The Blues, Country Alt, and Roots-Rock

Roots-rock is a term used to describe a style of rock music that draws material from various American musical traditions including country, blues, and folk.

Accomplished guitarist, and local musician, Michael Russell was influenced by rootsrock before he even knew what it was. Growing up in Oakdale, California, and later outside of North Lake Tahoe—“a ninetyminute bus ride to-and-from school,” he noted—found him working on a ranch taking care of cattle, horses, and orchards. He also ended up working for neighbors doing whatever was needed. Among these chores was cleaning out barns and storage sheds. “I found a lot of vinyl records when I cleaned out those barns,” he said. “Most of the time, people just told me I could have them.”

Eventually, Michael discovered a library of late 1960s and 1970s music, encompassing multiple genres from rock to country and blues. “The record collection was huge, and I became influenced by many of the groups I’d listen to,” said Mike. “It made me start taking music and my guitar more seriously.”

The journey for Mike began at 11 years old, and he grew steadily more serious as time went on. His parents were supportive in a hands-off way, just letting him follow his song, but he did take guitar lessons at ages 13 and 14 from a teacher who played in a Pink Floyd cover band. This provided the British rock experience—the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and The Who—and also began a journey into the blues. About that time he got his hands on a copy of “The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll,” which he read cover to cover more than once.

That education, in turn, introduced Michael to Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson, and The Clash. “London Calling changed my life,” he said. “Their music led me to punk, reggae, roots, and country. As far as music enjoyment these days, I am everywhere, but roots, rock, and blues are my main focus.” Big music influences are Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Joe Bonnamassa, Robert Cray, and Gary Clark, Jr.

Back then, however, he joined a rock band in high school and played his first paying gig at 15 as a bass player. “I knew this band needed a bass player, and they asked me if I could play bass. I told them definitely. So, I went to a pawn shop and bought an old Harmony bass, and I started teaching myself right away.” (Sadly, like the endless list which marches to infinity, that bass was lost in the Camp Fire.)

After high school, Mike had the opportunity to play for Chad Bushnell, a Red Bluff country musician who was a top-three finalist in the Nashville American Country Star competition. This experience took Mike all over the United States where he played 50 to 100 gigs a year.

Segue to the college years, and Mike enrolled at Butte College where he took classes from Dave Elke in the music department. After that, he went to Chico State and earned a degree in recording arts and music business. All the while, he was honing his guitar skills, beginning to write music, and playing locally as lead guitar in many Chico acts, filling in whenever he was needed. A central tenet of the Chico music scene, and elsewhere, is that many musicians play in many different groups in a fluid transition from one act to another. It’s a close-knit world.

Of course, no music story would be complete without a rendition of our old favorite tune, The Covid-19 Blues. Mike and his wife Jordan’s story began in Nashville in January 2020. Within three weeks, Mike played on Broadway Street in the historic music district, and his wife had started a new job. Covid ruined the music, and a tornado ruined Jordan’s job as it destroyed the business. Double whammy. They ended up moving back to California and living in a cabin at Chester, where they still live, splitting time between there and Chico.

Mike has been onstage with Dakota Cree, The Lolos, Erin Haley, and Firefly to name just a few acts. These days, he heads the Michael Russell Trio with Grayson Katka, on bass guitar and vocals, and Mike Waltz on drums. Upcoming shows are at Friday Night Concert Series in Chico, on August 25; the El Rey, on September 22; and Lost on Main, on October 21. “I’d like to emphasize how much the Chico community supported me,” said Mike. “I’ve learned more about music in Chico than anywhere else. I can’t say enough about the people here.”

Check out Michael Russell online at michaelrussellmusic.com, on Facebook, and on Instagram. His albums “Electric Blue Dream” and “Six Strings Away,” co-produced with Ian Parent, are on Spotify. We have no doubt you’ll love his guitarwork as much as we do.