Bio

Background

Nineteen year old Jacob Michael, born July of 1986 in Grand Marais, Minnesota, plays lead guitar. Beginning at an early age, Jacob was drawn to music. His formal musical career began at the age of 7, with the study of piano. After two years he decided to try his hand at guitar, which has remained his instrument of choice.

A self-taught guitar player, Jacob has been working at mastering his instrument for years. In the summer of 1999 he began to play in a blues duo with mentor, John Gruber. Rick Brandenburg, drummer was added and the Jacob Michael Blues Band played at festivals, clubs and restaurants in Northern Minnesota.

Jacob Michael has attended the prestigious and highly competitive Perpich Center for Arts Education in Minnesota. In the summers he showcased his talents playing festivals and clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

In November of 2003, Jacob Michael met the members of a band out of Northern Minnesota, SpaceSugar. After jamming together Jacob decided to join with SpaceSugar to record his debut CD. All seasoned professionals they bring a new sound and energy to Jacob Michael's original music. The group consists of Robin Anders on drums, percussion, Jim Hall on bass and Bill Bulinski on guitar.

Jacob Michael's sets include a wide range of his own originals seasoned with cover songs representing the music of musicians who have influenced him throughout his career.
Musical Influences

Jacob spent hours studying the lead guitar styles of his favorite musicians, several of the most notable musicians of our time. In his early days while crafting his own style, Jacob listened to Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert King, Lonnie Mack, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, John Scofield, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, among others.

Now at age 19, having found his own style of eclectic blues infused with rock he lists his influences as Ronnie Earl, Oscar Lopez, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, and Chick Corea.

"To me playing music is about channeling energy that comes from other things in life. It is a positive powerful thing that can make you feel any which way. My goals are to keep having fun playing music and to perfect the groove that makes us all feel the way we do about music, playing live." (Jacob Michael, January 2004)