new music

listen to my latest collection of songs called “sensible shoes”

played, sung, and recorded at home in glorious ‘medium-fi’ stereophonic sound for your listening pleasure.

all songs written by mike grier

sensible shoes

Too Much Trouble

Download

Anyway

Download

I Think I’d Rather Be Lost

Download

Me And The Bearded Lady

Download

Go Get Your Dad

Download

I Was Wrong But So Were You

Download

pray for me

Download

Then Again

Download

The Will But Not The Way

Download

A Friend Of A Friend

Download

Too Much Trouble

Download

 

Stream the entire album!

Download Sensible Shoes

 

lost socks

 

took too much, left too little behind

Download

 

 

 

older music

listen to the previous collection, called ‘certain songs for uncertain people’

played, sung, and recorded at home in glorious ‘medium-fi’ stereophonic sound for your listening pleasure.

all songs written by mike grier, except ‘when the levee breaks’ which was written by kansas joe mccoy and memphis minnie in 1929.

certain songs for uncertain people

forgotten but not gone

Download

hello

Download

in the darkness there’s a light

Download

living off the land

Download

old friends

Download

one day

Download

pray for me

Download

run

Download

scene of the crime

Download

that’s the shit

Download

that’s what i’m gonna do

Download

unconfirmed reports

Download

when the levee breaks

Download

wounded creation

Download

 

Stream the entire album!

Download Certain Songs for Uncertain People

 

15 Comments

    1. “Tired of all the headlines, like a thousand cuts that no one ever sees.”

      Subtle reminders that pack a punch.

      I’m excited that I can stream and download your tunes. Thanks for sharing.

  1. Val, a world tour is in the works for 2014-2015. I don’t want to say too much at this point, but it will begin and end here in Ottawa, and involve at least one gig, maybe more. Details to follow.

  2. The irony of your site/album launch is that we (Colleen, Grace, Jake and I) were grooving through a snapshot of your musical evolution last night – songs from Can You Do This?, Shaken Not Stirred, Where We Are and I Hate Folk Singers were played in our kitchen over wine, laughs and stories (not sure how much the kids had to drink but it sure seemed like the wine went fast). Many great memories, special moments and wonderful people…..and your songs were at the core of some of the best years of our lives. Thanks Mike. Love, The Willisons.

    1. Wow, you Willisons sure know how to make a guy’s day – but we already knew that. Time for a get-together…. Love right back at you, Mike

  3. Awesome work Mike! A new-fangled way to receive the record, but at least my internet did not have frustrating shrink-wrap o it!

    Steve

  4. Very cool Mike. Sound and quality is fantastic…enjoyed it very much. Great additions to my playlist(s).
    Keep up the great work and I’m looking forward to the tour ;).

  5. Thanks for these, Mike. It’s so great to hear your voice again. Love the intimacy and richness in your tone in “Scene of the Crime” and “Unconfirmed Reports” in particular. It’s like I’m being wrapped up in a warm blanket, slowly, except it’s kind of a sad blanket. A sad blanket that makes me happy.

  6. Heh Mike, on first listen – brilliant as usual. It had such an effect on me that I dreamt I was watching you playing “Run” in your studio while someone was downstairs making us Butter Chicken. It doesn’t get any better than that. Oh, and Lenny Kravitz was on drums. (Heh – it’s my dream.)
    I shall have a more fulsome listen this weekend. Congratulations.

  7. Mike..I think there are people who would be also be interested in your production skills..
    and The Scene of…featured as the crime unfolds..not quite in full cinematic view..

  8. Hey mike
    Just finished running through the collection on a sunny Sunday morning. Really enjoyed them. Solid set. Wounded creation is my personal fave. It was nice running into you this summer. Wasn’t able to set up a visit, but maybe some time next summer.
    J

  9. I have only listened to the first three songs so far, but I can tell that these songs are something I would listen to while doing something creative, like drawing or painting

  10. Hello Mike,

    As I’ve occasional done over the past 10+ years or so, I search the Internet for any Hoobler activities. It’s been so many years but the Hoobler’s remain in my rotation, I loved what you guy did, so I was so surprised and elated when on of my searches showed a hit on Mike Grier. I don’t understand why I didn’t come across this sooner but no matter, I here now. My first and foremost question is how do purchase your music since the Hoobler’s demise? I don’t see how to download or order your music, please let me know. Thank you,

    Rick Balsley
    reachrickb@comcast.net

  11. In the early 2000s a friend of mine passed me a cd by the Hooblers ‘Where We Are’. He had read a favourable review, I believe it was in Rolling Stone, about an Ottawa band with a following in Germany.
    I came to Ottawa in 1986 to study photography at UO and never left.

    This album hit me from the first listen. In my mind it created images through music that I wished could be photographs. I listen to this album over and over as we do when we find something true. Albums like Nebraska, Making Movies, I Feel Alright, Demolition, Sailing to Philadelphia … just a few from my list.

    In the early 80s I owned a 67 Pontiac Parisienne and Making Movies was in my tape deck for two years running. I loved that car and more than twenty years later I played ‘Where We Are’ for the first time beginning with ‘Parisienne’. I was transfixed and that cd replaced 54-40’s ‘Since When’ as my go to music while working in my shop on Gladstone Avenue.

    One day during this period of playing this album over and over while working at my picture framing business, a young fellow came into the shop. After greeting him, he stopped, listened and asked ‘you like the Hooblers?’ I replied ‘I can’t stop listening to this album!’. He then told me his cousin had been in the band which had disbanded to do an illness. I was disappointed at hearing this news.

    Mike, we don’t know each other and I know this has been a long winded comment but I want you to know how much this music has meant to me. I had searched around for more Hooblers but not until recently on Spotify. I was so happy to find more Hooblers and your solo work which I have been listening to and once again it’s inspiring.

    I still listen to ‘Where We Are’ with regularity and often several listens in a row. To this day when asked about my favourite album, it’s #1 and always will be.
    Thank you to you and your band mates.

    Tom

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