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Interview with Michael Bernier

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Interview with Michael Bernier

Though a native of the Boston area Michael Bernier would prefer to consider himself a citizen of the world; content to tramp the Earth in search of peace and enlightenment, and expressing those sensibilities through his music. Michael took some time out before embarking on his solo acoustic winter tour to talk about his music, personal philosophies, and his bandmates in The UPRISING.  

Deli: In a band setting that brings vastly different musical tastes, I wondered aloud how those differing tastes find their way into the music of The UPRISING.  

MB: There is definitely a great variation of musical tastes in within The UPRISING....each member is perhaps drawn towards a specific genre as far as their playing style or writings.  I am deep into Reggae and Singer/Songwriter stuff, RyBomb (Michael’s brother and bassist, Ryan Bernier) is into Jazz and Jam, Katie (saxophonist, Kate Berlent) is into Jazz and Acoustic Rock, F (drummer, Mark F) is into Metal and Grunge, Moore (guitarist, Mikey Moore) is into Classic Rock and Motown. 

I would say that overall everyone tunes into music that they think is good and real...regardless of genre...the music that makes you feel that emotion you need...the song that takes you away and makes you forget that you are still driving in that smelly van.   


Our different tastes in music, and our individual influences help us to create this unique sound that The UPRISING has become known for.  There are no boundaries in this world...no limitations...we recognize that and embrace it like the road. 

Deli: Anyone who follows Michael Bernier and The UPRISING knows that there are two faces to the music; Michael’s solo, singer/songwriter-based material, and The UPRISING’s full-on band material. I wanted to find out how Michael balances to two opposing tendencies; those of a solo artist with those of a bandmate. What I learned is that the key, at least for Michael and the band, is keeping the two separate, almost separate career paths entirely, each serving its own unique purpose.  

MB: I came up as a singer/songwriter in the New England music scene...this is my foundation...my drive...it definitely shaped the performer I am today...but as time went on and the shows got bigger and bigger, it was a natural progression to develop the band...to build the band around the music I was creating at that time.

To keep the balance between organic roots rock concerts with the band and the solo acoustic performances that led me to this point...I continue on with both...The UPRISING has its place and my solo career has a completely different place...although often times it is a solo acoustic performance in some far way city in the United States that gets the foot in the door for the band to perform...for example in places like SXSW...I was invited last year to play some solo acoustic performances...and this year the band is looking at some great offers to play. 

As far as keeping the acoustic music and the band separate here in New England...they are different scenes...the band is huge...packing in large venues....bringing the high energy and full sound...my acoustic career is intimate...it stays in the singer songwriter circuit and the venues that come with that...In many ways they are one in the same....but I still completely separate the 2 as far as performances and recording...We just finished a full length album 'Do Not Write To Me Here' with the whole group...and now I am right back in the studio working on an acoustic album titled 'The Road' to support my acoustic U.S. Winter Tour this February. 

Deli: Michael Bernier has developed a reputation not only for his cathartic performances, but also for his relentless positivity. How do these features of his music and live performances make their way into his day-to-day life? 

MB: Live is a ever-changing...living is some mystery...I enjoy my days...I stay even and realize that everything is alright...I am breathing...people are good...I am all about everyone getting down together and putting aside ego and materialism when performing and when skating down the street on a one way in the wrong direction.

Outside of music I practice yoga...I eat organic food...I stay healthy...I do not follow the path just because there may be one...I trail-blaze if it is what I need for greater existence and heightening...I stay clear of false judgment and see the goodness that each person has within them...I talk to people I don’t know...I put forth a blunt honesty and speak reality.  I let people know what I love about them...I tell people when the make me happy...I positively tell them when they are making me sick...I pursue the things that I want...I criticize constructively...I become the change I want to see instead of procrastinating...I make moves that are for the betterment of the world and all its people and animals...for the betterment of all living things...I am a naturalist...I live off fruits and vegetables...I recognize that my body is my temple....I see myself as no greater than anything...I remain barefoot...I am no more important to this entire planet than the chicken that roams free...or the cow in a cage....or the homeless woman dwelling in the gutter...we are all one in the same...I spend months alone in the woods...I do what seems to create a higher energy for myself...stay in tune with the bliss...find it...and live in it...It is all peace....I hold my ground...I am man...living and breeding a good vibe...a positive outspoken approach at unity.  

