Michael Lille Press Releases 2011

Michael Lille

Michael Lille - Suitable Disguise
To read the new review on "Suitable Disguise" please click on the following link Pure Music.Com Review 08-06

Michael Lille - Suitable Disguise
To read the new Washington Post review on "Suitable Disguise" please click on the following link Washington Post Review 08/06

The Sherpas - Honor Among Thieves

What do you get when you put three eminent well-respected singer-songwriters together? The listener receives a well-crafted CD of uplifting songs with plenty of hooks and strong lyrics. The name of the trio is especially fitting since Sherpas are actually a group of Himalayans who live in Nepal and Sikkim and are considered experts in guiding travelers on mountain expeditions. Although none of the three musicians hail from that region, they do provide a wonderful guidance through life's paths and journeys through the tunes they play.

The players who comprise Sherpas are Tom Kimmel, Michael Lille, and Tom Prasada-Rao. All three are familiar names in the local music scene. Tom Kimmel has written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt, among others. Michael Lille plays frequently on his own as well as being a member of SGGL. Tom Prasada-Rao has guested on many a musician's album. Even though they've known each other for some time now, this is their first collaborative effort.

It kicks off with the title song "Honor Among Thieves". Acoustic guitars and a rhythmic funky vibe courtesy of drum loops provide the backbone of this bouncy tune. The lyrics speak of both Jesus and Buddha being serious about their beliefs although things aren't always straightforward. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches and see what life has dealt you. A jazzy guitar break makes the song a very apt opener.

On the topic of religion, "Jesus, Chicks AND Politics" provides a light-hearted look at the usage of certain images such as women and beliefs that are used by politicians to curry favor and win votes. It points out that the candidates will stop at nothing to get what they want including appearing on Larry King and supporting the NRA. Subtle wah-wah guitar hovers in the background with some nice acoustic licks thrown in there as well.

The spiritual side of life manifests itself on "Gitanjali", one of the CD's loveliest songs. Tabla and tambora help set the scene for this litany of salvation. It has a very light, almost ethereal sound that conjures up the thought of perhaps India or the Orient. The haunting melody lodges firmly in your brain and it truly soothes the soul. It is a great song to decompress the day's ills!

For those who prefer a little more pop and romance in their listening pleasures, Sherpas provide that as well in the form of "On To Something". A great Beatley melody envelops the words of positivity about a relationship. Chunky guitar and delightful harmonies push this beyond the typical pop tune. Again, another hummable memory is created!

There are also a few songs here that have been performed by SGGL live. "Lefty's Boys" and "One Heart". Both versions are done well and it's always good to hear these favorites again. Finally, "Angels" may express the greatest affirmation of love yet. The thought of a love so powerful that angels bless the union is a strong one indeed. With both piano and guitar working hand in hand to back up the vocals, this song has a gospel feel to it that makes it hard to resist.

With all the angst and anger pervading so many popular songs today, it's refreshing to hear a CD that provides inspiration and hope without resorting to preaching. Besides that, you can't find fault with sparking melodies, great singing, and sympathetic backing. Sherpas has given each one of us musical travelers a truly enlightening, wondrous experience!

Karen Liebowitz
The Music Monthly

Performing Songwriter
March/April 2002
DIY Artist Spotlight
Michael Lille
By Rick Petreycik

He's a disc-jockey-turned-worldwide-traveler who's trekked throughout such intoxicatingly exotic locales as New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Nepal and Bhutan. He's also a white-water kayaking enthusiast as well as an artist-relations executive. Oh, and yes … he's also a singer-songwriter-guitarist. Meet Michael Lille.

This modern-day Renaissance man has certainly been busy lately. But what affords him the most satisfaction among all his life experiences is recording and performing, and upon listening to his third and latest release, Never Home to Stay, it's easy to see (and hear) why. The record is an auditory delight that combines Michael's penchant for melding heartfelt lyrics about love, loss, self-examination and the lure and romance of the open road with a cool, breezy, Southern California-style, country-folk-rock groove.

Michael's musical journey began when he was in the seventh grade. "I went to a Catholic elementary school and there was a nun named Sister Claire who offered guitar lessons," Michael recalls. "She taught me some chords and I immediately got hooked." He sure did. After those first few instructional sessions, Michael, who cites James Taylor, Cat Stevens and Dan Fogelberg as major influences, spent nearly every waking moment practicing his guitar.

After graduating from high school, Michael went to Salisbury State College in Salisbury, MD. where he formed a successful duo with classmate Nanette Carter, and after college played in a series of rock and roll and R&B bands both in Aspen, Colo. and Charlottesville, Va. before heading to Nashville, Tenn. where he began honing his songwriting and performing chops.

