“Leonard Cohen meets Lou Reed on a good day” Venue Magazine "
The Toronto born spoken word artist creates stark minimalist recordings inspired by personalities like Mississippi John Hurt, William S. Burroughs and Charles Bukowski. An iconoclastic spiritual romantic, he steers his writing down alleys coloured with blurred posters of individuality and unsung rebellion.
The Wordman Of Alcatraz is hewn from a long line of Canadian writers. Combining poetic romance with compassionate non-conformity and an almost reluctant but engaging performance. Getting straight to the essence and staying there is what his songs are all about.
“...the Wordman’s onstage rapport defies description” Chicago Tribune
Never a fan of change for the sake of it, Michael Bennett still does what he always did, “I write songs then I sing em”… An often heard remark that paints a good enough picture of the quiet mutineer.
For thirty years he’s been taking his “stand and deliver” performance to audiences all over the world. Simple melodies and hard won lyrics have earned loyal fans and kept him in constant comparison with Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Lou Reed.
"Catchy as hell, rather wonderful...Highly entertaining" BBC Radio Bristol
“I played The London Palladium and I played in a shoe store, makes no difference, I make songs then I sing em, anything more is just complicating things".
Typical cast off fashion for someone hailed "... A lyrical laureate with a voice like a whisper and a shout"… but pretty much sums up the no nonsense ethics of a terminal songster.
“Extraordinary, kudos to The Wordman” Toronto Star
“Wow” Oor Magazine The Netherlands
“A voice like treacle thick Americana” Bristol Evening Post UK
“If can play alone you should” John Hammond Jr.
Essential Reviews
“He’s clearly a born storyteller attracted to the metre and syntax of an ancient oral tradition. By which I mean a species of 70’s songwriting that’s two parts the lived-in romanticism of Tom Waits circa ‘Closing Time’, one part obtuse Dylan-esque symbolism, and one part acerbic narrative a la Randy Newman. These tales of the hapless and the absurd are perfectly delivered through his lugubrious, gravely drawl, and when he assures us after abandoning one song that “it’s ok to give up”, these are not the sentiments of a callow slacker but the hard-won wisdom of a seasoned quitter” (Venue Magazine U.K.)
“Sounding like a cross between Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen, Bennett held the audience with words and voice. His style and intonation was very reminiscent of Reed but his voice had a timbre somewhat in the Cohen mould - put those together and it can't be bad!! His songs were fascinating works full of clever contradictions and lyrical juxtaposition. Although totally Instrumentally competent, it was the voice that first struck home and once drawn in the listener then came to realise the beauty of the lyrics and melodies. With his extremely laid back approach The Wordman Of Alcatraz effortlessly plied his trade and held his attentive audience captive during his entire set”. (Toxic Pete)
What He’s Been Up To
Touring in the UK. Europe. Japan and the USA. Working with and supporting people like:
The Fall / Jonathan Richman / Ron Sexsmith / Nine Black Alps / Bloc Party / Chip (Wild Thing) Taylor / Rory McCleod / Isaac Guillory / Ron Davies / Jim White / Giant Drag / The Nashville Teens
The Wordman has also been a practicing Chi Kung. See link to website.
More commonly known in the west as Qigong, an internal Chinese art of cultivating healing, strength and longevity.