Michael McCloud is a Key West institution. He's an excellent guitarist, a fine singer, and a marvelous song writer. His philosophy is expressed in one of his songs, "I'd rather be here drinking a beer than freezing my ass in the north". So who are McCloud's 'friends'? Mike and I agree that no one will ever replace the late, great George Turner, but his new crew is wonderful and exciting. Carl Peachy is one great guitar player, and Bubba Bass Notes is an artist on stand up bass. He is a good singer as well.
So how does a smoking blues player blend with a laid back, irreverant, country flavored cat like McCloud? Like peaches and cream. Michael begins with a statement, "This (music) is noise. The city comission says so"! A great island flavored tune, the Dirt Band's hit "American Dream" starts things off. Michael's exquisite vocal is enhanced by Carl's brilliant lead, placed between phrases with a great solo. Bubba has the Caribean feeling down and does great vocal harmony.
Next we hear a McCloud song about 'fishing as a religeous experience'. Delightful! Requests pour in, and Mike honors them. CSN's "Southern Cross" is perfect for this trio. Carl works his lead magic, artistic, soulful, and crystal clean. For a laid back act, these folks are exciting. Another McCloud tune from his new CD, "Peace and Quiet" says something we can all relate to, "I need someplace that never has winter", a marvelous paen to living and working in Paradise, doing what you love, making music and fishing. Next Michael sings a song Jackson Browne recorded that Danny O'Keefe wrote that says,"It's just another town along the Road".
This band has been there, done that, and decided that trying to 'make the big time' will only lead them to more grueling road tours until they make enough money to retire to Key West when they're old and worn out. So they all opted instead to settle for local fame and do what they love right here while they're young enough to enjoy it. I made the same decision eighteen years ago and have never regretted it for a minute. Bubba picks up his bow for this one, working some modal magic.
McCloud singa a tune by Captain Pat about reincarnation that says, "Some people think they'll come back as a snake or a frog, but me, I'm coming back as a Schooner Wharf dog". As you look around you'll see a water bowl and lots of visiting canine company, one of the things that make Schooner Wharf one of our town's most loved musical venues. Michael played a song he and Shel Silverstein co-wrote because Shel came down with 'hardening of he artistry' and couldn't finish it.
Mike could, and sang it on Good Morning America for some eight million people. It explains, "I just came down for the weekend, thirty five years ago". A country rap song (Michael calls it 'crap') tells a tale about a poor soul on the road who stopped into a church to get warm, but was thrown out because he was dirty and ragged. Then a trucker picked him up and drove hours out of his way to take him where he was heading. Mike sang, "I met a whole church full of hippocrites and one good Christian man" Go hear this ensemble, Friday or Saturday from one till five at Schooner Wharf. You'll love 'em. Stay cool!