WHERE: One World West, 520 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
WHEN: Thursday February 3, 2022
SHOWTIME: 8pm
GENRE: “punk-jazz” / jam / percussion
AGES: 21+
TICKETS: $12 adv. / $15 d.o.s
BUY TIX HERE: www.charlietravelerpresents.com/shows
Mike Dillon:
WEBSITE: http://mikedillonvibes.com
HEAR SOME MUSIC: https://mikedillonband.bandcamp.com
SEE A VIDEO: https://youtu.be/GRwJ7n5IFLA
• 2018 Big Easy Award (Gambit) – WINNER Best Rock
• 2016 Big Easy Award (Gambit) – WINNER Best Male Performer
• 2015 Drummies Artist Awards – Winner Rock/Pop/Hip-Hop Percussionist
• 2015 Drummies Artist Awards – Runner up Percussionist of The Year
• 2014 Downbeat Critics Choice — Vibraphone
• 2014 Downbeat Readers Poll Winner – Vibraphone
• 2012, 2013 and 2014 Downbeat Rising Star
How many artists can claim being praised a “punk rock provocateur,” “jazz vibraphone visionary” and “percussion virtuoso” in the same sentence? There’s only one: Mike Dillon. Whether through his affiliation with artists like Les Claypool, Brave Combo and Ani DiFranco, collaborations such as Garage A Trois, The Dead Kenny Gs and Critters Buggin or bands he’s fronted, including Billy Goat and Hairy Apes BMX, the Texas-native has set his own standard for 25 years now.
Pulling from an arsenal of musicians Dillon has played with and known over the years, he will be touring with some of the “baddest” musicians on the planet including Claude Coleman Jr. (Ween), Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), Nikkie Glaspie (Beyonce), Brian Haas (JFJO, Nolatet), Doug Belote (Ernie K. Doe), Andre Chomondeley (Project Object), James SIngleton (James Booker) , Patrick McDevitt (Band Of Outsiders), Johnny Vidacovich (Professor Longhair), JJ Jungle (The Coup), David Butler (American Babies), Brad Houser (Critters Buggin), Robb Kidd (Papa Mali), and many more.
Lyrically speaking, Mike Dillon draws from his love of Miguel de Cervantes, William Burroughs, Kurt Vonnegut and Robert Anton Wilson to tell stories of New Orleans debauchery mixed with age-old themes of travel, love, self-destruction and greed. Delivered with Dillon’s trademark vocal rasp, the record has the intensity of a Tom Waits-meets-Frank Zappa black comedy. Rumor has it that Dillon lived in the same apartment that Waits shared with Rickie Lee Jones for the past seven years. However, Dillon discounts those rumors: “This apartment has housed dudes from Morning 40 Federation, Ani DiFranco, an old Conga player and a bunch of heroin addicts.”
“People are always trying to figure out how to describe our music. Maybe we should call it New Orleans punk jazz Brazilian math rock? It’s a gumbo of tribal percussion, The Meters, old school hardcore, Brazil, hard bop and anything else that might move us,” concludes Dillon. “But you know, I really don’t care what you call it. We kick out the jams harder than anyone, and we also know when to heed the lessons of The Minutemen’s Double Nickels On The Dime and keep things straight to the point. There’s a reason we called the record what we did. We’re the living, breathing definition of a band of outsiders, but together we deliver simple majestic beauty, let’s leave it at that.”