The Outlook recently had the opportunity to interview Michael Burke, sophomore music industry major, about his experience as a musician. He plays the guitar in the rock band Suburban Cliché alongside Cole Gallagher (vocals, guitar), Frank Toledano (vocals, bass), and Tom Bell (drums).
The Outlook: How did you first get started in music?
Michael Burke: I remember first getting started in music around 6th grade. Like in a lot of elementary schools, everyone got to play their little recorders and learn jingle bells during Christmas, but nothing really more than that. It was a small school and we didn’t have a ton of funding for the art programs. I remember wanting to do a little more than play a few notes on a squeaky plastic toy, so I took private saxophone lessons through a program after school. I couldn’t stand the saxophone; I only stuck with it long enough to play one school concert and quit after that. A little while passed, and I remember my dad casually telling me to mess around on a guitar, just to pick it up and get a feel even if I didn’t know how to play. I remember sitting in my den strumming the guitar, open string and awful sounding, just getting the beat to some Bruce songs. From there on, it just progressed a little more each time until I was actually playing some notes and chords.
The Outlook: What instrument do you play?
MB: Guitar is my most comfortable instrument. I’ve been playing it for about 6 years now. I also play bass, drums, and piano.
The Outlook: What style of music do you prefer/play?
MB: The style of music I play completely depends on how I’m feeling, as really with any musician. Typically, if I’m playing acoustic guitar it’ll be a very light, alternative and folky kind of music. Not super traditional folk in the sense of musical composition, but more of just incorporating and adapting techniques to a more modern style. Electric is a completely different story. By trade, I’m a blues musician. Always have been. Sure it’s great playing some good rock songs that really kick, but there’s just this feeling you throw into blues that makes the music so much more personal. You’re not just slamming chords and burning through solos. You put something into each note, each accent, when you’re playing the blues. I still get chills almost every time I hear a perfectly placed, tense bend.
The Outlook: Have you/has your band produced any music that can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon, etc.?
MB: As a band, we have recorded in a studio, and by ourselves after not being super pleased with the editing that the studio did. We do have a fair amount of originals, but have never really used anything like iTunes or Amazon to distribute our music. It’s always been that indie way of selfless promotion and bumming your friends out of $10 for a copy of your demo. That’s always way more fun than just throwing the music up online, a lot less profitable though.
The Outlook: When together, does Suburaban Cliche play at local venues? If so, during what months/seasons would you generally describe that period?
MB: We played at tons of venues around New Jersey during the later years of high school. Our drummer Thom Bell is from the Atlantic Highlands, the bassist/vocalist Frank Talamo is from Freehold, and the guitarist/vocalist Cole Gallagher is from Eatontown, so we really got to go all around to play. We’ve played the typical Asbury venues, like the Stone Pony and The Saint. We’ve also played a decent amount of VFW’s when we were working with a booking agency. Our most fun shows have been the little get together’s that really don’t mean much at all rather than messing around. We played a Surf Taco in Belmar, NJ one time for like 2 hours just screwing around. It was one of our favorite shows as a band. We all go to different colleges (Thom U. South Carloina, Cole quinnipiac, Frank Marist), so we really don’t have any chances to play during the year except on breaks. Summer’s when we usually get together.
The Outlook: What do you intend on doing after graduation?
MB: After graduating from MU, I hope to further pursue my education and hopefully get a Master’s in recorded music. I have no idea where yet, but I’m looking around. While I’m doing that, I want to be working with bands in studios on the side and just producing music. I need to live the lifestyle as much as I can.
The Outlook: Do you have any person/artist you’d say is an inspiration to you?
MB: My parents have always been a huge influence on me with everything. They never had a problem with me pursuing music as a career or tried to steer me in another direction, and I have a huge respect for them letting me do what I love. They’ve basically been to every show and heard every song over and over. As far as artists/musicians, lyrically Anthony Kiedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers has always been an inspiration. His style of wording not only gets a message across, but conveys emotion so powerfully as well. I strive for that kind of impact when I’m writing.
Organizing his skills into a resume-boosting activity is going to be a great asset to him in the future, but his ability to balance his art with his education that makes this Hawk one to watch.
To hear more from Suburban Cliché, check out facebook.com/suburbancliche, myspace.com/suburbancliche or suburbancliche.wix.com.
