(PR) When not playing in his full-time gig with Wilco, New Jersey native-via-Chicagoan-via-Brooklynite Mikael Jorgensen crafts pitch-perfect pop songs under the moniker of Pronto. "The Cheetah" is a collection of songs and musical experiments that were created between 2000 and 2004 by Mikael, Chris Girard and Greg O'Keeffe, with guests Rob Mazurek and Noel Kupersmith. "The Cheetah" will be released digitally September 8th on Contraphonic.
Mikael acquired his first synthesizer, a Sequential Circuits 6-Trak, circa 1984, and slowly built up a collection of drum machines and hand-me-down instruments from Bob James (yes that Bob James). The growing stockpile led to Mikael making charming bloopy music in the sanctuary of his bedroom, escaping elements of socialization, teenage rebellion, illicit beer drinking and reefer toking. Frustrated with the limitations of the technology, Mikael abandoned computer-based music for nearly a decade, until, while working at John McEntire's innovative SOMA Electronic Music Studios in Chicago, IL, he was introduced to modular synthesis and the musical computer programming platform called MAX/MSP by Cycling '74. "The Cheetah" is the product of discovering these new technological music-making tools, and documenting the resulting inspiration.
By July of 2009, it has already been a busy year for Mikael Jorgensen and the men of Pronto. Their "All Is Golden" CD, released in March of 2009, saw critical praise from far corners of the blogosphere, to the cover of the Weekend Section of the Chicago Sun-Times. "All Is Golden is a pleasantly balanced affair," wrote Exclaim, "and the group do an admirable job of blending sweet ballads, rockers and pop genius into a cohesive sound." Alternative Press further stated, "Pronto's ability to craft an homage to musical days gone by, without losing their own voice in the process, is a unique gift."
TOUR DATES
Sep 08 Nashville, TN at Exit/In
Sep 09 Knoxville, TN at Square Room
Sep 10 Chapel Hill, NC at Local 506
Sep 11 Washington, DC at Black Cat
Sep 12 Philadelphia, PA at Kung Fu Necktie
Sep 15 Pittsburgh, PA at Brillobox
Sep 16 Louisville, KY at Zanzabar
Sep 17 Memphis, TN at Levitt Shell/Overton Park
Sep 18 Rock Island, IL at Rock Island Brewing Co.
Sep 19 Madison, WI at Forward Music Festival
Sep 20 Chicago, IL at Rainbo Club (free)
Sep 23 Brooklyn, NY at Union Hall