music

if you scroll to the bottom of this page, the music player is there. you can pop it out so it will play continuous throughout your visit here. the playlist varies from solo projects and experimental, to full band songs. i will update it with new or different songs every month or so.

the songs on this site are a few that i've written and arranged over the past few years.  i've used all different instruments and non-instruments in the process and a lot of recording techniques that may or may not be traditional - i'm not a trained engineer - nor can i read music. some of the songs (as i switch them) were also recorded in si studios - a professional recording studio - by tom borthwick and joe wegleski. all the vocals were written and performed by me as well.

i've been playing in bands and writing music since i was 12. i've been motivated by music since i can remember.  "i love a rainy night" by eddie rabbitt was one of the first songs i remember singing along to. i remember it had this great shuffle that i just wanted to crank to.  my dad was always playing billy joel and elton john records as loud as he could and i immediately responded to them - but couldn't appreciate them until i was in my early twenties. as time went on i became addicted to tears for fears, the police, kiss, and the first metallica album.  in my early teens i looked for something different or something not on the radio and was introduced to black flag, youth of today and minor threat all at once.  i really loved the rawness, the crazy tempos and the passionate screaming. wanting to expand on that and hear a mix of intensity, harmony, and different time signatures, i found bands like tool, quicksand, drive like jehu, kerosene 454, bluetip, fugazi, etc. now my music collection and influences range from the aforementioned to thelonious monk to tom waits to deftones. when i am building a song i've always maintained wanting to do something different but still make sounds that don't chase people away. cause even though they're mostly for me, they're for everyone who will listen as well. lyrically the songs range in content from human behavior to the metaphysical to self examination, and some are about nothing at all. but so much of my inspiration to write or paint or even breathe comes from my children.

bands/projects/venues

i've been in and out of bands since i was 12, so please forgive me if i forget or misremember anything, or add something later when i remember.  I've filled in for a lot of bands, played in some cover bands, improv jazz bands and snail mail recording projects.  But I'll focus on listing the longer term outfits.  In each of these bands, experiments and solo acts, I've (we've) played numerous shows up and down the east coast and locally from CBGB's to coffee shops, to upstart clubs, headlining and opening for national acts. I've played with some incredible musicians - a lot of whom are still playing in bands - that are entirely too many to list.  you know who you are.  I'd like to thank all of you for great memories, being patient with me (i'm a pain in the ass to work with sometimes) and sharing the learning experiences with me.  Thank you all very much.

 

American Youth - band from late 1980's early 90's, playing hardcore, punk, oi, all smashed together.

Shortcut - circa 1991/92 - hardcore / metal

Fallout - circa 1993/94 - hardcore / metal

Soulace - different incarnations from 1995 until 1999 - ranging from indy rock / emo / math rock / prog rock, etc

Red Tow Cable - 1999 - 2001 - 2 man experiment with a drum machine, bass, guitar and vox - electronic rock / indy

Minus Fields - 2001 - 2002 - full 5 piece, 4 man band playing math / indy / prog rock

Blue Sugar Riot - 2006 - full 5 piece, 4 man band playing prog rock / indy

Hold-Up Vanity - 2010 - 3 piece band mixing prog rock, indy, funk, r&b elements for something pretty unique

Lambert vs - 2001 - 2010 - solo project ranging from acoustic, electronic, folk, rock, soundscape, etc. - a new recording compilation of old tracks re-written and recorded and new stuff.

Blue Sugar Riot - 2011 - check out 3 songs from the newest recording at:  reverbnation.com/bluesugarriot

This year (2012) I'll be recording a full length album that will be available through this site or by just e-mailing me. I'm still in the process of finishing some of the songs but I should start the recording sometime in late February or early March.

updates...

4-27-12

Hey Everyone! Please come out next Friday, May 11, 2012 to The Scranton Cultural Center from 6 - 9 pm for First Friday Scranton's 2012 Art Auction!!!  I will be sending 3 smaller works to the auction.  Please go to - http://firstfridayscranton.com/artauction/ - for images, artist info and details on the event.  Hope to see you there!!!  Thanks!


3-29-12

I hope everyone is well! In addition to the Vision Burn show for April 7th I will be showing at First Friday Scranton April 6th at Wayne Bank, 216 Adams Ave.  It will be a good weekend to get out and enjoy art in NEPA!

I've also been asked by First Friday Executive Director, Jeff Boris, to participate in this years First Friday Art Auction. The auction is May 11th at the Scranton Cultural Center from 6 to 9 pm. It's going to be a wonderful event so please come out to support the local arts.  Thanks so much!!!!

 

3-16-12

Happy St Patrick's Day!!! Hopefully everyone is enjoying some ham and cabbage, corned beef, Irish soda bread or my favorite, Jameson... haha!!! So on to it - I have some new work down at Nada & Co. so please stop by - and again if you're not into art, the apparel there is really amazing as are the owners and staff - so please stop in to check everything out!!! Also I will be showing some new, fairly recent, and some older works at the Vision Burn Gallery in Dunmore, PA. The opening reception will be Saturday, April 7th, from 6 to 9pm. Please check out visionburn.com for details - curated by owner, Jay Salerno.  And as always, hope to see you there - thanks a million :)

 

2-21-12

A few updates - I will be participating in "Dinner by Design", on an invite from Michael Gilmartin, President of the Board of the Lackawanna Historical Society. It is a joint fundraising event presented by the Lackawanna Historical Society and the Scranton Cultural Center. Some of my larger work will be displayed for the event March 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the lounge area. Please click here for more info - http://www.scrantonculturalcenter.org/dinner-by-design - and here for photos - http://www.scrantonculturalcenter.org/photo-gallery/dinner-by-design - and go to the event schedule page for tickets. And as always, I appreciate all the support I've received from so many of you... thanks a million :)

 

2-1-12

Well, a little late but Happy New Year everyone! I hope everyone's is filled with health and happiness :) Images of new work are on the way and I hope to have these down at Nada & Co very soon. Keep checking in or feel free to e-mail at the address here on the site with any questions.  Thanks!

