ϕ: A New Album by Mike Vitale
News, information, music, and performance schedule for the Los Angeles, California singer, songwriter, and producer, Mike Vitale.
Yes! I am touring the United States. I am very earnest about finding good folks such as yourself, that like my music. I am booking well into the year, so if you would like for me to play your state, or your city, or your town: talk to me Goose.
The band and I at Chess Park Lounge in 2019. Photo courtesy of Katie Ferrara
The band and I have a residency in Glendale, California nearly every Friday night in April and May of 2023 at a place called CHESS PARK LOUNGE. The first picture is us playing there back in 2019. They have since then, built a beautiful stage for the musicians, an amazing lounge area to enjoy the music, and started bringing in top-tier talent. I was so shocked to have them invite us back out to play, considering the acts they have been booking since I have been out touring the United States.
I recently played Maui Sugar Mill in Tarzana for HONKY TONK SALOON with the band on January 11th. The audience there was so kind and beautiful and engaged. It was a lovely lovely experience. We would love to have that same energy at Chess Park Lounge as well and we will do our very best to spread the good vibes. In fact, the pictures listed after the top image, are all from Maui Sugar Mill for Honky Tonk Saloon.
We would be honored to have you there if you feel inclined. We will be playing original music, as well as choice covers from 7:30pm to 11:30pm. The evening has no cover cost. All you need to pay for is a little bit of parking (and it's not Hollywood parking rates).
One of the Fridays, April 21st: that is my birthday. I can think of no better way to celebrate another year on this beautiful planet, than to be playing music with my friends and to hopefully be surrounded by any friends that are free to attend. I would be honored to have you there.
Here are the dates we will be performing:
Friday April 7th 2023
Friday April 21st 2023
Friday April 28th 2023
Friday May 5th 2023
Friday May 12th 2023
Friday May 19th 2023
Friday May 26th 2023
As mentioned previously, we play from 7:30pm to 11:30pm. It's free. All that we ask is that you support the Lounge by purchasing drinks or food.
Fort Mill, South Carolina (while on my walk)
If there are reasonable amounts of chili to be consumed, I know nothing on the subject. It only occurred to me after 10pm rolled around and I felt a bit drowsy. I had worked up quite the appetite on my five hour drive between Woodstock, Georgia and Fort Mill, South Carolina, which is nestled slightly below the community of Charlotte, North Carolina—right along the border of the two states: this is where my aunt hangs her hat. My aunt Ruth. It’s around 8am at the moment, the next day. She has a lovely home and I’m thankful for her being kind enough to allow me a place to sleep, for the good company, and naturally, the enormous bowl of chili that greeted me, nearly the moment I arrived. I have been fairly religious about maintaining a ketogenic diet while on this tour—however—exceptions have been made in some sort of slightly freckled fashion on my clean bill of health in that dietary department, if one were to subscribe to such beliefs. The diet seems to work for me, however, I also enjoy chili, cowboy toast, and a few slices of pie from time to time.
There was probably a 17 year stretch where the two of us did not see each other, because she moved to the east coast, along with my younger cousin Ryan. On my first United States tour last year, they both came out to see me perform while I played in one of the bedroom communities surrounding Charlotte. I drove to North Carolina on two separate occasions last year. Once this year. Three times of visiting is a gift.
My house concert in Woodstock, Georgia. Thank you brother John for having me.
It feels of fall here. It’s around 47 degrees outside at the moment. I have spent the better portion of the past several weeks in the lower south, where it still feels of summer water amusement parks, shorts, flip-flops, tank tops, koozies, BBQ, and the like. There were a few occasions of folding lawn chairs to enjoy an outdoor concert, or to dip one’s feet in the warm water of Gulf Coast. My bare feet now, are cold, as I write this. I am thinking about hunting for my socks in a moment, while I ruminate on the next several words to put in front of the other. The cold is not uninvited, unwarranted, or unwelcome to me. I can recall purchasing a jacket, mere weeks ago, while in Austin, Texas, waiting for any opportunity to wrap it around myself, should that opportunity had ever arisen in the first place; Austin had other plans, none of which involving jackets.
Apache Junction, Austin, Houston, Mobile, Panama City, the pan-handle, Leesburg, Dunedin, St. Petersburg: Fall almost seems to be a rumor in such places—maybe even a lie told to those with cold cold hearts. I have been reading about it in books—well, for the sake of accuracy—listening to it from narrated books. It has been a lot of driving, and a lot of listening.
Because no great story ever started with someone eating a salad.
I just devoured what could be one of my new favorite books of all time: “The Passenger” by Cormac McCarthy. This has revitalized my interest in his cornucopia of literature I have yet to read. So, after the two day consumption of this new book of his (it was recently released on October 25th 2022), I went back to the year 1992, and started to read his classic “All the Pretty Horses.” There is much talk of Fall, Winter, snow, and the many traits that are cold weather in there—so I know it exists; well, from his literature—and my cold feet. More importantly: Cormac McCarthy is a national treasure. Someone give the man a Nobel Prize. He deserves a monkey trophy. His writing is beautiful. His story telling is exquisite. His conversations are organic and deep and unbelievable, yet within the realm of possibility. I can’t stop thinking about what he writes, for days on end after consumption.
I have decided to take a long stroll around the neighborhood—if just to walk off the copious amounts of chili and pie—and, perhaps to garner a remedy for cold feet. Excuse me for a moment.
This wouldn’t have been an issue yesterday in Woodstock, Georgia. However, there is news of a hurricane in Florida; yet another, above and beyond that of which was previous and has since disappeared with a wake of destruction: Ian was its name, if memory serves me correctly.
No, this yet still, a new hurricane, the one that is brewing over the entirety of Florida at the moment, is a Category 1. It has a name from what I understand, as well: Nicole. I hope Nicole is a lady of easy demur, and that she smiles with only light tears over the coastline. Her breathiness could be to a minimum, however, reports are suggesting otherwise. No matter: I cross my fingers for those who are in its headlights as it drives up the interstate, along with myself. There is no doubt that the cold storm I am feeling on my feet, are a result of Nicole’s currents. May the weather buy a vowel using Wheel of Fortune rules, and give us all the sweet currant of fruitfulness, rather than the rags of battered sails, as we both traverse together.
