TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAgE 5
PAgE 7
PAgE 15
Music News.............................3
June Scrapbook ..................13
Album Reviews....................19 PAgE 9
DEtRoit
Volume 3 • issue 6 • June 2017
WRitERS: Scottie Brown • terry Canter Bob Cheesman • Corrina Drost Rachael Lamb • Dawn Lemay Shobha N. Lizaso • Marissa Puckett Liz Stokes • Keith Wilkins PhotogRAPhERS: Scotti Moore • Joe orlando
Event Calendar......................23 PuBLiShER/EDitoR: Neal Nachman
DiRECtoR oF SALES & PRoMotioNS: Liz Stokes gRAPhiC ARtiSt: Neal Nachman
DiRECtoR oF MuLti-MEDiA PRoDuCtioNS: Kenny Moore ACCouNt EXECutiVES: Liz Stokes LEgAL CouNSEL: Shobha N. Lizaso
EDitoRiAL iNquiRiES: editorial@fullaccessdetroit.com
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Soundgarden's Chris Cornell Dead at 52 Chris Cornell, the dynamic vocalist and guitarist whose versatile showmanship as Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog's frontman was a signpost of the grunge era, died by suicide Wednesday night. He was 52. Cornell killed himself by hanging, according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner (via Associated Press). A full autopsy report was still being completed as of Thursday afternoon. Police received a 911 call at approximately 12 a.m. from a family friend, according to Michael Woody, Director of Media Relations for the Detroit Police Department. When the friend went to Cornell's hotel room at the MGM Grand Detroit to check on him, he "made it inside the hotel room, where he found Mr. Cornell unresponsive laying on the bathroom floor," according to Woody. EMS workers pronounced Cornell dead at the scene. Earlier on Wednesday, the singer had played a show with Soundgarden, who were midway through their tour. "His wife, Vicky, and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing, and they will be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause," his publicist said in a statement. At the time of his death, Cornell was married to Vicky Karayiannis. They had a daughter, Toni, in 2004 and a son, Christopher, in 2015. He's previously been married to Susan Silver, who had at one point managed Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. The couple had a daughter, Lillian Jean, in 2000. Gregg Allman, Southern Rock Pioneer, Dead at 69 Gregg Allman, the singer, musician and songwriter who played an essential role in the invention of Southern rock, died at the age of 69. Allman's rep confirmed that the artist died Saturday afternoon. 3
Southern rock pioneer fused country blues with San Francisco-style extended improvisation, creating a template for countless jam bands. Allman "passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia," a statement on the singer's website read Saturday. "Gregg struggled with many health issues over the past several years. During that time, Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times." "It's too soon to properly process this," Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts said in a statement. "I'm so glad I was able to have a couple good talks with him before he passed. In fact I was about to call him to check and see how he was when I got the call. It's a very sad day." A cause of death was not immediately revealed, but Allman suffered from chronic liver issues in recent years. Ariana Grande Cancels Upcoming Shows After Manchester Attack Ariana Grande officially canceled seven upcoming dates on the European leg of her tour following the terror attack outside the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people and injured dozens more. Grande's tour had been suspended immediately following the attack. The pop singer's management now confirms that all dates through June 5th have been canceled. "Due to the tragic events in Manchester, the Dangerous Woman Tour with Ariana Grande has been suspended until we can further assess the situation and pay our proper respects to those lost," Grande's reps said in a statement (via Entertainment Weekly). "We ask at this time that we all continue to support the city of Manchester and all those families affected by this cowardice and senseless act of violence. Our way of
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life has once again been threatened, but we will overcome this together." Grande was scheduled to perform two concerts at London's O2 Arena during the same week as the attack. Those shows are canceled. Five more shows – May 28th in Antwerp, May 31st and June 1st in Lodz, Poland, June 3rd in Frankfurt and June 5th in Zurich – are also canceled. As of press time, Grande's next date is June 7th at Paris' AccorHotels Arena, one of six concerts remaining on her European itinerary. From there, Grande is scheduled for a nine-date trek through South America and Mexico on June 29th, followed by tours of Southeast Asia and Australia. Following the tragedy in Manchester, the singer tweeted, "Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so so sorry. I don't have words." Grande reportedly returned to her home in Boca Raton, Florida in the aftermath of the attack.
