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2005 Best Live Solo Act 25.65% Mike Conley*
Others with Votes (more than one):
Hubie Ashcraft, Big Frame, Eric Clancy, John Minton
* On the ballot
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As winner of the Best Solo performer, Best Pop Performer and half of the best Live Duo, with Chris Dodds, Conley is proving to be as popular as he is versatile. He’s also proving that hard work pays off. Conley seemingly plays all the time. On Friday evenings he’s at Columbia Street West with Dodds, a gig he’s had for years. On Thursday’s he hosts open mic night at Mad Anthony Brewing Company. He plays regularly at Don Hall’s Guesthouse, at Triangle Park, Henry’s, and any number of other place, parties, openings, you name it. But I guess none of this is news to his fans, who regularly seek him out wherever he plays. On March 12 they may have to travel a little farther than usual, however. That’s because Conley will be in Chicago auditioning for the upcoming CBS reality show, "Rock Star." He was asked to audition by Mark Burnett Productions. Burnett is the creator of Survivor and a number of other hit television shows. The audition is private. Last year the show focused on finding someone to fill a spot in the band INXS. This year, appropriately enough, the show will find a singer/songwriter to thrust into the national spotlight. Burnett’s people found Conley on garagebands.com, the site where Conley and myriad other musicians have songs posted. Conley’s song "Shallow" is currently ranked 22 out of 15,000 on the site, a spot granted the song by people who review songs they hear. "Shallow," off Conley’s CD, My Little Secret, is also the song that hooked "Rock Star" producers. "It was kind of a last minute thing," Conley said of his inclusion in the audition process. "They called and said they wanted me to skip the "cattle call " on March 11 and to come in the on the 12th for a private audition." Conley will do three songs at the audition; "Shallow," another original and a cover tune. Conley also got producer Scott Mathews’ attention. Mathews spoke with Conley recently, an exchange Conley described as a pep talk. "He said at some point we would do an album together," Conley said. "He was very complimentary of my CD." Even if nothing comes of it, any of it, Conley said just being asked to audition for "Rock Star" and the approbation from Mathews just feels good. He should feel good. He’s earned it. |
Copyright 2005 Ad Media Inc.
Mike Conley is a busy guy. Especially on
Whammy night. He picked up three Whammys this
year. Last year he got four. Or was it five? It’s
easy to lose count.