Mike Dillon (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mike Dillon is a percussionist, vibraphonist, bandleader, vocalist and songwriter born in San Antonio, Texas
. He is a member of Critters Buggin
, Les Claypool's Fancy Band
and Garage A Trois
. He has performed with many musicians including Ani DiFranco
, Galactic
, Brave Combo
, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Marco Benevento
and New Orleans musicians Kevin O'Day, Johnny Vidacovich
and James Singleton
. Dillon also performed in the 80's with local Dallas and Denton favorites Ten Hands
.
He has led Dallas-based Billy Goat
, Kansas City-based Malachy Papers and Austin-based Hairy Apes BMX
(HABMX).
In 2006 Dillon started a funky project "Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle" which included members of Billy Goat, drummer Go-Go Ray, and bassist, J.J. Jungle. The live Go-Go Jungle also performs songs from Dillon's prior projects. They released their second CD entitled Rock Star Bench Press in 2009.
Dillon contributed the majority of compositions to Garage A Trois' Power Patriot
CD released in 2009.
Dillon and saxophonist Skerik
perform as a trio called "The Dead Kenny G's" with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist Brian Haas and bassist Brad Houser
. With Houser they have also toured as "Critters Buggin Trio". They released a CD entitled Bewildered Herd in 2009. As a trio with bassist James Singleton
, Dillon and Skerik have toured as "Illuminasti" and as a trio with Les Claypool
they have been billed as "The Fancy Trio".
Dillon resides in New Orleans, Louisiana, but a busy touring schedule keeps him on the road much of the time.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He is a member of Critters Buggin
Critters Buggin
Critters Buggin is a Seattle, Washington-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz, rock and African-influenced, eclectic style. The band is composed of Matt Chamberlain , Skerik , Brad Houser Critters Buggin is a Seattle, Washington-based instrumental group which performs in a jazz, rock...
, Les Claypool's Fancy Band
Les Claypool's Fancy Band
Les Claypool's Fancy Band was a lineup of musicians on tour with Les Claypool from 2005 to 2008. The band consisted of Claypool on bass, Skerik on tenor and baritone saxophone, Mike Dillon on vibraphone, marimba, tabla, cuíca and percussion, Gabby La La on sitar, ukulele and theremin and Paulo...
and Garage A Trois
Garage A Trois
Garage A Trois is a quartet including drummer Stanton Moore, saxophonist Skerik, vibraphone and percussionist Mike Dillon and keyboardist Marco Benevento. They play a variety of music including rock, funk and jazz.- History :...
. He has performed with many musicians including Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco
Ani DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
, Galactic
Galactic
Galactic is a funk and jazz jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Origins and background:Originally formed in 1994 as an octet and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio,...
, Brave Combo
Brave Combo
Brave Combo is a polka/rock band based in Denton, Texas. Founded in 1979 by guitarist/keyboardist/accordionist Carl Finch, they have been a prominent fixture in the Texas music scene for more than twenty-five years...
, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento
Marco Benevento is a pianist, organist and composer from Brooklyn, New York. Benevento is known for his effected piano work with his trio as well as his Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer Electric Piano work with the Benevento Russo Duo...
and New Orleans musicians Kevin O'Day, Johnny Vidacovich
Johnny Vidacovich
Johnny Vidacovich is a contemporary jazz drummer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Playing since the early 1970s with the quartet Astral Project , he has become widely renowned as a prominent and sought after New Orleans musician as well as contributing to New Orleans cultural heritage...
and James Singleton
James Singleton (musician)
James Singleton is an acoustic bassist, composer, and producer with an intimate and extensive affiliation with the New Orleans music scene. He is a member of the long-lived New Orleans-based jazz group Astral Project with Johnny Vidacovich, Tony Dagradi and Steve Masakowski. He has been described...
. Dillon also performed in the 80's with local Dallas and Denton favorites Ten Hands
Ten Hands (band)
Ten Hands was a rock band based in Dallas, Texas and was active between 1986-1995. The band consisted of:*Paul Slavens ,*Steve Brand ,*Gary Muller ,...
.
He has led Dallas-based Billy Goat
Billy Goat (band)
Billy Goat was a band playing rock, funk and Latin styles from 1989 to 1997. Originating in Denton, Texas, Billy Goat was popular in the Dallas and Austin scenes including Deep Ellum and became known for its wild stage antics including playing naked...
, Kansas City-based Malachy Papers and Austin-based Hairy Apes BMX
Hairy Apes BMX
Hairy Apes BMX is an Austin, Texas, USA-based band playing an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, Latin, afro-funk, hip-hop, and punk.-Current members:* Mike Dillon - vibraphone, percussion, vocals* John Speice - drums, percussion* J.J. Richards - bass, vocals* E...
(HABMX).
In 2006 Dillon started a funky project "Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle" which included members of Billy Goat, drummer Go-Go Ray, and bassist, J.J. Jungle. The live Go-Go Jungle also performs songs from Dillon's prior projects. They released their second CD entitled Rock Star Bench Press in 2009.
Dillon contributed the majority of compositions to Garage A Trois' Power Patriot
Power Patriot
Power Patriot is the third studio album by Garage A Trois. It is the first CD with the musician line-up that includes Stanton Moore, Skerik, Mike Dillon and Marco Benevento...
CD released in 2009.
