November 2011
The Washtenaw County Events and Entertainment Monthly
The Juliets Fitz and The Tantrums 2011 Awesome Awards
Lupe Fiasco
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contents
NOVEMBER
[the buzz] 06 07
Joan Baez, Russell Brand, The Civil Wars Manchester Orchestra, Bob Seger, Paul Simon
[scene]
08 Lupe Fiasco 09 Chrome Sparks 10 Envolve Clothing
[features] 14 16 22
The Juliets
2011 Awesome Awards
Envolve Clothing + pg 10
Fitz and the Tantrums
[foodie] 11 13
Adventures in Local Food #11
2011 Awesome Awards + pg 16
Chop House
[around you] 18
October Events Calendar
[review] 26 28
Rate it! - Sounds Rate it! - The Cut
[depot town rag] 33
New Look for Old Depot Town
+Cover and pg. 8 phtoto by: Andrew Zaeh PUBLISHER + tim adkins
EDITORIAL +
[editor in chief] amanda slater [writers] amanda slater, tim adkins, stefanie stauffer, paul kitti, tom dodd, marissa mcnees, aimee mandle, joshua trent, mary simkins, david nassar, ian cruz
ART +
[designers] tim adkins, ashley strauss, gwen landrum, jennifer oliphant [photographers] bruno postigo, kristin slater
SALES +
tim adkins / tim@pakmode.com [business development] bilal saeed/bilal@pakmode.com
facebook.com/ispymagazine
@ispymagazine
The Juliets + pg 14
Fitz and the Tantrums + pg 22
iSPY + The Washtenaw County Events and Entertainment Guide Pakmode Media + Marketing 124 Pearl st. Suite 407, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Office: 734.484.0349 Fax: 734.484.0349
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Š 2011, iSPY. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part granted only by written permission of Pakmode Media + Marketing in accordance with our legal statement. iSPY is free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. For additional copies you must be granted written permission, with a possible associated cost.
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THE BUZZ //
Russell Brand // EMU Convocation Center / Nov. 16 BY AMANDA SLATER
In many ways, Joan Baez is a legend. Known as the “queen of folk,” not only has she been a notable singer-songwriter for over 50 years, but she is also a prominent human rights, peace and environmental justice activist. In addition to creating her own work, Baez is famous for recording songs by artists like the Beatles, Paul Simon, The Allman Brothers Band and, of course, Bob Dylan. Baez and Dylan were romantically involved in the early sixties, and since Baez achieved her fame prior to Dylan’s breakthrough, she was responsible for introducing Dylan for the first time to several of her audiences. (The two continued to tour and work together in the future.) On November 1, Ann Arbor will welcome Baez to the Michigan Theater’s stage, and attendees will get a chance to witness the queen of folk’s live performance firsthand at 7:30 p.m. at the Michigan Theater. Tickets start at $27 and are available at ticketmaster.com.
Joan Baez // Michigan Theater / Nov. 1
Russell Brand got his start as a stand-up comedian in Britain and is known for his inappropriate and out of control flare. In 2000, he was a video journalist on MTV, where he was fired for coming to work dressed as Osama bin Laden the day after the September 11 attacks and for bringing his drug dealer to work. He moved from his MTV hosting gig to a series of other shows, returning in 2006 as the presenter of 1 Leicester Square. Notorious for his former heroin, alcohol and sex addictions, as well as numerous run-ins with the police, Brand has been on the straight and narrow for some time now. In 2008, he starred in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which catapulted him to fame in the U.S. Since then, he hosted the MTV Video Music Awards in 2008 and 2009 and starred in “Get Him to the Greek.” Now, he is perhaps more famous for being married to Katy Perry, who he met at the 2009 VMAs and married in October 2010. Don’t miss the chance to see Brand perform live at EMU’s Convocation Center on November 16. Tickets start at $23 and can be purchased at emich.edu/convocation.
BY AMANDA SLATER
Civil Wars // Michigan Theater / Nov. 2
BY AMANDA SLATER
6
Singer-songwriters Joy Williams and John Paul White met during a songwriting session at a Nashville studio in 2008. Soon after, they were performing together and causing a stir in the music scene. Their second live performance at Eddie’s Attic in Georgia in April 2009 was recorded and released as a free internet download, which has now been downloaded over 300,000 times. Later that year, their song “Poison & Wine” was featured on “Grey’s Anatomy.” By December of 2010, Paste Magazine had selected the duo as the “Best of What’s Next,” and in January 2011 they performed their first single “Barton Hallow” on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno – and this was all before they had released a full length studio album. On February 1, 2011, their debut studio album, “Barton Hallow” was released, selling 25,000 copies in its first week. Since then, VH1 has named The Civil Wars as artists “You Oughta Know.” They were nominated for a CMT Award for their “Barton Hollow” video in April 2011 and in May 2011 were asked to open for Adele for the fist six shows of her North American album release tour. Now, Ann Arbor will get a chance to check out this critically acclaimed duo at 7:30 p.m. on November 2 at the Michigan Theater. Tickets start at $20. But hurry – they will sell out fast.
