Artist description Fennerio is the creation of Mike Feeney, on vocals and acoustic guitar. The members of the band rotate from performance to performance, and contribute on various levels to the songwriting, but the majority of the writing is done by Feeney. The music is predominantly folk-rock with sometimes Celtic and sometimes psychedelic leanings, stemming from an early obsession with Pink Floyd. Feeney's other musical influences are wide-ranging, including Bob Dylan, Bob Geldof, Tom Petty, Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Dave Matthews, Eric Clapton, U2, and Sting, among others. But more than that, he was influenced by local Athens, Georgia musicians like Last Day Down and Nathan Sheppard. Each have affected him personally and changed his views of songwriting and performance.

Artist History Feeney (vocals,guitar) moved from Indiana to Athens, GA, where he performed as a solo artist. He began inviting his friends to sit in with him for full-band performances, both acoustic and electric, and now alternates between solo and band shows in Athens, GA.

Group Members Mike Feeney - vocals and rhythm guitar ||| John Wayne - lead guitar ||| Shawn Johnson - drums and backing vocals ||| John Wetherald - bass guitar ||| Occasional members: Matt Shoemaker - percussion ||| Joe Kenney - bass guitar

Albums Mike Feeney and John Wayne: Live at the 40Watt

Press Reviews Tall-standing local songwriter Mike Feeney, 25, didn't start playing guitar or composing songs until well into his college years in Muncie, Indiana, where he got a degree in graphic arts. After relocating to Athens and securing a [University of Georgia] campus day job in 1997, Feeney gradually worked his way through the local "open mic" nights around town and recently assembled a full band featuring several veterans of the local groove-oriented rock scene. Feeney's folky, acoustic-based, original material draws from classic-rock influences. He and his band typically balance their live sets with handfuls of rock covers. The band plans to finish a studio session with engineer Tom Lewis at Rocket Sound studio this winter. Feeney speaks: What initially got you into playing music? "I was a Pink Floyd fanatic for a long time and initially wanted imitate David Gilmour. I got over that, eventually, though." Are you happy as a frontman? "Sure. These guys are amazing musicians, especially John Wayne. He and Shawn play in Last Day Down. They're my favorite local band. John Wetherald used to play in Creekwater Sound, also with Shawn. He just sat in with the Adam Payne Band recently." What are you covering in the set? "We're doing some Beatles, Pink Floyd and even a stray Bon Jovi song here and there. We're just having fun with the covers. The set's about half-and-half with our own material." What are you usually singing about? "I've always had the desire to wander around and keep moving, so that translates into the songs. Basically, I just try to draw from my own feelings. I'm not singing protest songs or anything." Is this a hobby or a potential career? "I'd like to go as far as it can go, but I don't have any delusions of grandeur about it. I doubt I'll have the right look and the right sound at the right place, so I'm not worried about it. I'm just having fun." -- Ballard Lesseman, Flagpole Magazine --

Location Athens, GA - USA

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