Some of my extended family in Mobile, Alabama
And yet, only the day before my arrival in Woodstock, Georgia, I found myself in Mobile, Alabama—along the Gulf Coast. I could have sworn that it was swimming weather, sure as it was, also a day for Church for the residents of the area. Even the Flora-bama had a service, flanked as it may be, by the endless shelves of alcohol, to be dispersed shortly after service had concluded (maybe even during for all I know). Speaking of church services held in a bar, and subjects that straddle the line of propriety. The Flora-bama: it straddles the line of the Florida and Alabama border, right along a coastline, freckled with high-rise resorts and the whitest of fine demolished sand one will ever have the privilege to crawl between their toes while walking the beaches of a red neck riviera. I found residents apologizing to me about a place I had yet to visit, and others continued such a trend, well after I had visited the place. I rather liked the joint. There where multiple stages for music, and quite the well-spring of libations to socially lubricate even the most rusted jointed gates of good times to be had. The remnants of feminine approval to musicians world wide, hanging from clothes lines above one of the audience congregations adjacent the stage: enough bras and varieties of which to fill a department store inventory.
Me at the Flora-bama on the Florida/Alabama border.
There was a 1.9 billion dollar jackpot for Lotto, and line of folks standing in line to buy tickets at the Florida/Alabama border. Alcohol and Lotto, given equal billing on the sign outside of the establishment. A line of Alabama residents, buying tickets, as the Lotto is not a legal privilege in their state. Loop holes. Good on them.
It was a jackpot, having the opportunity to play for my friends and family in Mobile, the night before. Playing music I wrote, for cousins I didn’t know that I had, save for the past several years. My cousin Mia, is a musician herself and is very supportive of all my musical whimsies and storytelling tendencies. I love my family dearly, and between you and I: my family is not as close as we used to be. I wish it were not the case. I have tried to make it not the case, through choice phone calls to an aunt, voicing my concerns that we are not getting any younger, and are only becoming more comfortable in our own bubbles of social interaction. This rings true of not only my immediate family, but also of my extended family, much to my chagrin.
The Frog Pond. A house concert venue outside of Mobile, AL.
Were I man of more means, perhaps I could invite them all over to my place for dinner. I am hesitant to think that they would make the trek to Los Angeles, albeit being 4 hours away from my home town of Visalia. My younger brother and I both live here in southern California. My mom refused to make the journey to visit for Thanksgiving. I spoke to her yesterday, and she is open to being picked up by my brother and driven to southern California to stay with him for a week, before the Christmas holiday, something that excites me a great deal (she hasn’t been here to visit me since I moved to southern California to go to college in 2002, and when I graduated from college).
Perhaps the key to this discussion between family, is to truly try to understand the schism between all of us—or that we were never really that close to begin with… I am uncertain. I do know that the cost of being close, is our time and our energy. While I may not be very rich, I do have time and energy to provide to anything that fills my heart with joy.
I am not here to complain either, or to point fingers. I take responsibility for myself, and also wish to make as much effort as possible towards accomplishing whatever I can. I am not afraid to work hard. I am not fearful of being the first to reach out. I do that often, whether it is in friendship or insofar as family is concerned. It does get a little tiresome feeling like no one meets me halfway, but I suppose that is relative—if not also my responsibility to recognize when I am overexerting effort on the wrong people, or that my love is not being put in good places.
Parallel lives. It was something that someone said to me once when I apologized for not reaching out more often. He simply said: no worries my friend; parallel lives.
I can dig that also.
There are numerous ways to look at life. I do my best to choose the methods that feel good, and do not create suffering, where it is unnecessary in the first place. Believe you me: we create our own suffering.
Perhaps we should simply be thankful to be greeted by a bowl of chili and to hug our aunt and our cousin when we can. Be thankful when our mother comes to visit. Be thankful when we discover we have cousins we never knew about. Try our best to get to know our family—and be accepting of parallel lives as well.
I am not a perfect specimen. But then again, neither is anyone else around me, either.
S. Congress in Austin, Texas
Austin. Austin City Limits. Being within Austin City limits—literally, not so much the hit musical phenomena that encompasses and personifies the great city in which I speak. It’s magic. The city is pure spectral spectacle.
I would live here. I have a feeling I will live here.
Growing up playing music, I was entranced by stories of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and his brother Jimmie. Willie Nelson. Johnny Winter.
These days, you can find murals and statues that celebrate the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan. He died young, but he made a lasting impression on his adopted home of Austin, Texas—who lifted him on their shoulders in celebration of his music and his passion for the blues.
An acquaintance of mine in Long Beach (another musician), once shit all over the name Stevie Ray Vaughan, saying that he couldn’t stand that white horse shit that passes as blues. It bummed me out hearing him rant on a guy whom he never met… nor have I for that matter—however, I carry his spirit in reverence, much as I do Eric Clapton as well, for they helped to introduce me to wide variety of African American talent that contributed to years of truly authentic American Culture and American History. Yes, they were white: but, they loved black music and carried it in the deepest reverence and respect, which showed in their craft. Furthermore, they brought black music to me, a kid in Visalia, CA, who passionately researched who Stevie Ray Vaughan’s influences were, and then listened to them, hearing all the riffs he lifted from their repertoire: Albert King for example. You can listen to Albert King and hear his inarguable influence on the playing of Stevie’s.
Then again, what does a guy in Long Beach, CA know about Austin, Texas? What do I know about Austin, Texas for that matter? Nothing. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I keep coming back. I keep returning because the place is pure imagination and sorcery on my senses.
