I feel like listing my favorite artists implies I hope I sound like them, which I don't. I like anyone who writes great songs. These days I try to push myself to listen to artists in a variety of musical genres and not tunnel vision on any specific artist or style. The common thread among them is great songwriting, which can come from any time, place or culture on earth.
I'm only human, so I'm sure there are moments when you can guess my favorites.
I grew up on classic rock which led me to the jam band scene, which was the closest thing to classic rock going when I was a kid. After a while I realized my songs were getting lost as my band searched for the ultimate jam. Today I hardly listen to my old jam band albums, which has freed up a lot of time to discover a world of music that I was missing. That's one of the best things that ever happened to me as a musician.
I'm also very interested in American roots music including blues, jazz, country and bluegrass. I've spent a lot of time tracing my favorite artists back to to artists that influenced them and found a ton of inspiration. I think you can become a better songwriter if you understand where good songs come from. I believe innovation comes when artists find interesting ways to combine music from different cultures.
I'm also fascinated by songs that have become standards. There can be no better compliment to a songwriter than when a song is so good that artists from multiple generations what to intepret it in new and different ways. My life's dream is to write a song that lasts forever.
Sounds Like
Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson
I've been writing songs for going on 2 decades now. Recently I realized that songwriting is the thing I do best. For the past few years I've been focused on writing songs, as opposed to trying to pass for a rock star.
I spent a good portion of my musical life with my former band Grasshopper Pie. After a decade with those fellows, we split, although we're still buddies. After that I was determined to try to forge a musical identity that was my own. I've tried to shed the natural tendency to immitate my influences and forget about everything but what I think sounds good.
The recordings posted here, and others that I'll share periodically were recorded in my basement studio, with admittedly modest recording equipment and even more modest sound engineering skills. Everything you hear is me. My hope is that the songs speak for themselves and that you can find something in them that makes you feel good or at least elicits a stimulating emotion. Whatever you think they are about is what they are about.
I still gig periodically. When I perform I like to have fun with live looping of my guitar, vocals and simple percussion. I have not completely burried my jam band roots in my performance, but my hope is that listeners walk away affected by the songs first and foremost.
I've got a bunch of other tunes tunes posted on ilike: http://www.ilike.com/artist/Mike+Switzer
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Today (7/17/09) is last day for Tabfest presale tix – save $15! Mike Switzer, Garaj Mahal, McGuffey Lane, Freekbass, The One-Eyed Show, Chicago Afrobeat Project and more July 24 and 25 in Mendon OH. http://tabfest.com
Tabfest presale tix are on sale now for just $35 until July 17. Don’t Miss Mike Switzer, Garage Mahal, McGuffey Lane, Freekbass, The One-Eyed Show, Chicago Afrobeat Project and many more July 24 and 25 in Mendon OH. http://tabfest.com
How are you doing? I hope life is treating you well.
I just wanted to let you know I've got some new songs uploaded as well as some new versions of familiar ones, all of which are going to feature on my forthcoming album. Please do feel free to take a listen and let me know what you think and if you would be interested in a copy.
In the meantime stay well and I hope to hear from you again real soon.
Mike, You have some nice tunes...And they are unique! We appreciate your kind words. We appreciate you being our friend and visiting our MySpace page. Attached are two different versions of Black Angel. This first shows Black Angel a few years ago with left to right in picture: Ronnie Turner (bass player and son of Ike and Tina Turner); Cory Orosco, keyboards; Ernie Orosco, guitar; and me on lead vocals and guitar. The second photo shows the Black Angel line up with (clockwise from the top) Tedy Madl, drums; Heather Wynalda, percussion and vocals; Dave Parker, bass; and me in the front with a guitar on lead vocals and guitar. Best wishes.
J. C. Martin Black Angel Santa Barbara, California
Mike, Thanks for being our friend and best wishes. Have a great weekend. Attached are pictures of some of Black Angel's current and former band members. The top picture shows Audrey (Mrs. Ike Turner) and Ronnie Turner (son of Ike and Tina Turner) at a show at the beach in Santa Barbara. The bottom picture shows Tiffany Lowe, granddaughter of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and daughter of country singer, Carlene Carter, and British rocker, Nick Lowe, at a Black Angel recording session in December, 2008. After playing about 15 shows with Black Angel and recording an album, Audrey and Ronnie Turner returned to Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm for a tour of Europe a few years ago. Best wishes.
J. C. Martin Black Angel Santa Barbara, California
Hey! Mike Switzer ! Greetings from New York City. Thanks for the ADD which I value. We're from different spectrums but its great to connect... You have great stuff going on. Have to go back again and check it out in more detail. Madooo.. The guy with the "BEATLES TRIBUTE ALBUM FROM INDIA"
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