‘husband&wife’ musician praises local Bloomington music scene

Mike Adams said he thinks highly of the Bloomington music scene. He reveres it to such an extent that he says the best music in the world is being made here. It was the vibrant population of bands and musicians that first drew Adams to move here 10 years ago.

After arriving in town in 2001, Adams and some fellow local musicians started the group husband&wife, the project that Adams said gets most of his attention today. But apart from the group, he is also involved in a recent solo project, Mike Adams at His Honest Weight, and plays in Prayer Breakfast and has also joined local musician Frank Schweikhardt’s band.  

Though Adams is musically involved, he said he’s constantly drawn to catchy pop hooks and also has an affinity for sonic exploration and limitations.

“I think my ‘sound’ is defined by my constantly trying to combine those elements into something memorable,” Adams said.

Currently, Adams is in the process of working on new solo material, and listeners can look forward to an upcoming split 7 inch on Flannelgraph Records with the group Candy Claws. The group husband&wife leaves for a two-week tour of the east Friday and will return to Bloomington on May 1 with a show at The Bishop.  

IDS Where do you think your music sounds best? And why?
ADAMS Ha, it always sounds best in my mind before I try to squeeze it out through my fingers.

IDS What album are you listening to right now?
ADAMS Right now, as in this second, I’m listening to “Dawn” by Mount Eerie, but that’s because I just listened to Low’s new record “C’mon” three times and thought I should take a break.

IDS What’s your favorite piece of equipment and why?

ADAMS I’m not much of a gear-head, but I do have a 1963 Kay Model 704 amplifier that I’ve used on every record I’ve ever made. It was also my first guitar amp, given to me by my granddad. I’ve sort of grown sentimentally attached to it, but it also sounds great and has a tremolo that I love and depend on.

IDS What was the first record you bought and where?
ADAMS If memory serves (and it probably doesn’t...) I think it was the self-titled Jars of Clay record at On Cue in Warsaw, Indiana.

IDS What’s your favorite band right now in Bloomington?

ADAMS That’s a very hard question to answer because there are a lot of great bands in Bloomington who fill different-shaped holes in my heart. I think I get the most excited when I hear that Justin Vollmar is working on something new. He’s got a great way of making relatable music, but most of the time I have no idea where he’s come from, and I love that. What I mean is, he’s got a cool perspective. I also love singing along to Sleeping Bag, or getting completely lost in a Tammar song. This list could go on, though ... the best music in the world right now is being made in Bloomington.  

IDS If you could play a show with another group or musician, dead or alive, who would it be?

ADAMS It would be with Starflyer 59 on the tour for “Leave Here A Stranger.”