Michael Solan’s proximity to greatness has always been uncanny.
Throughout his life, he was heavily involved with various musical communities, and oftentimes in acquaintance with prominent musical influences.
While working at Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD (of Animal Collective fame) Michael worked and attended hundreds of concerts, and witnessed hundreds of major acts including The Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bob Dylan, The Grateful Dead, and The White Stripes, James Brown, Chaka Khan, Kenny G, Snoop Dog, Willy Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, and many, many more.. In 2006, at Merriweather Post, Michael played Operation Ivy's song "Knowledge" on bass guitar on stage with Green Day to a sold out audience of 30,000.
Michael was introduced to many types of traditional folk music in Westminster, Maryland through the traditional arts community Common Ground. Here, he was introduced to the music of blues greats Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Howlin' Wolf in "Poetry of the Blues," a workshop taught by legendary activist and inmate, John Sinclair (of John Lennon and MC5 fame). At Common Ground, Michael also studied didgeridoo and harmonica under blues star Guy Davis.
Michael moved to Long Beach CA, in 2007, aged 17, and graduated from CSULB with a B.A. in Creative Writing in 2012. Michael wrote and gigged heavily in Long Beach and developed a great deal of original material and home recordings. He co-founded the locally legendary Hip/Rock/Funk/Fusion band MDMF ("The Rude Hip-Hop Band from Long Beach" - LA Weekly). Michael also hosted many prominent local bands for house shows at his residence in Long Beach.
In 2013, now 23 years old, Michael plans to travel with his music, develop an audience, and further cultivate his live performance. He intends to acquire resources to assemble a band, produce an album, collaborate and gig with major acts, and book shows locally as well as nationally.
Michael's influences include Robert Johnson, Beck, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath, Bob Dylan, Sublime, Dr. Dre, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Velvet Underground, Tenacious D, Charles Mingus, Charles Bukowski, Frank Zappa, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, John Sinclair, George Orwell, Bo Diddley, The Clash, Neil Young, Outkast, Jimi Hendrix, Pixies, Django Reinhardt, Tommy Hardt, Ween, and Hank Williams