Singer/Songwriter Mike Press "blossomed in the night clubs and the bars of this town" (lyric from Wayward Peoples Hearts), that town being Boston, MA. Now living in San Diego, CA he is emerging as a well respected singer/songwriter in the Southern California music scene as well as retaining his long time standing as a key figure in the Boston roots rock music family tree. In Boston, Press fronted the straight-ahead rock outfit Sticky for several years before heading out west. Prior to Sticky, he drummed, wrote songs, toured and recorded for East Coast bands such as Seven League Boots (founding member), Drunken Boat (NYC), and Elbow. Sticky released two indie CD's and toured overseas before Press went west to begin working on his first solo record slated for Sept 07 release. The twelve song CD, penned by Press, featured some great east/west coast musicians, with Press handling most of the drums/rhythm guitars and vocals himself. "Ever since I moved west, I got the urge to pick up the drums again. For a while I just felt like writing songs and honing my front man -skills. It also came from watching the great percussionists of Ozomatli every night for a year and a half" (Teching for Ozo was the first job Press had when moving out west). "I've had some interesting jobs since since the move to SoCal, through some friends back East, and crewing for Ozomatli and Willie Nelson was more than just one of my many 'odd jobs', it was an adventure." Press soaked in the influence of these two American musical legends night after night, inspiring him to write and get out there on his own stage. "Being in a band is real hard, after Sticky fell apart I just said 'to hell with it', and took matters into my own hands. Seven League Boots and Drunken Boat toured a lot - the road was all I really knew. Taking time to stay home or in one place, has helped me grow as far as having the confidence to record on my own and put the craziness of my past down on tape (pro-tools). With the release of his first solo CD, Mike Press - "Keep Your Head", the road beckons once again. ss - “Keep Your Head” Posted November 23rd, 2007 by Kyrby Raine Categories: Kyrby Raine, The Kiosk (Pop/General Music), Music Reviewed by Kyrby Raine Listen to the lyrics of Mike Press quite carefully. What may seem like an innocuous roots-rock or acoustic-pop track have hidden gems of sly wit. This may be obvious from the opener, “Teams,” wherein Press laments, “I have a history of bad credit obligations.” Because of his soft-spoken, warm singing, you might not notice those barbed confessions slipping through his ringing guitar riffs. And Press’ clever wordplay and sense of humor is probably what entertained me the most about his CD, Keep Your Head. Expecting a straightforward Americana record, what I heard instead was a singer/songwriter with a poet’s hand. It makes me wish that Press had included a lyric sheet on his album because there is some terrific writing here, an alternative-rock spirit seeping through the country-flavored arrangements. “I got no money, but I’m buying people drinks,” Press sings on “Taboo.” It’s that kind of real-life dialogue that music, no matter what genre, needs more of these days. More than half of the cuts on this CD will be spinning on the player for a while with prime choices being the slow, melancholy, and piano-driven “Tears of Goodbye (Wayward People’s Hearts)” and “Katie Baton Rouge,” with its smoking groove. Official Website: http://www.mikepress.com MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/mikepress PRESS, MIKE - Keep Your Head advertisements below are unrelated to this review swapmyticket Three Chings Online Tickets All Reviews Back Edit This Review 'PRESS, MIKE' 'Keep Your Head' - Genre: 'Alt/Country' - Release Date: '2007' Our Rating: "Our love was a train wreck in the stars," sings Mike Press (http://www.mikepress.com) on "Tears of Goodbye (Wayward People's Hearts)." After hearing that, I was convinced that Press' music was rooted in something else besides Americana. Sure enough, Press' site categorizes him as indie rock as well, and the result is a record with enough lap-steel guitar and country jangle to appeal to the American South but lyrically can reel in introspective college kids on the East and West Coasts. It's a juggling act that's not easy to handle, but Press executes it with a wry sense of humour, enigmatic yet catchy songwriting, and toe-tapping melodies. Fans of Wilco's three-headed monster of country, alternative rock, and folk should dive in and enjoy the waters immediately. But credit must be given to Press for pushing the boundaries of Americana. "Taboo," for example, opens with a moody, throaty baritone a la Leonard Cohen. While I would've loved to keep hearing Press sing in that range, the moment that the track picks up, shedding its pleasant opening acoustic strumming for a rootsy jam, is invigorating. "Barista" and the aforementioned "Tears of Goodbye (Wayward People's Hearts)" are probably the slowest tunes on the record yet they're also among the most emotionally involving. You might not always understand what Press is singing about; however, his lyrics are always interesting and are never dull. You actually want to spend your whole evening trying to decipher their whole meanings. author: Adam Harrington