In 1992, Michael released his debut CD, Just In Time, which was produced by John Jennings and featured Mary-Chapin Carpenter on background vocals. The record garnered immediate critical acclaim - particularly in The Washington Post - and helped establish Michael as an up-and-coming artist worth paying attention to. In 1993, he won the Kerrville New Folk Songwriter award, and in 1996 he was champion of the Telluride Troubador competition. That same year, he also released his second album, Middle Child.

The record, which featured Alison Krauss on background vocals and Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on bass, helped to further spread the word on Michael's songwriting prowess, and within no time he was opening shows for musical heavyweights such as Bob Dylan, Little Feat, Leo Kottke, Kathy Mattea, J.J. Cale and Warren Zevon. And now there's Never Home to Stay - a 12-track treat that masterfully showcases Michael's honey-sweet tenor and emotionally riveting lyrical depth.

" I simply get ideas and make mental notes," Michael says of his songwriting process. "I consider myself a guitar player first, so I always have musical ideas floating around. I'm also a notebook kind of guy. I always carry one with me and I often keep a journal when I'm on one of my adventure travels or trekking excursions. Seeing other cultures inspires me, and I love just talking to strangers. In fact, some of my favorite songs stem from conversations I've had with folks. But my guitar playing definitely plays a big part in the songwriting process. I'm an incessant noodler."

When in his noodling mode, Michael gravitates toward a guitar made by Clearwater, Fla.-based luthier Augustino LoPrinzi. "It's been my main guitar since 1974," Michael remembers. "It's made out of Brazilian Rosewood and it's aged beautifully. It's not a full dreadnought and it's not a concert-size guitar. It's somewhere in between. And it actually has a wider, 12-string guitar neck, which is perfect for my hands." He also has a cedar-topped Lowden 023, which he uses for tunes that call for open tunings and warm, finger-style approaches.

Since 1998, Michael has represented ELIXIR guitar strings as head of artist relations and also as a mid-west sales rep. He uses the company's products exclusively on both of his acoustic guitars. In addition to the tone and feel of the strings, he likes their longevity and favors a light-gauge set-up on the top three strings, and a medium -gauge one on the bottom three.

As for being an independent artist, Michael points out that he likes the freedom it affords him in exploring other music-related projects. One of those projects is his role as a member of SGGL, one of Washington, D.C.'s best-loved music groups. "We've been at it for nearly 20 years, and it's loads of fun," Michael enthuses. "If I was with a major label, I don't think I'd have the luxury of playing with those guys." The band which has sold more than 100,000copies of it's previous albums, has recently released a live recording called On the Shoulder.

As for the immediate future, Michael says he plans to record a simply-produced record and plans to play more solo shows as opposed to appearing with his back-up band. "I like playing solo because it keeps me sharp", he says.

"Get out there and introduce yourself to the club and performance circuits, such as Kerrville and the Folk Alliance, as often as possible," is Michael's advice to aspiring singer-songwriters. "That's what I did, and it worked. Listen to other folks, get some feedback, and start networking. You'll realize that you can actually support yourself doing this line of work."

Performing Songwriter Magazine Jan/Feb 2001

Michael Lille
"Never Home To Stay"
Downstream Records
by: Russell Hall - Performing Songwriter Magazine Jan/Feb 2001

Some singer-songwriters try to bowl you over; others take a restrained approach that allows their songs to nudge their way subtly into one's consciousness. Michael Lille falls squarely into the latter category. On Never Home To Stay, his third solo CD, Lille offers up a blend of mid-tempo folk rockers and candlelit balladry that's short on fashion and long on substance. Framed in shimmering arrangements that essentially define the phrase, "acoustic pop," Lille's songs exude an upbeat ambience that's refreshing in these times when dour cynicism is all too common.

High points on the CD include the breezy "Doin' It For You," the majestic "My Living Proof," and the nakedly introspective "Forever Man," each of which finds Lille drawing inspired performances from his superb cast of instrumental backers. Indeed, Never Home To Stay is something of a communal affair, with such talents as Tom Kimmel, Tom Prasada-Rao, Dana Cooper, Valerie Carter, and The Fairfield Four's Rev. Joseph Rice lending a hand.

The Washington Post / Friday, January 12, 2001

Michael Lille
"Never Home To Stay"
Singer-songwriter Michael Lille has never lacked gifted collaborators when he's recorded one of his solo albums. His latest release, "Never Home To Stay," carries on that tradition. Here he is in the company of Valerie Carter, Jerry Douglas, Jon Carroll, Air Parma, Eddie From Ohio, and the Fairfield Four's Rev. Joseph Rice, singing another batch of emotionally restless and spiritually uplifting songs.

In typically tuneful and earnest fashion, Lille unveils a collection of new ballads that quietly embrace folk, pop and country traditions - that is, when he isn't fingerpicking the engaging guitar instrumental "Ode To Duke." His mellow voice and unaffected phrasing serve the songs well, especially those cowritten with Tom Kimmel ("Forever Man") and Dana Cooper ("My Living Proof"), while the gospel-inspired harmonies crafted by Rice and other vocalists on "Wherever You Walk" and the infectious rhythms underpinning "Himalayan Rain" provide a big mid-album lift.

