Album Notes

"folk influenced rock with an amazing live show" www.thelamusicscene.com

""My main instrument is vocals," he says and this is evident throughout "There and Back."" Josh Hertzog Onmilwaukee.com

"There and Back shines as a bright star in the world of local artist’s albums. Combining expressive lyrics with fine tuned vocals and instrumental accompaniment, Mangione hits the nail on the head with this highly polished , affordable CD."
EC Review, Milwaukee, WI

"There and Back" was written over the course two years by Mike Mangione and his brother Tom. The brother/guitar duo began playing as kids and continue to do so today. Both Tom and Mike play a unique style of right handed guitar, left handed or in other words, they play left handed and upside down. Prior to the recording of "There and Back" Mike spent some time on the road living and touring in a Dodge Ram van. Mike slept at rest areas, wasting days in coffee shops and dinners and spent the evenings playing solo performances where ever he could. From L.A to Portland to Boston to Atlanta, Mike played and drove like a modern day troubadour. After a year and half of this nomadic lifestyle he met with Tom in their hometown Chicago and began sketching what would be there 2005 release "There and Back". Four months and two trips to Los Angeles to record with producer Eric Colvin and the album was done. The brothers flew back to Chicago, Mike routed another tour and set out again.

Since its completion "There and Back" charted the CMJ top 200 adds at number 16th playing on college radio stations all over the country. Mike has continued to tour the country both as a soloist as well as with his brother Tom. There band won the 2005 People's choice award at the Gojangle/Abby pub battle of the bands in Chicago. He was chosen as a selected performer for the world famous Jeff Buckley Tribute 2006 at Chicago's Uncommon Ground. He has been selected as an ASCAPlus award winner from the world renowned music organization ASCAP. And has since opened up for such artists as Jamie Cullum, Erin Mckeown, Dorothy Scott, Brian Vander Ark, The Samples and Paris Delane.

Mike is currently in the studio recording his third full length album with highly sought after producer Duane Lundy (Parlour Boys, The Apparitions) with special appearance on the album by Karl Dietel of The Samples. The album is expected out by summer of 2007. Mike will continue to be on the road through out the year. For more info, pictures and tour information please go to www.mikemangione.com
www.myspace.com/mikemangione