Acoustic Tonic profile picture

Acoustic Tonic

ACOUSTIC TONIC - Music for what ails ya !!!!

About Me

These two musical collaborators found each other in Central Florida. When Doug relocated to the Winter Garden, FL area from Missouri a few years back, he got his first FL music job playing on the patio at the Catfish Place in Apopka. He had already met Michael at a local (Ocoee FL) parking lot bluegrass jam session, they also crossed paths one morning at the Florida Mall, and discussed the possibility of pursuing a project to play - "a little more than just bluegrass". Michael had moved to Central Florida in 1988, to work in ensembles with many of the local and nationally known jazz musicians. He also worked with several horn section based rock bands and did stints in several wild, outlaw country bands. This followed 15 years in Louisville KY for Michael, working in several successful acoustic groups, one 50s doo-wop type showband, and country-rock (Americana) bands who enjoyed local and regional stardom. The most known and notable of these groups based out of Louisville were the Full Moon Band (Americana) of the early 80s, a large showband called The Sultans, and a high-powered R&B flavored acoustic trio called Hot Sauce. Doug had cut his bluegrass teeth in Columbia, first with the Bass Avenue Boys, and later with a number of local bluegrass musicians, including Claud Crum, Dave Craigmile, Forrest Rose, and other like minded acoustic area musicians. He also spent time playing with Bob Camp and friends in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Iowa City, Iowa, and with a number of friends in the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association along the way. Anyway, Doug invited Michael to stop by the patio and pick some tunes. They soon found striking similarities in the musical catalogs in their heads. The patio gig ended, but the friendship continued, and recently these two rounders have reunited as Acoustic Tonic, and are gigging regularly in the Orlando area. The great thing about Michael is, he can catch on and play anything - whether he knows it or not. Works out well, since Doug is not a great fan of "band rehearsals". An Acoustic Tonic performance is like sitting around the living room with some friends who play music. Casual, spontaneous, seldom the same thing twice. They have no qualms about launching into a request they "might" know. Watch them as one introduces a new song to the other right in front of you. The song selections come from a wide variety of sources and styles. With Mike on guitar and vocals, and Doug on mandolin, guitar, harmonica, and vocals, (not necessarily at the same time) the musical texture can vary widely. The only band rule - have fun and enjoy the music! Really, what else is there? "Don't step in nothin' you can't wipe off" (Michael McKee)"It's a whole lot better than a sharp stick in the eye" (Doug Buchheister) "Ain't no dark 'til somethin' shines - I'm bound to leave this dark behind" (Townes Van Zandt) "You can't always believe your eyes - it's your heart that sees through all the lies" (Steve Earle)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/17/2007
Band Website: myspace.com/acoustictonic
Band Members: Doug Buchheister and Michael McKee
Influences: Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, The Beatles, Dick Clark, Ed Sullivan, The Rolling Stones, Bob Marley, Jimmy Martin, Benny Martin, John Hartford, Ralph and Carter Stanley, Hazel Dickens, Willie Nelson, Tim O'Brien, Claude Crum, Stephen Stills, Sam Bush, Lynn Bush, The Bass Avenue Boys, Ed Hysinger, Bonny Holmes, Byron House, Mark Heard, Stephen Mougin, David Rawlings, Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Johnny Cash, Billie Holliday, Bob Camp, Eli Lewis Hall, Lou Hacker, Gillian Welch, Keith Whitley, Neil Young, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Steve Earle, Kenny Moore, Joe Walsh, John Cowan, Jackson Browne, Jon Corneal, Tony Rice, Eric Clapton, Edgar Meyer, Emmylou Harris, Carolyn Woosley, Chris "Skins" Andrews, Paul Kennerley, Jack and Judie Lewis, Gerald Creed, Mike Worrall, Tom Stephens, Flash, Mike Thompson, Brian and David Gorrell, Bob Wills, "Uncle" Bob Wills, John Graham, Wes Brammer, Buford Walls, Gordon Ray Pomerleau, John Gage, Mickey Clark and Bill Clark, Hillard, Greg Clark, Merle Travis, Vince Gill, Doc Watson, Buck Owens, Don Rich, Townes VanZandt, Stephen Walters, Steve Smith, Sam Noto, Rodney Crowell, The Dillards, Kelly Miller, Hoyt Axton, George Jones, Uncle Gordon McKee, Jimmy Day, Caetano Veloso, Alice Carmo Marega, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Don and Carmen Hays, Steve Goodman, Steve Fishell, Frank Reckard, Mike Bowden, Gram Parsons, Barry Tashian, Beau Haddock, Buddy Miller, Bobby Blackford, Mr. Burghardt, John Prine, Guy Clark, Ralph Emery, Gary Chapman, Bob Dylan, Robert Palmer, JJ Cale, Ivan "Van the Reggae Man" Bertie, Charlie Silva, Benmont Tench, Will Perryman, David Grisman, Ronnie Ebelhar, Billy Krug, John Hayden, Glenn Sims, Herb Kelly, John Conrad, Terry Martin, Bobby Sledge, Michael Murphy, Monkey Mackey, Kim Ritchey, Barry Stevens, Bill Miller, Al Eisenman, Dr. David Dees, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, James Burton, George Chappell, Terry Morrison, John Burns, Eddie Collins, Eddie Kiger, Richard "Dickie" Braun, Elvis, Leo Kottke, Gary Urbanski, Rita Ruby, Albert Lee, Uncle Allie McKee, Ray Flacke, Chet Atkins, Dave Craigmile, Forest Rose, Mrs. Wheat, Ben Medley, Charlie and Ira Louvin, Barry Yasika, John Tarr, Dr. Steve Lee, Jeff Gushin, John Lisco, Dr. Susan Moore, James London, Jonathan (OD) Smith, Floyd Cramer, Jonathan Edwards, Mike Harpring, Ron Gyr, Lyle Lovett, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, Russell Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Emory Gordy Jr., Roy Huskey Jr., Dr. Harry Clarke, C.F. Martin, Leo Fender, Jerry Garcia, Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, JD Crowe, Pure Prairie League, the Marshall Tucker Band, Delbert McClinton, Lonnie Mack, JD Souther, Goose Creek Symphony, McKendree Spring, Black Oak Arkansas, Son Volt and Jay Farrar, Jerry Douglas, Gordon Lightfoot, Jesse Winchester, Nick Forster, Forest Rogers, Tommy Calton, Josh Graves, Johnny Gimble, Jody Payne, Paul English, Lana Nelson, Jerry Douglas, Dan Tyminski, Rob Stokes, JD Salinger and Holden Caulfield, Derek Trucks, The Allman Brothers Band, Tim Krekel, The Sultans, Charlie McCoy, Dr. Jay Beard and Nanette Beard, and many more to be added....
Sounds Like: "The Barnes" mandolin, Seagull Peppino D'Agostino Signature guitar and a 1970 Martin D-35 (There are a lot of ups and downs in flatpicking)
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Saturday night in Winter Garden

