Singer Songwriter Michael ONeill Recalls The Troubadour Era of LA on New Release

Courtesy Miss Jill PR

Atlanta, GA – Singer-Songwriter Michael ONeill set his sights on releasing his fifth independent album, I Like It Like That, on January 20, 2015 on his own label, Sleeping Trout Records with distribution through MDI out of New Mexico. This new cd filled with his poetic lyrics, his expressive voice and infectious melodies are complimented by a knock out group of studio musicians backing him – Tony Braunagel (Robert Cray) on Drums, Dean Parks ((Steely Dan) on guitar and  Johnny Lee Schell (Bonnie Raitt) on guitar just to name a few. The record was created at Ultrasound Studios in Studio City, CA produced by ONeill himself, Mr. Schell and Mr. Braunagel.

Based in the Los Angeles area, Michael is a story-teller, a troubadour that commands his audience to listen hard to his lyrics.  As the first song, “Raise A Glass” begins, Michael is toasting to his friends, family and life as he leaves them behind when he tours. Every traveling musician appreciates the normalcy in life but has to answer the call of the road to make a living.  It’s what makes them who they are, restless but content. ONeill comes armed with vignettes of open-eyed romance, highway drama, and hard-earned tenderness – vocalized with the assurance and attitude that comes only from experience. 

One of 13 children, he got started in music early and by the age of 24, he cut his teeth opening his first tour for a then-unknown band called U2.  As the tour ended in Los Angeles, ONeill found himself signed with legendary manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne) with a record deal following.  ONeill put together a band that featured a young John Shanks (producer of Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morrisette) Kenny Gradney (Little Feat), and jazz saxophonist, Boney James. He spent the better part of the next ten years touring with the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn and penning songs with Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), Steve Cropper (Booker T. and The MG's), and Jason Scheff (Chicago). His band held down a weekly gig at the hottest club in town, The Central (now The Viper Room), playing to packed houses. As the '90s approached, ONeill left Southern California for his hometown in the Pacific Northwest to raise horses and focus on his family. “I retreated to gain some perspective and try to keep my family together,” ONeill says, “I did pretty good on the perspective part.”

Whether sweetly acknowledging the stirrings of new love (“When You Come Around”, “Let It Rain”), or offering up a testament to fast women and the pleasures of seduction (“Real Deal”,” I Like It Like That”), they share a common thread; these songs are as honest as they are vulnerable. An artist who writes love songs to cities and states as well as people, “Colorado” is pure Americana. Michael is a strong original voice among West Coast singer-songwriters.

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