artist Michael Cavanaugh

If you’re looking for an uplifting break from everyday life, don’t listen to these. If you want anthems of social change or relaxing music to take your mind off your troubles, you won’t find it here. Michael calls his material Post-Apocalyptic Love Songs. “These are reports from the front lines of the battle of the sexes”, Michael says. “Think of me as the Anderson Cooper of relationships”. These are songs of desire and loss, forensic investigations into the mysteries of the heart. Michael Cavanaugh was born in a mill town on the north shore of Lake Superior in the middle of the last century. He started playing guitar a long time ago. Over the years he has played a variety of styles including folk, blues, country and rock. He played solo and in bands. Sometime along the way he started writing songs, although he claims that was never his intention. “I had no ambition to write songs”, he says, “they insinuated themselves on me.” Although some people think these are depressing songs, Michael disagrees: ”But, hey, I think Leonard Cohen is funny and Charles Bukowski was an optimist”, he comments. “People say everything happens for a reason – what a load of crap. I mean, how can anybody claim to know ANYTHING about everything? And if everything actually DOES happen for a reason, well, we’re in deep doo-doo. There are some really nasty forces at work here”. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Michael Cavanaugh composer / performer