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Vol. 36 | Issue 24 | March 23-29, 2016
Group Publisher - Chris Keating Publisher - John Badanjek Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen Editor - Dustin Blitchok
Upfront
Metro times
Editorial
Framed.......................................... 10
News Hits..................................... 16 Politics & Prejudices ................... 20
Feature: Is there anything that Third Man Records doesn’t do?.................................. 30
Business/Operations Business Office Supervisor - Holly Rhodes
Creative Services Graphic Designers - Kristin Borden, Paul Martinez, Christine Hahn, Haimanti Basu
Drink
Bites.............................................. 40
Director of New Media - Adam O’Connor
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Marketing and Events
Eat
Review: Galindo’s, A Taste
Associate Publisher - Jim Cohen Regional Sales Directors - Vinny Fontana, Danielle Smith-Elliott Senior Multimedia Account Executive Paul Biondi, Jeff Nutter Multimedia Account Executives Drew Franklin, Cierra Wood Classified Multimedia Account Executive Bill Rigley Advertising Assistant - Meghan Martini
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Eat................................................ 38
Advertising
What’s Going On
What’s Going On........................ 28
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Stir it Up........................................ 24
Big Story
News & Views............................. 16
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Retail Detail: Will Leather Goods... 12
News
Feedback........................................ 8
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Up Front........................................ 8
Project Editor - Michael Jackman Associate Editor - Alysa Offman Music Editor - Mike McGonigal Dining Editor - Serena Maria Daniels Investigative Reporter - Allie Gross Web Editor - Alexandra Fluegel Contributing Editors - Larry Gabriel, Jack Lessenberry Copy Editor - Esther Gim Editorial Interns - Colleen Kowalewski, Luanne Lim, Jack Roskopp Photography Interns - Kelley O’neill Contributors- Judy Adams, Taylor Bembery, Stephanie Brothers, Brett Callwood, Kahn Santori Davison, Aaron Egan, Cornelius Fortune, Cal Garrison, Curt Guyette, Charles L. Latimer, Noelle Lothamer, Jim McFarlin, Jeff Milo, Marc Nader, Dan Savage, Miss Shela, Jane Slaughter, Doug Coombe, Tanya Moutzalias, Dontae Rockymore, Brian Rozman, Steve Sergent, Sean Bieri, Rob Widdis, Adam Woodhead, Shelley Salant
Circulation
Music............................................ 46
Livewire........................................ 54
Horoscopes with
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Culture
Cover photo by Raleigh Richter and graphic courtesy of Third Man Records. Designed by Kristin Borden.
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In response to last week’s cover story by Lee DeVito (“Raising Nain,” March 16) about the cultural and historical forces buoying Detroit’s Marche du Nain Rouge, Ed posted: Excellent article. I was curious on how this all came about. At first, it appeared to be a bunch of people who are way too into Halloween blowing a semiannual nut, but now there’s more clarity on the whole thing. One thing that also caused me to ignore this in the past was the negativity around the march. Seeing grown people shout at a guy dressed like a red rocket, with him returning threats in turn. It looked like a whole bunch of personal dysfunction on display, kind of like a Trump rally. “Catharsis” is an abused and overused word. It’s been rendered in pop culture to nothing more than shouting. It seems like a pretty useless act, to vent that way, and it makes a grown person look like a little bitch. I’m with Tenney on that issue. Why not be cool with Nain, so Nain can be cool with you? In response to Allie Gross’ March 18 blog post “Why none of the Detroit Public Schools legislation will actually stabilize the district,” Bob Beans wrote: People need to look at the big picture. Lansing has controlled (mismanaged) DPS finances for the past 15 years. Adding any oversight really translates into
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feedback
them adding oversight onto themselves. The shameful part is that it continues to punish those that have had nothing to do with this mess: parents, teachers, and students. It takes some very bad people to do what those in Lansing have done to the children of Detroit. Make no mistake, this is only about money and privatizing the tax dollars that fund education for the state’s largest public school district. People really need to wise up to what their politicians are doing. Stop pointing fingers at Detroit for DPS when it is your government that has been running it. It is just uncanny that people refuse to see the truth. The worst part is most people refuse to see these truths and instead keep blaming Detroit for what Lansing has been doing. Wake up, Michigan! We also got a few comments on the material in our standalone Annual Manual. In response to Peter Larson’s article, “Detroit’s historic neighborhood bars make their last stand,” JR Olgine posted: Detroit has had over 200 eateries, distilleries, craft cocktail lounges, whateverthe-fuck you call them open in the last two years. In the age of gentrification and $20 vegan, soy, organic, gluten-free cat food, don’t forget the OG’s. Great article!
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U p Front
V Nightclub @ MGM Grand Detroit (D. Rockymore)
St. Patrick’s Day @ Rosie O’Grady’s (M. Pfeiffer)
Ostara @ Token Lounge (M. Pfeiffer)
Bag Raiders @ Magic Bag (M. Pfeiffer)
Marche du Nain Rouge (J. Fleury)
ILoveMemphis @ the Fox (N. Carter)
St. Patrick’s Day @ Vintage House (J. Tavernier)
Marche du Nain Rouge (S. Rahal)
Classifieds
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Industry Wednesday @ Dooleys Roseville (D. Rockymore)
St. Patrick’s Day @ Dick O’Dows (M. Ferdinande)
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St. Patrick’s Day @ Tilted Kilt (J. Tavernier)
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retaildetail
n Photo courtesy of Will Leather Goods
Who’s shopping at Will Leather Goods? High end retailer sells beautiful and expensive items by Alysa Offman In light of Detroit’s renaissance, several high-end retailers have moved into the city — namely Shinola, John Varvatos, and now Will Leather Goods. And their presence in the city can be quite polarizing. Some folks are stoked that these places are setting up shop here,
they’ll still run you at least $30, which is the cost of the least expensive thing in the store. You can pick up a leather bracelet for $40 or a beaded cuff for $65 or a men’s wallet for $85. And yes, that’s expensive. But, let us offer a little bit of perspective. Every-
Will Leather Goods
4120 Second Ave., Detroit; 313-309-7892; willleathergoods.com Open: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily making the place a little more hoitytoity. Others wonder quietly, “Who the hell can afford this stuff?” Will Leather Goods sells beautifully crafted leather bags, wallets, briefcases, bracelets, hats, and other items and their price tags can be a little staggering. A leather backpack runs $395, an attache case could cost as much as $900. Their cheapest hat is just under $300. Sure, many of the products sold inside the store are out of reach for even middle-class working folks, but according to store manager Brandon Ayers, there are a number of smaller items like keychains and other tchotchke that can serve as a quick impulse buy. Of course,
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thing Will Leather Goods sells comes with a 100 percent lifetime guarantee, which means if it breaks they’ll either fix it or replace it — no exceptions. These items are made and meant to last a lifetime, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you’re going to spend a little bit more dough. There are other reasons to visit Will Leather Goods than to browse their selection of backpacks, leather bags, belts, and hats. The shop also has a coffee shop where they serve up hot cups of Joe to locals who stop in daily for the affordable treat. If they aren’t ready to be on their way afterward, they can hang out in that enormous cowhide teepee that sits in the center of the
store (it’s pretty cozy in there. There’s even a chandelier). There’s also a gallery space where local artists are often featured. The coffee shop also serves as something of a community hub and, starting April 1, local guest speakers will lead engaging discussions every Friday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. Karen Dumas, host of 910 AM’s the Pulse, and former 96.3 morning host Allyson Martinek are both scheduled to lead the series. The company also has an altruistic division that donates backpacks to underprivileged students across the country, an endeavor that’s close to the company founder’s heart. Will Adler, a Detroit native who moved to the West Coast to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor but opened a belt store when things didn’t pan out, attended DPS as a child. Adler’s Detroit roots, of course, great contributed to the opening of this beautiful — if not slightly unrealistic — store. Only time will tell if those roots, and the public’s affection, can make it a viable endeavor for the company.
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None of the Detroit Public Schools legislation will actually stabilize the district by Allie Gross
The Michigan House passed a “rescue package” last week giving $47.8 million to Detroit Public Schools. The legislation was a response to the district’s new emergency manager Judge Steven Rhodes (who prefers to go by the title “transition manager”), who says the district will be unable to stay open and pay teachers and staff past April. If approved by the Senate, the plan would allow the district to remain open through June. It should not, however, be confused with the bigger legislative debates currently happening around the future of DPS. “It kind of gives us the next couple of weeks at least to work on the rest of the bill package,” Rep. Al Pscholka (R-Stevensville) told WXYZ earlier this week. Let’s talk for a second about what those other plans entail. The House and Senate have pretty similar ideas. Both want to see the district divided up into an old district that’s responsible for paying off DPS debt and a new “community school district” that’s responsible for educating students. The elected DPS board would run the old “debt” district and a mayor/governor-appointed board would run the new district. Citizens would then have the opportunity to vote for an elected board in November, and the new board would take over in January. Oddly, the legislation bans currently elected board members from running. The House legislation has been criticized for being a bit more punitive than the Senate bill. It, for example, bans union negotiations and increases penalties for striking teachers. It also asks for the Michigan Financial Review Commission to go over all spending in the district. Lastly, it would force
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the district to offer new employees 401(k) plans instead of pensions. It’s not surprising that some fear the House’s plan could hurt the district’s competitiveness and ability to attract new teachers. But there is a bigger, less-discussed issue at play. No matter what legislation is passed — House, Senate, a mixture of the two — DPS will still be in survival mode. The legislation does nothing to address the reasons why DPS got into this situation: competition. The decline of DPS is very much tied to the boom in charter schools, according to the Loveland Technologies report “A School District in Crisis: Detroit Public Schools 1842-2015.” Michigan’s first charter schools opened in 1995, and by 2001, nearly 20,000 students were enrolled in charter schools in Detroit — a number that spiked to 51,000 by 2013. How this affected DPS can be seen in its enrollment numbers, which are a complete inverse. “Between 2000 and 2015, 195 Detroit Public Schools closed as enrollment fell from 162,693 students to 47,959, a decline of 71 percent,” the Loveland report says. So how do enrollment and finances factor into the decline of DPS? What issues are not being addressed in the legislation? Two words: Proposal A. Signed in 1993 by then-Gov. John Engler, a few months before he approved charter schools in the state, Proposal A ensures Michigan’s schools have no local revenue base. Instead, the state doles out funds, which then follow the students. “The total funding level of schools will be determined by how many students they can retain or attract. The schools that deliver will suc-
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‘There has to be some sort of radical change in how we do things.’