Ozzy Osbourne to Reunite With Zakk Wylde for Summer Tour Ozzy Osbourne will reunite with longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde for a summer tour that marks the 30th anniversary of when the two first collaborated together. The Black Sabbath singer and Wylde first teamed up in 1987 when the guitarist replaced Osbourne's then-guitarist Jake E. Lee. Wylde contributed to Osbourne solo album stretching from 1988's No Rest for the Wicked to 2007's Black Rain, which was the last Ozzy album to feature the guitarist. "I haven't fallen out with Zakk, but Zakk's got his own band, and I felt like my stuff was beginning to sound like Black Label Society," Osbourne said in 2009 after revealing he was parting ways with Wylde. "I just felt like I wanted a change, you know?" So far, the duo has announced four dates together, their first tour since 2006, although
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Wylde played sporadically with Osbourne's Ozzy and Friends unit. The four summer dates will also be Osbourne's first solo shows since 2015, with "additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks." Osbourne and Wylde will be joined on the road by the singer's go-to touring unit of bassist Blasko, drummer Tommy Clufetos and keyboardist Adam Wakeman. “I’m so happy to be getting back on the road with Zakk, Blasko, Tommy and Adam,” Osbourne said in a statement. “This is what I do. This is where I belong, on the road.” The singer also reiterated his plans to record a new solo album that will arrive in 2018; it's unclear if Wylde will also take part in the recording.
Paramore Settle Lawsuit With Former Bassist A day before Paramore released their new LP After Laughter, the band tidied up some legal matters after reaching a settlement with their former bassist and founding member Jeremy Davis. In December 2015, Paramore announced that Davis had parted ways with the group, leaving – at the time – Hayley Williams as the band's lone original member. Three months later, Davis sued his former bandmates, with the bassist arguing that he had been omitted from songwriting credits and their respective royalties from the band's self-titled album, which included the 2013 hit "Ain't It Fun." Davis also claimed he was a partner in Paramore's Varoom Whoa, the band's business entity owned by Williams. The band, however, argued that Davis was simply an employee and not eligible for royalties from sales, merchandising and touring, the Tennessean reports. Prior to their Nashville gig, the band's lawyer said that "everything has been resolved and settled" with regard to the lawsuit.
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Now riddle me this. What has five pieces, always Top 10, easily combines multiple styles together as one, extremely energetic yet completely laid back and the name equals either 14 or 5 depending on how you see it? If you don’t know the answer to this you have been missing way too much. The five pieces are Nick Hexum (vocals, guitar, keys), SA Martinez (vocals, turntables, DJ), Tim Mahoney (lead guitar), P-Nut Wills (bass) and Chad Sexton (drums, percussion). 10 of their first 11 albums reached the top 10 with the latest effort, their 12th, “Mosaic” being released this month, no doubt will hit the mark immediately. All of this adds up to 311! Top of my bucket list? The opportunity to pick the brain of one of my favorite musicians, Nick Hexum! As I'm checking this off the list Nick and myself start to talk about longevity in music and how he feels that music has a natural healing and restorative power. He tells me, “It would’ve been incredible just to be involved in music as a hobby but the fact that it is my job, keeps me young. Music is a powerful thing. It was a long time ago we realized that we had a special chemistry and that we are better together. We lucked out finding each other and you don't mess with that formula. Chad and the rest of the band are the reason we are all here. We keep each other going, influencing one another.”
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On the topic of influence, he mentions how dad is his hero. Nick says, “He has been my role model in the sense of being responsible and warm towards others. I think when you are in a band you must give credit to your band mates as far as influencing the music but I have to say Joe Strummer is my favorite musician of all time. A story I loved to hear is one that Twenty One Pilots told about some drunk girl that came up to them and said that they sounded like a mixture between 311 and 311. That was a great compliment and there is certainly mutual admiration there.” When you start out wanting to be a musician you find it easy to imitate people. After all, there had to be that person or band that peaked your interest. Hexum tells me, “The first song I ever wrote I realized when it was done that I just rewrote a Jim Croce song and changed two words. That's how it started but what drew me to Hip pop, Punk, Reggae was the emotion, creativity along with that you throw in that it's groundbreaking and rebellious. I just don't find that in other genres as much. You evolve, change, find the way to your path.” There it is, the dreaded word “Change.” Nick says that he didn't change much really. He continues, “Just trying to stay focused on the music and keep my head out of the business side of it. If you give in too much to the business end, it starts to be like sitting
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in front of a focus group doing a painting. If you do that you lose focus on the pureness and you become not so true to your cause.” One of the things that I have wanted to do is attend one of the bigger 311 events such as “311 Day” or their cruise. While mentioning this to him I also brought up hearing they played a few tunes that we hadn't heard as of this past cruise. “Yes, we did, I was maybe a little bit nervous playing new songs for the first time,” he says laughing. “On the cruise, we broke out some reggae tunes that no one has heard and knowing they are going to end up on YouTube gets you just a little. There is a little anxiety about keeping it on point but for the most part it is just hitting the stage and letting loose.” I always wonder if an artist can really realize that one decision they had made that led them to what we see as success. Hexum says, “I think it was when we decided that we were going to just tour, tour, tour. That we weren't going to rely on any kind of cultural gatekeepers like radio people or journalists and take it straight to the people. That helped us build the foundation towards touring out of stone rather than sand. The gatekeepers didn't put us here so they can't take it away. We made a direct relationship with our fans. That's why we named our second album ‘Grass roots’ because we were going to live on the road. Now success to me is longevity. It's not about being one of those bands that start out big with a lot of record sales that have evaporated. It is about the process of making music and being allowed more years to spend honing your craft.” It was now time to continue down memory lane to find the first 311 moment that made Nick stand back and notice just what they had brought to the table. He says, “Well, our first show was opening for Fugazi and it was a sold out one at Sokol Hall in Omaha, Nebraska. It was a Fugazi crowd that came ready to mosh. We kicked into our first song and the place went crazy. Even though Fugazi doesn't really like to mosh I’m thinking the fans didn't get the memo, we blew the place up. That was the moment when I knew we really had something here.”
