User:OMEB

One Man Electrical Band

Mike graduated from Grant County High School in 1997 where he was a member of their KY State Champion Marching Band. A highly recognized trumpet player by trade and a guitarist by hobby, Mike received scholarship offers to EKU, UK, Morehead and NKU for trumpet. Choosing to stay near home, Mike chose NKU. During his tenure at NKU, Mike became a member of the Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band and the Brass Ensemble and was quick to be noticed as a great asset to the music program. However, as his musical skills and reputation grew, Mike noticed a growing pain in his left ear, followed by bleeding shortly after. After visiting his specialist, Mike learned that 40 percent of his eardrum had collapsed from the back pressure from playing the trumpet. While the days of playing the brass instruments were over, music was still Mike’s passion.

With music in his blood, Mike moved from playing trumpet to focusing on guitar and music theory to complete his degree. The Guitar Professor complained that everything Mike did was wrong and he would have to be re-taught how to play. After this news, no major instrument to play for proficiency tests and a bad case of Mono his junior year, he finally gave up his fight with the school moved on with life. After a short lived job as Assistant Store Manager for Willis Music, Mike began teaching guitar part time for Music Maker’s in Florence. At the same time he taught lessons, Mike’s primary focus was on his Band- Black Roses. Composed of two high school buddies and one new one, Black Roses began playing all over the region with a growing fan base. Things were going well until their drummer was offered a job in Florida and had to leave immediately… Black Roses was without its heartbeat… Disillusioned, the band went their separate ways. Mike briefly reformed a new version of Black Roses, but that was short lived due to a number of issues (including another problem with the new drummer). Mike, determined not to cancel dates booked by an agent, created a plan to play the gigs himself with the full sound of an entire band. After five 20 hour hour days locked in his basement studio, Mike had arranged, played, sang and recorded 40 “backing tracks”—more than enough for an entire show. OMEB was about to rise.After a few shows as "the Band formerly known as Black Roses”, Mike realized this new approach was the way to go. And jokingly one patron said after playing the song “Signs” by the Five Man Electric Band, “Hey look, it’s the One Man Electrical Band”! And it stuck. Club owners decided the new name was too much to put on the sign... so "OMEB" has become the standard and now registered trademark. Since then, OMEB’s Library has expanded to nearly 180 songs ranging from Pink Floyd to Pantera (with even a little Queen while still playing his stapled Gn’R and Black Sabbath). OMEB has become a namesake in the Cincinnati Area, rocking venues from east to west and north to south! He has been featured on the Main Stage for the WEBN fireworks since 2007 worked with Jagermeister and even Country Music Legend, Bobby Mackey! He has travelled to clubs as far away as Albany, New York and Florida!

In the summer of 2008 Mike finally decided to leave safety of teaching for a private consortium and open the OMEB School of Rock. There has been no looking back since, as his student base has exploded. Mike is leading the way in teaching the next generation of guitar students. He has written and published his own guitar method book entitled “The Book of OMEB” teaching kids the virtues of rock n’ roll. The OMEB School of Rock and its students have performed with OMEB at many local venues, festivals and local radio stations.

In late 2010 Mike opened OMEB Studios finally offering the services to others that he has always provided to himself. Clients include Bobby Mackey, Gary Strong and the Strong Bluegrass Band, Jesse Brewer of Cincinnati Properties and even George Ciccarone (13 time Emmy winner and Reality TV Show Producer). Mike along with his friend and partner, Jim Comodeca, have purchased two buildings in New Richmond where the studio is located. They also have plans to open a riverside market and restaurant in 2011. OMEB and Jim’s original music was considered for a made for TV movie sponsored by Walmart and P&G. Although a positive reaction from Randy Jackson, the music did not quite fit the overall theme of the movie, but is still very notable to even be considered. OMEB is also currently writing an album with Bobby Mackey entitled “Rockin’ the Country” as they battle out their stylistic differences to meet somewhere in the middle for an unheard of pairing.

Since 2006 OMEB has obtained endorsements from BC Rich Guitars, Kustom Amplification, Michael Kelley Guitars, Tregan Guitars, Monster Tone Guitar Pickups, Sfazro Guitar Strings, Graphtech, Cserni Guitar Straps and Monster Guitar Picks!

www.OneManElectricalBand.com