ceed. The schools that don’t will not. No longer will there be a monopoly on mediocrity in this state,” Engler said in an October 1993 speech detailing Proposal A. While the plan did not weed out mediocrity, it has been devastating for the city’s education landscape. As Peter Hammer, the director of the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, wrote in his 2011 paper “The Fate of Detroit Public Schools”: “Without question, the manner in which the school finance formula has been designed and implemented has amplified, not reduced, the trauma experienced by school districts with declining student populations.” Hammer goes on to explain how the short-term costs of losing students are bigger than the average cost of educating students. The new DPS legislation, which simply raises the ceiling for how much debt the district can take on, makes it impossible for the district to ever truly stabilize, as long as competition remains, the charter cap is off, and the district hemorrhages students. “There has to be some sort of radical change in how we do things,” John Grover, the writer of the Loveland report, tells Metro Times. “Lansing needs to decide if it wants to support public education in Detroit and either go all-in on DPS or make a full change to charter schools. Halfway measures, especially the one being discussed by Democrats and Republicans in the House, are just temporary BandAids that kick the problem a few years further down the road.” — by Allie Gross Darnell Earley and Snyder testify before Congress After months of hedging, Gov. Rick Snyder and former Flint emergency manager Darnell Earley agreed to testify before Congress about their roles in the Flint water
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crisis. Earley was more or less skewered. For so long, he contended what happened in Flint was a water issue and not a leadership issue; he even wrote an op-ed in October entitled “Don’t blame EM for Flint water disaster.” Questioning last week, however, forced Earley to re-examine his talking points. Or at least listen to people who weren’t buying his arguments. One poignant moment came when the committee’s topranking Democrat, Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, chastised Earley for trying to maintain that he was following the lead of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality when it came to understanding the reality of Flint’s water quality. When Earley tried to deflect blame, saying, “I’m not a water treatment expert,” Cummings was quick to shoot back: “You don’t have a to be a water treatment expert! A 5-year-old could figure that out!” Snyder also had his fair share of cringe-worthy grilling. After admitting that he was using more than $1 million of taxpayer dollars for personal attorneys and then saying he took action as soon as he learned about the crisis, Snyder was berated by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright in what can only be described as political theater at its best. “Plausible deniability only works when it’s plausible,” the Pennsylvania congressman said. “I’m not buying you did not know about any of this until October 2015, you were not in a medically induced coma, and I’ve had enough of your false contrition and phony apologies.” — Allie Gross and Michael Jackman
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politics&prejudices
Supporting Hillary by Jack Lessenberry It’s clear after last week’s round of primaries that Hillary Clinton is all but certain to be the Democratic nominee. She won everywhere. Her margin in Missouri was so small a recount might overturn it, but that wouldn’t matter much. She won a surprisingly easy victory in Ohio and bigger-than-expected landslides in Florida and North Carolina. Bernie Sanders did make it close in Illinois, but even the Clinton folks privately thought she might lose there. Overall, at the end of the day, she had 1,561 delegates to his 800. To win the nomination, a candidate needs 2,382. The math isn’t there for a late surge to allow him to score an upset. To be truthful, whatever you think of Hillary Clinton, she also has been the people’s choice. The networks don’t often add up the total votes cast in primaries and caucuses, but I did. After the Ides of March, Clinton had 8,648,249; Sanders, 5,994,654, which is roughly a 59 percent to 41 percent margin. That’s more one-sided than you might have thought, largely because so many of the states voting so far have been in the South, where most Democrats tend to be black and favor Clinton by overwhelming margins. To be fair, however, Clinton also won Massachusetts, which was a surprise, and has won states in every region. But the wonder is not that she has done so well; it is that her opponent has. Think about it: On paper, Bernie Sanders shouldn’t be getting 41 percent of the vote; he should be getting about 3 percent. Hillary Clinton is, as she likes to say, supremely and uniquely qualified to be president. She has been the most openly politically engaged first lady in American history. While still living in the White House, she was elected U.S. senator from New York. Following that, she had a stint as secretary of state, and was nearly nominated for president eight years ago. Nobody knows Washington better. Bernie Sanders is the oldest guy (75 in September) ever to make a serious run for president. He looks older. He comes from one of the smallest states in the union. Vermont has less
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than half the population of Oakland County. He has a thick Brooklyn accent and seems culturally as Jewish as a character out of a Yiddish theater. (I’ve talked to several women who think he is being sexist by the way he gestures, points, and talks to Clinton during the debates. They are wrong; that’s how old guys like him talk to everyone.) Worse, Sanders seems perpetually cranky, as if he really wants to tell us to get the hell off his lawn, and worst of all, he insists on calling himself a “socialist,” which in American politics, is slightly worse than being a registered sex offender. Sanders, in fact, is no more of a socialist than Franklin D. Roosevelt or John F. Kennedy were; he merely wants business and the ultra-rich to pay their fair share of the costs of maintaining a society that has allowed them to do so well. Yet Grandpa Cranky is wildly popular with young voters, getting more than 80 percent of them. He wins majorities nearly everywhere among the one ethnic group Democrats have lost in every election since 1964 — white voters. Why is this? Because for those not consumed by hatreds and fears, he has elevated reason, honesty, and decency to a level seldom seen in any modern presidential campaign. He told the truth about what the immense concentration of wealth into the hands of the one-tenth of 1 percent is doing to our nation. He told the truth about the environment.
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“If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would ya?” –Donald Trump One of the most telling points in the debates came in Flint, where the candidates were asked about fracking. Clinton gave a long and predictably politically oily non-answer. Sanders said something like, “I’m against fracking. Next question.” Some who agreed with Sanders on economics told me they worried that he didn’t have the foreign policy experience Clinton has. Ironically, that’s one of the areas where I found him most appealing. It was no fluke that while in the Senate, Hillary Clinton voted for George W. Bush’s trumpedup and disastrous Iraq War. Clinton has never seriously questioned our policy, repeatedly proven disastrous, of bombing and sometimes sending troops into various countries in the Middle East. Bernie Sanders knows that doesn’t work. However, having said all that — Hillary Clinton, assuming she is the nominee, has to be elected in November. You cannot underestimate the awfulness that is Donald Trump — except to observe that the man he calls “Lyin’ Ted” Cruz, the only other conceivable nominee, may be worse. Cruz is not lying; he is a brilliant, scary, unscrupulous, and unlovable ideologue who would turn this country into some form of right-wing theocratic oligarchy. The fact that he seems to be universally despised by his fellow senators is no accident. Trump, however, is now nearly certain to be nominated, as is Clinton. All you need to know about today’s Republican Party is that he won primaries in both Massachusetts and Alabama by landslide, plus most places in between. There’s no reason to believe he is the least bit sincere about any of his policy positions. What he is sincere about is his megalomania, unchecked narcissism, and utter unconcern about the vast number of things he knows nothing about. Worse, he has revealed a streak of nastiness, sadism, and brutality that reminds me of nothing so much as Mussolini and his early Italian fascists. “I’d like to punch him in the face, I’ll
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tell ya,” he told one crowd when a protester showed up. “If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato, knock the crap out of them, would ya? Seriously. Just knock the hell out of them,” he bellowed, essentially inciting his followers to violence. If that doesn’t scare you, it should. Trump, who lies with far more ease than even most politicians, later claimed the violence at many of his rallies was really incited by supporters of Bernie Sanders, who he gratuitously and outrageously referred to as a “Communist.” What Sanders may be instead is the man who did the most to make Hillary Clinton electable, by forcing her to run as and remember that she was a Democrat. She began the campaign as if she expected it to be a coronation, and acted as if she were auditioning for the Goldman Sachs board. It’s hard to know whether she would do very much for the disadvantaged, or to help reduce the cost of college or the burden of student loans. What we do know is, at the very least, that the fall campaign slogan could be: “At least not the worst.” Her challenge — and that of everyone who cares about democracy, our future and America, will be to energize millions of disheartened Bernie supporters to show up to vote. Who should Clinton pick as VP? Don’t expect it to be Bernie Sanders — nor should it be. Politically, picking another woman, like the sainted Elizabeth Warren — or one of the dynamic Castro brothers — unfortunately might help reinforce Trump’s message that the Democrats aren’t the party for mainstream America. The choice who I think would make the most sense is U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, a principled populist and a proven vote-getter in what is perhaps the ultimate key state.
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STIRitup
Snapping stones and presidential politics by Larry Gabriel
My dog went to the side door and started pacing back and forth, so I knew someone was near. I pulled the door open and there was Mulenga Harngua getting ready to knock. “How did you know I was here?” Mulenga asks. “Am I falling down on my game or something? I used to be able to sneak up on you all the time.” “It’s my dog,” I say. “It’s getting so he sniffs you out every time now. You’re going to have to smell different to get past him.” “Smell different? Hmm,” Mulenga muses. “Maybe I smell like weed. Is this a dope-sniffing dog?” “No, you don’t smell like weed, but you are smelling kind of ginger-y.” Mulenga held up a half-gallon bottle of yellowish liquid. “What’s that? Did you bring me some Flint water?” “Naw man, it’s some of my fresh ginger beer,” Mulenga says. “You know, that Caribbean recipe from my grandmother that you like.” “Oh yeah, come on out to the back porch. We can take advantage of this unseasonably warm weather and snap some stones.” Snapping some stones is what we call playing Go, the ancient Chinese strategy game. The stone playing pieces make a snapping sound sometimes when put down on the game board. Go is an easy-to-learn game with simple rules, but the play is subtle and complex. A computer beat a Go master for the first time just a few weeks ago. They’ve been beating chess champs since 1997. I throw some ice into a couple of glasses and we quietly start into the game. After a while, Mulenga places a stone on the board and says, “Atari,” signifying that some of my pieces were in danger of being captured. It’s sort of like saying “check” in a chess game. I look at the array of black and white stones on the board and see there’s no escape. “You got me,” I admit. Mulenga gleefully removes my captured pieces from the board.