After enjoying so much that has come about in their music world a lot of hard work has made it all possible. Continuing to write while staying true to yourself along with keeping a fresh approach is important. Nick tells me the secret, “You need to keep mixing up your listening habits and continue to explore while keeping that suspension of disbelief. People become jaded so you need to force your mind to stay open. There are always fresh minds getting into music and bringing inspiration. One of the things that is nice about our fan base, they are gonna be there with us whether we have a hit or not. It feels like we have a momentum that can only be stopped by one thing, us. Because of this, fortunately, I don't feel too much pressure. It all translates into our live show. We like to think that our shows are a vacation for people. It seems that everyone is sharing the same attitude, a way of life and a kinship at a 311 show. We just love being the ringleaders of that.” Now that their new album “Mosaic” is in the can and ready to be released this month there will be a little time in between now and when the tour starts. So how will Nick keep the new material fresh while remaining focused? He says, “I’m listen to the instrumental versions of the songs on our new album. After living with it for a few months now listening to it as an instrumental is like a breath of fresh air so that is what I have been doing for fun.” Closing out our conversation I asked Nick for a public service announcement. This is what he said, “I never want to miss an opportunity to thank the fans. Together we are still living this dream and it’s a really special thing. We have the greatest job in the world. All the stories that we have had the opportunity to be a part of with the fans. Whether it has been how a song touched them, reminded them of someone or how they met their spouse at one of our shows those are moments when shared together make it worth while. Just all of us connecting with emotions. I'd like to think that we have spread a positive message and help people to see the world in a more optimistic way.”
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Jon Secada is a Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter who is has sold over 20 million albums, a dancer and a philanthropist and performed on Broadway. In fact, we talk a little about a friend of his, Ricky Martin, who's on Broadway now. I'm backstage at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center in Sarasota with the very busy, multi-talented Jon Sedaca! Jon: How are you? Full Access: Good, how are you? Jon: Really good, thank you. Full Access: Ok, good. So, you just got back from New York and you’re big with Broadway. Did you see Ricky Martin in Evita? Jon: Yeah, I sure did, and he actually did a great job. I’m really proud of my friend; it was the first couple of weeks that he started the show, but, it was an awesome, great show—he’s doing a wonderful job. Full Access: Nice. So, kids have a lot of obstacles growing up. What obstacle did you have and how did you overcome or deal with it? Jon: I think all kids have a lot of obstacles growing up, and I guess probably my biggest obstacle was making sure that I stayed focused and really knew exactly what things were important in my life. Luckily, I
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had the loving help of my parents, which was important to help guide me, especially when it came to wanting to go to school and do well in school… but I think the main thing is to stay focused and just keep it easy, stay cool; stay focused on what you want. Full Access: You have a new song called ‘Your Voice Inside’ which is a really special song to you and your campaign, “Tune In To Hep C,” which is hepatitis C, so could you tell us how that song came about and more about your involvement in the campaign? Jon: Yeah, my song was inspired by my father. He passed away from complications of Hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis C, so I wrote a song about it and have been working with a company called Merck and the American Liver Foundation; together, we’re doing an awareness campaign. The song is part of it, so I’m really excited by the fact that we’re able not only to work together and get this message out, but that at the same time, I can do it with my music. This song is definitely a part of the message and conveys everything that I want it to convey in relation to what the campaign is all about. Full Access: Being with your dad, what did he teach you about you being a dad? Jon: Oh boy, he taught just by being an example. That’s the main thing, he taught me by the love and the support that he always
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gave me. That’s the same thing that I’m trying to do with my children; we always have the example from my parents, that’s something that has always means a lot to me, especially my relationship to my father. Full Access: You have a new duet that you did with Cyndi Lauper called ‘Still I Rise,’ with the words by Dr. Maya Angelou, was that pretty special? Jon: Extremely special, and to be able sing with Cyndi Lauper, who’s such a tremendous artist and of course, such a beautiful, tremendous, powerful lyrics by Dr. Angelou and that means something that’s a lot to me, and was a tremendous opportunity. So, yeah, the song came out great, it’s going to be a part of my new CD that’s coming out by the end of the year, so I’m really excited and the song sounds really, really good. Full Access: Awesome, okay, so touring with Sergio Mendez had to be really cool, what did you learn from him? Did you learn anything special being on tour together? Jon: Well, Sergio Mendez is a musical legend, so he’s again, I feel honored, really to share the stage with him, and it’s wonderful talking to and spending time with everybody who’s a part of his group. It’s been a lot of fun and it’s always great to work with great artists, especially somebody with the history of Sergio Mendez. Full Access: Nice, okay, well what are your upcoming plans and events? Jon: Well, right now, I’m in the middle of finishing up my new CD which will be out by the end of this year, and then I’m also getting ready to do a lot of traveling to Europe and then to Latin America… I’m going to Spain next week promoting my music and a Spanish CD that I did last year, so I’m doing a little bit of everything and staying as busy as I can… but it’s a lot of travel, a lot of travel. Full Access: Nice, well, thank you so much for talking to me.
