"Want" | Mike Vitale (Original)

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“Want”
words and music by Mike Vitale

A tall glass of water
A safe bed to sleep
A roof overhead
Warm food to eat

A world full of want
Desires and dues
Everyone needs something
Without exception too

Someone to hug us
When we’re feeling blue
Someone to love us
Through and through

Everyone wants
We’re all living proof
Everyone needs something
And I’m no exception too

Maybe under an overpass and over this life
Feeling all alone and cold and scared and hungry at night
Empty as a Dixie cup, discarded just the same
Crumpled up and wasted under pliable walls, blankets, and rain

Who here marks value on things you can count
Please add up all the tents and tarps standing about
Everyone here needs a home and no one ever wants to feel alone

"Infinite Jest" | Mike Vitale (Original)

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Faith is a curious creature, who even when roaming the confines of a dictionary, grazes on the delights of strange words:

faith
/fāTH/
Learn to pronounce
noun
noun: faith
1.
complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
"this restores one's faith in politicians"
2.
strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

I have had times in my life where I have lacked faith, and yet others where the fruits of faith were in overabundance for harvest. 

There is so much that we feel in this world... versus say, think in this world—and the grey area between those two opposing forces of dichotomy seems to be where this creature dwells, grazing on those strange delights of words I was mentioning earlier—perhaps, waiting to be noticed, so that another may appear, just like it—like the spooky action at a distance that Einstein talked about in 1947. 

Something like quantum entanglement in the realm of particles and quantum mechanics is so incredible to behold, but it doesn't mean we understand how it works. 

We instead just might observe a photon lighting up, and find another just like it, identically lighting up at exactly the same time, in an opposite place in the universe (which we have, and continue to). We build computers using these discoveries, yet we are no closer to understanding how something can be a hazy cloud, until it is observed. I know all of this sounds like nonsense, but it is what quantum mechanics is trying to make sense of, at the moment. We have people postulating that we all live inside a holographic projection, right now, in an effort to find a unifying theory for everything. It's called The Holographic Principle.

I don't know where to begin trying to understand things as wacky, intangible, and deep as this—but then again, maybe that's the reason why its this convoluted in the first place. Who knows for sure? Not me. But, I can write a song about it.

Infinite Jest
words and music by Mike Vitale

Maybe God gave the punchline
And we were too young to interpret the meaning
Or maybe we’re all just a comedy of errors
And so on and on logic wrestles with feeling

Universe, are we all alone
in an endless space full of human abstraction?
The chills running up and down my spine 
A conversation, or just a chemical reaction?
And if God already tipped its hat and gave its last regard
With infinite jest and a question written in the stars

Who here thinks God’s got a sense of humor?
Maybe one day it’ll raise your hand
Despite what you’ve read between wonderment and rumor
Our only sacrament is our ability to understand

Universe, are we all alone
in an endless space full of human abstraction?
The chills running up and down my spine 
A conversation, or just a chemical reaction?
And if God already tipped its hat and gave its last regard
With infinite jest and a question written in the stars

The chicken from the egg?
Or the egg from the chicken?
We take it all so serious with our scientific method
If we could learn to laugh with egg on our face rather than be angry, indifferent, and tepid

and mixed up somewhere between particles and strings and the king of kings...
We might find an answer
Or maybe God just speaks in stones and trees and the bones of things like an exotic dancer

Universe, are we all alone
in an endless space full of human abstraction?
The chills running up and down my spine 
A conversation, or just a chemical reaction?
And if God already tipped its hat and gave its last regard
With infinite jest and a question written in the stars
With infinite jest and a question written in the stars
With infinite jest and a question written in the stars

Thanks to everyone on Patreon for helping me to make music videos, and to record, mix, and master music all the music I've been posting to Spotify, Apple Music, and all the streaming services. I'm very grateful.

If you are interested in being a part of it, you can learn more here: http://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

A very special thanks to patrons Amy Armitage and Fernando Gallegos.

Kathy's Song | Mike Vitale (Original)

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Out of anything I have ever done with my life—this was the greatest responsibility and privilege that's ever been put on my shoulders: I was asked to write this song by my friend Amy who lives in Australia. It was a gift for her mother, who was nearing the end of her current form here on Earth. Her mom's name is Kathy. I asked for Amy to send me as much intimate detail and memories she could muster about her mom's life—especially as it pertained to Kathy and her children. I put as much of my heart and love into this song as I could. The greatest gift in my life was to receive these words from Amy after I sent her the song:

"I played it to her and said nothing. She said, it's beautiful— where did you find this?"

