With only an acoustic guitar and a microphone stand in front of him, Mike Viola opened with a solo set on Wednesday and Thursday night for Grammy Award-winner Madison Cunningham at the 04 Center, captivating the crowd with his comical remarks and indie rock songs.
Throughout his career, Viola produced and co-wrote with artists such as Cunningham, Mandy Moore and Panic! At The Disco. First starting out in the band Candy Butchers, Viola soon branched out, with almost a dozen solo albums, as well as movie credits, writing songs for films like “That Thing That You Do!” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.”
“(Cunningham’s) a dear friend, and when she asked me to do this leg of the tour, I was stoked, because I love (Austin),” Viola said. “I’ve been down there a bunch, but I think I’ve only played Austin as Mike Viola (once), doing my show two years ago.”
Beginning the evening with “Hair of the Dog,” enchanting sounds of the guitar lured the audience in as Viola showcased his musical talent through unique chords, high vocal notes and introspective lyricism.
“Lost among the mirrors / facing the mirror,” Viola sang. “Trying to imitate myself / Obliterate myself.”
After playing a few more songs, Viola took a moment to reminisce about his experiences touring and how he plays his songs differently each time he performs.
“We have access to all of this music and entertainment, and it’s really great that we do,” Viola said. “But to get out and to be sitting in a live venue, whether you’re watching a movie, playing chess, reading a book or listening to somebody play their songs, it’s an awesome thing that you did for yourselves to come here.”
Keeping the energy up, Viola performed his witty song, “Mutant Ninja Turtle,” causing the audience to erupt with laughs, afterwards joking that his songs are all true.
“My skinny black jeans on this middle-aged man in a battle of time / Makes him look more distorted,” Viola sang. “And this has been reported / That it makes him look just like a Mutant Ninja Turtle.”
As the show neared its end, Viola opened up about losing his first wife and performed an unreleased song, “Heart of a Southshore Girl.” The soft plucking of his guitar fit the somber and evocative tone of the ballad.
“The world just stopped like it does sometimes / In the life of a Southshore girl,” Viola sang. “Then it all went dark but the sun still shines / In the heart of a Southshore girl.”
Viola said he plans to release a new album this year, along with his book, “Superkid,” that features a photo collection of his time as a musician in Boston.
“Human beings are creators,” Viola said. “We’re in this world of so many unnecessary distractions, when we’re built to create. So to have stuff out, it feels good, it feels manageable, because it just does. There’s so much love and excitement and positivity that goes into everything.”
