Shiner

Mike Stanley’s return to the microphone after going sober proves that losing the bottle did not soften his edge. Working under self-deprecating monikers like Mickey Bluejeans and Ol’ Weatherbones, he delivers an hour of Midwestern pragmatism and relationship frustration. The performance suggests that giving up alcohol only made his observational skills more focused, leaving his cynical view of the world entirely intact.

Recorded in December 2014 at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago and the Magic Bag in Ferndale, Michigan, the set was released by Stand Up! Records in 2016.

Throughout the set, Stanley targets the oddities of modern life, from the intimidating allure of female bodybuilders to the awkwardness of trying to explain gay marriage to children. He treats airport security checkpoints with the suspicion of a man who knows he looks guilty even when he has done nothing wrong. The material showcases a touring club veteran who has spent years perfecting his timing in Rust Belt rooms, resulting in a performance that relies on hard-won experience rather than theatrical gimmicks.