REUNION!

This Wednesday at Flaco’s, we’re bringing you a reunion! My long-time buddy and former band-mate Jeff Shephard will travel all the way from ATLANTA to be with us! Most of you have not heard of the first band I was in, Pruce. I joined the band in 10th grade as the drummer and Jeff was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Pruce has since disbanded and we’ve all gone on to be in other bands.

Jeff and I kept playing together in the summer of ‘06 with friend of Flaco’s Wednesdays, Johnny “Cougar” King, as Cotton Pocket (click the link to hear songs from my very poppy past). WE’RE BRINGING IT BACK! We’ll try to remember as much Cotton Pocket music as we can. Together, Johnny and Jeff will drive 14 hours round-trip to be here. Let’s make it worth their while!

Jeff continues to play as Jeff Shephard Band. He’s also going to play a set of his songs. He and the band have been playing around Atlanta as much as possible, building hype. This will be his first Gainesville show.

OH YEAH: this will be Michael Claytor & His Friends’ last Flaco’s Wednesday for the next three weeks, as I will be touring with Austin Lucas and the Choir!

AND EVER AND EVER,

me’n'thefriends

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This week, we have  a TREMENDOUS lineup.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Gainesville’s folk-punk darlings, Greenland is Melting, why haven’t you been watching the Gainesville folk-punk charts?? Having recently signed to Paper and Plastick records, these guys are going places. They’re also the nicest dudes I’ve known to ever kick a suitcase.

If you get a chance, pick up their album.^

Also playing this week, we have Detroit Muscle, whom I haven’t heard since The Fest last October. The Gainesville Sun has described Matthew McCagg and Detroit Muscle as “an acoustic songwriter formerly known as For He Who Hung The Moon who has a passion for folk and abrasively strummed country much like Langhorne Slim.” Whatever that means.

Since F.H.W.H.T.M., McCagg and company have revamped their sound, adding drums, bass and electric instruments. One thing that we can count on sticking around, though, is quality songwriting. Also, every time I’ve seen Detroit Muscle, I’ve heard impeccable cover songs. Who knows what they have planned this week.

Oh yeah, and….

THUNDER

Evan will be 23 at midnight. RUCKUS!

and ever,

michael&thefriends

FRIENDS,

This Flaco’s Wednesday, we’re keeping it simple. Sure, we’ll be hosting Rob and Jade, or Mama, or whatever they decide to be called (see last week’s lineup), but other than that we’re keeping it to the regulars.

That’s right, the AdBo Thunderband, Michael Claytor & His Friends and Devon Stuart will all play long, healthy sets reminiscent of ye olde days– the days when Devon and I would do tag-team sets and play the same 6 songs 4 times each… Hopefully we each know a couple more songs two years later.

Also, I’ll see if I can coordinate this, and don’t hold me to it, but perhaps we’ll be able to have a Brewster Baker pre-Friday-blowout-with-the-Shitty-Beatles-spectacular teaser. For those of you who haven’t heard of

“The Next Great Gainesville Band”,

-Joel Mora

THIS should tell you what you need to know.

Kenny Rogers=Brewster Baker

It’s a rock’n'roll band featuring members of The Takers, Giuseppe, The Shitty Beatles and Michael Claytor & His Friends. Come and check us out Wednesday for a lil’ taste, and Friday at Common Grounds for the real thing.

Solidarity forever,

M&F

Friends,

Last night, Friend Samantha and I traveled with our dear friends in Coffee Project to the New World Brewery in Tampa and we had a rip-roarin’ good time. We enjoyed great pizza, fantastically flavorful beers, and the company of a hometown Gainesville crowd. We’d like to extend a very special thanks to Devon, Robbie and Stephen for braving the monsoon that drowned I-75 to come and support us in one of our first road gigs. For those of you in the Tampa/Ybor area, we’ll be back!

THIS WEEK AT FLACO’S, the Friends & I will be joined by my longtime buddy and former band-mate, John King. Whoops, wrong link. I meant John King.

John and I have played and recorded together many times in the past. While he’s here, we’ll get him to join the Thunderband and Michael Claytor & His Friends. You won’t want to miss it.

THIS JUST IN: Rob and Jade have cancelled for this week, as Rob has come down with bronchitis. They will instead play NEXT WEDENSDAY, 2/3.