I said "it's a song written for you."

She continued to cry and listened and said "it's beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful."

And when it ended I asked her if she recognized the voice, she paused, she didn't know and then she said "is it your friend? Is it Mike Vitale?"

And she asked me to thank you.

Right now it's night time. And she's alone in her hospital bed, listening to the song, over and over and feeling very special.
Thank you x."

Kathy passed away on July 2nd 2019. Thank you so much for the opportunity and privilege of this connection, Amy. All my love to you and your family.
Here are the words. I'm working on the production for it right now—it'll be on one of my two new album coming out in 2020.

Kathy's Song
words and music by me

Baby Steps
Your hands on my waist
Showering kisses on my tiny face
My clumsy dance
Living life's ballet
But your outstretched arms met me there half way

Mum was magic
and her grand illusion
As sorceress of candy and it's sweet diffusion
Lollies would vanish
And cool mints too
Appearing under pillows from across the room

When we were young
Zizi couldn't say
The suitable pronunciation of our names
Amanda was Memo
And Brett was Bert
And mum would say she loved us all the much in the world

We took long drives
With no destination
While mum and dad would hold hands in adoration
The passing scenery and years roll by so quick
With kids in the backseat listening to music

Your wheelchair
I engage the brake
Showering kisses on our mother's face
This mysterious dance
It breaks my heart
But nothing in this Universe will ever keep us apart

Thank you to everyone on Patreon for directly supporting the art I make. If you are interested in having a profound affect on my ability to release more art into the world, whether it be through videos like this, or the two albums I'm releasing in 2020, or the acoustic album I put out in 2018, or the tours I setup across the United States, you can do so here: http://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

A deep and special thank you to the Patreon patrons Fernando Gallegos and to Amy Armitage (this is song is dedicated to her mother, Kathy).

Ted Greene | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

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Getting sick is a drag. I'm heading to the doctor today.  I'm a smidge concerned—I seem to have caught something a little more severe than a cold.  At any rate, in regards to yourself, stay safe and healthy.

All that said, I've been trying to better utilize my time away from the realm of singing in other ways—like working on Ted Greene arrangements for solo guitar!  

Let there be no mistake: Ted Greene was one of the most amazing and versatile guitar players you have probably never have heard of (unless you are a musician).  He wrote several books on chord study and single note soloing—and many fine guitar players in southern California used to take private lessons with Ted, before he passed away. I first heard him through my friend Marcus McMillan, who studied with Ted for several years. He would record his guitar lessons with him. They were a blast to listen to. It was immediately apparent the guy was beyond the normal boundaries of guitar ninja gaiden territory. He was somewhere else entirely.

His knowledge of voice leading, inversions, and chord voicings made him the foremost authority on cracking your skull in two as a listener.  You need only buy his books to get a grasp of this.  He was a brilliant mind—a trailblazer in terms of the chords he used—no exaggeration necessary.  The only players I’ve heard use the chord voicing he found, are his students.  That is why I study these songs.  They are equal parts inspiring—and I learn these chord shapes within a utilized context, which is priceless in and of itself.  I have already started writing some songs that use some of these tasty vibes.

There is always a nugget or passage in these tunes that are extremely difficult to play.  If you are a guitar player, I’m sure it might be apparent just watching—however, if you take a crack at playing some of them, I’m sure you’ll see what I mean.

Speaking of which, here is a link to Ted's website should you have any interest in perusing:

tedgreene.com

Enjoy!

