By the age of 12, the charismatic Mike McGill was on stage in front of big audiences. He grew up singing old-time gospel songs and old-school, classic country and bluegrass. Names like Buck Owens, Jimmy Martin, and Hank Williams. Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley. “The Killer, man, Jerry Lee, I love that stuff,” says McGill. “Actually, this is a really long list. I’ve listened to a (bunch) of music.”

Mike McGill played music full-time for nearly seven years, entertaining in Gatlinburg with the band White Oak Flats. He has shared the bill with noteworthy acts such as J.D. Crowe and the New South, Doyle Lawson, and Junior Brown. Still, McGill is most recognized from his role as a vocalist and founding member of The Drunk Uncles, a classic country band doing original songs and covers of country heroes like Vern Gosden, Tom T. Hall, and George Jones.

In 2009, McGill gave in to pressure from his fans and began to spend more time on his own music. The result has been a steady stream of brilliant new songs. Whether writing solo or collaborating with Andy Pirkle, Mike’s songs are often as beautiful as they are brutally honest. Think raw electric guitar and three part harmony with lyrics that haunt you for weeks. “I’ve got more, man,” says Mike, pointing with his finger for emphasis. He proves it with an ashtray full of evidence.