The Buffalo News April 6, 1997 Called to Rock Mike Oliver is a rock 'n' roll animal with a passion for pop songwriting. And by the way…he happens to be a priest. By Anthony Vioanti News Critic It's all part of Mike Oliver's Neil Young fantasy. "Hey hey, my my, rock 'n' roll will never die," Oliver shouts into a microphone in a crowded basement, rehearsing with his band, Go Dog Go. The intensity builds as he throws himself into the song. Oliver, who stands 6 feet, 5 inches tall, is big and burly as he hunches to keep from hitting his head on the ceiling. He jerks his red guitar up and down and screams about the story of "Johnny Rotten, he may be gone but he's not forgotten." The three other band members are nearly as white-hot as Oliver as they rip into the song. "It's better to burn out than to fade away," Oliver wails. Then in a climactic burst of rock 'n' roll energy, Oliver stands over an amp, holding his guitar with both hands, jamming it back and forth toward the speaker, creating ear-shattering feedback. The song is over. Oliver slumps under the soft flow of a light in a dingy cellar corner. His white shirt drips with perspiration; he is emotionally drained but exhilarated. "That was fun," he says. "Neil Young rocks." It's Sunday morning at St. Ambrose catholic Church in South Buffalo. The rev. R.B. Michael Oliver stands at the alter in black and white priestly vestments. The atmosphere is sacred and serene as he holds the Eucharist during the part of the Mass known as the Consecration. Catholics believe this is the symbolic time of worship when bread and wine are turned into the body and blood of Christ. Soon afterward, Father Oliver walks to the front of the alter to share communion with parishioners. One by one they line up and walk to the alter, "Body of Christ," Father Oliver says as he gently places the Eucharist onto their palms. "Amen," is the reply. Oliver, 35, seems to walk a fine line between two worlds: music and the church. Somehow a bond exists among songs, homilies, guitars and prayers. The singer, like the priest, communicates with the spirit. "People have stereotypical views of priests. They think we walk around all day with beads," said Monsignor William G. Stanton, 73, pastor of St. Ambrose. "What Michael is doing is perfectly legitimate in this day and age. "I don't think it interferes with his priestly work; in fact, it enhances it. He's a good priest. People like him and he gives a good homily." Father Stanton is hardly a rock fan. "I prefer opera, he said. "But I hear Michael singing and playing his music all the time in his room. It's not bad." Whether singing in a bar or preaching in church, the essence of Mike Oliver remains his faith. It was faith that helped him endure the deaths of both parents while he was growing up. It was faith that turned him to the priesthood, and faith that enabled him to pursue an avocation of music. "Spirituality would be a part of my life, regardless of what I do." Oliver said while sitting in his room at the St. Ambrose rectory. It's small, but comfortable. In the middle of the room is a small stereo, surrounded by hundreds of CDs and tapes. A black guitar case rests on the carpet. Oliver's father died when he was 5 years old, and his mother passed away when he was barely a teenager. "Having gone through that kind of life makes me more sensitive on the good days, and more compassionate," Oliver said. "But it still hurts, and it still makes me wary and defensive." 'A sucker for harmony' Music is a way to cope with such feelings. Oliver's lyrics are filled with emotion on such subjects as life, love, faith and loss. His songs may be melancholy and introspective, but the beat and rhythm are often upbeat. Oliver's music sometimes sounds like a cross between Matthew Sweet and the Gin Blossoms, or, to an older generation, a combination of the Beatles and the Byrds. It's up-tempo pop with jingle-jangle guitars and a touch of hard rock. "I'm a sucker for harmony and a good pop song," Oliver said. He has a thorough sense of rock history and can discuss just about any act, from the Kinks to the Clash, U2 to Green Day. "I was 3 years old when the Beatles were on "The Ed Sulivan Show," and I can still remember it," Oliver said. As a teenager he immersed himself in music. He collected records, taped songs, wrote a record column for the St. Francis High School newspaper and was a total music freak. "I was a hip kid, but I didn't know it," he said with a laugh. "I was about 9 years old the first time I heard Neil Young sing :Southern Man," and I knew then that music would always be a part of my life. Music, invariably, also became part of his ministry. "It's a way for me to reassess my life. All my songs come from emotions I feel. For me, writing music is a sublime and cathartic experience." Playing and writing music gave Oliver a chance to confront his demons. "There was a point in my lifer where I was relieved not to feel anything. I experienced a lot of tragedy as a child, and that never goes away, but the edges soften as you age. "I've learned if your going to survive in this world, you have to make yourself vulnerable and be courageous enough to trust again." Open Invitation Sometimes it's impossible to separate the priest from the rocker. Oliver relishes the opportunity that music gives him to reach young people who have strayed from the church. "Invariably, wherever I play, word gets out that I'm a priest," Oliver said. "A lot of people in my age group are on the fringes of the church community, but they still feel their religious roots. "I can talk to