Today’s chapter begins with another story from Ol’ Grampa Jason –
I used to have aspirations of becoming a working musician. When I was younger, I would show up at Open Mic’s and Jam Nights to play guitar and sing. I was a pretty good singer (even took classical training), and a barely-competent rhythm guitarist.
I got good enough at it that I actually played solo shows at bars and clubs. I was even in a band for a while called The Misfits.
The Misfits had a steady run of months with regular weekly gigs around the Collingwood, Ontario area. I’ve always been proud that it was by making Music that I was able to move out of the family home and start my life for myself in Kitchener, some two-hour’s drive away.
When I got to Kitchener, I was excited to be in a big city (Population approx. 200k, compared to Collingwood’s 12k) for the sole reason that it was bound to have an actual Music Scene. I was left to my own devices for the first time, and I couldn’t wait to dive in. Maybe I could continue my music career?
My first day at Conestoga College, where I was to study Radio & Television Broadcasting, there was a student mixer event happening in the courtyard. Near the entrance was an older-looking black man, playing Blues guitar and singing, I later learned that this was Mel Brown, and that he had a modestly successful career in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s before moving to Canada. He had even recorded for Impulse! Records. So, I thought, this is how it’s going to be in the Big City…
It wasn’t too long before I started making the rounds to Open Mic Nights in the bars in the Kitchener/Waterloo area. It was at one of the nights at The Atlas Nightclub in Waterloo when I met another Life Hero of mine. Shannon Lyon wasn’t in my life for very long, but his kindness helped me in my mission to not move back home to my parents with my tail between my legs.
Shannon had recently released his first album with his band The Shannon Lyon Pop Explosion, but also subsidized his income with solo gigs like the one at The Atlas. The first time I went up to perform, Shannon was complimentary and we had a friendly conversation. After a couple of weeks Shannon was due to go out West on tour with the band. He then asked me if I would like to take his spot, hosting his weekly solo spots for three weeks while he was away. He didn’t realize that all of my finances were already getting extremely tight, and this offer was a life preserver. I can’t thank him enough.
Now that I had some income with which to dispose, I was able to also go out to bars for the pleasure of seeing the local talent. It was at The Walper Pub in Downtown Kitchener when I witnessed two of the most talented musical artists I’ve ever laid eyes on.
The first was a vocalist beyond compare. Paul MacLeod was a singer and songwriter, as well as an extraordinary instrumentalist. The first time I saw him, I knew he had something special.
Before I knew it, MacLeod was snatched up by Canadian Folk-Rock Heroes Skydiggers, after Andrew Cash left their band. How great to see talent be rewarded.
Sadly, Paul MacLeod died in 2016 as a victim of suicide, and it’s tragic to think about what could have been.
In 1997 I scored a full-time job at HMV, after working part-time at CD Plus. The back room of the HMV store in Waterloo (now a Burger King) had white walls that were adorned with autographs from visiting musicians in black Sharpee. One of the bands that scrawled their names was local favourites The Rhinos. I recognized the name of vocalist Danny Michel as the second artist that I saw performing live at The Walper that blew my mind. It’s not his fault that I decided to stop my efforts towards a Music Career, but he inspired the epiphany that led to the decision; No one needs another mediocre musician, especially one like me, who doesn’t have an impetus to work hard for it.
When I saw Danny Michel for the first time, I knew he was the real deal. A natural talent with character in his voice for miles. Upon first listen I heard a lot of Tom Waits in his style of vocal presentation, and he was able to back it up with a confidence that intimidated me.
At the stores where I worked we sold local musicians’ CDs on a commission basis, meaning that we would pay the artist after it sold. This is when I saw the ineptitude of artists in their attempts to run their business. Not only would most of these CD’s not sell, quite often the artist wouldn’t come back to get paid if it did happen to sell. Usually the unsold CDs would end up in the garbage, after two to three years of collecting dust.