- Mike

Puppy Love | Mike Vitale (Original)

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Puppy Love
words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

Puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up old bones
Puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up old bones
Now I’m chained up in the backyard whinin’ them painful moans
‘cause puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up ol’ bones

Pretty little lady I’m a hungry for your love
But I’ve got nothing but an empty bowl
Pushin’ it around the yard with the end of my nose
Wishin’ you would feed me somethin’ but all the lights in the house are dark
So I curl up in the corner waitin’ for the sound of your car to park

‘cause puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up ol’ bones
Puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up old bones
Now I’m chained up in the backyard whinin’ them painful moans
‘cause puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up ol’ bones

I’ve got a one leg perched up and it’s twitchin’ in my sleep
I can still smell you on my coat
I’ve been dreamin’ about you forgettin’ the finer details of this anecdote
It’s like I’ve got an itch that I can’t scratch so please help a poor dog out
I completely lose my command of english every time that you’re around

‘cause puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up ol’ bones
Puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up old bones
Now I’m chained up in the backyard whinin’ them painful moans
‘cause puppy love tore up the garden
Puppy love tore up the garden
‘cause puppy love tore up the garden diggin’ up ol’ bones

Younger Days | Mike Vitale and Daniel Blake

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YOUNGER DAYS
words and music by Daniel Blake and Mike Vitale

I’m searching in the attic
For something long abandoned for survival
I used to feel ecstatic
When horizons were the frame of your arrival

But nothing seems to stay the same as how we pictured it
People ever changing like the shifting continents
And there’s no sense in fencing in or building walls to save
The emotions we were swimming in
In our younger days

A shoebox full of moments
The memories that made us who we are
We’re smiling in these pictures
The last light from a dying star

Because nothing seems to stay the same as how we pictured it
People ever changing like the shifting continents
And there’s no sense in fencing in or building walls to save
The emotions we were swimming in
In our younger days

Human - Mike Vitale (Original)

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This is a song I wrote about us and for us: human beings. I have an extensive track record of being very hard on myself—as well as continuously beating myself up for mistakes that I have made in the past. As much as we all know we are fallible creatures, that doesn’t stop us from judging one another, and worst of all, judging ourselves. My desire is for this song to be a reminder that we are all trying the best we can—to try to keep that in mind—to see yourself in others so that you may understand that we are all in this together. Maybe it’s somewhat like that Bill Hicks quote: “[...] we are all one consciousness experiencing ourselves subjectively [...] Life is a dream, and we are the imagination of ourselves.” He was a standup comedian, and isn’t it funny that they are the ones spouting some of the most pertinent, astute, and (sometimes) poignant observational truth. A quick thank you to everyone supporting my original music on Patreon: this is my latest offer for $1 backers. A special thanks to Amy Armitage and Fernando Gallegos.

Human
words and music by Mike VItale

People are a walking contradiction
Placing one foot in front of the other
And me I had no idea that i could walk this way
So I learned it from my father and my mother

People here are doing the best they can
Based on whatever their parents already covered
And I’m doing my best to do my best myself these days
So together let’s see what we discover

Because truth be told everyone tells a lie
And honesty can be delicately laid
Language was created to understand one another
So I choose my words carefully to say

We’re Human

Take it easy if you’re feeling down
Everyone trips from time to time
It’s a forgone conclusion to maintain the resolution
That you’re a perfect circle or a perfect line

Because truth be told everyone tells a lie
And honesty can be delicately laid
Language was created to understand one another
So I choose my words carefully to say

We’re Human
We’re Human

So go on and be mean if that’s what you’re feeling
Or maybe decided to turn the other cheek
Have a sense of humor, or maybe spread a rumor
We get back what we put into this world

Because truth be told everyone tells a lie
And honesty can be delicately laid
Language was created to understand one another
So I choose my words carefully to say

We’re Human
We’re Human
We’re Human

Re-Uploading "Latchkey Kid" for NPR's TINY DESK CONCERT SERIES

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Hey Everyone,

So, quickly: I had to resubmit my video for the Tiny Desk Concert Series because I upload it a few days before the March 12th start date, and they said that would disqualify the video.  

At any rate, if you could give the video some love, that would be greatly appreciated.  I had 31 likes on the last upload and a lot of comments and that was really neat, but I lost all that positivity because I have re-upload the video.  Here is what NPR wrote me today.  It was very nice of them to do this, and to not just disqualify the video I submitted:

Hi there,

My name is Marissa, and I work on the Tiny Desk Contest. I wanted to get in touch about a small problem we had with your Tiny Desk Contest entry.

While your video did follow most of our Official Rules – being under 10 minutes, showing an original song, featuring a desk (thanks!) – it looks like it didn’t meet one requirement for eligibility: being uploaded to YouTube after March 12, 2019.

