"Going Up" and "Holdin' On" are in stores now.
Waterloo Records,
Antone's Records, and CD Baby.
Mike Milligan and The Altar Boyz describe their unique sound as
"Texas Blues with Louisiana Attitude". This is what happened when they combined their ethnic mixture of original sounds.
MIKE MILLIGAN, raised in Angelton, Texas with roots In Louisiana, has been a working musician since the early 70's. Playing out of Iowa(Midwest Circuit), Colorado(Northwest Circuit) and Houston(Southeast Circuit) as a Lead Singer and Drummer. Moving to Austin in 1990 Mike then became a front man for the band "Memphis Train"and from 2000 thru 2004 was the front man for "DELTA ROUX" playing in the states and in Western Europe releasing two C.D.'s thru the "TAXIM" Label out of Germany.
In 2000 Mike began playing Harmonica and very quickly became one of the premire Harp players in Austin. In 2005 Mike was asked by Bassist Leland Parks to front for the "ALTAR BOYZ". Since that fateful day, the band has played over 900 gigs all over Texas and beyon From Alpine to Dallas, Nashville to San Angelo and in between, the group has been gaining a true blues following of fans and friends. After just one month together, they made their first 'Live' CD and soon after their first 'Live DVD'. Finally in 2006 the band recorded and released their first studio CD called 'GOING UP' on the Indie Label Doc Blues Records. The title comes from the CD cover picture taken in the Austin famous Driskill Hotel elevator, but implies much more. Their second C.D. "HOLDIN' ON" was released in 2007. They have opened bigger shows as well with names like: Johnny Winter, Jerry LaCroix, Derek O'Brien, David Grissom, Nick Curran, Gary Clark Jr., Anson Funderberg, Whitey Johnson, Vallejo, Miss Lavelle White and others. Mike Milligan''s composing and lyric talents haven't gone unnoticed by the local, national and international media as well with glowing reviews in Blues Review Magazine, Blues Matters, Music News-Houston. The Bastop-Smithville Times music editor Terry Haggerty raved about the combo in another shining 'Live Performance' review on May 22, 2008. MIKE MILLIGAN is know as "THE VOICE" on 6th Street and very often compared to the vocal stylings of Junior Medlow.
Since Austin lost world famous blues mentor and club owner Clifford Antone a few years back, folks realized that he was Austin's own version of a Blues Society. But since then, the new Austin Blues Society was created and has a monthly ABS open blues jam at Antones originally hosted by MIKE MILLIGAN and The ALTAR BOYZ. And in 2009 for the first time ever, Austin held the local International Blues Society Competition. From all the worthy entries, MIKE MILLIGAN and The ALTAR BOYZ were judged the best act to represent Austin, Texas for the 2009 IBC Finals in Memphis,Tennessee.
Austin, Texas has the reputation for producing some world class bands, musicians, artists and one of the latest is MIKE MILLIGAN and The ALTAR BOYZ. On June 16th 2011 MIIKE MILLIGAN was honored by the Austin City Council by proclaiming that day as "MIKE MILLIGAN DAY" in Austin, Texas.
Now MIKE MILLIGAN and the ALTAR BOYZ will be releasing their third C.D. entitled 'MY TIME' in 2012. Mike Milligan's songwriting prowless has hit a new level and is well represented on the new release"MY TIME".
Mike Milligan is distributed world wide by Doc Blues Records in association with HepCat/Infinity.
"Milligan really is a superb vocalist, able to deliver a lyric with meaning and passion"
says AndySnipper of" Music Matters"(U.K.)
"Unique band sound with an overflowing passion for Texas and Louisiana music. Mike Milligan is a creative song writer."
La Hora Del Blues(Spain)
Winners of the 2009 Austin Blues Society's "HEART of TEXAS BLUES CHALLENGE" and participants in the I.B.C International Blues Challenge in Memphis Feb. 2009
Their second C.D. "HOLDIN' ON" was released July 2009 featuring 12 new original songs.
Tight rythms, Unzicker's creative, minimalist guitar and Milligan's evocative lyrics and expressive singing keep these 12 new songs interesting. Their Blues are strong.
BLUES REVIEW Feb/March 2010
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