by Mike Errico | Sep 14, 2016 | audio
Hey, folks: I’m now in the studio making an amazing record I can’t wait to share with you. I have two questions to ask you about how to make this the best release ever. I’m so grateful for your support over the years, and I want to make sure you know it. So, here’s the story. ABOUT THE RECORDING A good chef will tell you it’s all about the ingredients, and I bet that’s true, though I mostly just grill hot dogs and pour bowls of Grape Nuts. Luckily, this is about music, not food, and for me the main ingredients are the songs. And I’m telling you: These songs are killers. They’re urgent and sexy and snarling, and they’re dying to meet you. (I pulled that from a friend’s Tinder, but it applies, here.) Recording has begun, and you can witness the progress, meet the musicians, hear clips, and watch it all unfold on my Facebook or Instagram pages, as well as right here. There’s already a lot of stuff there, so check it out HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS FOR YOU QUESTION #1: After the record is done, what format(s) do you want it to be in? CD? Vinyl? Thumb drive? Cassette (forget it)? QUESTION #2: What other stuff would you want? Tee shirts; house concerts; lyric sheets; short stories; podcasts; guitar lessons; a reincarnation of Tallboy magazine; a special cover song; Omens; Skype songwriting class; something else? Send me your answers by emailing me here or going to my web site’s contact page. BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HAVE That’s the story....
by Mike Errico | Aug 24, 2016 | audio, Stories
I’ve been working on new material, and for me, that means taking a look at where I’ve been. I’m finishing the writing phase, and drawing lines through my songs, dating back to the beginning of my career. I thought I’d share what I’ve been noticing, in playlist form. I’ve been drawn to what some people call “story songs.” I found my writing voice listening to punk-folk, rock, country and early hip-hop artists, and particularly loved when the songs told, well, a “story,” as opposed to capturing a mood, or rallying around a single phrase, and so on. Some that immediately come to mind: – Space Oddity, David Bowie – oh, man. When communication cuts off from Ground Control? I’ll never forget when I first heard that. I actually wrote about it here. And here. – Cover Me Up, Jason Isbell – This guy gives me faith. I put him with Sturgill Simpson and Father John Misty, who sang about “subprime loans” and made me feel that there were no limits. – Main Street, Hollywood Nights, Night Moves, Bob Seger – I’m there every time he awakes to the sound of thunder…”How far off, I sat and wondered…” Me, too, Bob! Me, too! – The Distance, by Cake – I love the insane determination of that driver! “Someone for whom…he…still…BURNS.” Me, too, Cake! Me, too! – I Left My Wallet in El Segundo – Tribe Called Quest. In a similar vein as Cake, and maybe a goof, but it isn’t to me. It’s a cockeyed story in which the journey itself far outstrips the destination. Which is kind of the...
by Mike Errico | Jun 25, 2016 | Photo, Teaching
Daniel Glass, founder of Glassnote Records, joined me at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music to speak to my students about the (bright!) future of the music industry. Photo by Glassnote recording artist/former student Tor Miller (pictured behind us. Look for a big announcement from him in the coming...
by Mike Errico | Jun 10, 2016 | live shows, Video
Holiday Show 2015, Joe’s Pub NYC Mike Errico-Guitar, vocal; Matt Beck- steel; Dave Scalia- Drums; Tomek Miernowski-Bass The People You Never Really Trusted © Mike Errico Sky Blue Coupe De Ville Music, ASCAP Did you know You tell a lot and never show You talk too fast and listen way too slow Did you know Are you mad The shiny things you never had It’s a drug, and it’s easy to go bad bad bad Are you mad And I wonder how you ever got so angry The gratitude you missed with your swinging wild fist You’ll take my time enough to finally blame me For the moment we first kissed and I wound up on your list Of the people you never really trusted Do you care The box you’re in is made of air Nothing real ever really told you life was fair Do you care And I wonder how we ever get so blinded By what we think we need, what it looks like to succeed But do you even want to be reminded That no matter what the speed, you’re not close to breaking free From the people you never really trusted Line ‘em up against the wall And tell everybody else for once and for all you know Your secret’s safe with someone new If only you could hold on to the strength you need To truly close your eyes Good night Good night Do you doubt That you’ve yet to figure out The time we have is running out Do you doubt And I wonder where I’ll be the day you get it...
by Mike Errico | Jun 9, 2016 | live shows, Video
Holiday Show 2015, Joe’s Pub NYC Mike Errico-Guitar, vocal; Matt Beck- steel; Dave Scalia- Drums; Tomek Miernowski-Bass American Royalty © Mike Errico Sky Blue Coupe De Ville Music, ASCAP Two women are walking back from the east side Talking TV And one says, “Listen listen listen listen I need some cameras I gotta get some lights ‘Cause I’m not famous, and I’m not rich And that just ain’t right And if justice just depends on who you are Then I pray some day I get busted blowing a movie star Who needs the lottery? I’ll make the long, slow crawl up the coattails of the American Royalty.” Two men are walking back from the west side Not talking, of course And their DVRs are programmed For channel 2 at 8 Militants with pipe bombs forming independent states and one says, “I can’t live hand to mouth for the rest of my life And I pray some day I get busted with the president’s wife Who needs the lottery? I’ll be this year’s back door man of the American Royalty” Where they say Tell me what it’s like to be the Sexiest Man Alive You were down by twenty at the half, did you have to reach inside? We the people want to know who you had to sacrifice Was there tension on the set? Tell me What is tension like? Yeah, fuck the lottery I’ll make the long, slow crawl up the coattails of the American Royalty I am walking by the river And all I really want is a decent night of sleep And I’m meeting with demons...
