Singer-songwriter Neal Havener (pronounced "Hey!" ... "Vin" ... "Er") claims he’s working on a triple album, to be released in vinyl, each one packaged with a working Victrola.
“Well, that way, people will have something to listen to during the zombie apocalypse,” Havener explained. “Plus, it’s traditional for me to lose money making music, so I figured I’d up the stakes a little.”
Havener, hailing from Ohio, is no stranger to silly bios.
“Well, I’d rather be glib than tell you how amazing I am,” Havener said. “I mean, I AM amazing, but, honestly, EVERYBODY'S amazing. And I don’t think life’s about besting our fellow humans – I think it’s more about finding, then being true, to yourself. However odd you may be.”
Though the triple album has yet to materialize, singles from the project did start dropping in late 2024. (And if you just click on that “play” button, the one in the bottom right of this page, RIGHT NOW, you can hear the first single, “The Right Time to Be Here” (featuring Shawn Booker)
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING:
“Neal Havener is every mother's delight: genteel, pleasant, kindly, warm, fuzzy, youthfully middle-aged. … His music very much like early Simon and Garfunkel -- earnest, thoughtful, crafted with respectable chord changes” -- John Petric / The Columbus Free Press
"Head shop exotic ... Havener's predominant vibe was colored with hobbit-like Middle Earth tones and reminded me of Caravan's progressive English folk fantasy, "In the Land of Grey and Pink," a Frodo-ian romp through the haze of exhaled 'punk weed.' " -- The Columbus Free Press
“Quirky and Catchy" … "Fun!" … "An authentic, heartfelt wordsmith" -- Neal Havener, The Daily Idiot
"Now THAT’S the kind of reaction I'd like from people listening to my music,” Havener said, to no-one, as he worked on this bio. “Plus, of course, ‘Boy, it sure is fun to see him in concert!' ”
“Tragically, I don’t always get this reaction,” he admitted. “But, hey, a girl can dream, right?”
His first band, “Oswald and the Herringbones” (OATH), toured extensively throughout the Midwest, and won MTV’s national “Basement Tape Contest.” (Music Columbus / City of Columbus calls OATH "local rock legends" ... Which is super flattering, but begs the question: WHO'S OSWALD???)
His second band, “go robot, go!” (formerly “Shinola”) got some nice buzz in the national press ...
( “In the same vein anyone curious as to how OK Computer recorded with the help of Prozac would have sounded ... smart electronic pop you can't help but smile at … “ -- Adam Garratt - Columbus Alive)
And some super cool gigs (Neal's favorite being opening up, TWICE, for David Byrne of Talking Heads fame).
"Cool" via association?
"Yeah, that's a bit lame," Havener admitted. “It's weird, writing bios. Because, honestly, I'd love you to listen to some of my music, I'd love it if you'd come out to see me play. So that means hyping myself up. But maybe I'm not your cup of tea. Or maybe I'll be having an off night if you do show up!”
Havener isn't really a “solo” act. He prefers to play with his friends and bandmates whenever possible.
For his live performances, he has the support of an AMAZING team of lovely human beings and talented musicians:
Dave Skite on percussion and vocals
Rebecca Sutton on flute, keyboards, ukulele and vocals
Dan Thompson on double and electric bass
Check out their videos, or, better yet, check them out live. (And just say “Adel Badel” to Neal to win a free biscuit!)
And please, sign up for the mailing list!
More videos, and singles (and YES, the triple album, in VINYL!) are all on the way.
And, if you’ve read all this – Thank you so much! You’re my kind of people!