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“I wish it was that easy to remove Donald Trump from the election,” he says. “Maybe we should all surround him and yell ‘USA’ at him until he goes away,” I say. “I don’t know if I could stand close to him for that long,” Mulenga says. “But when you come down to it, that’s the same way you win at Go: Surround the opposition and cut them off from any avenue of escape.” “Are you saying that Trump is a wily Go master?” “Well he’s a wily something that nobody else has figured out how to handle,” Mulenga says. Suddenly he spins around in a circle throwing karate chops into the air against invisible assailants. “Atari, atari, atari, atari,” he says. “Atari Trump, atari crazy politicians, atari fascism, atari racism, atari violence.” I snap a stone on the board. “Sit down and play. It’s your turn.” Mulenga takes his seat and shakes the stones in his hand. They make a rattling sound. He sips his drink and eyes the board. “Trump is certainly a master of the unconventional,” I say. “That would make him like me,” Mulenga says, placing a stone in an area of the board that no one has played on yet. “Now that was a Trump kind of move,” I say. “He stakes out territory before anyone else knows there was territory to be staked out, defines the terrain, and makes the rules. He’s building a wall somewhere in the
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STIRitup
‘Then we could have a Black People’s Party,’ Mulenga says. ‘I want to write the charter for that.’ wilderness, then all of a sudden his opponents find out that their backs are up against it. He just might have managed to destroy the Republican Party.” “I could go for that,” Mulenga says, never lifting his eyes from the game. “Splinter them into warring tribes. Maybe there could be regular Republicans and tea party Republicans.” “I could go for about six or seven major political parties instead of this joint operating agreement monopoly the two-party system has turned into,” I say. “Let’s break them all up and have political parties with smaller constituencies. That way everybody learns that they have to compromise and play well with others in order to build winning coalitions.” “Then we could have a Black People’s Party,” Mulenga says. “I want to write the charter for that.” “I don’t think that’s going to happen,” I argue. “I don’t think you can get Cornell West and Barack Obama in the same party, let alone a Clarence Thomas. Now, there might be a party that has a majority block of black voters. The same thing goes with the Latinos — Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are of Cuban descent and don’t have a lot to say to folks from Mexico or Guatemala or El Salvador.” “Well, Bernie Sanders could certainly speak for a Socialist Party,” Mulenga points out. “There’s at least a Bernie wing and a Hillary wing of the Democrats.” “They probably shouldn’t even be in the same party,” I say. “The same thing goes for Rand Paul and his Libertarian thing. He’s more of a lump on the neck of the party than part of it. There are plenty of parties out there. We just don’t hear about most of them. Over the years I’ve signed petitions to get all kinds of parties on the ballot. There was a big effort to get the Reform Party going, and the New Party. There’s the Green Party. I voted for Ralph Nader on the Green Party Ticket in 2000.” “Oh you’re one of those folks that helped defeat Al Gore and gave us the second Bush,” Mulenga says. “Al Gore won that election,” I retort. “The Supreme Court handed it to him.
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But we do need more political parties. They already play to these large constituencies in order to get elected. Democrats stitch together a patchwork of Latinos, African-Americans, young people, white women, labor unions. Republicans have the angry old white men, the socially conservative religious right, the business lobby, and the rural separatists.” “And when the politicians get elected they don’t come through for any of them,” Mulenga says. “They make a lot of promises but don’t come through.” “The business folks pretty much get what they want, but they’re not spreading the love around,” I say. “And those militant right wingers are spreading the hate,” Mulenga says. “They’ve been buying up guns and ammo for years, now they’re spoiling for a fight. I think that’s part of the Trump concept. There are folks who have a lot of guns and can’t wait for a chance to use them on Mexicans or Muslims or somebody from the federal government. Those are the constituents Trump is talking about when he says there will be violence in the streets if he is not the Republican nominee. He’s ready to fight his way to the presidency — or pay somebody to do it for him.” Mulenga puts a stone down and says, “Atari.” I just lost a big group of stones. “Well you beat me that time,” I say. “That means next game you have to play with the white stones.” “I ain’t playing with no white stones,” Mulenga protests. “I’m black, black, black; I use black stones.” “But the rules say the person who won the last game takes the white stones in the next game,” I say, tossing a few white stones to his side of the board. “That’s how the game is played. It takes the black stones and white stones together to make a great game.” “I don’t care,” Mulenga says. “I ain’t playing with the white stones.” “You’re as bad as Trump,” I say. “No wonder we got problems.”
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what’sgoingon
Art | Dance | Comedy | Eat | Theater
Friday, 3/25
n Mike Epps Photo courtesy of Olympia Entertainment
Mike Epps @ Joe Louis Arena
Comedian and actor Mike Epps is bringing his newest stand-up show, “Festival of Laughs,” to Joe Louis Arena. Epps is making his way up in the comedy world with a slew of starring roles in the next few months. He is slated to play Richard Pryor in the upcoming biopic about the legendary comedian. He is also set to star in an upcoming ABC comedy, Uncle Buck. Special guest comedians Sommore, Earthquake, Gary Owen, and Tommy Davidson will be at the Joe as well.
Doors at 8 p.m.; 19 Steve Yzerman Dr., Detroit; olympiaentertainment.com; tickets are $52, $59, $75, $125, $175;
Wednesday, 3/23
Fri-Sat, 3/25-26
Friday, 3/25
Saturday, 3/26
Adult Coloring Night
Ghostbusters
Perilous Times
That Brown Show
@ Ferndale Public Library
@ Royal Oak Main Art Theatre
@ Detroit Opera House
@ Michigan Theater
Go ahead, make fun of your crazy catlady aunt for owning a “mystical forest” adult coloring book, but they are the latest trend in pop culture and it’s actually quite relaxing, thank you very much. The Ferndale Public Library is hosting a special event where you can color in your adult coloring book and have your tarot cards read. You will also learn a little bit of history behind this spiritual and ghostly ritual.
Need a little refresher before the revamped Ghostbusters movie hits theaters in the summer? Head on down to the Royal Oak Main Art Theatre for a special viewing of the original flick. Starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, the movie follows four parapsychologists as they try and defeat the ghosts that haunt New York City. The new movie that is coming out this summer has an all-female cast and features Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones.
Detroit playwright and author T.J. Hemphill’s play Perilous Times makes its debut at the Broadway of Detroit, the Detroit Opera House. The play started out at a local church, then the Fisher Theatre, and now the Opera House. The story of the play shows a young man and his journey of discovering his past that changed his worldview and shapes his future. Hemphill used to be a teacher for Detroit Public Schools, and his own experiences teaching inspired the story of this play.
If you want to celebrate your own South Asian heritage, or you want to immerse yourself in the South Asian culture, then checking out That Brown Show in Ann Arbor is the perfect experience of entertainment and education. Celebrating its sixth year, That Brown Show spotlights a variety of South Asian performers. You will see performances from the University of Michigan including Michigan Manzil, Maize Mirchi, Maya, Michigan Bhangra Team, Michigan Raas Team, Taal, Izzat, and Michigan Sahana.
Doors at 6:30 p.m.; 222 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; ferndalepubliclibrary.org; event is free, but space is limited so registration is required; 248-546-2504.
Doors at midnight; 118 N. Main St., Royal Oak; landmarktheatres. com; tickets are $7.
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Doors at 8 p.m.; 1526 Broadway St., Detroit; michiganopera.org; tickets are $30-$55.
Doors at 7:30 p.m.; 603 E. Library St., Ann Arbor; michtheater.org; tickets are $12.
Art | Dance | Comedy | Eat | Theater
UpFront
what’sgoingon
| News | Feature | What’s Going On | Eat | Drink
Tues, 3/29-Sun, 4/10 |
n Photo courtesy of Broadway in Detroit
If/Then
@ Cafe 78 at MOCAD
@ Trinosophes
The annual Bunny Bar Hop in Royal Oak is one of the first signs of spring. Their website encourages bar hoppers to dress in their best bunny attire. So please, bust out the rabbit ears, bunny tails, and lots of Easter eggs. Plus, they will be giving away great prizes like Opening Day Bus Passes, Metro Detroit Taste Fest, and other great events.
If you want to amp up your brunch game, head to the Museum of Contemporary Art. There will be delicious food by James Beard-nominated chef Marc Djozlija, amazing cocktails and specialty coffees, and music from electronic artist Alvin Hill. Hill has been a DJ for 30 years and is a professor at the University of Michigan. If you thought brunch couldn’t get more fabulous, than you are about to have your world turned upside down.
If you’re unfamiliar with the world of slam poetry, yes tit does happen and isn’t just fodder for millennial comedies like 22 Jump Street. So, if you’re looking to dive into this creative world, this night of slam poetry at Trinosophes is your best bet. Omari Barksdale is the king of slam poetry in Detroit, has been a part of many slam poetry teams, and has won numerous awards. Come out to our favorite Eastern Market coffee shop and performance space for a night that will surely move you — maybe even to tears.
Event is 1-6 p.m.; downtown Royal Oak; bunnybarhop.com
Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit; mocaddetroit.org.
Doors at 8 p.m.; 3011 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit; ticketmaster. com; tickets range from $35$85.
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Doors at 8 p.m.; 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; trinosophes.com; admission is free.
Culture
@ Bars in Royal Oak
This Tony-nominated musical makes a stop at the Fisher Theatre for a limited time only. The musical tells the story of a woman named Liz who moves to New York City for a fresh start before she turns 40. The show deals with Liz’s choices in her new life, a modern-day crisis that anyone can relate to. Broadway superstar Idina Menzel originated the role on Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award for best actress in a musical.