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Manchester Orchestra // Clutch Cargos / Nov. 8 BY IAN CRUZ Manchester Orchestra shouldn’t go without notice for readers who enjoy the likes of bands and past tour mates Brand New, Kevin Devine and Thrice. Within the past decade, front man Andy Hull has been writing and recording music by himself – and later with members of the five-piece outfit. Having already put out three records, the first being their breakout album, “I’m like a Virgin Losing a Child,” they are now currently on tour in support of their follow up album to 2009’s “Mean Everything to Nothing,” 2011’s “Simple Math” – which has garnered a good deal of critical acclaim. This month, Manchester will be
making their way back to the mitten on November 8th with White Denim and The Dear Hunter at Clutch Cargos. As for Andy Hull’s own side project, Right Away, Great Captain!, the third installment for the concept album’s shipwrecked first mate’s account of his voyage through a great storm will see the light of day sometime this year. The first two albums in the series, “The Bitter End” and “The Eventual Home,” have both gained Hull a degree as a rocker and a fine folk guitar artist. Come see Hull and the rest of the crew live on November 8 at Clutch Cargos in Pontiac. Tickets are $16 in advance and $19 at the door.
// THE BUZZ
Paul Simon // Fox Theater / Nov. 18
BY DAVID NASSAR
Bob Seger // EMU Convocation Center / Nov. 2 BY TIM ADKINS
To kick off the second leg of their 2011 North American tour, Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band will be bringing their “Night Moves” to Ypsilanti at the EMU Convocation Center on Wednesday, November 16. If you were lucky enough to get a ticket, you can expect to hear classics like “Old Time Rock and Roll” and “Hollywood Nights” along with hits from their recent re-release of the multi-platinum “Live Bullet” and “Nine Tonight” concert albums. Seeing Seger live is one of those bucket list items that seem to only come around once in a lifetime. Luckily for us locally, they’ve played in Toledo, Detroit and now Ypsi. So if you missed it the first time around, I recommend you beg, borrow or steal your way into seeing this show.
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When it comes to Paul Simon, what can you say about the man that hasn’t been said before? The legendary singer / songwriter and former member of Simon and Garfunkel released his twelfth studio album this spring, the critically acclaimed “So Beautiful or So What,” and he will be following it up this October with the much anticipated, “Songwriter,” an anthology of cuts hand-picked by Simon himself, spanning a career that has lasted nearly a half-century. In support of both albums, Simon will be playing what is sure to be an intimate and diverse show at Detroit’s Fox Theater on Friday, November 18. It will be a night of beautiful songs played in one of the most beautiful venues around and is sure to warm things up as the cold November nights start rolling in. The show begins at 8 p.m., and tickets are still available starting at $95.
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SCENE //
Lupe Fiasco
Hit the lights The show goes on at EMU
Hip hop’s Lupe Fiasco has grown a legion of underground fans that are ready to start an uprising. This uprising continues when the Generation LASER tour hits the EMU Convocation Center on Saturday, November 5. Lupe Fiasco is fresh off the release of “L.A.S.E.R.S.,” a critically acclaimed album that needed a push to see the light of day. Fiasco got his first big break in 2004 when he signed with Atlantic Records. There he got the chance to work with Jay-Z and Kanye West while recording his 2006 debut album, “Food & Liquor”—which, along with his first single (“Kick Push”), earned him three Grammy nominations. His unique sound and intriguing lyrics continued on his next release, 2007’s “The Cool.” This album solidified his reputation as a MC with the ability to shock listeners while making them think, laugh and dance – all without relying on vulgarity or standard hip-hop themes. And the debut track “Superstar” quickly shot up to the number ten position on Billboard’s Hot 100. Fiasco has been quiet for the past four years while creating his latest work of art. Before the release of L.A.S.E.R.S., his fans grew strong and tired of waiting for new material. Over 32,000 fans signed a petition to demand the release of the album by Atlantic Records. When that wasn’t enough, several hundred of these rabid fans gathered in front of the New York City Atlantic Records offices on October 15, 2010. These demands led to the release of “L.A.S.E.R.S.” on March 8, 2011. Fiasco’s music and new hit singles “The Show Goes On,” “Words I Never Said” and “Never Forget You” proves that Lupe has the ability to inspire. Now Pakmode Media + Marketing, along with Prime Social Group, is bringing Lupe to Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center for the Generation LASER tour on Saturday, November 5. Tickets are on sale now and are available online at www.emutix.com and by phone at 734-487-2282.
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// SCENE
Chrome Sparks Spreading the <3 BY IAN CRUZ
Jeremy Malvin was once just a student who goes to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Well, actually, he still is. But now he is also a techno DJ known as Chrome Sparks. Chrome Sparks is a techno / indie artist whose beats are soft – but simultaneously a bit heavy and passionate. Almost like you could literally get intimate with the music itself. During our conversation, Malvin hinted at his next project, saying that he was about to record vocals for a friend’s imminent EP (which, by his projections should have been released by the time you read this article). But as of right now, Chrome Sparks has released a remix album and one full-length album entitled “My <3,” which Malvin jokingly said in a Facebook post is called his “Less than 3.” “I just kept frequently putting [<3] in text messages to friends and family …People I love,” Malvin said. “I guess the album kind
of reflected that. The ‘<3’ easily said that for me.” I asked him if he ever thought he gave out too much love. He paused. “I don’t know if that’s possible,” he began. “Maybe if you over-saturated the ‘love market.’” Chrome Sparks will be playing on November 5 at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor – except this time as a five-piece, during which Malvin says he will be playing drums and singing. “This band is something I already assembled, and we’re doing a tour to CMJ. So, we’re playing a bunch of shows in the middle of October,” Malvin said, as he described the various instruments used for the new lineup – including a giant midikeyboard that is played with mallets instead of fingers. Either way, when Chrome Sparks and Co. comes back to the Blind Pig on November 5, audience members will be in for a treat.
