Animal Years, Michael Daves

""Mark my words, you will be singing these tracks after only one round through this album." - VIOLENT SUCCESS

Brooklyn’s Animal Years bring a fresh face to indie roots rock. With influences ranging from early Kings of Leon, My Morning Jacket, Young The Giant, The Wallflowers, to The Avett Brothers, Animal Years is driven by Mike McFadden’s crisp vocals and magnetic poise, featured on the forthcoming record, Sun Will Rise, was released September 17, 2013.

Free-wheeling, feel-good melodies and smooth ringing guitars shine on Sun Will Rise. From the glorious opening track and first single, “Meet Me” to rockabilly closer, “Walking Slow,” the quartet delivers indie rock with grace. Title track “Sun Will Rise” blossoms with country/folk tinges, and dancy “Forget What They’re Telling You” crescendos with impassioned vocals and guitar strums. Sun Will Rise showcases the delicacy and introspection behind songwriting and draws on the strengths of McFadden’s seasoned voice and multi-instrumental abilities.

Mike McFadden (lead vocals, guitar, and banjo), who adopted the moniker Animal Years to break out of the solo singer/songwriter category, is backed by Anthony Saladino (bass), Kevin Johnson (keys), Matt Indellicati (Guitar) and Anthony Spinnato (drums). McFadden released 3 solo albums while living in Baltimore, MD, before moving to New York in October 2012. When McFadden moved to Brooklyn, he recruited former bandmates Saladino and Johnson, and newcomer Spinnato to flesh out his sound at live shows.


Michael was born in 1977 in the southern empire of Atlanta, Georgia. Soon after, he began to make loud noises, so his loving parents put music instruments in front of him. It was a good plan. He grew up in that grand tradition of staying up late & singing real loud. Although he's since moved north, the humid south remains in heart and sinus cavities

Currently Michael lives in New York, where he is supervised by his daughter and two vigorous cats. Brooklyn, New York is a very exciting place to live. In addition to playing music & teaching, Michael enjoys turning the knobs & playing with the buttons some on several pieces of recording equipment. This is why he put a studio into his house.