The original acoutisc duo, Mike and Joe began in Bloomington, IN, and since their beginning have become one of the top drawing cover bands in the Midwest! Mike Notaro and Joe Valentino met as undergraduates at Indiana University while living at the Theta Chi fraternity house. They began performing together informally as their fraternity serenade band and for IU/greek Sing college events.
As their popularity grew at Indiana University, word spread to other colleges in the state, and soon the pair were playing at a variety of other Indiana, and eventually Illinois colleges. Two years later, Mike suggested approaching a bar in Palatine, IL called Durty Nellies, to see if they would hire the act. Having grown up in Mt. Prospect, IL, Mike knew of the bar from his older brothers and sisters. Durty Nellies did hire the guys and the Chicago connection was made. From Nellies the duo moved into Chicago, playing at Gamekeepers until it became too small for their growing fan base. From Gamekeepers the guys graduated to a bar called Sidelines, and then on to bigger venues like the Cubby Bear. During the summer of 1994, having skipped straight over Indianapolis, the guys took thier acoustic guitars to Broadripple, the city's party district, to find a place to play. Mike and Joe walked into every bar they could find, offering to do an impromptu live audition for anyone who would listen. They were hired on the spot by a little bar called Club 816, and played there until it became too small to hold their new found fan base in Indy. From there the guys moved to the Patio, and then to the Vogue.
In March of 1995, Mike and Joe released thier first CD, "This Dream", which began to sell thousands of copies. By this time the duo was performing at the top venues in a variety of markets in the Midwest. The two had become the first acoustic duo in the region to cross over into the large mainstream live music venues usually reserved for "bands" only. Looking to expand their musical horizons, and particularly at Mike's urging, Mike and Joe decided to hold auditions to form a full band by adding two new members to the duo's already successful project. In February of 1996 Mike and Joe selected bassist Marc Blackwell and drummer Aaron Streich, and their full band was born. Originally, the guys struggled with what to do about the band's name. After deciding that they were unwilling to call their entire band Mike and Joe, they picked the name Michelanjelo. Initially, knowing they would still perform some shows with the duo format, and others with the whole band, the guys planned to bill each format separately using both names depending on whether it was the duo or the full band. However, it soon became clear that the name Mike and Joe was preferred by the fan base.
A year and a half after they put the band together the guys released their second CD, "Michelanjelo Live at the Bandstand". This CD was recorded live and released in conjunction with Dick Clark's organization, and Anheuser Busch. It too began to sell thousands of copies and was received very well by the fan base. During this time, the band began to expand its touring area, discovering Ohio and Iowa, as well as the far reaches of the Indiana and Illinois markets. Today the band plays over 175 shows a year and is one of the most watched cover bands in the entire Midwest. The guys regularly play for packed houses filled with excited, enthusiatic, and very loyal fans. The band members remain committed to entertaing those who have been watching them for so long, and to attracting the enthusiasm of new fans who discover the band throughout the Midwest!
In February of 2007, Cory Flynn took over bass duties replacing Marc Blackwell.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.mikeandjoe.com
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