Michael Lee Firkins - Chapter Eleven

Released: 1995
Size: 94.6 MB
Time: 41:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Styles: Blues Instrumental
Art: Full

1. Big Red [4:14]
2. (Media Showers) [1:19]
3. Hypno-5 [4:55]
4. Trinity Road [5:12]
5. Car-Less Sonata [5:01]
6. B.H. Express [3:40]
7. Rio Hide-A-Way [4:17]
8. Baci Boy Blues [4:47]
9. The Mooche [3:33]
10. Hawaiian Gospel [4:15]

Chapter Eleven is the second studio album by guitarist Michael Lee Firkins, released on November 7, 1995 through Shrapnel Records.
Michael Lee Firkins was born in Omaha, NE. He began playing guitar at the age of 8. His first solo album was released in 1990 and he quickly began to develop a following, both in fandom and with critics. The following year, the sequel was unleashed, Cactus Cruz. In 1992, he was featured on a various-artists album, entitled Guitar Battle. He also worked that same year on the Perspective album by Jason Becker. In 2001, Firkins released Decomposition, a collection of his stylings of a number of cover songs.

Personnel
Michael Lee Firkins guitars
Mike Van Der Hule drums
Dennis Murphy bass
Terry Miller bass

Chapter Eleven

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Michael Lee Firkins - Yep

Size: 150,2 MB
Time: 65:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Blues Rock, Slide Guitar Blues, Roots
Art: Front

01. Golden Oldie Jam (7:35)
02. Cajun Boogie (4:55)
03. No More Angry Man (6:40)
04. Standing Ovation (4:41)
05. Long Day (7:24)
06. Wearin' Black (5:16)
07. Out Of Season (5:38)
08. Take Me Back (5:13)
09. Last Call (7:34)
10. No More Angry Man (Part 2) (5:13)
11. The Cane (4:47)

Grammy Award wining guitarist MICHAEL LEE FIRKINS returns with his new roots-fusion effort, Yep, a tough-as-nails affirmation, declaration and confirmation of the guitar hero’s wide-ranging artistic vision and technical prowess.

When guitarist/vocalist Michael Lee Firkins first appeared on the national scene he was heralded as instrumental rock’s new guitar god and immediately labeled the “next big thing.” Music industry vets extolled the virtues of Firkins’ high-octane pick-less prowess, roots music sensibility, and JEFF BECK-inspired whammy bar-driven slide-guitar voicings.

After five long years, Michael returns with a new album, new attitude and fresh musical perspective. “In that time I found out what I was capable of as a musician,” says Firkins.

Yep is an authentic mixture mixture of ballsy blues, shit-kickin’ rock, Cajun boogie, and country twang, featuring GOV'T MULE drummer Matt Abts, bassist Andy Hess (STEVE KIMOCK, Gov’t Mule, THE BLACK CROWES), and blues-rock piano and organ man extraordinaire Chuck Leavell (ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, ROLLING STONES, ERIC CLAPTON).

“Chuck was very instrumental in directing everything to make sure it went down right away,” says Firkins. “And, of course, he’s an incredible musician. Chuck could place his hands anywhere on the piano and it would always sound in time.”

Firkins' musical evolution is evident on tracks such as 'Back to Where It All Began', 'Long Day', 'Standing Ovation' and the two-part 'No More Angry Man'. The title, itself, is a kind of ode to Firkins’ newfound no-nonsense attitude and ability to get on with things.

“I wasn’t looking to make any grand statement with the title of the album or the cover,” says Firkins. “There is a country twang on the record and I wanted people to know that this is it. What you see is what you get."

Multi-flavored tracks, such as 'Long Day', 'Out of Season', 'Cajun Boogie' and 'Take Me Back' were all recorded live, showcasing the musical interplay between Firkins, Leavell, Abts and Hess.

“What you hear is exactly how they played it,” says Firkins. “They didn’t punch in and do weird overdubs. It’s just those three guys playing together from beginning to end, together live.”

No BS. Yep is just straight up roots fusion served by an undisputed maestro of musical ceremonies, who sacrificed aspects of himself to deliver a hard-won message. It’s that simple, that gut wrenching, that deep. And, yep, the album is that damn good.

Yep

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