The reason we have this “After March 12” rule is to make sure that people are sending us videos that are made specifically for this Contest – to ensure that, we check that videos were uploaded after we announced this year’s Contest.

However, I know that we hinted at the Contest coming back for 2019 a couple times on our site, in our newsletter and on social media over the past few months – and I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt and imagine that you filmed and uploaded your video in anticipation of the official announcement. If that’s the case, and you’d still like your video to be considered for the 2019 Contest, please consider re-uploading your video and resubmitting. Otherwise, we’ll have to consider your entry ineligible. Please note that we don’t usually allow this kind of resubmission – but this feels like a special situation.

Let me know if you have any questions or any problems with submitting.

Best, Marissa & the Tiny Desk Contest team

At any rate, that link above is for the brand new upload I just did.  I would be honored to have you show it some love if you have the inclination of the time!  It would mean a lot to me. 

Hope you all are having a great day!

Mike

Running Away From Home

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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

Latchkey Kid (Live at Studio 333) PREVIEW and RELEASE SHOW TOMORROW!

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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.

The Incredible Shrinking Brain (Acoustic)

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This song has been proven popular amongst strangers. Maybe you’ll like it? Are you a stranger? I don’t want your candy. No, I’m not going to hop in your car with you. This is called The Incredible Shrinking Brain:

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


THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING BRAIN
words and music by Mike Vitale

I feel like a mime with a painted on sad face touching an invisible wall
And it’s a crime I can’t see this behind my shit talk fueled by jealousy and alcohol
Sure, I’m overly critical, but by now I should know better
Maybe I’m just too hard on myself and it doesn't really matter

The longer I live the less I know for sure
When I was a younger man my certainty was premature
There’s all these abstract explanations I could conjure up in vain
But I’m the man with the incredible shrinking brain

Do you feel like an actor dressed up in black face? 
We’re really just canaries in a coal mine
Carried out the shaft like a suitcase, soot trace, smeared across our face and brow
War on race, preference, sex, and creed are indelible 
and noxious as the fumes
And right before we lose our consciousness 
collective conscience looms

The longer we live the less we know for sure
When we were a younger brood our certainty was premature
There’s all these abstract explanations I could conjure up in vain
But we’re people with incredible shrinking brains

Create the fertile furrows from a farmer’s plough
Two fathoms deep shouted across the bow
"Anger and hatred are caustic to the vessel in which its stored,
Far more than to anything on which its poured."

The longer we live the less we know for sure
When we were a younger brood our certainty was premature
There’s all these abstract explanations we could conjure up in vain
But we’re people with incredible shrinking brains

No Vacancy (Live at Monika Lightstone Studios)

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Here is the second of a series of videos made with the sole purpose of people watching them (go figure). We shall call this series, “Capture and Release.” Monika and I are big game hunters, who will never pull the trigger, except when it comes to releasing music.

This is a song I wrote called No Vacancy. If you happen to like this song, you can listen to the full band arrangement on your favorite streaming service of choice, by clicking this right heya: http://smarturl.it/tx0xoc

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

NO VACANCY

words and music by me

Dancing with a lover on a dead-end street 
Stepping on toes with my two left feet 
I fell asleep under a vacancy sign 
The no was burned out but then she changed the lights 

A foggy walk alone on a new moon night 
She disappeared altogether when I closed my eyes 
The street lights flicker on and off, on and off, on and off like her emotion 
Until I find I'm off the deep end of an abstract notion 

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings 
The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings 
The seed went sour in the dying light 
So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry 

The quick hide hid under a broken nail 
The Essex split in two over an angry whale 
There were rumors of cannibals living on the island nearby 
So the survivors took the opposite course and ate each other when the truth was in short supply 

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings 
The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings 
The seed went sour in the dying light 
So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry 

Parallel lines in the wilderness 
Train tracks broken by a small recess 
And as the casualties are listed by a talking head 
She limits the emotion behind words she read 

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings 
The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings 
The seed went sour in the dying light 
So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry 

I forgot the melody a caged bird sings 
The door's wide open but I've got clipped wings 
The seed went sour in the dying light 
So I'll sing for my supper 'til the water runs dry

My First Music Placement and Homelessness

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Mike Vitale.jpg

Hopefully, this is something that I won’t forget. It took me 39 years, but I finally had a piece of music picked for use in either a tv show, or a movie (forgive me for not knowing which it is). It’s an independent production called “House Broken.”