 

12-28-11

Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope everyone is enjoying family, friends, and good times this season - and for that matter all year round. The real blessings are to have the people you love and that love you close by.

 

11-25-11

Hope everyone had a nice holiday! A few new paintings finished... A few new images up now... Oh, and a few new works down at Nada & Co. Please stop by to check them out if you can get there. I'm working a lot now so, within the next month or two I'll be removing some of the older images from here and all at once putting up a pile of new ones. Thanks!

10-31-11

Happy Halloween Everyone!  I'm almost finished with 4 new smaller works, and I have two app. 4'x5' paintings completed. I'm aiming to get pics up before the week is out so please keep checking back. Thanks!

10-4-11

This Friday - for Scranton's First Friday - at Fig Restaurant at Alexander's on Lackawanna Ave there is going to be a wonderful showing of recent works by Kristin Martelli.  She works in mixed media, and makes these really sensual and direct, yet subtle, relief paintings - some of which invite some direct interaction between the work and the viewer pushing the envelope of communication between the artist and viewer - making them quite intimate.  Please stop by - the opening reception starts at 6:00.

 

9-10-11

thinking and painting a lot the past few days... i think i'm gonna start getting some of these ideas out in a more direct manner in hopes that some of you will share your thoughts with me, and each other. everything is connected somehow. stay tuned!!

 

8-22-11

Hello everyone! I've not been sleeping very well which has left me time to get back to working more effectively for some reason.... Things have dragged this summer and I've had some issues preventing me from solving canvases, but the past week or so has been very productive. Please keep checking back over the next few weeks - I should have some images very soon of the new stuff - I'm thinking some in-process shots and of course the finished works will be up very soon.  Please contact me with any questions at the email addy on the site.  Thanks!!

 

6-15-11

Hey! Sorry it's been a while. I've been busy working on a few really large ones about 9' x 12'.  So far so good.  I'm also working on a series of 16" x 20" panels.  I'm hoping to get some images up really soon.  Feel free to contact me with any questions!  Oh and please stop by Nada & Co to see some recent work and great summer threads!!  Thanks for checking in! - Mike

 

4-28-11

Hey Folks - I just wanted to send a really big thanks to Katie Gilmartin and all at Nada & Co. for inviting me to exhibit there this April. It was an absolutely great experience. Please stop in to check out the show and the clothing - really great people and a great place as well!

Also, I'll be bringing a few really large new works there within the next week. Please pop in to check them out. I will also have some new images up here within the week. Thanks again!!

 

3-30-11

Hello!  Just letting everyone know I'll be showing a few new works at Nada & Co. for this upcoming First Friday event.  Thanks to Katie for inviting me to exhibit there!!!

 

2-2-11

Hey everyone. I'm still plugging away at the pile of paintings I have started. I should have more images up by the beginning of next week. Please keep stopping by.  Thanks!

 

12-20-10

just wanted to send out some holiday well-wishes to everyone. enjoy your holidays and any extra time you get with your loved ones. be safe, eat and drink and just be friggin' happy!!! and while you're here please check out the new stuff. I have a bunch more coming that i've finished but only managed to get images for 4 of them. thanks!

 

11-15-10

I'm donating a painting for the NEPA Animal Adoption Network. The auction is November 26th from 6 pm to 9 pm at The Vintage Theatre on Penn Ave in Scranton. For directions and additional info please check these websites:

 www.nepaanimaladoptionnetwork.com or 

 http://www.scrantonsvintagetheater.com/

Please come out, buy some art and help some animals!

10-11-10

I want to thank everyone for coming out to the opening this past Friday.  It was a really great evening.  I also want to thank Tony Pachick and all involved in the Art Walk for giving me the opportunity.  Please see the exhibitions/studio images section of the site for some pictures.  Thanks!

10-1-10

I'm working like crazy to finish up a few loose ends for this months showing.  I'll be hanging everything tomorrow morning (Saturday) so it will be up for Oktoberfest.  Please come down, grab a few cold ones and swing by the Main Street Gallery - 2nd floor 27 N. Main St.  If you can't get there tomorrow, the opening and "meet the artist" is next Friday (the 8th) from 5 - 8.

9-21-10

The painting stuff... I'm doing a solo show at the Carbondale Art Walk Main Street Gallery In October - (27 North Main Street, Carbondale). I'll have a few works on the first floor (along with other Art Walk artists from the various venues) and on the second floor gallery I will be showing mostly new works that are not on the site yet. There will be a "soft opening" on October 2nd in conjunction with Carbondale's Oktoberfest (BEER IS GOOD).  The Art Walk opening will be on Friday, October 8th from 5pm to 8pm.  Please come out and enjoy the beginning of Autumn with us!!!

 

7-15-10

Out with the old, in with this...  I've updated the site, URL and in high hopes of getting some images of more recent work up soon.  As well, I'm working here and there in intervals, getting ready to start a new throng of work. Please check all the pages for updated stuff! Thanks - Mike

 

6-26-10

I want to wish my youngest son a very happy 2nd birthday today - love you Boom Boom!!!  As for new stuff...  I have a few paintings that I haven't shot images of yet, but I will get to it.  I'm on a little hiatus right now - spending extra time with the family for the summer, but I will be pumping more work out very soon. Thanks for checking in!!!

 

5-12-10

 

 

I want to wish my oldest son a very happy 10th birthday today - love you Z!!!  Monday Night RAW buddy!!!

www.nepaanimaladoptionnetwork.com

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