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Poetry Slam
Arts
Sunday Brunch
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Bunny Bar Hop
@ Fisher Theatre
Watch
Wednesday, 3/30
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Sunday, 3/27
Music
Saturday, 3/26
Classifieds
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The house that Jack built
How Third Man’s giant Detroit location is becoming the ultimate D.I.Y. ecosystem: A record label, a venue, a store, a tourist trap, a publishing house, and a 24-hour vinyl pressing plant. by Mike McGonigal Step inside the immaculately designed Third Man Cass Corridor on a weekday morning. Strong, art deco lines frame the bold and packed space. A few shoppers stroll about inside. Everything is black and yellow. This gives it the immediate feel of a college gift shop. Enclosed woodpaneled booths — which look like large, overgrown classic radio consoles mixed with the Dr. Who phone box — are peppered throughout the back of the store. n The Nain Rouge speaksdisplays at Upfront, it’s racks of clothing, the Marche du Nain Rouge. of turntables, beer mugs, Frisbees, and keychains. Hackey sacks? I don’t think they have hackey sacks. There’s a large bin of records alphabetized by artists’ first names. There’s a giant, blown-up photo of a rock band on the wall, from the 1980s or ’70s. A clerk asks if you need help, and you importantly declare that no, you are there for an appointment. In the back office, David Buick quickly scuttles out of view of his boss to throw on a black dress shirt over his black tee, and then adjust a yellow tie. Buick pretty much always looks like he just told a great joke to himself. And you want to make him laugh because he has an infectious chortle. “This isn’t even my shirt; mine are at the cleaners,” he mumbles to no one in particular. There’s a dress code here. And even though that boss is hundreds of miles away at the main office in Nashville — his image flickers briefly on a large, wall-mounted monitor for a video conference meeting — the look on Buick’s face changes to a fleeting “oh, fuck.” It’s that choir boy-late-forchurch look. Nobody’s in trouble here, though. This isn’t James Brown’s backing band. Managing to dress sharp in record time, Buick is not about to get fined. He was hired last year to help with Detroit operations and the reissue side of the label. The first two White Stripes 7-inch 45s were released on Buick’s label, Italy,
in 1998. And yes, the boss in question is Jack White, co-founder of that innovative, two-person, stripped-down, color-coded, husband-and-wife duo who started here in Detroit in the late 1990s, became impossibly famous, played arenas, sold millions, and then broke up. And today White is a solo artist, a member of the Dead Weather and Raconteurs, a record producer, a family man, and the overseer of an increasingly sprawling empire. The prodigal son When Third Man Cass Corridor opened on Black Friday, the general narrative in the media was of label head White “returning home.” This narrative was repeated over and over, and reinforced by the opening of the store in the new retail mecca of Canfield Street between Cass and Second in the former location of Willy’s. The store is about seven blocks from the Gold Dollar, where the White Stripes played their first show. It was also reinforced by the unexpected signing of beloved local weirdos Timmy’s Organism and Wolf Eyes. Third Man’s staff talks of a “renewed interest in and commitment to Detroit music.” And they plan to reissue the cream of the crop of Detroit’s decades-old garage scene. The coverage of Third Man also gave the impression that White was moving back to Detroit. He remains in Nashville with his family and much of the Third Man operation. While most reporters discussed the fact that Third Man is opening a record plant, they failed to grasp the true import of this. By the time that record plant is operating this summer, White will have taken control of the means of production for his preferred method of releasing music, and in the process become perhaps the most self-sufficient label
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n Jack White at the opening of Third Man Cass Corridor. Photo from @thirdmanrecordsofficial on Instagram. head/artist in history. And this is all happening at the same moment when his label has gone from an interesting curio for fans of folksy blues-garage music (and its constituent parts) to one of the most important labels for new and archival music on the planet. Recent releases include transcendent experimental noise from Michigan noise kings Wolf Eyes; a killer double album of weird old Greek music 78s that’s eerie and beautiful, compiled by the brilliant Chris King; and the deluxe soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight, scored by 87-year-old Ennio Morricone, who won the first non-honorary Oscar of his long career for the thing. Oh man, there’s so much to tell you about the true importance of this radical DIY-on-steroids venture! Maybe we can touch briefly on the label’s history, how they obsessively cater to different levels of vinyl nerds and sell thousands of records direct to fans, and discuss a bit how records are made in the first place. The shop’s multimedia venue has already hosted Melvin van Peebles and Negative Approach (though not together); and while we touched on the branded tchotchkes for sale in their store, some of them are not even lame. Like, did you know they have their own brand of Polaroid-compatible film, which outputs images in the Third Man color scheme? Dressing for success But first, we have to get back to the uniforms. It’s more than just a dress code.
You get dressed up to go to work, but you also get dressed up to go onstage. It could be argued that these clothes belie four forces at work: a strong sense of branding, but also an earnest philosophy, some badass showmanship (which might actually be the same as the first item), and the lure of the cult — a close-knit family that you’re not quite a part of who all dress the same. In Detroit, Anna Sui designed flowing, 1970s-style dresses for the shop employees. For men and women who work in the office as full-time employees —a number close to three dozen at this point — there are three levels of dress, from the shirt and tie on up to a full suit, with a vest in-between. At the flagship Nashville store, the female staff wears uniforms that are more akin to 1960s stewardesses. “[The uniforms are] a detail that adds to the overall visitor experience,” says shop clerk Sarah Stawski, of Metro Times favorites the Pretty Ghouls. “A majority of my jobs have required uniforms, though none of the others were designer dresses.” Roe Peterhans, another Detroit hire who’s known White since the mid-1990s, says the uniform supports the idea that simplifying some areas of the operation actually allows more creativity. “Jack’s original flagship upholstery company just used black and yellow,” he says. “It reminds me of when the furniture designer Eames wrote that infamous letter to Henry Ford looking for an all-black, no brand, no badging, just a simple black vehicle; of course he was turned down, but it’s that kind of
F EATURE n Machinery and walls already enclose this 15,000 square foot space. Photo of David Buick by Mike McGonigal.
feature idea. When you wear a yellow tie and yellow shoes, it’s a little flashy, but it’s that idea of just freeing up your mind to focus on other, more creative endeavors.” The family Ben Blackwell and Ben Swank were contacted within the same week to start the label. Swank, a member of the excellent Soledad Brothers, to this day sometimes operates the Rolling Record Store, a sort of ice cream van for records. “The Dirtbombs were on tour, and we were outside of Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue in Kansas City, one of my favorite restaurants in the country,” Blackwell says. “[White] calls me on my cellphone, Halloween 2008. He just says, ‘Hey, let’s do Third Man Records. I bought a building in Nashville; I own the White Stripes back catalog. Let’s just put that out. That should be enough to run a record label.’ So my then-girlfriend and current wife and I moved to Nashville!” Blackwell is White’s nephew, has been a devoted fan from their first show, and helped Buick and White assemble the first run of Italy records, which White produced and/ or played on. But that’s not why he was hired. “What I brought to the table was that I’d run my own label, Cass, out of my bedroom in my mom’s house,” Blackwell says. “I’d done 40-some releases in five years, almost exclusively vinyl. It was a one-man operation, except for when I was on tour. Then my mom would do the mail order. I brought in the knowledge of how the vinyl process works, the terminology, who the players are.” Blackwell oversaw the first reissues of archival material, learning how to negotiate with labels and artists in the process. Sometimes the fact that it was White’s label made all the difference, as with Blackwell’s pet project: to reissue the anthemic psychedelic garage band Public Nuisance. “I contact those guys, and they say, ‘We get people asking us all the time to do this, but we’re going to say yes to you only because White Stripes played a show in California and you guys put us on the list and we were there backstage and everyone was so nice and Jack covered a Public Nuisance song for us. You’re by no means the first person to ask us for this, but thank you for how nice you guys have been over the past few years,’” Blackwell says.
Nearly everyone surrounding White at Third Man knew him before he was famous: high school friends, old band mates, Gold Dollar compatriots, family, and a slowly growing circle of people they each bring on board. Really, it’s a familyrun business, if that’s not too cheesy to say. I ask Blackwell if this is some sort of policy, and he says: “You know so many people in your life, and really anyone can design a record cover — but who do you really want to also just hang out with, you know? It’s as simple as that.” These aren’t just cool, middle-aged folks who’ve known each other for years and are now working at their successful friends’ place. These are people who believed in vinyl when no one else did, 15-plus years ago. They played on garage bands to release small label 7-inch records when audiences and pocketbooks were both super tiny. Josh Gillis, another White nephew who works with Swank in Nashville, is partly responsible for the Wolf Eyes signing. Peterhans says the signing shows Gillis’ influence. “He knows a lot about that genre,” he says. “That generation and that kind of aesthetic sensibility is coming out of the company, and broadening some of the artists that we’re working with.” Power plant Record pressing plants are maxed out beyond capacity, everywhere, thanks to the demand for both new records and specialty reissue product. Events like Record Store Day, which push the majors to repackage dollar-bin classic rock on 180-gram vinyl, have helped increase the bottleneck to the point where pressing delays of four months or more are not uncommon. Many plants are not taking any new customers, either. As favored customers at their local Nashville plant, United, Third Man benefits from faster turnaround than most customers. But as they’re able to get the funding together for the pressing plant, it makes perfect sense for them to make their own records. This is partly because they have such a large direct fan base — many thousands of customers who regularly subscribe to their Fan Club and Vault series. Another reason to have a pressing plant, of course, is to allow others in on it. Third Man predicts that in the future, when a trained team is in
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n Above: The warehouse space before the build-out. Right: Turntables display. Photos by Kelley O’neill. place and they are running the presses on a three-shift, 24-hour-a-day basis, as much as 40 percent of the records pressed will be outside orders. Priority will be given to small acts, and everyone I speak to is careful to emphasize they’re not trying to take away any business from local plant Archer Records. In fact, Third Man initially offered to purchase Archer, but was turned down, and later called to seek owner/operator Mike Archer’s blessing for bringing in the new machines. Eric Isaacson, who owns and operates the reissue-oriented record store and label Mississippi Records in Portland, Ore., was brought in to do a presentation on vernacular American sounds at the Nashville store, and he is super jealous. “Every record label is jealous of Jack’s intense ability to realize these dreams of his,” he says. “He’s one of the few guys with money in this world that does bona fide cool shit with it. Most millionaires spend their dough on stupid status symbols like cars and fancy clothes. But Jack knows that it’s way cooler to buy things like brand-new record presses.” Until now, running a record press has been a bit like having a car in Cuba; if anything goes wrong, folks are forced to spend countless hours fabricating parts themselves. The number of people who even know how to operate these things, let alone set them up and get them running, is dwindling. “It doesn’t matter if the record presses are brand new or 40 years old,” David Mendoza, the chief press operator for Portland’s Cascade Press, says. “You’re still using the same old process of steam, hydraulics, air, and water to produce a piece of plastic with music on it — pretty much ancient technology in 2016. Don’t get me wrong, I believe in vinyl as the incomparable medium for listening to music. But the pressing process is super delicate, and it is difficult to attain a high
quality product unless you really know what you’re doing.” So these eight machines en route right now are the first new record-making machines produced in decades, designed and constructed by a German consortium called Newbuilt, which already has decades of experience refurbishing old record presses. And these machines will be right here, in Detroit. As it begins to coalesce in the back room at Third Man, the whole setup looks more complex than the giant meth lab set up by the Pollos Hermanos guy in season three of Breaking Bad. Detroiter Randy Cholewa has 32 years of experience as an automotive manufacturing supplier. He’s overseeing the build of the plant and will continue to operate it. “It’s a lot of stuff in one place: a close-looped, high tech system of steam generator, chiller, and HVAC to operate the presses and control the atmospheric conditions of the plant,” he says. “It’s really starting to shape up.” It’s also because of those loyal collector-type customers that these new record presses, which are manual, are ideal. Many Third Man releases receive limited edition versions — say, where an LP is sorted into a handful of 45s, then housed in a special box, with crazily colored vinyl. There are also special shapes, and records pressed into other records. There are records that play at different speeds on the same record. With White’s 2014 Lazaretto, which set a record for vinyl units shipped at the time, every copy pressed contained not just hidden songs, and not only secret grooves, but friggin’ holographic images that materialize when the record is spun. With these new machines, there will be even more ability to control everything, because the operator controls each press for every record. That means more picture discs, more craziness. “The colored vinyl, the limited edition, the hard to find, only available in
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one location, shit like that — we’re record collectors, so that’s why we make these things,” Blackwell says. The store The plant will dovetail with bringing people into the store itself, as large windows that are already in place will look out onto the factory floor. Buses no longer line up outside of car manufacturers for schoolkids to witness the miracle of modern automotive assembly. Perhaps they can queue up here, to witness a record being born, and then ask, “What’s a record?” Third Man Cass Corridor isn’t the first Third Man store, of course. The one in Nashville has been there since 2009. Mississippi Record’s Isaacson flipped over that spot. “I’ve never seen a store more aesthetically focused. Every piece of trim on the wall and floorboard and employee uniform is there to reflect the aesthetics of the label. It is a total trip. I think Jack loves Orson Welles (hence the name of the label) and really tried to create his own Xanadu, à la Citizen Kane, there. It’s a mix between Xanadu and Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.” When asked about the mass amount
of tchotchkes and knickknacks for sale, Blackwell says it’s because Third Man only sells its own records. That’s in part because the Nashville location is a mile away from the classic and beloved local store Grimey’s. And they didn’t want to compete with a local indie store. More to the point, he says, “if you come in and the only thing we’ve got for sale is Dead Weather singles, that’s not much of an experience. We want to be able to have stuff for people to buy, so merchandising makes sense and there’s kind of something for everyone that comes in the shop. You know, dads want a baseball cap, and some people want shot glasses, and that’s what people buy.” Isaacson singles out the children’s record player they sell as the highest quality portable player on the market. Blackwell cautions us to not forget that all this goes back to the White Stripes era. “The White Stripes made cameras and they made theremins and they made record players with three-inch records, you know,” he says. “It’s not new to us; it’s just a different color scheme, a different banner over it. The White Stripes were doing slip mats [for turntables] in 2003.” All this branded merchandise is a
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F EATURE bit much to take in at first. Peterhans acknowledges the fine line they walk in trying to tweak the record store experience by including other “lost” and “lo-fi” technology, and that it puts them at the risk of feeling touristy. But if you have to take your grandmother someplace, it might be just as good as a store that sells
$5,000 bicycles or $20 handmade pencils. If you can coax her to recite some poems that she had to recite in third grade and still remembers — and you end up with an acetate recording of grandma from the refurbished, 75-year-old “Record a Voice” machine that was the very same model used to record Neil Young for his excel-
n Below: Store clerk in front of photo booth pictures. Lower left and lower right: Views of the front half of Third Man Cass Corridor. Photos by Kelley O’neill.
