Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Roberts.
Hi Michael, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My band, Michael & The Pentecost, officially started on Inauguration Day, 2017. Setting out to create a song focused blend of Alt-County, Folk, Rock and Rock, and Americana, that we now affectionately refer to as “White Trash Romantic, High-Lonesome Rock & Roll”. It was, in part, a clear reaction to our countries shifting political climate, but as a whole, it was to recenter my musical focus on a project that could be malleable and grow as I see fit for years to come.
In the 9 years since that day M&P has taken many forms on the live performance side. Originally operating more as a collective with a circles of players coming and going, then morphing into a more traditional trio, then eventually settling into a long run as a 4 piece rock and roll outfit. Currently we’re going through yet another transformation into something more nuanced and maybe noir.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, yes. Obviously, anytime you’re a part of a group there will be interpersonal differences. I like to say that being in a band is akin to having 3 girlfriends that all have their own independent relationships. One thing that I think helps quell all of that is to put away the myth that bands must run on an “all for one, one for all” kind of ethos. In my experience, the best projects have a clear leader with a vision that the other members generally support and build on. This kind of hierarchy tends to keep things fairly simple and clean.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to think of myself as a songwriter, but what that means and whether or not others would agree is debatable. I don’t know that anything sets me apart from anyone else, but I’m certainly most proud of my slowly, but surely, growing catalogue of music. I always think that the next song I write will be my best, so as long as I keep that feeling, I don’t anticipate ever stopping.
How do you think about happiness?
Wow, are we done with the softballs? I could probably talk about happiness for another two hours. The first two things that come to mind for me are new experiences like travel, cultural exploration, etc, and general peace, which I normally find through every small niceties like good coffee, a good meal, good luck, and a calm, tranquil home, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michaelandthepentecost.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelandthepentecost
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelandthepentecost
