Behind the Scene: Mikey Talented

As a now 22-year-old local who remembers the countless high school weekends spent at the Encounter surrounded by sweaty masses of familiar sounds and faces (a time I like to refer to as the good ol' days), I now often find myself seated at the bar, drink in hand, staring into the crowds that swarm the stage with an utter lack of familiarity. It's moments like these when I'm all too painfully reminded that no, the world does not revolve around me, and yes, the scene has gone through some changes since I left high school. I am not saying that change is a bad thing. I'm just saying it's a bad thing when I'm not a part of it; and in a stubborn attempt to unite my readers with the scene that I so knew and loved, I went out in search of a group that was able to thus far withstand the inevitable tests of time and adulthood. Actually, I didn't really search. I just called the guys from Mikey Talented, and the next thing I knew we found ourselves in a corner booth at Carmody Irish Pub with a notebook, a round of beers, and almost five years worth of the stories I had been dying to hear.
   
Mikey Talented, a group of gentlemen by the names of Matt (guitar), Joe (drums), Keir (bass), and Dann (vocals/in real life), has been around since 2005 and has brought a highly energetic, at times even spastic, element to the forefront of the local scene. When asked to perform the daunting task of categorizing themselves, the boys of MT used phrases such as "punk rock", "happy rock",  "ska without the horns/skunk", and "upbeat, depressing music".  And though none of these answers could be viewed as wrong or misleading, none could be agreed upon as right or truly definitive, either. Though the current lineup is not the original, it is safe to say the addition of Keir after the departure of their initial bassist has done nothing but great things for the group as a whole. Just when I thought I was cool, however, for being able to say I was there for the original lineup, Dann let me in on a little known MT fact:
  
"Secretly, we had a fifth member of the band, a female singer, in the original lineup. But she left after the first two shows."
  
Realizing that my bragging rights had been obliterated, we continued.
   
Eventually, in the age-old quest for meaning, the question of why MT exists arose.  A silent pause and a few sips of beer later, the boys replied with phrases both short and sweet:
   
"Because it's fun as hell."
  
"It gives you something to look forward to."
   
"Free drinks."
   
So no, they don't have intentions to take over the world. But does that diminish the impact they've had on us thus far? Not in the slightest. Besides, honesty was what I came for, and honesty was what I was given.
   
We continued on with discussions of the past, the evolution of MT throughout the years of the ever-changing scene, and the plethora of ups and downs throughout.
   
"Since 2005 we've released two EP's, and we intend on releasing a full length album sometime soon." With an abundance of modesty they added, "For a band that's been around so long we don't have many songs. We seem to create an average of 2 ½ - 3 songs a year, which doesn't make us that good." We all had a good laugh, and inside I knew their fans already forgave them.
   
Speaking of fans, the boys had this to say:

"We love our fans. They've stuck with us from the start and have increased significantly over the years. That's one thing that's been difficult about the age rift in the scene. We lose a lot of our younger fan base at the bar shows, but we gain more "of age" fans, as well. We try to find a balance to make everyone happy."
   
And making everyone happy is not an easy task. With the MT advertising/PR position still open, the guys are very familiar with the concept of self-promotion.
   
"If you want people at a show, then it's up to you to make sure the word is out. There are flyers that need hanging, bands that need to be contacted, and myspaces that need updating.  On top of that we need to practice. When it's all said and done, we cross our fingers and hope for a good turnout. Either way we're celebrating after the show. Or before. Probably both."
   
And with that statement I was left to reflect on my intentions with this interview, realizing that no words could capture the essence of Mikey Talented that kept the fans coming back time and time again. As we continued our conversation into the evening, I prayed that I would be able to write something of worth that would steer more people their way. Of course you could go check them out on their myspace page (myspace.com/mikeytalented), where you can learn more facts, listen to the songs, and profess your undying love for them on their wall. And yes, you could even go and buy their EPs at Disc Go Round or on iTunes. But if you stop there, you almost completely miss the point of Mikey Talented, and the local scene, for that matter.
   
When you see these guys live, you become a part of something bigger than yourself. In fact, you should go see them for the same reasons they choose to stay together and do this. As the boys said earlier in the interview, "It gives us something to look forward to." They break the monotony of the real world with their live shows and take you to a place where your overdrawn bank account is the last thing on your mind. They leave you with memories to reflect on at work, like that one MT concert at the Encounter that looked like a Furry convention when the guys dressed in animal costumes; or that time at Beaner's where Dann invented the zombie stage dive. No, they may never get a million dollar contract, and it's not like it wouldn't be absolutely fantastic if they did! But that's not the point. The purpose they're serving now is far greater than money and fame. They grant us the freedom to escape. For that you should be thanking them every chance you get.