In the nineties, Mike Sanchez was a local music mainstay and to some even a local rock icon. I still have and listen to my old Watership Down tape at times. About a year ago, I decided to look up Mike, I was archiving all of my CDs and old tapes and records and ran into a few old mix tapes a friend made me with old songs by Sanchez’s later band “The New Death Show.” I forgot how much I liked them. I used to have the New Death Show demo, but, my car was stolen in January of 1997 and my New Death Show was in the tape deck at the time.
I located Sanchez on myspace and saw that he indeed is still working on music under the name The Way It Is. Sanchez was actually cool enough to me to send me a couple of CDrs of the missing NDS tapes as well. I was thrilled. In addition to doing reviews of new CDs and songs, I will eventually start doing classic reviews as well, Watership Down and Grave Mistake are at the top of my list.
So, how is The Way It Is? I promptly ordered on iTunes or CDbaby two Way It Is CDs including Raquel. The songs on the CDs have shades of New Death Show, but, I think more grown up. Not quite as loud and a little more sweet, but, unmistakable is the voice of Mike Sanchez, whom if you went to the Barn Door in the 90s, you well remember and it’ll give you a feeling of home.
There’s a new Way It Is CD “BE STILL MY BEATING” avialable now on CDbaby and iTunes. I recommend you check it out. On Mike’s band’s myspace there are song samples available to listen at your leisure, but, if you’re like me, you like to have the actual CD (or at least the legit download.)
Mike’s in Chicago now, afterDelaware he performed with a new New Death Show in Seatlle and now he’s making music and movies in Chicago. This is one of the guys (Along with Cliff Hillis) that when you hear their voice and their songs, you know in a different musical climate that they’d be topping the charts. Back in the glory days of 120 minutes, if signed these guys’d be all over alternative radio.
