mike grutka: Press

"Good songs. Great voice. And compared to most of what I hear, I actually enjoyed listening. Which says a lot these days." Jim McGuinn, Program Director and Host Y-Rock on XPN, WXPN

Mike Grutka’s album Myself Again has a soft rock feel mixed with a slight throw back to the 70’s classic rock era. The lead singer sounds remarkably like Michael Stipe, the lead singer from REM. The album is creative, enjoyable, and all the songs have an ease to them which makes it a relaxed listen.

"Think R.E.M. meets Dave Matthews Band but with a little more chutzpah."

"You have some really great stuff here!"

“Simply one of the top 5 bands I have ever seen.”

“Your songs really work well for a festival atmosphere. They are upbeat and the riffs are so happy and full of life.”

They Might Be Giants were headlining the festival, which was cool except that their set time interfered with my friend's band's set time. At the time that my friend played at the south stage, most of the festival attendees were moving towards the main stage. Even so, Mike Grutka (my friend who played with his band) rocked! I had seen him play solo a few times but never with his full band, which includes the most amazing drummer and an excellent lead guitarist. The set they played was phenomenal. The songs were upbeat and sounded better than a local level band should. They were tight. I'm hoping that the organizers of Riverstreet Fest noticed what I noticed, and decide to put these guys on the main stage next year. In fact, their set was much more entertaining than any of the performers that I saw that day, including the band that played before They Might Be Giants on the main stage.

"The best band we've ever had play here."

Mike is a natural performer. His music is pleasing, well-developed, feel good and charming. I dare you to not like his music!

"Song for the Rain" is getting 24 spins. I will give it more spins starting next week. I like a lot of other songs on (Reach) and I will be adding 4 or 5 of them to my rotation."

'Song for the Rain' reminds me of of REM. I really like it

Review of 'Reach'

Paying homage to the Local Folks Who Jam

Classically trained violinist Mike Grutka hasn't let textbook study drown his muse. In the multi-instrumentalists second release, "Reach", Grutka acts as a guide for an enjoyable splurge of rythymic tunes, cranked through the dirty and distorted tubular amp like the great garage anthems of the modern age.

Grutka has the rare ability to blend a world of influences -from subtle Rasta beats to hints of Zimbabwe influenced guitars-and churn it through the music machine in a way that makes it completely his own. All this and a singing voice that sounds uncannily like Michael Stipe.

The...passionate Mike Grutka recalls
the brightest songwriting superstars of the 70s.