M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) profile picture

M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD)

Not only deadlier but smarter too.

About Me


Download The Rebel Jesus single here (FREE)
Download happy xmas, x is here at factory R (FREE)
Download O Happy Marriage at DownloadPunk.com ($6.99)
To buy real CDs, email mikey [at] catholicanarchy.org for info.

Michael John Iafrate is a thirty year old songwriter from West Virginia, now living in Canada, who has been writing and performing acoustic-based songs for over a decade and half. As a member of some of WV's most creative and well-known independent music acts, such as The Minus Tide , Drown Culture , and Killed At Camp , Iafrate made it a point to continue writing and performing acoustic solo material alongside his various other musical projects. Iafrate's theological folk rock touches on the intersecting themes of religion, politics, and sexuality, and gives respectful musical nods to such influences as Will Oldham, Neil Young, classic R.E.M., Elliott Smith, Gillian Welch, and Magnolia Electric Co.

M Iafrate's most recent proper album of original material is 2005's O Happy Marriage, released under the name M Iafrate & The Priesthood, an album consisting of full-sounding country/folk-rock songs as well as the softer guitar-only tracks that audiences have come to expect. Since the release of Marriage, Iafrate has produced two consecutive Christmas releases (available for free download on his site , as well as a collaboration with his brother, Andrew Iafrate, under the charming moniker The Dick Brothers . The latter is made up of six bluegrass/old time-y cover songs and 4 original instrumentals, recorded in three hours time to one track through one microphone in a basement in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

While pursuing doctoral studies in theology in Toronto, Iafrate has managed to continue prepping two upcoming albums: a long-awaited tribute to the St. Louis Jesuits called The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor and a new full-length from the Priesthood, tentatively titled The Birth of the Word in the Souls of the Just. Both albums are expected to be released in 2008.

Iafrate has shared the stage with such vital acts as Songs:Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co., The Anomoanon, Papa M, Matt Pond PA, Brightblack Morning Light, and the Rosebuds. Strangely, he has also played shows with such bands as Zao and The Movielife.

Iafrate also plays guitar and sings in the band COBRA from Wheeling, WV, featuring ex-members of The Minus Tide. COBRA recently released its debut album Feels Like Freedom.

To join the M Iafrate mailing list so you can receive info about upcoming shows and releases, click HERE .

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/10/2004
Band Website: miafrate.catholicanarchy.org
Band Members: Michael John Iafrate : acoustic and electric guitars, voice, banjo, guitar, keyboard, other

"The Priesthood" has included:
David Klug: drums, percussion
Clint Sutton: electric guitar, voice
Sean Decker: acoustic guitar, voice
Dallas Campbell: bass guitar
Rosanne Campbell: keyboard
Influences: Will Oldham, Jason Molina, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Ryan Adams, Iron & Wine, Gillian Welch, The Anomoanon, Springsteen, classic R.E.M., etc.
Sounds Like: Creaking wood and whispering sacrament.

"O Happy Marriage is a stunning document, a special piece of spiritual-existentialist sonics that for many will help them find meaning or even better challenge the meanings they thought they had always known as fact or taken for granted... a call to arms for mankind to take action and not sit by and let religion ride our souls into heaven." - UncommonFolk.net

"Deep, echoey, wooden tones, accompanied by some of the most intelligent lyrics about politics, love, and faith I've heard since Johnny Cash's heyday." - couchesonfire.blogspot.com

"Lord, give us more talented radicals like this with music in their hearts!" - Stephen Hand, TCRNews.com

"Iafrate's solo work is solid and pure. His acoustic set is driven by alt-country influence with easy vocals listeners can enjoy." - The Daily Athenaeum

"Incredible musicianship, extremely insightful lyrics, and a clear and polished delivery. A great singer-songwriter." - Bettawreckonize.com

"I love acoustic material and Mikey does it quite right." - Cornzine.com
Record Label: Factory R
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Thanks and updates

Hi there,Many thanks to all those who organized and came out for the R.E.M. tribute night to benefit Habitat for Humanity this past Saturday at 123 Pleasant St. in Morgantown, WV. We heard some great ...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:58:00 PST

UPDATE

Good day. I thought I'd give a little update to you folk.I've been working for some time now on demos for the new M Iafrate and the Priesthood record. Recorded a few at the "home studio." Enough songs...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 05:21:00 PST

New album news

Things are coming along for my new full length, entitled The Lord Hears The Cry of the Poor: Songs of the St. Louis Jesuits. The 12 song album is being recorded at the "home studio" and the finishing...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Wed, 12 Jul 2006 02:01:00 PST

New informations

Have not blogged for the MySpace crowd in quite a while. Check out the new 'look' for the website here: http://miafrate.catholicanarchy.org What am I working on right now? Well, for one, moving. Emil...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Mon, 12 Jun 2006 09:22:00 PST

UPCOMING SHOW :: "TRUTH IN A TIME OF EMPIRE"


Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Fri, 14 Oct 2005 09:22:00 PST

Couches On Fire reviews "O Happy Marriage"

Also, be sure to check out the cool review of O Happy Marriage over at couchesonfire.blogspot.com. _m
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Fri, 30 Sep 2005 03:38:00 PST

New demo posted

A demo of a new song tentatively called "Joseph's Song" has been posted. I HATE songs that are called "_____'s Song" though. I was in a band once that had a song called "Toni's Song." Just sounds icky...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Fri, 30 Sep 2005 03:37:00 PST

Couches On Fire Show Review

Couches On Fire recently posted a review of one of my recent solo performances. You can check it out here. Thanks dudes!...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Thu, 29 Sep 2005 09:54:00 PST

Uncommonfolk.net reviews "O Happy Marriage"

Michael Iafrate runs a weblog called Catholic Anarchy. His musings on religion and politics will remind many of the great Mario Vargas Llosa novel The War of the End of the World where religion and po...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Fri, 16 Sep 2005 07:01:00 PST

U92

Cuts from O Happy Marriage have been played pretty regularly on U92 in Morgantown over the last month or so. Give them a ring if you'd like to request it. Thanks for your support. ...
Posted by M IAFRATE (& THE PRIESTHOOD) on Mon, 29 Aug 2005 07:55:00 PST