There are more music venues here than I have ever seen in my entire life. There is talent of such a caliber, that it constantly has me questioning not only my own merit as a musician, but also my sanity in continuing to create music as a songwriter—that is until I meet said musicians after they have proceeded in tearing my face of with their talent, and politely handing my facial features back to me at the end of the night: feeling their genuine sense of connection and intolerance for being overly vain insofar as it is concerned with themselves—their curiosity of my own music, their kindness in listening to it, and in showering me with compliments.
I was connected with a local musician and guitar player in the area named Phil Hurley. He is a Los Angeles transplant as well, who has been living in Austin Texas now for around 14 years. He has lived all over the place. He has played guitar for countless people of merit and distinction, and has operated within bands and musical acts who were signed to major labels, from an early age. We became quick friends and I am astounded by his talent and generosity.
He was kind enough to make time to meet with me, and to show me around a bit, to take me to some of the coolest hangs in town such as Donn’s Depot on a Monday night. There is a weekly residency that has been happening at this old venue, constructed from the remnants of 5 old train cars, nestled politely and sheltered within the entrance of tall tall buildings and sky scrapers. Chris Gage has been playing piano and singing there on Monday nights for nearly 27 years. Phil brought me down to Donn’s Depot, and shared me with the all of the wonderful folks who are a community. They haunt that establishment every week, and listen, in deep love, of what Chris Gage provides as a musician and pianist.
As we walked around these 5 train cars, everyone greeted Phil Hurley, as he was acquainted to nearly every individual in that place. Chris Gage recorded and produced his latest record, which is available to listen to right now on all the streaming services. Phil and Chris quickly began catching up with one another on one of Chris’ breaks from playing, and Phil asked if we both could come up and play a few songs, to which Chris was beyond receptive.
I met more beautiful and wonderful people in Donn’s Depot in one night, then can possibly be expressed in words—or good intentions for that matter. There are good people here in Austin, and Donn’s Depot is just a small subset of the greater whole that is this beautiful city. Don Emmons for example. A photographer and gentleman, and scholar. Or, the videographer Jay Curlee, who was a Hawaiian transplant—him and his wife both, who have been living in Austin now for 7 years. Don Emmons came from New Jersey, if memory serves me correctly (we were having drinks—quite a few of them).
Performing with Chris Gage at Donn’s Depot in October of 2022. Photo courtesy of the winker with an eye, Don Emmons.
A place is always the people who live there. Austin is exceptionally lovely.
Truth be told: most places I have the privilege to visit in order to play music, are exquisite and lovely—because they are full of good people who let a ragamuffin such as myself, stay and play some tunes he wrote about life. They listen to my stories. I am the luckiest man alive—and my brood (artists and musicians most specifically) are thankful for the love, gratitude, kindness, and open hearts being displayed by individuals who understand that we just travel around trying to spread some love. Sure, now and then, we all get a little lost sometimes—but love is most certainly the answer to nearly every quandary asked… and gratitude is the doorway to happiness… and happiness is work. It does not come easy to us. We work for it and we work at it.
A deep and special thanks to my friend Scott Spencer. He is an Austin native. I met him through my brother from another mother, Frank Reina. Both of these gentlemen are Texas natives. Scott, has shown me more kindness and support than I could ever hope to repay to an individual in a lifetime. Nonetheless, I hope to one day. I suppose the first step in that endeavor would be success at what I am trying to achieve. I will focus on that notion with all my might—and swing back to previous when I have more to offer this world than the love in my heart, the songs that I write, and the stories I tell. In the meanwhile, may those suffice my friend.
FIND ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Come see me live on my 2022 FALL TOUR around the UNITED STATES
When in Rome—or Santa Fe, New Mexico for that matter. I had the pleasure of visiting with my friends Brenda and Dave here in Eldorado Santa Fe, New Mexico for the past several days, while playing a few shows at the local breweries Santa Fe Brewing Co. and Desert Dogs Brewery—the later of which shares the title of my newest album, being released July 11th 2023.
I met both Brenda and Dave while living in Long Beach, CA. They recently relocated here to Santa Fe, New Mexico after having visited here on several occasions. They have been making their dream home in a rural suburb of the greater Santa Fe area, nestled within the rolling hills of high desert, 7,000 feet above sea level. A future full of four seasons: sunshine, snow, the color of leaves changing—an atmosphere somewhat far removed from the daily life of those from Southern California. It’s own unique history and culture.
Red and Green Sauce, lovingly referred to as Christmas style Pozole. A spicy and delightful soup: pork, verde, hominy; a side of finely shredded cabbage, cilantro, diced red onions, and tortilla chips.. A perfect dish for cold, rainy, and dreary weather, which apparently swooped in with me, as I visited Santa Fe for my first (and hopefully not my last). Local residents assured me that the amount of rain they were experiencing currently was very much out of the ordinary, however, to me, a visitor, it felt nice and complimented my soup, my desire to wear a poncho, and my brand new hat.
Brenda and I shopped in the downtown area in which I found that perfect hat and poncho, almost immediately. It was a mission that I chose to accept, arbitrarily, as if it were necessary—and for all intensive purposes as far as I was concerned: it was.
Insofar as the gigs were concerned: bars are always hard. People are not necessarily there to see me specifically, so it’s an effort to find new ears and minds that enjoy what I do: to find new friends and to connect with them in a capacity in which we will see each other again in the future, whether that be through a mailing list or through a social networking service. This might mean that I need to warm people up with a few familiar covers, before politely asking if I might play a few of my own songs. I find that this works nicely. I also find the conversations after my set to be the most important part: this is when we have the opportunity to connect on a level that is meaningful.
I am up for the challenge and I welcome the opportunity for friendship. I am so immensely thankful for anyone who finds anything to like in my music.
I play Desert Dogs Brewery this evening from 8:30pm to 11:30pm.