The Civil Wars November 2
www.TheArk.org
Michigan Theater
Tickets at the Michigan Union Ticket Office 734-763-85879
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SCENE //
Envolve Clothing Get envolved, one shirt at a time. BY PAUL KITTI
Born from the idea that people should have the option to purchase eco-friendly clothing, Envolve Clothing of Ann Arbor has had an impressive start in realizing that vision. Founded earlier this year by three friends who share a passion for the environment, the company has already established itself in the area as a pioneering force in environmentallyconscious fashion. “We were kicking around ideas of starting a company when we finally sat down and put all of our ideas on the table,” recalls co-founder David Saltsman. “Drawing influences from the Ann Arbor community, we knew that tailoring our idea around being sustainable and green was the way to go to make not only an impact in our local environment, but to hatch an idea that could take root in communities across America.” Envolve Clothing offers shirts made from organic cotton, bamboo and hemp fabrics – ensuring that customers who support the environment will be extremely comfortable doing so. The shirt designs are simple and appealing – the most popular design sporting a print of the state of Michigan surrounded by the Great Lakes. Envolve also offers hoodies, tote bags and beanies, all subject to a completely green production process. “You can choose to buy clothing that reduces its impact on the environment or you can buy clothing that makes little or no effort to protect our most precious resource,” says co-founder Patrick Hayes.
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“We want to make that decision easier by providing an eco-friendly alternative when it comes to clothing.” The company’s website defines the word “envolve” as “to engage oneself, and/or peers, in the maintenance and restoration of the environment.” In an effort to further pursue that mission, the company’s founders also created Project Envolution, an organization that supports environmentallyconscious service projects by means of funding, promoting, networking and volunteering. Twenty percent of every clothing purchase is donated directly to Project Envolution. In this way, Envolve Clothing is a gateway to something bigger, and its success is an indicator of the community’s commitment to a green future. “Somewhere down the road we believe that ecofriendly clothing will become the norm and preferred material for apparel,” says co-founder Casey Irelan. “When will this happen? Hopefully sooner than later – the environment is a limited resource. Every time we make the choice as a consumer to support the environment, that’s a win in our eyes.” You can purchase clothing and watch for the new Spring 2012 line at envolveclothing.com. If you would like information about environmentallyfocused, non-profit service projects in the area, visit projectenv.org.
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// FOODIE
adventures in local food #11 Occupy the Seasons ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY STEFANIE T. STAUFFER
Now that the leaves are changing color and fall is officially upon us, you may think that the growing season here in Michigan has drawn to a close. Fresh tomatoes have been replaced by kale and pumpkins at local grocers, people are turning their attention to cider mills and haunted houses, and here in Ypsi, the farmer’s markets are just about over for the season. In reality, though, fall and winter crops are just hitting their stride (pretty lucky for me since I love radishes!) and soon the winter edition of the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer’s Market will be hitting the Corner Brewery twice a month in November and December. So, not only is the local growing season not over for us, but certain vegetables like spinach, broccoli, pac choi and other members of the cabbage family actually taste better in the cold weather. In fact, the collards and kale I’ve harvested out of the snow have been some of the sweetest greens I’ve ever eaten. Ironically, the farmers I worked with at the Watts Healthy Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles in 2009 wouldn’t believe me when I told them that certain vegetables would grow under such conditions (i.e. outside in the snow) AND be delicious. That is, at least until they saw my photos... The misconception that year-round growing can only happen in California, Florida or other warmer climates overseas is actually pretty widespread. The question I always get when I’m abroad or out of state describing my work as an urban farmer, sociologist and local food activist here in Michigan is, “How do you grow food during a cold Michigan winter?” or “Isn’t it too cold there to grow food?”. Perhaps this question is motivated by the near monopoly California and Florida agriculture has in our industrial food system or perhaps by the trend of agribusiness corporations outsourcing production to the Global South where climates are warmer and wages are lower. Or, perhaps it’s simply another residue of many people having no idea where their food comes from or how it is grown. I guess they’ve also never heard of Siberian or Red Russian Kale. Regardless of the reasoning, though, the point remains that most people think that once October hits, there’s no more local food until the spring.
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Au contraire, mes amis! We’re just getting started! Urban farmers and gardeners alike are now busy with their cold weather crops and also with planting garlic, tulips and other plants traditionally sown in the fall. But that’s not all. This is also the time of year when we start hearing the words cold frame, row cover, low tunnel, high tunnel, passive solar hoophouse, window farming, indoor growing operation (of food!) and greenhouse. Aside from seasonal vegetables like kale that love the cold, there are many methods that people around Michigan and other northern climates around the world use to extend the growing season of plants less enthusiastic about the approach of cold weather. Utilizing that technology, farmers right here in Michigan can now grow food 48 weeks out of the year! But, what on earth is a cold frame, you ask? A hoophouse? There’s not the space here to fully describe all these technologies, but a cold frame is basically a raised bed garden with a slanted window top (great for growing lettuces, carrots, etc.), while a hoophouse is basically a plasticsided temporary greenhouse structure where you grow food in the ground instead of in pots on shelves. Both structures are totally solar-powered, not heated, and often made using reclaimed, sustainable materials. For example, in our cold frame we used an old storm window – and I’ve seen hoop structures using everything from repurposed plastic bottles to old tires and scrap
wood. The USDA has also begun to fund the construction of hoophouses to help local growers extend their season, which encouraged the Michigan Farmer’s Market Association (MIFMA) to partner with Michigan State University to build hoophouses for farmers who will pay back the cost of installation through selling produce to folks on food assistance. Ann Arbor’s SELMA cafe also offers a more for-profit hoop installation program linked to the Tillian Farm project. And I just gave a tour of Frog Island Community Garden to Michigan Engineering students who are working on a project with Growing Hope to develop prototypes for season extension tech designed specifically for raised bed gardens. If you want to learn more about season extension technology, the best source is acclaimed farmer Eliott Coleman: http://www.fourseasonfarm.com/ books/index.html. And here’s some greenhouses made using reclaimed sustainable materials: http://www. ecofriend.com/entry/8-greenhouses-made-usingsustainable-materials/. Lastly, the Winter Downtown Ypsi Farmer’s Market will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. on November 8 and 22 and December 13 and 20 (all Tuesdays) at the Corner Brewery. I will be have some very special Nightshade Industries sauces on offer, so I hope to see your smiling faces there. As always: Ypsi-Grown! Ypsi-Made!
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THE DISH // FOODIE
The Chophouse BY AMANDA SLATER
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There is no denying that the Chophouse of Ann Arbor is one of the finest restaurants in the state. As the winner of Main Street Ventures’ President’s Award, The Chop House boasts the finest Midwestern grainfed USDA prime beef, a world-class wine list and impeccable service in a refined, elegant setting – and that setting is about to get a facelift, as Ann Arbor’s Chop House will soon be undergoing a remodeling project (set to be unveiled on Friday, February 11). Appetizers range from oysters on the half shell to fried calamari, and entrees include dishes like filet mignon, organic chicken, venison, swordfish and tuna. Although the Chop House’s offerings come along with a fine dining price, those who have eaten there know that the food and the experience is worth every cent. However, even the Chop House offers deals for the budget-conscious consumer – such as the restaurant’s daily happy hour that features $5 martinis and special pricing on house wines (from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.) and birthday special that offers patrons who visit the Chop House on their birthday with one or more guests a free birthday meal. Now, that’s something we can all raise a glass to.
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FEATURE //
“If you’re a good musician who can write good songs and you’re angry with the term ‘pop,’ instead of shying away from it, you should try to take it back.”
The Juliets’ Perfect Season
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BY DAVID NASSAR PHOTOS BY KYLE LAMERE
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// FEATURE
Punk, Pop and Cellos Jeremy Freer of The Juliets talks about “Perfect Season,” the band’s harder-edged new album, the upcoming release party at Woodruff’s and reclaiming what it means to be pop. While bands with deep roots in punk, classic rock and blues music may seem old-hat, few bands are doing it like The Juliets. The Juliets combine the traditional rock arrangements of a hard-driving rhythm section, add punk-infused violin and cello and wrap it all around melodic pop hooks. It may seem like a recipe for disaster, but the band that refers to their sound as “baroque with backbone” is somehow able to pull it off and combine it all on a record that is hauntingly beautiful and decidedly pop. I had a chance to sit down with lead singer / guitarist / pianist, Jeremy Freer, to discuss the band’s new album, their evolving sound and upcoming plans to share the stage with local acts Lightning Love, Bear Lake and House Phone at their November 5 record release party at Woodruff’s in Depot Town. Since their self-titled debut album in was released in early 2010 as a trio with Freer, Kaylan Mitchell on cello and Sarah Myers on violin (a temporary rhythm section was brought in for the album), The Juliets have grown into a permanent lineup that includes Ashton Hopkins on bass and Jaclyn Phillips on drums. And, while the songs on their first record were originally arranged as a trio, bringing a rhythm section into the mix from the beginning for their latest release, “Perfect Season,” has resulted in a decidedly harder sound. As Freer suggests, “It’s more in your face. Turning up the guitar and drums was a conscious decision. There are some bigger and rawer moments on this record than you hear on the first one, and we wanted it that way.” But that’s not the only thing that has changed on their sophomore effort. Reflecting on the contribu-
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tions of the classically trained Mitchell and Myers, Freer says, “There are a lot of other rock bands who use strings, like Arcade Fire, which I like, but I don’t really hear the strings very prominently. We wanted to find a way to make aggressive music with strings, and luckily Kaylan and Sarah were up for it.” The band recorded “Perfect Season” at Tempermill Studios in Ferndale, MI with legendary engineer (and co-producer of the album), David Feeny, who has worked with the likes of The White Stripes, Loretta Lynn, G-Love and Special Sauce and Goober & The Peas – just to name a few. “I’ve always wanted to work with Dave, so when we were looking for a studio, he was the first person that came to mind. He was absolutely amazing to work with,” says Freer. The cover art for the new album features an ornate, retro-looking, vaudeville-esque theater designed by Brian Lawson. “I don’t know exactly how he put it all together,” admits Freer, “but it reminds me of a Rolling Stones’ cover, which is perfect for us because this feels like a more raw rock n’ roll record. And I’m a huge Stones fan, so I absolutely loved it when he showed it to us!” While the songs on “Perfect Season” are certainly diverse, ranging from the hipster-rock, Strokeslike pop songs of “Loon” and “Heart In Heart,” to the classically arranged ballads (and I mean Brahms- and Beethoven-classical) “Hey Stars” and “The Lost Memory,” the band has no fear of being labeled with the dreaded p-word. “When I think of pop music, I think of Motown before I think of Brittany Spears or Ke$ha,” says Freer. “Pop music has always encompassed a lot of different things, and we’re kind of a schizophrenic band, so that works for us.” Further, Freer asserts that, “If you’re a good musician who can write good songs and you’re angry with the term pop, instead of shying away from it, you should try to take it back.”
