FAWM.ORG | mikeb

Artist Bio

Influences: Neil Young, Todd Rundgren, Beatles, CS&N, Steely Dan, Pink Floyd, Carbon Leaf, Great Big Sea, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, the Who...

he/him

This is my 4th FAWM! Since last year, I have released my 6th album of original songs - a couple were from FAWM 2019.
New gear for this year:
Rode NT1 condensor mic
Taylor 324ceBE guitar
Updated my keyboards, with a new Casio WK7600.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Got my first guitar at age 15, never looked back (but may have left it in the closet for a few years along the way).
6 self-released CDs of various styles of music. Now I just call it 'electric-acoustic folk-rock' when people ask what genre.

Play guitar, uke, keyboards, bass, Merlin (ask!), and whatever instruments I can fake things on (mandolin, harmonica, violin). I use Reaper for recording (willing to do collaborations).

Friend me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.birch.965
And 'like' my artist page: https://www.facebook.com/mikebirchmusic/
And 'like/follow' me on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2335h7eE1s5RDOAb0Zv3Mi?si=0QGEp_XTTbOnai0Zcfw9Ag

Along with my collaborator and friend @tamsnumber4 I run a monthly songwriter meeting, Songwriters of New Hampshire Group (SONG) where we discuss songwriting and bring songs for suggestions and critiques in a casual songwriter circle format.

Songs (18)

#1	Safe in Your Arms acoustic guy-with-guitar	24 Feb 2022
#2	Groundhog Day fuc ukulele groundhog everyukulele	19 Feb 2022
#3	Never Too Young (to Rock and Roll) rock rock-opera	12 Feb 2022
#4	The Mystic of Time boatnames psychedelic magic synth nylonstringguitar magick	10 Feb 2022
#5	Molly Bloom acoustic guy-with-guitar boatnames capochallenge ballad country-folk	20 Feb 2022
#6	Burnt Orchid piano paintcardchallenge	11 Feb 2022
#7	Fire Inside paintcardchallenge fuzz rock drums rock-opera	10 Feb 2022
#8	Two for the Road capochallenge duet acoustic	11 Feb 2022
#9	Something Wicked rockopera	15 Feb 2022
#10	We Don't Have a Clue @tamsnumber4 folk folk-rock collab love detective	29 Feb 2022
#11	Emerald Fire valentine marijuananame	13 Feb 2022
#12	The Perfect Take capochallenge guy-with-guitar acoustic	15 Feb 2022
#13	Selfish capochallenge fuzz rock	9 Feb 2022
#14	Madness fawmmoon musetools 100secondsong onesynth	9 Feb 2022
#15	Tired of the Blues @tamsnumber4 folk duet collab	21 Feb 2022
#16	Running Out of Time @tamsnumber4 folk-rock collab	15 Feb 2022
#17	Lost and Found rock-opera alternatetuning	8 Feb 2022
#18	A Wish For You (My Dear Sophia) ukraine alternatetuning	11 Feb 2022

Soundboard

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@audrey Mar 2022

Thank you for the kind comment on my piece "Pleasant Dream Turned to Crap". I appreciate it.
@b3nut Mar 2022

Thanks for the comments Mike...appreciate it. I hear ya on digging Taylors...great guitars. :)
@looprication Mar 2022

Hey thanks so much for pointing out my link didn’t work! I am an idiot. Here’s a link @bithprod posted that apparently does work: Hey thanks so much for pointing out my link didn’t work! I am an idiot. Here’s a link @bithprod posted that works!

https://bit.ly/35NurVz
@chrisshepard Mar 2022

Thanks for the recommendation!
@psyt Mar 2022

Thanks for the comment on Start To Play. :)
@frogspawn Mar 2022

What? those two hopeless puppets @stephenwordsmith & @timfatchen? Nah. We just let them wobble around during February then show them how to win FAWM in March! You've missed our website though because I got the URL wrong...now fixed: https://pointlessfrogspawn.bandcamp.com/
@jeff9 Mar 2022

