In the BUZZ – Pennsylvania’s Americana Bohemian – Mike MiZ

Written by Gina Tutko
PA Music Scene.com
February 2011

His dedication to the genre of music called “Americana” is only part of what sets Mike Mizwinski apart from other artists. As a self-described bohemian, Mike MiZ (MiZ as he is known) refers to his musical style as a “blend of rock, soul and Americana.” His career path is evolving along the lines of many of the members of the classic American folk bands. Because they love what they do, they will join together for a song, an album, a concert or a spontaneous ‘jam session’ just because they all groove together and respect each other as musicians.

Mike was already seasoned in music, displaying his talents by the age of six. By the time he was twelve, he was writing his own songs. At the age of 16, his first band was The Appalachian Barnhouse Band. By that age, he credits his inspiration to “the divine universal intelligence,” and says he feels his goal in the music world is to “to inspire people and to therefore assist the awakening of human consciousness.” He loves both acoustic and electric guitar equally. He is also still busy with Gongzilla, the jazz fusion band that is one of the first groups he started playing with years ago. He prefers that the opinions of others not deter the path he is on. Though Mike does not detract from messages of political or spiritual nature, his music is not meant to send a message. “I don’t want people to be thinking about any of that while listening to my music,” he said. His first album, Madness in My Mind, was released in 2007.

MiZ can be identified with numerous bands, a frequent guest to others and a soloist as well. He is a core part of the Americana scene, one we are luckily able to enjoy thoroughly in Pennsylvania. There is a large group of excellent experienced musicians who work together on projects all the time.

As a member of several of the best acts we have around, he is also a part of two tribute bands, Jam Stampede (a Grateful Dead tribute) and Garcia Grass which is a new bluegrass project featuring members of Cabinet, Hickory Project and Stone Poets. Garcia Grass will be doing a short winter tour in a few days.

MiZ is no stranger to national acts as well having opened for Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks Band and Leon Russell. Over the last five years he has played with the likes of Merle Saunders, Chuck Garvey, Al Schnier, Charlie Hitchcock & Ben Combe, Jason Hann (String Cheese Incident), Michael Glabicki (Rusted Root) and more. His loves and influences include jazz, bluegrass, swing, old school country, and more. Mike’s current favorite song is “Heels of the Day” although he says “I’m sure that will change soon.” He’d love to play with Dave Matthews because of the amount of people he draws and the wide range of ages in the fan base and he admires Ryan Adams. “Ryan Adams is my favorite songwriter of the new millennium,” he says. However, when asked who has been his biggest inspiration, musically or otherwise, he replied simply, “My amazing family.”

When it comes to lessons learned MiZ says, “I always try to keep a clear head and be respectful to everyone I meet; you never know who you are talking to. The band that may have opened for you (and sucked) may be selling out Giant Stadium in 10 years.”

Mike MiZ has a new live, solo acoustic album, Live at Downtown Arts which was just released a few weeks ago. The concert was held on Thanksgiving Eve of 2010 in a theatre called Downtown Arts located at 47 North Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre (former First United Methodist Church) to a crowd of over 200 music lovers. Local promoters were skeptical about a show which served no alcohol at the venue but it turned out to be a huge success. The album is a benefit for the new River Common Amphitheater in downtown Wilkes-Barre and is also being used to raise funds for a new studio album set to be released next month. The studio album will feature Jon Graboff from Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Buddy Cage (played on Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, member of New Riders of the Purple Sage) and Gordon Stone, best known for his playing on Phish’s Rift and Picture of Nectar albums.

I am sure you can catch a MiZ show at some point considering he performed 245 shows in 2010. Mike MiZ has played the following venues and festivals:

World Cafe Live Philly
Sullivan Hall NYC
8×10 Baltimore MD
Mexicali Blues Teaneck NJ
National Underground NYC
Tin Angel Philly
Rockwood Music Hall NYC
A Bear’s Picnic
Wormtown Music Festival
Strangecreek Music Festival
Camp Creek Music Festival
North Star Philly
Millennium Music Conference
Cape May Singer Songwriter Conference
Nectar’s Burlington VT
The Troubadour LA
The Sherman Theater Stroudsburg PA
The Rex Theater Pittsburgh
BB King’s (main stage) NYC
Brooklyn Bowl NYC
Live on 90.5 WJFF NY
Live on WNTI 91.9FM Hackettstown NJ
Sunshine Daydream Music Festival Terra Alta WV
The Chameleon Club Lancaster PA
Meeting of the Minds
Some Kind of Jam
River Street Jazz Cafe Wilkes-Barre PA
Live on WXLV 90.3 Lehigh Valley PA
Live on 88.5 WXPN Philly
Neighborhood Theater Charlotte NC
Lincoln Theater Raleigh NC
The Bitter End NYC
Toad’s Place New Haven CT
Three Rivers Progressive Rock Festival Pittsburgh
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (emerging artist showcase)

and many more…

For more information and tour schedule:

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