About That Song: Michael Gay
About That Song #85
In our special series, singer-songwriter Sarah Morris interviews artists about the songs that shaped them.
Hi! I’m Sarah Morris. I’m wildly in love with songs and the people who write them. There have been a few songs in my life that have been total gamechangers—songs that made me want to be a songwriter and songs I’ve written that made me feel like I am a songwriter. About That Song is a space where I can learn more about those pivotal songs in other writers’ lives.
For our 85th edition, I was overjoyed to connect with Michael Gay, whose heartwarming songs paint vivid portraits of people and moments in life. We talked about influential songs and artists in his creative journey.
Michael Gay. Photo credit: Conor Johnson Photo.
Sarah: Hi Michael Gay! I am … a giant fan of your songwriting. I've counted myself quite lucky to get to share some stages with you, both in town and on the road. Each time, I've found myself wearing that starry-eyed emoji face at the way you turn a phrase, or sing a melody that masterfully lands somewhere in the both/and of “sounds classic and also brand new.” That feels like as good a reason as any to sit down in conversation with you about the songs that have brought you to where you are today. Do you remember the song that you heard that made you want to be a songwriter? Tell us about that song.
Michael: First off, thank you so much for doing this, putting your spotlight on folks like me just doing our thing, crossing our fingers and hoping for the best. I have always been pretty obsessed with lyrics and had a lot of favorite artists growing up that certainly influenced me to want to write and perform simply because of the ability to relate to people through space and time. Songs can be magic, I truly believe that.
Sarah: Me too.
Michael: That said, my dad showed me one of his favorite records when I was in high school—Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Uncle Charlie and His Dog Teddy”. They cover a bunch of great songs on that album, including their version of “Mr. Bojangles”. I remember hearing that song and immediately thinking it was great. When I told my dad, he said something along the lines of “If you think that’s great, here’s the guy who wrote it…” and proceeded to introduce me to the lore of Jerry Jeff Walker and sent me right down the Texas troubadour rabbit hole. For my money, that song is one of the greatest of all time and hearing it literally changed the course of my life.
Sarah: AH! Yes! Because songs can be magic, just like you said. Life-changing. Once you began writing, did you feel like a writer immediately? It took me a few years of writing before I believed it myself. Was there a song that gave you that “a-HA! I AM a songwriter!” moment? Tell us about that song.
Michael: My brother and a couple of our friends started a band when I was still in middle school and we were very adamant that we didn’t play covers. I knew from that experience that you could just make some cool noise and then make the same cool noises again and you basically had a song, put some words on top and you’ve definitely got a song. I only really thought of myself as a drummer at that point and it took me a long time to get to where I felt like I had things to say and also the ability to do it and not be completely embarrassed.
When I moved away for college I brought a guitar instead of a drum set and was already trying to write songs but had very little confidence as a guitar player and singer. Towards the end of high school I got into Iron and Wine and Elliott Smith and was trying to learn how to fingerpick like those guys, which took a while. After a few years I wrote one I called “Me Oh My” that was a love song. My roommate, Nate Gruber, who wrote and recorded a lot of music, casually acknowledged that maybe it wasn’t awful. I’m pretty sure it was, but he was very kind and encouraging. That was enough to try a little harder. A little while later Danny O’Brien invited me to play a set at an Aster Cafe residency he had back then and I’ve been plugging away ever since. Thanks, guys!
Sarah: I’m a fan of the people who give out the tiny nudges that point someone like you, like me, toward sharing their thing. Thanks, Nate! Thanks, Danny!
In 2021 you released your album, Make It Right. The title track features some deeply lovely mandolin and soft space in between verses that are incisive and self-reflective. What can you tell us about that song?
Michael: That one is kinda funny because when I wrote it I was watching some friends go through a heavy breakup. It wasn’t about them but I was sort of on a kick where I was writing these character study type songs, very loosely based on real-life stories, treating them like short fiction. There are a handful on that album like that; “Born to Fix” and “Two Cups of Coffee” are the same way. Anyway, I had this picture in my head of a guy coming to terms with all the ways he had blown it, and his inner-monologue while trying to fix this relationship knowing it was already way too late. That was the idea anyway.
Around the same time I went through a pretty chaotic situation at my job that I’d put a lot into and was constantly being told was going well, my future was set… Long story short, I wound up getting let go, out of the blue. I felt pretty lost and was trying to find my bearings. It wasn’t until a few years later that I came to terms with how much of that song was actually that whole situation. That’s just how it works sometimes!
