Mike Love Kicks Off His Summer West Coast Tour

Rastafarian singer-songwriter Mike Love was born and raised in Oahu, Hawai’i to a musical family who introduced him early on to such revolutionary artists as Bob Marley, The Clash, Stevie Wonder and Patti Smith. So it comes as no surprise that he brings a multitude of sounds to the table on his critically acclaimed debut, The Change I’m Seeking, which recently won Best Reggae Album at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaiian GRAMMYs).

Independently released earlier this year on the artist’s own Love Not War Records, the album harkens the legends of roots reggae, however, Mike Love, a classically trained pianist, elegantly fuses the simple rhythms of classic reggae with the complex changes of classical and rock music to come up with a style wholly unique to him.

It is the message, the passion, the voice, and the wisdom behind his words that truly resonate with Mike Love fans, which include fellow music makers, Usher, who discovered Love’s music at South By South West (SXSW) in Austin, Texas earlier this year, and Jack Johnson, who has been a longtime believer.

Standout tracks on The Change I’m Seeking include the unofficial single “Barbershop,” “Human Race,” “Distant Travelers,” “Jahwakening” and “Permanent Holiday,” where Love laments the ills of the world but also offers solutions to them. “All the messages that come through the music, it’s not just my wisdom, because I don’t think I’m some wise elder or anything like that,” he humbly explains. “I just open myself to the music and it just comes through.”
Check out his ‘Cat’s Meow’ video:

Mike Love is currently touring the West Coast, where he’ll be playing major music festivals and a few intimate clubs. Remaining dates below: