Michael Coen Profile Page on Nextcat.com

I am Michael Coen from Boston, Ma. and I front the band The Bleedin Bleedins and have been involved in music my entire life. I have recorded with other acts from Boston including members of Letters to Cleo, The Gravel Pit, Styme and Dear Leader. Below is a profile of The Bleedin Bleedins and a few reviews.

Music hits you in one of three places the head, the hips or the heart. With The Bleedin Bleedins, its all three. Dont let the name fool you this Brit-bowing Boston-n-Dublin trio delivers gorgeously amped music, with anthemic twists and melodic turns rambling across their debut offering Life Without Computers. Dublin-born guitarist and songwriter Barry Kelly moved to the States in 2000, became fast friends with singer Mike Coen, and soon thereafter met multi-instrumentalist/producer Dave Franz. With pints of Guinness as their muse-ful ply, they tested musical waters with another lineup before striking out as a trio in 2004. A new sound in mind, they started writing songs meant to ride the line between whats timeless and whats current these nine dance-charged tracks are at once comfortably classic and refreshingly forward thinking. This endearing, sincere style runs the mood gamut from pretty to pretty biting. Melody, harmony and lyrical grit intertwine to form the pulsing fabric of their starry-hued arrangements. Their personal musical influences are diverse ranging from mod to new wave, from classic rock to new indie. Regardless of genre backdrop, regardless of current indulgences the song is king and melodic hooks reign. They write from a collaborative space, often trading instruments for further inspiration. With his at once swaggering and winsome voice, Coen creates the melodic thread, while multi-instrumentalists Franz and Kelly lay the rhythm and harmony blueprint. The sonic result of The Bleedin Bleedins and Life Without Computers is inspired and inspiring. It will make you think, it will make you dance, it will make you want more.

BOSTON GLOBE - Linda Laban Affable, danceable, and emotional, and with tunes that stick around, ''Life Without Computers" has plenty of heart. A bleedin' one, of course.

BOSTON MAGAZINE - Daniella Gallego A product of Dublin and Boston, the Bleedin Bleedins are retro rock with a British punky edge. Songwriter-vocalist Mike Coens melodies find an ideal complement in guitarist Barry Kellys fast riffs and David Franzs catchy instrumentals. Simultaneously upbeat and relaxing, this record raises high expectations for the bands future.

BOSTON METRO - Luke O'Neil When you say a band is influenced by the Cure and 80s-era U2, thats usually code for pretentious wankers. But the Boston trio the Bleedin Bleedins totally throw off our calculations. Everything you expect from a contemporary rock band is here the jerky disco rhythms, the bass leads, the affected vocals and the delay turned up to 5 million, but it somehow comes off as dare I say it sincere.

HOT PRESS - Jackie Hayden They have a confident swagger and a sound thats as comtemporary as tomorrow and one that should have broad appeal to discerning rock fans all over the planet. ... definitely a band to put high on your shopping list.

POPMATTERS - Stephen Haag No phonies here; on their debut, Life Without Computers, the Bleedins sound like a rock band accustomed to filling arenas, though they've only recently hit the Boston club circuit.