Biography

The City Is The Desert (In Disguise) is the work of duo Mike Barrow, American born singer/guitarist, and HollowAxis, a South African born Italian producer/guitarist & noise maker.

The two met in Johannesburg South Africa in early 2009 via an online advert that Barrow placed. Barely two weeks later they began recording their first EP which they titled ‘The City Is The Desert’.
Playing all of the instruments themselves & recording everything in a small home studio the duo finished this work late in 2009.

Upon it’s completion they formed a gigging band and got the attention of a major booking agent.
This band began gigging in early 2010.
They quickly came to the attention of local media after playing some local festivals.

In march of 2010 they began recording a full length follow-up (Again self-producing and recording in their home studio). Recording on this debut album ‘(In Disguise)’ was finished in November 2010 and the product was mastered by the esteemed Roger Lian at MasterDisk in New York City.

A few newspaper covers (The Star), some radio play and gigs later the band played their last show at the Splashy Fen festival in April 2011.

Mike Barrow moved to Tampa USA a week later (And formed a band called ZuluWave soon after), HollowAxis made a move to London (England) in July and started work on solo material under another name.

Being on different continents has removed the live aspect of the band for now, but music remains to be released and made…

Some people said some very nice things about what they’ve done:


http://thedadada.com/2011/04/03/tcitd/

http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/130487-city-desert-disguise-album.html

http://www.musicreview.co.za/2011/05/26/review-the-city-is-the-desert-in-disguise-self-titled/

http://blindblimp.blogspot.com/2011/03/city-is-desert-in-disguise-bals-to-wall.html

http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/music/sound-out-these-musos-for-2011-1.1023399

http://www.musicreview.co.za/2010/03/23/review-the-city-is-the-desert-in-disguise-self-titled-ep/


The City Is The Desert (In Disguise) last active live lineup was…

Mike Barrow - Vocals/Guitar
HollowAxis - Guitars/Vocals
Scott Van Niekerk - Bass Guitar
Marco Romano - Drums