What do the golden voiced Harry Nilsson and maverick rocker Lou Reed have in common? Some would say not much. Nilsson was considered by many to be the sixth Beatle (Pete Best being the fifth Beatle who was replaced by Ringo Starr to make the final fab four), while Reed was often viewed as one of the greatest (and sometimes worst) songwriters of our time. But on his CD titled A LONG TIME COMING, Mike Carignan manages to span the diverse virtuosity of both these music giants and more. Singing while performing guitar and harmonica on twelve of his original songs, Mike opens with THE LADY, a satin crooner tribute to lost love. This is followed by distinctive Nilsson-like vocals on the humourous DAMMED IF I DO where if you want me to help you, you know that I won’t. THE CACTUS IS A PRICK might be about a plant or someone we all once knew, while DREAMCHASER should have been Jack Kerouac’s theme song on the road. On DON’T THINK Mike takes on society’s ill fates in the fashion of Lou Reed’s SWEET JANE (Velvet Underground, 1970, Atlantic Records), and you’ll sway to the harmonies of Rodger’s and Hart’s Blue Moon (1935) in YOU. Before it’s over you’ll have to ROLL OUT OF DREAMLAND where people can’t tell if it’s real unless it’s on TV, and if you want to make Mike a happy man, remember that TIPPING AIN’T NO CITY IN CHINA. All in all, A LONG TIME COMING is a compendium of great music manifest from Mike’s array of diverse, long-time musical influences. However, you won’t have to wait a long time to see Mike. He runs the Broward Folk Club Open Mike on the first Friday of each month at Biddy Early’s (3419 N. Andrews Ave, Oakland Park). Also, you can catch him Friday, June 17th at the River of Grass Cafe when he headlines with Aaron Stang, Gary Gonzalez, Mitch Kopp and Dr. Bob (see calendar below).
Dr. Bob