More Coming Soon!
Interview with the Dutch Publication HANX
Can be found here http://www.hanx.net/alviano2.htm
Indie-Music.com
By David McPherson
A former member of Strange Days with Shannon Lyon, Alviano too has found life after the band’s demise as a travelling guitar slinger. But, while Lyon has found success in Europe, Alviano is still mainly toiling the long white line of the Trans Canada Highway each summer – packing his acoustic guitar and sack of songs in his van – and visiting old friends along the way at the pubs, coffeehouses and folk festivals where he plays.
The Vagabond Songs is Alviano’s third solo record, and with each subsequent recording, the one-time rhythm guitarist continues his evolution as a singer-songwriter. Following up right where Radiate left off, Alviano continues to write smart, literate songs with a folk sensibility, capturing the people, places and stories he hears in his summer long travels.
The disc opens with “Drifters.” First, the drone of a haunting harmonica, then a finger-picked guitar chimes in, and then it’s just this songwriter's arresting voice singing about “another day in the land of drifters.” “Harley Riders” and “Misty Conversations” are just two of the finely crafted images the songwriter evokes in the opening number. From there, the acoustically-inclined Alviano offers another eight songs.
With a tight backing band, The Vagabond Songs is a wandering journey not to be missed that leads to the heart of this gifted songwriter singing about “falling in love everyday” with “cowgirl hippies” and other roadside reflections.
Echo Magazine
By Patrick Finch
The Vagabond Songs is Alviano’s third album (after Jubilee and Radiate), and it’s far and away his most accomplished work.
KEEPING 2004 FRESH
BEST RECORDS
Mike Alviano
Radiate (Busted Flat Records)
Alviano won the first ever Waterloo Region SongwriterFest this
year and it is not hard to figure why listening to Radiate: perfectly
constructed roots music with stellar backing musicians. (BH)
By Brent Hagerman
Echo Magazine
Mike Alviano
Radiate (Busted Flat Records)
Right from the electric guitar screech that kicks off Radiate it’s
clear that Mike Alviano’s sophomore album means business.
Together with a band that includes many of The Miniatures,
Alviano has returned to same studio where he recorded debut
Jubilee, but this time around the result is far less of a folksinger
album in that Alviano’s numerous Trans Canada travels and able
collaborators give Radiate an buoyant confidence and at times a
powerfully big sound. Even though Radiate’s songs are filled with
characters proclaiming self doubting epithets like “I hate to lead”
and hinting in songs like “The Flood” that the future promises
courage and audacity the present can’t possibly deliver, the
songwriting and music are well grounded and delivered with
conviction.
The full band treatment on songs like “The Flood,”
“Karmalita” and “All We Are” mixes the roots rock of The Band
with touches of pop smarts a la The Beatles and is balanced by
quieter acoustic material like “This if Life” and “Anymore,” more
focussed on mandolins and slide guitars. The album is a very
accurate representation of this troubadour songwriter: part
rocker, part acoustic totting hippie, managing to give us many
sides at once in songs about life lessons, missed opportunities /
promises of new ones, and even an album closer (“Tunnel
Mountain”) that pays tribute to Alviano’s perennial west coast
fetish. [BH]
MIKE ALVIANO AND DINOCOPTER
RADIATE + HELISAUR
By Laura Wiebe Taylor
In the months of its existence as a live music venue the Starlight has brought numerous names from the outside world into K–W, but next Thursday the club turns its focus back to local music makers, playing host to a cd release party for new albums by Mike Alviano and Dinocopter.
Alviano’s new record, Radiate, follows 2001 solo debut Jubilee, with a lot of time spent on Canadian roads in between. Though still the writing of a solitary troubadour, Radiate features performances by friends made along the way — like members of The Miniatures and The World Record Players, or old band mates from Strange Days and The Shannon Lyon Pop Explosion.
Jubilee was noted for its positive vibe, and Alviano has carried that outlook through to his latest material. “Music has always been an uplifting thing for me,” he says. “I do think Radiate is a little darker at times, but songwriting has always been something that makes me feel good, so in that sense a lot of these songs are positive or are trying to get to a positive place.”
Somewhat of a wandering minstrel, Alviano has spent a lot of time on roads between here and Vancouver Island, booking his own tours, driving his own car, and composing Radiate, at least in part, while on the move. With creativity enhanced by the mountain air, Alviano infused the songs with “adventure, journey and searching” — ideas symbolic of his touring life.
Although he enjoys the freedom of heading out on his own, Alviano misses being part of a band at times and has found the solo route to be vastly different.
“It has a price in loneliness, but it’s a truly rewarding experience for me.” He adds, “I’ve had life changing experiences on the road with bands…it’s the reason I still choose to do it. I love the adventure, and the funny thing is, you seem to get a lot, and I mean a lot, more respect as a touring artist when you are from out of town than you get in your own town. It’s odd, but it is the truth.”
Odd truth indeed, but Alviano has no lack of respect for hometown exports like Shannon Lyon, Paul MacLeod, Ian Smith, Rob Szabo, or Danny Michel. “They are great songwriters and have all stayed on course, making it their way, just doing music. I know some of them struggle, but they are committed and passionate about what they do and, in my opinion, they do it with honesty and integrity…and that’s what I hope I am doing.”
