Right when lockdown began, I predicted there would be a spate of projects by musicians who found themselves isolated at home. This was when we all thought the whole thing would last for a few months, and my comments were a bit flippant: I assumed that a bunch of people working in more monied industries would decide to give it up for artistic pursuits. As always, my glib-ness has come back to bite me: however true this prediction may be, the majority of songs I’ve heard with this type of backstory pretty much always focus on grief and mortality.
J.M. Clifford (a.k.a Mike) found himself at the outset of quarantine processing a divorce and the recent death of a parent. He’d cut his musical teeth in Sunny’s Bar, a bluegrass bar out in Red Hook that you can find portrayed in the Nick Offerman movie Hearts Beat Loud. Clifford released his debut single, “Damn Shame” this past Friday, and took some time amidst the hubbub to answer 5 questions for us. I’ll link to “Damn Shame” at the bottom of the page, but here’s what Mike had to say first.
Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.
I’ve got to go with “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell. I love the lyrics. Tons of grit, vulnerability and honesty delivered with top notch craftsmanship. He creates this really compelling narrative about redemption in a few short stanzas. He’s also got wonderful melodic instincts. The song builds so beautifully into the chorus that when he belts those notes at the top of his range it just punches me in the gut.
Explain the title of your album.
The record is called On a Saturday Night and the title track recounts a big night out on the town. Before the pandemic hit I’d been coping with some personal issues: Mom passed away and I got a divorce. I’m not the type of person who typically deals with tragedy by going out and making some bad choices. On this particular night I made an exception.
The title also references the Saturday Night bluegrass jam at Sunny’s Bar out in Red Hook, Brooklyn. The community and the music there became a big part of my life and my healing process.
Does your album have an overarching theme?
There are a few major themes. Loss and acceptance. Good coping strategies and bad ones. My love of folk and bluegrass music and the community of people who come together to make it happen in Brooklyn. Redemption.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
Dave Matthews Band at MSG. I think I was 14. My mom took me and a friend. People were smoking so much weed in the audience that she got stoned just by sitting there.
What 5 albums are you going to make your kid listen to and why?
JD Crowe and the New South – Rounder 0044
I know I’m going to share my love of bluegrass with my kid. Might as well start with arguably the best record ever made in the genre.
Miles Davis – Kind of Blue
I think this record was a game changer for a lot of people, myself included. It’s such a wonderful introduction to some of the greatest musicians in jazz. They play with such soul and spontaneity. They didn’t rehearse anything for the record. Just showed up and played the tunes. Incredible. That record also got me into Bill Evans, my favorite jazz artist of all time.
Glenn Gould Plays Bach – The Well Tempered Clavier
Bach was a master of counterpoint. There’s so much to learn about the way he fits different voices together and the way Gould highlights those voices.
Jeff Buckley – Grace
There was a point in my early 20s where I probably listened to this record everyday. I got so into Jeff Buckley that I wanted to learn all about his influences. That got me deep into Van Morrison, Nina Simone and Ray Charles. I’d love for my kid to hear how all of those influences shape a record.
Metallica – Master of Puppets
I’m always trying to listen to a lot of different music. Different music for different seasons and moments in life. I’d love for my kid to have a big pallet of musical tastes. I’d be remiss not to try to add this record to the mix. Metal at its finest. It kicks ass in every way imaginable.