Alameda / Oakland / East Bay
Looking
to play.
I’m Mike, a 44-year-old, somewhat experienced guitarist and songwriter in Alameda. I started playing when I was 12 and was pretty much in bands until I took a few years off around 2019. Other than picking up my acoustic once in a while and learning a country song or two, I was mostly away from regular band playing until I got back on the band horse in late 2023 and joined a casual classic rock and blues band. I got a little rusty, but I’ve been catching up again by playing often and practicing daily. Now I’d like to step it up a bit with an original project or a second cover band that complements the casual band I’m already in—starting with a low-pressure jam, trading songs, learning a few covers, or seeing what feels natural with a few good people in a room.
I’m not looking for a perfect fit on day one. I’m open to starting small, keeping it fun, and seeing where the right musical connection goes.
02
A few original songs
Things I wrote a while back.
These recordings came from my college-era originals band, 1501. I wrote the guitar and bass parts and programmed the drums. They are older demos, but they’re a fair picture of where a lot of my writing and playing came from.
Letters in the Sand
Free Fall
Blue Sky
My Response To Your Life
Wash
01
Open to meeting people
Start small. See where it goes.
I’m open to a band, but I’m not treating every first meeting like an audition or a contract. A casual jam with the right people can turn into something useful. I see two main roads that could be fun, but I’m open to other good ideas too.
Road / 01
Upbeat covers & blues.
An energetic classic-rock or blues cover band with a good vocalist would be a lot of fun. I’d also be into a broader cover project that moves comfortably through the 70s, 80s, 90s, and a few 2000s songs—good material, good people, and a reason to get out and play.
Road / 02
Melodic originals, with range.
I’d also be interested in an original project with melody, strong songs, and room for guitars to do more than just fill space. It could lean heavy, but I’d be just as interested in radio-friendly rock or alternative material that knows how to write a hook. I do not need the whole plan mapped out; a few people, a few songs, and a relaxed first jam is a good place to start.
03
A little background
I’ve been around music for a while.
I started playing around 1995 and have played on and off ever since—mostly guitar, across blues, classic rock, 90s rock, hard rock, and originals. I’ve been in a few projects over the years, including 1501 in college and Waiting in Vain later on.
These days I also play guitar with Mike and the Maniacs, a local classic rock and blues project that is still around. I’m not leaving it behind; I simply have room in my life to add another musical outlet and meet more people who like to play.
04
How I show up
I’m trying to stay ready.
I’m 44, I keep active and fit, and I have reliable transportation and enough schedule flexibility to make a lot of things work. It has been a while since I was writing constantly, but I practice daily, try to stay current, and keep my gear in good working condition. I take the music seriously without taking myself too seriously.
Playing often
I have been getting back up to speed over the last two years by playing often, practicing daily, and staying connected to the instrument.
Organized and in-ear ready
I like charts, shared recordings, clear arrangements, simple set lists, and good communication. I would love to be part of a band that also uses in-ear monitors and treats rehearsals and live shows as a prepared, organized team effort.
Practical and reliable
I’m fit, healthy, have reliable transportation, look after my gear, and have flexibility to make rehearsals, jams, and the right opportunities work.
Keep it human
I’m easy to talk to, low-drama, and open to suggestions. If the playing is good and the people are good, I’m interested.
05
Useful outside the rehearsal room
A few practical things I can help with.
Music comes first, but I also come from an IT background and run a printing company. If a project needs the unglamorous stuff handled, I can usually make it easier.
IT background
Simple websites, fast.
I can spin up a clean website quickly and handle the practical online basics. It is not meant to turn anyone into a marketing department—it is just one less thing a band has to figure out from scratch.
Printing company
Merch and print are easy.
For a project that needs shirts, stickers, flyers, posters, or other printed pieces, I already understand the production side. Merch and basic print materials do not need to be a huge hurdle.
06
The musical stuff I notice
I tend to err on the melodic side.
I enjoy a good hook, a guitar line that supports a vocal, and the small melodic details that make a song feel like itself. I wrote a lot of the guitar melodies in Waiting in Vain, and that is still a big part of what I listen for when I play.
A representative older clip: “Alibi” by Waiting in Vain. It is the kind of multi-faceted rock song I enjoy playing—slow sections, heavier moments, and room for guitar melodies that serve the song.
One more that feels like me
Some Stevie at my own wedding.
A funny personal detail: my wife wanted the local band I play with, Mike and the Maniacs, to play at our wedding. So I got to play a little Stevie Ray Vaughan on my own wedding day. It is a current, honest example of the blues side of what I enjoy playing.
A short, personal live moment—not an advertisement, just a good reason to play some Stevie.
What I play / what I bring
Guitar first.
Guitar is my main instrument. I can cover rhythm and lead responsibilities, play bass competently when it helps, and bring a setup that makes sense for the material instead of trying to use one rig for everything.
01Classic rock / blues: guitar and tube-amp setup for the warmer, more traditional side of things.
02Heavy rock: Mesa half-stack when the material needs more weight and volume.
03Flexible tones: additional guitar and modeling options for modern or alternative material.
04Bass: 5-string Ibanez bass and gig-capable bass rig when it is useful.
Music I enjoy
Wide range. No big claims.
Blues and classic rock sit naturally alongside 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s rock, plus 90s alternative, hard rock, Tool, Satriani, Vai, Trust Company, Disturbed, Killswitch Engage, and newer melodic acts such as Caskets, Rain City Drive, Dayseeker, Wind Walkers, and Sakoya.
And yes, I thought Nickelback was great. There. I said it.
Get in touch
Want to play?
If you have a project, an idea, or just want to jam with another local guitarist, send me an email. Tell me what you play, what you are working on, and what a first hang might look like.
Alameda / Oakland / East Bay / wider Bay Area
[email protected]
[email protected]
Found me through a local musicians group? Mention it in your note. I’ll be glad you did.