EXCLAIM MAGAZINE AUG 2004
By David McPherson
August 11, 2004
Many familiar with the Kitchener-Waterloo music scene of the early 1990s recall the band Strange Days. The group’s lead singer Shannon Lyon has gone on to become one of the country’s more talented troubadours. What people may not be as familiar with is that the band’s break up also spawned another accomplished songsmith — Mike Alviano. The rising singer-songwriter returns with the sunny sounds of his sophomore release Radiate — his follow up to Jubilee. The songwriting is more mature, the lyrics continue to evolve, and Alviano’s voice feels more confident. These 11 songs document the folk singer’s travels from northern Ontario to Vancouver Island over the last few years by capturing the people, places and reflections of his tours. In poetic paintings, Alviano depicts his ethos of life. No song shows this better than the aptly-titled “This is Life,” with lingering lyrics such as “An old man approaches me, his body is shaken/ I can see by the wrinkles around his eyes/ He knows what’s going on.” The catchy “Anymore” shows Alviano trying his hand at a little slide guitar with success and features harmonies by Craig Smith. “All We Are” is another mesmerising song that gets you singing along by the time the chorus comes around for the second time. Here, Alviano’s ex-Strange Days band-mate Dan Cornelius bangs on the skins. The disc closes with the heartfelt “Tunnel Mountain.”
Noise Addiction (Austrailia)
Mike Alviano - Radiate (busted flat records)
Radiate, the second album from Canadian artist Mike Alviano is an intelligently heartfelt, delicately beautiful, collection of thoughtful and uplifting tapestries of sound. Alviano, has been on a musical adventure for the past 10 years, and his obvious talent and maturity as a songwriter and melody maker shines on this album for all to absorb, and for all to be absorbed in. Radiate draws the listener into a world that makes you believe there really are no mistakes - that we really are all on our very own journey - be it good, or be it bad, and it seems that Alviano has the knack of getting the good to ‘radiate’ on through – an earthy and honest journey. Stand out tracks If I Could Find The Words, Everyman, Anymore and my favourite All We Are. It’s great to be reminded every now and then that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, because let’s face it – it’s the truth!
- ch
Kitchener-Waterloo: Secret Breeding Ground for Soulful Songwriters
By David McPherson
Toronto, June 5, 2003
In the past couple of months Kitchener-Waterloo native Shannon Lyon (ex-Strange Days) signed to V-2 Records, and Rob Szabo (ex-Groove Daddys and Plasticine) released his first solo record, a battery of tests, to rave reviews.
Finally, Kitchener songwriters are getting noticed.
To further illustrate the depth of this musical well, two other K-W alum — Paul McLeod and Mike Alviano — recently shared an intimate bill at Nia at C’est What.
McLeod was already an accomplished songwriter before joining the Skydiggers a couple of years ago and he still pens songs and records solo material. Wearing his trademark black bandana, he plugged in his electric guitar a little before midnight, sang a song about Holland, and tapped his left foot to keep the rhythm.
Alviano, an acoustic-pop singer/songwriter who used to play with Lyon, opened off the evening more than an hour earlier with a 35-minute set of soulful songs about liberation, frustration, and elation. A road warrior, Alviano epitomizes the stereotype of the hard-working musician that will drive anywhere for a gig.
For the second year in a row, Alviano is logging thousands of musical miles this summer on a tour that takes him from Kitchener-Waterloo to Vancouver’s Salt Spring Island to meet old friends and find new fans. Lately, Alviano has been writing and recording new material to follow up his debut Jubilee (2001). He used the Nia audience to showcase some of this material.
Each time Alviano performs, he displays more confidence. Highlights from his set included the beautiful harmonica-accompanied, "Sunflower Girl", the philosophical "Go", and the engaging "Everyman." Songs reeled you in with their hypnotic strumming patterns and poetic meandering.
McLeod increased the decibels a little with his electric guitar, but his songs were also hypnotic, driven by his quavering, forceful voice, and simple rhythms. The small crowd was relatively quiet to the point that McLeod was spooked. At one point he said, "You guys are really quiet … that’s really creepy." To this observer, the stillness of the crowd reflected the desire of each individual to not miss a word McLeod moaned.
Since joining the Skydiggers, McLeod has written several songs for the band. One of these collaborations is "Biloxi," and it proved his best performance of the evening as he sang and strummed power chords with reckless abandon.
Drinking Stella Artois in cans and telling Rodney Dangerfield jokes between songs, McLeod’s set was both entertaining and engaging. Unfortunately, the show by McLeod and Alviano was sandwiched on a night after the White Ribbon Campaign concert, and the kickoff of NXNE, so many musical lovers were home recuperating or resting. That was their loss.
Two talented songwriters left their heartaches on the Nia stage. And, those who showed up witnessed two captivating performers whose musical journeys have only just begun.
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"Smooth and incredibly stylish, Alviano drew the crowd into his world quite easily"
"You know an artist is onto something when a dude who routinely slags folkies is boppin' along. I admit it I was that dude."
"Full of charisma and charm, Alviano was a pretty cool treat and change of pace from the typical bands all trying desperately to be cool and nonchalant at the same time."
CHART ATTACK
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"A road warrior, Alviano epitomizes the stereotype of the hard-working musician that will drive anywhere for a gig. "
"his songs reel you in with their hypnotic strumming patterns and poetic meandering. "
David McPherson---city gigs
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"Jubilee means celebration and the material here is indeed uplifting. The only thing strange about Jubilee is that it's a debut. Debuts are rarely this good."
Brent Hagerman: Echo The Tri-City's Weekly Alternativ, 10 jan 2002
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"these sound like songs he's been waiting his life to write"
Michael Barclay: KW RECORD
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"a superb debut CD.........."
NXNE music festival
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"before the first song is over all eyes ore focussed on the quiet, intense performer who lets his music do the talking"
Joel Rubinoff......THE RECORD
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"..incredibly uplifting and joyful.."
"..filled with passion and soul.."
5* out of 5*
Krystle Hughes.....The Satelite Newspaper
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