Now a veteran of the folk scene, Michael has logged 15 years of concerts across the U.S., and he's been a main stager at some of the bigger music festivals around, including the Strawberry, Kerrville, and Philadelphia folk festivals. He's been billed in clubs and halls with the likes of Johnny Cash, Shawn Colvin, Donovan, and hundreds of others on the songwriter circuit.
He has a seasoned voice, accomplished steel-string guitar work, and some wonderful tour adventures. Michael is known for a distinct and vivid brand of storytelling in his lyrics. He is a past winner of the Kerrville New-folk award in Texas, a 5-time winner of the West Coast Songwriters Association "Song of the Year", was chosen by Performing Songwriter Magazine as a Top 12 “DIY Artist of the Year", and was nominated for "Artist of the Year" by the National Academy of Songwriters.
With 5 CDs under his belt, he is now in the studio recording his sixth effort, tentatively titled "Kickin’ Tires". The CD is scheduled for release this winter, with concert tours through 2009.
Tracks include 'Broom' (West Coast Songwriters "Song of the Year"), 'Phoenixville', 'Pioneer Shindig', and '60 Years of Sand'.
Two of the new tracks—'This Town is Gonna Change' and 'I Shot Broncho Billy'—are also heard in “Weekend King”, an indie film due out in 2009. Michael has five songs in the film, and a cameo role as a broke and lovesick bartender who sings in the corner between drinks.
In addition to music, Michael is an Etch A Sketch artist of some renown, delighting and dumbfounding audiences with his song illustrations on the little red toy. His music and art have been featured on CBS "Evening Magazine", numerous news and entertainment segments on NBC, ABC, & Fox, and in dozens of magazine and newspaper articles, with extended shows in several art galleries, a Fifth Avenue window display, and at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.
Michael's Past Openers, Co-bills, Radio, TV, Festivals, Clubs, Etc.:
Some of Michael's past concert co-bills and openers (at halls and clubs only) have included
Johnny Cash & the Carter Family, Shawn Colvin, Donovan, Utah Phillips, Richie Havens, Rosanne Cash, Cheryl Wheeler, Greg Brown, Christine Lavin, Louden Wainwright, Chris Smither, Iris Dement, Bill Miller, Trout Fishing in America, Patty Larkin, John Gorka, Jonathan Edwards, Kelly Willis, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Tish Hinojosa, Kevin Welch, Robert Earl Keen, Jr., Peter Rowan, Bob Franke, Christine Albert, Eddie from Ohio, Adrian Belew, Kenny Rankin, Inkuyo, Martin Sexton, Box Set, Johnsmith, Don Conoscenti, Tim and Mollie O Brien, Bill Morrissey, The Good Ole Persons, Laura Nyro, Marley's Ghost, The Neilds, Lou and Peter Berryman, Chuck Pyle, Greg Greenway, Caroline Aiken, Hugh Blumenfeld, Rod McDonald, Greg Cagno, Linda Sharar, Michael Jerling, Lucy Kaplansky, Tanya Savory, Brooks Williams, Buddy Mondlock, Erica Wheeler, Merle Sanders & his Rainforest Band, Pat Travers, Dar Williams, Tom Prasada-Rao, L.J. Booth, Cosy Sheridan, Ellis Paul, and many others.
in the zone
Michael McNevin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clothespinned to the front spokes of my bike
Streakin from the yard
Is that me or the speed of light?
Nine year old in motion
Just acting out his notion
Feet upon the handlebars
Close my eyes, avoid the cars
I'm in the zone
Just shooting playground hoops
Three homies calling me and Johnny G
They said we'll take this court from you
Unless you beat us two on three
But they were dealing with
Two kids who never missed
They watch us go behind our backs
In your face with talkin trash
Don't mess with two Pistol Pete clones
In the zone
Now when I cannot find the groove
The weight of every move is
Too much
I ask the kid inside me
To remind me
Don't sweat the small stuff
It's all small stuff
My first time up to bat
Shakin
The wind up
Here's the pitch
It's comin in so fast
I'm prayin that I don't get hit
But I smacked it where it mattered
Catcher screamin lucky batter
As it sailed to kiss the sun
On its way to kingdom come
Crowd yelled at me to run
I smiled but I did not budge
Cause hell, I was already home
In the zone
Who's that kid, sign him up
Who's that kid sign him up
Who's that kid sign him up
Last name Faherty
First name Kevin
He hits better than Michael McNevin
The song "In the Zone" by Michael McNevin captures the carefree and fearless spirit of childhood, where every moment feels alive and invincible. The lyrics describing memories of a nine-year-old boy on his bike, biking in breakneck speed with a Mickey Mantle baseball card, clothespinned to the front spokes, evoke a sense of adventure and freedom. The boy's instinct and unerring confidence are also apparent when he flashes his basketball skills and beats his opponents, reminiscent of Pistol Pete's magic. The chorus "I'm in the zone" further emphasizes this sense of focus, where nothing could go wrong.
Towards the end of the song, the persona seems to have lost touch with that childhood exuberance and wants to find his groove again. He seeks counsel from the inner child, who reminds him not to worry about small things and that he has the power to overcome anything. He recalls his first time at bat, where he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, but he managed to hit a homerun that impressed everyone. He was buoyant, moving as if in a trance, and basking in the glorious feeling of being "in the zone."