Perhaps in some ways, I am a burro with a load of wood, waiting in the alley. In other ways, ways which are far more abundant: I am a free spirit, traveling where he pleases, making friends along the way, and enjoying every damn minute of it. I have been ruminating on the idea of purchasing an RV and getting rid of my apartment in Los Angeles. I am thinking about touring year round, seeing as much of the United States as possible and to play as many places as I possibly can. It sounds like a spicy proposition. It sounds like the life of a steamboat pilot, who as Mark Twain pointed out, were the freest people on the planet. I like being free. I like rowing my boat gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily…
- Mike
PS
I met Brenda at 4th Street Vine in Long Beach, CA. She is a lovely lovely human being and I am thankful to know you. Congratulations to you and Dave on your dream home. May the blessing you desire be found in your new home. It’s a gorgeous and stunning place to live and I am so thankful to have had you open your home to me for a few days and to offer me the comforts of your place and your company in the future. My heart is full of gratitude.
Come see me live in the United States while I play out in October and November of 2022
Superstition Mountain
Where to begin? The question most of us might ask—then again, perhaps I am being presumptuous: some of us may not ask. Some may lack the interest. Others of us might just do, and forgo the asking aspect of things. Whatever the case may be, the beginning seems like a good place to start, so let’s arbitrarily work with that. After all, it’s the beginning of my Fall 2022 tour, so it seems the most logical place to begin.
In the beginning: I found myself in Apache Junction, Arizona. I’ve been here once before, however, it wasn’t a thorough affair. It wasn’t even a one night stand. It was one step away from a drive-by encounter—such as my experience with Phoenix, Arizona: a city I have only truly appreciated from a Freeway (which does not count for anything by anyone’s account). I played a show for the DESERT VALLEY HOUSE CONCERT series, and was immediately on my way home the next morning. I had been on the road for two months, and Apache Junction, was the last function of my multi-city-trans-state adjunction. I was on tour. That’s what I mean.
This time, as the fates would have it (not to mention my own insatiable curiosity) my kind hosts Darice and Lance offered to have me stay a few days to see Apache Junction and its natural splendor. Its Ghost Town: Goldfield.
Its Mountain Ranges, as barren and jagged and dangerous and unforgiving as its surrounding valley. History as seen through the eyes of various Native American tribes who inhabited this region. Superstition Mountain, observing from on high, the people of Apache Junction in their air-conditioned homes.
Goldfield Ghost Town was a wealth of photos. It was also 100 degrees outside. I met it somewhere in the middle and tried to give it a few hours of my time, as I was concerned that further investments might result in me melting, or spontaneous combustion: whichever comes first.
It felt as if I was spread, butt-naked on the hood of Goldfield’s automobile on a hot summer’s day—running on the assumption that it has an automobile. They for sure had a tractor. And a train for that matter. The later wasn’t functioning as they were waiting on a part to fix it. We’ll settle with me naked on a tractor. Fair enough? (And on that note, I bid ado to my male audience). I kid and promise to not hold your imagination hostage with naked insinuations that lead to mental perturbations over hot surfaces.
I am avid fan of all things old, and an even bigger fan of daydreaming about what it would be like to live in an era such as this. I can only imagine what people smelled like. The advent of a daily shower was not quite a staple of the residents of this centennial plus legacy. The occasional bath perhaps? That might even be an exaggeration. I let my mind wonder, along with my senses. I can always plug my nose while I do.
What I can say is that there were no shortage of air-conditioners in this ghost town.
… and I appreciate that. I was sunburned either way, but the cool air felt nice across my scorched person. Let’s not mince words: that was my fault. An intelligent-forward-thinking individual wears sunscreen. As I am none of those things, I wore my sunburn like a badge of ignorance, in the remnants of a ghosty village. People pointing and stating, “Look at the visiting village idiot.” I waved and kept that stupid smile across my face, nose plugged, thinking about bygones well past, absently. It’s easy to be happy on occasion, and this made me happy—that is until I felt the overwhelming urge to retreat back to Darice and Lance’s air-conditioned home for a nap. Am I the only one who feels as if the heat is a vampire of energy when the temperature is well near the surface of the sun? I would share a picture of me napping, but I haven’t the foresight for that either. The photograph is resting comfortably next to my sunscreen: unused and under-appreciated.
This small town had to be the constellation of a gold mine, and sure enough, there was a gold mine present. For $7 you can take a guided tour of this gold mine, but believe it or not, it was so hot outside, and I was so depleted of energy, that I couldn’t picture myself going down there on this occasion. I will probably regret that decision—more likely, I will probably revisit it in the future, as I have quite the fond fascination with the gold rush of the 1800’s, especially as it was recounted by Samuel Langhorne Clemens in “Roughing It.” Words will suffice where our eyes fail us, or more closer to the point as it pertains to me, where my drowsy eyes outweigh my curiosity. Which is not often, mind you.
A day of recovery was in order, so I spent most of the next day reading. My friend Darice with Desert Valley House Concerts told me, “You should read this book.” I have been gobbling it up like a hungry hungry hippo.
At the moment, it’s all I find myself wanting to talk about. So, what is the book about? It’s about Quantum Physics and reality. All of the discoveries made by the Quantum Physicists of the 1900’s and 2000’s. Tangible reality. Is this reality objective? Older sciences before Quantum Physics have never taken into account the role of consciousness into this equation.
We are not inactive observers of reality. We are simultaneously observing it and creating it. An analogy that is accurate, is reality being like a dream. As we sleep and experience the dream, we feel like merely a participant—however we are also simultaneously creating the dream we are experiencing subjectively.
Quantum Physics for the past 100 years has been finding this exists in our observation/creation of reality (The Universe).
An example: “The Double-Slit Experiment”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment
This and many subsequent experiments points to the direction that we are not and never will be independent entities in the Universe. We, in fact, live in a participatory Universe, whether we particpate or not. What does this mean?
Everything we do, or don’t do, alters that which is around us. Everything is probability, much like the second law of thermodynamics. A quantum computer, is a direct reflection of this notion.
It's a direct reflection of reality. It's more powerful as a computer because we are designing something that is closer to the function of nature. Probability. It takes into account as many possibilities as possible, and runs on this very notion.
