Episode 058: Singer-Songwriter, Michael Legut

WISCONSIN MUSIC PODCAST

Episode #58

Michael Legut  (AKA Casual Intent Band)

 

Bio: I was born and lived on the south side of Chicago for most of my young adult life. Started playing guitar and writing songs when I was 16. I've been in several garage and bar bands  (Starliner Band in the 70's). Then I moved out to the San Francisco bay area and join a band called the HiTops. We played R&B and Motown covers. Lot's of fun and crazy stuff then. Our claims to fame were include playing for a presidential candidate party - Gary Hart event - LOL - and opening for the Violent Femmes at a dive bar called the Golden Grommet. I sort of put music aside for a few years to raise a family and get a PhD, and work in the corporate world (Gap Inc, Humana, Northwestern Mutual). Eventually I  moved back to the midwest - Louisville and then to the Milwaukee area. I met Jesus Villa at Northwestern Mutual and that got me back into playing and writing again.

It's hard to describe my songs. I try to write mindful songs. People say that my songs are more like Bob Dylan or Tom Waits but I'm still looking for my voice so who know where that will be. 
...and I like Captain Beefheart’s 10 Commandments of Guitar Playing
1. Listen to the birds
That’s where all the music comes from. Birds know everything about how it should sound and where that sound should come from. And watch hummingbirds. They fly really fast, but a lot of times they aren’t going anywhere.

2. Your guitar is not really a guitar
Your guitar is a divining rod. Use it to find spirits in the other world and bring them over. A guitar is also a fishing rod. If you’re good, you’ll land a big one.

3. Practice in front of a bush
Wait until the moon is out, then go outside, eat a multi-grained bread and play your guitar to a bush. If the bush doesn’t shake, eat another piece of bread.

4. Walk with the devil
Old Delta blues players referred to guitar amplifiers as the “devil box.” And they were right. You have to be an equal opportunity employer in terms of who you’re brining over from the other side. Electricity attracts devils and demons. Other instruments attract other spirits. An acoustic guitar attracts Casper. A mandolin attracts Wendy. But an electric guitar attracts Beelzebub.

5. If you’re guilty of thinking, you’re out
If your brain is part of the process, you’re missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something that is fur bearing.

6. Never point your guitar at anyone
Your instrument has more clout than lightning. Just hit a big chord then run outside to hear it. But make sure you are not standing in an open field.

7. Always carry a church key
That’s your key-man clause. Like One String Sam. He’s one. He was a Detroit street musician who played in the fifties on a homemade instrument. His song “I Need a Hundred Dollars” is warm pie. Another key to the church is Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player. He just stands there like the Statue of Liberty — making you want to look up her dress the whole time to see how he’s doing it.

8. Don’t wipe the sweat off your instrument
You need that stink on there. Then you have to get that stink onto your music.

9. Keep your guitar in a dark place
When you’re not playing your guitar, cover it and keep it in a dark place. If you don’t play your guitar for more than a day, be sure you put a saucer of water in with it.

10. You gotta have a hood for your engine
Keep that hat on. A hat is a pressure cooker. If you have a roof on your house, the hot air can’t escape. Even a lima bean has to have a piece of wet paper around it to make it grow.

 

Finally....I now live in Waukesha, Wisconsin - the birthplace of Les Paul - a very musical little town. I've since retired from my business career. Now I often play at the open mics and farmers markets in the area. During the Covid shutdown I wrote a lot of songs. Some of those are on band camp. I also started a Motown, Blues Reggae band called the Casual Intent Band that is just starting to schedule gigs in the area. 

Here are the links to some of that:

Casual Intent Band -

https://www.facebook.com/casualintent/

Band Camp -

Michaellegut.bandcamp.com