SINGER-SONGWRITER CREATES HIS OWN SOUND -- D.M. Tynan, The Connection (Sept/2000)
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“I
write what I am - who I am... hopefully someone likes it,” says
Michael Sheppard, singer, guitarist and songwriter for the Michael
Sheppard Group. The powerful emotions of Sheppard’s music is conveyed
as much with sound as words. Dubbed “power-acoustic aterna-rock” by
one reviewer, the band does fall into category all their own. Sheppard,
who has won numerous awards for both his songwriting and vocals, has
created a band of seasoned professionals, all of whom more than do
justice to his songs. Despite
having joined the group only three months ago, Selden has easily blended
right in with the others as though he’s always been there.
Leonard puts it plainly, “We’re like old friends, this is the
best band since we’ve started.” That
bond was apparent at the groups show August 18 at the Revolution Coffee
Lounge, a wonderful little venue in old town Herndon that looks as
though it was lifted straight out of SoHo. Primarily playing work off
their 1997 CD release, “Beneath It All,” along with the occasional
blues number, the band captured the audience with the first guitar lick
and drew them in closer, literally, with every song. Sheppard’s voice
is rich and sensual, gliding alongside and over the guitar like smoke
and velvet. It coaxes attention in the first line than holds it with
each successive one. A
truly spectacular cover of Jimi Hendrix, “Little Wing,” demonstrated
not only what Sheppard can do with his voice, but what a brilliant
guitarist Leonard is. Sheppard’s
instinct for performance is fine tuned as well. By the third set, the
audience had shifted forward, closely surrounding the stage, raptly
attentive to each song. As if in response to that sense of intimacy
between musician and listener, the other three band members stepped back
as Sheppard played a sweet and touching tune, “Never,” written for
his wife on their fifth anniversary. Passionate Collection of Songs The
Michael Sheppard Group’s CD, “Beneath It All,” is a captivating
and passionate collection of songs. Sheppard voice clearly broadcasts
everything from hurt and anger to sorrow and love, adding extra punch to
his perceptive lyrics. Teamed
up with Leonard’s dramatic guitar and Neubauer’s bass holding it
together, the songs do something rare and fine - they spark memories and
elicit sympathy and understanding from the listener. There is a sense of
“yes, that’s exactly it” to Sheppard’s love songs, as in “Time
to Try.” “I can tell by
the look in her eyes / she’s got something to say / but every time she
tries / the words just shy away”.
In “Hell I don’t Know,” Sheppard’s uses his voice to
underscore the pain and fury of the lyrics “So you’re leavin’ /
not a word not a call / I don’t believe this,” His voice is tense, a
rubber band stretched to snapping, and the anguish is real. Although
several new songs have been recorded, work on a new CD has been placed
on hold while the new drummer settles in. “I never played rock
before,” explains Selden, who manages and plays in the contemporary
R&B/jazz band, “After Dark”. Sheppard is very excited by how well Selden has merged with
the existing band and what he’s brought to them. “As far as I’m
concerned, the gigs have never been better,’ says Sheppard.
“Everyone has a voice, that’s real important to me.”
Teachers and Musicians Though the Michael Sheppard Group is the main focus of all the member’s of the band, Sheppard also runs the Andromeda Room Studio in Burke and teaching vocals to a limited number of students. Leonard, too, is a high energy musician, releasing a solo instrumental CD, “Time Alone,” in 1999 and teaching guitar in Chantilly. More information and sound bites from “Time Alone” can be found at www.danleonard.com. Sheppard is currently accepting students and the Andromeda Room Studio is available for projects, call (703) 644-9718.
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Tightly
knit, on stage and off, all four members of the group marvel at how
easily they have fallen together into something truly extraordinary.
“We’ve known each other forever” says Sheppard of band members
Chris Neubauer, bassist and Danny Leonard, lead guitar. Previously, the
three had formed a group known as Power Play. “It was kinda weird,”
remarks Neubauer, “we transitioned Power Play into this.” Even Perry
Selden, the drummer and most recent addition to the Michael Sheppard
group, has noticed. “It’s harmonious mentally,” he says,
“there’s no one that’s star struck.”| NEW
MUSIC - Rick Smith, The Pitch (June/97)-
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Way back when, when Seattle was known for it's dismal weather and beatnik coffee shops, the pop-main stream was saturated with vibrato laden vocals, screeching technical guitar acrobatics, classically trained ego-tripping bass players, and al pro percussionists, restrained by commercialism and overproduction. Somewhere down the line, the record buying public came to their senses, trading in their Winger and Warrant CDs. With store credit, buyers assimilated to the angst popularized by the Washington state legends Pearl jam and Nirvana, molecular compounds which have been imitated but never duplicated by PhD scientists from colleges like Silverchair Tech and Bush University. Behold the Michael Sheppard Group, a musical mothership that combines the late 80’s pop-metal recipe with heads up emotional modern rock that is ready made for FM radio formats. At the controls of this collosal collaboration is phenomenal singer-songwriter/guitarist Michael Sheppard who hails from Burke, Virginia. Sheppard continues to rack up critical and audience acclaim from those who are lucky enough to see him or give a listen to his 1997 release on Milesh Records. If sharing the stage with platinum artists as Hootie and the Blowfish, Salt-n-Pepa, and Primus wasn’t enough, his brand of capturing passion rock has earned him a myriad of Wammie ( Washington Area Music Association Awards) nominations for such categories as Best Male vocalist and Best New Artist. His special beechwood aged brew of contemporary jazz, deep rooted soul, funk, and rock has created a buzz that is hard to resist. After various doings with Virginia based acts, YNOT! And Egypt, Sheppard decided to embrace the acoustic guitar, hook up with the best musicians in the area, and form his own musical endeavor which has proved to be where he is most happy. The 1997 cd Beneath it All is a showcase of the talents of not just Sheppard, but guitar virtuoso Danny Leonard, groove operator Andy Hamburger, and Chris Neubauer. The ten song release takes the listener on a safari through the emotional savannas and musical soundscapes of this supergroup. Songs like "Beneath it All" and the opening track " Keep Coming Back" premier this amazing foursome with a tight foundation and awe inspiring melodies. Leonard’s guitar work is reminiscent of symphonic guitar conductors Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai especially in his guitar dedication "When I Think of You". Another spotlight is Sheppard’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s Axis: Bold as Love tear jerker "Little Wing", which has been covered by such heavyweights as Sting, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Skid Row, but MSG manages to reproduce it in an unrecognizable and unique fashion. All together, the sheer honesty and vigor of Sheppard and the goliath musicianship that his staff possesses, there is no doubt that MSG is ready to show the nation what they are capable of. With a resume that puts a lot of national acts to shame, the Michael Sheppard Group will have no problem accomplishing mass recognition bringing back an old school style of finely balanced corporate rock musicianship and a new style of modern rock emotion. MSG are definitely worth keeping an eye out for. |
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MUSIC REVIEW -- Maria Villafana, Washington Post.com (May/97)
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" Beneath It All" a soulful jazzy creation from the Michael Sheppard Group was releaed by Milesh Records. Sheppard's voice pumps life into each of the ten love ballads but is especially touching during his rendition of Hendrix's "Little Wing". Produced by Sheppard, the album was engineered by Doug Johnston at Cue Recording
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mr-21001
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What happens when you combine an accomplished vocalist with three of
the
Mid-Atlantic area's most talented musicians? The result, the MICHAEL
SHEPPARD GROUP, is a powerful, poignant and poised band singing and
playing their way into the hearts and heads of many. Lead singer Michael Sheppard (formerly of EGYPT and Y NOT) has a multi-dimensional voice that covers a wide array of emotions. On the band's debut release Beneath It All (Milesh Records), Sheppard is at the wheel while Danny Leonard (guitar), Chris Neubauer (bass) and Andy Hamburger (drums) ride along on the journey of soulful ballads to pop/rock to jazz/funk compositions. Although many of the ten selections are love ballads, they avoid crossing the border and becoming too sappy. Instead, they beg the listener to sing along or, at least, be mindful of the perils of love. While it holds its own, the title track is not the album's gem. With its sharp, searching lyrical hooks, that distinction belongs to "Keep Comin' Back," the album's first track. The background playing is restrained yet appropriate. Sheppard's voice is clear and his words meaningful and memorable. The same is true for "Time To Try," although this song is more suitable for a concert setting than a radio station playlist. With a musical interlude of nearly a minute and a half, this song presents a small glimpse of the exploration the MICHAEL SHEPPARD GROUP most likely offers at its live shows. It is easy to picture this band playing in many settings. With soft songs like "Never," I can see people slow dancing at a wedding as Sheppard softly croons (listening to this song, I was just waiting to hear ERIC CLAPTON start singing "Tears In Heaven." I can swear I hear that song within "Never.") In contrast, the upbeat music of "Hell, I Don't Know" could probably get a crowd of 5,000+ dancing. The urge to sing along with Sheppard's plaintive lyrics about a lover leaving is almost unbearable and, by the end of the song, it is almost impossible not to yell the last line with Sheppard: "No, I won't stop you." The MICHAEL SHEPPARD GROUP deserves credit for simply attempting to cover a song like JIMI HENDRIX'S "Little Wing." The fact that they succeed, and in the process give the song a new interpretation, is an added bonus. Danny Leonard's guitar playing is exceptional given the circumstances, since nobody can ever be asked to match a player such as JIMI HENDRIX. Sheppard's take on the lyrics, on this track and throughout the entire album, is uniquely his own. Overall, the MICHAEL SHEPPARD GROUP has a strong offering with their debut release. Already established as a touring band throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, their name is sure to spread as more people are introduced to their music. |
Beneath It All Rises
Above Its Competition
