We're playing Arts, Beats & Eats in Pontiac on September 2nd, and our set list is almost complete... except for one, final cover song. 

Do you have a song that you'd love to hear? 

I want your ideas!

Let me know and we'll do our best to make it happen.

See you September 2nd,

~ma~

An Insider Gets Out

Written by Liz Hill

Photo by Daniel Lippitt Just after graduating from Michigan State University in 2003, Mary Abraham got a fab job as the promotion and events coordinator at 96.3 WDVD FM. She got to schmooze with label execs, buddy up with on-air personalities and basically get an insider's look into how musical acts get on air, get noticed and get popular. The only problem was, as a folk-rock singersongwriter herself, Abraham wanted to get noticed by the industry, too. "It was getting to the point," the 25-year-old says, "where I wanted to burst. … When I was with a label rep, I wanted to scream, 'I'm a singer!'" But she couldn't. She had a job to do and couldn't try to further her career ambitions on company time. Solution? Quit the job. "I either do music 100 percent, or it's a hobby," says the Warren native, whom friends call "Honest Abe." Well, music is definitely not a hobby for Abraham anymore. She works on her career almost every day – whether it's writing songs, booking gigs, or rehearsing with her band, the Lincolns (Get it? Abraham Lincoln?). She also coaches girls' tennis at Lake Orion High School and works in promotions, but Abraham says singing "is now the focal point of my life." And her hard work is paying off. Several publications and Web sites have written about Abraham, and her debut EP, The First Five – filled with heartfelt alt-country-ish, folky poprock – is available on CDBaby, iTunes, MSN, AOL and more. She is currently working on a follow-up album with a producer who has worked on major label projects. "It all comes down to persistence and dedication," she says. "I work my ass off – in school, at work, with music – and I love it. I wouldn't want it any other way." For more information on Mary Abraham, go to www.maryabraham.com or www.myspace.com/ maryabrahammusic.

Detroit Film Maker Frank Nemecek's short film, "Sleepy Guy" is on its way to Sundance and features "Hey Love" from my debut EP, "The First Five." I'm excited.... congrats Frank!

For more info on Frank (and a pretty funny blog about me) visit:  http://nemecek.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support me this past Saturday for the Battle of the Bands contest at Memphis Smoke!!! I hope you know how much I truly appreciate you taking time out from your day to come cheer me on... especially when the World Series is on! Although my friends in the phenomenal band 'Broken Sunday' rocked Memphis Smoke and stole the show, all of us had an AWESOME time, and having all of you there was the true highlight of my night! :)

Also - thanks to everyone who sent emails, myspace messages, and texts with support!!!!

I have the best friends and fans ever!!!!

Love,

~mary~

DETROIT FREE PRESS

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT:
Mary Abraham and the Lincolns

August 25, 2006

The lowdown: Want to be a pop star? It can't hurt to get a job at a radio station and learn what happens behind the scenes. Sultry singer-songwriter Mary Abraham did just that, and now she's got a band, an EP, a busy concert schedule and, yes, airplay.

"It was demystifying," says the Royal Oak resident of her 18-month promotions stint for WDVD-FM (96.3). "As a regular person, you think the music industry is just partying all the time. It is fun going to concerts and meeting people, but it's very much a business. In order to enjoy the perks, I had to put in a lot of hours." Abraham also sat in on music meetings and chatted up label reps to learn what gets on the air and why. Now, in addition to being onstage, the enthusiastic Abraham is doing her own booking and promotion, and has also enlisted top-notch entertainment attorney Howard Hertz to guide her career.

The band has been getting spins on local-music programs on CIMX-FM (88.7) and WQKL-FM (107.1) this summer, and playing bars and festivals around town, including the Ann Arbor Art Fairs. Its song "Waiting for You" is on the soundtrack for the new indie feature film "The Passenger" from the Detroit-based collective Thought Collide. Most recently, Abraham and the Lincolns scored a performance slot at the Midwest Music Summit, an annual regional showcase for emerging artists held earlier this month in Indianapolis.

The lineup: Abraham grew up in Warren, active in civic theater and school band (drums) through her 1999 graduation from Cousino High School. She flirted briefly with musical theater studies at Western Michigan University, but ended up in English at Michigan State, graduating with honors in 2003. It was in East Lansing that she and a fellow student, guitarist Jesse Young, began performing in coffeehouses and bars. Young plays on "The First Five," Abraham's debut EP, released about a year ago, but has moved out of state.
Meanwhile, Abraham is head over heels with her new band, which came together just a couple months ago. "They're a bunch of super-seasoned musicians, the new Detroit Funk Brothers," she says of the Lincolns -- Ypsilanti drummer Ben Payne, guitarist Craig Parker ofPlymouth, bassist Ryan Ruiz of Shelby Township and Jonny Victor of Novi on keyboards and vocals.

The sound: You'll hear elements of folk, rock, pop and alternative music, which syncs with her cited influences including Cat Stevens, Joni Mitchell, David Bowie, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Cash and 10,000 Maniacs. Abraham's vocals are clean and clear, with an expressive vibrato that's reminiscent of Pat Benatar.

On record: Abraham wrote the songs on "The First Five" during and just after her years at MSU. The subject matter ranges from relationships to world chaos and the helpless feelings it generates. With those songs, she snagged several honorable mentions in 2003 and 2004 in Billboard magazine's annual songwriting contests. Now 24, Abraham says she's pumping out new, more mature material.

Where to see them: Watch for upcoming show dates at www.myspace.com/maryabrahammusic

.
By Kim Silarski, Free Press special writer

Thank you to everyone who sent me emails, myspace messages, and great vibes this weekend while I was at the Midwest Music Summit. I think all the positive energy you sent really made a difference. I had an awesome time listening to experts in the industry give their advice and sage wisdom on the music biz - we even got a chance to meet with them in one-on-one sessions. The entire experience was invaluable. Our performance at the Stone Mug Cafe was also very cool. A huge thank you to my Detroit homeboy Ian who drove down to Indy, too! It was great to see you :)

Below are a few more pics from the weekend. Hope you dig 'em! xoxo

AFTER THE 'FORMATS & SPECIALTY PROGRAMMING' PANEL DISCUSSION WITH NICO, TOBI, MATT, AL & JUSTIN






WITH BENJY & BEN FROM SONICBIDS - AT 'VOGUE' TO SEE 'ON A SUN' PERFORM - www.myspace.com/onasun






WITH MY FRIENDS FROM THE CHICAGO BAND 'OTTER PETTER' - www.myspace.com/otterpetter





WITH MICHAEL MCWILLIAM, THE VERY AWESOME DRUMMER FOR 'ON A SUN' :) www.myspace.com/onasun






With David from 'Summerfest,' the World's Largest Music Festival. (I think he looks like Kieth Urban :)





At MMS, Sonicbids Panelists Benjy and Ben gave me Su-Fi Fever :) Sorry guys, Dane Cook is MY future husband!

MMS -

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to let you know that I'm having a great time at the conference!  We flew in yesterday and were welcomed by lots of rain, but you know a whole group of indie artists arn't going down like that :)  We had our exclusive kick-off party yesterday where we got a chance to network with other artists and industry people, and watch a few bands play as well.  I've been meeting so many talented and kind people here - I'm stoked to see what Day 2 will bring!

I gotta jet though - lots of other bands need this computer too! I'll try to throw some pics up soon!

Love, ~mary~  :)  xoxo

 

http://www.downtownfolk.com/radio.htm

SWEETO MOSQUITO!!!