Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Between the melodic perfection of Alex Chilton, the fucking punk urgency of Pete Shelley and the pop craftsmanship of Paul Collins, passing through more recent masters like Evan Dando, Bob Mould or Mikey Erg, I honestly can't remember the last time someone managed to knock me out again and again with such consistency, handling melody in such a devastating way with every new track. And that's exactly what 1-800-Mikey, Michael Barker's lo-fi bedroom power pop project, has achieved. A guy who, unable to escape the intoxicating influence of that breathtaking and lethal Aussie punk-garage scene that has ruled the world for the last decade—a scene he's deeply involved in alongside names like Gee Tee, RMFC or Tee Vee Repairman—has quietly earned a place among those rare creators capable of turning three minutes of music into something truly special.
The garage-pop edge of his guitars gives away his roots, but it’s his infectious joy —a seemingly effortless simplicity that hits with deadly precision— that truly makes him special. Instant choruses and ridiculously catchy riffs that get stuck in your head and refuse to leave make him, in my opinion, one of the most enviable talents of the moment, especially if, like me, you value the ability to write perfect songs that sound like they were created without even breaking a sweat. This is not something you learn. It must be some kind of genetic combination that happens once in a million... or else, go ahead and try doing it yourself!
“Me and My Only” is the first single from his third album, “In Yun”, his first release for the legendary Goner Records, also released through his own new label Ragnar. And if everything I’ve said so far sounds like an exaggeration, just hit that play button and get ready to surrender to 1-800-Mikey!
va.lnk.to/iKlP81Ue
A video by Giovanni Alexander
Tremendo Garaje:
IG: instagram.com/tremendogaraje
FB: facebook.com/TremendoGaraje
Uploaded on behalf of Mikey
Between the melodic perfection of Alex Chilton, the fucking punk urgency of Pete Shelley and the pop craftsmanship of Paul Collins, passing through more recent masters like Evan Dando, Bob Mould or Mikey Erg, I honestly can't remember the last time someone managed to knock me out again and again with such consistency, handling melody in such a devastating way with every new track. And that's exactly what 1-800-Mikey, Michael Barker's lo-fi bedroom power pop project, has achieved. A guy who, unable to escape the intoxicating influence of that breathtaking and lethal Aussie punk-garage scene that has ruled the world for the last decade—a scene he's deeply involved in alongside names like Gee Tee, RMFC or Tee Vee Repairman—has quietly earned a place among those rare creators capable of turning three minutes of music into something truly special.
The garage-pop edge of his guitars gives away his roots, but it’s his infectious joy —a seemingly effortless simplicity that hits with deadly precision— that truly makes him special. Instant choruses and ridiculously catchy riffs that get stuck in your head and refuse to leave make him, in my opinion, one of the most enviable talents of the moment, especially if, like me, you value the ability to write perfect songs that sound like they were created without even breaking a sweat. This is not something you learn. It must be some kind of genetic combination that happens once in a million... or else, go ahead and try doing it yourself!
“Me and My Only” is the first single from his third album, “In Yun”, his first release for the legendary Goner Records, also released through his own new label Ragnar. And if everything I’ve said so far sounds like an exaggeration, just hit that play button and get ready to surrender to 1-800-Mikey!
va.lnk.to/iKlP81Ue
A video by Giovanni Alexander
Tremendo Garaje:
IG: instagram.com/tremendogaraje
FB: facebook.com/TremendoGaraje
Uploaded on behalf of Mikey