It's like the second law of thermodynamics. Just because we have never seen a shattered glass move backwards into a solid form of un-shattered existence, does not mean that it can't happen. Quite the contrary. Mathematical probability shows us that it CAN exist, even if the probability of it is low.
A quantum computer is taking all possibilities into account, much as reality does, apparently. Probability wave.
I don't completely understand all of this—but this book is helping me to get a general sense of what quantum physics is.
It's both freedom and probability. That we are an active part of the Universe, whether we try to be or not. If you find this alarming to read. It’s okay. Einstein did too. He saw that is was real and how experiments such as the double-slit experiment verified these notions, and this is why he found it so hard to accept, as its very notion contradicted classical concepts of sciences. The very notion of science is to maintain a detached observation of reality around us, at least, in a traditional sense maintained over the corse of pre-existing efforts in understanding reality (The Universe).
It's like a dream. We feel like a participant in the dream while we sleep, but we are actually making the dream that we feel like we are along in the ride for! It's magic, in a sense. And reality: it functions the same way.
Nature only appears to be objective, to those who want to see it that way. If we realize that we are the active imagination of all probability, we realize we are actually not outside of the Universe, but helping it to become what it is at every moment, regardless of whether we try to or not. We simultaneously are spectator and creator, creating as we spectate, and spectating as we create.
The craziest thing, is that nature seems to reinforce whatever we “want” to see, speaking outside of the boundaries of quantifiable experimentation. If a group of persons wants to believe that they are outside The Universe, observing it in a cold and detached manner in a subjective stupor, feeling that their actions/inaction play no role in the constant creation, nature does not argue. It’s simply reinforces that possibility like a warm blanket.
If however, people take the time to really try to see that reality (The Universe) is probability, than they collectively realize that everything is a possibility, no matter the small nature of the number describing the probability of the action: i.e. a shattered glass becoming whole again before your eyes. That is real statistical analysis of a shattered glass. There exists the minute possibility of it becoming whole again.
In the words of the standup comedian Bill Hicks: “Young men on acid realize that all matter is merely energy condensed to a slow vibration—that we are all one consciousness experiencing our self subjectively. There is no such thing as death. Life is a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves. Here’s Tom with the weather.”
And let there be no doubt, the weather didn’t disappoint. It’s the tail-end of monsoon season in Arizona. Micro-bursts are abound. They pickup patio furniture to great heights, only to drop them in places the owners of which might not agree with. I quickly helped Darice to collect her patio belongings under the confines of cover, to prevent mother nature’s exterior decorating options.
Chili was had. Conversation was abound. Discussions of a hike the next morning were agreed upon in the Usery Mountains above Mesa, Arizona.
Joe, one of Lance and Darice’s friends chose the location: Wind Caves. We made a morning of it.
It was a conjoined effort to remove my own naiveté in regards to Wind Cave, this Mountain Range, and it’s trail, in general. Specifically, I’m still pretty absent in so far as most other things are concerned—and it’s always great to know that Wind Cave was named aptly: plenty of wind and plenty of cave to go around (they both were very generous and we shared). Listening to these fellas both brainstorm a painting company in which the painters put the F.U. in Fun Home Renovation was my personal highlight to an already stunning view (not pictured).
However, the main reason I am here in Apache Junction is to play music—which was done. I done did that for Desert Valley House Concerts. We had a wonderful time. Exhibit A (good time):
As with most places, it’s not the place, its the people that make the place, and Apache Junction is no exception. Thank you Darice and Lance for making this such a lovely experience.
I am a storyteller, singer, songwriter, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:
Come on out and see me play live in a city near you:
Fool For You (Live at Studio 333) could go viral! What??
I have never had anything like this happen to me before. I recently joined TikTok, and a few days ago, I uploaded a brand new mix of a song that I wrote called "Fool For You (Live at Studio 333)". I had this really beautiful video footage that Damian Apunte filmed years ago, of the band and I playing the song live at my friend's recording studio.
I didn't have a lot of money at the time of filming that video, and so I decided to try and mix the audio myself. Long story short, the audio didn't turn out all that great. Fast forward five or six years later. I sent the audio off to my friend Ryan Lipman, to mix. This was during the pandemic. I had lots of time on my hands, and it had always bugged me, that the audio wasn't as good as the video footage. Well, let me tell you: Ryan fixed that problem. He sent me a gorgeous mix for the song.
I then proceeded to forget about that mix.
That bring us to three days ago.
I was looking through my hard drive, and I found this mix that Ryan Lipman did. I took the existing video footage I have, threw that into Adobe Premiere Pro (a video editing program), and added Ryan's audio mix to this footage. It looks (and now it sounds) beautiful.
Instilled with this new confidence in the song, I posted it on TikTok. Two days later, it has 18,000 plus views. My follower count suddenly explodes. People are asking where they can listen to the song. It's been incredible.
I decided to re-release the song. It's now live on Spotify and Apple Music: the new mix of the song. I also re-uploaded it to Youtube:
These are small victories.
The song hasn't gone viral. It's just received more attention than I am used to—from a younger demographic. I am not accustomed to that, I suppose? It most certainly isn't unwelcome. It warms my heart and lends to me feeling the furthest from being antiquated: relevant. Special even?
For a short period of time, it feels special. I feel special (just a little bit—forgive me for that if it is an ugly thing).
Who knows what the future holds? Perhaps the song will continue this upward trajectory. Then again, perhaps it won't, and perhaps it will fall into obscurity once again.
Regardless, I am thankful for the new ears and new hearts and new brains that have found this song.
I make music to connect with people, and it feels really lovely to connect with new people. People who I have never met in person.
In all honesty, I hope and dream that it continues to gain momentum. I texted my aunt Doreen yesterday, to share with her that it was exploding on this platform. I told her that I had my fingers crossed that it goes viral. She said, "I'll pray for it. It's more reliable." I used to tell Doreen that I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a little kid—or a professional baseball player. And whatever it was, she always supported me. She is supporting right now in prayers. Prayers that it will go viral.
I hope that it does this because it's a good song. I truly believe in this song. I always have—seeing the reaction I receive from people when I play it live.