feature lent, funky 2014 Third Man covers album A Letter Home? Well, so much the better. There’s a photobooth that uses the Polaroid-style branded Third Man film, which was created just for them by the Impossible Project. You can also plop a token into another machine and watch as a wax injection mold of the Third Man van forms in front of your eyes, and nose. And of course, it is a music-based store, with records, and stuff. I was curious if the shop staff had to pass any music trivia test to work there. “I think what mattered most about my experience with music, and the other ladies as well, was passion, more so than knowing historical facts or reciting catalog numbers,” Stawski says. “And yes, now I know the catalog numbers and all the nitty-gritty, but going in, that was not required.” How confused is the average punter wandering into the shop for the first time, and what percentage of people there are super rabid fans? “Talking to longtime fans on release days is great,” Stawski says. “They know more than me. At live events and shows, we see a mix of everyone, people from out of state, and longtime locals too. My favorite is the high traffic we get from shoppers who haven’t seen a 45 adapter in 20-plus years. They can’t believe it when I tell them that people DJ with 45s today. We are turning people on to unpacking their old collections and getting their record players out of the basement. It’s exciting!” The enchilada The Detroit venue has held several beyond-capacity freebie shows, notably the Gories and Negative Approach, which have gone off without a hitch. They’re just beginning to project rare 16mm films regularly. Third Man Books head Chet Weise has overseen packed literary events there already. At least some aspects of the upcoming Memorial
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Day Trip Metal Fest will go down at Third Man’s space. Among other projects, Third Man will imminently reissue the first 12 Italy releases, all 7-inch singles with the exception of one Hentchmen 12”. It’s important to remember that White owns his buildings in Detroit and Nashville. In Nashville, acts playing their venue can even record directly to a lathe that cuts the sound right as it’s made; it doesn’t go through tape or any other medium before getting etched onto vinyl. That’s also how records were cut back in the Paramount days. At a certain level, the only way to get more DIY would be for Third Man to go solar, creating its own energy. Struggling to find a similar scope in terms of this level of label/production/ store all in one place, I offer up Coxsone Dodd and his Kingston, Jamaica-based Studio One label. Blackwell suggests Cincinnati’s storied 1950s indie label King “because King had a label, had a studio, had a pressing plant, and had a mobile record store, which I’m dying for a photo of,” he says. “I’ve been told by multiple sources that King had like a fuckin’ van they sent around Cincinnati and you could buy King records out of the van, at block parties and stuff.” Richard Branson infamously took proceeds from bong-ripping ambient records on his own record label Virgin to start up an airline. When I joke that White might be doing the same thing, Buick deadpans, “How do you know he hasn’t already?” And there’s just a onepercent chance he does know something, and isn’t saying. An interview with Chet Weise about the evolution of Third Man Books is online at metrotimes.com.
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Galindo’s
13754 Fort St., Southgate 734-324-1141 | galindosmexican.com 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily $1.50-$10.99 Wheelchair accessible
Tostada. Photo by Scott Spellman.
Mexico City street food with a twist by Serena Maria Daniels We understand we’ll probably catch a lot of shit for saying this, but so many of metro Detroit’s Mexican eateries are awash in tired stereotypes. Look, we know that many of the spots that dot Bagley and West Vernor Highway are stalwarts of the region’s long-standing Mexican community. For that, we respect their place in history. And we get that for many folks in the area, these establishments are the first introduction to Mexican food — much like Taco Bell was decades ago for gringos with a fascination for the cuisine of their southern neighbors. However, all too often when visiting the many restaurants in Mexicantown, we’re overwhelmed by the aged atmosphere of these places — the banners of parrots sipping Coronas, the dusty old pinatas and sombreros, and the waitresses wearing embroidered peasant blouses and skirts. Worse than the design are the menus. Cheddar cheese and red sauce smothered over everything, coupled with blobs of canned refried beans, flavorless “Spanish” rice, and baskets of stale tortilla chips. We’ve spent time all over the United States and Mexico and have come to understand how Mexican cuisine has evolved over the years, paying particular attention to its street food. What we’ve found is a mashup of cultures, where Americano and Mexicano meet somewhere around the middle. In that blending of traditions, you’ll find the menu at
Galindo’s A Taste of Mexico, in Southgate. Founded in June by chef Erik Galindo and his brother Juan, the spot manages to offer a modern and fun take on some of the most popular street foods found in their native Mexico City (or D.F., which stands for Distrito Federal). Walk into the space, which sits in a strip mall on Fort Street, and gone is the stereotypical decor, instead replaced with a gorgeous interior, refined by matte white and gray walls, Spanish tile accents, and splashes of color in the cushioned seating and flowers at each table. The design, conceptualized by Galindo’s wife Erin, was inspired by a trip to Los Angeles a couple of years ago, when the two visited Gracias Madre, a high-end vegan Mexican restaurant in West Hollywood. Have a seat and you’re promptly greeted by a server, who offers a complimentary cup of fideo — a traditional, tomatobased soup with noodles (Galindo’s sometimes come with alphabet noodles) — and fresh chips with three kinds of salsa. Take a look at the menu, and it’s readily apparent that this food is “hecho en D.F.” — made in Mexico City. At the heart of the menu is the torta — simplistically described as a Mexican sandwich. Take a bite of one of Galindo’s monstrous creations, and you’ll find that that description is a serious understatement. His are packed with a punch of flavor, all stuffed in bolillo rolls the size of a baseball mitt.
38 March 23-29, 2016 | metrotimes.com
Typically, tortas are filled with your choice of meat — pork al pastor (marinated pork, spit-grilled over low heat in a similar manner as Lebanese shawarma), carne asada, cochinita pibil (slow roasted pork from the Yucatan Peninsula), and spread with refried beans, avocado, and perhaps mayo and lettuce and tomato. Here, they’re made up of a playful variety from all regions of Mexico (there’s the Cancun, the Puerto Vallarta, the Acapulco), and even elsewhere like Brazil and Italy. We dug into the Toluquena (inspired by the city of Toluca, about 70 kilometers southwest of D.F.). It’s loaded with a blend of al pastor, chorizo, and Oaxacan cheese (sourced from Queseria and Deli Don Nacho in Kentucky). Not to be confused with cured, Spanish chorizo, the richly red ground Mexican variety here has an abundance of spice and soaks right into the artisan roll. The tortas have already found popularity outside of Galindo’s at the Palace of Auburn Hills, where the restaurant holds a food cart during Pistons games. Another popular take on D.F. street food at Galindo’s are the tacos de ciudad. For $2, you get your choice of chicken, pork, steak, chorizo, or ground beef that’s topped with sauteed peppers and onions, cilantro, and French fries. We went with the steak, which came in tender and nicely marinated cubes that fit snugly within the fresh, warm tortillas.
A few other Mexican mainstays with a D.F. focus are the chilaquiles and enchiladas — both of which substitute the usual red sauce with salsa verde. Salsa verde is made with green tomatillos and grilled peppers, giving it a slightly tangy flavor. We tried a couple of the enchiladas, with pork and chicken folded into soft corn tortillas. They’re drenched in green sauce and topped with queso fresco and sour cream. They’re much lighter than the more common Tex-Mex variety. Aside from these unique offerings, you’ll also find a variety of burritos, flautas, tostadas, and guacamole, plus house-made aguas frescas (in horchata or jicama) and salsas. One of the things we love about Galindo’s is that vegetarian options are available for most menu items. Galindo himself tells us that’s been an important feature for his customers too as more and more folks in the area are turning to vegetarian diets. Overall, we’re excited by this newer addition to metro Detroit. It proves that we’re ready to depart from the aging recipes that we flocked to growing up and are more open to diving into a little something new and interesting in Mexican cuisine.
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E at
Bites
n Flowers of Vietnam. Photo via Facebook.
Flowers blooms on Saturdays Fans of chef George Azar’s Flowers of Vietnam Sunday dinner series inside the walls of Vernor Coney Island in Southwest Detroit now have Saturdays to look forward to as well. Azar’s take on pho, fried snapper, and Korean-fried caramel chicken wings can now be had from 6-10 p.m. Saturdays. What’s more, Azar tells us he’s developing a menu for the diner’s daylight hours, which he says will “highlight metro Detroit’s Coney Island culture.” “Coney culture has a very utilitarian vibe within metro Detroit,” Azar tells us via text. “That isn’t a bad thing, but I feel like if someone focuses on a Coney just like any other serious restaurant and still keeps the sense of approachable utility, it could be dope.” Just three months into the oncea-week eatery (which operates only after the Coney has closed for the day), Azar’s cuisine inspired by the Southeast Asian nation has gained popularity via word of mouth, social media, and the press — a phenomenon that has the Southwest Detroiter a bit nervous. Though stories written by the likes of the Detroit Free Press, Thrillist, and yours truly have helped to pack the spot each week, he doesn’t want the buzz to come too quickly.
