He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
Ticket Giveaway: The first person to send me an email @ doramu13@yahoo.com will win a pair of tickets to see Missy Higgins at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Wednesday, March 11th. She is an Australian singer/songwriter whose last foray to Detroit saw her opening for Ben Folds. She is performing with Justin Nozuka and Lenka.
I spent some quality time down in Hamtramck this weekend for the Metrotimes Blowout. The weather seemed to cooperate for those waking between venues. I went to about 10 venues which I had never been in before which was almost as exciting as seeing the 30 bands (out of 200+) that I saw. I have seen about 70 of the bands which played this weekend including some of my local favorites such as the Great Lakes Myth Society, Audra Kubat and Wildcatting which should need no introduction. This weekend I was looking for acts which I had never seen before, so out of the 30 new bands I saw perform this weekend, these are Wild Bill’s Top 5 acts at the Blowout this year.
1.) Pinkeye w/John Sinclair – playing an experimental jam style accompanied by poet extreme Sinclair just gave a cool 60’s style counter culture vibe that really stood out this weekend.
2.) Il Segreto String Quartet – Wayne State string musicians which rocked out with covers of Sonic Youth and the Cranberries.
3.) Codgers – nothing says drinking on a Thursday night like listening to some Celtic influenced rock.
4.) Sh! The Octopus – part folk rock, part psychedelic rock, this group put on a feel good session this weekend.
5.) Dale Beavers & Bootsey X – Bootsey X kept the beat strong behind Beavers blues influenced style so I almost felt like I was down in the delta.
5 ½) Honorable mention – Circus Boy – they are essentially a Detroit oriented supergroup which put the rock in rock-n-roll this weekend.
Despite waking what seemed like miles, there were still a number of acts like Gorvette and Aran Ruth that I missed but heard really good things about. I had a really good time and kept running into people I knew and sometimes even making new friends. I had never gotten around to going to this event before but I definitely feel that I might go to it again next year. Also, a band which just missed my Top 5 list, the Blueflowers, will be playing at the Magic Stick on Friday so feel free to stop on down and give them a listen.
The DIA has a new exhibit opening this week which takes a look at the work of Norman Rockwell entitled “American Chronicles: The Art Of Norman Rockwell”. It explores Rockwell as an artist and takes a look at his images and their impact and influence on American culture. His work has come to epitomize the American dream with works that show the value of friends and family as well as a keen sense of humor. For example, his piece, the ‘Art Critic’ shows a serious student examining the detail of a necklace on a woman’s painted bosom, but unknown to him the picture in the painting is giving him a wry smile. This works as a funny scene of voyeurism but also on a stronger level of not taking art too seriously. Most of his work has that layer of a simple concept with an overlaying deeper meaning that you don’t really need to recognize to enjoy his work. And don’t forget his more serious pieces like “The problem we all live this” which
captures a young black girl being escorted by Federal Marshalls past a wall with racist words. That is a very powerful piece and worth the price of admission by itself. The exhibit even includes all 323 of his original Saturday Evening Post covers. The show runs from March 8th – May 31st and you can go to www.dia.org for more information. I wouldn’t miss this exhibit. My grade is an A. Also, if you go down this Friday evening, you can take in the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players. The group basically takes slides and postcards they find in garage sales, etc and put musical pop songs around them. The family also has one of the best merch tables which include homemade dolls and other items. They put on a fascinating show for someone looking for something different.
For those looking for some cool concerts, you can go out Wednesday 11thto see the Celtic punk band the Tossers @ Pike Room (they have toured extensively with Dropkick Murphy’s and Fogging Molly in recent years) or blues singer Shemekia Copeland @ the Ark. Thursday, 12th offers up jam band gurus Umphrey’s McGee @ Royal Oak Music Theatre or Swedish violinist Theresa Andersson @ The Pike Room (check out her YouTube video for “Na Na Na”). Friday the 13th gives us cellist Yo-Yo Ma @ Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor (also playing Sat), the Robert Cray Band @ Motor City Casino, Brooks & Dunn @ Caesar’s Windsor and the hip hop/rap rock outfit Kottonmouth Kings @ Clutch Cargos. Saturday 14th features the Plain White T’s @ St Andrew’s Hall and country star Eric Church @ Clutch Cargos. Lastly, Sunday 15th can have you seeing Raphael Saadiq (of Tony! Toni! Toné! fame) @ the City Theatre or ex-Wall of Voodoo frontman Stan Ridgway @ the Magic Bag.
Looks to be a really nice and diverse week for music so enjoy it.
I don’t think I am missing anything so everyone have a good day and see you next Monday.
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