A desire to write new material followed as did a longing to have a talented band to play the material out. MJ reached out again for Lachlann Kane in 2001and they began working together on Michael's She's the One CD . The experience of working together again inspired the desire to build a new band but with an Americana style. Hence began The Little Wheels Band which shared the stage with Sara Evans, The Dave Nelson Band, The Flying Other Brothers, James Nash, and Jefferson Starship. MJ and the Little Wheels Band performed at the 2003 and 2004 Jerry Day Celebrations in McLaren Park in San Francisco while MJ was asked to musically produce the historic Jerry Garcia Amphitheater Dedication Ceremony in October 2005. The Little Wheels Band also performed at the Grand National Rodeo and mainstage for the 2005 and 2006 Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival Mainstage .
In 1988 MJ returned to San Luis Obispo completing his degree and teacher credential and accepted a teaching position in Cambria, CA often hanging with pals who DJ'd at KOTR Pirate Radio. During this time MJ played with Sean Griffith, The Michael Ahern Band and the Pismo Beach rock and roll cover band Fine Line.
Michael John Ahern Biography
Vocalist / Songwriter / Acoustic and Electric Guitars / Stage Management / Studio Engineering / Producer
Michael John Ahern (MJ) is a Northern California musician who began his musical journey in 1983 performing at dinner houses and taverns as a solo acoustic performer while an undergraduate at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In 1985 MJ stepped into the role as guitarist in a popular college radio dance band The Croutons. Also in the Croutons was saxaphonist John Schnackenberg who went on to tour with Spencer the Gardener for over a decade. It was during that time MJ played occasionaly with Secret Service and shared the stage with a young Toad the Wet Sprocket and guitar virtuoso Alan Holdsworth. In 1987 MJ returned to the Bay Area to work as an Environmental Educator and on weekends as a doorman at the Keystone Palo Alto a popular live music venue. It was during this time that Michael played with the party rock band the Lube Job and recorded his first commercial release Along The Edge which sold 1500 copies through the newly founded Nature Company.
In 1994 Michael returned to the Bay Area and went to work for S.E.T.I. and NASA in education and curriculum development. During that time Michael worked as a NASA Mission Specialist flying on board the Kuiper Airborne Observatory based at Ames Research Facility. In 1994 Michael released his second solo album - Songs From Within. It was also during the summer of 1994 that MJ traveled to Australia with a NASA research team to observe and record the Shoemaker-Levy Comet strike the planet Jupiter.
In 1995 Michael was introduced by a friend to musician Lachlann Kane. Realizing their tremendous potential together MJ and Lachlann built Strawman an all original rock band featuring Bobby Foster on drums, Michael Reich on sax/flute and JB Jones on bass. Success came fast to Strawman however tensions in the band led to a breakup in 1997 shortly after the release of their debut Strawman's El Dorado CD an all-original and masterful recording.
In 1999 MJ was offered the Director of Entertainment position at the Lodge at Skylonda. It was there that MJ also began performing acoustic solo once again on a regular basis. It was also at the Lodge at Skylonda when MJ made the decision to broaden his approach to songwriting and began to study the works of great American songwriters.
In 2006 Michael received two Bay Area Emmy nominations for a live television performance of his original song "So Done With You" with musicians James Nash, Steve Shufton, Michael Anderson, Gary Chiapetta and Dean Cook .
To date Michael has produced 10 commercial albums including Nine Lives (2008) and I Believe (2008) The High Road (2007), She's the One(2006), The Liberty Court Session(2005) and the Little Wheel Band Debut.(2005)
In September of 2007 the Little Wheels Band ended their rigorous regional touring choosing to gather together for the occasional show.seasonaly.
Michael began to woodshed under the instruction of Chris Cotruvo and with an emphasis on blues guitar with instructional DVD's by Warren Haynes and the Reverend Billy Gibbons.
In January 2008 MJ began work on an original blues rock album with includes Michael Emerson (Elvin Bishop) on keys and Robin Campbell on vocals. In addition playing occasional shows in the Country Rock band The Lords of Tone headliners at Half Moon Bay''s 3rd Annual Rock The Block Party Concert.
Throughout 2008 and into 2009 Michael continues to perform acoustically the first Thursday of every month at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company with guitarist Chris Cotruvo.
Give a listen
Danny, Michael, Garret, Mike, and John - The Croutons
Michael - Cal Poly, SLO 1985
Fine Line - 1991
The Lube Job - East Palo Alto 1988
The MJA Band - Cambria 1988
JB, Bobby, Michael R., Michael A., Lachlann - Strawman 1997
MJ and Lachlann - Skylonda NYE 2000
Bo, Lach, Drew, MJ, Gary, Rob, Harold - LWB
MJ and Chris Cotruvo - HMB 2008
In August 2008 MJ joined an exciting new band ...the original 6-piece San Francisco based Funk Rock band called Bro. Bro includes members of Prophet Soul and 5.0. Rehearsing at historic Goat Hall on Potrero Hill Bro will be self producing their debut 6 song all-original demo at Melvin Seals recording studio beginning late November. .
Gavin Newsom and MJ 2007
BRO
Leroy Jackson - vocals
Cheryl Lablanc - vocals
Chris Martin - guitar
MJ Ahern - guitar and vocals
Will Williams - bass, guitar and vocals
Ed Mearse - drums