While The Juliets may still be a very local band, they’ve recently enjoyed some rather high-profile PR. In addition to playing a morning spot on the Fox 2 News to promote MI Fest, a gig that they ended up getting dropped from last-minute along with a number of other Michigan bands, The Juliets first single off of “Perfect Season,” “Loon,” has been featured in the popular “Imported From Detroit” line of Chrysler commercials. In describing how the partnership came about, Freer says, “Someone from the organization started coming to the shows, became a fan and just started spreading it around the company.” Freer adds that, “The people we worked with were really genuine and just really loved the music. They even offered to take the extra footage and cut a video for us (available on YouTube). We really enjoyed working with them.” In order to promote the new album and have fun doing it, The Juliets will be holding a record release party November 5 at Woodruff’s in Depot Town. “I’ve known Andy (Garris) for a while, and it’s kind of like home for us,” says Freer about choosing Woodruff’s. “We wanted it to be somewhere that would be really comfortable for us.” Joining them that night will be local bands Lightning Love, Bear Lake and House Phone. “We like playing with diverse bands, and all these bands are really great. It should be a really fun night.” In addition to a live show, Freer tells me that everybody who pays a $5 cover that night will also get a CD copy of “Perfect Season.” Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. If you can’t make it to the release party, you can also download a copy of “Perfect Season” at TheJuliets.bandcamp.com, on iTunes or at your local independent record store. You can also catch them playing with Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas and Bear Lake on December 2 at The Magic Stick in Detroit.
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FEATURE // AWESOME AWARDS
2011 Awesome Awards We asked our Facebook fans to let us know who and what are the best in Washtenaw County. You voted for your favorites and we’ve dubbed them the “Most Awesome” for 2011. Congratualtions to all of our winners and a very big thank you to all who voted.
Fan Picks
Salon/Place to get a haircut: Eleven West Music Store (Instrument): Dennis’s Music Record Store: Encore Records Bike Shop: Ypsilanti Cycle Apartment Community: Peninsular Place Party Store: Tom’s Art Gallery: Ann Arbor Art Center Burger: Sidetrack
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Burrito: Big Ten Burrito Vintage / Thrift Store: The Getup Vegetarian Restaurant: Seva Park: Riverside Park Theater: Michigan Theater Sports Bar/Place to Watch the Game: Buffalo Wild Wings Tattoo Shop: Depot Town Tattoo Coffee Shop: The Ugly Mug
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AWESOME AWARDS // FEATURE
Most Awesome Non-Profit: SOS Community Services
Most Awesome Breakfast: Beezy’s Café
By Mary Simkins Every time I walk into Beezy’s Café in downtown Ypsilanti, my mouth starts watering as a waft of delicious smells welcomes me inside. Despite its recent expansion, the place always seems packed to the brim, yet the atmosphere is excited and friendly – never stressed or impatient. Waiting in line, I’ll look over the menu, and by the time a staff member comes to get my order, I’ll have changed my mind at least three times. At the counter at Beezy’s, the cashier asks your name, what you do and how your day is going. It’s things like these that make it so that Beezy’s more than earns its role as the neighborhood’s favorite breakfast spot. Without the friendly atmosphere and bistro-chic interior, Beezy’s would still be holding its own in the Awesomeness Competition, with a menu that is beyond criticism. As long as they have imaginative (and often vegan-friendly) soups made fresh daily, sandwiches on freshly baked bread and a breakfast chorizo burrito that will make your morning, Ypsilanti will keep lining up for that simple, honest food. But it’s the staff and atmosphere that makes it a community fixture. Located at 20 N. Washington Street in Ypsilanti, Beezy’s is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with breakfast served until 2 p.m. every day. Find out more about Beezy’s by visiting www.beezyscafe.com or by liking them on Facebook.
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By David Nassar Originally founded by students and faculty of Eastern Michigan University in 1970 to provide crisis support for Washtenaw County residents struggling with addiction, SOS Community Services has since moved off campus and refocused its efforts on supporting families struggling with housing hardships that may result in homelessness. SOS is dedicated to ending homelessness in Washtenaw County through partnerships with caring individuals, local businesses and organizations, service agencies and professionals. While the impact that SOS has had in Washtenaw County for the past 41 years has
been remarkable (helping more than 4,700 people annually move fromhomelessness to self-sufficiencyand permanent housing), it has been made possible through the continued efforts and support of local community partnerships. In addition to offering housing services, SOS’s Food Pantry distributes free food every Tuesday in an effort to ensure that parents never have to choose between feeding their children and keeping them housed. SOS Community Services is located at 114 North River in Ypsilanti. For more information on services, donations or volunteering, please visit SOSCS.org.
