Mike Robinson is a Brooklyn based Musician specializing in guitar, pedal steel guitar, banjo and voice. He is formerly a member of the Jeff Austin Band and co leader of progressive acoustic group, The Freewheel Trio. Most recently, Robinson joined Railroad Earth for a string of shows, tackling pedal steel, guitar, and banjo as if it was second nature, and it is looking like he will be join the band for more shows in the future as they look to fill the huge shoes of multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling, who passed away last year.
Mike has rarely been without guitar in his hands since he was six years old. Raised on a thirty-five foot sailboat, he was surrounded by music as his family traveled throughout the Caribbean for nearly half a decade. The Robinsons then moved to Boulder, Colorado where the vibrant acoustic music scene opened his ears to a new world of mountain music. He was soon performing weekly in his father’s quintet, getting him further immersed into the professional musical world. At age eighteen, Mike moved to New York City to study at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he graduated with a BFA in Jazz Studies. The aggressive, urban nature of New York brought out the audacious side of Mike’s playing; the perfect foil to his calm transcendental musical roots. By combining these disparate influences, Mike has created his own uniquely personal sound.
On March 7 Mike will release his debut EP Clevidence, and his transient lifestyle is ever-present in the songs. The album is a testament to Mike’s multifaceted-ness, showcasing his talent on guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo and bass while also delivering his recorded debut as a vocalist and songwriter. It also explores Mike’s transition and growth while embracing influences from an all-star list of fellow Brooklynites that include Emma Frank, Alex Hargreaves, Dave Speranza, John Fatum, Zosha Warpeha and Libby Weitnauer.
Today Glide is excited to premiere “Can’t Come Home”, an aptly titled song about being on the road. In fact, the song was written on the road, and Mike points out that he has “always found traveling to feel very natural but you end up leaving your whole life behind you.” Indeed, there is a sense of yearning in the song, which begins with an ethereal soundscape of twangy pedal steel and strings before Mike’s acoustic guitar fades in. There is a folkie Americana sound to the vocals, lyrics and music, but where Mike takes a different direction is with the intricate orchestration that conveys the emotion of nostalgia. For Mike, the road is a place of both freedom and longing, two forces pulling him in different directions when he wants to embrace both. “Can’t Come Home” shows a surprisingly polished songwriter who is able to translate his impressive musicianship and wide range of instrumental skills into timeless folk music.Â
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