“The Hardrock Haven Band of the Month is a band we firmly believe needs to be heard. Each month, one Hardrock Haven staff member has their opportunity to pick a band they feel is going to break soon; a band that is deserved of nationwide attention; and lastly, a band that just kicks ass.” … Derric Miller.

Hardrock Haven is proud to bring you our thrid installment for our new section — Band of the Month — and this time around we present Gavin Mikhail.

Asked to shoot forward an act or musician to be featured as the Hardrock Haven Band/Artist of the Month, so many names sizzled by. From my personal faves like Mad Max, Feed Forward, Alexa, and Elegy, all the way to the never ending story of greatness by RUSH. With a 100-degree sun frying my brain as in mid-summer, I couldn’t get around that one artist that so eagerly opposed me in the last few months: Gavin Mikhail.

With his tunes on Myspace, I was given a teaser which stuck in my brain on shuffle mode, and when the full recordings of his two CDs arrived at my place, I was sold! His music is piano pumped like Jonathan Caine’s, but with a more intriguing pumped sound that shoots his music closer to rock than any of Caine’s solo efforts did. It is an odd situation with music that is laid back, intimate, yet has enough power to please rockers and fans of AOR and melodic rock … as well as my misses!

Think of names like Valensia and Robby Valentine in the fringe with Rob Lamothe and Brett Walker. His voice is crystal clear with a shimmering brilliant edge of rawness; nothing like a Rob Lamothe, nothing like Paul Rodgers … but it has a distinguished hoarse blur around the edge over a remarkable warm mid range. It is timid, it is vibrant, with enough depth and diversity to uplift any of his hook laden tunes. You guessed it; his music is a one of a kind blend of rock, pop and classical with pompous injections and an undying drive propelling some top notch tunes.

Fans of the more timid and warm sound will likely settle for his latest output Like Normal People Do, where fans of a more edgy rocking and progressive sound will kneel deep towards his debut My Personal Beauty Needs. Both albums empower his typical songwriting skills, yet are differing music-wise as well. It gives a deeper insight in his standings in music and his wants and needs as a musician. Capturing every listener’s attention with his amazing harmonies and his ear mingling choruses, where he rocks the socks off from anyone not immediately devouring these tunes. You will get caught by his tunes, his personality and his voice.

www.gavinmikhail.com
www.myspace.com/gavinmikhail

Check back to this section June 1 when staff writer Matthew Hoffman picks his Band of the Month!