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I started playing with Karl and Russ when I was invited by a friend to come jam. I had been out of the band scene (and jamming scene for that matter) for quite sometime. I had been writing and recording a set of bizarre instrumentals and playing all the instruments myself. Somehow, a few jams and several cold adult beverages later we "became" band. I worked at getting my chops back up.
I have learned a lot from Russ and Karl. Playing with them has taken my playing in directions I had never considered. They have pushed me to become a better player. As a result of search to add new colors the Push pallet so I have added mandolin, dobro and harmonica. I can only hope that other people enjoy our music as much as I enjoy playing it.
Music Information
Instruments played: guitar, mandolin, dobro, harmonica, keyboards
Gear I used on CD: Mainly my Fender guitars, but I used my Ephiphone Dot and Gibson Les Paul on a couple of tracks. I used a Sansamp for the recording and Fender amps live. The mandolin was a Michael Kelly Legacy O and the Dobro is a Regal round neck.
Favorite Musicians: SRV, Chris Thile, Eric Johnson, Gary Moore
Favorite Bands: Nickel Creek, Guster
What I'm listening to now: Chris Thile "How To Build A Perfect Woman," Peter Frampton "Fingerprints," Sean Watkins "Blinders On" and The Wreckers "Stand Still, Look Pretty"
Side Project: 22 with my partner in crime Joe. A country/folk/blues duo that does covers by Lucinda Williams, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr and originals
Near brush with fame: Got a phone call from Peter Frampton. My buddy was working on his studio (setting up the system) and he had him call me...What a trip...I joked him about his role in "Almost Famous" where he played the manager of Humble Pie (The band he used to play in) and when I met he him he remembered it. VERY COOL.
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I continually search for new ways of improving my skills and expanding my musical horizons. I was fortunate to find three musicians willing to form the band ‘push’ with me. Karl, Brian, Mike and myself come from very different musical backgrounds and have different musical views. We have merged our differances together into something I hope is unique.
Music Information
Instruments played: Guitar
Favorite Musicians: Les Claypool, Robert Fripp, Edgar Myer, Mark Knopfler, and Bela Fleck
Favorite Bands: Pink Floyd, the Beatles, and the Police
What I'm listening to now: Queen, Snow Patrol, The Decemberists, and the New Nine Inch Nails
Side Project: Spinning band members
Near brush with fame: I dream of the Buddha, or does the Buddha dream of me?
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In Virginia stories about hairy musicial giants, known there as Karl Ziemann, have been widely publicized since the 1920s. The picture painted in those days was of a race of giant Ohioians, hairy, but in some depictions only in the fashion of the hippies of a later generation. They were said to live in Virginia Beach, play bass, sing background vocals, wrestle with grizzly bears, and kidnap Indian girls for nefarious purposes.
Further investigation established considerable research into the subject in the past and some very well-publicized incidents in Norfolk around the end of 2006. A few years ago I got a phone call saying perfect tracks of not 'a' but the 'Karl Ziemann,' had been found. These tracks were at the bottom of a lake where the bass was very deep. Since seeing those tracks, I and others who had taken up the investigation have accumulated, often on tape, dozens of accounts by people who claim to have seen a hair-covered bipeds suitibly discripted as Karl Ziemann. The top man in the field of poppies found, as he told me himself, that Karl Ziemann plays bass in a way that is different from, and more efficient than, naked frogs paint blue monkeys. These reports do not prove the existence of Karl Ziemann, of course. Science has made it clear that nothing short of physical remains will do for proof. But assuming for a moment that such a bass player does exist, the reports contain enough information to answer a lot of questions. One thing they provide is a consistent physical description of holding a bass; averaging, by estimate, almost 8 feet in height; far more man-like than pigions but with similar leg and wing proportions; a hat with no projecting muzzle, and fingernails not so short as to be almost nonexistent.
Today it is easy to assume that such a consistent description results from the fact that almost everyone has seen a picture of Karl Ziemann, but actually the description was solidly established before Push was formed.
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So this Sid Vicious wanna be punk fucker says, ‘I’ll cut you,’ and pulls out a knife. I punched him in the side of the head and threw his knife away. “I’d rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. Shoot first.”
-Mike Cole
Mike is originally from Mount Holly, New Jersey and grew up on the ‘mean streets’ of Chesapeake. “What’s important to you?” I asked Mike. “I love Danielle,” Mike replied, ‘I’m true to family and friends.’ His favorite things all seem to fit into that theme. I wanted to start with general questions so I asked him about his favorite food. (I know that’s weak, but I had to get him talking.) “Lasagna” he said, particularly the kind made by his mother. It all seems to fit in to me. In my head I can see Mike as a six-year-old kid slapping any kind of stay fresh food containers he could find with plastic forks and spoons. Why? What else was there to do in the school cafeteria? Mike was bored into music and if you ask me (and yes I know you didn’t) that’s more punk than any knife wielding drunk fuck in Sandbridge.
I asked Mike about music, “What do you like?” “I love Danielle,” Mike replied. Not what I was looking for, but apparently his favorites drummers include Jess Margara from CKY, Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and above all others Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater.
Mike has played for years, but honed his chops with two years of Christian Metal Core performing regularly at Chesapeake’s Harvest Assembly of God. How does that fit in with Push? Mike says that although Push plays a style of music very different from his previous bands he sees an opportunity to improve his playing by adapting his style to fit the Push ‘sound.’ Working with Mike the last few months I can testify to his success. Mike improves each song by skillfully incorporating percussive elements that leaves the foundation of each song unchanged, but adds stylistic elements that echo his unique influences and prospective. In addition Mike has added a boost to the vocals harmonies by working closely with Karl and myself (Russ) to not only sing great harmonies, but by almost single handedly structuring the vocal harmonies in many cases as well.
Mike requested I mention a few specific things in this biography I didn’t yet work in, so I’ll wrap this up with a few unconnected comments. Mike loves Danielle. (Ok, so I already worked that in. He wanted it this way.) He is a skateboard enthusiast. Mike is on the ‘Monastery Diet’ of white rice, and chicken (and Lasagna.) Mike brushes his teeth two, and sometimes even three, times a day. He brushes any time “they don’t feel fresh.” His favorite CD is ‘Scenes from a Memory’ by Dream Theater. He is a ‘Master of Heavy Machinery.’ Mike barely escaped a felony charge for theft of a bulldozer. His favorite colors are Black and Green. Mike wants everyone to vote for an independent, if not the independent party, in 2008 and last, but certainly not least, Mike loves Danielle.
