Michael Lawlor has been tearing up the tri-state music scene since the early 80's. His playing runs the gamut of soulful sultry blues to blistering fiery liquid lightning riffs. His first place win at the Guitarmageddon national competition in 2000 brought him more notoriety, seeing him open for Stone Temple Pilots at the Avalon Ballroom in Boston. Next, Fender flew him out to their Custom Shop in Corona California to build him a self-designed one of a kind Stratocaster. You can catch Michael playing at many venues around the area with his Mike Lawlor Banned, and more recently with a new horn / soul / funk group- MalFunktion, as well as numerous fill-in roles for the many bands in the northern NJ scene.