Thanks for the nice comments, Mike. Looking forward to doing some serious listening.
@oswlek Feb 2022

Thanks for giving "Tiny Grass" a whirl, Mike. I appreciate how committed you are to supporting other people's work. :)
@mishykatz Feb 2022

Thanks for the listen and comment on All Wound Up! Great suggestions ... Much appreciated!
@timfatchen Feb 2022

Thanks Mike for Begining of the End comment. I've corrected the date (no I don't wish to be back in 2020!)
@lyricslinger Feb 2022

Thanks Mike for your comments on my Strength and No Fly Zone lyrics, and for your overall support and encouragement throughout FAWM. :)
@raspberry33 Feb 2022

Mike - thanks for your comments. I'm no expert on stringed instruments, but I think the bass (or octave) mandolin is smaller than a mandocello, although tuned the same - G-D-A-E, an octave below the mandolin. This is my first FAWM, and I've been surprised at the number of entries featuring stringed instruments other than guitar. Good to hear!
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Thanks, Mike. Coulda used those harmonies maybe!
@pvk2020 Feb 2022

Happy Fawm. Have a good year creating
@bethyrose Feb 2022

Thanks for your comment on Hello Spring! And I hear you- the snow outside looks more like Christmas than Easter right now haha. But even in New Hampshire the spring has to come eventually, right? :)
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

Mike, Thanks for your comments on Green Eyes. I was so happy when Georgie and then Gwyn agreed to make the lyric into a song!
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Very kind of you, Mike, to check out "The Waltz". It's always an honor to get the chance to work on one with @donna.

I'm enjoying watching your rock opera unfold and your collabs with @tamsnumber4 !
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

Mike, Thank you for your compliments on My Man of Few Words. I thought @sheslin did a wonderful job interpreting the lyrics. And yes, I love that piano treatment, too!
@fearlessflight2014 Feb 2022

Unfortunately I only have access to the instrumental track mp3 as posted and I have my vocal track which I can export any way desired. @guatecoop has all the individual tracks but I'm hesitant to trouble him this late in FAWM.
@williamjames Feb 2022

Hi Mike! I know I could keep going but inspiration is completely famished! I am glad I made it to 14 :) Will concentrate on listening for the rest of the time :)
@fearlessflight2014 Feb 2022

Hi mike, thanks for your constructive criticism re. The mix of The First Step. I have no skill in mixing so I wouldn't know how to achieve such things but you'd be welcome to mix the vocal and track together to show me.
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

Hi, Mike. Thanks for your comments on Somethin' Better, and your comment on the bass line. Since I posted this version, Paul Harrison asked if he could also demo his take on it. So interesting to me how different artists can interpret the same lyric musically. I like them both!
@chroes Feb 2022

Hello Mike, thank you for stopping by and giving my murder waltz a listen! :) Highly appreciated!
@colgoo Feb 2022

Haha….well you added one more song to my hazel eyes song list: Secret Garden, Kelly Clarkson, Mike Birch.
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022

Congrats on your trophy!
@oswlek Feb 2022

Thanks for the kind words on "Caped", Mike. I appreciate you stopping by and checking it out.
@james10 Feb 2022

Thanks for your comments

I wasn't sure what It's The Water would end up as an old style country song but I couldn't be happier with the melody that jeff9 put to it
@andrea Feb 2022

Thanks, Mike, for your kind and thoughtful comments on Caped Crusader.

Congrats on 14 songs!
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Hey, thanks, Mike. Just keeping it simple there with "It's the Water". Glad you enjoyed.
@scubed Feb 2022

Thanks very much for listening and commenting on “Decluttering My Heart” and “Faraway Dream”! I really appreciate it.
@caitlin Feb 2022

Thanks for chiming in on Together Is Better. And yes, we are very lucky indeed - couples who play together stay together!!
@lyricslinger Feb 2022

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your comments on my 'Not Your Hero' lyrics. Yes, probably not many rock singers who would go for that type of self confession songs. Unless they were singing from the perspective of a fictitious character possibly
@crisp1 Feb 2022

Thanks for the comment on Not Even Close. I think of adult contemporary as pop for grownups!
@lissielou79 Feb 2022

Thank you for my comments on my song too. 'pick up the rubbish'
@roblincoln Feb 2022

Thanks for your comments on my song, Will You Ever Know
@toms Feb 2022

No Squire Tele in the sausage factory! Thank you very much for the kind comment!
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

And thank you, too, for your nice comments on My Man of Few Words. Like you, I loved the piano!
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

Hi, Mike. Thanks so much for your comments on In Love All Alone. Yes, a stage musical--that was the idea! Glad it worked for you.
@elainedimasi Feb 2022

"...something we can really not control in this life!"

Wise and also comforting words - thank you for that!
@dragondreams Feb 2022

Thanks, Mike.
It's worth taking a look at the Strix Instruments site. They sampled 20 pianos in various states of disrepair over a period of seven years. The piano used in the library is an amalgam of all twenty in order to get a full set of 88 working keys. They also sampled loads of different environments to add the impulse responses for the convolution reverb. So yes, the reverb on Halflife is one of the rooms in Chernobyl!
The library has a function to age the piano from 1986 when they were first abandoned, year by year to 2019.
@kcc Feb 2022

Hey Mike! Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment on into the well! I did use a little reverb but did a poor job of double tracking my vox. Perhaps that in conjunction with the verb, blurred the sonic clarity.

Will pay more attention to that on the next one!

KC
@leakyplusme2 Feb 2022

Thank you Mike for your nice comment and yes Corey really sang and played When You Go Away from his heart. and the lyrics are memories of mine about a girl i was in love with back in the mid 70's. I hope they are still relevant today.
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Many thanks, Mike!
@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022

Thanks for your kind comments on "Winter Early Morning", "Be There for Me" and "Beyond the Gate.
@andrea Feb 2022

Thanks for your kind words on I Don't Want to Talk. Much appreciated.
@toms Feb 2022

Probably not even 2 bit! All calculations were done by college interns by hand using old Bowmar Brain slide rule calculators from the 70s! (I actually had Cubase 3.7 and it barely ran on my computer - amazing how much better digital audio quality is now, too)
@pianoonthepatio Feb 2022

Thank you so much for your lovely comment on Strangers with Memories!
@scubed Feb 2022

Thanks, for the kind comment, Mike!
@sunfire Feb 2022

Thanks for commenting on Mi Mamajuana Cafe and thanks for inspiring the write with your new Marijuana Name Challenge.
Cheers!
@atam94 Feb 2022

The drums will probably need refining eventually, and thanks!!
@rdlinder Feb 2022

Looks like you're well on your way. I'll be checking out your songs.
@arkka Feb 2022

Thanks for the comment!
@blindkiwi Feb 2022

Thanks for the comments on Inner Sleeve Mike, Yes I definitely want to rework the idea.
@brisk Feb 2022

Thanks for your comment on I Need To Go Somewhere - if only you knew! I try to shoehorn "surprise" acapella endings onto EVERY song I write!
@staticcaptain Feb 2022

Thanks for listening. - updated the mix.
@staticcaptain Feb 2022

Should have access now - sorry!
@atam94 Feb 2022

Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for listening to my song a few days back! Sorry for the late reply, I really do appreciate you taking the time to listen
@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

Hi, Mike. Thank you for your comments on Ghost of a Chance, and for appreciating the message that the POV is nostalgic, but not wanting to go back. Just appreciating the memory. I agree with you that Gwyn did a wonderful job with this.
@mmmmarcus Feb 2022

Heya, thanks a lot for the nice comment on Peace of Mind! Tracked guitar with a pencil condenser. Choruses double tracked and hard panned but no delay (besides the little solo/lead thing).
@dragondreams Feb 2022

