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Mike Dillon

When jazz legends Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson first introduced the vibes to the jazz idiom circa 1930, they could have never in their wildest dreams foreseen where Mike Dillon would take the concept 75 years later. Likewise, Dillon's heroes Black Sabbath, The Minutemen and Bad Brains would've been hard-pressed to envision a vibraphonist internalizing their punk ethos and conjuring his own rage-against-the-machine spirit through the mellifluous sounds of the vibraphone. Enter the man himself, Mike Dillon. None of these observations matter or ever will. Some would call a force of nature like his visionary. But again, Dillon confounds. He's not interested in celebrating vision or any of the lofty ideals that come along with it. Mike Dillon is about throwing down, getting on the good foot and chasing the muse wherever it flows. Case in point, Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle and their rawkus debut album, Battery Milk, to be released January 30, 2007 on the Brooklyn-based independent record label, HYENA Records.

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Mike Dillon's musical history runs deep. In the late '80s and early '90s, he was a member of the pivotal Texas bands Billy Goat and Hairy Apes BMX. He soon moved onto acclaimed experimental and improvisational bands like The Malachy Papers, Critters Buggin and Garage A Trois, all of which are situations in which he still plays to this day. Dillon's reputation also led to collaborations with MC 900 Ft. Jesus, Super Chiefs 3, Polyphonic Spree and Sex Mob. A percussionist by trade, Dillon re-discovered the vibraphone while battling drug addiction. After a six month morphine binge, he was penniless and looking for a fix. Having no more gear to pawn except his vibes, he kicked drugs cold turkey and began learning Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't."

Mike Dillon is known to furiously circulate around the country, simultaneously calling Austin, New Orleans and Kansas City home. These nomadic experiences led him to his highest profile gigs yet: recording and touring the world as a percussionist with both Ani DiFranco and Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, projects which have been a mainstay of his world for the past several years. And yet somehow in the midst of all this, Dillon put together Go-Go Jungle in early 2006. The band features Dillon's longtime musical co-conspirators, including Mark Southerland on tenor saxophone, JJ "Jungle" Richards and Ron Johnson on bass guitar and "Go-Go" Ray Pollard on drums.

Battery Milk opens with the soul-fire strut, "Go-Go's Theme." The tune answers the question: "What would Bobby Hutcherson sound like jamming alongside D.C go-go legends Trouble Funk?" "Broc's Last Stand" continues in the old school, soul jazz spirit with Dillon's acid-tinged vibe work propelling the groove. But just when you think you know where the Go-Go Jungle's headed, Dillon changes pace. "The Blame Game" has a Tom Waits-esque spoken word feel with swirling electronic effects and deep, ethereal blowing by Southerland. Dillon takes his gift for black comedy to the next level on the hysterically creepy, "The Voyeur," which also inspires comparisons to his boss in the Frog Brigade, Les Claypool.

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Radio & Podcasts

Mike Dillon, Ludovica Burtone, Marc Jordan, Simon Moullier & New Releases

Read "Mike Dillon, Ludovica Burtone, Marc Jordan, Simon Moullier & New Releases" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


Countless forms of fusion in this week's show, from jazz and pop to other musical traditions. There are enough genetic modifications in just one hour to prove that jazz's resilience passes Darwinian evolutionary standards!Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Roc Flowers, Stefano De Donato, Fabrizio Bosso, Max Ionata “And I Know" Ovision (Music for Love) 0:16 Host talks 5:40 Marc Jordan “Coltrane Plays the Blues" Waiting for the ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Ben Wolfe, Trombone Shorty, Margie Hyams & Mike Dillon

Read "Ben Wolfe, Trombone Shorty, Margie Hyams & Mike Dillon" reviewed by Joe Dimino


We kick off the 788th Episode of Neon Jazz with vibraphonist and Kansas City native Mike Dillon and Punkadelic with music off their 2023 album Inflorescence. We follow that with Punkadelic member Brian Haas of Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and their take on The Beatles “Julia" from their last studio album Winterwood Revealed. From there, we dig into new projects from Ben Wolfe, Chris Dingman, Jay Lawrence and Sam Taylor. We also shine a good light on The Godfather of ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Mike Dillon, Chick Corea, Milt Jackson and More

