Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
Wild At Heart
For most people it will be too late, but Antiques Roadshow is running three episodes that were filmed down at Cobo Center last summer starting tonight at 8PM. However, the other 2 episodes will run on Feb 3rd and 10th so make sure to check those out. Other 5,000 people brought in items for appraisal including a signed Andy Warhol poster, a 20th Century collection of Pewabic Pottery and a working script of the "Wizard Of Oz" used by Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion). This should be a fun show and highlight a lot of Detroit history.
Speaking of Detroit, I would like to thank you for sending Jim Schwartz to upstate NY to be our defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills along with quarterbacks coach Todd Browning. After losing Mike Pettine to Cleveland, I was worried that all he did for our defense would go backwards and while I am not sure if Schwartz is head coach material, I think he is a good defensive coordinator and look forward to his continuing the work to keep out top 10 defense improving.
Lastly, what about those Grammys last night. I never watch in real time but catch the results and videos of the performances the next day. Still digesting the Lang Lang/Metallica performance but loved seeing Daft Punk rock out with Stevie Wonder. That was amazingly cool. I also thought Carole King/Sara Bareilles was a good melding of the vintage and new female singer songwriters. Carole King after years of absence from the big stage has really been getting around with her awesome tour with James Taylor, the Gershwin Award (the first time a woman has received it) and the recent Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a whole new generation of music fans are getting to see one of the great songwriters in America. And I can't forget to mention Cyndi introduced them. You know I am a fanatic for Cyndi Lauper so I was super excited that she finally got her 2nd Grammy after getting that best new artist award in 1985. After a few years of different musical styles and nominations in the dance, instrumental and blues categories, out of left field, just like her, comes a Grammy for best musical theatre album for "Kinky Boots".
I'm still wondering why all the ruckus about Taylor's head-banging because she looked hot (maybe they should have put her with Metallica) and we now know Pink can work at Cirque du Soleil if she ever wants to get out of singing. I love Miranda Lambert, but she was no substitute for Norah Jones. Nine Inch Nails and Lindsay Buckingham was inspired and while I loved the look of Goth Girl for Katy Perry, I'm not sure about that song. It was like War Horse meets Battle Angel Alita. Sexy yet keep it colorful next time. Also Gary Clark Jr can really rock and Keith Urban is not so bad either. I also think getting Miley Cyrus with Chicago might have been more interesting. I love vintage Chicago, but they haven't aged as well as Carole. Miley might have given them heart attacks.
I mostly like to see how many of the winning artists I have seen in concert. While I cannot count any of the really big categories, my concert going activities saw 20 Grammys, 3 by Paul McCartney (best music film, surround sound album and rock song with Nirvana members) and 2 by Jay Z (although they were both collaborative). I love having that musical diversity which includes Jazz Vocalist Gregory Porter, reggae star Ziggy Marley, bluegrass favorites Del McCoury Band, the lively zydeco of Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, world music gurus Ladysmith Black Mambazo, alt music rockers Imagine Dragons and Vampire Weekend, blues great Charlie Musselwhite (and Ben Harper), rock gods Black Sabbath and cornered the Americana awards with Edie Brickell, Steve Martin and Emmylou Harris. I can also add Adele, Rihanna and Darius Rucker to that list.
While I cannot give you a Grammy experience, with the exception of Darius at EMU, there are some good shows this week, esp the Ann Arbor Folk Festival so check some of this out and stay warm this week.
Thursday (1/30) - Silverstein @ Dominion House Tavern (Windsor), Saving Abel @ All Around Bar (Taylor)
Friday (1/31) - Ann Arbor Folk Festival featuring Wynton Marsalis w/Iron And Wine and Neko Case @ Hill Auditorium, Samantha Fish @ Callahans, Lez Zeppelin @ Magic Bag, Darius Rucker @ EMU Convocation Center
Saturday (2/01) - Ann Arbor Folk Festival featuring Ingrid Michaelson and Jeff Daniels @ Hill Auditorium, Passion Pit DJ Set @ Crofoot, Umphreys McGee @ the Fillmore, Howling Diablos @ Callahans, Switchfoot and Third Day @ EMU Convocation Center, Amino Acids and 11 other bands @ Smalls
I'll leave you with Detroits own Stevie Wonder with Daft Punk. Despite not really liking the song, I love what Stevie brings and how he improves it.