Mike Nicolai : Biography
When you hear a bare recording of someone on their guitar- as if recorded live in an empty room- and the performance and song are strong enough to grab you, you know that performer has “it”. Mike Nicolai has it for sure.
-Miles of Music
Members past and present of great Americana bands such as The Replacements, Son Volt and The Gourds have contributed to Mike Nicolai’s recordings. He wrote the song Cath You Alive for the Austin, TX, group the Damnations, who released it as the final track on their 1999 Sire Records debut, “Half Mad Moon”. His narration of the short film, “Looing Out For Hope”, directed by Phil Harder of Harder / Fuller Films, can be heard on the DVD section of the boxed set, “A Lifetime of Temporary Relieft” by Low, who composed music for the film. Nicolai has toured extensively, both solo and with backing bands, and has played shows all over the US including supporting sets with such artists as Vic Chestnutt, Neko Case, Spoon, Richard Buckner, Jeff Tweedy, and many others.
In 2005, Mike performed on the Christmas Train to New Orleans, a relief tour for victims of Hurricane Katrina that included Arlo Gutherie, Willie Nelson, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. In addition, Mike Nicolai has been invited to perform as a showcasing artist at the SXSW Music and Media Festival in Austin, Texas. |