Hey Folks - Doug, Bill Miller and I did the musical honors at the Attic Door last night.  Once again we had a great time - a few guests were "feeling their oats" early on, there was drinking and ...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 01:57:00 PST

next Saturday night at the Attic Door

Howdy Friends and music lovers - this coming Saturday evening, Acoustic Tonic will be at the Attic Door in beautiful downtown Winter Garden, Florida.  We had a great time there las...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:13:00 PST

st pattys day

Hey friends - St Patty’s Day at the Attic Door was quite fun, we had some old friends with us, and met some new friends - as we always seem to do at the Door.  Me, Bill Miller, and Doug did...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 07:13:00 PST

Attic Door

We had great fun at the Attic Door last time and we'll be back there on March 15th - please check out www.myspace.com/michaelmckeemusic - Michael McKee...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:08:00 PST

Attic Door

Howdy friends and music lovers - I've not heard about Friday January 11th or how it was at the Attic Door, but I'm looking forward to this Friday night.  I've met a lot of new music lovers at Gui...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:28:00 PST

how was Friday the 11th at the Attic Door? by Michael McKee

new music Howdy friends and music lovers - Stephens-Worrall-McKee had a great night at Tre Amici in Ybor City FL on Friday night the 11th; it was a great deal of fun picking with my good&nb...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:50:00 PST

Happy New Year

Happy New Year friends and music lovers - We had a fun night at the Attic Door on the 28th, and it looks like Doug will be there again soon, but this time picking bluegrass with Bill Miller ...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Tue, 01 Jan 2008 03:40:00 PST

new gig

Hello friends and music lovers!  I have a new day gig!  I'll be at The Guitar Center www.guitarcenter.com and I'm quite happy about joining the Guitar Center team!  Please come to ...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 05:34:00 PST

all things new

Howdy friends and music lovers!  Doug, Bill, Bill and myself played a set at the Mascotte Heritage Day Festival yesterday.  It was a nice afternoon out in Mascotte yesterday, however we must...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:07:00 PST

looking forward

Hello friends and music lovers - This past weekend my old friend Mike Worrall helped me to close out our year long run at Mullets Seafood and Oyster Bar.  We had a great time playing music, and M...
Posted by Acoustic Tonic on Sun, 30 Sep 2007 01:50:00 PST