Michael Evan Bloom (born April 5, 1975) is an American musician, singer, composer, producer and mixer[1] who has performed, produced or recorded with artists such as Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, Julian Casablancas,[2] Johnathan Rice, Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, and Rachael Yamagata. He was a co-founder of The Elected.[3] Bloom plays guitar, bass, lap steel[4] guitar, keys, drums, banjo, and harmonica.[citation needed] He is also a composer and has served as music supervisor for films and TV shows. He is the younger brother of actor/writer Brian Bloom and actor/producer/writer Scott Bloom.[5]

Mike Bloom
Bloom performing with Jenny Lewis at the Ready Room in 2015
Born
Michael Evan Bloom

(1975-04-05) April 5, 1975 (age 49)
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • composer
  • producer
  • mixer
Years active2004–present
RelativesBrian Bloom (brother)
Scott Bloom (brother)
Musical career

Biography

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Mike was a de facto member of Rilo Kiley from 2004–2005, touring with the band to support their 2004 record, More Adventurous.[6] During this time, he also appeared on several late night TV show performances with the band.

Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley approached Bloom with home demos which would eventually become 2004's The Elected record, Me First. While in Sennet's home studio one day Blake handed Bloom a lap steel, which was a gift from Jenny Lewis. While Bloom says he had never played one before, he "instantly took to it and what we recorded that day ended up on the first Elected record."[7] Released by Sub Pop, the songs were recorded at Elliott Smith’s studio with Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis and The Postal Service’s Jimmy Tamborello.[8] Bloom co-produced, mixed, and played various instruments on all three Elected records, much of which was done during off days on the road with Rilo Kiley, with Mike and Blake’s mobile recording rig.[7] Other contributions or touring members of The Elected included Jason Boesel (of Rilo Kiley),[9] Orenda Fink (of Azure Ray), Daniel Brummel, and Michael Runion.[10]

Bloom joined Julian Casablancas in 2009 as a touring guitar player in support of Casablancas' solo record, Phrazes for the Young.[11] He also performed on the Casablancas single "I Like the Night", an original song, written for Azzaro's men's fragrance, Decibel, dB.[12]

Bloom's debut solo album, King of Circles, was released in June 2011 on Rilo Kiley's bassist Pierre de Reeder's label, Little Record Company.[13] The New York Daily News drew comparisons to Harry Nilsson and The Byrds' "70s brand of singer-songwriting folk rock patented on the West Coast" with "scenic guitar work and sumptuous melodies"[14] and "expertly displayed and deceivingly complex acoustic picking."[15] Bloom wrote and played all of the instruments on the record, which also features Jenny Lewis, who co-wrote "Butchers Paper",[16] and string arrangements from Bright Eyes' Nate Walcott.[17]

Bloom played guitar, lap steel and vocals, in addition to serving as musical director[18] for Jenny Lewis in support of 2014's The Voyager.[19]

The Elected reunited for a one-off show opening for Morrissey at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2015[20] and then again in 2018 opening for Azure Ray in Los Angeles at their reunion show held at the Lodge Room.[21]

Discography

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The Elected

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Album appearances (including production & mixing credits)

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Solo

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  • Mike Bloom - King of Circles (2011, Little Record Company)
  • Flower Moon Records - Friends and Family Volume 1 (2018, Flower Moon Records)

Film and television

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Compositions

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Performances

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References

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  1. ^ "Verdugo - Richard Edwards | Credits | AllMusic". www.allmusic.com.
  2. ^ "- YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  3. ^ Smith, Roz (January 12, 2024). "Interview with Blake Sennett from The Elected: Stepping Back Into The Light | The Aquarian". www.theaquarian.com.
  4. ^ "The Elected: Sun, Sun, Sun". pitchfork.com.
  5. ^ "Mike Bloom". www.imdb.com.
  6. ^ Farber, Jim. "'King of Circles' review: Mike Bloom branches out from Rilo Kiley, recreates '70s singer-songwriting". nydailynews.com.
  7. ^ a b That, Thank Folk For (March 24, 2015). "Interview: Mike Bloom's Afterthought To Tour | Thank Folk For That". thankfolkforthat.com.
  8. ^ Records, Sub Pop. "The Elected". Sub Pop Records.
  9. ^ "Jason Boesel: Hustler's Son". pitchfork.com.
  10. ^ "The Elected". www.spin.com. January 24, 2006.
  11. ^ "Mike Bloom: King of Circles (Little Record Company) - Spike Magazine". www.spikemagazine.com.
  12. ^ Schutte, Lauren (September 1, 2011). "Strokes Frontman Julian Casablancas Stars in a New Perfume Ad". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ "Paste Music - Guides to the Best Albums, Reviews and Live Music Video". pastemagazine.com.
  14. ^ Farber, Jim. "'King of Circles' review: Mike Bloom branches out from Rilo Kiley, recreates '70s singer-songwriting". nydailynews.com.
  15. ^ "Review: Mike Bloom - King of Circles | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com.
  16. ^ "The Elected's Mike Bloom Set Solo Release ::Mike Bloom News ::antiMusic.com". www.antimusic.com.
  17. ^ "Arrangements". Nathaniel Walcott.
  18. ^ a b "Austin City Limits". acltv.com.
  19. ^ "Jenny Lewis and company soar at the Observatory". Orange County Register. August 26, 2015.
  20. ^ Eustice, Kyle (July 9, 2015). "Talk about passion". Boulder Weekly.
  21. ^ January 21st, Kevin Bronson on (January 22, 2018). "Photos: Azure Ray, the Elected and Whispertown at the Lodge Room". buzzbands.la.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Rilo Kiley – Live at Fingerprints EP (2004, CD)". Discogs. November 9, 2004.
  23. ^ "Afroskull – to Obscurity and Beyond (2009, CD)". Discogs. November 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "Tim Heidecker by Gary Canino - BOMB Magazine". November 20, 2013.
  25. ^ rocknycliveandrecorded.com http://rocknycliveandrecorded.com/listen-to-elle-belles-new-single-knock-on-the-light.html. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ^ "Richard Edwards Debuts Playful New Video for 'Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'': Exclusive". Billboard.
  27. ^ "Elle Belle". ellebellenosignal.bandcamp.com.
  28. ^ "Whatever We do". IMDb.
  29. ^ "Song One - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2014, Digipak, CD)". Discogs. November 24, 2023.
  30. ^ "Midnight Sun (2018)". Archived from the original on June 28, 2018.
  31. ^ "Coca-Cola TV Commercial, 'We Are the Coca-Cola Company'".
  32. ^ "Rilo Kiley "Portions For Foxes" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson". www.youtube.com.
  33. ^ "Late Night 'Kilo Riley (live) 10/6/04". www.youtube.com.
  34. ^ "Julian Casablancas Brings "River of Brakelights" to Fallon". March 30, 2010.
  35. ^ "Jenny Lewis Bends Gender with 'Just One of the Guys' Performance on 'Fallon'". July 29, 2014.
  36. ^ "Saturday Sessions: Jenny Lewis performs "She's Not Me"". CBS News.
  37. ^ "Watch Jenny Lewis' Smooth, Self-Assured Seth Meyers Performance". November 11, 2014.
  38. ^ "Watch Jenny Lewis Slay 'She's Not Me' on 'The Late Late Show'". April 17, 2015.
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