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Jon Secada is big in so many genres– the soft rock, the latin and spanish, as well as Broadway. Everything he does has been with a style and passion that is timeless.
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Kip Winger is a multi-platinum and multigenre artist. He formed the internationally famous rock band Winger in the late 80s. While still occasionally playing with the old group, he now creates inspired and eclectic solo work ranging from tunes influenced by classic 70s rock to lengthy and complex orchestral pieces. Full Access recently had the opportunity to talk with Winger about his expansive career and current projects. In between writing, Kip Winger tours constantly. He says, “I have a lot of fun doing my acoustic thing. It’s really a blast. Basically I do it for the fun, and it’s great money. I do it for the fans, you know, to stay connected. If you’ve never seen it before, try to come. It’s really a blast.” Winger was raised in a very musical home. His parents were jazz musicians and he played in bands with his brothers for years prior to his commercial success. Being a teenage guy obsessed with music, Winger was a huge fan of Alan Parsons (The Beatles, Pink Floyd). When he was about sixteen, he wrote Parsons and sent in a demo tape. Still in disbelief to this day, Winger proudly said, “He actually wrote me back!” One might consider that correspondence a bit of real-life foreshadowing, because almost thirty years later, Winger received a call from Alan Parsons himself requesting that he sing in his band, the Alan Parsons Project. Winger commented on the experience, saying: “It
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was bizarre… It was a great honor to be able to sing in his band, to sing those songs and be around him.…Every song was a hit. It was amazing. Super nice guy, too.” Kip admits one regret regarding his work with Parsons, “I ended up getting out of it sooner than I should have, because it was a really fun gig. But my schedule was just too conflicted with the amount of gigs he was doing.” Before working with the legendary Alan Parsons, Winger worked with another notable Rock ‘N Roll hero: Alice Cooper. A friend of Winger’s happened to be one of the producers working with Cooper on an album. Winger said, “They needed four songs on the Constrictor album, and I wanted to play on that album. I just said to him, ‘If you go on tour, man, please consider me. So they did. It was a lucky break.” Winger continued to tell Full Access about that time: “I was a waiter before that. I was waiting tables in New York. I had played in bands with my brothers for twelve years. You know, we played clubs and stuff. But I’d never done huge venues. It was instantaneously headline acts. It was good,” he paused, reflected, and then proceeded to say, “It was amazing. I’m very lucky.” Winger recently worked with Alice Cooper again on his newest album, which is a sequel to the original “Welcome to my Nightmare.” It seems Cooper played an instrumental role in Winger’s life in multiple ways, even helping
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him get started with his band and helping him name it. Winger spoke of Cooper’s involvement: “He was always really cool about me going off on my own. Everybody in the organization thought I was nuts because I had a great gig, and the chances of making it in your own band are slim-to-none. He was always really encouraging. He thought “Winger” was a good band name. I never thought it was a good band name; I was a bit bummed out about it actually.” The band’s debut album with Atlantic Records ended up going platinum in the United States after the first six months, and earned gold status in Japan and Canada. Their songs were hits on radio stations and MTV, and had secured places on the charts for the greater part of the late 80s and early 90s. Winger played many shows for the troops, which inspired him to write several songs for the album IV, which delved into the life, heart and soul of the American soldier. He said, “I had talked to the people and I wanted to portray what I heard from them directly into a few songs.” The military honored Winger in a surprise ceremony during which Gen. Harold Cross presented him with a plaque and a flag that had been flown during the war in Iraq. Although Winger is widely known for his work in the world of rock music, his true calling lies in a less-recognized sphere. It began when he was sixteen, with a ballet class. He said: “I was really doing it to be a better performer in a rock band. But I really had a knack for it, so they recruited me into the company (The Colorado Ballet). That’s where I heard a lot of the music—Ravel, Debussy, Stravinsky— that really influenced what I’m doing now. I was just drawn to it, really.” It was the music of the ballet that stirred up a passion and a goal for Winger. He said, “I always knew I was headed to do orchestra music. That was my primary musical goal, it was just a matter of how I was going to get there.”