Read "Mike Dillon, Chick Corea, Milt Jackson and More" reviewed by Joe Dimino


This week we start with the music of veteran vibraphonist Mike Dillon, who just returned to Kansas City, and has a released a new album Rosewood. We also spotlight new music from Nicholas Krolak, Bartosz Hadala, Dann Zinn and Joe Fiedler. We give a birthday shoutout to the legendary Terry Gibbs and say good-bye to Eddie Van Halen who had a solid jazz history. Dig the music. Playlist Mike Dillon “Tiki Bird Whistle" Rosewood (Royal Potato Family) 00:00 ...

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Album Review

Mike Dillon: Rosewood

Read "Rosewood" reviewed by Doug Collette


Texas-born Mike Dillon moves in as many different directions as his varied skills allow. Witness his work with, among others, Garage A Trois, Critters Buggin' and Nolatet. Yet none of his adventures are as satisfying as when he adheres to his niche as vibraphonist/percussionist, so Rosewood makes a suitable companion piece to the similarly conceived and executed Functioning Broke (Royal Potato Family, 2016). As a matter of fact, Rosewood is almost a direct extension of that album. A ...

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Album Review

Mike Dillon: Functioning Broke

Read "Functioning Broke" reviewed by Doug Collette


As idiosyncratic as Mike Dillon's work has been with Critters Buggin' and Garage a Trois, it's well-nigh impossible not to fall under the spell of the music he creates all by himself on Functioning Broke. A deep dream-like quality emanates from his musicianship, most resonant in the warm glow of vibes that open “Half Right" and continues virtually unabated for the course of this unfortunately abbreviated (thirty-five minutes plus), right down to the similarly insinuating sounds of Indian percussion on ...

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Album Review

Mike Dillon: Band of Outsiders

Read "Band of Outsiders" reviewed by Dave Wayne


There are so many different ways to rebel in life, and Mike Dillon has done them all. Or so it seems, if the music on Band of Outsiders is any indication. Dillon is that rare musician who can take tropes from any number of disparate musical worlds-metal and Brazilian samba school for example-mash them together and create something truly fresh and new. He's a first rate drummer and an equally fine mallet percussionist. Here, he's mostly rocking the electric vibes ...

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Catching Up With

Mike Dillon: Rhythm Method

Read "Mike Dillon: Rhythm Method" reviewed by Mike Chamberlain


Percussionist/vibraphonist/bandleader Mike Dillon's music defies easy categorization. It's been called “punk jazz," a term that describes working methods--do it yourself, find your own voice--more than actual sounds.Dillon sports a wide-ranging musical résumé. He has led or has been a member of outfits such as Critters Buggin, Les Claypool's Fancy Band, The Dead Kenny G's, Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle, and Garage a Trois. He led Billy Goat in Dallas, Malachy Papers in Kansas City, and Hairy Apes BMX in ...

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Music Industry

Jazz this week: A tribute to Ray Kennedy, "Music at the Intersection," Marquis Hill, Mike Dillon Band, and more

Jazz this week: A tribute to Ray Kennedy, "Music at the Intersection," Marquis Hill, Mike Dillon Band, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

If you're trying to shake the mid-summer doldrums after some punishing heat and humidity over the past few days in St. Louis, getting out to hear some live jazz and creative music could be just the thing. This weekend's musical menu features a benefit for the family of a well-known local musician, a visit from a fast-rising trumpet talent, a free evening of music at multiple venues in Grand Center, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, July 15 ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Mike Dillon Band, Erin Bode Sings Standards, Phil Dunlap Quintet with Nicholas Payton, and More

Jazz This Week: Mike Dillon Band, Erin Bode Sings Standards, Phil Dunlap Quintet with Nicholas Payton, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Though many touring jazz stars are busy playing the festival circuit this month, there's still plenty of live jazz and creative music this weekend in St. Louis. Here's what's coming up over the next few days... Tonight, the Mike Dillon Band returns to perform at The Demo. Led by percussionist Mike Dillon, the MDB were here last in February, opening for Umphrey's McGee at The Pageant. They mix up jazz, funk, rock and punk in an energetic and entertaining way, ...

