Zito's journey took off at the age of 19, when he busted into the local St. Louis music scene, developing his sound even further from the stage. His first independent release arrived in 1996, titled "Blue Room" which included raw and funky songs "Hollywood" and "Pull the Trigger". His songwriting experience would break through on his sophomore release titled "America's Most Wanted" in 1999. This album shares his pop sensibilities and intense guitar work. "Crazy People", "Deal Me In" and his own rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man" all set the pace to bring him into a national audience.
His touring schedule found him crisscrossing the country as well as performing a regular dose of 6 nights a week in and around St. Louis when not on the road. He would also have the opportunity to play overseas for the USO during that same time period. With such a crazed schedule and lifestyle, drugs and alcohol took their effect on him. Zito was sliding downhill fast. Walter Trout pulled Zito aside one night after a show and explained to him that he had been down that path himself, and that it was no good. He told Zito about the responsibility he had to the music and to the people to perform honestly and unaffected. His abilities suffered and he drifted around the country a bit lost and confused, ending up in Southeast Texas. Zito fell in love with his now wife and had found the love and support to help him clean up and refocus on his career.
With a clean slate and real world experiences to include in his songwriting, Zito released "Slow it Down" in 2004. Including songs like "Long Dark Road," "Change My Ways" and the title track, "Slow it Down" Zito share what life experiences had taught him. He formed a new solid band and began again playing full-time across the country with over 250 shows in 2005. "Music can change everything - how you feel, how you see and what you believe," Zito explains.
He would find his true sound from all his experiences, new and old, and release his fourth album, "Superman" in 2006. Touted as "Soulful Pop" critics would pen it as Zito's sound with his voice and vocals rising above the music. His formative influences blend with additional musical heroes and legends such as Prince, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, SRV, Walter Trout, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Danny Gatton, and even rising artists like John Mayer. His journey has lead him to a critical point in his life and career to a larger audience and sharing the stage with national recording artists such as Chuck Berry, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, Bernard Allison, Coco Montoya, Joe Bonamassa and many more.
In 2007, Zito's path has crossed with Randy Chortkoff of Delta Groove Music. Within months he's penned a deal and gained full support with Chortkoff's label Eclecto Groove Records and Rick Booth of Intrepid Artists. With a new chapter of his life unfolding – full label backing, new management and larger audiences, Zito only begun to scratch the musical surface yet again.
After years of tirelessly touring and four independently released projects under his belt, 2008 heralded the national debut of Zito's album "Today" on Eclecto Groove Records. Boasting top notch production values with the guidance of producers David Z. (Prince, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Jonny Lang) and Tony Braunagel (Eric Burdon, Taj Mahal, Phantom Blues Band), along with assistance from a team of world class musicians including keyboardist Bentmont Tench (Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash) and bassist James "Hutch Hutchinson (Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Joe Cocker), Zito realized his most satisfying and accomplished work to date. "Today" garnered high praise and critical acclaim for Zito's strengthened focus on songwriting and his resulting efforts landed his album on the Billboard Blues charts for six weeks, in addition to daily rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio over the past year.
Now Zito returns with his follow up effort "Pearl River," accompanied by the skillfully adept David Z. sitting in once again at the helm of the producer's chair, along with label CEO Randy Chortkoff. With his guitar back to the forefront Zito revisits his musical roots while still maintaining an emphasis on his affective songwriting. "Pearl River" stands as another solid achievement by Mike Zito who is joined this time out by a handful of special guests including Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Reese Wynans (Double Trouble), Susan Cowsill, Lynwood Slim and Jumpin' Johnny Sansone. The result is a rollicking slice of Americana served up with heaping slabs of greasy New Orleans funk, gritty blues and good old fashioned rock 'n' roll.
Website: Mike Zito
You can also see Mike Zito as Mike Zito & The Wheel on Last.fm here: Mike Zito & The Wheel
Big Mouth
Mike Zito Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
but this time I'm moving out
It's been rough here before
but this time I'm moving out
well I've had enough of you
and more than enough of your big mouth
now I've got a headache
from listening to you wine
I've got a headache
from listening to you wine
well if you'd just shut your big mouth
I believe that I'd be fine
so whats it gonna take
for you to let me out that door
so whats it gonna take
for you to let me out that door
well I can't hear a word you say
cause your big mouth is in the way
Mike Zito's song "Big Mouth" is a straightforward blues tune that highlights the struggles of a man who is fed up with his partner's constant nagging and complaining. The song employs repetition to emphasize the singer's vexation over his significant other's irritating behavior. It's apparent that the individual has experienced similar circumstances before but, this time around, has reached his limit and is determined to leave. The lyrics indicate that the singer feels sick and tired of listening to his partner's grievances and believes that his headache would dissipate if she would just keep quiet.
The song's central message relates to how a person's incessant chatter can wear down someone else's mental and emotional wellbeing. It highlights the importance of communication and how it is essential to be mindful of how your words impact others. "Big Mouth" is a timeless track that appeals to blues enthusiasts and anyone who knows what it is like to deal with insufferable individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
It's been rough here before
There have been difficult times in this relationship in the past
but this time I'm moving out
But this time I'm leaving the relationship
well I've had enough of you
I am tired of being with you
and more than enough of your big mouth
Your constant talking and complaining is too much for me
now I've got a headache
I have a headache
from listening to you wine
Because of your constant complaining
well if you'd just shut your big mouth
If you would just stop talking so much
I believe that I'd be fine
I would be much better off
so whats it gonna take
What do I need to do
for you to let me out that door
For you to allow me to leave
well I can't hear a word you say
I cannot understand anything you are saying
cause your big mouth is in the way
Because your constant talking is preventing me from hearing anything else
Contributed by Harper J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
K.Elliott
on I Never Knew A Hurricane
These are not the lyrics for "I Never Knew A Hurricane"