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Not having enough time to go to school for classical music, Winger sought out the best teachers at those schools and found someone who was willing to teach him privately. He stayed involved with the genre ever since, and recently found success with a piece he composed titled “Ghosts.” He told Full Access, “We had a lot of luck with that. We did it with the San Francisco Ballet for two seasons… The greatest, most fulfilling moment of my life was taking a bow after the ballet premiered in San Francisco.” Winger also has a 20-minute full orchestra piece that he is hoping to get recorded. Aside from his work in classical music, Winger has released various solo albums. He says, “My solo records are really my take on Peter Gabriel and Sting kind of. It doesn’t sound anything like that, but it’s kind of my version of that filter.” He added that there are some jazz elements in the harmony because his parents played jazz. He said, “It’s really just my take on complex pop music... I was really influenced by all of the 70s bands from Jethro Tull to Lynyrd Skynyrd. So a lot of the back log in my library in my inner ear comes from the 70s.” Kip Winger has become remarkably successful in the music industry. From his work with the legends, to creating a multi-platinum rock band, to composing beautifully complex pieces of orchestral music, to being honored for writing songs dedicated to the troops, one could say he is a legend himself. He said, “I’ve basically been able to achieve all of my goals; I’m making new ones now. Some of the stuff I’m doing now, I never thought was possible. I’ve had some really highs and some extreme lows. I’ve learned to take it all in stride because I’ve been very lucky, and I’ve also gotten the shit kicked out of me. It’s kind of all the stuff that makes you who you are.” When Full Access asked Winger what’s next for him, he replied, “I’m just trying to be a better musician. That’s where I’m coming from.”
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by Sandra Wolfson
The trio of Chynna Phillips, Wendy Wilson, and Carnie Wilson, otherwise know as Wilson Phillips entered our hearts and stereos in the 1990's with their debut single, "Hold On" which was an instant #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Here we are in 2012 and this group is still going strong. I had the pleasure of speaking with Carnie Wilson about their upcoming tour and family life. Carnie is very down to earth and struggles with some of the same things we all struggle with and that is.... Not enough hours in a day. Full Access: I understand you guys are very busy with this upcoming tour, what can we expect from this tour? Carnie: Well, it's a 90 minute set. We have plenty of material we're doing, we are doing all of our hits and about three quarters from our new album. Full Access: Your fans will be so happy your doing your older hits as well. Carnie: Oh yeah...Of course! We have a new band... My husband Rob is producing the new album, and we're just so proud of this album. Full Access: During your break from recording with Wilson Phillips you've done quite a bit of reality shows. Whats it like to have a film crew follow you around and take over your home for months at a time?
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Carnie: It's definitely stressful. The actual camera crew being here; everybody's so wonderful and my daughter's love them so much! It’s really fun when they are here, that’s not the stressful part. The stressful part is I feel my personal life goes down the tubes. I love taking my kids to school and picking them up from school, making them lunch everyday. But when i’m working I can’t do that. It’s divided by myself, my husband, and our nanny. Right now, my stress is at an all time high, but i’m taking it one day at a time. I’m very grateful that there are so many wonderful things happening. Full Access: When you're not touring, what do you enjoy doing with your family? Carnie: I would say I treasure being with my daughters, and just doing nothing but hanging out and watching movies with them. My daughter Lola; i’m very active in her school, I bake for them, and I read in the classroom; just normal mommy activities with them. Full Access: That’s so amazing that your able to find the time with all you do. Carnie: It’s definitely multi-tasking for sure, it really is. I’m just trying to keep a balance, a plan, and a structure with my own needs as well. I’m just on a great path food wise. I’m eating really healthy
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and losing weight, and taking better care of myself more. Full Access: You have talked about your issues with your weight. Do you have any advice for anyone who's considering going through with weight loss surgery? Carnie: I really believe there are certain people who are pre-disposed to being obese or morbidly obese, and I speak to them because I fall in that category. I know it's always going to be a struggle for me and what i’m realizing now at almost 44 years old and two children and having been through so much. It's really about having a plan. If I plan my day and pre-plan my food and know it's healthy; I have it in my little tupperware container, I dont have to worry about making bad decisions. I really think we lack that because we don’t have the time with our busy schedules. Full Access: Well, i’m very proud of you. I know how hard it is. Carnie: Weight loss surgery is an individual decision, I believe it can save lives, but if you have the procedure, that does not mean that’s the answer. I really, really try to help people understand that your lifestyle has to change. Full Access: I agree with you 100%. You have a great sense of style and so pretty. Have you ever considered coming out with a clothing line for us full-figured girls? Carnie: Yes I have, but unfortunately 2 ventures fell through, which sucks! One of them was right when the recession hit. I’m definitely interested in fashion. I love women’s bodies; they can be 250 lbs or 150 lbs. I really believe fashion is for everybody. When we put ourselves out there and we like what we are wearing I really think it adds to our confidence. Full Access: I totally agree. I find it’s hard to find nice clothes in the plus size sections.
