Story Towne
The Official Web Site of Solo Performer
Joe Bainbridge
and Joe's Band
The Michael Ray Johnson Experiment
The Music:
As a solo performer Joe relies on solid acoustic guitar playing to present instrumental music in a myriad of styles. His vocal tunes rely on interesting twists and turns coupled with intelligent original lyrics as well as covers tunes done "A La Joe". As always there is a touch of silliness thrown in for good measure. Joe's solo instrumental music is reminiscent of artists such as Michael Hedges, Billy McLaughlin and Steve Morse. His vocal tunes ebb and flow between folk and pop motifs underlined with a "Rock & Roll" sensibility.
As a band the Michael Ray Johnson Experiment pays homage to Joe's Rock and blues influences running the gamut from artist such as Eric Johnson and Stevie Ray Vaughn to the acoustic driven Rock/Pop of Matchbox 20 and Sister Hazel. The band is currently not performing due to Joe's reduced playing schedule.
Audio:
Listen to Joe's award winning solo acoustic piece "The Bee Keepers Lovely Daughter" and others at www.broadjam.com search for Joe Bainbridge. There's also a not ready for prime time demo tune I submitted to Natalie Merchant called "45 Degrees North" for her upcoming project "Life In Years" so take a listen if you like.
Scroll down for Schedule:
The News:
July 2009 - I have several submittals into TV and major artists for their review. Got my fingers crosses one of my tunes will show up somewhere soon!
April 2009 - So I finally get to play the UW Union Terrace but it's for a private party... some day I'll get to do a real show there.
Spring 2009 - It's Spring and I'm working on several cool opportunities to get my music licensed for film and also to be used by other artists. Most of the songs will end up on my CD but some don't really fit so they may never find their way on one of my CD's but you never know, maybe a different version could work. Can't wait to get back out playing regularly but I need to get things recorded and taken care of legally first. I'll probably be doing some low key cafe shows to get going again and test out new material soon. I'm getting used to playing mostly brand new material each show though it's pretty nerve wracking. My last show was 80% songs I had never played live before!
March 2009 - With some luck you may hear some tunes from my new CD on cable TV, in films or on CD's by other artists before I finally get my CD done. It's fun doing stuff like that and I figure if I write something someone with a wider audience than me wants to use that's great. I won't necessarily know when my songs are used till ASCAP sends me a check which won't be till 6-9 months after they are used. As I find out I'll of course post the tunes and what shows/movies/CD's they appear on this WEB site.
January/February 2009 - OK so 105.5 MMM has been using my cover of "Bullet in the Blue Sky" for an advertisement which runs a few dozen times a day... very cool. The other tunes I covered are getting air play too. I'm still not used to hearing myself on the radio since I'm very critical of my recordings, they're never done in my mind. I hope I can get my new CD played as much once it comes out.
January 18, 2009 - U2 sessions, I got to hear my take on "Bullet in the Blue Sky" on the radio (105.5 MMM Madison, WI) tonight. I thought they were going to play a few local artists but it was just me played between Jacob Dylan and the Wallflowers and Peter Himelman. It's pretty humbling hearing yourself between two major label artists. Humbling, but I learned something so I can see where I need improvement. They may play my other tunes the next two Sundays between 5-6PM and then maybe when they play the whole recreation of the Joshua Tree album. A huge thank you to DJ Pat Gallagher and 105.5 MMM for thinking my tunes are worth playing on prime time radio, very cool!
January 2009 - I just finished up three tunes for "Live from Studio M - U2, The Joshua Tree Sessions". I re-did "Where the Streets Have no Name", "One Tree Hill" and "Bullet in the Blue Sky" all as solo acoustic tunes with vocals. As always, the tunes are recorded live so there are no overdubs or studio stuff to cover up the basic raw song. I thought for sure I'd do an instrumental or two but Bono of U2 did some great lyrics so all three tunes include his lyrics. I took the music in a different direction artistically from the original U2 recordings which I guess is no surprise since I did them solo with just one acoustic guitar and a vocal. The guitar is pretty cool on "Street" and "Bullet" but I'm particularly happy with "One Tree Hill". U2 dedicated the Album to Greg Carrol and "One Tree Hill" was written for him. I think I kept the essence of the tune intact. The tunes may air on 105.5 MMM Madison sometime over the next couple months so keep an ear out for them. Listen to 105.5 in or around Madison or anywhere on line at www.1055triplem.com
December 2008 - Looks like the Christmas CD won't make it out again this year due to more hand problems. Joe hopes to be able to play a show or two to showcase the new tunes.
August 2008 - It's stranger then fiction but I'm working on Christmas tunes in August so I don't miss out releasing my Christmas CD "Peace on Earth" again this year. The CD may actually be renamed "Ah Via Christmastide" but the jury's still out on the name.
August 2008 - Debuting new tunes at shows in August come check them out!
