In 2004, Mike put his first ever band together with drummer Mike Welby. They became “Mike Anton & The Mantons”.
The Mantons are a four-piece folk rock band from Detroit performs timeless, catchy, revolutionary, original songs; with virtuoso harmonica, signature vocals, and true grit.
Mike Anton has about 100 songs with four solo records; the band is rapidly assimilating them. There is room to grow, new songs to write, and The Mantons have demonstrated the tenacious fortitude it takes to stay together, sticking to the mantra of “Doing The Thing that Must Be Done”.
The Mantons"Squeeze The Fish"
2009
1. Brad Song #32. Cheesy Folk Singer
3. Stapled To The Ground
4. Lord Of The Lake
5. Hedrick House Blues
6. Flashlight
7. Feed Me To The Beatles
8. Hibbidie Hibbidie
9. One Long Overdrive
10. Detroit Auto Show
11. Hipster
12. Still Alive
Mike AntonMike Welby
Dave Martin
Emily Rose
Recorded By
Album Art : Vocals - Guitar - Harmonica
: Drums & Percussion
: Bass Tones
: Backup Voc. on Hipster
: Tim Pak at Woodshed Studios
: Tammy Coppola
Club NY NY
Trowbridge (THC)
CD Release Party
Saturday, 06-26-2010 -- The Sawmill Saloon, Big Rapids, MI 49307
With special guest: Scotty Hicks
More info on The Sawmill Saloon's website: http://sawmillsaloon.com/
Show Starts at 9:30 p.m. $4 door
Saturday, 06-19-2010 -- The Phoenix Cafe, Hazel Park, MI 48030
Hazel Park Arts and Cultural Fundraiser for the Arts
More info on the Phoenix Cafe's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127401210616863&index=1
The Mantons set begins 10:20 p.m.
Saturday, 04.10.10 -- The Belmont Bar, Hamtramck, MI (10215 Joseph Campau)
With The Strange
Show starts at 10 p.m. - $5.00 at the door
Saturday, 03.06.10 -- The Bullfrog, Redford, MI (5 Mile and Telegraph)
The Mantons open for Rival
Show starts at 10 p.m.
Friday, 03.05.10 -- Skipper's Lounge, Hamtramck, MI
Metro Times 2010 Blowout - See Metro Times Website for more info.
Our set starts at 11 p.m.
Friday, 02.19.10 -- PJ'S Lager House, Detroit, MI
Special guests to be announced
Show starts at 10 p.m. - $5.00 at the door
Wednesday , 01.27.10 -- Club Bart, Ferndale, MI
With Special Guest Ian Pinchback
Show starts at 10 p.m.
No Cover - a tip jar will be passed, your donations are appreciated.
Friday, 01.22.10 -- THe Belmont, Hamtramck, MI
With The Divine Comedians
Show starts at 10 p.m. - $5.00 at the door
Saturday, 12.5.09 -- Cadieux Cafe, Detroit
With Duende! and Blue Flowers
Show starts at 10 p.m.
Wednesday, 11.11.09 -- P J s Lager House,
1254 Michigan Ave. Detroit, MI 48226
(that's 'eleven eleven'... Ought Nine!)
Opening for Reverend Peyton's Big Damm Band!
Show starts at 9; We go on first. $7 door, 18+ until 10 pm; 21+ after 10
›› Email us at : mantons@mantonmusic.com
›› Or fill out the form below:
There was once a time when there were no Mantons. But one day, in East Lansing, John Perry was musing on a letter signed by his roommate Mike Anton. He noticed that Mike signed his name with a large “M”, a dot, then the last name with a large “A” for Anton. John condensed the name whimsically calling Mike, “Manton”… And then there was one.
Years passed, Mike learned many things about the world. He played all over the country, busking and living and loving and hurting and bleeding, but Forging On. Every now and again Mike would see John, and John would refer to him as “Manton”. The name gained adhesion, and Mike began using the name as a persona to match his high-energy performances. Other words followed, like “Bigmikebob”, “The Highway Guy”, “GIMMIE ALL YOUR MONEY!! AAHH!!”, “Flibbidie Floo”, “CHAW!!”, and others. This kind of vernacular became “The Manton Schtick”. As “Manton,” Mike created an ulterior world of words to communicate his feelings. Mike had certainly proved a consummate solo performer by this time. But then came the band.
At the very end of Ought Four, Mike put his first ever band together with drummer Mike Welby. They became “Mike Anton & The Mantons”. Mike wanted the name to be printed in only Copperplate Gothic Bold type. But, “That font is like $25. I ain’t paying $25 for a font,” says Anton.
Since then The Mantons have played consistently throughout Detroit. They’ve had a few bass players, but the one constant is the two founding members. One of the first bass players to play with The Mantons, Stephe Brown, left after just two early practices to pursue Jazz and Heavy Metal, but rejoined with glee just this year, in early Ought Nine. Stephe also plays keyboard, which is being incorporated into the band. Also on bass is Robin Simpson, who is a seasoned pro with Mike Dorn, a Detroit subculture legend.
But once a Manton, always a Manton. The bass player on their first record, “Squeeze The Fish”, is the venerable Dave Martin from Clay Adams Band. Dave and Anton have been friends for years, worked together as mechanics, and between the two of them have a deep sense of understanding not too often seen in this world. His influence courses through the veins of the songs they play.
Mike Anton has about 100 songs with four solo records; the band is rapidly assimilating them. There is room to grow, new songs to write, and The Mantons have demonstrated the tenacious fortitude it takes to stay together, sticking to the mantra of “Doing The Thing that Must Be Done”.