Monday, September 22th, 2008: I pick up a handful of albums to preview, including Mike Monday’s Songs Without Words, Pt. 1.
Tuesday, September 30th-Friday, September 26th 2008 I listen to all albums except Mike Monday’s Songs Without Words. The album sits on the corner of my desk. I shoot glances at it from time to time saying, “Later… I’ll get to you later.” Sometime near the end of Friday I finally pop the album in.
The album plays out and I am already on the googles looking for Mike Monday info. “Oh shit! He’s playing here on Sunday!” The next couple of hours consist of me frantically dialing phone numbers searching all my connections for a way to hook up with Mike that Sunday.
I was able to catch up with Mike at Seattle’s relatively underrated Decibel Festival thanks to the wonderful people over at Om Records… and no thanks to anyone at Decibel. Mike was kind enough chat with me after his set, which I have to admit was nothing like his latest album Songs Without Words, Pt. 1. Not that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy the show. It was a wicked house set with which we Seattleites rarely get blessed, seeing as how our year-round club scene is practically non-existent. The following conversation, ensued.
[Please note: I did not have a recorder, but these words have all been confirmed by Mike himself, after the fact.]
The barrage of questioning began with his flight:
Mike: “Well, I got in about 30 minutes before my set.”
melophobe: “Oh really? Where were you coming from?”
Mike: “New York. Before that I was back in Europe, and tomorrow I fly down to San Francisco… it’s Love Fest y’know?
melophobe: “Oh right! San Fran is a great town…”
Mike: “Yeah, it’s actually my favorite place to gig.”
melophobe: “In the States I assume?”
Mike: “Anywhere actually. I’ve played all over the world and San Francisco is my favorite!”
I was quite taken aback. I don’t know why… San Francisco is one hell of a town. Their club scene is amazing and it seems about as universally tolerant as anywhere I have seen or heard of. Still, I was surprised it topped the major European club hubs on Mike’s list. Kudos to SF!
Next round of questioning: the latest album… and how well did it “drop?”
melophobe: “I got to come clean, Mike, I hadn’t ever even heard of you until I popped in Songs Without Words on Friday. [2 days before interview] The album just sat on the corner of my desk and I kept saying that I would get to it later.”
Mike: “Really? Because I was thinking that with the cover being so colorful and stimulating it would make you pick it up, or out right away and say, ‘Oh, what have we here!?’”
The album cover for Songs Without Words is why I initially grabbed it out of the preview pile. Bright and saturated, the cartoons definitely attract one’s eyes. End of day Friday I ended up popping that little bitch into the stereo and I believe that it was sometime around Saturday evening that I unclicked the ‘repeat all’ box.
melophobe: “How has the response to this album been?”
Mike: “Well, this album is hard sell because it is a step away from what I am known for. I have a reputation for playing a certain sound, and people recognize it and come to shows to hear it. This album doesn’t follow that sound. I tried to bring more people in with it, more people from outside the club.
melophobe: “That's interesting because to me it sounds as though it takes a clear step into the realm of “mass appeal.” I love club music, don’t get me wrong, but this seems more accessible because it breaks from the strict club sound.
Mike: “Let’s hope that that’s what happens. Like I said… it’s untraditional and might be a hard sell.”
Though Mike expressed a bit of doubt as to the appeal that Songs Without Words, Pt. 1 will have on the general public, he seemed extremely proud of his work and even spun some of the club mixes that night. This M‘Phober may be blinded by infatuation, but I predict Mike Monday’s latest release is going to go farther than Mike himself thinks. Pick up this album! And if you get a chance… see Mike Monday spin!