Also, we’ll be joined by Rob and Jade who together make up Gainesville’s own Mama. I’ve never seen them play together but I can certainly attest that Rob’s voice is angelic, reminiscent of Ray LaMontagne or Iron and Wine or something. This is their Flaco’s Wednesdays debut. We’ve been wanting to get them for some time now, so we’ll be happy to welcome them into our family.

It’ll be a magical night. I think I may eat two quesitos to celebrate. Oh, and in case you missed us last week, the Adult Boys Thunderband introduced a new song (half of which was written an hour before we played it, the other half was written two or three hours before) called “When I Leave this World, I Won’t Care at All.” Maybe we’ll play it again…

Come and see me & the friends tonight at Durty Nelly’s!

…d ever and eve…

In the video, I say that I played every song I know 3 times and then follow that up by saying I only played for 30 minutes… The other Michael pointed out that I only knew 10 minutes of music. Or, maybe I was lying.

In any case, thanks to Joel Mora for the coverage!

It will certainly be difficult to follow up last week’s 2 year anniversary spectacular, but by God we’re going to try.

As Samantha and I prepare to test the uncharted and potentially unfriendly waters in Tampa on Thursday, we’ll need all the friends we can get on Wednesday. Our travelling buddies, Buddy and Jake of Coffee Project, will join us at Flaco’s for a pre-road trip, goodtime acoustic music extravaganza (what better way to follow up a spectacular than with a goodtime extravaganza?). If you haven’t heard Coffee Project, then there’s LITERALLY at LEAST one band you haven’t heard! And I guarantee you’ve never heard a turn of phrase quite so beautiful as “Spent all my beer money gettin’ rid of your fleas.”

Also, Friend Evan (the punisher) and Friend Michael will perform with Nicole Miglis and the Jetzzz. You may think you’ve never heard the Jetzzz, but if you’ve heard of Umoja Orchestra, Giuseppe, Telephone Sons, Brewster Baker, Seagrapes, Michael Claytor & His Friends, the Adult Boys Thunderband, Fundamento Rumbero, The PC Tyrants, The Leftovers, The Lower 13th Street “goodtime” Jazz Band, or Losing Streak, then you’re in for a familiar group of blokes. My personal favorite song of Nicole and the Jetzzz is War See.

If ten people comment on this blog post with the word “raffle,” then we’ll host another raffle next Wednesday.

As always, Michael Claytor & His Friends, Devon Stuart, and the Adult Boys Thunderband will be hangin’ out, drinkin’ some beers and eatin’ some Cuban food.

…and ever and ever and…

FRIENDS,

First of all, thanks to everyone who joined us last night for the 2 year Flaco’s Wednesdays anniversary spectacular. What a zany night. We all earned it; happy anniversary to all who have joined us for the past two years. We LITERALLY couldn’t have done it LITERALLY every single week without you.

In other news, we got another shout out in the Gainesville Sun (<–click the link to see it) about our show this Friday at Common Grounds with Wait Wait and The Footlights (<–click the link for details). Thanks for the XXL photo on the website, Sun!

Also, Michael Claytor and His Friend, Samantha Moss, will be taking their show on the road to Tampa with Coffee Project this Thursday. If you know anyone in Tampa, tell them to come check us out at the New World Brewery Thursday, 1/21. Yeah!

Michael and Sam at the Exchange

Check back for some February tour dates with Paleface and Lauris Vidal and maybe some coverage of our 2 year anniversary spectacular courtesy of Joel Mora and the Gainesville Sun!

Come back soon,

michael c.

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR!

Cold beers, best friends, glimpses into the future?

This week at Flaco’s, we’ll give you all a sneak preview of Me & the Friends’ upcoming show at Common Grounds (see Tour page for more details) with old friend of Flaco’s Wednesdays, TJ Masters (of Wait Wait, TJ and Sarah).

And, as Jason Hedges and I have begun playing with Austin Lucas, we’ll show you what we’ve been up to and maybe a little of what’s to come. If you joined us last week, this may just be a rerun…

Of course, Michael Claytor & His Friends, Devon Stuart, and the ADULT BOYS THUNDERBAND will be there.

I miss you already. Solidarity forever,

Michael & the Friends