Mike Jacobs
guitar, vox
Mike Jacobs (guitars, vox) has been a fixture on the East Coast music scene for almost 10 years. He was a founding member of top NYC Power Pop band The Pasties and has been called a "Guitar Virtuoso" by the national press, which has covered his work since his precocious club days at age 15. His Jeff Beck-meets-Danny Gatton fretwork is matched only by his songwriting talents. A Brooklyn native, Mike nimbly moves from fluid melodic work to machine-gun licks, while scaring audiences with his Roth-like showmanship and vocal talents.
Mike grew up in an unbroken home near the ocean in Brooklyn, New York, where he studied guitar, piano, violin, and posing like KISS. While attending New York City's Stuyvesant High School, Michael bought the Black Sabbath songbook and dedicated himself the to pursuit of music. He continued to associate with fellow losers in Metallica T-shirts, who together frequented and played such legendary NY establishments as CBGBs, the Pyramid Club, and the Stuyvesant auditorium. Being part of the school's vibrant rock/ska/hardcore scene (which included Brandon Simpson of Columbia Record's Shift and a lot of other bald guys) didn't get him any girls, though.
Mike riffed on the streets of NYC until he enrolled at Yale University and studied in its famed classical guitar department (under the amazing Ben Verdery). After graduating, Mike played with numerous local bands, culminating in an appearance on New York's MetroChannel, numerous album credits, and national radio airplay. Mike has played a host of venues, including Mercury Lounge (opening up for Vernon Reid), The Bitter End, CBGBs, Chicago Blues, Arlene Grocery, Yale University, The Tune Inn in New Haven, The Hudson Theater, State of the Union in DC, Crazy Country Club (home of Andrew Dice Clay!), and the Davenport Common Room. Mike has played with a range of artists including Josh Dodes Band (featured on VH1's Bands on the Run), The Pasties, John Macaluso (Yngwie Malmsteen), Park Mark & the Van Dorens, Yeast, Rain All Ready, Angst, and the Harlem Boys Choir.
www.mikejacobs.com
Hometown:
Brooklyn, NY
Birthdate:
August 7 (Leo)
Favorite Artists/Influences:
Aerosmith, Aretha Franklin, Black Sabbath, Bob Seeger, Bon Jovi, Brian Setzer, Buckethead, Cheap Trick, Danny Gatton, David Bowie, Dick Dale, Dire Straits, Drivin-n-Cryin, Eddie Palmieri, Elton John, Freddie Jones Band, Guster, Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jeff Buckley, Letters to Cleo, Mark Knopfler, Meat Loaf, Michael J. Fox, Mike Errico, Neil Diamond, Orbital, Pat Metheny, Motorhead, Early Motorhead, Peter Gabriel, Prince, Queen, Reverend Horton Heat, Sade, Sarah McLachlan, Seal, Squeeze, Steve Stevens, Stevie Wonder, Stretch Princess, The Cult, The Police, The Smiths, The Temptations, The Who, Thin Lizzy, U2, Wendy O. Williams
Favorite Albums:
Sarah McLachlan's "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy", the first Seal album, the "Hackers" Soundtrack, "Toys in the Attic", Peter Gabriel's "So", Meat Loaf's "Bat Out of Hell", and anything by Motorhead
Favorite Movies:
The Wedding Singer, Beautiful Girls, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Hackers, The Crow, Jacob's Ladder, Say Anything
Favorite TV Series:
21 Jump Street
Turn Ons:
Women older, taller, and smarter than me
Turn Offs:
Any woman that would actually have me (and my member) as a member
Favorite carbonated, milk-based beverage:
Yoo-hoo
Favorite Book:
1984
Favorite Name for Inanimate Objects:
Bernadette
Lifetime Major League Batting Average:
.211 (5 for 19), courtesy of baseball-reference.com
Favorite Switch-Hitter:
Mickey Mantle
Ideal Woman:
Fran Drescher (or Janice when she was on Seinfeld) meets Becky from from Full House.
(Or Sarah Silverman.)
Favorite Concerts:
Bon Jovi reunion at Toad's Place, Diamond Dave at Jones Beach, Bon Jovi at the Meadlowlands (Ryan gets arrested)
First Albums:
Purple Rain by Prince, Stay Hungry by Twisted Sister, Synchronicity by the Police, and Can’t Slow Down by Lionel Richie... all from Columbia House on cassette...
What Made it Happen:
Steve Vai's Crossroads appearance + Full House's Jesse (actually a drummer) and his BC Rich guitars + seeing Mike Errico for the first time + an allergic reaction to ties + meeting Paul and Aaron (onstage during a Paul Mark & the Van Dorens set).
What Made it Happen LIKE THIS:
Danny Gatton.
Equipment:
Guitars - Fender Telecaster Thinline Custom, Reverend Rocco, '69 Tele Thinline w/ Bigsby (once owned by a Venture), Anniversary Telecaster, G&L Sparkle Tele Thinline, '69 Les Paul Black Beauty, PRS Custom 24, Gretsch Jet, Danelectro 12-string, Ibanez Artist Doubleneck, Taylor Acoustic, Alvarez-Yairi Nylon String, a nameless semi-hollow guitar I bought on ebay, saw on an episode of Happy Days, and used on numerous tracks because it sounds like Duane Eddy on speed (but doesn't tune too well)
Amps - Budda Superdrive 30, Fender Silverface Deluxe Reverb, '65 Fender Bandmaster, Top Hat Club Royale
Other - D'Addario Strings, Dunlop Tortex Picks, Monster Cable, MXR Phase 90, Fulltone Fulldrive (volume boost for solos), Fingers, Brain, Tongue and the EBow
Mike has endorsements with Budda Amplification and Reverend Guitars.