Most Awesome Venue: The Ark By Ian Cruz With 400 seats and live music nearly every night of the year, the Ark is hands down one of the most notable places to see a good show in Washtenaw. Known for its intimate environment and commitment to supporting great music, The Ark is a non-profit organization that is “dedicated to the presentation, preservation and encouragement of folk, roots and ethnic music and related arts,” according to the venue’s website. However, the fact that The Ark has been in existence since its
beginnings in 1965 attests to the fact that the community has already voted The Ark as the most awesome venue – since to “stay afloat,” as they say, The Ark is solely supported by its current members and donations . A variety of musicians have graced The Ark’s stage, including The Verve Pipe, Appleseed Collective and Johnny Winter – many of whom have grown to love it so much that they have returned time and time again, as do those who have had the opportunity to be in the audience for an Ark show. For more information on The Ark or to donate, visit www.theark.org
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CALENDAR // AROUND YOU
/
2011
BY AMANDA SLATER
[
[
october
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Chris Bathgate, 10 p.m.,
Stephanie Mills, 8 p.m.,
Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti The RFD Boys, 8 p.m., The
Sound Board at MotorCity
Ark, Ann Arbor Global Dub Festival, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre
Casino Hotel, Detroit Keller Williams, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor SIRSY, 8 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti May Erlewine & Seth
Third Annual Halloween
Hayes Carll & Caitlin Rose,
Band Masquerade, 9:30
7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann
Indigo Girls, 7 p.m., The
Bernard, 8 p.m., The Ark,
p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Discolanti, 10 p.m.,
Arbor Gym Class Heroes, 6:30
Fillmore, Detroit Lupe Fiasco, 8 p.m.,
Ann Arbor The Musical Box, 8 p.m.,
Stick, Detroit John Francis, 8 p.m., The
Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti The Verve Pipe, 8 p.m., The
p.m., Royal Oak Music
Convocation Center,
Royal Oak Music Theatre
Theatre
Ark, Ann Arbor
Ark, Ann Arbor SPSC’s Boo Bash featuring
Ypsilanti Chrome Sparks, 9:30 p.m.,
M U S IC 10/25 Murs, 7:30 p.m., Magic
10/26 Thrice, 6 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Hunter Hayes, 6:30 p.m., Clutch Cargo’s, Pontiac Lydia, 6:30 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Stepdad, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Tim O-Brien & Bryan Sutton, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Tedeschi Trucks Band, 7:30 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre 10/27 Frank Turner, 7 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit Il Volo, 7 p.m., Detroit Opera House, Detroit Gold Panda, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Runeship of the Rhyme Traveler, 8 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Robin Spielberg, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 10/28 Marsha Ambrosius, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Big Sean, Perani Arena, 8 p.m., Fint
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the Killer Flamingos, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre 10/29 GWAR, 5 p.m., Harpos, Detroit Plain White T’s, 6 p.m., Eagle Theater, Pontiac Opeth, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Ian Hunter and the Rant Band, 8 p.m., Magic Bag, Ferndale Joe Bonmassa, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit Wally Dogger as ZZ Top, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Ollabelle, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Lotus, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre 10/30 Recoil, 5 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac Scream Tour: The Next Generation, 6 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit The Acacia Strain, 6 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit Idle Warship, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Woody Pines, 8 p.m., Cavern Club, Ann Arbor Dan Bennett Quartet, 8 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti
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10/31 Insane Clown Posse, 6 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Laith Al-Saadi, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 11/1 Joan Baez, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor 40 oz. to Freedom, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Gregory Alan Isakov, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Never Shout Never, 6 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre 11/2 Bob Seger, 7:30 p.m., Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti The Civil Wars, 7:30 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor 11/3 New Found Glory, 6 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre 11/3 Red Jumpsuite Apparatus, 7 p.m., Hayloft, Mt. Clemens Star Slinger, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Tom Chapin, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/4 Senses Fail, 6:30 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit
11/5
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor The Juliets, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Theo Katzman, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/6 Sting, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit Blue Scholars, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor The Devil Makes Three, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/8 Manchester Orchestra, 6 p.m., Clutch Cargo’s, Pontiac Howie Day, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Lindsey Buckingham, 7 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre 11/9 The Afternoon Round, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/10 Between the Buried and Me, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Fu Manchu, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit
11/11 Chimaira, 5 p.m., Harpos, Detroit Ray Manzarek and Robby Kreiger, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Sloan, Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Eric Burdon & the Animals, 8 p.m., Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren Everlast, 8 p.m., Hard Rock Café, Detroit Blind Pilot, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Third Coast Kings, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti The Ragbirds and the Appleseed Collective, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/12 Breathe Carolina, 6 p.m., Shelter, Detroit Mayhem, 6 p.m., Blondies, Detroit Brett Michaels, 7 p.m., Hayloft, Mt. Clemens Jordan Knight, 8 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac Railroad Earth, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit The Hood Internet, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor 11/13 Judas Priest, 6 p.m., Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
