Artist of the Day: Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele

What comes to mind when you hear the word ukulele? Most likely you're picturing a portly Hawaiian guy strumming a tiny guitar, grass skirts swishing in the background.  Most of the time, that would be a fairly accurate association, but when Dent May picks up his ukulele, the instrument takes on a Mississippi retro pop alter ego.

Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele hails from the small town of Taylor, Miss.  May's sound is often described as throwback lounge music; he's known not only for playing his instrument of choice on nearly every track he records, but also for his lighthearted love songs ("Meet Me in the Garden," "Love Song 2009") and funny lyrics ("God Loves You, Michael Chang").



In 2007, Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele introduced the world to retro uke pop with the debut EP A Brush with Velvet.  The EP features six tracks of Beach Boys inspired tunes, and you can download Velvet for free courtesy of Cats Purring.

The band's first full length album, The Good Feeling Music of Dent May & His Magnificent Ukulele, was released in February '09 on the Animal Collective imprint Paw Tracks. The AC guys signed May while they were in Oxford, Miss., recording Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Watch May play his ukulele in his pj's and shake a pair of maracas in the video for "Oh, Paris!":



Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele play Athens' Caledonia Lounge with Futurebirds on October 19. 

-Kristen Callihan
currently listening to "Howard" by Dent May


This content is solely the property of The Athens Blur Magazine and may not be re-produced without expressed written consent. The Athens Blur Magazine is an 8 issue/year music & variety publication proud to be based in the Classic City of Athens, Ga. For more information, please contact editorial@athensblur.com