Be Somebody

Mighty Mike Schermer was a fixture on the San Francisco Bay Area blues scene for over 20 years. During that time he not only carved out a solid solo career...with 4 critically acclaimed albums and numerous festival performances...but he was also the area's go to guy sideman for such great artists as Bonnie Raitt, Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Howard Tate, Angela Strehli, Maria Muldaur and many more. Schermer's 2006 release Next Set established him as one of the genres foremost songwriters, selling well on the strength of his autobiographical hit My Big Sister's Radio, later covered by blues rocker Tommy Castro on his Blind Pig release Painkiller. Fans and enthusiasts have been clamoring for another all-original Mighty Mike CD ever since, and with Be Somebody the wait is finally over! In 2009 Schermer packed up his trusty Telecaster and moved to Austin TX, joining the touring band of swamp-boogie piano legend Marcia Ball. In between recording her Grammy nominated Alligator CD Roadside Attractions and touring the world over 150 dates per year he somehow managed to write and record an all-killer-no-filler album of funky, soulful, bluesy R&B originals. Recorded in Texas and California with top flight musicians from both coasts and a bevy of special guests (Elvin Bishop, Marcia Ball and Angela Strehli to name just a few), Be Somebody is an eclectic mix of styles all held together by Mighty Mike's powerful yet tasteful guitar, solid vocals and most of all his great songwriting...steeped in tradition yet refreshingly original. I am, first and foremost, a blues guitar player says Schermer, in the styles of Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker, Johnny Guitar Watson, Freddie, Albert and B.B. King. I sing in my own voice, but my phrasing draws on Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Little Milton. My songwriting, however, owes as much to guys like Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello and John Hiatt as it does to Earl King and Allen Toussaint. In Austin the bar is set super high by hundreds of great singers, songwriters and guitar slingers all working their asses off in 160 live music venues 7 nights a week. Naturally I jumped at the chance to immerse myself in a scene like that. Pop in a copy of Be Somebody - a past, present and future trip from left coast to third coast. You'll be glad you did. Funky and authentic Bonnie Raitt I heard every note man, it was like I was sitting in a dark room and then...click (snaps fingers)...someone turned the lights on! Delbert McClinton Every time I play with him my booty hurts afterwards from him kicking it all night! Elvin Bishop.