Michael K. & the Populists: Populist HQ

I'm looking forward to playing some more stripped-down acoustic gigs to give me an opportunity to get my head around all these new songs I've been writing and recording. October 21st at b.b. Bistro looks like a lot of fun and I'm certainly excited about debuting at the Wonderland Ballroom in D.C. on Sunday night Oct. 26th. Hope to see you at one of these gigs. Enjoy the autumn leaves!

Watching the news reports today of all the memorial services taking place at ground zero NYC, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, PA. brought back all the sadness and anger that I felt this day seven years ago. I couldn't help crying a little when I watched young children paying homage to their father who they lost or the parents describing their only son or daughter and how much happiness they brought to everyone. These are brave souls who, year after year, gather to commemorate and relive the horrors of that day and honor the memory of their loved ones' life that was cut short. I think of all the heroes who saved lives that day only to end up perishing themselves.
In spite of all the horror of that day, what resulted was good old-fashioned American courage, compassion and resolve. Families became closer, strangers became friends, adversaries became willing partners in change and hope.
God Bless the USA and God Bless all who lost or willingly sacrificed their lives on 9-11-01 so that America is STILL the land of the free and the home of the brave.

NEW SONGS TO HEAR! YEAH!! Last November, me and the band traveled all the way to Lusby, Maryland to KMH Recording studios and spent the entire day recording six songs. I brought the unmixed tracks back with me and handed them off to my producer, Todd Kreuzburg. Over the past few months he and I added new guitar parts and vocals and VOILA!
Six new, never-before-heard songs ready for your ears. Now, I don't want to keep you waiting until an actual CD comes along so I've posted two of the songs on my website for you to check out. In a week or two, I'll post two more, etc. Check them out. Let me know what you think.

And so I've saved the best news for last....

My song, After the Rain (Bring the Sunshine), has been picked up and
placed in a soon-to-hit-theaters movie called AMERICAN VIOLET. This
is my first "big screen" song placement and I'm excited to actually
hear how they used it. No word on the exact release date, but I'll
keep you posted.

In closing, I have to birthday/anniversary shout-outs to share.

First- HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:

1. My Father-in-law, Ake, in from Sweden this week to celebrate his
60th.

2. My darling little girl, Cadence, turning 4 on Saturday

3. ME!! I turn 13 for the 3rd time on Sunday!!

And least but not last, I am truly honored and blessed to celebrate
six loving and wonderful years of marriage with my best friend and
true soul mate, Asa.

Take care and I'll keep posted on any upcoming gigs, CD releases, and
movie premiers!! :-)