Here is a link to check it out on TikTok:
Click this image to find “Fool For You (Live at Studio 333)” on your favorite streaming service. The new mix by Ryan Lipman is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube Music, and every other streaming service you can think of.
You can also click this link below to find it on your favorite platform of choice to listen to good vibes:
https://songwhip.com/mikevitale/fool-for-you-live-at-studio-333
Additionally, here is a link to my latest release from 2021. It is a Country and Americana inspired collection of songs. The album is called Φ. It is available on all the major streaming services by either clicking the album cover to the right, or the link below:
https://songwhip.com/mikevitale/phi
I am thankful to have you all in my lives.
I am thankful to be touring in October and November of this year.
(You can see all my show dates here: https://www.bandsintown.com/mikevitale
I am thankful for all the people who have been contributing to this tour on my GoFundMe. Every little bit helps, and I hope you have been enjoying my newest album, DESERT DOGS (which I send when you contribute to it), before it gets released next year on July 11th 2023: https://gofund.me/7876a2cd
May you all cross your fingers for me, or pray, or carry me in your thoughts. Whatever suits your demeanor and life outlook. May this song soar, even if just for a little while, over small mountain ranges. May it see a small bit of what the world has to offer, and connect me with more folks than my wildest imagination could ever fathom.
- Mike
Some of the lovely folks who attended last year's Houston, TX performance.
Yes. I am booking a tour. A tour is being booked. I did it last year too. I did it before the pandemic. I’m gonna keep doing it because its fun.
I’m working on bringing my friend Chris out to play as a duo with me as well. Fingers crossed.
There is still a lot of booking to be done. My friend John in Houston has been helping me with the Houston, Texas area. That man is my spirit animal.
If you or anyone you know would like to help. By all means, please. I could use it. I am juggling a lot and anything and everything that pertains to booking would be of immense assistance.
I am looking to tour Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and perhaps some of the other peripheral states in the immediate vicinity of these listed.
Here are my current bookings as of today.
FALL 2022 U.S. TOUR DATES
As you can see, I still have a lot of booking work ahead of me. Small beginnings. I am making out with my laptop and home computer for most of the day; its got cold lips. We get a lot of face time these days.
Talk to me Goose.
Hey Friends, I'm proud to announce that my new album will be released to all the digital streaming platforms this summer on Tuesday September 21st 2021. The album is called ϕ (phi).
If you are a Spotify user, here is a pre-save link for the new album. Supposedly, having people pre-save the album and the singles, is very helpful for getting onto Spotify playlists, which would be a boon to its reach to new ears, so to speak—so I would be honored to have you do that, should your kind heart be so inclined:
PHI
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/phi
Here is the official release schedule for every single as well as the titles being released as singles.
Tuesday August 17th 2021 - TIME MACHINE
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/time-machine
Tuesday August 24th 2021 - YOUNGER DAYS
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/younger-days
Tuesday August 31st 2021 - EMPTY CIRCLE
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/empty-circle
Tuesday September 7th 2021 - HOME
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/home
Tuesday September 14th 2021 - GONE
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/gone
Tuesday September 21st 2021 - ϕ (phi - FULL ALBUM)
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/phi
SUNDAY September 26th 2021 - FULL BAND ALBUM RELEASE SHOW at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, CA at 8pm (more details coming soon—this is bonus info for the folks kind enough to read this far into my post; thank you for caring and for loving and supporting me).
A huge thanks to my new friends at Live Nation and House of Blues for offering to advertise this live stream tomorrow night on their Instagram profile! Perhaps I might reach some new ears, which would be cool. If you are interested in joining me while I perform some original material from my two new albums coming soon, as well as some older songs from previous releases, swing by my Instagram at 8pm PST tomorrow night. My handle is @mikevitalemusic. You can also just click this image to take you there, directly.
Give me a follow on BANDSINTOWN to know when I am playing a live stream next!
I put together another great month of original music in my neighborhood of Eagle Rock at Talon Tap and Wine every Thursday night, for the month of March.
As with last month, I’ll be performing a 30 to 35 minute set with my friend Tom Bremer joining me on guitar.
Listening Room Presents is an evening celebrating talented songwriters from the local community in a listing room environment, sharing their unique stories in song.
Each Thursday night, we feature an evening of music with no cover charge, consisiting of two different singer/songwriters from the community as well as a performance from Mike Vitale and Tom Bremer.
We have an absolutely awesome lineup for the month of March, including Geoff Pearlman from #echointhecanyon band, Adam Levy (extensive credits as both a songwriter and guitar wizard on many popular albums including Norah Jones' "Come Away With Me", "Feels Like Home", and "Not Too Late"), Luke Wade (finalist on Season 7 of "The Voice"), Dan Navarro (co-writer of the Pat Benatar hit "We Belong" with David Lowen), Terra Naomi (who built a world wide fan base from her hit on Youtube "Say It's Possible"), as well rising talents Amber Leigh Farris, Anastasia Lynne, and my partner in crime Daniel Blake.
It's a free show, but we ask everyone who attends to support the venue and purchase a drink or two from their extensive collection of craft beer and wine!
Talon Tap and Wine
1353 Colorado Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Music starts promptly at 8pm and ends at 10pm, ever Thursday night.
We are working diligently at creating a listening space for artists to share their unique music with a quiet and attentive audience.
I put together another great month of original music in my neighborhood of Eagle Rock at Talon Tap and Wine every Thursday night, for the month of February.
As with last month, I’ll be performing a 30 to 35 minute set with my friend Tom Bremer joining me on guitar. I’m working on seeing if I can bring out a band to perform with me on February 20th and February 27th as well. I’ll keep you posted.
If you are interested in attending, there is no cover and Talon Tap and Wine has a wonderful selection of craft beer and wine to choose from.
Talon Tap and Wine is located at 1353 Colorado Blvd. in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, 90041.
Music starts promptly at 8pm and ends at 10pm, ever Thursday night.