Deli: For more than 10 years, Michael Bernier and his bandmates in The UPRISING have been building their legacy, steadily growing their fanbase through hard work and throwing everything they have behind their live performances. What’s next? Where does the band go from here and how do they get there? 

MB: We continue to make music...the shows continue to get bigger along with our unbelievable grassroots following...we ride the tide...we let everyone know how excited we are to keep on doing this...we speak about our appreciation for our fans and friends and supporters...we smile and say thank you every time a new station starts spinning our music...we recognize the love each time a magazine writes about us or someone orders merch off our website...we continue to grow and put in hours and hours of work each day to feed this life we are leading within music.
 
What's next?  I am heading on an acoustic tour across the United States from Jan 29th - March 2... with shows in NH, MA, NY, NJ, PA, DC, VA, NC, GA, FL, LA, TX and CA...laying the groundwork for the bands tour next fall.  At the same time we are working on a college radio campaign in the United States and Canada, touring the new album with the band, starting a new UPRISING album, writing...and enjoying our lives. 

--

You still have a couple more opportunities to catch Michael Bernier before he heads out of town on his winter tour: 

Jan. 29, 2011, 9:00 p.m. The Stone Church New Market, NH

Jan. 30, 2011 , 1:00 p.m. Dyno Records  Newburyport, MA 

-George Dow 

 

  

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January 20, 2011    

Show Review -- MMOSS January 11, 2011, Middle East Upstairs

mmoss

I had resigned myself to the fact that I was born in the wrong decade, that I would never have the opportunity to see great psychedelic music played live. Sure, I could catch the elderly hippies on their reunion tours, playing watered down versions of their 30-year old hits, made tame for their equally elderly audience. But to see the real thing, being written and created by contemporary musicians and performed with a fresh passion that captures my image of those classic shows of the late Sixties; I was sure I was out of luck. Enter MMOSS.

Read the whole review by George Dow HERE

January 17, 2011    

Show Review -- MMOSS January 11, 2011, Middle East Upstairs

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MMOSS

January 11, 2011, Middle East Upstairs

http://www.myspace.com/themmoss 

I had resigned myself to the fact that I was born in the wrong decade, that I would never have the opportunity to see great psychedelic music played live. Sure, I could catch the elderly hippies on their reunion tours, playing watered down versions of their 30-year old hits, made tame for their equally elderly audience. But to see the real thing, being written and created by contemporary musicians and performed with a fresh passion that captures my image of those classic shows of the late Sixties; I was sure I was out of luck. Enter MMOSS. 

On a cold Tuesday night, with an impending blizzard that would shut down much of New England the following day, I trekked into Cambridge for MMOSS’ show at the Middle East Upstairs. Given the coming storm, the small upstairs room was respectably filled with more than 100 people.  

I’ve always been fascinated with the dichotomy of psychedelic music; it’s at once dark and mournful, while at the same time hopeful and cathartic. What is it that makes these opposing emotions so pleasing and how is it that they can be expressed in song, both at the same time? I still don’t know the answer to those questions, but when MMOSS took the stage they struck the balance that I’d been hoping for.  

Watching MMOSS play, I started to understand, at a whole new level, artists’ return to analog equipment. Two songs into their set – about halfway through one of their newest releases, “Another Dream” – singer, keyboardist, and flutist Rachel became one with her Farfisa organ. In a fugue-like state, long hair covering her face, it seemed she might crawl directly into the instrument; connecting with it at some deep level that was both emotional and tactile. I was reminded of watching Jon Lord of Deep Purple play his organ – tricked out with rockers so that he could literally hold the enormous instrument – moving it in rhythm to the music. As I watched Rachel play I understood on a whole new level that you simply couldn’t feel the music the same way when playing a plastic Casio keyboard.  