July 2008 - Joe's taking July off to finish new tunes, record and get ready for upcoming shows.
June 2008 - The "2 If By Water" tour 2008 commences. Joe's off doing solo acoustic shows by boat. Joe will be making stops with his boat "Vivace" in Wisconsin and Michigan. I'll be back on the home front in July.
May 2008 - Challenge 2008. Here's the challenge. We all know the Madison Area Music Awards uses revenue collected to put instruments in kids hands and support music programs in schools that have had funding cut so... First - Every musician who submitted a tune in 2008 should submit another tune in 2009 and encourage another musician to do the same. Second - Everyone who submits a tune, attend the 2009 awards show and bring a guest. We can at least double the number of submittals and quadruple the attendance at the wards show. So what do you say!
May 2008 - I WON!!! What an honor. I still can't believe it... "Joe Bainbridge winner of the 2008 Madison Area Music Awards Wish You Were Hear Award"...it's going to be a while before that sounds real to me.
April 2008 - I won a nomination for a Madison Area Music Award!!! I can't believe it, there were tons of entries in my category and I won one of 5 nominations into the finals. The songs were each presented anonymously in round one so no one even knew it was my tune. It was selected purely on people listening and voting for my song. Ok, so how cool is that!
January 2008 - I'm working on recording #4, a solo acoustic instrumental that I think I'll submit to The Madison Area Music Awards since there's a category I can submit to this year. The category is the "Wish You Where Here" Award and is open to anyone from outside Dane County of any musical genera. It's kind of a best song of any type of music from anywhere. Competition should be pretty tough but at the very least I'll be making a donation to a good cause to promote music in schools.
Dec 2007 - Just heard from a friend that 105.5 MMM in Madison played my Christmas song "Peace On Earth" during regular programming... cool, cool cool! I'm three for three as far as getting my songs on the radio since WORT played my first two recorded pieces and now MMM played recording #3.
Upcoming Schedule:
Please Note: Joe is currently booking shows on a very reduced schedule to allow for the continued healing of a hand injury and recording his music.
January 2008 Till it's done - Fire Hazard Studios recording the upcoming acoustic CD "Story Towne" and putting the finishing touches on the Holiday CD "Peace On Earth"
May 31, 2008 Cafe Tlazo, Algoma WI, 7 till 9 PM, 607 4th St./Highway 42 Algoma, WI
p 920-487-7240, WEB Site http://www.caffetlazo.com
June 12, 13 & 14 Steel Bridge Festival, Sturgeon Bay, WI. Joe will be playing various showcases throughout the festival. 15 venues, 200 acts, Saturday Main stage performance by Jackson Brown , pAt mAcdonald (Tinbuk 3), Freedy Johnson, Jane Weedlin (The Go Go's) and a host of others. Tickets $50 for the full festival including trolley pass to all venues.
June 21 - Fasolo's Coffee & Deli, Leland, MI (Just off HWY 22 at Leland Harbor across from Historic Fish Town) 7 - 9 PM 231-929-1832
August 8, 2008 Crossroads Coffee House, 7:00-9:00, 2020 Main St. (HWY 14) Crossplains, WI 608-798-2080
August 9, 2008 - Harmony Grove Brat and Beer Festival, Show Time 1:00, HWY "V" Harmony Grove , WI. Take HWY 113 north of Lodi then HWY "J" east till it joins HWY "V", follow "V" to Harmony Grove.
August 30, 2008 - Joe will be playing the town of Mazomanie's Gallery Night, Mazomanie, WI. The show is at The Whistle Stop Cafe', WI 6 till 8 PM, 18 Brodhead St (Down Town Mazomanie).
Sept 20, 2008 - Private event, Madison, WI
Nov 1, 2008 - Private Event, Oconto, WI
Dec 26 - Crossroads Coffee House, Cross Planes, WI. Music starts with 4 separate acts 7-9, Joe will be wrapping up the show with a solo acoustic set at 9 -? and will be showcasing new songs from the as yet unreleased Christmas CD
June 27, 2009 - Outdoor show at the Copper Cup Sailing Regatta, Hi Sea's Marina, Oconto, WI Stop #1 as Joe kicks off the 2009 "2 if by Water Tour"
July 12, 2009 - Outdoor Show at the UW Union Terrace, Madison, WI Private show.
August 8, 2009 - Outdoor show a Brat Fest, Harmony Grove, WI. Show Time 1:00, HWY "V" Harmony Grove , WI. Take HWY 113 north of Lodi then HWY "J" east till it joins HWY "V", follow "V" to Harmony Grove.
August 29, 2009 - Outdoor show at the Inaugural Madison Mini Marathon in Madison WI. Joe will be performing in the UW Arboretum during the event 7-9 AM
Contact Information
- E-mail & Booking Information:
- Bookings: 1-866-480-0777
- General Information:
joe@storytowne.com
Webmaster: webmaster@storytowne.com