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Carnie: It’s definitely getting better, but I think that we have this thing where overweight people have to be covered up to their necks, and everything is really conservative and really casual. We can still wear the things other people wear that are at a lesser weight; I just believe style is a very personal thing. Truthfully accessories are huge, you would be surprised how you could spice up an outfit with just some simple accessories and it really makes you look put together. Full Access: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment to date? Carnie: Oh, my children, hands down. No question about it! Full Access: Of course, I thought you might say that! Carnie: I just think the whole thing is beyond an outer body experience. You make love to someone you love, and the baby grows in you. You give birth, and you watch your children grow into great people. And my children are the most loving, funny and such sweet children. I could not be more proud of them or anything in my life. Full Access: Thats so sweet! Carnie: They are my joy! Full Access: Does your daughters show any interest in following in mommy's footsteps musically? Carnie: Lola is a wonderful singer, she gets all the school solo's and i’m just sitting in the crowd with my box of kleenex. She's definitely gifted. Full Access: Carnie, Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today, I really appreciate your time. Carnie: You have a Beautiful Day!
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Imagine Dragons Evolve Interscope Records gggdf by Alex Flood
If success is determined by numbers, then Imagine Dragons are bathing in riches. ‘Night Visions’, their 2012 debut album, has racked up over 7 million worldwide sales to date, while mammoth single ‘Radioactive’ has shifted over 10 million. But despite these stats, they’re still tough to pick out in a crowd. It’s definitely not for a lack of universally minded hits. ‘Evolve’, the band’s third fulllength record in five years, is an ’80s-flecked, power-rock pumping station fit to burst with huge choruses. Lead single ‘Believer’ is a chart-botherer in waiting, while standout track ‘Mouth Of The River’ channels The Killers. But the four-piece’s bravado is often overdone and it all tends to blur into one. It has the effect of a band throwing everything at a wall and seeing what sticks. Occasionally they embrace a darker, more introspective side (doomy opener ‘I Don’t Know Why’; the vibey trip-hop of ‘Dancing In The Dark’), but they’re mostly unwilling to change the format. This latest effort might represent a small progression, but it’s far from an evolution. Vince Staples Big Fish Theory Def Jam Records ggggd by Joe Madden
While it’s a touch reductive to lump them both together, parallels between the careers of Vince Staples and fellow Californian Kendrick Lamar are uncanny and numerous.
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Both have found success despite swimming against the musical flow, performing dense, politically charged lyrics in an era more enamoured with the simplistic sing-song decadence of Migos, Rae Sremmurd and Lil Yachty. Both have cultivated on-record personas that are part bolshy street kid, part world-weary philosopher. Both are astonishingly technically gifted, to the degree that they’re actively evolving the art of MCing. And both have an affinity for rapping over oddball, square-peg beats that sound like nothing else out there. Staples has long operated in Lamar’s shadow. He more than does alright for himself – critical acclaim, decent sales, Gorillaz guest spots – but it’s King Kendrick who’s bagged the Obama endorsement, the album-of-the-year accolades and the reverent fanbase. On Staples’ second album, however, he comes close to drawing level with his West Coast rival. Because ‘Big Fish Theory’ is one of the most ambitious, dazzling hiphop albums of 2017 so far – neck-and-neck with Kendrick’s ‘DAMN.’ Right from fiery opener ‘Crabs In A Bucket’, Staples’ propulsive, hypnotic flow has never sounded stronger. His lyrics, meanwhile, are emotionally calibrated for 2017: antsy, alienated and occasionally overcome with nihilistic despair at the state of the world. And his bleak lyrical brilliance is perfectly matched by ‘Big Fish Theory’’s experimental production. He’s always had a taste for harsh electronic funk, and he embraces that creative urge more eagerly than ever. There’s slo-mo techno, dystopian G-funk, field recordings, growling industrialism; abstract, icy grooves more indebted to Berlin than Atlanta. “We making future music,” announced Staples in the run-up to ‘Big Fish Theory’’s release. “This is my Afro-futurism.”