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“All I can do is still provide a dope product,” he says. Indeed, he’s taking the slow and steady approach to build on the initial success of Flowers, conceptualizing what to do to update the diner during breakfast and lunch later this year, and constructing the space that will eventually be a standalone Vietnamese restaurant next door to Vernor Coney Island at 4430 Vernor Hwy. Open, open, open Three hotly anticipated restaurants all opened within the same week in metro Detroit: Pop’s for Italian in Ferndale, the Peterboro in Detroit’s old Chinatown, and Katoi in Corktown. Pop’s for Italian, operated by Kramer Restaurant Group (which also runs One-Eyed Betty’s and the recently opened Daily Dinette) and the Peterboro (under the Detroit Optimist Society) opened March 16. Situated in the former Buffalo Wild Wings and Twisted Shamrock at 280 West Nine Mile Rd, Pop’s shares its space with the Daily Dinette, with the Italian eatery facing Nine Mile and the diner facing the rear parking lot. The new restaurant specializes in Neapolitan pizza and boasts a spacious wine and beer garden.
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‘Grey Ghost is a great fit for the building and the neighborhood. I’ve been impressed with these guys from day one and can’t wait to for them to open.’
The Peterboro occupies a storefront in the city’s former Chinatown at 420 Peterboro St., seats 72, and does not accept reservations. Chef de cuisine Brion Wong (formerly of Antietam and restaurants in New York City) was given free rein to flex his creativity with a Chinese-American-influenced menu that includes cheeseburger spring rolls (on the late night menu after 10 p.m.) and his take on a Detroit staple, almond boneless chicken. As for Katoi in Corktown, it opened its doors to the public March 21. The Thai restaurant and bar started out with humble beginnings as a food truck outside of Two James Spirits, and later as a pop-up in Ann Arbor. This establishment has chef Brad Greenhill running the kitchen, Courtney Henriette as creative director, and bar service headed by Drew Pompa. (Katoi also has a partner in Philip Kafka, based in New York, who helped the crew famously set up a billboard bolstering Detroit and the upcoming restaurant.) A departure from the southern Thai cuisine most Americans are accustomed to, Katoi focuses on cooking techniques typical of the north of Thailand, which emphasizes the use of pork, veggies, and sticky rice. We attended the first of several soft openings on Friday and were treated to a feast of duck noodle soup, sweet potato tostones, crispy fried ribs, and a spicy medley of greens. Katoi is situated in the old Willie’s Garage building at 2520 Michigan Ave. It seats about 60 and does not take reservations. Grey Ghost finds its home in former Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe Grey Ghost Detroit, the forthcoming meat-centric restaurant and cocktail bar, officially has a home. The spot’s location, which up until recently had only been identified as being in the Brush Park/Midtown area, will be at 47
42 March 23-29, 2016 2016 || metrotimes.com metrotimes.com
E. Watson (at Woodward) and is set to open this summer. At about 2,500 square feet, the 80seat restaurant — owned by Chicago chefs John Vermiglio and Josef Giacomino — will sit just a few blocks from the new Red Wings arena. Grey Ghost is expected to employ about 30 full-time and part-time workers. The eatery will occupy one of three street-level commercial spaces at the Crystal Lofts Building, in the former Ye Olde Butcher Shoppe space. The Crystal Lofts are owned by American Community Developers Inc. “Grey Ghost is a great fit for the building and the neighborhood. I’ve been impressed with these guys from day one and can’t wait to for them to open,” says Mike Essian, vice president of American Community Developers. For Vermiglio, the project has been years in the making. “In 2013, we began exploring a number of properties throughout the city,” Vermiglio says in a statement. “After extensive research, we realized that Midtown, and this location in particular, was the perfect fit for our first venture, with an ideal balance of existing roots, community, and exciting potential.” Giacomino formerly was an executive chef at A10, a French-Italian inspired eatery in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Vermiglio, a metro Detroit native, worked as culinary director of chef Matthias Merges’ restaurant group that includes A10, Billy Sunday, and Yusho. Since announcing their plans for the new eatery, they’ve held occasional pop-ups (called the Ghost Tour) around town to introduce diners to their fare. A fifth pop-up will take place April 15 at Great Lakes Culinary Center at 24101 W. Nine Mile Rd, in Southfield, with a five-course menu dedicated to seafood.
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D RINK
drinkup
Detroit Dwarf Old Nation Brewing 5.3% ABV | 35 IBU The city of Detroit celebrated the banishment of a little red dwarf named Nain Rouge last week. A parade was held where his name was cursed and citizens of the metro area told his ratty ass to get the hell out of the Paris of the Midwest. ‘Round these parts we’re a little fascinated with the story of this mythological harbinger of doom, and former MT staffer Lee DeVito did some excellent reporting on the legend of the legend of the Nain Rouge. Well, it seems we aren’t the only ones who love to share the story an angry red midget who haunts our city. Old Nation Brewing, a brand-new brewery located in Williamston, is a little obsessed with the story too. So much so that they named their signature beer after
44 44 March March 23-29, 23-29, 2016 2016 || metrotimes.com metrotimes.com
the little crimson asshole. Detroit Dwarf is an altbeir, a German hybrid that’s commonly referred to as a German Amber. It’s crisp and balanced with a subtle complexity that’s helped it win four Great American Beer Fest medals and two World Beer Cups — it is one of the most awarded beers brewed in Michigan. That balanced flavor is full of caramel, bread crust, black tea, and forest nut notes that are supported by the sweetness of malt and complementary hop bitterness, making it one of the best altbiers you’re going to find anywhere. Look for Detroit Dwarf in many Midtown bars.
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feature n Rihanna in Washington, D.C. Photo by EJ Hersom
A dozen reasons to get pumped to see Rihanna in Detroit As if you need them by Jack Roskopp
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M usic
Well, she’s technically playing at the Palace at Auburn Hills rather than Detroit proper, but the Barbadian princess has new music, new style, and a new show to share with the world. And we are down for the ride. Here are a dozen reasons why we all should be excited for the return of RiRi. 1. Her new album We have so much love for Rihanna’s newest album, Anti. The highly anticipated record was three years in the making and came out to great reviews from critics and fans. Rihanna was making music like a workhorse — seven albums over an eight-year span — so she deserved a break to work on her eighth studio album. The wait was worth it. Anti is full of pop/R&B jams that show off a more in-charge, grown-up Rihanna.
2. The “Work” music videos The lead single from Anti is the Barbadian-styled song “Work” featuring Drake (more on him later). Most artists release one video for their song, but not Rihanna. She gave us two different versions of the catchy song. One version is Rihanna in a bar that is full of everything she loves: twerking, drinking, and smoking joints. The second video is just Rihanna in some sort of pink club area with Drake admiring/serving up some “Hotline Bling” dance moves behind her. The videos are sexual and sensual, just like Rihanna. 3. Rihanna + Drake forever Oh RiRi and Drake, how you two pull at our heartstrings. The two have allegedly been off and on for years and, whenever they collabo-
n Derrick Thompson
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rate, it re-ignites rumors. They first joined in 2010 on Rihanna’s “What’s My Name” and, boy, was there ever a lot of sexual tension. After that we got the emotional “Take Care,” which spread a whirlwind of “will they/won’t” speculation. Now “Work” seems like a culmination of all of our feelings for them. Lines like “If you had a twin/I would still chose you” will likely put fans back on the Rihanna and Drake train. Will they ever be an official couple? Probably not. But one can hope, right? If you go to the show, be on the lookout for all of these songs. 4. Her amazing back catalog With eight albums to draw from, Rihanna has one of the best catalogs of songs out of any pop singer touring today (besides Madonna, of course, but RiRi is on her way). Re-
member “Pon de Replay” from 2005? “SOS” from 2006? “Umbrella” and “Shut Up and Drive” from 2007? All of these songs are jams. Even later tracks like “We Found Love” and “S&M” were chart-toppers. 5. Her actual singing voice A pop star’s credibility with live vocals almost always comes into play at some point in their career. Rihanna was accused early on of lip syncing and/or sounding off and terrible. It wasn’t until her performances at award shows that she got to show off her strong vocals. She blew everyone away when she performed “Stay” at the 2013 Grammy Awards, proving that she has emotional vocal chops. Bonus: She won her seventh Grammy that night.
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M usic 7. Her love for Detroit This isn’t Rihanna’s first rodeo here. She always made sure to hit up the Motor City during every tour. She’s played everywhere from DTE Energy Music Theater to Joe Louis Arena t Comerica Park. This is her second time playing the Palace. Don’t be surprised if you see her reppin’ a Tigers hat or announcing her love for our city. 7. Her surprise guests at shows Remember when Rihanna played Comerica Park in 2014 with another artist that we know well? Eminem lives a secluded life here, but he isn’t shy to show his face with fellow collaborators. Eminem showed up during Big Sean’s hometown show at Joe Louis Arena this past fall, so why can’t he show up at Rihanna’s? They have collaborated on three different songs, so this seems like a no-brainer. When Eminem headlined Lollapalooza in 2014, Rihanna made a surprise appearance that made the crowd go wild. Eminem owes her one now, right? And Toronto isn’t that far from Detroit, either. Could Drake show up and slay all of us? One can hope! 8. Her great openers Rihanna loves to bring up-and-coming acts on her tours (she had Kesha open at DTE) and the Anti World Tour is no exception. Promising rapper Travis Scott will be opening throughout the North American leg. Scott has been collaborating with artists like Wiz Khalifa, Miguel, and Kanye West. Detroit native Big Sean and the Weeknd are opening for her on the European leg. Slightly disappointing for us, but it will be huge exposure for a hometown rapper like Big Sean. 9. Her collaborations with other artists Rihanna is the queen of singing hooks. Whether she’s singing the chorus to “Love the Way You Lie,” collaborating with Jay and Yeezy on “Run This Town,” or slaying with Nicki Minaj on “Raining Men,” it’s all good. No matter whom she’s working with, we know the envelope is going to be pushed and we are going to get a jam that will be stuck in our head for days. That’s the power of Rihanna. Plus, working with different artists means there are ample opportunities for them to show up at each other’s shows (can’t you tell we really want Eminem to be there?)
feature 10. Her feminist fire There is no other pop star out there that owns her female identity and sexuality quite like Rihanna. She is never shameful about the fact that yes, she actually enjoys sex, and isn’t going to shame others or herself just because they like sex. She’s been through a huge ordeal with Chris Brown, and has come out stronger in the process. Rihanna knows that she makes mistakes, parties too hard sometimes, and is reluctant to fall for a guy who is clearly wrong for her, but that just makes her more human at the end of the day. She is a good role model because of her honesty and vulnerability. 11. Her growth as an artist When Rihanna’s first album, Music of the Sun, came out in 2005, her music was heavily produced and her record label was going to morph her into a pop superstar, which they totally did. As she released more albums, her true artistry poked through. By her third album, she gained creative control of her work, but still had outside writers penning a majority of her songs. After releasing seven albums and taking a break from the studio, Rihanna released the best studio album of her career. She co-wrote a lot of the songs and was in studio while the music and compositions were made. She has evolved from a girl who had a dream to selling millions of tickets and having creative control over herself and her brand. No better success story right there. 12. Her live shows If you’ve never seen Rihanna live, then you are in for quite a treat. Performing is what she does best. Never afraid of the stage, she is dynamic and engaging. Her shows have every step of choreography mapped out. Expect to see amazing dancing, costume changes, set pieces flying in and out of the stadium, and of course RiRi herself. She hasn’t been on a full solo tour since the Diamonds World Tour in 2013, so we are expecting her in full force. Rihanna plays the Palace of Auburn Hills on Thursday, March 24; Doors at 7:30 p.m.; 6 Championship Dr, Auburn Hills; Tickets are available on the resale market.
