Though the trek down I-35 wasn't unfamiliar to him, Mike Nicolai moved from Minnesota to Austin in 1994 and embarked on the quest of making music under his own name. A residence at the late, lamented Electric Lounge and allegiance with upcoming notable locals the Gourds and Damnations along with a growing collection of clever songs gained Nicolai a small but fervent fan base, and by the time he released his self-titled debut in 1997, he'd come into his own as a songwriter. The LP and 1998's Balloon Race EP showcased a dry and insightful lyrical style that, when matched against deceptively simple arrangements and deft blue-collar guitar playing, made Nicolai a vessel of much wondering in the world of Austin music. 2000's Woody Allen Stunt Footage took that rep to the next level, trading off between rambling narratives and rock songs. Rooster Nudes was far better than this paper's 2003 review would have you believe. It takes a bit of effort to peel back the layers of both his writing and song structure, though his latest effort, God Fatigue in the Post Atom Age, is arguably his most accessible to date.
– Christopher Hess, Austin Chronicle
Members past and present of great American bands such as The Replacements, Son Volt and The Gourds have contributed to Mike Nicolai's recordings. In the late 90's he wrote the song Catch You Alive for the Austin group The Damnations, who released it as the final track on their Sire Records debut Half Mad Moon. His narration of the short film Looking Out For Hope can be heard on the DVD section of the boxed set A Lifetime of Temporary Relief by Low, who composed music for the film. He has toured extensively, both solo and with backing bands, and has played shows all over the U.S. and in Europe, including sets supporting such artists as Vic Chesnutt, Neko Case, Spoon, Richard Buckner and Jeff Tweedy, and has been the opening act on several tours with Austin's Americana heroes The Gourds. At the invitation of singer-songwriter Ramsay Midwood, he performed on the Christmas Train to New Orleans Hurricane Katrina relief tour along with a large cast of artists including Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson and Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and is the bassist for the indie-rock band Corrina Corrina, a new project from guitarist/singer Colin Swietek, formerly of Cue and The Octopus Project. His latest full-length solo record, God Fatigue In The Post Atom Age, was released in 2005. He is the lead singer and principal songwriter of The Bremen Riot (a new band that began as a collaboration with Austin's Grand Champeen), currently in production on a debut album to be released in early 2011.
Read more...