Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Here's to you, Mr. Robinson

'Roadhouse blues' musician joins the line-up for Sunday's Davisfest 2006 
Landon Christensen, Enterprise music critic

Want to spend a Sunday afternoon drinking wine and beer, eating food and watching live music? Head on downtown from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday for Davisfest 2006, which promises food, entertainment, a fashion show, artist showcase, auction and raffle ... all designed to share Davis' best with our own neighbors and the surrounding area.

Most of the events are free, but those who desire unlimited wine, beer and food tasting must purchase tickets at the Davisfest Web site for $25 or $35. The tickets are limited to the first 2,500; for further information, visit davisfest.com.  Music will fill the downtown area throughout the day: the Jazz Nuances, Barry "The Fish" Melton and his band, Jerry and the Van Dykes, The Timebandits, Music Matt and Hardwater.   These acts will be augmented by the Michael Robinson Band, which will perform from noon until 2 p.m. along G Street.

Robinson found time, between rehearsals, for a chat with The Enterprise.  He quickly pointed out that his band doesn't play standard blues; the style is "roadhouse blues and roo! ts rock," a fusion of retro rock and contemporary blues.  Robinson has a reason for that label. When most people hear the word "blues," they think of sorrow and pain. They certainly don't think "funny," and Robinson shatters that notion with his humorous tunes.  "I'm a fun-loving guy," he said. "My lyrics reflect my philosophy: Don't take yourself or life too seriously."

The humorous vibe also comes from his influences. "Robert Cray was a serious blues musician, with some very humorous lyrics. He had a profound impact on my songwriting."  An example of Robinson's wit can be found in his song, "Even Jesus had the Blues."   "I tell a story that I hope is universal," Robinson said. "You think you've got problems? Well, 2,000 years ago there was this guy..."

Robinson started out as a journalist, and he didn't pick up a guitar until he was 30.  "I began my career just 10 days after getting out of the University of Missouri at Columbia, b! y becoming a bureau chief for the morning edition of the Kansas City S tar."  In 1980, he was recruited by the Detroit News; he later moved to the San Francisco Examiner. After reporting for the New York trade paper American Banker, Robinson left to write a book, "Overdrawn." Then, after a stint with the Oakland Tribune ended, he left to work independently and pursue music.

These days, Robinson doesn't worry about supporting himself full-time through music: "I'm a free-lance writer doing mostly commercial and corporate work, and I also do some small-time real estate investing."  His experience as a journalist proved useful while writing songs.  "I think of the title as the headline," he said. "Though it may take months to edit and rewrite a lyric or bridge, usually the main ideas come together pretty quickly. Because of my journalism training and background, I bang out the main idea and worry about the edits later."

Robinson's first band was an alternative, power pop group called The Tabloids.  "I've loved the bl! ues since I was a teenager," he said, "but I still had too much rock in me, so I followed that string until it ran out."  His turning point came after meeting the legendary Johnny Nitro.  "He's very open, supportive and professional," Robinson said.  Nitro co-wrote The Michael Robinson Band's album, "Playing in the Dark."

Then, after Robinson spent a small fortune mixing and mastering the album, he decided to redo all of the vocals. "Prior to that, I had been a bit of a lazy singer. By the time I went back to studio a year later, I knew exactly how I wanted to sing every note." Now there's "more melody and a deeper growl, which makes the whole band sound much tighter."

While Robinson plans to tour throughout his retirement years, he has his priorities straight.  "I have two young daughters and a wonderful wife, so I don't want to be out on the road 250 days a year. "Family time is important."