Grill and Pub in Newport, OR November 1, Muddy's Hot Cup in Arcata, CA November 5, Molly Malone's in West Hollywood, CA
Our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
Hey, Im posting new videos today! New pictures too!
And TUESDAY July 14, the band will be filming a performance for the tv show at SAXON PUB! Be in the audience for the tv show 4:30 to 5:30!!!!!!!! Ruby Jane
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane. I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio... Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! New videos too!! Ruby Jane
The StageBuddy Team is thrilled to invite you to our NEW OPEN MIC at The Players Theatre (115 MacDougal St), every Tuesday Night at 9pm! For more info visit: www.StageBuddy.com/Live Hope to see you there!
Hey Michael Merenda,
Remember me? Maybe I haven't been the best of friends lately, but just give me a chance! You ROCK! Please check out my video demo of my patent-pending Cellocaster, which is a cross between a guitar, a cello, and a violin. Am looking for a major guitar manufacturer to license the design. Am also looking for studio or touring work playing the Cellocaster. Any help would be much appreciated.
Hope you had a thankful Thanksgiving!
all the best,
Paul Kuhn
Cellocaster, Violin, Vocals
Milwaukee via Aspen via D.C. USA
Hello Michael et Ruth ! comme je suis heureuse de voir cette photo avec votre magnifique bébé ! Toutes mes félicitations ! J'adore encore ta musique Michael, et aussi celle des Mammals !!! Sophie
Online Now!
