Mike Bones
Encyclopedia
Mike Bones is the stage name of Mike Strallow, a New York
based guitarist singer-songwriter who established himself as one of the top guitarists on the New York underground/independent scene for his work with Soldiers of Fortune, Damon McMahon, Lizzie Trulie, and the Mighty Flashlight. He emerged as a solo artist under the name Mike Bones.
and Hank Williams as well as the angst-filled confessions of Leonard Cohen
. Strallow started putting his songs to tape during a stay in Memphis with friends from the band Lucero
, but these early sessions went unreleased and it was only in the summer of 2006 that Strallow began serious work on his first full-length album. Setting up at a Brooklyn recording studio owned by members of the band Oneida, Strallow's sessions included appearances by Parker Kindred of Antony and the Johnsons
, Patrick Sullivan of Oakley Hall
, El-P sideman Wilder Zoby, and Brad Truax of White Magic and Home; for these recordings, Strallow purposefully deemphasized his guitar work in order to give his lyrics greater room. Rather than release the project under his own name, Strallow used the moniker Mike Bones, a nickname from his childhood. The first Mike Bones album, The Sky Behind the Sea, was released by the independent label The Social Registry
in the fall of 2007.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
based guitarist singer-songwriter who established himself as one of the top guitarists on the New York underground/independent scene for his work with Soldiers of Fortune, Damon McMahon, Lizzie Trulie, and the Mighty Flashlight. He emerged as a solo artist under the name Mike Bones.
Background
Born in 1980 and raised in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Strallow began learning to play guitar when he was six years old, though he didn't have an instrument of his own until he was ten. In his late teens, Strallow moved to New York City and began immersing himself in the city's music scene while honing his guitar technique. Strallow had been playing guitar with a handful of groups before he began taking his first steps as a songwriter, influenced by American roots artists such as Skip JamesSkip James
Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter, born in Bentonia, Mississippi, died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
and Hank Williams as well as the angst-filled confessions of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
. Strallow started putting his songs to tape during a stay in Memphis with friends from the band Lucero
Lucero (band)
Lucero is an American punk/Texas Country infused rock band that is based in Memphis, Tennessee.-Biography:Lucero's punk rock roots flavor their now "country-ish" music, while their Southern roots give them the twang that they have come to be known by. They had their start in Memphis, TN. The band...
, but these early sessions went unreleased and it was only in the summer of 2006 that Strallow began serious work on his first full-length album. Setting up at a Brooklyn recording studio owned by members of the band Oneida, Strallow's sessions included appearances by Parker Kindred of Antony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators.-Career:British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released...
, Patrick Sullivan of Oakley Hall
Oakley Hall (band)
Oakley Hall is an American folk rock band based in Brooklyn, New York.The group was founded in 2002 and is named for Oakley Hall, an American novelist. The group's songs combine elements of rock, bluegrass, and old-time music, prominently featuring the male-female vocal harmonies of lead vocalists...
, El-P sideman Wilder Zoby, and Brad Truax of White Magic and Home; for these recordings, Strallow purposefully deemphasized his guitar work in order to give his lyrics greater room. Rather than release the project under his own name, Strallow used the moniker Mike Bones, a nickname from his childhood. The first Mike Bones album, The Sky Behind the Sea, was released by the independent label The Social Registry
The Social Registry
The Social Registry is a record label based in Brooklyn, New York that was started in 2003. It was voted "Best New Record label" in The Village Voice's Best of New York issue in 2004.-Artists:Artanker Convoy,Blood Lines,Blood on the Wall,Christy & Emily,...
in the fall of 2007.
Discography
- The Sky Behind The Sea (2007)
- What I Have Left" 7-inch (2008)
- A Fool For Everyone (2009)