Modest Mouse

Mike Scala, celebrated Indy artist, performs live original music during a European tour this month;

UK dates and venues - all in London - are: April 13th, Hope and Anchor, 207 Upper St at 9pm – April 16th, New Cross Bar/Venue, 323 New Cross Road at 8:30pm – April 19th, The Troubadour, 263-265 Old Brompton Road at 8:30pm – April 20th, The Lock Tavern, 35 Chalk Farm Rd, at 9pm.

In Ireland, he will perform at The Crane Lane Theater on Phoenix Street April 25th at 11:30pm – Cork University on April 26th at TBA – The Spirit Store at George’s Quay on April 27th at 8:30pm – and Dublin City University on April 28th at 9:30pm.

The artist, who will be promoting his new album titled Autumn Ashes, has already shown promise with the successful release of the title song’s video which can be seen on YouTube using the search words, “Mike Scala Autumn Ashes”. Further proof of Mike Scala’s draw, is the announcement that he will be opening for Kanye West at Dublin City University on April 28th, as his current management confirms.

Many of the venues that Mike Scala will be performing at have been graced with performances from popular acts; when asked about his impressions on the tour and its famous venues, Mike quipped, “Hard work and following your dream can take you anywhere, but you have to invest the time and effort to make it happen.”

Walking The Streets, Going Home

I've been walking the streets on my way home, running into people and getting different vibes. But I've been trying to stay positive; I've been trying to figure out people so I can reach into their souls with my music. I remember bumping into a dude a few weeks ago, you know, a little shoulder tap. The next thing I know he's going off, because we brushed shoulders. So I said, man, I understand. I know, what happened in your day today? Why is to day such a bad today for you? And, bam!, it happened - he opened up to me and told me about being laid off and how he wasn’t sure how he was going to pay his bills or feed his children. These are the things that inspire me. Your voices - the voices of the people on the street. The streets I walk every night. . .

This could be the next song on my new CD.

Schedule

Every week I'll come back for a visit for and a personal post, but occassionally I'll stop by here just to say hi. Give me a comment, and I'll respond.

Get To Know Me. Come on in and have a seat. . .

Some of my fans may know me as a musician - a performer - I'm on stage, singing these songs that I've written, and sometimes when I look out into the crowd I see faces, faces that want to know more. Like, where did my words come from, or what happened in my life to make me want to write the lyrics I write. This is what this blog is for; for all of YOU to get to know ME, beyond the music.

I come from a non-traditional Italian family. It wasn't a big family, but we were close man. We lived in Bensonhurst from the time I could remember until I was about five. It was a tough neighborhood; there were lots of different people, and things going on in the background, that me, as a kid, was never even aware of until I was older and looked back a little. Without knowing it, I learned about having compassion for humanity, respecting people different than me, and diffusing tense situations.

I remember, I remember some of the older kids I used to hang out with, being beat up because of the color of their skin. I remember thinking, why do things have to be this way, what's the big deal? And I was a fighter - I was a defender of the weak. I stood up for my friends, even though I was smaller, it never entered my mind that I could be hurt.

Around this time, at age 5, listening to music and dancing with my mother was a simple pleasure I could enjoy without having to worry about what was going on out in the street. It was the music, you know, beating in my chest and moving my feet. It was the music that kinda made life a little saner. . .

Stick around; there'll be more next week.