By JOHN DALY – It’s no surprise Mike Comfort and his band were voted “Best Band in Sacramento,” by the Sacramento Bee and “Best Band in Northern California” by 107FM The Point Chico.
Comfort’s voice is pure Rock N Roll and his style is upbeat — even when it comes to singing about some tough topics.
The alt rock artist has a new compilation album of the work from his other albums, called Pretty Sweet Stuff. It’s an appropriate name and maybe his marketing manager suggested the title. Few would disagree.
While all of the cuts on the record are great, our favorite is “Disarray.” It’s a song about lost love, but executed in such an almost upbeat manner that the words hit home. Comfort gives a good change of pace with a song that has such a great beat, but sad message. The song leaves us hanging, wondering if the guy will get the girl back mainly because he doesn’t know and he’s trying to go on with his life.
The star of the show here is Comfort’s voice. It has an emotive and raw quality that captures the essence of heartbreak and happiness. In the case of “Disarray,” the voice projects the topic of proceeding alone while still in love.
“I sit around and I wonder why all that I did I did for you … It’s just no telling now how much more this heart can take.”
The song’s rockin beat gives the listener the impression the singer feels he may have a shot at getting the gal back. Hope is good, especially in this crazy world. What we don’t need is another depressing breakup song and obviously Comfort agrees.
Tunes that are the sweetest of the sweet also include “Story of Your Smile,” “Upside Down” and “Anywhere With You.”
This is no amateur act. Comfort and his band have been selling out shows in and around Chico for years. Comfort was a session musician and met Chris Holmes and recording engineer and guitarist at a session for another artist. Before the collaboration, Comfort was writing songs and working with or for a host of top-charted artists.
The band is tight and top notch. Other than Comfort on vocals, the band is comprised of Holmes on guitars and backing vocals, D.J. Farrell on drums, Jonathan Stoyanoff on bass and Brandon Mains on guitar and backing vocals.
The songs were produced at Heirloom Studios in Chico; Red Dot Studios in Tracy and B. Mains Bedroom Studios in Chico. It was produced by Comfort, was co-produced and engineered by Holmes and was mastered by Rob Beaton with RKS Mastering in Los Angeles.
