By John Cairns

ST CATHARINES, Ontario, Canada -- A sunny day could see Mike Lynch and his trusty guitar appear on nearly any stage, street corner or roadside between the Atlantic and Pacific shores.

A singer-songwriter fond of the open highway, 36-year-old Mike follows the lifestyle of a modern troubadour. He’s a country-music recording artist who takes his songs directly to the public.

“I love life on the road,” Mike said. “I enjoy meeting people, playing to new crowds and telling tales about my travels.”

Sometimes joined by girlfriend Krissy Neumann, Mike points his car, “a little Cavalier good on gas”, and drives. Along the way, he plays at every opportunity and sells a few CDs. His longest tours last about three weeks.

“I sing about my travels,” Mike said. “The biggest part of my income comes from traveling, doing house concerts, playing at pubs and selling my CDs.

“House concerts are a great new thing. That’s when I tell people I’m coming to their town. They invite dozens of people to a house or backyard, and I perform for them.

“Everything’s easier in the summer. But if the weather’s not too bad, I’ll go in the winter too.

“My philosophy calls for working hard without expecting people to help you. You’ve got to go and do things yourself. That’s the best way to make fans. It’s always been that way.”

Listening to Mike’s latest CD (his third), MJL Was Here, proves that he’s talented and entertaining.

I found a park bench in the middle of town.
I was feelin’ kinda tired so I sat down.
Two thousand miles away from my home,
I thought maybe I’d let ‘em all know.
MJL was here, carved it out nice.
Big bold letters, I knew it wasn’t right.
Next to Lucy’s a whore, wrote 2004 MJL was here.
I walked away thinkin’ everything was okay,
When I was approached by a Winnipeg policeman.
He said, “Son, can you do the time,
Cause what you done there was a federal crime?”
From “MJL Was Here”, Mike Lynch, 2007

“At all my concerts, I like to say that so many great Canadian musical artists aren’t on the radio,” Mike said. “People ask me, ‘Who are you? Do you have a song on the radio?’ I always say, ‘No, man. But that doesn’t mean I’m no good.’ ”

When near home in St Catharines, Mike often works as a carpenter. “I don’t do carpentry when I’m touring, but I’ve had offers,” he said.

For more than 10 years, he’s been a musician. “I tinker with all instruments, but mostly I’m a guitar player who loves the banjo and mandolin too.”

Sometimes he works with a band, but usually performs solo. “When traveling, it’s tough enough to make a living alone, never mind having other musicians along too.”

Several years ago, Mike set out on his first Canadian tour after loading an old van with a guitar, bed, hibachi and sound system. He played at bars, coffee houses and street corners, always gaining a few more friends and fans. After venturing all the way to Dawson City in the Yukon, he returned to Ontario and recorded a CD complete with songs about his journey.

And the next thing I know
I was downtown Dawson City
With 1,000 bucks cash
Looking for a party.
We found this place called The Pet
And got drunk and danced all night.
She said that I was her’s,
And that mushroom picker was mine….
I woke up the next morning,
Cried and wrote this song.
Sally Dubois was missing,
And all my money was gone….
I’m driving down that dusty road,
Headed out of Dawson City.…
From “Dawson City Blues”, Mike Lynch, 2007

Life on the road provides steady inspiration for new songs. “Sometimes I finish a gig, get up in the morning, drive three hours to the next one and write a song in my head on the way,” Mike said. “It may be about what someone said at the show or a person I met.”

His best songs include “She Called Me Lover”, “Highway of Dreams”, “Big Vacation” and “Livin’ Out on the Road”. Normally, he plays mostly those he’s written. “I throw in some old country songs too, especially at pubs, but I do my own originals everywhere I go.”

Appreciation for traditional country stars like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty influences Mike’s style. He enjoys adding modern touches with shades of Blue Rodeo, Steve Earle and Stompin’ Tom Connors. “Stompin’ Tom’s my hero,” he said.

Mike grew up in a small town (Beamsville, Ontario) in a family of ice-hockey players. His father coached the sport.

“My original dream was to play hockey,” Mike said. “I was a centre and right-winger. Once that fizzled out, I turned to music. At age 19, I freaked out my Dad by telling him I was going to music-theatre school.”

Mike did well on college radio with recorded songs like “Christian Girl” and “Outside My Window”. When signed up by Page Music, he went to Nashville in 2001 to finish an album called Shindigg. It produced two hits on Canadian radio: “I Remember Everything” and “Round Here, Everybody Knows My Name”.

I remember everything,
Every kiss, every moment.
Even a runaway train
Couldn’t stop us back then….
I knew it wouldn’t last.
We were young.
Life was moving fast.
Oh, but it was sweet.
I remember everything,
Every kiss, every moment….
From “I Remember Everything”, Mike Lynch, 2001

Mike’s second album, Singer-Songwriter Night, is a live recording issued in 2003. Now he’s working on a new studio album, The Entertainer Tonight.

“I’ve gone a long way in performing, getting out there and playing my music to different people,” Mike said. “Travel is one of the best ways.”

Will he ever stop touring? “I hope not,” Mike said.

As he follows the musical trails, word will spread: MJL was here, here and here….

For more information: www.lynchmusic.ca


Nothing powers Mike's music better
than 'a little car that's good on gas'.


Anyone taking time to listen
may want Mike' s autograph.

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