A Chair—and a Tour

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“If a chair were a pedometer, it might be lousy at its job—or maybe it wouldn’t have one—and if it were just a chair, it can be fun to sit in.”

I’m working on my aspirational quotes. I was figuring the internet needs more of those.

The internet also needs to know me touring using bad grammar, with pictures courtesy of the sorceress supreme Mushka @lightstonpix

June 5 - Songwriters at Play at Humdinger Brewing - San Luis Obispo, CA

June 8 - Santa Cruz House Concert w/ Echoes and Artifacts - Santa Cruz, CA

June 9th - Secret Song Club - Sebastopol, CA

June 12 - La Baguette Music Cafe - Ashland, OR

June 14 - Levy & Stone House Concert - Portland, OR

June 15 - Backyard at the Barage - Vancouver, WA

June 16 - Spinellas Off the Wall - Gresham, OR

June 18 - Artichoke Music - Portland, OR

June 21 -  Quarterdeck at the De Moines Marina - Des Moines, WA

June 29th - Teton’s Shadow and Sound - Victor, ID

June 30th - Fresh Folk Festival at Clydesdale Outpost


I’m under the influence of my ventriloquist’s wishes.

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

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:

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

Two Shows in Southern California Before I Hit the Road Again

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What up party people. I’ve got two shows in Southern California before I hit the road again for the month of June on my Spring Tour on the United States, through California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Nevada.

The first show is this Sunday June 2nd in my home away from home, Long Beach, California playing at Vine on 4th Street with my buddies Brenda Carsey and Manuel the Band. That is from 4pm to 7pm, followed swiftly by more friends, Alyssandra Nighswonger and R. Scott performing from 7pm to 10pm. All of this goodness is free and 21 plus

The second show is in Hollywood, California playing at The Hotel Cafe with Aaron Bowen and Jesus Gonzalez coming up from San Diego, California as Marc Erickson, my fellow Angeleno.

Tickets are available in advance and are ten bucks:

https://new.hotelcafe.com/event/mike-vitale-aaron-bowen-jesus-gonzalez-and-marc-erickson/

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

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:

SOCIAL LINKS

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

A New Kickstarter Campaign for DESERT DOGS

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Friends,

I am releasing my new album DESERT DOGS this year, and I need your help to make it a success. It can be a success. It will be a success. It is all a matter of belief. I need you to believe in it.

I have never felt as strongly about anything I have done with my life, as I do about the skills that I have harnessed as a performer and storyteller, and the work I have put into this album

I would be honored to have you be a part of it. I have been playing original music since 2005, and 2024 is the culmination of my life’s work and efforts.

I need to raise a minimum of $25,000 as capital to make this album take off. This will not just be about marketing and videos. I explain this in full detail within the Kickstarter campaign which launched on Sunday May 5th at 9:15PM. If I don’t raise $25,000 by Sunday May 25th 2024, I get nothing. This is all or nothing.

I have a label that is interested in helping me to tour festivals with a full band after hearing my song SILVER LINING, which is the first track off of this album.

I have been getting up at 4AM every day since getting back from my last tour, to work on building a Kickstarter Campaign that explains not only why I need such a large sum of money, but also explains how upside down the music industry has become, how music as an album has been unceremoniously de-commodified in the eyes of consumers, and how difficult (almost impossible) it seems to pursue a full-time career in music, while keeping a roof over one’s head.

I need the love, support, and belief of people who are in my constellation, to lift me up on their shoulders and help me to achieve what I know is possible. I feel in my heart and soul that my dreams are possible, otherwise I would have given up long before this.

I have dreams at night that tell me this same thing.

I have watched many of my contemporaries give up. I refuse to. I know what my calling in life is. It is to tour the world playing music that will be helpful to the human race. I want to help. This is how I do it. So, in turn, I need your help. Do what you can, and I will as well.

This is a video I made, discussing the Kickstarter campaign in more detail, including what it is going towards and the reason why I am asking for such a substantial sum of capital to invest in my business:

If you are interest in learning more about this Kickstarter campaign, please visit this page to learn more:

http://kck.st/44seqP8

This is an all or nothing campaign. If I do not reach my $25,000 goal by Sunday, May 26 2024 9:15 PM PDT, I get nothing, and no one is charged who pledges an amount.