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Video / DVD

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Ride the "Lunatic Express" with Mike Dillon

STLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Ride the "Lunatic Express" with Mike Dillon

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

This week, let's check out some videos of the Mike Dillon Band, who will be in St. Louis to play on Thursday, June 27 at The Demo. The group features Dillon on vibraphone, percussion and vocals, Carly Meyers on trombone and bass pedals, Cliff Hines on guitar, bass and keyboards, and Adam Gertner on drums. They played here most recently back in February, when they opened for Umphrey's McGee at The Pageant. Dillon, a prolific collaborator and relentless live performer, ...

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Performance / Tour

Mike Dillon Band to Perform Thursday, June 27 at the Demo

Mike Dillon Band to Perform Thursday, June 27 at the Demo

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

The Mike Dillon Band will bring their jazz-funk-punk sound back to St. Louis for a performance at 9:00 p.m., Thursday, June 27 at The Demo, 4144 Manchester Blvd. Dillon, a percussionist, vocalist and composer, has played here before with Garage A Trois and The Dead Kenny Gs as well as with his own eponymous group. The Mike Dillon Band were in St. Louis most recently in February, when they opened for Umphrey's McGee at The Pageant. While they were here, ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz This Week: Denise Thimes, Mike Dillon, Bach to the Future, and More

Jazz This Week: Denise Thimes, Mike Dillon, Bach to the Future, and More

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Although there seems to be only one touring musician of significance on the local jazz and creative music calendar for this final weekend of June, there also are at least a dozen noteworthy shows featuring St. Louis musicians happening over the next few days. Here's a quick look at what's coming up... Tonight, percussionist Mike Dillon, of Garage a Trois and the Dead Kenny Gs, is scheduled to perform at 2720 Cherokee. Dillon, who lives in New Orleans, was just ...

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Recording

Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle:rock Star Bench Press

Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle:rock Star Bench Press

Source: JamBase

By: Dennis Cook

Weird don't usually swing this bloody hard! From the suited Yellow Submarine-like beastie throwing the horns on the cover to the electric vibraphone crunch inside (not to mention further subconscious stoking imagery from Thom Self) to the Butthole Surfers-esque, uh, singing, the latest from Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle is unabashedly “other." Dillon's jib is cut WAY different than the other monkeys brachiating around music, and we're goddamn lucky to have him - a flexed, unwavering warrior for ...

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Performance / Tour

Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle Announce New Us Tour Dates

Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle Announce New Us Tour Dates

Source: All About Jazz

Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle Announce New US Tour Dates in April 2007 in Support of Debut Album, Battery Milk

“The best psychedelic '60s-sounding cult band to come out of the new millennium" -The Phoenix New Times

“Now Mike Dillon has his own crew whose debut, Battery Milk, is both rough-hewn and debonair. The disc is a groove-y Twilight Zone where hearty jazz improvisations twist with dabs of metallic Sabbath- slabs over vigorous fatback-funk grooves." - San ...

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Recording

Introducing Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle / Debut Album on HYENA in 2007

Introducing Mike Dillon's Go-Go Jungle / Debut Album on HYENA in 2007

Source: All About Jazz

MIKE DILLON'S GO-GO JUNGLE To Release Debut Album, BATTERY MILK,On HYENA Records In 2007

Midwest and West Coast Tour Dates Announced For January & February

Brooklyn, NY - When jazz legends Lionel Hampton and Milt Jackson first introduced the vibes to the jazz idiom circa 1930, they could have never in their wildest dreams foreseen where Mike Dillon would take the concept 75 years later. Likewise, Dillon's heroes Black Sabbath, The Minutemen and Bad Brains would've been hard-pressed to envision ...

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Rosewood

Royal Potato Family
2020

buy

Functioning Broke

Royal Potato Family
2016

buy

Bones

Love Records
2014

buy

Band Of Outsiders

Royal Potato Family
2014

buy

Urn

Love Records
2012

buy

People Gardens

Love Records
2010

buy

GoGos Theme

From: Battery Milk
By Mike Dillon

Videos

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