Overall, the song conveys the importance of holding onto our inner child and the memories that shaped us through life's ups and downs. It shows that with the right attitude, we can overcome any obstacle and attain the level of focus that elevates our performance.
Line by Line Meaning
Mickey Mantle baseball card
A reference to the singer's childhood, evoking memories of his youth and love for sports.
Clothespinned to the front spokes of my bike
How the singer displayed his love for baseball by proudly showing off his baseball card wherever he went.
Streakin from the yard
The singer reminisces on his younger days, when he used to ride his bike around the neighborhood at high speeds.
Is that me or the speed of light?
Feeling a sense of excitement and exhilaration while riding his bike, to the point where he feels he could be breaking the laws of physics.
Nine year old in motion
Highlighting how young and innocent the artist was at the time, yet at the same time energetic and full of life.
Just acting out his notion
Emphasizing the singer's carefree attitude as a child, simply following his ideas and desires without worrying about the consequences.
Feet upon the handlebars
Demonstrating how daring and adventurous the singer could be, even as a child.
Close my eyes, avoid the cars
Showing how carefree and oblivious the artist was to the dangers of the world, simply trusting his instincts to take him where he needed to go.
Navigate by instinct alone
Further highlighting the artist's sense of adventure and his willingness to trust his instincts, even when it meant going against conventional wisdom.
I'm in the zone
A metaphor for how the artist felt when he was a child, fully immersed in his world and surrounded by the things he loved.
Just shooting playground hoops
Revisiting another fond childhood memory, when the singer and his friends would play basketball.
Three homies calling me and Johnny G
Describing the camaraderie of the artist's childhood friends, who would frequently challenge him to games of basketball.
They said we'll take this court from you
Evoking a sense of friendly competition, where the singer and his friends would constantly try to one-up each other in sports and games.
Unless you beat us two on three
Challenging the singer to try and win despite the odds being against him, and his friends' confidence in their own abilities.
But they were dealing with
Highlighting how the singer's friends did not anticipate his skill in basketball.
Two kids who never missed
Describing the artist and his friend as being extremely skilled at basketball, so much so that they never missed a shot.
They watch us go behind our backs
Revisiting the sense of competition between the artist and his friends, as they constantly tried to outdo each other.
In your face with talkin trash
Further emphasizing the competitive nature of the singer's childhood games, with the loser often taunted by the winner.
Don't mess with two Pistol Pete clones
A reference to two of the greatest basketball players of all time, highlighting how skilled the singer and his friend were on the court.
In the zone
Again using the metaphor of 'the zone' to describe the artist's sense of focus and immersion in his childhood activities.
Now when I cannot find the groove
Reflecting on the present day, the artist acknowledges that he cannot always feel that sense of excitement and focus that he had as a child.
The weight of every move is
The artist laments how the pressures of the real world can often weigh down an individual, making it difficult to recapture that sense of childlike wonder.
Too much
Emphasizing how difficult it can be to maintain that sense of focus and optimism as one grows older.
I ask the kid inside me
Highlighting how the artist still holds onto that sense of childlike wonder, even as an adult.
To remind me
Reiterating how the singer is looking to his inner child to help him find his purpose and sense of focus.
Don't sweat the small stuff
A common saying meant to remind people that they should not worry too much about minor details, but instead focus on the bigger picture.
It's all small stuff
Reasserting the idea that the little things in life are not worth stressing over, as there are more important things to focus on.
My first time up to bat
A reference to another fond childhood memory, when the artist played baseball for the first time.
Shakin
Describing the artist's nerves as he was about to play.
The wind up
Building further suspense and excitement, as the singer waited for the ball to be pitched.
Here's the pitch
Finally, the ball is thrown, and the moment of truth has arrived.
It's comin in so fast
The artist describes how the ball looked like it was coming towards him at an incredibly fast speed.
I'm prayin that I don't get hit
Highlighting how nervous the artist was, hoping that he could avoid being hit by the ball.
But I smacked it where it mattered
To the artist's surprise, he actually hit the ball, and he hit it well.
Catcher screamin lucky batter
Even the opposing team's catcher was caught off guard by the singer's hit, and acknowledged him for his skill.
As it sailed to kiss the sun
A poetic way of describing how far the ball traveled after the artist hit it.
On its way to kingdom come
Further emphasizing how far the ball traveled, almost as if it was ascending towards the heavens.
Crowd yelled at me to run
Highlighting the excitement and support from the surrounding crowd, as they cheered the singer on to run the bases.
I smiled but I did not budge
Instead of running, the singer was content to simply stand there and admire his own handiwork, knowing that he had done something great.
Cause hell, I was already home
Using a metaphor to describe how the artist felt so comfortable and at ease with himself, he was already 'home' on the baseball field.
In the zone
One final reference to the idea of 'the zone', highlighting how the artist felt fully immersed and in control of his baseball abilities.
Who's that kid, sign him up
A playful way of suggesting that the singer had real talent in baseball, and could be a valuable player for any team.
Last name Faherty
Introducing a new character, who the singer is comparing himself to in terms of baseball ability.
First name Kevin
Identifying the specific individual who the artist is comparing himself to, as another skilled baseball player.
He hits better than Michael McNevin
A humorous and self-deprecating way of acknowledging that the artist may not have been the best baseball player, yet still enjoying himself immensely.
Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.