Sounds of Buffalo: Michael Oliver & The Sacred Band
Michael Oliver #MichaelOliver
Michael Oliver – guitar, vocals (interviewee)
Michael Swain – bass, vocals
Paul “P Zap” Zablotski – keyboards
Jim Whitford – guitars
Rob Lynch – drums
Alex Lynne – vocals
Erin O’Brien -vocals
How did the name of the band come about?
I wanted something that embodied our history and relationships. The name is based on the Sacred Band of Thebes. As Plutarch wrote about this elite force: “…a band cemented by friendship, grounded upon love, is never to be broken and immutable.”
Where are you from originally? Would you consider moving back to Buffalo?
I’m from Gloucester, MA, but I grew up in Buffalo and met all of these friends through theistic scene in the ’90’s. The Sacred Band is from Buffalo…
Moving back is always a possibility…need to find a job!
What’s it like to perform in front of a crowd? Give me three words.
Best. Feeling. Ever.
When and why did you start playing?
Played music most of my life, but didn’t start plying in a band until I met my friends in South Buffalo (Tom Jordan, Kelly Jordan and Dan Goodwin) would become Go, Dog. Go! That was around 1994.
What was the first tune that you remember “really” playing well, when you knew that you would be a musician?
New Orleans Is Sinking.
Did music come naturally to you? Or were you driven to learn and play/sing? What sparked the passion? Do you come from a musical family?
Music has always been the filter through which I experience the world. I didn’t grow up in a musical family but my own little world was all music.
Are you schooled in music? From where?
I studied guitar, but I can’t really read music. It’s more of an internal disposition being made manifest in the material world.
Which famous musician(s) do you admire?
Besides The Beatles, I’d say Neil Young, REM, Lindsay Buckingham, Joni Mitchell. Recently I’ve been listening to Daft Punk, Frightened Rabbits, Arcade Fire.
Where is your favorite place to play/sing in Buffalo? Where would you most like to play/sing in Buffalo?
Sportsmen’s is great. Nice people and good sound.
But I’d have to say that Nietzsche’s and Joe Rubino gave us a stage early on and that made a huge difference to us inasmuch as building a reputation and meeting lots of great people.
The Tralf is one of my favorite rooms.
I work for a homeless shelter, raising corporate and foundation funds.
How would you describe your music style? Influences?
Transcontinental alt-pop.
What was the last live music performance that you caught? What was the best show you ever caught? What was the show that got away – the one that you never got to see?
Last: Steve Earle
Best: The Who at the Aud the day after the tragedy in Cincinnati.
Got away: I had a ticket to see Pink Floyd perform the Wall in 1979, NYC. Didn’t take off from work to go.
Do you play/sing covers or all originals? Ar a combination of both?
We play original music and rarely throw in a cover that redounds to our good taste.
If you could play/sing for one famous person (alive or dead), who would that be?
Kurt Cobain. I think he’d like what I do.
If you could play/sing with one famous band (any time in history), what would that band be?
The Beatles
What are your strengths?
Melody, arrangements.
What are your weaknesses?
I’m not that strong a swimmer.
Where and when is your next gig(s) in the city?
Saturday, June 8th @ Sportsmen’s Tavern. 9pm.
Since the late Go, Dog. Go! days, Michael Swain and Paul Zablotski and I have been the core of the band.
Our last album, Yin & Yanxiety, was recorded in a few studios but mostly at home with the three of us and then some guest musicians, like Howard Wilson, T.J. Zindle and Michael Lee Jackson.
The Sacred Band was formed by me reaching out to my dream line up, and they all said, “yes.” So, we’ve played together for a few years, and when we go back into the studio this time it will be a full-fledged Sacred Band album.
We play a few times a year. We’re going back into the studio in June so 2014 could see a lot more from The Sacred Band.
The ties that bind.
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See more Sounds of Buffalo: Free Henry!, Mari McNeil, Davey O, Theresa Quinn, Jim Bohm, Chae Hawk, Nikki Hicks,Flatbed, Whiskey Reverb, Djambossa, What would Mingus do?, Prime Example, Will Holton, Genkin Philharmonic,The Andrew J. Reimers Country Punk Extravaganza, Suzanne Fatta, Janice Mitchell, Poindexter, Michael Civisca
If you play in a group/band (or solo) here in Buffalo, and have an upcoming gig at a venue(s) in the city, consider sending Buffalo Rising an email requesting to be emailed a Q&A interview that we can then post, along with concert dates. It’s a fun and easy way to get your name in front of another audience that is interested in learning about the local music scene.
The requirements are:
-You must be living in the Greater Buffalo region… or you must be plotting your return
-You must have a public show coming up in the city of Buffalo, as our focus is the urban landscape
-You must have a photo of the band
-Solo acts are also welcome
-Video is a plus
-CD/Album/poster art is welcome
-Links to Social Media sites are a bonus
-Ability to take accept both praise and/or criticism is a must
It is up to the discretion of Buffalo Rising whether or not to publish the interviews depending on nature of content submitted, or lack thereof.
Please send requests here. Include “Sounds of Buffalo” in the subject box of the email.