Dillon and saxophonist Skerik
Skerik
Skerik is an American saxophonist from Seattle, Washington. Performing on the tenor and baritone saxophone, often with electronics and loops, Skerik is a pioneer in a playing style that has been dubbed saxophonics. He is a founding member of Critters Buggin, Garage a Trois and Skerik's Syncopated...
perform as a trio called "The Dead Kenny G's" with alternate third members. National tours have included keyboardist Brian Haas and bassist Brad Houser
Brad Houser
John Bradley Houser is an American bass guitar, baritone saxophone and bass clarinet player, originally from Dallas, Texas. He was a co-founding member of the New Bohemians, later to become known as Edie Brickell & New Bohemians...
. With Houser they have also toured as "Critters Buggin Trio". They released a CD entitled Bewildered Herd in 2009. As a trio with bassist James Singleton
James Singleton (musician)
James Singleton is an acoustic bassist, composer, and producer with an intimate and extensive affiliation with the New Orleans music scene. He is a member of the long-lived New Orleans-based jazz group Astral Project with Johnny Vidacovich, Tony Dagradi and Steve Masakowski. He has been described...
, Dillon and Skerik have toured as "Illuminasti" and as a trio with Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
they have been billed as "The Fancy Trio".
Dillon resides in New Orleans, Louisiana, but a busy touring schedule keeps him on the road much of the time.
Discography
- Mike Dillon and Earl HarvinEarl HarvinEarl Harvin is a drummer, percussionist and multi-instrumentalist from the New York area who has lived in Dallas, Texas and Los Angeles and is now residing in Berlin, Germany....
People Gardens (2010 - recorded 2005) - The Dead Kenny G's Bewildered Herd (2009)
- Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle Rock Star Bench Press (2009)
- Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle Battery MilkBattery MilkBattery Milk is the first album by Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle. The album includes experimental, funk and jazz.- Musicians :* Go-Go Ray - drums* JJ Jungle - bass, vocals* Ron Johnson - bass* Mike Dillon - vibraphone, tabla, percussion, vocals...
(2007) - Mike Dillon (2003)
- Black Frames SolarallergySolarallergySolarallergy is a jazz and rock instrumental album by Black Frames. Black Frames is a collaborative project by Skerik, Mike Dillon, Earl Harvin and Brad Houser from 2002. The album was accompanied by a national tour. Between the musicians are long-time associations: Dillon and Harvin from Ten Hands...
(2002)
See also discographies
- Billy Goat
- Hairy Apes BMX
- Malachy Papers
- Critters Buggin
- Garage A Trois
With others
- Les ClaypoolLes ClaypoolLeslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
Of Fungi and FoeOf Fungi and FoeOf Fungi and Foe is the second solo album by Les Claypool. The album was released on the 17th of March, 2009. The album features Eugene Hütz, Paulo Baldi, Mike Dillon, Lapland Miclovik, Sam Bass, Cage Claypool, and Bryonn Bain.Claypool states:...
(2009) - Ani DiFrancoAni DiFrancoAni DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
Red Letter YearRed Letter YearRed Letter Year is a studio album by singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, released on September 30, 2008.Says DiFranco about the album: “When I listen to my new record, I hear a very relaxed me, which I think has been absent in a lot of my recorded canon. Now I feel like I’m in a really good place...
(2008) - Ani DiFrancoAni DiFrancoAni DiFranco is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, guitarist, poet, and songwriter. She has released more than 20 albums, and is widely considered a feminist icon.-Biography:...
CanonCanon (album)Canon is a retrospective album by Ani DiFranco which was released on September 11, 2007. It contains songs covering her career to date. DiFranco re-recorded five songs that had been previously released: "Both Hands", "Overlap", "Napoleon", "Shameless" and "Your Next Bold Move".The album spans from...
(2007) - Les Claypool Of Whales and WoeOf Whales and WoeOf Whales And Woe is a solo album by Les Claypool, the bassist of Primus. The album was released on the May 30, 2006. The album features Skerik , Mike Dillon , and Gabby La La . "Back off Turkey" also features Les' children, Cage and Lena...
(2006) - Les Claypool Purple OnionPurple Onion-Credits:Musicians*Les Claypool - bass , vocals, percussion , guitar , whamola , drums *Jay Lane - drums *Mike Dillon - vibraphone , metal drum , percussion , tabla baya , pandiero , electric bow & arrow , metal sounds , cuica , marimba , metal , tabla *Skerik - saxophone , "fancy" sax...
(2002) - Les Claypool Live Frogs Set 1Live Frogs Set 1Live Frogs Set 1 is a live album by Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, released by Prawn Song Records on 10 April 2001. It chronicles the first part of the 8 October 2000 show the Frog Brigade played at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, the second part released as...
& Live Frogs Set 2Live Frogs Set 2Live Frogs Set 2 is the second set of live recordings by Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, released on July 24, 2001. The album is a complete performance of the Pink Floyd studio album Animals...
(2001) - Marco BeneventoMarco BeneventoMarco Benevento is a pianist, organist and composer from Brooklyn, New York. Benevento is known for his effected piano work with his trio as well as his Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer Electric Piano work with the Benevento Russo Duo...
Live at TonicLive at Tonic (Marco Benevento)Live At Tonic is an album by keyboardist Marco Benevento.Benevento invited his old friend Andy Hurwitz along to document the proceedings. Alternating between group and solo performance, Benevento played two sets a night and was joined by a different cast of musical co-conspirators for each show...
(2007)