I can only think of a handful of musicians that sold their albums via this method on a regular basis, and took care of their business in a timely and professional manner. Danny Michel was in the store every month, on schedule, to pick up a cheque and restock his discs. At this point he may as well have been a bonafide Rock Star in Kitchener/Waterloo. I never was able to talk to him, because I was starstruck. He breezed in like a Sales Representative (which is the hat he was wearing), and he represented his product with grace. I still have my copy of Fibsville on CD.
At some point (biographical details are scarce) Danny moved to Ottawa, presumably for school, and while there he formed Starling and released a great Pop Album which is lost to the winds of time.
Danny returned to the K/W area and continued to record fantastic solo albums and touring constantly. Finally, he received national attention with his third album, 2002’s Tales From The Invisible Man. Michel was nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 2003 Juno Awards, and had a radio hit with Perfect. The album received a great sales boost from the nomination, and the rest of Canada finally got to see what we in Southern Ontario had long known; Danny Michel is a major musical force to be reckoned with.
The following year, Danny released a full album of the songs of David Bowie. Loving The Alien demonstrated Michel’s talent with song arrangement and stylish interpretation. Bowie himself heard Danny’s version of Young Americans, and called it, “…moving and intimate…a good, good cover.”
Meanwhile, Michel worked hard to become a successful touring artist, and a favourite at summer festivals throughout Canada. He was also a regular musical guest on Stuart Mclean’s Vinyl Café. Danny’s lyrical voice had grown more to reflect societal, environmental and political concerns.
(live, Fargo, ND)
In 2011 Danny made the bold choice to pack up and move to Belize. The purpose of the trip was to track down one of his favourite bands, The Garifuna Collective, and convince them to record an album with him. The happy result is the incredible Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me. It’s a beautiful album, filled with joy and brilliant musicianship. It garnered Michel his third Juno nomination and his first Polaris Prize nomination. Larry LeBlanc from Billboard Magazine called it, “One of the finest musical works of our time.” High praise indeed, and well warranted.
While in Belize, Danny established a Fund for a non-profit high school, and has raised over 125,000 USD to date. This is so inspiring, as it shows what a musician is capable of, once they are able to establish a Community of fans, friends and contemporaries.
Upon Michel’s return from Central America, he released another fantastic solo album, Matadora, before embarking on another adventure. At the invitation of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, Danny boarded the Soviet-era Icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov, and spent eighteen days in the Arctic, traversing the Northwest Passage with other artists and scientists and such. He spent time recording while aboard, and later passed on the recordings to his former Rhinos’ band mate Rob Carli, who had since gone on to become a TV and Film Music composer of some renown. The trip spurred the album Khlebnikov, which included many beautiful songs, including Lifeboat, a tribute to the late, great Paul MacLeod.
These last few years have shown that Danny has been able to slow things down, and not have to work so hard from day to day. In other words, he’s made it. He’s spent his time making internet shows in a retro van that I would refer to as a “Shaggin’ Wagon”, and he builds slotcar racetracks and a miniature community called Danlandia Garden Speedway.
When the pandemic hit, Danny’s plans were scuttled like everyone else’s. Shows were cancelled and travel was impossible for awhile. During the layoff, he had the ingenious idea to post full band performance videos of favourite cover versions online, where he performs all the instruments. Please welcome Danny Michel & Super Spreader!
This past summer, my family and I were able to see Danny Michel in performance at the Hillside Music Festival at Guelph Lake, and for me, it felt like coming home. Danny recorded a single, Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself, during his various festival shows, so if you listen really hard, you might hear me in the background (you can’t).
In the twenty-five years that I’ve known the artistry, and have seen the hard work and the courage to follow The Muse, Danny Michel has become a New Music Hero to me for doing it. Not only has he created a remarkably diverse and powerful catalogue, he has earned the respect of his contemporaries and his heroes. He’s worked hard throughout his career to show his compassion for humanity. He has shown me that if you have skill, and you have the necessary energy, and (most importantly) you have integrity, you can have a very happy life as a musician.
I’m told he lives not too far away from us. Maybe I’ll get to meet him someday.
Thanks for reading! Check back next Sunday (11/20) for Jason’s New Music Heroes, Chapter Eleven: Ani DiFranco. Don’t be so hard on yourself!
New Music Jason’s Picks 