By Rozlyn Smith
With such a unique name like My Pet Dragon, I didn’t know what I'd expect to hear when I saw this 5-piece band from Brooklyn, NY. Opening up with “Majestic Lover,” I immediately felt a very peaceful, and relaxed vibe from them. I was also very impressed by Reena Shah’s dancing. It seemed that through her dancing those in attendance could feel the emotion of the song, and also Shah’s. The band’s sound, in general, was very inspirational, calm, and peaceful. The audience was filled with loads of loyal fans, who couldn’t help but dance and sway to the music. My favorite song of the set was “Lover in Hiding.” With both its danceable beat and romantic lyrics how could anyone go wrong with a song like that? After their set, Todd Michaelsen was nice enough to let me ask him a few questions:
Star Beat Music: So how did the band name come about?
Todd Michaelsen: Long story short- when I was four or five-years old I couldn’t sleep at night. I still can’t. I used to fight an imaginary creature underneath my bed, it was a giant fire-breathing lizard thing. So I killed it, I slayed it every night with my little laser gun. So it comes from a child hood friend, an imaginary friend.
SBM: Where does the band draw influences from?
TM: Part of it is childhood. I believe you're at your purest when you’re a child; well, some of us, and adulthood as well. All kinds of music. We’re primarily based in rock, but Mario here is an amazing funk bass player, Vincent is a great drum/bass player, my wife Reena is a Bharatanatyam dancer.
With such a unique name like My Pet Dragon, I didn’t know what I'd expect to hear when I saw this 5-piece band from Brooklyn, NY. Opening up with “Majestic Lover,” I immediately felt a very peaceful, and relaxed vibe from them. I was also very impressed by Reena Shah’s dancing. It seemed that through her dancing those in attendance could feel the emotion of the song, and also Shah’s. The band’s sound, in general, was very inspirational, calm, and peaceful. The audience was filled with loads of loyal fans, who couldn’t help but dance and sway to the music. My favorite song of the set was “Lover in Hiding.” With both its danceable beat and romantic lyrics how could anyone go wrong with a song like that? After their set, Todd Michaelsen was nice enough to let me ask him a few questions:
Star Beat Music: So how did the band name come about?
Todd Michaelsen: Long story short- when I was four or five-years old I couldn’t sleep at night. I still can’t. I used to fight an imaginary creature underneath my bed, it was a giant fire-breathing lizard thing. So I killed it, I slayed it every night with my little laser gun. So it comes from a child hood friend, an imaginary friend.
SBM: Where does the band draw influences from?
TM: Part of it is childhood. I believe you're at your purest when you’re a child; well, some of us, and adulthood as well. All kinds of music. We’re primarily based in rock, but Mario here is an amazing funk bass player, Vincent is a great drum/bass player, my wife Reena is a Bharatanatyam dancer.
SBM: What struggles have the band have to over come?
TM: We’re still over coming them. You know like little things, the stuff that every band goes through. Coordinating schedules, lugging gear, five people splitting up door money that is already split up, you know its not enough to live on. Until you get your proper dues. You just have to believe in it. We’ve gone from one level to the next level now and we still have another notch to climb but I’m excited!
SBM: The band seems to have a very enthusiastic following!
TM: Yeah! In New York we do for sure.
SBM: Are there any other shows coming up?
TM: We’re playing at Valentines in upstate New York on June 25th, which is not too far from where I grew up. We’re going to try some acoustic My Pet Dragon at the Maine Film Festival in about a month and we’re going to try to play some shows in Boston, Philly, DC this summer. And in the fall we’re going on a tour throughout the whole northeast.
SBM: How does Reena come up with her dancing? It is truly amazing.
TM: She’s a classical trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She’s just an amazing spirit, she’s a free spirit, she always has been. It seems that it is natural for her to interpret music as dance.
SBM: My Pet Dragon seems to have a very spiritual feel, is that the direction that you intended the band on going?
TM: For the last few years I’ve been recording a lot of music on my own in my home studio. It sort of blossoms when I bring it to the band. As far as the spiritual aspect, I think every song is spiritual, I think that every song is tapping into the same thing. Even angry music has to come from some where.
SBM: To the person who tried to bring you and the band down the most in your life, what would you say to them?
TM: I wouldn’t say anything, I would just let the music do the talking, I don’t need to say anything.
SBM: Would you say that "Peace, Love and Respect" is the band’s motto?
TM: I would say it is Reena’s motto, which is an aspect of the band. I think the band, we all have extreme respect for each other and our fans. The peace and love thing, comes and goes doesn’t it? It would be nice if it stayed for a bit.
SBM: When and how did you know that your band-mates are the people you want to make music with?
TM: Tonight. We took a big step forward tonight, I’ll tell you that. Because Vincent is our newest member he’s been with us only a couple of months and this is the first show that everyone sung on stage and singing with people you feel connected with them. There is something about the human voice that really came through tonight.
SBM: How did the band begin?
TM: My Pet Dragon began as a project that I did alone in my bedroom. Slowly I would let people hear it. I was in other bands when I first came to New York and I wanted it to be in my own hands. When you do that, you give it a focus so that other people see where you’re coming from. It’s still my baby, but the people in my band are just as much a part of it as I am because their putting their soul into the music too.
SBM: Well thank you for your time! It was great meeting you and seeing you perform tonight! And I’m looking forward to hearing much more from you in the future!
TM: Thank you so much, this was a lot of fun for us! Yeah, you saw us at the peak, there’s much more to come!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
TM: I wouldn’t say anything, I would just let the music do the talking, I don’t need to say anything.
SBM: Would you say that "Peace, Love and Respect" is the band’s motto?
TM: I would say it is Reena’s motto, which is an aspect of the band. I think the band, we all have extreme respect for each other and our fans. The peace and love thing, comes and goes doesn’t it? It would be nice if it stayed for a bit.
SBM: When and how did you know that your band-mates are the people you want to make music with?
TM: Tonight. We took a big step forward tonight, I’ll tell you that. Because Vincent is our newest member he’s been with us only a couple of months and this is the first show that everyone sung on stage and singing with people you feel connected with them. There is something about the human voice that really came through tonight.
SBM: How did the band begin?
TM: My Pet Dragon began as a project that I did alone in my bedroom. Slowly I would let people hear it. I was in other bands when I first came to New York and I wanted it to be in my own hands. When you do that, you give it a focus so that other people see where you’re coming from. It’s still my baby, but the people in my band are just as much a part of it as I am because their putting their soul into the music too.
SBM: Well thank you for your time! It was great meeting you and seeing you perform tonight! And I’m looking forward to hearing much more from you in the future!
TM: Thank you so much, this was a lot of fun for us! Yeah, you saw us at the peak, there’s much more to come!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
My Pet Dragon Setlist:
Majestic Lover
Lightning Inside
Lover in Hiding
Mountains and Cities
Songbird
Flow
Siren
Between Us
Lover Anthem
--
New Nation
Majestic Lover
Lightning Inside
Lover in Hiding
Mountains and Cities
Songbird
Flow
Siren
Between Us
Lover Anthem
--
New Nation
Thank you for waiting for us after the show, my apologies for not being able to stay and chat but it seemed Todd had it all under control. Thanks for taking such great pictures!
ReplyDeleteI just saw My Pet Dragon at The Bowery Ballroom.
ReplyDeleteThey were AWESOME!!! I can hardly wait to see them again!