With twenty-one albums under his belt and years spent as musical director and guitarist for the legendary doo-wop group Speedo and the Cadillacs, John Michael Hersey is the kind of artist who knows exactly what he’s creating. His recent album, “Democracy”, might be his most ambitious swing yet.
“In a corner booth where strangers meet, democracy lives on beer-stained seats.”
The title track “Democracy” does something smart: it plants you in that dive bar, surrounded by people watching election returns on an oversized TV, and just lets the scene breathe. Hersey pulls from his usual mix of rock, folk, blues, and country, but here it all serves the story he’s telling. These aren’t abstract political statements; they’re snapshots of real people dealing with real tension.
The dive bar setting is perfect. It’s where America actually happens, not in campaign ads or cable news studios. Different stories, different opinions, all crammed into one room with cheap beer and a jukebox that’s seen better days. Hersey knows how to build a scene and make you care about the people in it. And as far as it goes, dive bars have been hosting these conversations since forever.
With “Democracy,” Hersey gives you a story, a place, and some characters; what you take from it is up to you.
Muse Chronicle 
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