Sarah: It can sneak up on me, too. The “OH! I was writing about THAT” feeling. It’s a bit akin perhaps to the phenomenon I call “writing songs for my future self”—where I write a song, and then years later it becomes apparent I need to listen to my own darn words.
You kick off your 2024 live album Michael Gay & His Dang Band (Live From a Dive) with the words “Let’s do this,” before leaping into your song “Good Night.” I’m an extra fan of the line “that cell phone speaker singing Roger Miller King of the Road”—such a strong image of the now and the then coming together in a moment. Can you tell us about that song?
Michael: That one is about my buddy Jesse’s 30th birthday party that involved matching trash can tattoos, and a friend of a friend who was in town from Montana that insisted on swimming in the Mississippi River, and a generous amount of warm black label beer. By the end of the night we were just sitting around a fire on the shoreline, in the woods, singing along to a cell phone and loving life. Just a really pleasant memory. I wanted something to hang onto that feeling for as long as possible.
Michael Gay. Photo credit: Conor Johnson Photo.
Sarah: A song is a good souvenir, it turns out … One of my favorite Michael Gay tunes is the unreleased “Jimmy Tends Bar.” Any chance that song is coming for our ears in a more permanent sense any time soon? And can you tell us about it?
Michael: I plan to record it for the next record! That one is about my buddy, Jimmy, who taught me how to bartend. He’s a stand-up guy who probably won’t read this because he isn’t really on the internet. Everybody loves Jimmy and I’ve personally learned a lot from him. I was his bar back for a while and at some point he told our manager I worked too hard to not split his tips evenly, which is not a normal thing to do, but that’s just Jimmy. He’s a man of principle and single-handedly gave me a promotion, essentially out of his own pocket. The world needs more guys like Jimmy.
I wasn’t sure about using a real name in the song, but back to Jerry Jeff Walker… he has this song, “Charlie Dunn” about a legendary Texas boot maker. I always thought that was a classy move to just straight-up write a song about someone you respected and tell people about them, their work, and to go give them some business. I wanted to do the same thing—shout out a buddy who I think of as a legend who honestly helped me out big time when I needed it. The least I could do was write a song about him and tell everybody to go visit him at Grumpy’s and hope he slowly makes up the difference in tips tenfold. He’s earned it.
Sarah: Field trip to Grumpy’s for all of us, then! Do you have any Midwest shows coming up in the next few months where we might hear you sing that song, or any other song for that matter?
Michael: I do! Most notably, I’m playing a show with Zach Bryson and Marina Madden, both currently based in Nashville, on August 15 at the Underground Music Cafe in Minneapolis. I’d love for everyone reading this to check out their stuff and come to that show and feel some love here in the Twin Cities!
Then I’m touring from New Orleans to the Lincoln, NE area on a whirlwind run with Clare Doyle, playing drums in her band and also playing a set of my own tunes every night. Those dates and a few other gigs around the metro are all on my show calendar on my website.
8/17 - New Orleans, LA, Old Point Bar
8/18 - Nashville, TN, Dee’s Country Cocktail Lounge
8/19 - Birmingham, AL, Hotbox on Highland
8/20 - St. Louis, MO, Venice Cafe
8/21 - Kansas City, KS, Hillsiders
8/22 - Crete, NE, The 1206
8/23 - Crete, NE, Robinette Farm
Sarah: Fantastic! I’m wishing you both an excellent tour. Thank you, Michael, for stopping by to tell us all about those songs.
Everyone in Minneapolis (and St. Paul!), get yourselves to the Underground Music Cafe on August 15 to see Michael Gay with Zach Bryson and Marina Madden! Doors are at 7:30 and tickets are just $13.
Listen to “Good Night” & “Long, Cold Winter”
Michael Gay & His Dang Band (Live From A Dive) Album Credits
Recorded live on May 20, 2023 at Terminal Bar in NE Minneapolis, MN.
Guitar, Vocals: Michael Gay
Bass Guitar, Harmony Vocals: Daniel Stewart
Drums: Matthew Decker
Pedal Steel Guitar: AJ Srubas
Live Audio Engineer: Sam Gaitan
Audio Mix: Danny O'Brien (Hot Dad Labs)
Special thanks: Everyone at Terminal Bar + Javier Trejo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Morris. Photo credit: Tom Smouse.
Sarah Morris is a superfan of songs and the people who write them, and a believer that certain songs can change your life. A singer-songwriter / mama / bread maker / coffee drinker who recently released her fifth album of original material, she’s been known to joyfully sing with people in her Big Green Bathroom.
