Mike Hallal Band

Bio

"Helluva songwriter," says bluesman Jimmy D. Lane of Hallal.

"The right elements of blues and funky sensibilities keep it real" with his "gutbucket" band, says The Noise of Boston.

Their sound is "tight... smoldering... electrifying," declares Blues Bytes.

And their new live-in-studio album, Hatchet Blues, is one of the Top 100 CDs of the year, judges Real Blues magazine, in the company of releases from Elvin Bishop, Roomful of Blues and other notables.

"Lyrically and sonically... a fine piece of work," concludes the UK's Blues Matters!.

Have a taste.

THE LINEUP

Jim Antonellis (drums): Brother-in-arms with Hallal for some 15 years. His shuffle grooves and 4-to-the-floor stomps recall Chicago blues drummers Ted Harvey and Fred Below. Influences include Gene Krupa and Charlie Watts.

Robert DeCorte (bass, vocals): Longtime jam partner and vinyl-hunting bud of guitarist Schluntz. Wrote and sings the evocative "Last of the Great Train Robbers" on new album. Also plays with Rhode Island jam band institution, Loose Change.

Mike Hallal (guitar, vocals): Some "superb" songs, says Blues Matters! of Hallal's latest material on the new hour-long album. Early influences include Beatles, Stones and Robert Johnson. Hatchet Blues is the 10th full-length release featuring his songs, voice and guitar playing.

Chris Schluntz (lead guitar): His burning axe work is heard on new album cuts like "Crying at the Sun" and the title track. Also authored the funk for "World's a Place." Vinyl collection includes the Black Keys and Drive by Truckers.

RADIO PLAY FOR HATCHET BLUES

WMRA 90.7, Blues Valley (Harrisonburg, VA)
WUCF 89.9, Smokestack Lightnin' (Orlando, FL)
KDHX 88.1, Stumble in the Dark (St. Louis, MO)
WMBR 88.1, Pipeline & Droppin' Knowlege (MIT, Cambridge, MA)
WHUS 91.7, Bluesline (Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, CT)
WRUW 91.1, Diversified Inc. (Case Western Univ., Cleveland, OH)
LT38 104.3 FM, Desde La Torre (Entre Rios, Argentina & Atlanta, GA)
CFBX 92.5, At the Crossroads (Kamloops, BC, Canada)
UKW 104.5, Bluescorner (Schopfheim, Germany)
RTV Raalte 105.1, Bluestown (Kwadendamme, Netherlands)
VFM 91.6, Boom Boom (Vinkovci, Croatia)
Radio 2: 94.1, Mojo Blues (Skopje, Macedonia)
mvyradio.com, Local MusiCafe (Vineyard Haven, MA)
jango.com (New York, NY)
loudcaster.com, Charlietown Blues (Columbia, SC)
radioukinternational.com (Basingstoke, UK)
nixul-rockradio.com (Wales)
live365.com, Midnight Special Blues Radio (Paris, France)


PREVIOUS RELEASE (Dec 2008)

Live at Lizard Lounge album at iTunes
53-minute, 8-song live album available at iTunes, Amazon and other fine sites.

Top 100 New CDs: Real Blues Magazine
Real Blues put Live at Lizard Lounge at number 54 in their Top 100 New CDs of '09, in the company of folks like Taj Mahal and Los Lonely Boys.

"This is one disc I keep throwing in and enjoying"
Mike Loce, The Noise Apr '09

Preview 3 albums now at iTunes >