Michaela and Steve McLain
Local acoustic duo Steve and Michaela McLain will be performing on Saturday, December 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Drake restaurant in Burlington. They will also be performing a concert on Sunday, January 12, at the Grape Vine in Clive near Des Moines. Steve will accompany their vocal harmonizing with his acoustic guitar.
Steve is a member of the Jefferson County Green Band and a solo performer and Michaela has performed in countless musicals, variety shows, and choirs and also toured with electronica collective Bran Van 3000 in the summer of 2008. But although Steve and Michaela are both talented musicians, the husband and wife duo did not begin performing together until recently.
Steve says that although he and Michaela admired each other’s musical skills when they started dating in 2009, "Between courting, Michaela going to beauty school and opening a salon, having a baby, getting married, buying a house, and all the while playing in the band, we couldn’t seem to make the time to sit down and play music together!
"We’re super happy and excited to have reached this point where we have a really fun set to offer. There is nothing on stage that feels better than harmonizing with my wife!" enthuses Steve. As for the kind of music you can expect from the McLains, "Sharon Bousquet dubbed us country-tinged Americana. I’d say that’s pretty right on as long as that also means blues, reggae, and rock."
Steve has played many times at the Drake and says it is a great place for a date or a family dinner. "The view of the bridge over the Mississippi is awesome!" he adds. The dinner-time performance will consist of Steve opening the show and then Michaela will take center stage. The two will follow up with duets of love songs. "For dessert we just get silly!" says Steve.
The concert at the Grape Vine is by reservation only and is presented as a pairing of music and wine. The McLain’s last show at the Grape Vine sold out, so be sure to get your tickets soon.
For more information about the acoustic duo’s upcoming shows, look for Steve and Michaela McLain on Facebook.