Bio
PICS THEN WORDS
Early '90s Noah Greybeard.
Hallal & Co., Horseshoe Lounge, N. Reading, MA in 1993: Brian Alex Rahilly, David Vargas (hidden), Terry Cole, Noah Greybeard and Dave Robicheau (l to r).
In 1993 outside Horseshoe Lounge, N. Reading, MA.
Sojourn, 1994: David Csiscek (bass), Rusty Greybeard (guitar, vocals), Tony D'Anna (drums, b. vocals), Mitch Hallal (harp, vocals), Rich Plotner (lead guitar) (l to r).
With 'my Kathy' in 1993, celebrating after Sojourn's first gig in Lynn, MA.
1995 inside J-card for Live at Classics 7-song cassette album. Mitch Hallal (harp, vocals), David Zeitlin (l. guitar), Sully Greybeard (guitar, vocals), Jim Antonellis (drums), David Csicsek (bass) (l to r).
1995 cassette album J-card cover.
Practice room, Kook Lawry's rehearsal barn, Lynnfield, MA, early 2000s.
Beside myself with joy, beside blues great Jimmy D. Lane at Ted "Houserockin'" Harvey & Friends Boston Blues Party, Dec. 2000.
Brian Maes, Dixon Creasey Jr. and Mitch Hallal (l to r) in 2001 wailing vocals on 'Red Sox Blues', Briola Studios, Lynn, MA.
From 1995's 'Pussy at the Pump' live-action film short.
In 1995 'Rock of Ages Fall', 'Pussy at the Pump' and 'Wail Yourself Free' by Cryin' Licks (aka Sojourn) were selected for mammoth new music series from Big NOISE of Providence, RI.
Big backbeat rocker 'Little Death' first released by Cryin' Licks (aka Sojourn) in 1996 on this notable Best of Mass. disc.
1996 compilation album of originals recorded solo and with various artists.
Features Vargas' 1996 one-man-backing-band brilliance; selected for UK album 'Kidzlikedanny 5'.
2002 single of longtime Red Sox nation favorite. A copy proudly rests in Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY, since 2003.
2003 album produced by Brian Maes has 'Red Sox Blues' 2nd in the 11-song lineup.
Mike Hallal Band, quartet version, early 2000s: Mitch Hallal (harp, vocals), Dixon Creasey Jr. (bass, b. vocals), Jim Antonellis (drums) and Smiley Greybeard (guitar, vocals) (l to r).
2009 poster designed by the band's lead guitarist Chris Schluntz.
Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA, in 2008.
Mike Hallal Band, Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, MA, in 2008: Happy Greybeard, Chris Schluntz, Jim Antonellis and Robert DeCorte (l to r).
2008 album release of live performance at the famed and tiny underground club in Cambridge, MA.
12-song, hard-hitting, live-in-studio album released in 2010.
'Mourning Dove' selected for 2015 edition of UK benefit series.
Home studio, Deer Cove, Lynn, MA, in early 2000s.
Alien Greybeard at home studio, Rumford, ME, in 2024.
All new and original 14-song solo album released 1.17.25.
All new and original solo album released 1.17.25.
I was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, in booming 1952. It was a very good year in the USA!
When I turned 12 my grandfather bought me my first guitar, a natural blonde Harmony acoustic. A year or so later I wrote my first proper song with it, inspired by Beatles and Rolling Stones and teenage blues. Who wasn't then?
A month or two after that, my older cousin's hot shot, high school rock band covered my song. I had my first placement!
BOSTON BOUND
Moved to Massachusetts when I was 19. Old-school 'earned' a B.A. and M.A. (English & American Lit). Did some feature writing and interviews for New England Performer Magazine. Gigged and recorded solo, and then led a handful of bands.
Most were short-lived, but productive recording-wise, like Sunday Project, Hallal & Co. and Sojourn – true to its name. Two morphed and stuck around for awhile: Cryin' Licks, and the longest running, Mike Hallal Band.
Got great airplay and accolades around the world for 'Rock of Ages Fall' in the '90s. And even more for 'Red Sox Blues' in the early 2000s.
Ended up living over 40 years in and around Boston, dedicated to making music – songwriting, gigging, recording, releasing, listening, learning... Rinse and repeat.
I'm now living and breathing well in the mountains of western Maine. With new songs still always in my head. Lucky like that.
THEY MOVED ME
I feel fortunate to have met and worked with many awesome musicians and music lovers. Some who've influenced me most:
- Singer/Songwriter Robin Lane: Onetime mentor and guest backing vocalist on my indie/lo-fi slow-burner, 'Swat Team'.
- Blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Jimmy D. Lane (no relation) and drummer Ted Harvey: I got to hang and play with these ‘jovial giants of the blues’ for a too brief warmup set, during a winter weekend fest in Boston. 'Nobody arga!'
- Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Brian Maes: Making 'Red Sox Blues' and the album Chains of Being with him was 'wicked good'.
- Songwriter/Author John Braheny: Among his mentoring gems was a 'free elevator consult' he gave me back in the day at an LA Songwriters Showcase. His ground-floor advice: "Go Johnny, Go!"
- Blues producer/promoter Ron Bartolucci: He invited me to meet and play with Ted Harvey and Jimmy D. Lane. And without Ron's "Have ya heard?" there's no Hound Dog Taylor ripoff turnaround in 'Time for a Turnaround'! ∞
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“Mike's music is next level.”
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“'Old Tricks'... timeless, soulful.”
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“Warm baritone voice... catchy tracks.”
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