Last night we had the pleasure of seeing Mike Herz at the Rockwood Music Hall in New York. Mike performed most songs with a band, and the show was recorded for a future live album.

Our review of Mike’s Overgrown album was one of our first posts way back in November, 2013. In that far distant time we observed that Mike Herz was not a daydreamer, but a man chasing a dream.

The daydreamer sits at a desk pushing numbers around and thinking it would be really cool to sing with Stevie Nicks. He accomplishes his goal several times each day as he toils down the freeway on his commute, singing along to the Fleetwood Mac songs that seemingly comprise the entire playlist of 93.7 The Arrow. And yet, thirty years later, all he has to show for his effort is thirty extra pounds on his waistline, a feat matched by Stevie Nicks.

Mike Herz, the man chasing his dream, grabs the best available singer and makes a run for it. Thirty years later he may not have made it much beyond the county line. But at least he gave it a damn good try and got as far as possible within the allotted time.

We are happy to report that, in a little more than four years, Mike has made it considerably farther than the county line.

“The Chain” was, for me, the highlight of an amazing show. This is a first-degree tearjerker, displaying Mike’s has ability to translate his own experiences into songs that address universal human conditions. Love, life, and loss are themes that every songwriter relies on. But “The Chain” tells us of the inherent inevitability of that loss, and exposes us to the fear that we can do nothing to prevent it.

It has been a privilege to see and hear Mike’s musical growth and evolution. While he always had the words, the singing, the song structure, the overall musicianship have improved greatly since Overgrown. I’m looking forward to the next album, and to seeing how far beyond the county line Mike Herz will get in the next thirty years.

Mike’s music is available for download on his Bandcamp page. Be sure to visit his website, and follow him on Facebook, and Twitter.