Bio - Michael Weir

I am the guitarist and vocalist for the band; I am also the primary songwriter. I have been with the band from its inception.

Thoughts on Performing

I am very lucky to have such great musicians in the band. There is an intensity that happens on stage that is hard to explain; we're not talking notes here; and it's not something that can be practiced; it's an “intangible” thing that happens, but everyone on stage and in the audience knows when those moments happen. As far as intensity goes, we are a very dynamic band. There are 3 main ingredients that a band needs to be dynamically intense; (1)—the band members must know each other well; (2)—the band members must trust one another; and (3)—the band members must be great players to be able to convey the sound that they feel.---We are lucky enough to have all 3 of those ingredients. Whether it's my vocals or Pete's guitar leading the band through a dynamically intense journey, it's magic when it happens. And I'm absolutely grateful that I am in a band that can realize “and” achieve those brilliant magical moments on stage. It is a journey that we go through together as a band; and when the intensity peaks, it is then that we know the journey was worth the risk. Again, no matter how much energy I or anyone in the band pours into a song, that magic would never happen without great musicians that know and trust each other.

I don't always lead the band through that journey on stage; but when I do, I try to pour out an energy like Otis Redding or Jim Morrison poured out ---to me, a “pure” intense physical and mental energy. Though I wouldn't be telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth if I didn't tell you that after almost every show we have performed as a band, someone in the audience tells me that I perform like Joe Cocker…..and that's alright with me.

Thoughts on Songwriting

I am very realistic to myself concerning songwriting; some would say I'm hard on myself. That is likely because I often compare myself to my main songwriting influences like Bob Dylan, John Lennon, John Prine, Van Morrison, David Gray and people of that sort. I believe that I am a fairly good songwriter, but once I compare myself to the “greats”, I realize that some of my songs aren't good. I try to be realistic and I like to think that I know when I write a good song---or when I don't. When I listen to the radio I certainly don't have any problem knowing if the song I'm listening to by another artist was written well or not. Well, I am as hard or harder on my own songwriting. I've had people in the past tell me that I shouldn't be that way and that I'm too hard on my own songwriting; but in my opinion, if I'm not that way then I'll write “mediocre” songs and think they're “good” songs.