We are working diligently at creating a listening space for artists to share their unique music with a quiet and attentive audience.
I would say that one of goals this year is to play as many shows featuring my own music as possible. I have already been doing this—but a key ingredient in the continued success of such is finding a room where people will listen.
So, I created an event called “Listening Room Presents.”
I figure that I and many others, are trying their best to propagate some positive vibes on this planet, so why not try to do it every week! Every Thursday to be exact—right down the street from where I live. For free. No cover.
I’ve been very fortunate to meet a lot of talented folk in this area, and I wish to share all the wonderful music I have been running across, with my neighbors as well as any and all lovely people who are willing to listen.
The event is taking places at Talon Tap and Wine. A very warm thank you to Tom, the owner, for providing a space for us to share our original music.
The event runs from 8pm to 10pm, every Thursday, featuring two special guest singer-songwriters that I admire, as well as myself and my friend Tom Bremer, playing an acoustic duo set of songs I wrote at around 9pmish.
It is open to the public, and we would love to have you there to listen.
Talon Tap and Wine has one of the largest selections of Craft Beer and Wine in Eagle Rock! It is also an affordable location to have a few drink. They have one of the largest selections of high quality craft beer in my neighborhood, hands down, that can be purchased for as little as $2.50, and can be enjoyed right on the premises for an additional $2 taping fee. There’s not many places around town to enjoy such fine quality libations for $4.50. They also have a fine selection of craft beer on tap, and a selection of wines to enjoy on the premises as well.
January 9th is the first of many shows, and we would be honored to have you there to listen, and even more honored if you spread the word and brought a friend along with you.
Psst. I'm playing a show in Long Beach in the year of our Lord, 2019. This just happened. You're the first to know (okay, really you were the second—my PATREON backers were first). I'm excited!
It'll be free. We ARE going to ask for donations as my friend Leanna is in town on tour from Bali playing with her new music duo Bullet and Cass; we'll just be passing around a jar—you don't have to contribute if you can't.
My Long Beach friend and national treasure, Taylor Crawford set up this wonderful event for us at a very cool speak easy type room in The Federal Bar in downtown Long Beach called The Parlour Room. It will be a listening audience and I would love to have all my Long Beach friends there if ye be willing to attend.
In addition, I will try to get my compatriot in crime and all things good music, Tom Bremer, to join me on acoustic guitfiddle that night.
The Lineup:
Taylor Crawford - 8pm
Bullet and Cass - 9pm
Mike Vitale - 10pm
Like I bu beba say ba—it's a free show. Invite some friends. I promise to speak better English, and play some mediocre music. Never mind. I'll speak poorly and play some fucking great music. Sound good? I guess we'll find out, together, on November 21st. As you can see by that last sentence, I just RSVP'd you. Does that mean you’re not coming now? Don’t be mad. I was just foolin’ ‘bout.
We did it!
We’re up to play the CMC Farmer’s Market in downtown LA this morning, AND we’re on NPR Music’s website:
I think I wrote this song in 2015 or so. It’s a story about running away from home in second grade because I wanted to be a werewolf after watching Teen Wolf starring Michael J Fox. I invited my friend Brandon Kite to join me at 4am in the morning. We made it all the way to the outskirts of Visalia before we were picked up a by a Police officer. I was trying to head to Sequoia National Park because I was under the impression there were wolves there, and if I were to drink the water from a wolves’ footprint, it would turn me into a werewolf (that was info from a Scholastic Magazine).
For the record, I tried drinking the water from a dog’s footprint, first: didn’t work. At any rate, this was my Christmas gift to my mom and dad, because I never bothered explaining this story to them, when I was brought back home by the police. Not their fault. Some kids want red fire trucks. I wanted to be a werewolf (or an astronaut... or a park ranger); what can I say? This is available to watch in my IGTV and you can find on Youtube as well. There is a link in my profile for the song with my friends Frank, Tom, and Brad playing on it. I used this song to raise a little bit of money for the Michael J Fox Parkinson’s research foundation.
Running Away From Home
Words and Music: Mike Vitale
watching the movie Teen Wolf put the notion in my head
that being human's boring and I'd rather be a werewolf instead
but knowing getting bit by one could be a difficult proposition
I reckoned that the wilderness would improve this disposition
so we lit out at dawn for the mountains in the distance
my best friend Brandon along in tow no doubt from my insistence
1985 was the year of our independence
two empty seats in a second grade class while the teachers calling attendance
but there's no need to worry
I've got everything I need
a sandwich and a blanket
and the will to succeed
I'm heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home
in order to ensure a proper werewolf transformation
my days before departure were spent researching Scholastic publication
and according to my sources folklore lent it several options
all of which I applied myself to their immediate adoption
one of which involved drinking water from a werewolf footprint
but since that wasn't handy I felt a dog's would be sufficient
and when the full-moon changing never came I was left with one volition
to pursue a pack of wolves to bring my dreams into fruition
but there's no need to worry
I've got everything I need
I would have asked for your approval
but I knew you'd never agree
I'm heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home
and getting to the foothills would be a days worth of travel
but getting spotted by adults would make my well-laid plans unravel
and knowing we wouldn't make it far walking streets in broad daylight
we walked the inner parts of canals to keep us out of sight
the sun was near to setting and my plan was sitting pretty
Brandon and I had one street left to reach the outskirts of the city
yet one small problem remained and left Brandon and I debating
the portal that would lead us beneath the street was covered by metal grating
but there's no need to worry
we've got everything we need
we can climb this chainlink fence
and then you and I will be home free
we're heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home
and just as we reached the top of the fence a squad car changed the setting
the officer rolled down his window and asked where we were heading
we pointed towards the mountains and he got a twinkle in his eye
he said, "man, that's a long ways away boys, hop in, I'll give you a ride."
