Joe May's Month of Mondays performing on stage with various musical instruments

JOE MAY

Joe May in patterned shirt on stage with spotlight, red lighting

Joe May, is a songwriter and producer equally inspired and inhibited by humor, heart, and self-awareness, dissecting his journey through life with laughter and quiet vulnerability. His forthcoming studio project, Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks, is a testament to this craft—a house of mirrors that reflects both the sincerity of its creator and the playful wink of someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Rooted in the smooth, sunlit sounds of ‘70s west coast pop and filtered through May’s sharp wit, it’s an album that revels in its detail and intention while never losing sight of the impermanence of it all.

For May, a Brazilian-born, North Carolina-based artist, music is not merely an escape or a statement; it’s a way of processing the messy contradictions of life itself. Inspired by the sonic worlds of smooth rock legends like Wings and Steely Dan, Mild Adversity & Shallow Heartbreaks (MASH) blends warm brass counterpoint, tight arrangements, and a sense of grandeur with his sly humor. “You can be silly AND methodical,” May says. “This project was about letting others in, working everything out as we went, and finding joy even in the goofiest corners of music.”

Through it all, Joe May exudes an effortless charm, even in the face of life’s mild adversities and shallow heartbreaks. Therein lies his magic. His music doesn't ask you to leave your troubles behind—it invites you to laugh with them, sit awhile, and find hope within. “I believe our best days are still ahead of us,” he says, a sentiment that not only threads through the album but also defines Joe’s own artistic arc.
- Greg Knight

Joe May’s Month of Mondays: Selected Performance History

  • Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC with Jacoozy [1/18/25] (389 Tickets sold at $15)

    • First show with the 9 piece big band. Single release show

  • Front Porch Fest, Stuart, VA [8/31/24]

  • Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, Pittsboro, NC [5/4/24]

  • Mental Awakening Festival, Atlanta, GA [4/5/24]

  • Fall for Greenville Festival in Greenville, SC [10/14/23]

  • Boone Saloon, Boone, NC [5/11/24] (575 Tickets sold at $5)

  • Josh & Joe Play Dead at The Visulite Theatre in Charlotte, NC (220 tickets sold at $15) [6/21/24]

  • Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC opening for Spafford (~400 in attendance) [11/30/23]

  • The Pour House in Raleigh, NC with Secret Formula (105 tickets sold at $12/$15) [9/16/23]

  • Album Release Show at the Evening Muse in Charlotte, NC (112 tickets sold at $12/$15) [6/9/23]

  • Markets played: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, DC, Maryland

  • Performed with : Spafford, Eggy, Underground Springhouse, Empire Strikes Brass

    with Pluto Gang:

    • 4/12/24 - Visulite Theatre, Charlotte, NC 452 tickets sold at $15 for reunion show

    • 40+ live performances in the past two years, spanning from Georgia to West Virginia.

    • Festvals: FloydFest 2022; Mountain Music Festival 2022; Charlotte Shout! Festival 2022; Charlotte Independent Arts Festival 2022; IndieFest 2021; USNWC River Jam 2021

Songwriter, Producer, Band Leader

Joe May's Month of Mondays posing playfully with instruments in front of a mansion

Career Highlights:

  • Owner and Chief Engineer of Alta Mira Studios - A boutique, 1970’s inspired recording studio in Charlotte, NC. With a fully outfitted live room and control room equipped with myriad outboard analog equipment to capture warm, instant classic recordings.

  • Founded “Pluto Gang” amidst the global pandemic. Create an engaged digital community with a grassroots Facebook fan group; 13% engagement rate on social media posts; and over 1,000,000 Spotify streams without commercial playlist placements, advertisements, or PR, all on word-of-mouth

  • Branding partnership with Triple C Brewing to develop Moggy Hopvine Hazy IPA named after a Pluto Gang song. The band performed a release show at the brewery on 7/23/22, bringing out ~500 people, promoting the new beer. The drink was canned and distributed around the state for general sales.

  • Mental Health Charity - Hosted and sold out “Crawfish for a Cause” in Atlanta, GA. Selling 150 tickets and raising over $8,500 for The Blake House, supporting addiction rehabilitation and mental health services in honor of an old friend, Cole Hagood. Joe May then also performed at the 3rd year of this event in 2024

Download hi-res promo photos and press assets

Contact: joemaymusic@gmail.com

Joe May standing in a garden at night under a bright light, wearing a colorful jacket.
Joe May's Month of Mondays performing on stage, featuring a keyboard player with a microphone, a guitarist, a bassist, a drummer, a percussionist, a saxophonist, and a trumpeter. The stage has bright lights and decorative curtains.
Close-up of hands playing a Wurlitzer electric piano keyboard.
Joe May operating sound equipment with laptops and mixers in a dimly lit venue.
Joe May joyfully playing piano on stage with a band, guitarist and percussionist in background, microphone nearby.
Joe May's Month of Mondays performing on stage with multiple musicians playing instruments like guitar, saxophone, trumpet, keyboard, and drums in a colorful, decorative setting.
Joe May playing pool, holding cue stick, graffiti wall background.
Joe May singing into a microphone next to a keyboard, with a horn section in the background playing instruments.
Musicians performing on stage, one playing drums, another singing into a microphone, both in colorful clothing.
Joe May's Month of Mondays posing with guitars and eccentric objects, in front of a large windowed building.
Joe May's Month of Mondays performing on stage with saxophonist, percussionist, keyboard player, and guitarist, under colorful lights and draped backdrop.
Joe May playing keyboard and singing on stage at outdoor concert
Joe May singing into a microphone on stage with another performer in the background.
Joe May singing into a microphone on stage with colorful lights.
Joe May's Month of Mondays dressed in vintage-inspired clothing pose in a stylish living room with art and decor.
Joe May performing on stage with keyboard and microphone, colorful lights in background.
Close-up of Joe May singing into a microphone, with a starburst light effect overlay in a dimly lit environment.
Joe May playing keyboard on stage with microphones and electronic equipment, colorful stage lights.
Close-up of Joe May singing passionately into a microphone with another person in the background.
Joe May singing and playing keyboard on stage with colorful lights
Three men in stylish outfits; one seated with an oversized teacup, another reading a book, and the third holding a guitar, standing in front of a large house and statue.
Joe May playing keyboard at outdoor event
Joe May's Month of Mondays in vintage attire, one playing guitar, standing on grass with trees in the background.
Joe May playing keyboard on stage, wearing tie-dye shirt, background with decorative patterns and stage lighting.
Joe May performing on stage, playing a Nord keyboard, under green and blue stage lights.
Joe May's Month of Mondays outdoors at night holding guitars, standing on a stone walkway, with two of them wearing patterned jackets and one wrapped in a blanket.
Joe May's Month of Mondays with guitars outdoors at night.
Joe May playing keyboard on stage
Joe May's Month of Mondays posing with guitars in front of green French doors, one holding a large cup, others smiling; a small sign reads 'Russell May Art Gallery.'