ABOUT THE MUSIC . . .
The new 12 track album The Man by Mick Reid is a bit of a departure from his previous recordings with the Mick Reid Band and Brian Fraser Trio. For this album he has set down his blues-harp; picked up his guitar; added a rhythm section; energy; emotion; reflection and life experience with volume to produce a more raw expression of himself and his music.

The Man features mostly original compositions and a few interpretations of others. The common thread running through this record is BOOGIE!
Mick has combined his roots of rock, blues and boogie into grooves that create a sound with pumping, thumping intensity that your foot can’t deny.

Mick’s playing style incorporates the use of opened-tuned electric and acoustic guitars and occasionally standard tuned electric guitar. Playing mostly with open tunings allows him to play some traditional-style slide guitar as well as an ability to fret chords with a distinctly different voicing and ringing bass notes. This is a vital component in filling out the overall soundscape of the trio’s instrumentation and lends itself to a sound that is his own.

In the live show, there is a strong “jam-band” influence that ebbs and flows with light and shade, tenderness and intensity and free of the usual pop-influenced tenets. Sometimes jazzy, sometimes funky, sometimes psychedelic, rocky, bluesy… it’s about making the music not simply reproducing it.

Originally from the North Shore suburbs of Boston, Massachusetts USA,
Mick Reid Crowley started his career singing in bands a bit over 20 years ago. Following a somewhat accidental path toward the roots of rock into blues music and picking up the blues harmonica along the way. And, as he puts it "...I began a steady progression backwards. At that time, I didn't realise that most of the (rock) music I loved was the bastard child of blues. Once that connection was made, the attraction was undeniable and I found the blues was in my blood."

Upon following his heart to Australia, Mick took another risk and decided to try fronting his own band. Prior to this point he had been making his position as a sideman or frontman. This opportunity for another change seemed right, so he assembled the Mick Reid Band. The band independently released their acclaimed debut CD 'Long Hard Road' in 2003. Every track from ‘Long Hard Road’ has received radio play on nationally syndicated blues programs ‘Blues With A Feeling’ and ‘Nothin’ But The Blues’ as well as community and commercial blues shows all across Australia and overseas (USA,CAN).

Also in 2003 Mick completed a series of successful tours as a duo with multi-award-winning blues guitarist Brian Fraser. Following the success of these tours, in 2004 Brian and Mick teamed up with percussionist, Benny Owen (Matt Corcoran, Ash Grunwald) forming the Brian Fraser Trio. Taking things back to basics in the trio, Mick's blending of acoustic and electrified harmonica riffs into Brian's finger-picking lap slide guitar work reinforced the age-old rule of blues: less is more.

2006 saw the trio take away the Australian Blues Music Awards (a.k.a. the Chain Awards) for 'Best Group of the Year' with their album 'Passing the Time'. Also in that year, the trio received great support and attention as runner-up in the 2006 Memphis International Blues Challenge, Melbourne.

Following an extended hiatus resulting from a persistent health problem, in 2009 Mick has returned to fronting his own band. Mick Reid and Band are back as a three piece outfit with a new sound and approach. Mick has swapped his harp for an axe (though not entirely!) and going out with a few electric and acoustic guitars, a rhythm section, plenty of volume and creating his style of raw boogie-blues-rock sound.