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Whatever this is, it’s jaw-dropping. Over to you, Kendrick. Sza Ctrl Top Dawg Records ggggz by Jamie Milton
Debut albums will often claim to be fullyformed statements of intent, or the sound of growing pains and self-discovery. SZA’s ‘Ctrl’ is neither of these. That might be because she’s been introduced a couple of times before – on misty-eyed self-released tapes ‘See.SZA.Run’ (2012) and ’S’ (2013), and then again on album-length EP ‘Z’, which announced her as Top Dawg Entertainment’s first female signing, sharing the spotlight with Isaiah Rashad and one Kendrick Lamar. Oh, and she also starred with Rihanna on last year’s ‘Consideration.’ ‘Ctrl’ skips the friendly hello and dives straight into SZA’s world. Across 45 minutes, she breathlessly leaps between genres, and laments on tired and broken relationships in a stream-of-consciousness style that fans of Frank Ocean’s ‘Blonde’ will adore. For anyone completely new to the 26-yearold (whose moniker stands for “Self-savior, Zig-zag-zig, Allah”), it won’t take long to feel familiar. Opener ‘Supermodel’ is a real-life break-up letter translated into song. “Let me tell you a secret,” she begins, “I been secretly banging your homeboy. Why you in Vegas all up on Valentine’s Day? Why am I so easy to forget like that?” None of this is fiction. In a 2014 interview with The Breakfast Club, SZA revealed she got a call from one of her boyfriend’s friends, who let slip he’d had an orgy in Vegas. She instantly got her revenge, and then she wrote about it. SZA isn’t afraid to include all the gory details. She’s similarly at ease with exploring her own strengths and perceived
shortcomings. ‘Normal Girl’ is all bedroom bravado, but she admits she wants to be “the type of girl you take over to mama.” And ‘Broken Clocks’ is a time-stopping story of her time working in a strip club, and the sudden epiphany she had when realising she wanted to make music. Best of all is how loosely these stark portrayals thread together. Standout ’Prom’ is an out-and-out pop triumph, built from The Police-like muted guitars and teen angst. It’s surrounded by the sluggish R&B stylings of ‘Drew Barrymore’ and ‘The Weekend’’s glossy introspection. But somehow nothing sounds out of place. ‘Ctrl’’s strength is how it doesn’t strive to be one thing over the other. It effortlessly winds between narratives and genres like it’s child’s play. This isn’t a star in the making, it’s a fully-fledged talent who’s practically showing off. Halsey Hopeless Fountain Kingdom Astralwerks Records ggggz by Rhian Daly
Halsey’s 2015 debut ‘Badlands’ made her a cult popstar. ‘Closer’ made her a household name. ‘Closer’ has a trace of blandness Halsey stampedes past when working on her own. ‘Hopeless Fountain Kingdom’ gets by on a universal quality, but there’s a personal touch you don’t find on everyday pop full-lengths. It’s a break-up album, placed in the context of a Romeo And Juliet-inspired world. The record even begins with the prologue to the Shakespearean tragedy, while the video for ‘Now Or Never’ is like her own take on Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 1996 film. The only time a guest threatens to overshadow her is on ‘Eyes Closed,’ co-written by The Weeknd. But it’s far from the best song on the record, proving Halsey’s fast moving from cult hero to global superstar.