Today seems duller than most, but you're right. ;-)
@colgoo Feb 2022

Absolutely a chance for a FAWMover! I am in a tricky space right now with all the moving pieces in my life, so I am not sure how capable I am in organizing the event. But I definitely want to go!!!
@dragondreams Feb 2022

Thanks, Mike. :-)
My influences? Oddly, the title of the track is not really about my bass playing or songwriting. It's more about the way life and events influence us throughout a day/week/month and so on.
BUT - my influences on songwriting are pretty much everything I've ever heard. My influence on bass is trickier to define. I was classically trained on double bass, so one of my earliest influences was probably Prokofiev. But I just use the bass (or guitar or keys or recorder) to convey what I'm feeling or imagining and trying to put that down as noises.
@leakyplusme2 Feb 2022

I have no idea how to write down what i am singing it's just guess work lol.
@scubed Feb 2022

Thanks so much for your kinds comments on my songs - really appreciate them!
@toms Feb 2022

23andMe tells me that I am genetically predisposed to be skeptical of any received wisdom, and it usually takes me decades to learn! I say: more is more!!! :) Next time I am going to try 8 or 10 mics on the amp and three fizz boxes! :D Thank you for the listen and very kind comment. :-)
@jessicagraae Feb 2022

Thanks for listening to my Science Bad song. I've got family in NH and ME. Some of them I almost can't talk to.
@kristinchambers Feb 2022

Hi Mike, thanks for listening to The Luck Will Follow. Yes! finally the lyrics seem to flow. Finished!
@paulmilne Feb 2022

Hi Mike, thanks for the comment on I Found Your Letters In A Box. I've written more in the liner notes to flesh out the story of you're interested.
@jeff9 Feb 2022

"Good beat and feel on this, just need to add some rockabilly lead guitar licks in it!"

Thanks, Mike. Working on that. Stay tuned!
@edward9thstreet Feb 2022

Thanks Mike! Keep up the work, all your stuff is sounding great.
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Very kind of you to drop in on my collab with Geoff, Mike. And for the nice comments. Cheers.
@the3queens Feb 2022

Thanks for listen to Waiting and the kind words. Not Comcast, Verizon. And that lovely that needs to rotate is a picture of the front of my house were they just drilled straight into the sidings my picture window. SMH!
@oswlek Feb 2022

Thanks for the kind words on "Clear", Mike. I know FAWM is meant for demos, but even then the mix was pretty poor when you caught it. I'm glad you were able to tolerate it anyway!
@andrea Feb 2022

I will definitely keep your FB page on hand. I love the combo of rock and opera. This is exciting! Thanks for the really nice comments on I Believed I Could Fly. If you change your mind on taking it on, just say the word :)
@scubed Feb 2022

Thanks for the listen on “Left Ankle Blues”!
@gwyn1234 Feb 2022

Many, many thanks for the listen and your kind and encouraging words...
@cheslain Feb 2022

It was my pleasure. It didn't feel long at all.
@daveyboy103 Feb 2022

Thanks for the kind words Mike, Taylor Swift is a very talented girl and a great song writer, I certainly would have problems with that comparison.
@standup Feb 2022

Thanks for listening to Postcard. That lead sound is just a Chinese clone of a Marshall 18 watt amp, with no pedals, just a guitar and a cable.
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Thanks, Mike, for the kind comment on "Carly". I don't know if "shoegaze" is even accurate or not. Maybe should've called it something like "shoegaze lite" :).
@ferry0123 Feb 2022

Thanks for your awesome comment, Mike! Glad you liked it.
@arthurrossi Feb 2022

Hey Mike! Thank you so much for your beautiful comment!
@redlady8029 Feb 2022

Hi Mike
Here is a better link--
https://song.space/3gyqqv
Thanks for commenting and listening
@nateger Feb 2022