Doug’s guitar-work and vocals round out the late-Sixties vibe. His deep, monotone delivery – vaguely reminiscent of Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth – was supported with amazing harmonies from the entire band. The vocal harmonies are easy enough to pull together in the studio, but MMOSS managed to maintain the tight vocal delivery; no simple task in a live environment.  

The fact that each band member contributes vocally lent to the communal vibe. No one was lost on the stage or played only a supporting role. Even though Rachel and Doug were the clear focal points of the live set, Brian on bass and Justin on drums were both critical to the delivery and were still front and center in the delivery.  

During their third song and newest release, “Wander”, Rachel broke out the flute, a go-to instrument during the late-Sixties which has been mostly ignored in contemporary rock. In MMOSS’ hands the flute took center stage, trading leads with Doug’s guitar. Not since Jethro Tull have I seen a rock band feature the flute so prominently. Credit the sound-board guy at the Middle East for managing to keep it front and center in the mix. It could have all too easily been lost in the din of guitar, bass and drums.  

Following “Wander”, they ran through most of the tracks on their debut release, i. Notable highlights were “Grow Down” and “Hedge Creeper”. On album most of their songs clock in at around three-and-a-half minutes. Played live, they extended, in true jam-band fashion, to six and seven minutes, which gave the band the opportunity to explore the songs and gave the songs themselves more room to breath. As thrilling as it was to experience a real psychedelic love-fest and see MMOSS’ more jammy sensibilities, I was equally excited to hear some darker tendencies in their live performance. Although from the same late-Sixties era but from a completely different scene, the Velvet Underground crept into some of the songs and lent a dirtier, garagey feel to their delivery.  

Closing out the set with “Come What May”, MMOSS sent the crowd home just before one o’clock in the morning as the first flakes of the blizzard began to fly.  

Catch MMOSS at Church in Boston on Saturday, February 5th (9:00 p.m.). Also on the bill are Thick Shakes (10:00 p.m.), Lyres (11:00 p.m.) and The Major Stars (midnight). 

--George Dow

 

  

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January 17, 2011    

Invictus Picks -- Slothrust -- Misnomer

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Joe Saliba's (of Mad Oak Studios in Allston) first sentence to me was "So I hear you like Deerhunter?", then he gave me the Fluorescent Grey EP and we've been turning each other onto bands ever since. His most recent find is  female-fronted, Slothrust, rock music that well, rocks.

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Do you remember the first time you heard Karen O belt out, "As a fuck son you sucked" and you thought, "Damn, this chick has balls!"? Slothrust's Leah Wellbaum has the same effect. You'll see after you listen to "Misnomer". 

SLOTHRUST - MISNOMER

--Danielle Freudenthal

 

January 17, 2011    

The Deli Sunday Residency -- Daniel Harris, Creek River String Band, Dogs on Television @ Precinct 1/16

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The Sundays at Precinct Deli Residency continues on the 16th with three stellar bands!

Daniel Harris -- members of The Doctors Fox -- 9pm

a la Sufjan Stevens meets Nirvana unplugged meets Daniel Lanois

Creek River String Band -- 10pm

"High-energy bluegrass, Tex-Mex, country blues, folk, Celtic, rags, Old Time, and more, including some acoustic versions of more modern stuff (e.g, Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al,” which always gets ‘em dancing). We also do a good number of originals. Think Session Americana without the table...basically the same instrumentation and vibe" -- Stroker

Dogs on Television -- 11pm

"Dogs on Television is headed for the bright lights. It's a machine that runs on rock n' roll. It's a barbaric yawp that dives into your ear, tickles your brain, stirs your heart, and hits your spine like a lightning bolt. Based in the Boston area, DoTV is committed to bringing an explosive energy to the stage and having as much fun as possible on the way. DoTV howls loud and promises a grand revolution of unbridled rock intensity!" -- from DoTV FB page

Doors at 8pm and the cover is 7 bux. 21+ Precinct has great food and beer as well.

--Meghan Chiampa

 

January 13, 2011