From what I am told, they are in the post production side of things, but I have been paid a synchronization fee for the song, so, it’s a done deal in terms of their interest in using the tune. They are pitching it to festivals and networks as soon as they complete the project.

Naturally, my hope is that anyone who works hard on their creative project, finds success with it.

It’s a project that deals with the subject of homelessness. The main character is based off of a real life person by the name of Fred Smoot. Fred was a stand up comedian in the 70’s who found success in his career and made several appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. This was a big deal for standup comedians in the 70’s.

Later in life, Fred developed dementia and eventually became homeless, living out of his car with his dog. He became a man of few possessions. Literally, he had a trophy, his car, and his puppy.

Fred’s circumstances are far from unusual. A friend of mine and I were watching a documentary called “Lost Angels: Skid Row is My Home” that came out in 2010, regarding Skid Row and it’s homeless population. Many of the people that call downtown LA their home, have preexisting mental conditions—Manic Depression, Schizophrenia, and dementia being several of many.

“House Broken” will be a project that addresses the homeless crisis we see here in Southern California. I see it in my own neighborhood of Eagle Rock. If you are a Los Angeles or Orange County resident, I am sure you do as well.

The song that is being used is my most recent. It’s called “The Incredible Shrinking Brain.”

Here is a private link to check it out if you feel so inclined:

The Incredible Shrinking Brain

words and music by Mike Vitale

I feel like a mime with a painted on sad face touching an invisible wall

And it’s a crime I can’t see this behind my shit talk fueled by jealousy and alcohol

Sure, I’m overly critical, but by now I should know better

Maybe I’m just too hard on myself and it doesn’t really matter

The longer I live the less I know for sure

When I was a younger man my certainty was premature

There’s all these abstract explanations I could conjure up in vain

But I’m the man with the incredible shrinking brain

Do you feel like an actor dressed up in black face

We’re really just canaries in a coal mine

Carried out the shaft like a suitcase, soot trace, smeared across our face and brow

The war on race, preference, sex, and creed are indelible

and noxious as the fumes

And right before we lose our consciousness collective conscience looms

The longer we live the less we know for sure

When we were a younger brood our certainty was premature

There’s all these explanations we could conjure up in vain

But we’re people with incredible shrinking brains

Our incredible shrinking brains

Create the fertile furrows from a farmer’s plough

“Two fathoms deep” shouted across the bow

“Anger and hatred are caustic to the vessel in which it’s stored

Far more than to anything on which its poured”

The longer we live the less we know for sure

When we were a younger brood our certainty was premature

There’s all these abstract explanations we could conjure up in vain

But we’re people with incredible shrinking brain

We’re people with incredible shrinking brains

Don't Tell Our Friends About Me

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Today is a bit of a rarity for me—in so much as I have had the whole day to myself... and I have no gig this evening—so I thought, what the hell, I'll make one more cover video for y'all.  This one is by singer/songwriter and guitarist pyrotechnician mad scientist: Blake Mills.

He's a hell of a songwriter, and a damn fine guitarist as well.  The guy can play.  You'll see what I mean if you go down the Blake Mills Youtube rabbit hole one night while eating frozen yogurt on the sofa in your pajamas at 2am.  No one's judging you. Do your thing.

I've had a marvelous day practicing this song and trying to learn it to the best of my ability.  I did get one line in the song wrong.  I'll give myself 100 lashings for this musical sin like a sad character from a Dan Brown novel, after I eat some more frozen yogurt (in reality I haven’t had frozen yogurt in months). Sad face.

Did everyone have a good Christmas?  I hope so.

I'm going to go shop for some more flannel right now, because suddenly it got really cold here in southern California.  Please excuse my brevity.  I hope this finds everyone smiling and well, eating frozen yogurt, shopping for their own flannel, going down Youtube rabbit holes, and listening to some Blake Mills.

Ta ta,

Mike

PS

Help me share this video if you like it

PSS

This video has expletives in it, so beware.

PSSS

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: http://youtube.com/mikevitalemusic

Between the Bars by Elliott Smith

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I had a friend and guitar student many years ago that first introduced me to Elliott Smith. I had heard of Elliott and his music several times from different people, and this friend was the one I finally listened to, caved, and bought everything that he had released at that point.

