Contact: Mike Liguori mike@mlband.com

COLORADO’S MICHAEL LLOYD BAND
RELEASES NEW HIGHWATERS EP

With adventurous piano-driven rock anthems about bank robbers, relationships, and one of Colorado’s darkest disasters, the Michael Lloyd Band jumps into the buzzing Denver area music scene this fall with its debut Highwaters EP.

Released in September 2005, the Highwaters EP is brimming with soulful melodies propelled by raucous, danceable grooves and the unexpected twists of a big party atmosphere. The sound is inspired by the same type of high-energy R&B, funk and jazz behind artists like Ben Folds, Dave Matthews Band, Steely Dan and Bruce Hornsby.

The new recording includes contributions from all over North America.  Singer/songwriter/pianist Mike Liguori, 28, was born in Anchorage, Alaska but grew up in northern New Jersey before relocating to the jam-happy Colorado Front Range. He leads a talented personnel roster hailing from as far away as Calgary and Venezuela.

The tracks on Highwaters EP feature some interesting cameos and lyrical storylines.  “45 At A Time,” an edgy funk track about everyone’s struggle to get ahead, includes the voice of Denver radio traffic reporter Amelia Earhart.  Amelia is a friend of the band and a relative to the famous aviatrix who disappeared in 1937.

The dark, gospel and bluegrass infused “Wildfire” was inspired by the largest wildfire in Colorado history.  Blamed on a forest worker, the 2002 Hayman fire started with a match struck in a campsite and eventually burned nearly 140,000 acres, three-quarters of which was national forest. More than 100 homes were lost.  

The funky, sinister piano riff of “Sleepwalking” sets the stage for a bank robber whose motivation turns out to be something other than money.  “Highwaters,” “So Easily” and “Leave Well Enough Alone” deal with relationships both new and old and showcase an eclectic but always distinctive songwriting style. 

The Highwaters EP provides a taste of the Michael Lloyd Band’s live show, where the band likes to stretch out, spark a party and explore its freewheeling musical roots.  The Highwaters EP is on sale now at www.mlband.com.  The web site also includes upcoming show dates, EP credits, lyrics, bios and multimedia.

-- 30 --

Michael Lloyd Band
Highwaters EP 2005

More facts about the artists:

Bandleader and vocalist Mike Liguori grew up in New Jersey playing baseball and ice hockey, not piano. While in high school, he was invited to audition for the movie “The Mighty Ducks.”

Bassist Gonzalo Teppa is working toward a master’s degree in jazz at the University of Colorado at Boulder.  He’s won two national student music awards for outstanding solos from Down Beat magazine.  Teppa has been singing, playing bass and violin since his early childhood and has released two complete albums in his native Venezuela. 

Bassist/guitarist/vocalist Jim Ruberto is a western New York native who shares the name of – but absolutely no relation to – the mayor of Pittsfield, Mass.  He did, however, once rent a rehearsal space in the same building occupied by Utica NY’s famous “Metal Blob.”

Drummer Tyler Hornby hails from Calgary, Alberta, Canada and is an accomplished player on the international jazz scene.  Tyler has toured North and South America and Europe with various groups and has performed with jazz artists Bob Mintzer and Ingrid Jensen.

Sherman Arnold, from Chicago IL, was runner up in the 1999 Guitar Center national drum-off competition. As a young man in Chicago, Sherman was a parking attendant at the old United Center and knew Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and other members of the Chicago Bulls championship teams.  Sherman left the cell phone voicemail that eventually became the bridge to “45 At A Time.”   

Artist and designer Christopher Silas Neal is based in Brooklyn NY.  His clients have included Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Village Voice, Punk Planet and the Boston Globe.  His art has been exhibited in Los Angeles and Detroit. He’s also a damn good drummer and has played with Antonious Block, Bushtic and the Paris Underwear Show.