You know that feeling. When a cozy café hums with life but doesn’t overwhelm, when the drink in your hand is just right, and when someone on stage is playing so well that you get completely drawn in and just sink into the moment.

Mike Stocksdale – Settle Down! Live at the Hotel Cafe 12.11.24 is exactly that kind of night—only pressed onto a record.

photo by Shane Liem

Settle Down! Live at the Hotel Cafe 12.11.24 is an album that… Damn, there it is again. Word for word, exactly what I didn’t want to say. Let’s keep it simple: this is a live recording, which means it has everything that makes real concerts feel alive—mistakes, laughter, awkward moments, toasts, mumbling into the mic, and that one moment when the whole room suddenly goes silent because something real is happening on stage.

I love live recordings like this, where you can hear shouts from the back rows, the artist’s laughter in the mic, and little accidents that end up being the most heartfelt moments of the entire album. That December night, Mike, full of energy and grinning ear to ear, strummed his guitar, joked with the crowd, and then, out of nowhere, invited unexpected guests to join him on stage. And those who came just out of curiosity couldn’t look away anymore—because they saw real chemistry between the musicians.

That night, Mike Stocksdale was on fire. He wasn’t trying to play flawlessly—if anything, he was reveling in the moment, goofing around, bantering with the crowd, fully aware that the mics were picking up every half-drunken conversation between songs. And that’s the heart of any live album. If you just want polished studio versions, go to Spotify. But if you’re curious about how it actually sounded in the room—when the air smelled of alcohol and someone’s expensive perfume—this is Settle Down!.

And all of it was recorded at the legendary, iconic Hotel Café. A small, slightly worn-out venue in Los Angeles, tucked away on Cahuenga Boulevard with barely a sign to mark its presence. But the moment you step inside, the world shrinks to just the stage, the dim lighting, and the sound of fingers sliding over guitar strings.

Once upon a time, it was just a tiny café where people stopped in for coffee and live jazz. But in the early 2000s, the owners decided to give the stage to emerging talent, and since then, Hotel Café has become something of a musical sanctuary. Everyone who later made it big has played here—Fiona Apple, John Mayer, even Adele, who once stood on this stage with a guitar, just another artist searching for an audience.

photo by Jason Kerman

But the real magic is in the atmosphere, and on Settle Down!, it spills over the edges. The album brings together 15 songs, recorded in a stripped-down acoustic style that lays bare the nerves of every melody. Between them—off-the-cuff jokes, funny stories, rambling but captivating monologues, the kind of moments that can only happen live.

The album opens with a short intro, Ladies and Gentlemen. Applause, the soft murmur of the crowd—and suddenly, the lights dim, leaving a single spotlight on Mike Stocksdale. Then comes Who Am I?—a slow, drawn-out five-minute track with nothing but voice and guitar. Simple, yet mesmerizing, it instantly creates a sense of intimacy, as if you’re in the front row, just a few feet from the stage.

The Way and Bad Bad World are the most romantic moments on the album. Their soft, almost weightless sound fills the space with warmth. The lyrics take center stage, offering a glimpse into Stocksdale’s inner world, while his relaxed, unhurried delivery makes everything feel effortless.

But if the first part of the concert leans into an intimate, almost chamber-like atmosphere, The Old Band and Wishes and Wants bring a surge of energy. The guitar grows bolder, the rhythm picks up, and the gentle backing vocals add depth. This is the point where the show truly comes alive, evolving like a living, breathing thing.

With Time Goes By, So? everything slows down again. By the middle of the song, you catch yourself humming along with Mike—even if you’ve never heard it before.

Then come the emotional swings. Cryin’ About It shifts the mood, dipping into a touch of melancholy, but Names in Songs lightens the air, and Alexandra delivers that effortless ease that feels just right as the concert nears its end. The harmonica here stands out with a special expressiveness, and Stocksdale’s vocals leave a lasting impression with their subtle, distinctive nuances.

The final stretch of the album is laced with a gentle nostalgia. Gone Gone Gone feels like those good old nights with friends, while Matador and Dirty Bar of Soap bring in a subtle bluesy touch.

Closing it all out is Nothing Like Beginning, a track that leaves a real sense of completion. A steady groove, confident delivery—it’s the perfect ending. When it’s over, the feeling is simple and warm: you’ve been to a live Mike Stocksdale show, heard his stories, and lived through this night with him. And maybe that’s exactly why recordings like this matter so much.

The official release is set for March 13, 2025—so get your Spotify, Apple Music, and whatever else you’ve got ready. But here’s a little trick: if you don’t feel like waiting, it’s already up on Bandcamp. According to Mike, this is the record he’s most proud of. And when you listen, you can almost feel yourself still sitting in the dim glow of the Hotel Café, surrounded by friendly voices and the raw, unfiltered magic of a real concert.

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub