Check Out Christian Michaels’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Michaels

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to a variety of musical genres at a young age. My love for music led me to take up the bass at 12, and guitar at 16. I started start a band and have been a live musician ever since.

This project was born out of the failure of my previous band, Sizter Machyne… a hard rock band that began about 20 years ago! I took a step back and reinvented myself by getting back to my roots. I was born in Montgomery, Alabama to a primarily country and bluegrass loving family. I wanted this project to reflect that. I wanted the songs to mean something more… to tell stories that actually resonate with folks.

I draw inspiration from a wide range of artists, from Kiss, to SRV, to Merle Haggard, it’s really all over the map! Now, I am bringing my rock & roll background into being a country musician! The driving guitars combined with dobro, slide guitar, fiddle, and even an accordion offers a different sound than most. I love performing live and thrive on the energy of the audience. To get people there, I work hard to present a high energy show with songs that are both familiar and new. Over the years I have played in various venues, from small coffee shops to large concert halls. I am starting the tour in support of my upcoming album now and plan on continuing through next year. ! Also, CMBR is adding tour dates with Ryan Daniel on his Backroads and Bonfires tour which will span Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida and more!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Nothing worth having is easy. When I first began the challenges were mainly financial. Then, having a family made touring very difficult for a number of years. Now my family is in a good position to tour! My wife is super supportive and a handles a lot of the back end and logistical stuff (and sang on the album! The duet is fire…) Most of the kids have moved out. Only my boy Miles is still at home. He’s 12 and home schooled, so travel is no problem. He even helps tech and works the merch… and sometimes plays drums with me!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I write, record, and perform country fried rock and roll with a rebel soul for people who are into that. Working with Josh Morningstar and Chet Roberts, as well as my talented wife Melissa and my guitarist Eric Taulbee, we have wrapped up the debut album “Bourbon & Lies”. The single “Careless” came out on July 2nd on all streaming platforms. We have a radio station out of Arizona who has put it in the rotation! I am very proud how far we have come in a short time. We now have our first sponsor and a signature whiskey being developed!

I am humbled and honored to be working with the artists who have been where I am going. What sets Christian Michaels and Bootleg Revival apart is authenticity. I love performing, writing, meeting people who enjoy our music, including folks from the fan club in our daily happenings and such. We are real people in this band. That’s not as common in this business as you may think.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
To be myself. When all of this is over, no matter how far it goes (or doesn’t go), I want to be able to look back on it with pride. These experiences are fleeting, and I have an example to set for my kids, my staff, the musicians in the band, etc. I travel with my wife and nephew to nearly every show. Family is so important to me, and my nephew is getting experiences he wouldn’t otherwise. By being myself and doing this our way it has become a very special and meaningful endeavor and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://christianmichaelsmusic.com
• Other: https://linktr.ee/christianmichaelsmusic