Playing Vine in Long Beach on Sunday April 6th

This is my friend Taylor.

In thinking about it, I’ve cried a whole bunch in front of her over the years. Probably enough so to make any reasonable person uncomfortable.

Life can be hard sometimes.

But it’s the friends in life that pick us up and dust us off, and send us back into the world to try again. That’s persistence. It brings us to success, eventually. Always. I believe that.

I’m stoked to be sharing a spot with her to play some music at @vine_lb in Long Beach on Sunday April 6th. It’s a free show, and I’d be happy to have you there as well, dear reader. Deeply.

4pm - Me

5pm -  Taylor Crawford

6pm - Rod Harrison

May we all be so lucky to have friends like you.

And I can’t emphasize this enough, Taylor: it was really hard for me to miss your wedding day (I’m so sorry), because nothing makes me happier than seeing my friends happy.

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, 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:

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UPCOMING TOUR DATES

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And It Stoned Me

I first heard this song from two girls I had an early morning class with in high school. They were smoking a joint in their parked car, as I was passing by, minding my own business.

They invited me in, and this was the song they were listening to.

In other news, my cat is just chillin' right under my headstock—the whole song. Her name is Qi'ra. Feel free to say hi!

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, 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:

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UPCOMING TOUR DATES

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The Fall 2023 Tour Continues in Greensboro, North Carolina

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

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Booking Southern United States Tour for October and November 2022

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.

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Upcoming February Shows in Southern California

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.

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Fool For You (Live at Hotel Cafe)

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

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Latchkey Kid (Live at Studio 333)

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

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If I Only Had a Brain - Harry Connick Jr., Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg

I just got done taking a master class from a young Harry Connick Jr.. I’ve been working on transcribing his version of “If I Only Had a Brain” from the album 20. In my own humble opinion, it’s a masterpiece, and I cried the first time I accidentally listened to it. I was so moved by its grace, that I knew I needed to learn it and sing it.

It’s a beautiful piece of music to begin with, but Connick’s use of chord substitution is pretty cool and sophisticated—he also creates some beautiful tension in his chord voicings, using many terse intervals such as m2 and M2 in his chord inversions, which are my favorite. Lots of suspensions. I learned a lot. I learned too much. Still trying to absorb the information. Bottom line, it just sounds boss (in a very touching and emotional manner), despite all the bullshit jargon I just prattled off: that’s what I’m after. That’s what I got.

I did my own thing with it and deviated from his arrangement as I saw fit.

I recorded the vocals using an AT4033 and SM57 on the guitar amp. If you dig it, please like the video and subscribe to my Youtube Channel. The support is invaluable and deeply appreciated.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone on Patreon for helping me to make these videos

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Mike Vitale LIVE at The Mint on June 14th 2018

Yes, I know.  I'm a bit slow on the whole "here are a bunch of photos of me playing music with my friends at The Mint in Los Angeles."

Yet, here are a bunch of pictures of me playing music with my friends at The Mint in Los Angeles. It's only been a month—okay, two months.  I've been busy.  I'm a busy guy.

A big thank you to Abbyshoot for all the great shots.  Deeply appreciative.

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Mike Vitale live at Hotel Cafe on July 2nd 2018

Make no mistake: I love playing music, live—for an audience.  It is the greatest thrill in the world to play music for people.  Hotel Cafe is one of my favorite places to do such.  It's sort of the singer/songwriter equivalent of what the Comedy Store is for comedians—or what the Magic Castle is for magicians.

I'm proud to be playing there, and I am very grateful to host Monday Mondays there once a month.

I will be there again, hosting and performing on Monday August 13th 2018 on the Hotel Cafe second stage.  It is always an honor to share the spotlight with a number of talented singer/songwriters from all over the greater Los Angeles area.

I've been waiting on hold with Paypal for nearly two hours (please refer to previous blog), so I thought I would share some new photographs that my brilliant friend Adeline took from last month's Monday Monday.  She is an amazing talent.  She goes by Abbyshoot, professionally.

At any rate, I hope that this finds you all smiling and well and not on hold with Paypal.

With Love,

Mike

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Full Band Show at The Cliff Thur July 26th 2018

TONIGHT, I'm playing one of my favorite haunts in all of Orange County:  The Cliff in Laguna Beach.  YOU, yes you (you reading this) need to check this spot out.  It's fucking awesome.  It's literally right next to the ocean, on a cliff (hence the name).  

I'm playing music there with my band tonight from 7pm to 10pm.  I've got Matt Lesser on drums, Paul Jones on bass, and Tom Bremer on guitar.  It's gonna be the joint, so bring a joint if you fancy.

Deets:

Thursday July 26th 2018 at The Cliff 577 S. Coast Hwy Laguna Beach, CA.  We play from 7pm to 10pm.

Maybe I'll see you later tonight, looking all hawt and hot.

Mike

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The Nerve (Live at The Mint) - Mike Vitale and The Chemicals

Guess what?! We played a release show last week for my new single “Gone” at The Mint in Los Angeles. It was a fun night! Not everyone could make it out, so our very own Megan from here on Patreon, took some really awesome footage, that I will be sharing over the coming weeks. This is the first of many—it was also the first song of the night. It’s called The Nerve. It’s a tune about my feelings. Please know, I am so very appreciative of everything that y’all do. Taking the time to record footage like this, and sharing it, means more to me than I can properly express in words. You’re propagating the things I am writing and making—and also affording me the opportunity to use $5 words like, propagate. My deepest gratitude. Now, excuse me while I watch my laundary. Someone took my clothes out of the drier earlier and used my quarters to dry their clothes, because they are cunning creatures full of creative ways to use other people’s quarters.

GONE now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all Digital Retails Locations

Today is the big day!  I have been working on releasing new music, that I produced myself, with the help of some very talented musician friends:  Frank Reina, Brad Cummings, Tom Bremer, and Anthony Castiglia.  Much of the audio was captured by either myself or Frank Reina.  The mix was done by Ryan Lipman and the mastering was handled by Mark Chalecki. Artwork is by Alper Yesiltas.

In all honesty, it has taken way too long to release this music.  On the flip side, I'm not exactly rolling in the dough, either.  Thanks to my friends on PATREON and to saving up their contributions, I was able to release this tune as well as prepare several more that I will hopefully be releasing in rapid succession (once a month) over the course of this year.  This is the first on many.

Here is a link to find several of the places where you can either purchase or stream this song:

We will be celebrating the release of this song on THURSDAY JUNE 14th at THE MINT in Los Angeles.  The show starts at 9:30PM.  My friend Marcus Von Rittberg will be performing a set at 9:30pm and I will be playing a set with Frank Reina on drums, Tom Bremer on electric guitar, and Paul Jones on bass at 10:30pm.  Tickets are available in advance for $10 here:  

June 14th 2018 - The Mint 6010 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA.  Music starts at 9:30PM.

Thank you to everyone for their kindness, love, and support.  I am deeply appreciative of the positive vibes and energy.

- Mike

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Long Beach Independent

I recently had the opportunity get some press for my new  acousitc album EMPTY CIRCLE by the Long Beach Independent.  Here is a link to checkout the article below.  Thank you kindly to Jewell for the interview!

 http://www.longbeachindependent.com/2018/05/listening-to-mike-vitale/

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