The Bowery Presents

The Mercury Lounge upcoming shows

Early Showcase

Mike's Pawn Shop
6:30

Venue:
The Mercury Lounge
Date:
Thu 7/29
Notes:
21+
Doors: 6:30 PM / Show: 6:30 PM
$10
Mike's Pawn Shop
official website
myspace
Thirty-six seconds.

That’s all the time they need.

Because thirty-six seconds into “When I’m Gone,” the first single from Mike’s Pawn Shop, any doubts will dissipate and you will know that this band is an uncommon breed. It takes thirty-six seconds to make one thing very clear: Something amazing is about to happen with these five kids from rural Tennessee.

In one verse and one chorus, Mike’s Pawn Shop permanently stamps your aural cavity with their signature sound--booming 808’s, pulsating beats, and visceral keys...fierce riffs, unstoppable melodies, and unmerciful hooks. And you are left with rock n’ roll dance party echoing in your head for hours, even days to come.

It is little wonder the industry is abuzz about their vast potential, even as they are in their infancy. But if you speak with front man/lyricist/resident mastermind Mike Woods, you will know that his no baby band. Mike’s Pawn Shop is a rare blend of youthful zeal and refined commercial songwriting:

“Originally, our goal was to create the ultimate dance radio singles, and optimize our live show energy, but more recently we become a more well-balanced outfit. It’s great to see bands onstage who are flailing their instruments and going crazy, but we also want to be musically influential--not just known for making kids bounce or sing one or two catchy choruses.”

Again, Woods and company seem to walk a delicate tightrope with effortless ease. For as teen/ dance oriented as tracks such as “When I’m Gone” and (the equally undeniable) “Pretend” are, tracks like “Belief” and “Stuck Lookin’” are, simply put, just great commercial pop/rock songs. The net result is a pseudo new-wave pop-rock outfit that is sure to be a hit with the current crop of kiddies, complete with a high-profile front man who is of the rarest breed in music today. If ever there was a new band that had the pieces in place to break, and break huge, this is it.

Though Mike’s Pawn Shop is just beginning to make a splash, don’t make the mistake of assuming Woods is green. This has been a project twelve years in the making, as he has developed his skills as a player of various instruments, songwriting, producing, and recording since his preteen days. Now, finally, he not only has the ability, but also the star-powered persona to match the chops.

“I am in this for the long haul. And I have been doing this long enough to know that you can’t fool the public. They are drawn to authenticity, not just the bubble-gum. My heart is for pop music, but I want to do it the right way. I want this thing to be a complete package...and I feel like we are on that track. ”

And while some bands struggle through their formative years to find an identity as a live unit, Woods and company have skipped many-a-grade in their live show education. To attend a Mike’s Pawn Shop show is to invest buckets of your own sweat into the club walls, as you cannot help but dance, jump and scream. This is not just empty hype; this unit is the real deal. The kiddies leave hoarse and soaked to the bone. The stiff, industry types leave with their jaws on the ground. And all leave with a inescapable sonic memories that just won’t seem to disappear.

They have already shared the stage with a broad array of industry stalwarts, providing an impressive early resume to their buzz--Shiny Toy Guns, Snoopdog, Hurt, Saving Abel, Flyleaf, Gavin Rossdale, Hoobastank, 311, The Offspring, and Souljah Boy. Perhaps the most noteworthy asterisk to this list is its diversity, proving the band has sensibility that sits very comfortably among many different crowds.

If Woods is anything, he is patient. And if he owns one characteristic that is essential for success in the world’s most fickle trade, it is steadfastness. Honing the necessary expertise in his craft has been a long process, but the pieces are being assembled to transform his goals from haze to clarity. The hard work has resulted in character. He is realistic about the road ahead. And he is humble, yet confident that no matter what happens next, he will continue his life’s work.

“I feel like I was created to do exactly what I am doing. Whether or not I sell one record or a million records, this is where my gifts are and this was what I was created to do, and no matter what I am going to pursue this thing in one form or another because it is my passion. We have a long way to go but we've come a long way. In the years to come I would love to look out at the crowd and see vulnerable people allowing themselves to let go with their bodies and somehow take it seriously. I don’t just want to see an electronic rave dance off. I want people to feel good and have fun, but also leave with some sort of serious expression on them. I think they will be able to see something honest and real by the look on my face, the passion in our voice, and the spirit behind what we do. If they don’t that means I am doing something wrong.”
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