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AROUND YOU // CALENDAR Mat Kearney, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/15 Ron Pope, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor The Sweetback Sisters, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/16 Mastodon, 6 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Demi Lovato, 7:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit Fitz & the Tantrums, 7:30 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit LeAnn Rimes, 8 p.m., Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit Toubab Krewe, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor 11/17 Katie Herzig, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Skeleton Birds, 8 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Dragon Wagon, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 11/18 Dashboard Confessional: Solo Acoustic, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac For True Tour: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit Paul Simon, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit Pop Evil, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor An Evening with Dar Williams, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Ledisi, 7 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre
11/19 Fall Metal Fest III, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens Jamey Johnson, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Nervous But Excited, 7 p.m., The Vernors Room, Pontiac Superstars of Soul, 8 p.m., Music Hall Center, Detroit The Features, 8 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac Bloodlined Calligraphy, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti An Evening with Dar Williams, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 7\ZJPÄLY W T 9V`HS 6HR Music Theatre 11/20 Michigan Pops Orchestra, 7 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Pieta Brown, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor
11/16 Russell Brand, 8 p.m., Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti
11/5 Freemason Fundraiser to ILULÄ[ -VVK .H[OLYLYZ 7:30 p.m., Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti
C O MMU N I T Y 10/25 Pumpkin Carving Party, 6 p.m., Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti 10/29 Halloween Party, all day, Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti 10/31 Halloween Treat Paradise, 11 a.m., Main Street, Ann Arbor
11/6 Vegetarian Holiday Tasting Extravaganza, 11 a.m., Metropolitan Seventh-day Adventist School Gym, Plymouth 11/8 Growing Hope’s Winter Farmer’s Market, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti 11/26 Ypsilanti Crafters Market Show, 10 a.m., Victory Academy, Ypsilanti
C O M E D Y & SPE A K I N G 10/25 David Sedaris, 7:30 p.m., Detroit Opera House 10/28 Regis Philbin, 8 p.m., Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren 11/4 Darius Rucker, 7:30 p.m., Dow Event Center, Saginaw 11/5 Bill Bellamy, 8 p.m., Detroit Opera House, Detroit 11/8 Carlos Mencia, 8 p.m., Magic Bag, Ferndale
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NOVEMBER 2011
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FEATURE // AWESOME AWARDS
Staff Picks
Italian: Gratzi Graffiti Spot: Graffiti Alley on Liberty Dive Bar: Alley Bar Townie Store: The Rocket Late Night Food: NYPD Wine Bar: Vinology
Summer Festival: Beerfest Place for a dance party: Necto Street Performer: Werewolf Violinist Place to see a mustache: Woodruff’s Show to see in 2011: Fleet Foxes
Most Awesome Secret Venue: Arbor Vitae
By Bruno Postigo Secret venues are quite abundant in the Ann Arbor / Ypsi area, but none has impressed me more than the Arbor Vitae, located on the third floor of Wazoo (thus the address 336 1/2 State Street). The Vitae is a loft that also functions as a venue (sometimes). I had the chance to cover a couple shows there, and they’re like nothing I’ve seen before. Strange plants, old wood, stairs, secret rooms and other artifacts are part of the decoration, and the audio and video installations that cover the walls give the place an ethereal atmosphere. Moon Duo performed on my last visit, and a spontaneous dance party exploded. Arbor Vitae shows are quite rare, so be sure that you catch one when they happen.
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AWESOME AWARDS // FEATURE
Most Awesome Local Brew: Sacred Cow (Arbor Brewing
Co.) By David Nassar Photo by: David Nassar Bright cascade hops and rich pale malt make this brew one of the area’s finest. If you’re a fan of IPAs (which, it seems, you are), then you really can’t go wrong with Sacred Cow, one of Arbor Brewing Company’s flagship beers. A tap-mainstay at both Arbor and Corner, you can also pick it up in six-pack-form at your local grocer. With citrusy-floral notes and a pronounced hopbitterness, it may be one of the easiest-drinking IPAs around, but use caution; they’ve snuck up on me on more than one occasion in the past—but I’m certainly not complaining.
Most Awesome Local Artist: Chris Bathgate
By Paul Kitti There is some sort of simple magic about Chris Bathgate’s music. The years leading up to his recent masterpiece, “Salt Year,” were long and dire, like the brutal refining process that all great artists must go through. The album is often devastating and full of pain, coming from a musician who spent two years scraping the bottom of the barrel to buy studio time. Yet, Bathgate finds hope in the moments in between microwave dinners and severed relationships, his voice always hinting at something beautiful waiting around the corner. Songs like “Fur Curled on the Sad Road” and “Levee” are musical weapons against hardship, inciting sadness simply to celebrate the feeling of emotion. A true Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti artist, Bathgate has the weathered skin of an overlooked street musician and the creative ability of someone whose inevitable destination is the very top. He’s the obvious choice for most awesome local artist, and we have a feeling this is still just the beginning for Chris Bathgate.
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Most Awesome Food Cart: The Lunch Room - Mark’s Carts
By David Nassar With the mission of providing “high-quality, delicious and nutritious vegan food that demonstrates the breadth and versatility of plant-based whole foods,” The Lunch Room offers dishes that are sure to satisfy even the heartiest carnivorous appetite. Located in the Mark’s Carts courtyard on Washington between First and Ashley in downtown A2, they offer a rotating vegan menu that includes dishes like a Barbeque Tofu Platter and Aloo Yoop Stew. The Lunch Room’s menu includes sweet treats and creatively delicious beverages, and most of their offerings are also gluten-free. The Lunch Room offers many tasty and affordable options, with most dishes in the $5 – $6 range.
