Mike Bones is the stage name of Mike Strallow, a New York City–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 James
Nehemiah Curtis "Skip" James (June 9, 1902October 3, 1969) was an American Delta blues singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter. AllMusic stated: "This emotional, lyrical performer was a talented blues guitarist and arranger with an impressive ...
and
Hank Williams
Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...
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 Lucero may refer to:
* Lucero (given name) a Spanish given name
* Lucero (surname) a Spanish surname
* Lucero (entertainer) (born 1969), Mexican singer and actress
** ''Lucero'' (album), eponymous album released in 1993
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, 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 is an American music group presenting the work of Anohni and her collaborators.
Career
British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Anohni's music through his Durtro label ...
, Patrick Sullivan of
Oakley Hall,
El-P
Jaime Meline (born March 2, 1975), better known by the stage name El-P (shortened from his previous stage name El Producto), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Starting his career as a member of Company Flow, he has been a ...
sideman Wilder Zoby, and Brad Truax of White Magic and Home; for these recordings, Strallow purposefully deemphasized his guitar work 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.
Discography
*''The Sky Behind The Sea'' (2007)
*''What I Have Left" 7-inch (2008)
*''A Fool For Everyone'' (2009)
References
Pitchfork*
All Music Guide
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
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Jonk Music
External links
Mike Bones on Myspace
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bones, Mike
American male singer-songwriters
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)