14 Miles to Empty plays an eclectic mix of soul, rock, country, blues, and jazz cover tunes, spiced with some originals by our own B. Michael Mann. The band was forged through a shared love of the classic Soul music from Motown, Stax, and other labels, but our set list has expanded to include favorites from many eras and genres. At one of our gigs, you're likely to hear songs from the 40's, the 21st century, and every decade in between.
We cover music by artists including Eva Cassidy, Stevie Wonder, Sam and Dave, the Dixie Chicks, Al Green, The Pretenders, Blondie, Snow Patrol, Lauro Nyro, Macy Gray, Norah Jones, and much more.
Please email us at info@14milestoempty.com if you would like a current song list
Gail’s musical idols include Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell, Patty Griffin and Stevie Wonder. She’s thrilled to be able to be part of a band where she gets to sing songs by so many of her favorite musicians. Gail’s been singing all her life, and performing since her mom had her standing on a table during a regular “gig” at the local nursing home to belt out “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby”. Arguably, the gigs have gotten better since then.
One day she’ll learn how to fold up her music stand all by herself, but until then she is forever indebted to the boys in the band.
When asked, Ken replied "I'm available any night". We think he was referring to rehearsal schedules, but that's just a guess.
Ed is from the home state of James Brown, Otis Redding, The Allman Brothers, The Q-Fonics, Wet Willie, The B-52s, Capricorn Records, REM, Bill Lowery, Hugh Rogers, Piano Red, Frank Joiner, MHS Band, The Dynels, great gospel music, The Rogues, Cloud Nine, tent revivals, The Funky Soul Train, Sam Caldwell, Ken Stanton Music, Mr. Mac, Bob Swiatek, The Big M Review, Alton Smith, Big Hugh Baby and a host of other entertainers, celebrities and near-do-wells.
Musical influences - Classical to Blues, Big Band to Soul, Gospel to Drum & Bugle Corps, Jazz to Country, Yodeling to Spoons and Accordion to Zither. Great times were shared with Todd, Hebod, Bryan, Bob G, Cootie, Karl (RIP), Ron D, AP, Craig, Nepote, Vernon, Bob J, Billy, Mac (RIP), Ron A, Willie (RIP), Tyrone, Frank, Harvey, Jerry, Mr. Mac and too many more to list.
Awakened daily for years by future Left Coast composer brother playing the piano, Ed joined the great local Music Ed. program coaxing duck sounds from Saxophones and later played Electric Bass in an R& B band, Tenor Sax in a dance band, Guitar in a Beatles/English Invasion/R& B band, Baritone Bugle in a Drum and Bugle Corp, Contrabass Clarinet in a University Band, Electric Bass in American Legion-AmVet-Elks Clubs, and Guitar in a Soul/R&B/Blues road band.
After a not-short-enough stint in another big government fiasco, a detour into the business world led to the love of his life who got him to pull the '65 Gibson 335 from under the bed and start playing again. Here we are a few years later loving the music. Amps seem to weigh more and there are many more effects pedals and synthesizers these days.
"Gail, Ken, Mike, Tom and I have so much fun, it just can't be legal. We play a truly eclectic mix of music— nobody loves everything we play, but everybody loves something. You'll never be bored on a musical journey with us." As Arthur Connelly sang, "Do You Like Good Music? Yeah, Yeah!".
After a rather bad audition experience trying out for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, Mike decided to give up the show business to
barely tread water in the family business. Turning down jobs to accompany such recording greats as, Monty Rock III, Lou Christie, Leonard Nimoy, and Troy Aikman, he turned his attentions to his first love....Baseball. Unfortunately, he was told in no uncertain terms that he was too short, his legs were not long enough, he was too slow, and his balance was not quite good enough to carry the head dress. Wait....that was the Rockettes audition.
All this has become moot since 14 Miles To Empty was formed. "This is truly a great experience."
Mike credits his eclectic musical tastes to living in the greatest city, Chicago, where all types of music were available to him on radio, TV, and live. His influences vary, depending on what instrument he's playing, and what music in on the stereo. Too name just a few:
Oscar Brown Jr., Steve Levitt, Ray Brown, Leland Sklar, Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Larry Graham, Fred Neil, Luis Aparicio, Roberto Clemente, Wayne Cochran, David Grisman, Bella Fleck, Future Man, George Harrison, John Lennon, the people of Chicago, good sound men, and every studio guy who ever played with or on any of the so called one-hit-wonders that are the back bone of the whole deal.
Mike says: "I couldn't be in a happier musical place now. Playing with these folks truly is a joy and an honor."
With due credit to Ace Frehley for some early inspiration, Tom's favorite guitar players these days include Robben Ford, Steve Cropper, Brian May, Larry Carlton, Sonny Landreth, and Scott Henderson.
As a fan of everything from Queen to Sam and Dave, Howlin Wolf to John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett to Miles Davis, and a host of female artists including Aretha, Tori Amos, Loreena McKennitt, Cassandra Wilson, Holly Cole, and Bonnie Raitt, what could be better than playing in a soul/jazz/rock/country/folk band fronted by a singer like Gail?
Gear: Guitars include a fabulous Tele-style guitar from Glendale Guitars (which arrived courtesy of a fund-raising giveaway on the Telecaster Discussion Page), a Fender American Series Hot Rod Fat Telecaster, an Ibanez Roadstar II Strat-style, and a Larivee L-03 Acoustic. His main gigging amp is a Traynor YCV40WR. Favorite effects include the Small Fry and Direct Drive SS overdrive pedals from Barber Electronics, a Digitech DigiDelay, and the very nifty Digitech EX-7 Expression Factory.