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M usic Tyrese: ‘Detroit seems like a natural fit’
feature
Upcoming Fox Theatre concert is a way for veteran singer and actor to give back by Jack Roskopp After being in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years, you’d think 37-year-old singer and actor Tyrese Gibson (who’s one of those one-name performers, so we’ll honor that for the rest of the piece) would not have much left to say. But that wasn’t our experience when we spoke with him last week. Tyrese just received two Grammy nominations for his stellar album Black Rose and is playing a special concert Sunday, March 27 at the Fox Theatre.
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album did so well? Tyrese: There is just so much more that I want to do. The time and energy is a lot to make a record. Black Rose took almost
social media or my music or movies. They love the interactions that I send to them and my messages, so why not keep them engaged? MT: What was it like to work with Taraji P. Henson during the filming of Baby Boy? Are you two still friends? Tyrese: Taraji P. Henson is one of my favorite people on the planet. It was a lot of fun making that movie with her, and I’m really happy of all of the success she’s had since. She deserves it.
MT: Have you guys talked Metro Times: about you doing Empire in the You don’t really tour that future? much anymore. Why this Tyrese: We have, actushow, and why in Detroit? ally. We’re still planning it, and Tyrese: You’re thinking about if I did come right; I don’t get to tour on, how I would fit in the world that much anymore. We of Empire. It hasn’t happened do shows here and there, yet, but it’s definitely on our but nothing like a tour. I radars. wanted to do a resurrection of [a short film he MT: So what is next? More produced] Black Book with acting? Any other art forms my show. There is a lot of that you’re interested in getting stress on the city of Detroit, into? and on the city of Flint with Tyrese: I’ve got the the water crisis. So Detroit filming of the new Fast and seemed like a natural fit. I n Tyrese at Comic Con. Photo by Gage Skidmore Furious movie coming up, so want to do my part and give that should be a good time. I back to the city. So much of am also releasing a short film that will be three years to make. It’s also just hard what I’ve done as an artist has been about my directorial debut, on the day of the to sell records these days. I’m incredibly giving back. concert in Detroit. It’s going to shock a lot lucky that Black Rose went No. 1 in 15 of people. Probably make some people countries and got me two Grammy nomiMT: Especially since you started out uncomfortable. It’s three music videos nations. That doesn’t happen to everyone doing Coke commercials, and you just that will run back to back. It’s the first when they release an album. I think I’m started doing them again, right? time that I’ve had my hand in on every Tyrese: Yes, I did. Coke started my just ready to focus my skills elsewhere for aspect: writing, recording, directing, and a while. career, so I’m always eager to help them producing. It will be a big step for me, and out and give back. I’ve had a 20-year-plus I’m excited for everyone to see it! MT: You have a very strong personality relationship with them now. The comon Twitter and Instagram. Did you expect mercial is a throwback to the original one, Tyrese performs Sunday, March 27 at the to love it so much? And why do you like except I’m singing my song “Shame.” Now Fox Theatre; Doors at 7 p.m.; 2211 Woodsharing on social media? I’m working with them (on) their Pay ward Ave., Detroit; Tickets $55 to $125. Tyrese: Social media is an interIt Forward campaign. We will be giving esting thing. So many fans are on there, $5,000 college scholarships. so it’s the easiest way to talk to them and mmcgonigal@metrotimes.com see what they’re saying. I always like to MT: You said Black Rose was going to @mikemcgonigal keep my fans intrigued — whether it’s on be your last studio record. Why, since the
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TUESDAY, APRIL 5 THE DISTORTLAND TOUR
DANDY WARHOLS WITH
THIS WEEK •
FEATURES
FRIDAY, MARCH 25
THE RAGBIRDS
SATURDAY. MARCH 26 • 21+ THE ULTIMATE RETRO PARTY
THEBOOGIE MEGADYNOMITE 80'S
• UPCOMING
FRIDAY, APRIL 8 FRIDAY, APRIL 29 WORLD'S GREATEST STONES TRIBUTE AS GOOD AS DEAD TOUR
ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
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SERATONES
SATISFACTION LOCAL H SMITHS UNITED
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
TUESDAY, APRIL 12 THE WILLING TO DIE TOUR
GIN WIGMORE
WITH RE-CURE & CLAMPDOWN
SUNDAY, MAY 1 FRIDAY, APRIL 15 ACCLAIMED SINGER/ SONGWRITER
A NIGHT OF STAND-UP COMEDY
WITH
DUNCAN TRUSSELL
ALSO PLAYING APR 1 & APR 9
NEXT WEEK
MONDAY, APRIL 18 THURSDAY, MARCH 31 THE SPRAINED ANKLE TOUR
DAVID J FROM BAUHAUS / LOVE & ROCKETS
WITH
THEATRE BIZARRE ORCH
JUST ANNOUNCED TUESDAY, MAY 24
TRASHCAN SINATRAS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 LEGENDARY GUITARIST
DICK DALE
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EILEN JEWELL WEDNESDAY, MAY 4
SUN LEADS ME ON TOUR
HALF MOON RUN THURSDAY, MAY 5
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THE GRAVITY WORLD TOUR
JAVIER COLON
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AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH
GOOD OLD WAR
SUNDAY, APRIL 24
COASTS
COMING SOON
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TUESDAY, APRIL 26 FROM DELTA SPIRIT
MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ
6/12............CARL PALMER (OF ELP) 6/18................PURPLE XPERIENCE 6/19...........................ANDY MCKEE 6/25...........................LEZ ZEPPELIN 7/30...........................RIK EMMETT 9/23..................THE SMITHEREENS
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Livewire
This week’s suggested musical events by MT Staff
Friday, 3/25 Kirk Franklin @ Fox Theatre
A choir leader at his local church by the age of 12 and founder of his own 17-person choir, the Family, at age 21, one could say gospel megastar Kirk Franklin has the divine gift when it comes to making some seriously spiritually uplifting tunes. Franklin revisits the landmarks of his career, which include 11 albums, nine Grammy Awards, and numerous other accolades with the 20 Years in One Night Tour, a retrospective not to be missed.
Starts at 7:30 p.m.; 2211 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-471-3200; olympiaentertainment.com/foxtheatre; tickets are $25, $35, $50, and $75; all ages.
n Kirk Franklin. Photo courtesy his label
Friday, 3/25
Friday, 3/25
Saturday, 3/26
Saturday, 3/26
Yung Lean
Ragbirds Album Release Party
Eugene Chadbourne
Panic in Detroit!
@ Trinosophes
@ Northern Lights
Psychedelic improviser and multiinstrumentalist Eugene Chadbourne fuses free jazz, bluegrass, noise, and folk into avant-garde performances that are simultaneously political, irreverent, and dementedly tinged with LSD. If you’re into the likes of Coltrane, Braxton, Hendrix, Zappa, and Americana in general, check out this legendary eccentric.
This star-studded event bills itself as a “night of glam rock featuring an acoustic tribute to David Bowie.” DJs will spin Bowie and glam greats, while some of your favorite locals cover Bowie tunes unplugged. Among the covers we’re most excited about is Margaret Doll Rod taking on “Moonage Daydream,” Audra Kubat and Tamara Finley tackling “Space Oddity,” David Shettler doing “Warszawa,” Matthew Smith covering “Boys Keep Swinging,” Jarrett Koral and Johnny Chan doing “Five Years,” Willa Rae covering “Life on Mars,” and then there’s Emily Rose’s take on “Man Who Sold the World.” This just might be awesome.
@ Populux
Magic Bag
Our favorite Arizona-swilling, bucket hat-wearing Swedish rapper is coming to town, this time on the worldwide Warlord Tour in promotion of his second studio album of the same title. Yes, the Sad Boys crew have come a long way from the days of viral video hits on YouTube, trading their Pokemon cards for more innovative production techniques and more serious content. That being said, I think we’ll always have a special place in our hearts for the moon-faced 16-year-old in the endearingly absurd “Ginseng Strip” music video in 2002.
Starts at 8 p.m.; 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-603-5343; populuxdetroit.com; tickets are $18; all ages.
Bohemian groove band the Ragbirds celebrate the release of their fifth studio album, The Threshhold & the Hearth, in an all-out bash with special guests the Appleseed Collective and other surprises. The five-piece folkrock band got their start busking on the cold, hard streets of Ann Arbor, offering whimsical Celtic and gypsy fiddling to the accompaniment of tambourine, doumbek, and tabla. These days, they’re a little less “Kumbaya” and a lot more rock ‘n’ roll, but the lively folk and world influences still remain.
Starts at 8 p.m.; 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-544-1991; themagicbag.com; tickets are $15; 18 and up.
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Starts at 9 p.m.; 1464 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-737-6606; trinosophes.com; $10 to $20 suggested donation; all ages.
Doors at 9 p.m.; 660 W. Baltimore St., Detroit; 313-8731739; $5.
Tuesday, 3/29 She Is We @ Crofoot
She Is We is the new band of He Is We’s Rachel Taylor, who describes the project as a sort of “He Is We 2.0,” but with a new lineup, and help from five-time Grammy Award winner Chris Lord-Alge and big-time pop songwriter Mike Elizondo. So, in other words, a far cry from the original indie pop band from Tacoma. Nevertheless, Taylor is still just as sweet and upbeat, and her infectious vocals shine through as never before on the debut album, War. With special guests We the Kings, Elena Coats, and Brothers James.
n She Is We. Photo by Haley Young
Starts at 6 p.m.; 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-858-9333; thecrofoot. com; tickets are $25; all ages.