those people; I'm one of them. They can relate to me because I'm their age and I like their music. Then I see them in church. The good part is that I can find them a way to come back to church.." "What surprises some is Oliver's talent as a singer/songwriter/musician. He doesn't pander to he stereotype of the singing priest, hauling out an acoustic guitar and singing "Kum Ba Yah" at a folk mass. Oliver and his band have been together about a year and a half. In 1996, he released a cassette tape and it made The Buffalo News" Top 10 list of local music releases of the year. Next Weekend, Oliver and Go Dog Go, will release their first CD, "How Does This Work." Oliver and the group have become an accepted part of the local music scene, playing at local clubs. They practice at least once a week. "At first Michael seemed kind of hesitant to let other musicians know he was a priest," said Michael Lee Jackson of the band Animal Planet. "But now we all joke that he has come out of the closet, and everybody knows he's a priest." Go Dog Go features Dan Goodwin, Tommy Jordan and Kelly Jordan, All attend St Ambrose and live near the church. "Mike's easy to get along with, and I can relate to his lyrics and what he sings about," Kelly Jordan said. "There's a lot of meaning in his music," he adds. Mike's not a complicated guy. He knows how to communicate with people at a level they understand. "With the band, it doesn't matter that he's a priest. It's the music that counts." Goodwin agrees. "Mike's pretty laid-back, but he takes music very seriously. He keeps everything going. When we practice or play, Mike makes sure everything is well-structured." Music as ministry Oliver's songwritting is often biographical. He wrote "Woke Up Crying" based on a real experience after a dream about his late father. They lyrics include: "I woke up crying 'cause I saw you in a dream/It's the first time in a long time you even spoke to me." Another song, the thumping rocker "I'm Ready Now," is a tale of lost love, about being "ready now/'Cause I'm over you." "Hey Grace" features a soft, folksy beat: "Hey Grace, I think it's amazing/To spend your whole life consciousness-raising/It's a labor of love/A union of heart and mind/I just hope it doesn't much longer for you to find … Give me a call any time at all/'Cause Grace you're a friend of mine." Oliver understands some may find it hard to accept the idea of a priest in a rock band. "I know some people may not like what I'm doing." he said, "but I'm just trying to find a way to be happy and reach people." Music is a part of my ministry. I didn't intend for it to happen, but it just turned out that way," A cold late winter rain was washing the South Buffalo streets on a recent afternoon. Oliver, as usual, was keeping a hectic pace. He helps out at St. Ambrose, makes hospital visits, occasionally lectures at the parish school, and, of course, there is daily Mass. For a man who spent most of his youth without a mother and father, the church has become Oliver's family. In a way, the priesthood gives him a chance to guide others' lives. "In a way, it's like being a parent. I have to be responsible," Oliver says. It's getting late in the afternoon, and almost time for band practice. Oliver heads out the door and runs down Ridgewood Road. Raindrops splatter on his face, but it doesn't bother him. Guitar case in hand, Mike Oliver is smiling. "The Rustman" "LET US PLAY" APRIL 14, 1997 Recently I had the great pleasure to be invited to attend a short but memorable set done by Mike Oliver and his band "Go, Dog. Go!" Father Mike (as he is also a South Buffalo Catholic Priest) just released his first record with "Go, Dog. Go!" "how does this work", at a packed CD release party at Nietzsche's and was featured on the front page of a recent Sunday edition of the Buffalo Evening News entertainment section. This was a very tight, sweet set, done at "The Music Station", a great South Buffalo music store rapidly gaining a reputation, not only for it's inventory, but the fact they invite local bands and musicians to play on an actual stage set up in the store! Mike Oliver's songs are all originals, written by himself, with Father Mike singing, playing guitar, mandolin, and backed by the very tight, "Go, Dog. Go!", consisting of Kelly Jordan on drums, brother Tommy Jordan on bass and background vocals, and Dan Goodwin on rhythm guitar. Based on simple chord changes and solid rhythms, Mike's songs evoke feelings from listeners ranging from heart warming to angst, from despair to hope, with a pop-rock middle of the road, heading for the ditch feel, that stays in your head long after the song is over. He has a real knack as a lyricist, drawing emotions from his songs like somebody who has been through life's turmoil, communicated through his words and his music. The feelings are enhanced by the rock solid backing of his band and some sparse but evocative lead work from the priest with the electric guitar. Great stuff from a man who is still young, but has wisdom well beyond his years. Songs like "Hey, Grace" and the rowdy "Argyle Cat: reflect a form and lyrical style of someone who's been making music far longer that Mike and his band have been around. This writer is already anxiously awaiting his second record release, and like the audience at the Music Station the other night, we thirst for more. If you are lucky enough to catch this rising star and his band, by all means do so. And in the words of Mike Oliver himself at his recent CD release party, "Let Us Play".

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