M Iafrate (& the Priesthood)

Acoustic / Folk / Rock

Toronto and West Virginia

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About

Michael John Iafrate is a thirty year old songwriter from West Virginia, now living in Canada, who has been creating and performing acoustic-based songs for over a decade. As a member of some of WVs most creative and well-known independent music acts, such as The Minus Tide, Drown Culture, and Killed At Camp, Iafrate made it a point to continue writing and performing acoustic solo material alongside his various other musical projects. Iafrate's "theological new folk" touches on the intersecting themes of religion, politics, and sexuality, and gives respectful musical nods to such influences as Will Oldham, Neil Young, classic R.E.M., Elliott Smith, Gillian Welch, and Magnolia Electric Co.

M Iafrate's most recent proper album of original material is 2005's O Happy Marriage, released under the name M Iafrate & The Priesthood, an album consisting of full-sounding country/folk-rock songs as well as the softer guitar-only tracks that audiences have come to expect. Since the release of Marriage, Iafrate has produced two consecutive Christmas releases (available for free download on his site), as well as a collaboration with his brother, Andrew Iafrate, under the charming moniker The Dick Brothers. The latter is made up of six bluegrass/old time-y cover songs and 4 original instrumentals, recorded in three hours time to one track through one microphone in a basement in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

In addition to his continued doctoral studies in theology, the first half of 2007 should bear the weighty fruits of a long-awaited tribute to the St. Louis Jesuits called The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor and an EP of new M Iafrate material called Come and Die. During the sunny Appalachian summer, Iafrate plans to reassemble The Priesthood for a new full-length tentatively titled The Birth of the Word in the Souls of the Just.

Iafrate has shared the stage with such vital acts as Songs:Ohia, Magnolia Electric Co., The Anomoanon, Papa M, Matt Pond PA, Brightblack Morning Light, and the Rosebuds. Strangely, he has also played shows with such bands as Zao and The Movielife.

Iafrate also plays guitar and sings in the band COBRA from Wheeling, WV, featuring ex-members of The Minus Tide. COBRA recently released its debut album Feels Like Freedom.