You know come to think of it, I look back on a lot of my friend’s recommendations, and smile, because they all have remained in a special location of my own heart. He turned me on to D’Angelo too.

However it was immediately apparent listening to Elliott’s music that he was a wounded and struggling soul, who carried around so much burden—but he did what makes any artist truly special: he/she become the voice of those who can not quite eloquently articulate his/her emotions or feelings.

The man struggled with addiction, and this song, from as far as I can tell, is about being an addict, seduced by a bottle of alcohol, like a lover. Powerful words and heart in this tune. He reduced me to tears the first time I heard it back in 1998 or so, having no idea what the song was about.

As always, thank you to all of the Patreon supporters who are helping and allowing for me to make videos such as this one, along with all the material I have released this year. 2018 has been the best year yet in terms of the amount of music I released. I will try to do better for 2019.

If you are an active Youtube user, please feel to give me a like and subscribe to my channel, if you dig what you’re hearing. The support means a great deal to me.

New Single "The Needle of the Human Race" on August 30th 2018

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My latest single "The Needle of the Human Race" will be available at all digital distribution locations on August 30th 2018.  You know the drill:  Spotify, Apple Music. iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Soundcloud, Bandcamp—all the places.

This was one of the first mixes I had completed from Patreon backers.  A special thank you to all of these people for whom of which this is all happening, because of you and your belief: Erik Gomez, Fernando Gallegos, Heather Renz, Amy Armitage, Austin, Bob Emerson, Bridget Mackiewicz, Carey Brown, Carson Fonseca, Fern Rouintree,  Brenda Matea, Ashley Thom, Jake, Janet Woodward, JayPee, John Sinambal, Joshua Jon Day, Judy and Jody Timmerman, Kelly McDonald, Lex, Matt Vitale, Megan Kaplinsky, Ron Feldman, Sarah Lim, The Luna Eclipse, Tim Grobaty, Yeggi Watts.

The song was mixed by Jon O'Brien at Music Box Studios in Fullerton, CA.  I recently had it mastered by Mark Chalecki and his amazing attention to detail that I admire a great deal.

A big thank you to all of my friends that played on this song.  Frank Reina on drums and Scott Dibble on Keys.  Most of all, thank you my friend Dave Gonzalez who played bass on this tune.  God bless him.  He passed away before having the opportunity to ever hear this song, completed—it breaks my heart to say that—it hurts even more to know that he is gone.  Then again, perhaps people such as Dave never really die, or are gone—they simply become music.  I will lean in that direction with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.

A big thank you to my friend Ryan C Jones for the cover photo of this song.  If I remember correctly, he shot this photo on his phone.  You are such a gift Ryan and I am deeply appreciative of you, your talent, and your kindness. 

For anyone interested in Pre-Saving the song on Spotify, simply click the image above and it will put you in a place to do that.

Most of all, thank YOU (the person reading this) for finding interest in me and the music I'm making.  You validate my life and efforts.

New Single NO VACANCY released today!

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Hey Everyone,

I just released a new full band single today called "No Vacancy."

Here is a link to find the song on your favorite listening platform:

http://smarturl.it/tx0xoc

It is available everywhere.  You name it.  You can listen to it there.

 

For your convenience, you can also just visit my NEW SINGLE page here on this website:

https://mikevitalemusic.com/new-single/

You can also click the album cover and it will take you to a landing page for several of the popular haunts to listen to new music (i.e. Spotify, Apple Music, etc).

Thank you to Frank Reina, Brad Cummings, Tom Bremer, Scott Dibble, Ryan Lipman, and Mark Chalecki for making art with me.

THANK YOU to everyone on Patreon for your help in releasing this new material.  I mean this with all my heart:  I can't do it without you (I tried).  This is working: what we are dong together.  I am more prolific as an artist than I have been in years because of your financial help. I have been releasing something constant and consistent every month since May 2018, because of you.

I want to take a second to thank all of these individuals especially for their continued contributions and help:  Erik Gomez, Amy Armitage, Fernando Gallegos, Heather Renz, Brandi, Bob Emerson, Joshua Jon Day, Carey Brown, and Tim Grobaty.

If you like this song, thank you.  It came from my heart.  It is my life.