Saturday, 3/26
Saturday, 3/26
Saturday, 3/26
Wednesday, 3/30
Steve Leaf & the Ex Pats
Prism Quartet
Mama
Metal Church
@ New Way Bar
@ Northside Community Church
@ UFO Factory
@ Token Lounge
Steve and his Ex Pats like to let the hurt linger on their latest release, Three Circles and a Speaker, a searing break-up album that opts for the slow burn rather than the “rip the BandAid off” technique. Taking cues from indie balladeers like Buckley, Malkmus, and Tweedy, Leaf warbles on so earnestly to his fuzzed-out guitar that you can’t help but wish the poor guy some closure. With special guests Joe and These Curious Thoughts.
The critically acclaimed Prism Quartet, one of the greatest contemporary saxophone chamber ensembles of the moment, is performing a benefit concert for six schools in greater Detroit in which proceeds will fund 28 programs serving more than 3,400 students. A great cause made even greater by the additional accompaniment of jazz saxophone legends Diego Rivera and Andrew Bishop, who will perform for part of the program, which features works ranging from John Coltrane to Robert Schumann.
Gritty power-pop quartet Mama usher in the springtime sunshine with a heavy dose of ferociously gleeful tunes that make you feel wistful, hopeful, and hedonistic all at the same time. The Chicago-based group released their Speed Trap EP off underground rock ‘n’ roll label Hozac. Check out the single “Speed Trap,” which rolls the Dictators, Thin Lizzy, and the Ramones all into one undeniable hit, no matter which side of the power-pop line you land on.
1980s West Coast thrash metal legends Metal Church have reunited under ’90s era vocalist Mike Howe, best known for being the face of classic music videos “Date With Poverty” and “Badlands,” as well as pushing the band to riff more and dig deeper lyrically. Their 11th studio album XI doesn’t disappoint, delivering the tight musicianship and piercing vocals fans remember them for — but the real treat is seeing these guys shredding harder than ever on stage.
Starts at 8 p.m.; 23130 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-541-9879; newwaybar.tumblr.com; tickets are $5; 21 and older.
Starts at 8 p.m.; 929 Barton Dr., Ann Arbor; 800-838-3006; prismquartet.com; tickets are $22 GA and $17 for students advance purchase only, $3 more at the door; all ages.
Starts at 9 p.m.; 2110 Trumbull Ave., Detroit; ufofactory.com; tickets are $7; 21 and older.
Doors at 6 p.m.; 28949 Joy Rd, Westland; 734-513-5030; tokenlounge.com; tickets are $20; 18 and older.
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I’m a 24-year-old male, married three years, monogamous. My wife and I are religious and were both virgins when we got married. I’m sexually frustrated with two things. 1. How can I get her to give me oral sex? (She has never given and I have never received oral sex. I regularly give her oral sex.) She is afraid to try it, saying she’s not ready yet. About every six months, I bring it up and it leads to a fight. She is a germophobe, but I think she believes fellatio is done only in porn. (I used to look at porn, which nearly ended our then-dating relationship.) 2. I feel like I’m always giving and never receiving any type of affection: massages, kisses, caresses, you name it. It’s like having sex with a sex doll — no reciprocation. How do I broaden our sex life without making her feel like we’re in a porno? — Sexually Frustrated
A
If you don’t already have children — you don’t mention kids — please don’t have any, SF, at least not with your first wife. You’re a religious person, SF, a lifestyle choice I don’t fully understand. But you’re also a sexual person, and that I do understand. And if you want a lifelong, sexually exclusive, and sexually fulfilling relationship, then you must prioritize sexual compatibility during your search for the second Mrs. SF. Because your next marriage is likelier to survive for the long haul if you’re partnered with someone who is attracted to you physically and is aroused — roughly speaking — by the same sex acts, positions, and fantasies you are. In other words: Don’t marry someone and hope she likes sucking your dick. You tried that, and it didn’t work. Find someone who likes sucking your dick and marry her.
Q
I’m a straight woman in my early 30s, and I just don’t like receiving oral sex. I love giving blowjobs and can orgasm from PIV sex, but I seem to be one of the few women who
don’t enjoy guys going down on me. I’m not uncomfortable with it, but it doesn’t get me off. I also get wet easily, so it’s not like I need it as foreplay. As I’ve gotten older, and the guys I sleep with have gotten older, it seems like most want to spend a great deal of time down there. I’ve tried being up front about not liking it in general, but guys either get offended or double down and do it more because they assume I’ve never been with a guy who “could do it right.” Any ideas on how to handle this? — Needs Oral Preference Explainer
A
The observation you make regarding older straight guys — older straight guys are more enthusiastic about going down on women — is something I’ve heard from other female friends. They couldn’t get guys to go down on them in their 20s, and they can’t get guys in their 30s and 40s to stop going down on them. (SF, above, is clearly an outlier.) The obvious solution to your dilemma, NOPE: Only fuck guys in their 20s.
Q
Fan from Sweden here! Question: My fetish has no name. It is a “worshipping” fetish, for want of a better term, where I am the one being worshipped. Not by one man, but all men of the earth. The worshipping itself, while sexual, is not bound to my body parts. It would be great to have this named. — Lack Of Vocabulary Enervates My Experiences
A
A year ago, I would’ve diagnosed you with “caligulaphilia,” LOVEME, after the Roman emperor Caligula, who considered himself a living god, and -philia, the go-to suffix meaning “abnormal appetite or liking for.” But these days, I’d say you were suffering from a bad case of “trumpophilia.”
C mail@savagelove.net L@fakedansavage
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C ulture ARIES (March 21- April 20):
You give yourself a hard time when whatever you’re focused on doesn’t pan out. There is impatience, for sure, but more than that, it’s hard for you to realize that what you’ve conjured up in your mind isn’t the only way things can go. There is more at stake than usual. You battle with the need to appear like you’ve got it all handled when people and events get to be too much. On a short fuse, with more than enough reasons to flip out, it becomes important to slow down, stop pushing the river, and know enough to listen up when those who care offer their insight and support. TAURUS (April 21 -May 20):
You are multiplying your options in ways that make it seem like you’ve got it all figured out. Moving forward, it becomes more important than ever to know who you’re dealing with. Recent connections with those who seem to be on top of everything have done a lot to rearrange your thinking. Before you give people, places, and things more credit than they deserve, it might be good to stop and look at how things went the last time you went off the deep end. Take stock of every aspect of your current situation. All that glitters is not gold, and nothing gold can stay. GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
You’ve got ants in your pants about making things work and getting what you want out of this. It’s OK; there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with being ambitious — it’s just that you lose your perspective in the midst of people and issues that confuse everything. If your original intentions were clear, of late they have gotten mixed up with the whims of lesser mortals. At a time when your life depends on remaining in integrity, hanging out with the wrong people is a huge pitfall. Don’t take a lot of big talk and trendy nonsense as a sign that you’re in with the in crowd. CANCER (June 21-July 20):
After what seems like forever you can finally take a deep breath and wait for things to settle down. So much has changed and as much of it has been rearranged you could use a therapist — or at the very least, some time to sort it all out. On so many levels the castle has crumbled and the illusions that kept everything from falling apart have given way to the truth. In the midst of what for many of you has been a total and complete breakdown, the light at the end of the tunnel is about to shine on what’s left of you. Never fear. What’s next is going to be 10 times better than this.
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horoscopes by Cal Garrison LEO (July 21-Aug. 20):
You have a few things to straighten out before you think about what’s next. Yes, you have a mission, but you can’t put the cart before the horse. As hard as it might be to get back to square one, if you’re not already there, that’s where you’re going. Don’t get too freaked out by the things that are out of order, and don’t let the ones who have gone AWOL give you an excuse to whine. Something alchemical is taking place in you. Who knows what that’s supposed to look like? Let the past dissolve and try to be here for what looks like a beautifully intense and dramatic rebirth. VIRGo (Aug. 21-Sept. 20):
You feel totally lost. There are times when whoever we think we are dissolves into its base components and we have to regroup and start all over again. As the weight of deeper influences meets the questions that assail us prior to any major change, the willingness to look on the bright side will go further toward getting things back on track than anything else. The train is switching tracks with or without your cooperation. Any needs for certainty will screw you up. Minding your own business and remaining true to yourself will make it easier to be in the moment. LIBRA (Sept. 21-Oct. 20):
How you manage to keep going is a good question, one that all of you could find a different answer to. You are in the middle of things that are calling up all of your reserve strength. Within this pressure cooker, the desire to get off the treadmill argues with the need to make ends meet. The money situation is like the tide — it is subject to change. Focus less on your bank book and notice how things flow out of what we give. Others are dealing with their own share of issues. If they are too busy for you, let a little time go by before you attempt to resume communication. SCORPIO ( Oct. 21-Nov. 20):
Caught between a barrage of conflicts and the desire to live a balanced and peaceful life, you’re wondering how your signals got crossed. Every now and then it helps to haul back and look across the gap that separates what’s really going on from what you think is happening. Any sense of unease is being prompted by this disconnect — and you are also up to your eyeballs in what happens when steady exposure to other people stretches your boundaries past their limit. Recentering yourself on aims that keep you grounded will uncross your wires and restore your soul.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 21-Dec. 20):
You’ve got your issues, but they are nothing compared to what other people are laying on you. The pressure to get defensive, or take sides, competes with the knowing that it does no good to add your shit to the pile. At this point you’re caught between what you think you owe people and concerns that make it difficult to keep those agreements. Back up and look at what it will take to stabilize your situation. Side issues are other people’s stuff. You’re better off when you aren’t playing savior. Let everyone duke it out, knowing that the spirits will keep an eye on your interests. CAPRICORN (Dec. 21-Jan. 20):
For so many reasons, you have always been held up to a certain standard. Time and repetition have led you to believe that you can never step below that line. Somewhere along the way, pieces of who you really are got lost underneath your effectiveness. With a zillion reasons to be wondering why so much of this has lost its flavor, you keep trying to convince yourself that you love it. There is a deeper story, or an underground stream, fueling all of this. Connecting with what happened before your standards overtook the meaning your life is where it’s at right now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21-Feb. 20):
You weren’t expecting this. With everything that’s happened in the last few years, I am surprised that you are surprised. There’s no need to make a move. What’s going on right now appears to be another opportunity to see how things go when you respond to them differently. Yes, you have a few reasons to be freaked. Recent revelations stirred up a lot of old stuff. Sometimes it’s best to keep your own counsel and let sleeping dogs lie. Instead of going nuts worrying about how you’re going to save the day, ask yourself if making an issue of things will improve them. PISCES (Feb. 21-March 20):
Finding the patience for all of the things that are taking their toll on your mind is making you wonder if it’s time to say no to a few people. It’s hard to say to what extent you will be allowed to turn off the faucet of never-ending support. To make the most of all of the creativity and potential that has been siphoned off to this, that, and the other thing, you’d do well to retreat and mind your own business for a while. Peace and quiet will let the sound of your own voice cut through the noise that has to simmer down before you can begin to connect with your deeper longings.
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