Thank you for your time, energy, support, and belief in my dreams in life. It is my everything. My joy. My love.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

You're Gonna Live Forever in Me | John Mayer

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I love the sentiment of this song. It’s beautiful. It made me cry the first time I heard it. John has grown into such a wonderful songwriter. He’s always been special, but he only grows to new boundaries with every album he releases. May this trend continue as we grow old, together, in the same lifetime.

He starts with the Macro, and as the song progresses, into the Micro of Human Relationships.

It’s a stunning piece of work. If you are unfamiliar with the song, I highly recommend listening to it. He performed it on piano, but I have a deep fascination with adapting piano songs to guitar, so I did that with it.

Most importantly: we are animal, living symbiotically on a planet in orbit around a sun, which is one of a billion solar systems, orbiting around a super massive black hole, which is one of a trillion of other galaxies, in a rapidly expanding Universe. We are all part of that—and perhaps that is what so many religions describe in their sacred texts—simply asking or maybe urging: treat others the way you would want to be treated yourself, because we are all a small piece of the same thing, and we live eternally inside that. Forever and ever. Amen.

YOU’RE GONNA LIVE FOREVER IN ME

words and music by John Mayer

A great big bang and dinosaurs
Fiery raining meteors
It all ends unfortunately
But you're gonna live forever in me
I guarantee, just wait and see

Parts of me were made by you
And planets keep their distance too
The moon's got a grip on the sea
And you're gonna live forever in me
I guarantee, it's your destiny

Life is full of sweet mistakes
And love's an honest one to make
Time leaves no fruit on the tree
But you're gonna live forever in me
I guarantee, it's just meant to be

And when the pastor asks the pews
For reasons he can't marry you
I'll keep my word and my seat
But you're gonna live forever in me
I guarantee, just wait and see

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

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:

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPCOMING SHOWS

Delicious Salads, Plaid Shirts, Brian Wilsons, and Bison

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The first music I ever connected with, consciously, in my life, was The Beach Boys. I was in Elementary School at the time—perhaps 4th grade? Regardless, their music moved me in a way that I can’t quite capture in words. So, I showed my appreciation by making an arrangement of one of their songs.

As an adult, I can only marvel at the wonderment of Brian Wilson, and how marvelous it feels to sing something so gorgeous and perfectly crafted from top to bottom. Like nature: balanced and beautiful.

Last year, while I was on tour in Idaho/Wisconsin, I filmed a bison, as I was eating a salad by my car, in the Old Faithful parking lot of Yellowstone National Park. I posted it later that night to my Mike Vitale music page, and forgot about it.

I logged on a few days later, and was shocked to see that this silly bison video went viral. I received nearly one million views in the course of a few days. Comments. Lots of comments. Pretty wild. It seemed that most the activity around that video was fueled by vitriol… people telling me how stupid I was or how dumb the person in front of me was. You know. That sort of thing.

This video I shared with you now, doesn’t have any bison in it, as far as I can gather. It does feature me wearing a plaid shirt I regret buying.

However, I might be mistaken. Perhaps I could proclaim with some small amount of pride, that this video is in fact very much like a bison walking through a parking lot, towards a forest, only to be lost from the eyes and ears of human spectators once again, on its way to who knows where, for who knows what.

That would be whimsical—and perhaps that is the stuff that delicious salads, plaid shirts, Brian Wilsons, and bison even, are made of.

SOCIAL MEDIA

TOUR SCHEDULE

The Fall 2023 Tour Continues in Greensboro, North Carolina

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Awendaw Green in Awendaw, South Carolina

The past several weeks have felt like a tornado of long drives and visiting with family (in the best way possible). However, I am in Charleston, South Carolina at the moment, wishing everyone warm regards, bearing tidings of either magpies, or news. Still on tour. Tour, tour, tour. Played Awendaw Green last night (fun times). Leaving for North Carolina, shortly. Perhaps you might want to see me while I’m in town? I’m not gonna lie: I’d like that. Allow me the opportunity to provide the bat time, bat place, and bat channel for such an endeavor (Adam West would approve).

