If there were one word to describe Jeff Michaels, it might be determined.
Determined to make each show the best it can possibly be. Determined to produce the best records he can. Determination not to let anything stand in his way. Period.
Perhaps this determination is the reason his band offers a money-back guarantee on every show they play, and every CD they sell. Michaels often states, “If someone at our show is not having fun, we’re not doing our job.” A bold move from an 100% independent band. But then again, Michaels was never one to shy away from a challenge.
In 2002 Michaels had been enjoying the highs of life on the road when he found the rug abruptly swept out from under him. He was replaced as keyboardist in his previous band just as they were signed to a major label. In one week he went from performing to a crowd of 8,000 back to open mics at Berkeley, CA area coffee shops.
Michaels dusted himself off and began a year-and-a-half long process with producer Adam Rossi, writing songs in his one-bedroom Oakland apartment that would eventually become his debut album, Red Jacket. The album was recorded in Rossi’s garage studio, and features one of Michaels’ idols on drums, Steve Bowman (Counting Crows). In 2003 Michaels took his completed record to Nashville, where he was told he made “some nice sounding demos… but it doesn’t cut it.”
Undeterred, he formed his own band, Even Elroy. The new group quickly moved up the ranks of the San Francisco club scene, finding audiences receptive of their high-energy show, often heavy on Ben Folds Five covers.
As they stepped into the studio to record their debut album as a band, Nothing’s Really Changed, arguing between members led to fill-in musicians covering for a sold-out CD release party, including album producer Jerry Becker (Train). NOTHING’S REALLY CHANGED went on to become a hit at college radio, landing Top 5 Add Status in numerous markets. The track The Ballad of Tommy Lee Jones was also featured on The Real World: Brooklyn Season Premier on MTV, giving the group their first taste of national success.
NO MORE RAINBOWS followed in 2008 with a completely new line-up, and the re-invented group began scoring a number of accolades, including runner up at Mix 105.5FM’s Battle of the Bands, winners of UC Berkeley’s Unsigned Band competition, as well as numerous radio and TV show appearances, including KUSI Inside San Diego, KFOG 104.5FM, and a live DVD recording broadcast in Santa Barbara, CA.
Yet, once again history repeated itself, with major problems between band members plaguing their CD Release party, leaving Michaels to promote and organize a 200-person show entirely on his own.
Yet, even though the album was released under difficult circumstances, NO MORE RAINBOWS shined brightly, and was ultimately licensed for use on over 14 TV shows, including The Hills, The City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club, Fox Sports, and was featured in the JamParty video game (Peavey / Zivix).
In 2008 Michaels moved back to his hometown of Boston where he formed a second group, enabling him to perform on both coasts while combating the high costs of touring. The trio began performing songs from the Even Elroy catalog, when it quickly became apparent that the music was headed in a new direction… and it was time to drop the Even Elroy name.
As with his previous bands, it took another year to get the right formation of players, adding Ben Reynolds on bass, Chris Teffner on guitar, Joe Stephens on sax and horns, and Bill Zuck on drums. With four albums of material, major TV placements, hundreds of shows under their belt, and seemingly limitless energy, Jeff Michaels (band) is poised to finally take their rightful place at the forefront of piano-led music. Their sound is big. Their songwriting is superb. Their individual talents are undeniable. And their appreciation and mutual love of music is evident in everything they do.
Yet, above all this, it might just be Michaels’ determination that continues to shine through… to simply to make the world a better place, one song at a time.