Mike Farris at the Mercury Lounge

Mike Farris began using drugs and alcohol from an early age, and almost died from an overdose before he was 21 years old. He recovered and went on to form the rock band Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies in 1990 in Nashville, Tennessee, and recorded three albums as the lead singer. After that band's breakup, Farris sang with SCW, Peaceful Knievel and for a time fronted Double Trouble, the backing band for Stevie Ray Vaughan. Farris became a practicing Christian, disavowed drugs and alcohol, and released his first solo album in 2002. He won the Americana Music Association's New and Emerging Artist of the Year Award in 2008 and the Gospel Music Association’s Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Album of the Year in 2010. Farris has released four albums rooted in early gospel, soul and blues-flavored songs.

Farris owns one of the most unique, soulful and octave climbing voices you will ever hear. In Nashville, Farris often sings and records with a nine-member ensemble, including female backing singers. At the Mercury Lounge, he sang much of his set accompanied only by his acoustic guitar; on other songs he invited to the stage two percussionists, one of whom kept a beat by slapping a metal garbage can on his lap. In the quiet stillness of the room, Farris made every song sound like a knee-slapping old-time gospel hymn. Even when he sang a reworked version of the Beatles’ “Let It Be,” his soulful singing made it sound like he was leading a Holy Ghost-inspired prayer in a Pentecostal church. Whether it was a traditional hymn, an original composition or a medley of both, every song was enthralling due to his spectacular vocals, and yet each song seemed to beg for a backing choir. To call him a gospel singer would be too limiting, as his diverse catalogue of songs tonight defied any narrow genre; instead, simply say that Mike Farris is one of the finest American roots singers you will ever hear.