Awendaw Green in Awendaw, South Carolina

Thanks to my friend Jasmine Commerce for being a mensch and providing a warm bed to rest my bones here in Charleston. In fact, thanks to Sarah, and Mia, and Chris, and Bob, and Phil, and Brenda, and Darice and all my friends and family for opening your homes and your heart to me. I am poor as can be, yet the richest man alive. How does that work? It’s measured in my soul, by the nearest approximation: whatever the currency, I feel it in my heart. Thank you. Deeply and truly:

Oct 21 - State Street Wine Co. | Greensboro, NC @ 6pm

Oct 24 - Swan House Concert Series | New Bern, NC @ 7pm

Oct 26 - Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge | Madison, TN @ 6pm

Oct 27 - Rootstock | Woodstock, GA @ 7:30pm

Oct 28th - 101 Steak | Atlanta, GA @ 7pm

Oct 29th - HiFi Clyde’s | Chattanooga, TN @ 11am

Nov 3rd - Cocoa Beach Show | Cocoa Beach, FL

Nov 4th - Pompano Beach House Concert | Pompano Beach, FL @ 6pm

Nov 8th - Wet Dogs Brewing | Lake Placid, FL @ 6pm

Nov 9th - New World Biergarten @ New World Music Hall | Tampa, FL @ 6:30pm

Nov 10th - Music by the Bay House Concert | Madeira Beach, FL @ 7pm

Nov 11th - Wolf Howl House Concert Series | St. Petersburg, FL @ 7pm

Nov 26th - Vine | Long Beach, CA @ 4pm

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPCOMING SHOWS

"Friend of the Devil", The Grateful Dead, and GIVING SONGS

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When I was a young man—I figure I was probably around 15 years old, I had these two friends: Josh and Jeff. This was in Visalia, CA, where I grew up. I was learning how to play guitar at the time—and I liked singing a lot too. I was very much interested in a lot of the music that was permeating the airwaves in the 1960’s, as well as, music that was part of the counter-culture in that era. This came fast on the heals of a lot of the grunge music that was big at the time of my teenage years, for my generation. It’s been humorous watching all the teenagers around now, 2023, wearing the clothing of “grunge” era musicians—much as we did at their age, wearing the tie die clothing, bell bottoms, and making the same aesthetic choices as those of our parents when they were are age. It’s a 30 year cycle of sorts that perpetually rears its head once more, as a way of making us laugh thirty years later, and perhaps to remember where we came from.

The Grateful Dead seemed to me to be the pinnacle of that counter culture. At the moment, at the age of 15, I had never listened to their music aside from an MTV music video for a song of theirs called “Touch of Grey.” Yet, I constantly saw Josh and Jeff wearing these beautiful tie-die t-shirt designs that screamed for a person’s attention: namely mine. So, eventually I asked: “Who are The Grateful Dead?” We were swimming in a pool at Jeff’s house at the time of my query.

He was happy hop out of the pool, and to show me their music, and I was so surprised by what it sounded like. It was country and rock and bluegrass and jam… all mixed into a lovely little package of beautiful.

The lyric writing on many of these songs were sublime. They told stories.

I’m 44 years old now. I love the Grateful Dead. I remember when Jerry Garcia passed away and how many people felt his loss. I remember attending a tribute show to Jerry in the Angeles National Forest with my brother Clark.

I remember a lot of things. Music often is the border collie that herds our memories out of the darker pastures of our subconscious, bringing memories and experiences, once again to the forefront.

At any rate: I was in Michigan on tour again this Summer, and every time I come to Michigan, I perform a cover song for a charity called GIVING SONGS.

You can learn more about what they do HERE, however, in short, the music they release every month helps fundraise and provide wheelchair accessible vehicle grants for families in need.

This year, I decided to get stoned and perform “Friend of the Devil” with another local talent from Michigan named Rob Nelson, who sang background vocals and also played lead guitar on this track, while I played rhythm and sang. Rob sounds sublime and inspired.

Written by Jerry Garcia, John Dawson, and Robert Hunter, FRIEND OF THE DEVIL was released by the Grateful Dead in 1970 on an album called AMERICAN BEAUTY. To this day, it make me smile playing it. It was one of the first songs I ever learned to play. It has been covered by countless others—and I hope that we did a great job in its rendition.

You can download a free copy of the song here, or you can make donation to GIVING SONGS while also downloading the song. It can be as big or as little of a contribution as you would like.

https://payhip.com/b/E7HAs

If you are interested in giving it a listen first, you can do so here:

However, all proceeds from your donation will go directly to GIVING SONGS.

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

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:

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPCOMING SHOWS



SOLD OUT show at PORCH SESSIONS in Pasadena and WINE AND SONG this Wednesday

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Wow, last night was so incredible. Thank you to Brenda and Will with Wonder and Awe Productions for making last night so special, along with all the music talent who performed: Jaywoozy, Guyville, Daisy Abrams, and Tom and myself.

