Live-Metal.Net Presents: Michale Graves at Coffee East

Live-Metal.Net Presents Michale Graves:
Illusions: Songs and Stories Tour 2008

December 28, 2008
NightCat (formerly Coffee East)
Easton, MD

As a fan of the original Misfits lineup, I was always apprehensive about anything post-Danzig involving the band. It seemed like the remaining members were milking this cash cow for all it was worth. But can you blame them? They didn't really make any money in their early years and a lot of fans didn't discover The Misfits or their famous "Fiend Skull" logo until a decade or more after Danzig was long gone.

Michale Graves became the new Misfits vocalist in 1995. Over the next few albums, this reincarnation of the band helped them regain their legendary punk rock status. They found fame with hit singles like “American Psycho” and “Dig Up Her Bones,” a song that put my fears to rest. It's a great debate among hardcore fans as to which singer they prefer, Danzig or Graves. I still think most will say Danzig, but just to make an argument, let alone cause a debate, shows that Graves is a great talent. Due to internal conflict, Graves left The Misfits in 2001 and is now well into an interesting, yet underground solo career. Many adjectives can be used to describe his new material, but acoustic horror punk sends the dark and haunting melodies to the forefront and focuses on the lyrics of each song. It expels a more focused and serious vibe than sci-fi/horror Misfits material and The Misfits-era songs are reimagined, sounding like whole new takes on the songs.

Graves set off on the acoustic "Illusions Songs and Stories Tour 2008," playing in small coffee houses across the United States promoting his new album, Illusions Live/Vretta Park. Live-Metal.net's Jason Price and Mangold Entertainment collaborated, bringing Graves to Live-Metal.net's hometown of Easton, Md., for an intimate acoustic set presented by our Web site. This particular coffee shop, Coffee East, only has a capacity of 50 people and I estimate 30 or so packed into the small room. Dressed in black cargos, a white tee and sporting a knit beanie covering up his trademark mohawk, Graves sat alone on a barstool with his acoustic guitar and played an honest VH1 Storytellers-type show straight from the heart. His voice is instantly recognizable and hearing it up close and personal was a once-in-a-lifetime deal. His playing was mesmerizing and just by ear, gave the impression that this was a duet and not a solo performance. Most of the material was from his new release.

Many of the songs were preceded by short stories by Graves about what inspired the song, the place where he wrote it and what was going on during that particular time in his life. It was interesting to hear him reflect back on his career in The Misfits. He explained that he wrote the song “Fiend Club” because he felt like an outsider or hired employee of the band and, early on, many of his ideas were rejected. The song represented his isolation from the rest of the band. Although he has been known to publicly bash Jerry Only of The Misfits in the past, his name wasn't specifically mentioned all night long. Before breaking into a rousing rendition of the most well known Graves-era Misfits song, “Dig Up Her Bones,” he explained it was one of the first songs he ever wrote at the age of 15. He's had fans all over the world tell him what the song means to them and he never imagined the success and notoriety it has brought him. The set also included other songs penned by Graves during his tenure with The Misfits like “Scream!,” “Die Monster Die” and “Descending Angel.” The main focus was his up-and-coming solo career. Graves was most passionate when he talked and performed the songs that he co-wrote with death-row inmate, Damien Echols of the West Memphis Three (the name given to three teenagers who were tried and convicted of the murders of three children in the Robin Hood Hills area of West Memphis, Ark., in 1993. Many believe they were wrongfully convicted). Graves said he's never spoken with Echols, and he received his lyrics by letter. “Almost Home” was performed and also shares the title of Echols' published memoirs, Almost Home: My Life Story Vol. 1. Stating that much of Echols' lyrical theme centers around snow, “Frostbite” was also performed. Standouts from Viretta Park (Romania Demos) were “Blackbird” and “The Best of Me.”

Long after his set ended, Graves stayed on, chatting with fans and signing autographs. I had never seen a solo acoustic performance before from a well-known artist like this. It was compelling and nothing short of amazing. The intimate "Illusions" tour gives fans the chance to step into a part of Graves' personal life, a chance most highly successful artists aren't willing to give.