but there's no need to worry
I've got everything I need
a sandwich and a blanket
and the will to succeed
I'm heading towards the hills
where all the lone wolves roam
so long momma, I'm running away from home
I’m very excited to be releasing a new live video next week on all my social media: Youtube, Facebook, and so forth. Here is a sample of it. It’s a song off of my self titled EP from 2014, called “Latchkey Kid.” We tracked this song live at Studio 333 in Cerritos, CA on January 17th 2019. It features Frank Reina on drums, Tom Bremer on guitar, and Paul Jones on bass. We are going to be celebrating the release of this video tomorrow night (FEB 27th 2019) in Long Beach at The Wine Bar on Ocean Ave. if you feel like coming out to support; music starts at 7pm. There is no cover; it’s a free show. I’m honored to have my friends Alyssandra Nighswonger, Honest Horse and Taylor Crawford joining me to share their beautiful music. We would be stoked to have you there, and I would adore the opportunity to see some friends in the area if it’s in the cards. Thank you to Monika Lightstone for making this video with me. You are amazing and I am thankful to have you as a friend. Thanks to Ryan Lipman for the lovely mix.
I do graphic design—very poorly. Here are two flyers I made, advertising two shows I am playing this month.
This one is for a show in Los Angeles next week on Thursday February 21st 2019 on the western hemisphere of Earth.
This is the part of this post where I continue to regurgitate information off of this flyer.
Show starts at 8pm. No cover.
Lot 1 Cafe
1533 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles CA
Playing some muzak I wrote with Marcus Von Rittberg and Daniel Blake. Coincidentally, they will be doing the exact same thing
And then there’s this show on Wednesday February 27th 2019. This one I am playing with a band. A really great band. Frank Reina on drums. Tom Bremer on guitar. Paul Jones on bass.
It’s going to be in Long Beach, which just so happens to be in the same hemisphere as Los Angeles, on planet Earth.
We’ll be playing at The Wine Bar. It’s a bar. They serve wine there. They also host a lot of original music. It’s a great hang. You should swing by if you feel obliged to. No cover.
I’ll be joined by Honest Horse, Alyssandra Nighswonger, and Taylor Crawford, who are all so lovely and so talented, and I’m very thankful to have them playing.
We would be stoked to have you. Music starts at 7pm. The band and I go on at 9pm.
Here is me performing a song I wrote live at Hotel Cafe in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA. My friend Monika Lightstone found this on her hard drive the other day, and shared—I thought I would follow suit.
Support and Join the Record Label: http://bit.ly/2nigMwU
Learn More About Me Here: http://mikevitalemusic.com
Upcoming Shows: https://www.bandsintown.com/mikevitale/
Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2niho5G
Connect with me online and say hi:
Twitter http://twitter.com/mikevitalemusic
Facebook http://facebook.com/mikevitalemusic
Instagram http://instagram.com/mikevitalemusic
Listen to Me Here:
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/mikevitalemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WvkxAen388KiPMSxh6joB…
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369
Purchase Music:
Bandcamp: https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369
FOOL FOR YOU
words and music by Mike Vitale
the touch of your skin against mine
was flawless and supine
as I read your story in braille
my resolve was as frail
as that tall tale that lingered from my tongue
now I'm all twisted up
like a towel that's been wrung
maybe it's the conversation we had in bed
maybe i just want to see your eyes roll back in your head
maybe you're a drag from a stranger's cigarette
but once i've got you on my lips
you're hard to forget
and now that you've got me where you want
you're moving from hot to cool
and now that you've got me where you want
woman, i'm a fool for you
feeling your chest heave
as you're lying there asleep
now I'm bating every breath
so that the moment isn't cheap
are you resolved to entail
a large sail to guide me away
on some nautical course
that perhaps I'd rather stay
maybe you're just playing hard to get
or perhaps you just want me to forget
maybe I'm a marionette on strings
trying to measure your depth beyond anatomy
and now that you've got me where you want
you're moving from hot to cool
and now that you've got me where you want
woman, i'm a fool for you
and now that you've got me where you want
you're moving from hot to cool
and now that you've got me where you want
woman, i'm a fool for you
The reason I started a Patreon page, no joke, was to start doing more things like this. Live videos and live recordings.
Naturally, it's a budget thing.
This video, recorded live on Thursday January 17th 2019, is going to look and sound amazing. Why is that important to me? Because I am trying to land some festival gigs. Playing festivals is a great way to make some new fans, and I can get the band booked if I have videos that look and sound great, like this one:
So, that's what I'm doing. I'm planning on trying to make several more videos like this one. "Latchkey Kid (Live at Studio 333)" is the second of many, hopefully. I need a few up beat songs as well as a mid tempo tune like "Fool For You" to pitch us as a well-rounded act to these festivals.
Paul Jones, Tom Bremer, and Frank Reina at Studio 333 in Cerritos, CA. (pictured from left to right)
I was speaking with one of my friend's who is nearly the same age as me. She is suddenly gaining a great deal of success as a songwriter. She mentioned that the reason this is, outside of the music being good, is to have a team of people around her, that are good at what they do.
This is what I am trying to build on right now. YOU are part of that team also, if you want to be: https://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic
Mike Vitale performing Latchkey Kid at Studio 333 in Cerritos, CA.
Monika Lightstone is part of this team. She is the one shooting this video footage and all of this amazing photography.
Frank Reina, Tom Bremer, and Paul Jones are a part of this team. Studio 333 is a part of this team.
Frank Reina, Tom Bremer, Paul Jones, and Mike Vitale at Studio 333 in Cerritos, CA.
We make really beautiful things when we all work together. I'm hoping that this enthusiasm that I am feeling, is contagious. I hope that you feel it. It's momentum.
This momentum needs to grow in order for my music to reach ears, so I am working as diligently as I possibly can, to create a team, to nurture the project, and to watch this grow.
I am so very thankful to have you be a part of this team and for you to grow with all of us, should this be something you are interested in: To grow older, to grow better, to grow smarter, to grow emotionally.
You have my deep and sincere gratitude.
"Latchkey Kid (Live at Studio 333)" is being edited and is on the docket to be mixed here shortly.
I will have more to share with you soon.
- Mike
