Mike Gendron- Vocals, Acoustic & electric lead guitar, harmonica, keyboards..................................
The ASSOCIATES: Pete Gendron - Piano, guitars, background vocals............Kevin Ferschke - Drums.......... Jay Carpentier, bass.......
****CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF MIKE G'S NEW CD!!!!:
...................................
............................................................................OFFICIAL CD REVIEW of "The Traveler's Diary" in the 5/21/08 edition of
......................."Guitarist for the alt-rock powerhouse Mike Gendron (a.k.a. Mike G.) has emerged out of the band’s indie shadows to spotlight his own songwriting prowess with the solo CD release “The Traveler’s Diary”. Christened under the banner Mike G & Associates (which sounds a bit like an underachieving law firm), this industrious performer has assembled fellow GrandEvolution compatriots Sarah Kollett (bass) and Scott Kenyon(drums) to lend their collective efforts on his eleven song project........................................
.............Arguably sonically more straightforward and accessible than his adjunct incarnation, Mike G presents a fairly forthright and honest rock offering. Never wandering too far from the driving yet easygoing acoustic rock sound made famous by acts like Soul Asylum, Mike G & Associates are the embodiment of “soulful Americana”, to paraphrase the album’s production assistant Drew Townson..................................
.................................Immediately after pressing PLAY, the CD kicks off with “Ode To You (Julie Blue), the kind of pulsing tune that was made to be listened to while driving down a clear freeway with the top down on a summer day: “We drove to the Old King’s fair, Tom Petty on the radio – Two wild souls without a care - We laughed and we got drunk - kissed for hours at a time. ” One of the nice diversions on the record comes in the form of “One Way Track”. With a definitive influence of the aforementioned Soul Asylum, the standout song has a breezy shuffle, replete with harmonica interludes: “Made my move on a woman out in Santa Fe – I said I’d just be cool with a meal and a place to stay – She didn’t say a word but she gave me a nod – She cracked a smile and walked out to her car.” Additionally, the tune “Skeletons” also contains a refreshing rhythm pattern, relying on a Latin rock-rumba backbeat. “And if a bullet should stray heading towards our way, you know I’d take the hit and not regret any of it.” All in all, Mike Gendron’s project is the perfect example of why a musician should wander briefly away from the comforts of their given band manifestation. His efforts demonstrate the abilities that make him a cogent member of GrandEvolution, and yet the material herein “The Traveler’s Diary” is different enough to deem the solo undertaking necessary. His strong sense of melody, lyric and rhythm hoists this CD far above the usual local rabble."
REVIEW IN THE 5/29 PROVIDENCE PHOENIX:
" Guitarist/songwriter Mike Gendron has spent his career with GrandEvolution — at least for the past 300 or so gigs — plowing through New England with Sarah Kollett and Scott Kenyon. Now it’s time for Gendron to put GE on the back burner and take control of his own career, with a new band and a new album ready to roll.
The Traveler’s Diary is Gendron’s first shot at a new project and it’s a doozy. It heaves with big doses of hard rock chords, loose harmony vocals, and anthemic melodies. It’s easy to hear the inspirations at the heart of the Mike’s music: Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, and many other soaring rockers. It’s meaty, too, and above all, singalong rock with sweat pouring from the grooves. He’s sincere as hell, he wants us to believe him, and these songs make a pretty convincing argument.
We’re not sure exactly what this means for GrandEvolution. But The Traveler’s Diary proves that Gendron needs to give this new venture a legitimate shot. It’s that good and should sound amazing live and loud. You can catch his new crew twice in the next couple of weeks at a pair of CD release bashes. On Friday, the’ll play an acoustic show at the Brooklyn Coffee & Tea House, 209 Douglas Avenue, Providence, with Whalebone Jackson and 60 Feet of Stupid. Call 401.575.2284. On Saturday, June 14, the band plays full-tilt electric at Mulhearn’s Pub, 507 North Broadway, East Providence, with Signs of Life and fellow Associate Pete Gendron opening. Call 401.438.9292. You can hear some of Mike’s new music at myspace.com/mikegsolo." - Bob Gulla, Providence Phoenix
Influences
Artists who give me inspiration:......Neil Young, Radiohead, Tom Petty, Nirvana, early Black Sabbath, Cracker / David Lowery, Billy Bragg, Pink Floyd, Tool surf instrumentals
"SKELETONS" won "Track of the Day" on April 20, 2009 at Grageband.com - see my sweet lil' badge below and click it......
Mike G & Associate's debut CD, "The Traveler's Diary" NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES!!!! click the iTUNES button here to get your copy!
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Singer / Songwriter / Guitarist Mike Gendron has lurked in the shadows of the New England original music scene for close to a decade, most notably as the lead guitar player and writing contributor for the band GrandEvolution. While achieving much local success and praise in GrandEvolution, Mike has played well over 300 shows and appeared on two full-length, well received and reviewed records, and has opened up for 90’s rock greats Soul Asylum and Letters to Cleo / Kay Hanley in 2006. For the last two years, Mike has diverted most of his attention and time crafting some of the best original songwriting he’s accomplished in his life. The time was right to gather his closest friends and Associates to perform and record many of these songs......................................................................................................................................................................................................................It is clear upon listening that Mike possesses an innate ability to put thought to feeling, and feeling to thought – offering a very unique way of eerily portraying crystal clear imagery of love, life, loss, and injustice that is recognizable to all the senses.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................In the summer of 2007 Mike G and his "Associates" made their way to 37' Productions in Rockland, MA to begin laying down tracks with engineer and mix-master extraordinaire Sean McLaughlin. Eleven songs were tracked and are featured on Mike's first full-length release "The Traveler's Diary", released in May of 2008. Mixed by Boston rock veteran and BMA winner Drew Townson, "The Traveler's Diary" has been receiving airplay in Providence, and positive reviews are coming in most notably by the Providence Phoenix and Motif Magazine.
"..............having just-this-minute finished nine songs for Mike G. & Associates. Mike is the most rockin’, most soulful Americana artist I’ve had the pleasure of working with in years. He’s the lead guitarist for Grand Evolution, as well as the front man in a Neil Young tribute called Young Rust. That experience has served Mr. G. very well, as he has concocted an original sound that encorporates the best of old-school and modern rock. The guy’s got IT. I mean he really has it; great lyrics, singing and guitar-work. It's real organic with little or no studio trickery involved! Be on the lookout for this CD when it comes out. " - Drew Townson, award winning producer/engineer
OMG....Mike G & Associates & Family & Friends & Acquaintances.... ROCKED the house last night!!! Thanks for bringing such a good vibe to my place, it was a nice time last night. New Years Eve part 2 minus snow! yeah! :)
Online Now!
