Mike
Malaski was a high school senior, playing soccer for Portage, when he
was first hypnotized by the magical jangle pop produced by Peter Buck.
Musically, it doesn't get much simpler than the rhythm guitar part
laid down on R.E.M.'s "Superman," an E-cord held down while
a pick is swiped across six strings. But the memorable intro to the
tune burrows like a sonic hedgehog into the conscience of almost
everyone who hears it.
For Malaski, the draw was even deeper. He was hooked, man.
"I remember that season, playing for the Northern Cup, back
when soccer was basically nothing in Indiana," Malaski
remembered. "And I remember hearing that song for the first time
right around then and how much it affected me and got me into
music."
Malaski formed a band called the Love Handles while in college at
St. Joseph's, but his interest in sports and music didn't end up on
the college cutting room floor with everyone else's atrophied ideals.
He is the girls' soccer coach at Crown Point and directs the Bulldogs'
junior varsity girls basketball team.
So what to do in the spring? A little R & R? You bet ... as in
rock 'n' roll.
He owns his own 24-track recording studio, and his experimentation
with production, songwriting and musicianship led to the creation of
his compact disc, "Hey Coach!" Malaski plays every
instrument on the recording, save for drums. A machine handles those
duties.
Although he went the distance himself on the disc, Malaski
assembled a live band called Mr. Malaski. CP all-area defensive
lineman Jeremy Williams plays bass. And Crown Point students Brian
Giacomin (drums) and Brian Price (guitar) will join their English
teacher on stage as well.
The quartet has been practicing for its first gig, a two-night
stand at the Crown Point High School auditorium May 19-20. The
frontman burned 500 discs to peddle for the occasion, and 350 tickets
have already been sold.
All proceeds from the shows will benefit the Crown Point athletic
department. The set will combine the 11 songs on the CD, plus a few
final cuts and some covers.
"Our philosophy's not superhero, change-the-world,
MTV-Showtime type stuff," Malaski said. "We're all out there
having a good time."
I'm not a music critic, but I played one in college for a while. So
I'm a bit rusty.
My take? The CD combines catchy pop craftsmanship of the Matchbox
20-Semisonic-Vertical Horizon, but retains the midwestern musical
integrity of stalwarts like Van Morrison and John Mellencamp. And
although there are some athletic and regional references, "Hey
Coach!" isn't 11 variations of "Centerfield."
In "Tell Me," he professes his love for "Indiana's
game," as well as championship rings, Chicago and the Bears.
Mostly, though, it's sweet stuff like "Doubt" -- a tune
about a smitten student asking for girl advice -- or "Smile"
-- the song he sang at his wedding to wife Erinn, the CP volleyball
coach.
The chain connecting sports to music is long, from Jack McDowell to
Shaquille O'Neal to Percy "Master P" Miller. And now to Mike
Malaski.
"There's a lot more pressure coaching kids than playing in
front of 1,000 people on a Friday night," Malaski said.
"Coaching? That's pressure. Teaching. That's pressure. Sit down
and jam? No pressure."
Just a little R & R.
* Jeff Carroll can be reached at jeffcar@howpubs.com or at (219)
933-3373.