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Lauv
JUNE
The Pike Room, Pontaic
urban Cone & Nightly
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
Neil Diamond
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
Loser
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
VhS Collection Live
The Pike Room, Pontaic
Morbid Angel
The Crofoot, Pontaic
Jackyl
St. Andrew’s Hall Shelter, Detroit
Flogging Molly
The Fillmore, Detroit
Mike Stud
St. Andrew’s Hall Shelter, Detroit
Mr. Big
The Token Lounge, Westland
hot Mulligan
The Pike Room, Pontaic
LP
St. Andrew’s Hall Shelter, Detroit
Aaron Carter
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
Five Becomes West
The Token Lounge, Westland
Royal Blood
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
September Mourning
The Token Lounge, Westland
icon For hire
The Pike Room, Pontaic
hail the Sun
The Loving Touch, Ferndale
Russ
The Fillmore, Detroit
Chon & tera Melos
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
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the Wailers
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
Saliva
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
Cammie Lee
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
taylor Caniff
The Crofoot, Pontaic
Rattlehead & Dugout Boys
The Token Lounge, Westland
Bone thugs N harmony
The Fillmore, Detroit
Crampton Bros
The Token Lounge, Westland
W. Kamau Bell
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
otep & the Convalescence
The Token Lounge, Westland
Barns Courtney
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
otherwise
Machine Shop, Flint
Adrenaline Mob
Machine Shop, Flint
MisterWives
The Crofoot, Pontaic
Fates Warning
The Token Lounge, Westland
the Creepshow & the Brains
Magic Stick, Detroit
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icy/Dicey
Machine Shop, Flint
311 & New Politics
The Fillmore, Detroit
Bleachers
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
train, o.A.R. & Natasha Bedingfield
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
hey Violet, Noah Cyrus, Niall horan & Jon Bellion
MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill Full Access Detroit
Eagles of Death Metal
The El Club, Detroit
the Well
Corktown Tavern, Detroit
R5 & hailey Knox
St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
Carsie Blanton
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Missy May i & upon A Burning Body
Magic Stick, Detroit
the Church
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Will Downing
Chene Park, Detroit
Enrique iglesias & Pitbull
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
New Kids on the Block, Boyz ii Men & Paula Abdul
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
i Set My Friends on Fire & the Dead Rabbitts The Pike Room, Pontaic
Daniel Romano
The El Club, Detroit
Marshall Crenshaw
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Lady Antebellum,R ussell Dickerson, Brett young, Kristian Bush, trent harmon & Kelsea Ballerini DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
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JULY
Steve Miller Band
MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
Daniel Skye
St. Andrew’s Hall Shelter, Detroit
Rooney
The Pike Room, Pontaic
Eddie trunk & L.A. guns
Harpos Concert Theatre, Detroit
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Japanese Breakfast
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The Ark, Ann Arbor
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Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie
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Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
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The El Club, Detroit
Joseph Arthur Alessia Cara
Caesars Windsor, Windsor Fox Theatre, Detroit
Dispatch
the Deslondes
The Pike Room, Pontaic
Cobi
St. Andrew’s Hall Shelter, Detroit
hank Williams Jr & Parmalee MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
Ratboys
The Pike Room, Pontaic
Megadeth
Caesars Windsor, Windsor
Parsonsfield
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The Ark, Ann Arbor
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third Eye Blind & Silversun Pickups
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Slightly Stoopid
The Fillmore, Detroit
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
the Robert Cray Band MGM Grand, Detroit
yo gotti & Meek Mill
MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
tony! toni! tone! & Dru hill MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
MK & Walker and Royce Magic Stick, Detroit
MattyB & haschak Sisters The Majestic Theatre, Detroit Now, Now The Pike Room, Pontaic
Jonny Lang & Buddy guy
Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
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Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Bob Dylan & Lukas Nelson Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
Natalie grant, MercyMe & Jeremy Camp
Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
Bettye LaVette
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Boston & Joan Jett
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
Behold the Brave
The Pike Room, Pontaic
Jimmy Buffett
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
Squirrel Nut Zippers The Ark, Ann Arbor
Michael McDonald & Boz Skaggs
MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold & Volbeat Comerica Park, Detroit
Josh Ritter
The Ark, Ann Arbor
the Color Morale
St. Andrew’s Hall Shelter, Detroit
Dawn Richard
The El Club, Detroit
Kenny Rogers & Linda Davis Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
CeCe Winans
Sound Board, Detroit
Rik Emmett
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The Magic Bag, Ferndale
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Doobie Brothers & Chicago
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The Ark, Ann Arbor
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AFi
The Fillmore, Detroit
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
Junior Brown
tom Petty & heartbreakers DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
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Violent Femmes
Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
oneRepublic & Fitz and the tantrums
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
All time Low & SWMRS
Royal Oak Theatre, Royal Oak
huey Lewis & the News
Caesars Windsor, Windsor
Primus & Clutch
MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
queen & Adam Lambert
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
Jim gaffigan
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
Van’s Warped tour
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
Vince Neil & great White
Chene Park, Detroit
J. Cole
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
tedeschi trucks Band
Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
the temptations & the Four tops
MI Lottery Theater, Freedom Hill
incubus & Jimmy Eat World
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
Amos Lee & Lake Street Dive
Meadow Brook Amp., Rochester
Styx, REo Speedwagon & Don Felder
DTE Energy Theatre, Clarkston
Dashboard Confessional & All American Rejects
The Fillmore, Detroit
Kendrick Lamar & travis Scott
Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
highly Suspect
Royal Oak Theatre, Royal Oak
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