Doc Straw & the Scarecrows are an alternative Southern Rock & Roll group in Virginia led by songwriter Mike Straw. Straw is joined in the studio by lead guitarist Vaughn Thomas, bass guitarist Shelton Sprouse and keyboardist Taylor Bess. Musically and lyrically, this artist is about authenticity, musical flow and potent lyricism touching on themes of resilience in facing life's enduring challenges.

Mike is a combat vet who's now a doctor of physical therapy. He's been writing songs and playing in bands since middle school. He is from Gainesville, FL and joined the Army Reserves as a combat engineer from 2004 - 2013 because he wanted to serve his country after 9/11.

"I did a tour in Iraq mostly in Fallujah then Kirkuk. In between tours an army buddy and I started a band, Pilly Wete, and I think music really helped me in those days. A few years later I went to Afghanistan in Kunar province. Both tours we conducted route clearance (driving around clearing roadside bombs). After Afghanistan a lot changed for me: I got out of the Army, went back to school, stopped making music, and started having a tough time with mental health. All of these things seem to compound the significance of the others. When I went to PT school, that education was so helpful not just for the career but because it taught me about the body, brain, and changes we undergo when subjected to stressful experiences/environments. Since school I’ve been focusing on being the best version of myself and part of that has been resuming music."

One single off the album ‘The Little Things’ is the introspective "Get On By". As with much of Straw's music, the inspiration comes directly from real life experience, real life struggles universal to all of us.

"I wrote this song after getting off of a 3-hour long phone conversation with my sister, Jessica, and a lot of our conversation that evening centered around some of the tougher things in life and how we were dealing with these struggles. If a person lives long enough then at some point they will experience these trying seasons. I've learned that it's important to pay attention during those times because that is when we have some of the best opportunities to grow."

Follow Doc Straw & the Scarecrows at Docstrawandthescarecrows.com.