Michale Graves: Live From May’s Living Room
Michale Graves: Live From May’s Living Room
Cocoa, Florida
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Shows.
Anyone else remember live shows by performers for an audience?
We would show up and yell “Whoooo!”
Shell out cash for merchandise swearing our devotion and/or allegiance to these artists who entertained us. Some of us even played shows of our own.
I remember. But the monkey wrench that is 2020 has played hell with everything, with so much grinding to a halt.
I was surprised to receive an out-of-the-blue invite to a very small show, in a nearby living room, where for one night only, performing acoustically, was one Mr. Michale Graves.
It’s easy for many people to dismiss Graves as the former singer of the reformed Misfits during their late 90’s comeback. But that’s only a small part of what he’s done. He’s fronted his own band, released his own music, sang with Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg, and toured endlessly.
And tonight, adjacent to Chuck and May’s breakfast nook, Michale Graves performed for an intimate audience of 10 or so, delivering a memorable 70 minute set.
Performing songs from his solo projects, and his former band, one thing became obvious, that voice we’ve heard soaring through speakers was real, and entirely his own.
“The Shining,” “Dig Up Her Bones,” “When World’s Collide,” and a tender reading of “Fiend Club, all stood out. But “Crying on Saturday Night,” it is stunning. Unadorned and stark in it’s delivery, that voice climbed higher; powerful and impossible to ignore.
In between songs, Graves spoke about his home life, and how he was fortunate enough to be able to earn a living as a performer. Saying that he was “truly blessed.” He then proceeded to pull out the most unexpected moment of the night, a stunning rendition of Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is Our God.”
Heartfelt and light as silk, it belayed an unanticipated side of Graves.
During the show, people mouthed along with the words but singing aloud somehow felt out of place. It would be a shame to tread on this remarkable moment by joining in. Graves proved to be gracious in all things, thanking his hosts and those in attendance.
This was a show, that was truly once in a lifetime.
