Marquette-based musician Mike Maple, singer, guitarist, and songwriter for the band Liquid Mike, has a new album arriving September 12. Titled "Hell Is an Airport," it marks the sixth release under the Liquid Mike name.
Maple writes, performs, records, mixes, and masters the band’s albums from home, continuing a DIY approach that has helped build a following well beyond the U.P. When performing as a band, he is backed up by Monica Nelson, Zack Alworden, Cody Maracek, and Dave Daignault (and Dave and Zack are also part of the Michigan band Charmer). Maple described the record’s title as inspired by time spent in airports during a stretch of heavy travel, where the atmosphere felt both structured and chaotic. For him, airports became a metaphor for being stuck in limbo, a feeling that resonated with balancing music with other work.
Read more about "Hell Is An Airport" in a Brooklyn Vegan article here.
The new album was shaped during a rare stretch of uninterrupted time following tours with The Wonder Years and The Menzingers. Maple was able to focus fully on writing and recording, which he said made the process feel more like a creative sabbatical.
Two singles, “Selling Swords” and “Groucho Marx,” are already available, previewing what Maple described as a louder, faster, and more guitar-driven record than the band’s previous effort. He credited classic rock staples from his early years with shaping some of the sound, alongside long-standing influences such as The Replacements, Guided by Voices, and Weezer.
Watch the lyric video for Liquid Mike's "AT&T:"
Live performance has been an ongoing growth area for Liquid Mike, which jumped quickly from limited local shows to national tours with acts like Drug Church and the Descendents. Maple noted the adjustment of learning to connect with larger audiences while continuing to rework songs for the stage.
Listen to Maple speak with Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth about the new album:
Looking ahead, the band will tour this fall in support of "Hell Is an Airport," joining Militarie Gun and Public Opinion for what will be its most extensive run yet. Maple also has additional material in progress, with possibilities of exploring new recording approaches in the future.
"Hell Is an Airport" will be available September 12 on streaming platforms and through the band’s Bandcamp and physical releases.
The interview was originally broadcast on The Shuffle on Saturday, September 6th, 2025.
