Wild At Heart
I have always been a big fan of the Detroit Jazzfest and the overall summer festivals. Here in Rochester, we are having our second big festival of the year with our Jazzfest. Unlike Detroit, only some of the festival is free. They have some big ticket shows (Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, k.d. Lang, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and a number of club shows ($20 per show or $150 for unlimited) with a few good free shows here and there. They have four big name rock bands including Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes, Trombone Shorty, .38 Special and G Love and the Special Sauce and some smaller names playing free shows like Mingo Fishtrap (a Texas band with a strong blues sound), Blues Caravan (three rockin' girl guitarists, one being the daughter of Otis Taylor, who lit the stage on fire with their scorching beat), an impressive bluesman Lucky Peterson (a real crowd pleaser so get Callahans or the Ark to book him in the area) and the Stephane Wrembel Trio (a disciple of the Django school of guitar playing who recently worked with Woody Allen on a film score). It seems I haven't listened to much pure jazz at this festival but I have had some fun. I like the spread of style of our Jazzfest better though I do like the number of restaurants around the festival area and lots of free or cheap parking. Still, if you love Jazz, there are some good shows coming up so serious Jazz fans can check on www.rochesterjazz.com for upcoming music if you want to road trip here before next Saturday ends. Here are some pictures of the bands I saw at the fest which you might like to check out on your own, esp if they play anywhere nearby.
Southside Johnny & the Asbury Dukes
Mingo Fishtrap
Blues Caravan
Stephane Wrembel Trio
Tussey Mountain Moonshiners
Speaking of good music, here are some recommendations for the week.
Tuesday (6/14) - Hot Club Of Cowtown @ the Ark, Rihanna w/B.o.B. @ Palace Of Auburn Hills
Wednesday (6/15) - Against Me! w/Screaming Females @ St Andrews Hall, Natasha Bedingfield w/Kate Voegele @ Crofoot
Thursday (6/16) - Go-Go's & B-52's @ Pine Knob, Lenka @ Crofoot, Laith Al-Saadi @ Liberty Plaza (Ann Arbor)
Friday (6/17) - G Love & Special Sauce w/Matt Nathanson & Parachute @ Fillmore
Saturday (6/18) - Detroit Cobras w/Girl In A Coma @ Magic Stick, Andrew Bird @ Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Millionaires @ Eagle Theatre, Swellers @ Pike Room
Sunday (6/19) - Swellers (2nd show) @ Pike Room, Prussia opens for R Stevie Moore @ magic Stick
Monday (6/20) - Guitar Shorty @ the Ark, Elvis Costello @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
If you are looking for a road trip, you might want to hit the Burlington Sound Of Music Festival. I am working on an interview for later publishing but I will point out this festival is bringing together a lot of indie bands from June 16th to 19th for FREE. The line-up includes Bedouin Soundclash, Emerson Drive, Tokyo Police Club and a great double bill of Devo and Men Without Hats on Father's Day. More to follow but you can go to www.soundofmusic.ca for more info on the fest. I also hope to have some cool pics from Sunday. I have been dying to see Men Without Hats for decades and I am counting down the days as I write this. Have a good weekend and catch you during the week.
Lastly, I quick kudos to the Dallas Mavericks!! I’ve always admired Dirk and his team but they are easy to forget for glossier teams like the Lakers. I find Cuban annoying, but his team, like the Spurs, showcases what is good about professional basketball and I’m glad they put up a sizeable roadblock to Labron James who I used to like before “the Decision”. James just doesn’t get it when it comes to humility and teamwork which are probably the reason he doesn’t have a ring yet and until he learns that lesson, I hope he doesn’t get a ring. However, if that team stays together, it will be hard to deny the Heat for long. Let’s see how things fallout because I think Bosch gets it and he wasn’t looking too happy with James after these finals.