Thank you for your kind words on my tune, Mike! :)
@lyricslinger Feb 2022

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your comments on my Funny Bone lyrics. Yes, could be interesting to hear it done by a full band rather than singer-songwriter
@scubed Feb 2022

Thanks so much for your comment on “Shadows and Signs”!
@jessicagraae Feb 2022

Thanks for your comments on my lab monkey song!
@jmso91 Feb 2022

Hi Mike, Thanks for listening to my song and leaving a comment. I really appreciate it :)
@jeff9 Feb 2022

Thanks for the listen and kind words on "Grieving", Mike. Good to "see"you here!
@andrea Feb 2022

Thanks Mike for checking out Beautiful People Do Ugly Things. I appreciate the positive comment.
@frozenlonesome Feb 2022

Thanks Mike for checking out The Emerald Planet and thanks for your kind comments.
@donna Feb 2022

Thank you for your kind comment, Mike. :) I'm waiting now to hear something from you. ;)
@geoff61 Feb 2022

Thanks Mike, looking forward to see what you got this time round :-)
@colgoo Jan 2022

Happy FAWM!!!
@lyricslinger Jan 2022

Hi Mike, Have a great FAWM
Simon
@donna Jan 2022

Hi, Mike. Have a good FAWM!
@crisp1 Jan 2022

Wishing you a great FAWM, Mike!
@robynmackenzie Jan 2022

Happy happy FAWM!
@wobbiewobbit Jan 2022

you too! hope you have a great Fawm
@onewholovesrock Jan 2022

Hello Mike! Enjoy FAWM. I’ll see you around.

mikeb 18

Artist Bio

Songs (18)

Soundboard

@audrey Mar 2022

@b3nut Mar 2022

@looprication Mar 2022

@chrisshepard Mar 2022

@psyt Mar 2022

@frogspawn Mar 2022

@jeff9 Mar 2022

@oswlek Feb 2022

@mishykatz Feb 2022

@timfatchen Feb 2022

@lyricslinger Feb 2022

@raspberry33 Feb 2022

@jeff9 Feb 2022

@pvk2020 Feb 2022

@bethyrose Feb 2022

@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

@jeff9 Feb 2022

@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

@fearlessflight2014 Feb 2022

@williamjames Feb 2022

@fearlessflight2014 Feb 2022

@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

@chroes Feb 2022

@colgoo Feb 2022

@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022

@oswlek Feb 2022

@james10 Feb 2022

@andrea Feb 2022

@jeff9 Feb 2022

@scubed Feb 2022

@caitlin Feb 2022

@lyricslinger Feb 2022

@crisp1 Feb 2022

@lissielou79 Feb 2022

@roblincoln Feb 2022

@toms Feb 2022

@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

@elainedimasi Feb 2022

@dragondreams Feb 2022

@kcc Feb 2022

@leakyplusme2 Feb 2022

@jeff9 Feb 2022

@tamsnumber4 Feb 2022

@andrea Feb 2022

@toms Feb 2022

@pianoonthepatio Feb 2022

@scubed Feb 2022

@sunfire Feb 2022

@atam94 Feb 2022

@rdlinder Feb 2022

@arkka Feb 2022

@blindkiwi Feb 2022

@brisk Feb 2022

@staticcaptain Feb 2022

@staticcaptain Feb 2022

@atam94 Feb 2022

@greengrassgirl Feb 2022

@mmmmarcus Feb 2022

@dragondreams Feb 2022

@colgoo Feb 2022

@dragondreams Feb 2022

@leakyplusme2 Feb 2022

@scubed Feb 2022

@toms Feb 2022

@jessicagraae Feb 2022

@kristinchambers Feb 2022

@paulmilne Feb 2022

@jeff9 Feb 2022

@edward9thstreet Feb 2022

@jeff9 Feb 2022

@the3queens Feb 2022

@oswlek Feb 2022

@andrea Feb 2022

@scubed Feb 2022

@gwyn1234 Feb 2022