Two heartsick laments - "The Day You Laid Your Conscience Down," a soft but scolding minor key blues; and "Let Me Know," a more rhythmically upbeat view of a soured relationship - feature Lille at his soulful best. He saves the most playful cut for last, though - a kids choir-equipped version of "Everybody Loves The Fair."

- Mike Joyce The Washington Post 1/12/01

The Washington Post / Friday, December 27, 1996 "Talent Abounds On Lille's "Middle Child"

More and more, it seems, the music composed by young singer-songwriters who accompany themselves on acoustic guitar falls into one of two categories: earnest or entertaining. Michael Lille's "Middle Child" manages to bridge the gap.

Certainly Lille has a flair for writing thoughtful songs. His ruminations on slowly revealing traits passed down from father to son on "Our Family Name" and his reflections on "The Middle Child," another song about the curious twists of family and fate, reaffirm Lille's talent for writing about serious subjects without wasting words or faking emotion. "The Blessing Of His Birth," a poetic remembrance of the first Christmas, is also impressive, for unlike many contemporary holiday songs it's neither achingly sentimental nor shamelessly derivative.

However, Lille also knows how to hook listeners with catchy choruses, vivid characters and intriguing scenarios---virtues that are particularly evident on "Perfect Strangers," "Walkin Away" and "Big On Big." Small wonder he finds himself working with other talented songwriters here, including Pierce Pettis, Tom Kimmel and Don Henry, and supported by the likes of Alison Krauss (who sings on one track), Flecktones bassist Victor Wooten, pianist Jon Carroll and guitarists John Jennings, Dan Dugmore and Ray Flacke. ------
Mike Joyce

JUST IN TIME
Michael Lille
Cellar Door Records

It's ironic that Michael Lille should title his debut album Just In Time. For as acoustic guitarists are beginning to regain their foothold in the musical mainstream, Lille steps in with an exceptional first album that exudes musicianship in every sense of the word.

Unlike many debut albums that show the makings of a fine artist, Just In Time is an audible showcase of an artist who already has come into his own. Lille has had ample time to get there. The Virginia native has played acoustic guitar since the age of 12 and began performing professionally at age 15, eventually appearing with Dan Fogelberg and opening for Bob Dylan, Little Feat and David Walkaways.

The album's ten songs display not only Lille's array of acoustic styles but also his soothing, smooth vocals and insightful, poetic Iyrics. Lille's like a chameleon on his guitar, changing from country to jazz and even to classical styles while his Iyrics follow suit. He is forlorn in "Just In Time" and "Like Her Own", sentimental in "One Guardian Angel", wise in ~Where Your Heart Is Concerned" and "Taking It All In Stride" and humorous in "Sleepin' In", a song that, if Sealy had the copyright, probably would garner the mattress company a Cloe award.

Now that Lille has moved from Aspen to Richmond, he has been able to return to the East Coast touring circuit. For the unfortunate ones unable to see him live, his album arrives just in time.

Sonja Skibinski

Singer/songwriter/guitarist Michael Lille has been charming Virginia audiences for years with his heart-felt tunes, honest vocals and dynamic guitar. "Just In Time," his solo debut, captures Lille's tough and tender moments in a package as likeable as the boy next door.

With a little help from some very capable friends. Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Robbin Thompson and Rusty Speidel and Tom Goodrich, Lille's longtime ensemble partners. Lille sings of what we all know. Troubled romance, hit-the-road escapism, personal resolve and the power of family ties tint the comfortable acoustic guitar-based climes on this disc, punctuated with tasteful surprises like mandolin, congas and upright bass.

Lille also goes for some bluesy camp in the nifty "Sleepin' In" and rolls out the country shimmy on "Headin' South." "Ko Samui," a colorful guitar and synth gem inspired by the Thai island of the same name, sparkles as the disc's sole instrumental.

Sue Smallwood, VP/LS

Local singer-songwriter Michael Lille makes his solo debut with "Just in Time," on Cellar Door Records. Lille, also known as the "L" in the group SGGL, has put together a nicely produced collection of acoustic folk flavored with a touch of blues and country.

Lille's distinctive voice and flair for songwriting are complemented by his collaborators, which include co-producer and musical jack-of-trades John Jennings. Jennings is known for his work with Mary Chapin Carpenter who, by the way, sings background vocals on the title cut.

Robbin Thompson, his songwriting partner on the memorable "Like Her Own," also lends his voice to "Where Your Heart is Concerned," along with Lille's band mates Rusty Speidel and Tom Goodrich on several tunes.

Molly Carpenter -- RichmondTimes-Dispatch

For a more in-depth look at the life and music of Michael Lille, read this story from The Performing Songwriter March/April 1994. Also this article from The Performing Songwriter July/August 1996.