Mighty Mike Schermer tops the wave of contemporary electric guitarists with his exciting approach to blues and American roots music. This energetic guitarist/vocalist/songwriter has truly become "mighty" with his impressive, hard-driving performances that urge even the most die-hard purists to their feet. Currently touring behind his second release "Next Set" Schermer brings a wealth of experience to his own project after playing with some of the top artists in the business. The 12-track CD on Fine Dog Records features 10 crafty originals and 2 covers. The music literally jumps out of the box from the first riff of the butt-shakin' opener "Got My Love On" then rolls perfectly into the old school R&B sing-along "My Big Sister's Radio". "Next Set" continues to please with guest performances by Maria Muldaur, Texas blues belter Angela Strehli, and Vanguard recording artist Shana Morrison. Soulful background vocals are handled dutifully throughout by Tammi Brown and "The Sista"- Sista Monica Parker. The Mighty Mike Schermer Band is anchored by co-writer and bassist Steve Ehrmann (formerly with Coco Montoya, John Lee Hooker and Roy Rogers) and drummers June Core (Charlie Musselwhite, Little Charlie and the Nightcats) and Paul Revelli. Austin DeLone and Dale Ockerman lay down extremely funky keyboard work, while Terry Hanck and Johnnie Bamont blow some mean sax. Paul Libertore of the Marin Independent Journal calls him "...one of the most extraordinary guitarists of the new generation." Charlie Lange of Bluebeat Music writes "...equally at ease with hard-ass blues or the spare necessities of vintage soul, Schermer steps forward with clever tunes, sturdy vocals and loads of great guitar!" The CD and solo project come after a rich career touring and recording with Howard Tate, Charlie Musselwhite, Maria Muldaur, Tracy Nelson, Lou Ann Barton, Shana Morrison and as musical director and featured guitarist for Angela Strehli. Strehli's "Deja Blue" (1998, House of Blues), with Schermer as band director and guitarist, was nominated for a California Music Award (BAMMIE) for Best Contemporary Blues Release. Schermer has more BAMMIE connections. The year before in 1997 his band, then Strehli's touring group, was asked to be house band for the Bay Area Blues Showcase at the awards show where they backed up Bonnie Raitt, Booker T., Joe Louis Walker, the Gospel Hummingbirds and Strehli. Austin Delone was the musical director of the BAMMIES at that time. He and Mike have since worked together in several incarnations, including a big Tribute to R&B concert at Bumbershoot 2003 in Seattle, WA where they backed Bonnie, Tate, Ruth Brown, Shemekia Copeland, Maxi Priest and more in front of 30,000 fans! Mighty Mike Schermer, Steve Ehrmann, and June Core come to the project from a band formed in Santa Cruz, California in 1989 called The Soul Drivers, who had the rare ability to either steal the show on their own or provide superb backing to better known artists as Willie Dixon, Jimmy Rogers, Billy Boy Arnold, Luther Tucker, Snooky Pryor, Elvin Bishop and Tommy Castro. Willie Dixon said, "Boy, you play your ass off," while Snooky Pryor lauded his "stingin' guitar." At a show at the legendary Sweetwater in Mill Valley, CA in 1996 Bonnie Raitt dubbed Schermer her "new favorite guitar player." Mike has toured through a host of festivals, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the San Francisco Blues Festival, the Poretta Soul Festival in Italy, the Park Tower Blues Festival in Tokyo and as a hometown favorite at seven Santa Cruz Blues Festivals. The Mighty Mike Schermer Band's debut release "1st Set" (2000, Fine Dog) received rave reviews and success worldwide and is still popular on the scene today. Schermer is also a popular guest artist himself. In addition to three Angela Strehli recordings he has played on Terry Hanck's "I Keep Holdin' On" (2001 Mo' Muscle), for Sista Monica on "Sista Monica" (1997, Mo' Muscle), and for Maria Muldaur on "Blues for Blindness Concert" (1999, Relic). With his cutting tone and emotional style, Schermer continues as an in-demand session man in addition to his own solo project. It all began with a single note from the Master of the Telecaster - Albert Collins. As a teenager growing up in New Mexico, Schermer was originally inspired by the music of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Little Feat and the Stones. A live show by B.B. King planted a seed that flowered in Schermer's college days at a performance by Albert Collins. "The first note from Albert's guitar that night changed everything. Here was everything I had ever heard in my head all rolled up into one note. He hit the stage with more fire and energy than any rock band I had ever heard, yet at the same time there was something pure and unadulterated about the music he played. One note from that Telecaster and it was over... I was hooked on the blues from that moment on!" says Mighty Mike. He met Collins after the show and many times later until Collins' untimely death. From Collins, he "learned that one note can say more than a million; that you can be rooted in the styles of your heroes and still have your own sound; that you should play your ass off every time you play; and that every guitar player in the world should listen to T-Bone Walker." Valuable lessons Schermer carries with him today. From T-Bone Walker, Schermer expanded his vocal and guitar influences to include a host of blues, R&B and jazz artists like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Smith, Charles Brown and Howlin' Wolf. The result is a modern musician who's deeply rooted in traditional blues and roots music, and who plays with a fervor and excitement that can't be matched. His band plays hard, 'til you can't help but get up and move. Experience the Mighty Mike Schermer Band. For more information, call 831-427-2843. [Close Window]