Contact Info 510-289-2667  E-Mail bsntheband@gmail.com

Audience Profile & Live Performance Requirements

Target Audience: The core demographic for Mike Glendinning is highly engaged, comprised primarily of male musicians aged 45–65 who seek sophisticated instrumental performance. This knowledgeable audience drives a strong demand for venues that offer boundary-pushing music and high-level guitar work.

Performance Versatility: Mike Glendinning is bookable as a full Grunge Jazz trio (Guitar, Bass, Drums) or as a Solo Artist. The solo performance offers a distinct, low-footprint option that strips the sound down to a powerful, raw Delta Blues-style experience, drawing from a repertoire of 42 solo arrangements.

Technical Flexibility: The live setup requires approximately 8 inputs for the full trio (miced guitar amp, 2 vocals, bass input, 4 drum mics) and relies heavily on on-stage monitors for an accurate mix. Full band charts and scores are available upon request for all traveling musicians. Mike defers final monitor settings to the sound engineer's discretion, viewing the sound professional as the most important member of the live team.

"one of the most unique guitarists I've heard" and the album as a "very rare example of cross-genre experimentation gone right." It was given a 9.3/10 (Superb) score.

"distorted, sort of hunchbacked thing" of grunge with "honest to God jazz." He is noted for his "gift for cross-genre work."

"superb," with an "uncanny" ability to convey emotion with light distortion and a few chords. His style mixes "grimy, distorted chords and complex textures blended with a sweet, melodic jazz line."

"drawling, mournful opening on 'Fade'" and lyrics that are "morbidity and depressing, thoughtful," 

Mark Fisher of Indie-Music wrote about Glendinning’s gap-bridging uniqueness: "[He] must be doing something right because [his] CD has quickly become an object of fascination for me, and I have certainly listened to it more than the average CD I get to review... Be careful because you could end up under its spell."

Long Bio

Mike Glendinning is a Bay Area guitarist and songwriter who’s been dodging labels his whole life — both figuratively and literally. His music doesn’t fit in neat little boxes — it crashes grunge’s dirty distortion into jazz’s crooked sophistication and leaves the pieces scattered on the floor. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix at age 12 (because, let’s be honest, who wasn’t?), Mike’s musical rabbit hole led him through high school jazz bands, rock stages, and eventually into his own self-built bunker: Grunge Jazz.

Since throwing together his home studio in 2002 (probably with duct tape and caffeine), Mike’s been cranking out albums that don’t ask for permission. His debut, Machine In The Sky, featured Christina Glendinning on vocals — proof that at least one person willingly stuck around to make music with him. The Mike Glendinning Band (2005) dove into darker, weirder waters with Blair Reese on bass and Ron Gainer on drums. Critics called it “diverse,” which is musician-speak for "what the hell is this?" but in the best possible way.

By 2007’s Random Acts of Grunge Jazz, Mike wasn’t just pushing boundaries — he was bulldozing them. The album brought in heavy hitters like producer Curtis Ohlson (Ray Charles, Pete Escovedo), Brian Collier (Lauryn Hill, Santana), and Mick Mestek (Tower of Power). Christina Glendinning returned on backing vocals, and James Boblak (The Police, Stu Hamm) cleaned up the glorious mess in the mix. Sort of.

Mike’s Grunge Jazz isn’t for everyone — but neither is reality. It’s jagged, gritty, and doesn’t come with a safety net. Think Miles Davis got in a bar fight with Nirvana, and Thelonious Monk threw a drink from across the room. It’s DIY. It’s grimy. It’s got heart.

He’s been signed to three indie labels over the years, learning firsthand that the music industry doesn’t come with instructions — so he wrote his own.

When Mike’s not bending strings into strange new shapes, he’s teaching guitar — rock, folk, jazz — to anyone who wants to learn without the sugar coating. He’s played Bay Area stages, built his own lane, and managed to earn just enough critical praise to make the haters uncomfortable.

As Mark Fisher from Indie-Music put it:
"Be careful because you could end up under its spell."

Trust him. It’s a weird but good spell.

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Artist Bio: Mike Glendinning (Short Version)
Mike Glendinning is a Bay Area guitarist and songwriter best known as the creator of Grunge Jazz—a unique sound that smashes the dirty distortion of grunge into the crooked sophistication of jazz.

Inspired by Jimi Hendrix, Glendinning carved his own lane through rock stages and high school jazz bands, eventually building a home studio in 2002 to record music that "doesn’t ask for permission." His sound is jagged, gritty, and fiercely independent.

His work, including albums like Random Acts of Grunge Jazz (2007), has involved noted collaborators like producer Curtis Ohlson (Ray Charles) and mixed by James Boblak (The Police). Critics have called his highly diverse music a "weird but good spell."

Glendinning continues to write, perform on Bay Area stages, and teach guitar, proving that he can both master music and break every rule it comes with.