At age 51, Mitch Merrett can reflect back 鈥� at least so far 鈥� on a rewarding career that has seen him perform with and produce some of the music industry鈥檚 top entertainers.
He looks back on his journey thus far, and recounts spending a quarter century touring across Canada and the States, and in more recent years focusing primarily on the business side of the industry.
Then, just before COVID, he and a group of friends formed a band called Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion and prepared to hit the road again promoting a unique southern rock sound continent-wide.
Initial reception was great, but with a singer in Nashville and the pandemic prohibiting travel across the border, 鈥渋t kind of put the brakes on a lot of things, not just for us, but in the industry overall,鈥� Merrett said.
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As was the case for many, COVID gave Merrett time to contemplate life, and look at his future.
Maybe 鈥� he pondered 鈥� travelling in a van with the band, chasing radio time, rushing to the airport, and bouncing from city to city wasn鈥檛 quite what he鈥檚 wanting for himself and his family.
Admittedly, especially when he was younger, it was 鈥渟uper fun [being on the road]. I loved it. But, you know, there鈥檚 other things that take priority now.鈥�
With a chuckle, Merrett said: 鈥淚 love sleeping in my own bed every night鈥� and yeah, it鈥檚 different now. You know, I鈥檓 older.鈥�
So, he said, there are creature comforts to think of. But joking aside, one of his major priorities is being there more for his teenage boys 鈥� Cash and Cooper 鈥� and all their extra-curricular activities.
Result: Merrett chose to shake things up.
After some serious soul searching, he鈥檚 decided to grow his instructional interests in music, keep work on his production business, and just immerse himself in playing guitar.
鈥淲hat I did love about COVID is that I just fell in love with the instrument again鈥� I really became addicted to the guitar again,鈥� he said.
For years, he鈥檚 had a quote on his website that encapsulates his love affair with the guitar: 鈥淚t says something like鈥� I still get a rush from, you know, opening a guitar case and that smell. It鈥檚 like a new car smell. It does something to me, and I really like that.鈥�
If he can devote part of everyday just to playing, then for Merrett, that鈥檚 a 鈥済reat鈥� day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun, and like I said, you know, the instrument has always been one of the first things I think about when I wake up in the morning and one of the last things I think about when I go to bed at night鈥� I love the instrument,鈥� he said.
鈥淎nd, if you鈥檙e not having fun with your guitar, then why are you doing it?鈥� Merrett added.
As a music teacher, he is working primarily with adult students at his Gunfighter Guitar Studios, and in doing so has noticed a renewed interest in music 鈥� especially guitar 鈥� since COVID.
鈥淚 find that a lot of people who are getting a little older have some time in the day, you know, maybe their kids are a little older and they wanna either pick up the instrument again or start for the first time.鈥�
While he鈥檚 only teaching guitar at present, he said ultimately he sees expanding into vocals and other instruments, as well as the production end of the industry. In a year or two, he expects to add more teachers, then see where this new venture takes him.
鈥淵eah, I would like to have like a little school鈥� I think that would be beneficial and a lot of fun. And I think it would be a great working atmosphere of just guitar all day long,鈥� Merrett said, explaining how he loves talking with and watching guitar players of all experience levels, sharing ideas and techniques.
鈥淎s soon as you stop learning, I think you stop existing鈥� I love learning and I love passing along things that I鈥檝e learned to people.鈥�
He still spends the first part of his day working with a Toronto-based label, MDM, of which he鈥檚 a partner. And when they鈥檝e shut down for the day, he turns his energies to instruction.
It doesn鈥檛 mean he won鈥檛 be travelling anymore. That鈥檚 still required, occasionally, he acknowledged. The plan is to hit three to six festivals this summer with the performers on the label.
鈥淚鈥檒l go out and do some shows with some of the artists we represent, and check in, and do that.鈥�
Now all that said, performing isn鈥檛 off the table either.
While he doesn鈥檛 seek to tour anymore, Merrett admitted he has recently put together a tribute band, the Tailfins, where he plays surf guitar music from the 1960s through to today.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of fun. It鈥檚 all instrumental,鈥� Merrett explained.
They recently recorded a medley and video for promo purposes, and this fall they expect to drop a five- or six-song EP.
鈥淭he goal with that is to play some car shows and play some small fairs, that kind of stuff, some stuff locally,鈥� still allowing him to get up on stage and entertain the masses, then drive home to Willoughby after the gig.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 perfect鈥� so I can be at home and in my own bed by 10 o鈥檆lock,鈥� he chuckled.
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