originally published: 02/24/2025
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- Split Level Concert Series presents critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael McDermott at the Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 8:00pm. Asbury Park Music Award winner Colton Kayser will open the show.
Music has two personalities, a duality frequently characterized by quiet introspection and power- driven proclamation. If you were a photographer, it would be light and dark. If you were a painter, it would be black and white. For a musician, it’s acoustic and electric.
Revered Chicago-based singer-songwriter Michael McDermott reveled in his creative duality to craft a first – two full albums, one acoustic and one electric, released on the same day as companion pieces of work. Lighthouse on the Shore, the acoustic opus, and East Jesus, the electric collection, arrived last September on McDermott’s own Pauper Sky Records.
“I guess it’s always been a bit of a balancing act, my multiple personalities,” says McDermott. “One of my personalities grew up listening to early Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Odetta, traditional Irish music, and Tom Waits. The other one was raised on The Stones, The Who, Van Morrison, and U2. My songwriting varies wildly, to sometimes great effect and other times a seemingly incoherent array of songs that never find homes on my albums. This time I thought I’d lean into both, make a quiet record and a loud one.”
The quiet record, Lighthouse on the Shore, was recorded and mixed at Pauper Sky Studio in Orland Park, Illinois with a stellar group of musicians: McDermott on guitars, piano, bass, and vocals; Heather Lynne Horton on fiddle and vocals; Matt Thompson on stand-up and electric bass; Will Kimbrough on guitars, banjo, and mandola; John Deaderick on piano, keyboards, organ, and Omnichord; and Katie Burns on cello. Lighthouse was produced and mixed by McDermott with additional production by Deaderick.
The loud record, East Jesus, was recorded and mixed at Transient Sound in Chicago and Pauper Sky Studio in Orland Park, Illinois with these great musicians: McDermott on guitars, piano, and vocals; Heather Lynne Horton on fiddle and vocals; Grant Tye on guitars; Matt Thompson on bass; Steven Gillis on drums; Will Kimbrough on guitars and banjo; John Deaderick on keyboards and organ; and Gerald Dowd on additional drum work. East Jesus was produced and mixed by McDermott and Gillis. Reflecting on his unprecedented accomplishment, two full-length albums released as companion pieces on the same day, McDermott says: “There are always leftovers at my table, but this creative expansion allowed for a wider variety of songs to find a place, and hopefully to great effect.”
Advance tickets are $30 and are available for purchase online. The show is part of the on-going Split Level Concert Series which highlights renowned Americana and contemporary folk musicians in a uniquely intimate setting.
Former Asbury Park Music Award winner Colton Kayser, now based in Nashville, returns home to open the show. Colton grew up daydreaming in class and writing songs by the binder. As he grew, so did his work ethic, and he has been quietly chipping away and perfecting his craft ever since. He has released three studio albums.
Jersey Shore Arts Center and Split Level Concerts are proud to partner with Brookdale Public Radio 90.5 The Night and Musicians On A Mission (MOAM) to promote the concert series. Musicians On A Mission is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating connection and inspiring giving through music. MOAM will be on hand at all of the Split Level concerts, collecting cash donations that will be split between Jersey Shore Arts Center and a charity chosen by MOAM for each concert. March’s beneficiary of cash donations will be Monmouth County Habitat for Humanity. MOAM will also be collecting non-perishable food donations to benefit Fulfill.
