The Impossible Shoelace have been performing in Gainesville in different incarnations since lead singer Mike Dorsey was at Gainesville High School in 2005. Mike’s uniquely raspy singing voice and songwriting skills are evident in the band’s energetic live shows. Check them out at Myspace.com/theimpossibleshoelace

By: Jon Silman; Photo provided to INsite

We sat down with Mike Dorsey of The Impossible Shoelace and asked him about his music, Gainesville and girls.

When did you decide that you wanted to be a musician?
I think I was about 8 years old. I saw The Beatles Anthology on TV, and I wanted to play a guitar.

What do you think of the local music scene here in Gainesville?
It seems like it's really vibrant, but really stagnant at the same time. Maybe stagnant's not the right word—maybe stationary.

What do you write about?
I like to write with words; I just like the way words sound. Break-ups usually inspire songs.

Have there been a few of those lately?
Yeah in the last five years.

How many?
Three?

So is that three good songs automatically?
No, it's like three albums.

Is there someone in particular who has inspired a lot of your music, or is there a song that ties to that?
Yeah, well shit, she's got a lot of songs. Maybe, “Oh Joan.”

Is that her name?
No.

So you wrote a song about a girl who's name it sounds like you're not going to tell me.
No. Is it going to print?

I don't know, but I'll be selective. I'm just looking for things that people can relate to.
You know I have a feeling that she'd love it, to see it in print. But “Oh Joan” is about her, and I'm not going to tell you her name [laughs].

Can you give me some lyrics from “Oh Joan?”
Sure. “Oh Joan, are you alone? You're on my phone. I can't see you. I bet, his fingers are wet, and you got his sweat, on your bones. Note after note I swim in your moat, but singing this won't get me to you.”

Sounds like there's another guy involved.
There was, yeah.

Did she break up with you or did you break up with her?
She broke up with me man.

For another guy?
Oh yeah.

Rough. You're kind of a romantic then. What's the most romantic song you've ever heard?
“Can't Help Falling in Love With You” (sung by Elvis Presley).

What's performing like?
A rush. At the same time, it's like a focus thing. There's a lot of stuff – to make sure you don't slip or just paying attention to everything that's going on to make sure everything gets played right.

Let's say instead of performing you could give your audience a present, like instead of playing you could give them a box and say, “This is what you're gonna get out of this show.” What would be in the box?
A little tiny, tiny bottle of wine. A piece of art on canvas rolled up. Dirt. Maybe some sort of random thrift-shop yard sale vintage piece of junk. And a CD.

If you weren't going to be a musician, what would you be?
Probably a visual artist. A painter.

Favorite Book?
Going Postal or Small Gods by Terry Pratchett.

Have you ever gotten laid as a result of playing a show?
It's hard for me to be social after shows.

The adrenaline?
Yeah, coming down. It's really hard for me to talk to anyone afterward. Just being on stage. It takes a lot out of me.

What song should people listen to on your MySpace page right now?
The newest one is my favorite. It's called “Field of Spies.”

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