Michael McDermott
Michael McDermott is rightfully considered to be one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, with an immense catalog of cinematic and beautiful songs. His songs are often marred with questionable outcomes in life and love, with his romantic optimism worn on his sleeve… the stand-off can only go two ways. His music is a bit lonely with minimal instrumentation, but his recordings add tasteful accompaniment for full translation. Lyrically, McDermott takes you all over the map, from the farthest point from Heaven to a sentimental walk through Chicago at night, where his troubles began. Growing up in Chicago gave him the blue collar grind that leaves you no choice but to accept your place and get to work on whatever it is you can do. His records surrender to the one hit pop star craze with a white handkerchief. He settled for a room with a piano, a microphone, and an acoustic guitar. McDermott survived it all with or without a life lesson, a few pints, and a guitar case full of stories.
Today, Michael McDermott has a grin on his face and a sparkle in his eye. He is wears a beat up old hat, with a beat up old heart, but he just got a new lease on life and there might’ve been a devil involved. The interruptions on his way to happiness are reminders of near self-destruction and the consequence of bad decisions. McDermott has seen a lot and knows that the world just keeps spinning and the sun will indeed come up sooner than he’s ready for it to.. He is at peace with that. The Chicago Sun Times gave Michael McDermott latest release, “Hey La Hey”, 3 ½ out of 4 Stars and hailed the record, "Definitely one of this Chicago singer-songwriter-musician's most potent albums". American Country Magazine recently declared, "Michael McDermott is the kind of raconteur writer who is so connected with himself that he can reach right through the speakers and punch you in the heart”. Michael McDermott’s debut record, 620 W. Surf, featured the timeless hit song, “A Wall I Must Climb”, which is played religiously on all radio station formats. His 1999 release, Bourbon Blue, engraved the name Michael McDermott on play lists across the country, with the anthem “20 Miles South Of Nowhere”. 2004’s diverse and defining, Ashes, included “Everything I Got” and found its way to where he belongs to be and is today, on AAA radio stations across the country. This Chicago-based artist has also headlined on nationally syndicated radio programs such as Mountain Stage, World Café, Acoustic Café, Woodsongs and Studio C. He’s shared the stage with artists ranging from Van Morrison , Aimee Mann, Seal, The Wallflowers, Hothouse Flowers, and Lowen & Navarro.
"I think the biggest problem in society…” McDermott once said, “is discernment, in terms of what is right and what is wrong, and what is good for you...It’s really important that you’re aware of what you’re doing…I think.
“It's not like a movie where one day you're suddenly healed," he continues. "It's a process, and sometimes it's not easy and sometimes it's ugly. A little faith goes a long way.
"Michael McDermott is one of the greatest singer songwriters in the world" (Stephen King)
