Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Born next door to a candy factory, MapleMusic Recordings artist Danny Michel (mish-elle) has been described as "Tom Waits meets Cheap Trick." It's a pretty accurate analogy as Danny's songs run the gamut from crunchy/sweet pop songs to dark tales.

When armed with his incendiary band of Can-rock's best session players, Danny provides a rock show to blow the roof off any club. Equally entertaining, his solo show lights the fuse for diehard and new fans alike. "I really like to put on a show," states the self-proclaimed “freak about details." "Lights, sounds, and banter are important so it can be as cool and special as it can be. If I just played an acoustic and sang I think I'd bore myself to death. Call it musical ADD." Danny holds court on stage whether it's a room of 10 people or a festival of thousands.

Fearless and full of surprises, you never know which tricks he'll pull from his back pocket. Whether he's playing a chime-solo on a cell phone, or attempting a song he's never played before on an out-of-tune piano, every moment is fresh, especially in a world of a zillion guys with guitars. He helped pioneer (and master) the now ubiquitous looping pedal board to give his solo show another layer. The prodigious Danny has been performing his electric shows since before he was old enough to drive! With six prior solo albums and his first Juno nomination (Best New Artist 2005) under his belt, Danny is clearly a career artist with only the tip of his musical iceberg revealed.

Danny will unveil his perfect new band in June to join these two worlds. Full of musicians who can play a variety of instruments, this band can morph from a pop-rock firecracker into a Viking ship jug band with a quick rotation of players & instruments. “I want the show to be able to go anywhere. I don't want to be confined to one style anymore. I want to fly by the seat of our pants. I want to put on a show!”

His Spring 2006 release Valhalla--like all Danny records--is unclassifiable. Mash-up Frank Black with some of Johnny Cash's story telling, and you'll get a sense of the direction his new songs have taken. For his seventh solo album, Danny handed over control for the first time to outside producer Joao Carvalho (Hawksley Workman, Pilate, Boy). Recorded partly at The Tragically Hip's Bathhouse Studio and partly in his own studio, Joao helped bring to life Danny's wish for a stripped-down album more like his riveting live shows. It's Danny's most chilled out album to date, and many tracks feature only guitar and his unique voice. Valhalla is sprinkled with appearances by some of Canadian music's finest players. In addition to writing and recording his own material, Danny has begun to share his production skills with other talent. In 2005 he produced Leeroy Stagger's Beautiful House and AA Sound System's new album.

"I love producing, when I help someone take their talent, songs, and vision to a higher level where they surprise themselves," explains Danny. "When we're done a track and the artist goes "wow" and is really surprised and impressed by what they've done, I know I did a good job. I love that look on their face."

You'll hear Danny's unique guitar playing on countless records from all genres. Whether tracking guitar in the UK with electronica-pop band Dragonette to being Sarah Harmer's lead guitarist last year while she toured across Canada. This year he's already fielded a request from Earl Slick (David Bowie's guitar player) to work on some tracks together that feature guest vocals by David Bowie, Robert Smith (The Cure) and Danny himself. Perhaps it was a mixture of Slick's support and Danny's 2004 homage to Bowie, Loving The Alien, that prompted davidbowie.com to promote Danny's Spring 2006 tour to the U.K. and even hold a contest to win Danny's CD, obviously giving it the Bowie lightning-bolt stamp of approval.

To see him play live is to experience something special. Just ask Michael Ondaatje or Stuart McLean. If he can stave off requests to work his magic for other people, watch for Danny Michel to tote his bag of musical tricks and case full of stories on tour across the continent (and beyond) in 2006.

For Info Visit:
www.atomiqueproductions.com
www.dannymichel.com