For nearly thirty years, Michael Clem has been playing bass, singing and writing songs for the national touring act he co-founded, Eddie from Ohio. Over that time, EFO has amassed a sizeable grassroots following, released nine CDs (all independently) & collected numerous Washington Area Music Association Awards. Since 2008, with the band slowing down, Clem has relocated from Northern Virginia to Charlottesville where he’s established quite a foothold in its musical scene, from session work to bluegrass gigs to forming his own acoustic trio.
Ten years after Clem’s first solo album, comes the better-late-than-never sophomore release Fifty Clementines. With thirteen previously unreleased songs, Clem brought in 30 friends from all over Virginia to contribute in the fine Charlottesville JLM Studios where he co-produced with James McLaughlin. Both release dates/birthday shows (in the current and former hometowns of Clem) in early January 2016 were full house smashing successes, featuring a killer five piece band combining his trio with his regular Monday night house band from The Local in Charlottesville. Clem is also currently a resident teacher for Songwriting at The Front Porch.
“A songwriter, a guitarist and observational comedian… Think Blink-182 with words by Todd Snider and you get an idea of what Clem does within the confines of folk-rock.”
–The Washington Post
“A multi-dimensional performer, Michael Clem’s songs touch universal human conditions that expose our doubts without ever being preachy. His dry and sly wit and clever arrangements soothe the soul but include a social commentary bite that encourages us not to take our lives too seriously.”
-Aer Stephen (“Folk & Beyond” 91.1 FM WTJU in Charlottesville, VA)