Everyone had a blast and were so kind and the evening was immensely special to me.

A huge thank you to everyone who found me on Instagram as well.

Speaking of which, here are the links to all of my socials if you are having a hard time finding me online:

I have one more show in Pasadena that I am playing this Wednesday August 30th at the Lost Parrot for an event called Wine and Song. I will be playing a short set between Shane Alexander and Susan Ritchie.

https://wineandsong.com/event/5199110/647052014/wine-song-susan-ritchie-shane-alexander

Tickets are $22 for the event. This is a listening room environment.

You can purchase your seat for the event here:

TICKETS

UPCOMING SHOWS

Only 6 Tickets Left!

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There are only 6 Tickets left for the show tomorrow in Pasadena for PORCH SESSIONS

Tickets are $15 with a reward of fun.

Fun. Phun.

This is a link to buy tickets!

Directions for the show will be sent to you by RSVP’ing at the link.



SOCIAL MEDIA

UPCOMING SHOWS

Grand Island, NE House Concert Review

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The Spencer Family were my Hosts in Grand Island, NE

Steven Spencer and the family were so kind as to host me in Grand Island, Nebraska for this tour I just arrived home from a few days ago.

Steven wrote me an email with a review of the show. I was so stoked to finally have the opportunity to read it today.

While I may not make this painfully honest: my world and my dreams of playing music and telling my stories definitely hinges on the kindness of those who are willing to listen to them. My hope is that those who do listen, find humanity in my stories. The humanity is the story. It is the story of all of us.

I have no doubt where my place is in the world. It is doing what I am currently doing. Thank you Steven, for painting my endeavors in such a colorful and favorable light, as you have done here. I am immensely grateful to you and your family.

Here is Steven’s review of the concert:

I maintain that I am a somebody, who is a nobody, trying to be a somebody. I am immensely grateful for all the folks I meet along the way and who show me love and kindness and what it is to be a good person. I learn more on that with each of you that I meet. I hope to follow your course myself, in that trajectory, towards the heavens of good grace.

SOCIAL MEDIA

UPCOMING SHOWS

The Den Den—or Ver.

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I am currently in the Denver, Colorado. Arvada to be precise. It’s a gorgeous bedroom community just outside of Denver. A hop, skip, and a jump—perhaps one verb’s length further away in distance from the city. I wonder inwardly what the people of Denver call their fine city, in some sort of local colloquialism. Do you know what I mean?

People in the Bay Area call San Francisco “The City.” Maybe Denver has something like that too? Something to put inside quotation marks when they write down the name of their home in written English. Maybe in their local circles, they refer to their mother city as The Den Den. Or just Ver. I’ll work up the nerve to ask the locals when I get tired of typing words.

Maybe they just call it home. That wouldn’t surprise me. I’m typing this at a Starbuck’s a few blocks from the home of the house concert host I am playing at this evening.

Faulkner—smoking a pipe. Not Truong. He doesn’t smoke pipes.

Truong is his name. He’s a great guy. He’s an economist. His bookshelves are full of volumes of Economic Theory, Philosophy, History, and a skosh of Literature. You might imagine that they smell of Book, Cedar, Leather, and Scotch. They don’t—well, how do I know? I wasn’t smelling his books this morning, like a weirdo. I swear.

I saw one fiction book. “The Sound and The Fury” by William Faulkner. I’m willing to bet he came from a time when men took pictures with pipes—Faulkner, not my host. I don’t think he smokes a pipe.

We can wager next time. You shouldn’t have took that bet, reader… and I need to exercise better grammar. Truong doesn’t strike me as a gambling man either—then again, he is hosting a musician from Los Angeles tonight at his house concert series. Sounds a bit like a gamble. I could suck, or at the very least, be very low on the entertainment spectrum.

With that being said residents of Den Den: y’all should come hangout tonight. Everyone is gathering at 6pm at Truong’s place of residence. Music starts at 7pm. Shoot me a DM on the social media sites. Tonight. Tonight being Sunday August 13th. Bring your pipe, and maybe some alcohol, incase I’m not entertaining—or incase I am.

This is the last date of my tour outside of California this summer. Stay tuned for my Fall Tour in October and November of 2023 down yonder.

TOUR DATES

SOCIAL MEDIA