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FEATURE //
Living the Dream with Fitz and The Tantrums
BY AMANDA SLATER
Fitz and the Tantrums’ story is one that could only come out of Hollywood – which happens to be where the band is from. It all started when Michael Fitzpatrick, better known as “Fitz,” got a call from his ex-girlfriend who told him that her neighbor was moving out and selling several items – including an organ that she thought Fitz might be interested in. Seven hours later, the organ was in Fitz’s living room where, that night, he wrote “Breaking the Chains of Love.” Although Fitz had spent years in L.A.’s music industry writing music and working in a studio with Beck producer, Mickey Petralia, he had never before experienced such a sudden rush of inspiration. It was then that Fitz found his voice and set off in search of the right band to bring his vision to life. Longtime friend and saxophonist, James King, immediately connected with the sound. The two recorded the debut EP “Songs for a Breakup, Vol. 1” at Fitz’s home in Los Angeles, and were ready to hit the road and turn their duo into a full band. King recommended singer Noelle Scaggs and drummer
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John Wicks. Wicks brought in bassist Ethan Phillips and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna. The six immediately clicked. Fitz and the Tantrums performed their first show in December 2008 – just one week after their first rehearsal. They toured with Hepcat and Flogging Molly that September and got the attention of Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, who was introduced to the group’s music by his favorite tattoo artist when he was getting a tattoo in New York. Levine personally invited the band to join Maroon 5 on tour, and a week and a half later they did. The group’s first full-length album, “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” was also recorded in Fitz’s home, and its signature track “MoneyGrabber” has popped up everywhere from the CBS crime-drama “Criminal Minds” and the “How ‘bout that?” segment of “This Week in Baseball” to the band’s performances on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Conan and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I first heard Fitz and the Tantrums while watching VH1, as the network had added them to their list of
“artists to watch.” After a live clip of “MoneyGrabber” was aired, I immediately downloaded the song on iTunes. It’s that catchy. Recently, we got the chance to catch up with Fitz and the Tantrums singer Noelle Scaggs to chat about working with Fitz, the group’s sudden rise to the top and more. Here’s what she had to say: Where did you grow up? I grew up in Pasadena. I’m definitely an L.A. native. How did you first start working with Fitz? I came recommended by our saxophonist, James King, who I had toured with in the past and who had played horns on my former band’s record. King and Fitz had finished the EP and were looking to do a lot of things immediately. Initially, when he first called, I wasn’t sure about the gig because it was more of a backup situation, and I came from running my own band and doing lead stuff. But I ended up listening to the music, and it just caught me. There was something about the sound in
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// FEATURE
general – it was kind of Motown, Philly. But I hadn’t heard anyone doing it before with this take on the style. It sounds a lot like what you heard in the sixties, but it wasn’t necessarily a carbon copy. Next thing I knew, we were doing a rehearsal together, and now we’re three years into the band. Our three year anniversary will be in December. Tell me about your career prior to Fitz and the Tantrums. I’ve been singing since I was 10. I started doing things professionally around my college years. I was in a band called the Rebirth for many years. We had a song that exploded overseas and started to work its way into the U.S. I did vocals for several artists, including the Black Eyed Peas, because I used to see them in the studio all the time when they were working on “Elefunk.” I ended up singing on the majority of that album. Do you have any formal musical training? I’ve been pretty self-taught. I took vocal lessons for about a year, and kind of discovered that a lot
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of it wasn’t for me. You take what you can out of it without really losing your voice. Did you always know you wanted to be a musician? I think I fell into it. I started performing when I was about nine or ten. Part of it was wanting to prove myself in my community. I was one of the kids that got picked on a lot, and I ended up doing a talent show in elementary school or junior high. I did it to have fun and get myself in an environment where people could see me in a different light. As I grew older, it became a lot more than that for me. I really wanted to figure out where I fit in this world. I’ve always loved performing. What did it feel like when everything took off so quickly for Fitz and the Tantrums? I don’t even think you realize what’s going on until a few months later when you’re playing in front of packed houses. The Maroon 5 thing was amazing, but I think what really started to make us feel like we really had our own thing going on was when we
did our winter tour earlier this year and were selling out cities we had never even been to and didn’t even realize we had a fan base in. We got invited to do Lollapalooza. And really interesting things started happening all in their own flow – naturally, nothing being forced or pushed – like being picked as VH1’s artist of the month in April and having Rolling Stone rave about us. Lollapalooza, for me, was just like, “This is it. We’re here now. This is the work that we put in, and this is what can come out of it.” We were playing in front of 35,000 people, and many of them knew us. We’re really living the dream, you know? It’s really hard to say that, but we are. What’s your working relationship like with Fitz? Great. We’re really lucky. I’m not going to lie. Every band has their differences, and we hit our walls and get through them. It’s part of being in a committed relationship to someone …and it’s not just one person. It’s six of us total. I’m basically married to five men. Fitz and I have always had a lot in
NOVEMBER 2011
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FEATURE // common energetically, and where we differ on things, it gets worked out. Fitz is an awesome producer. I really respect his way of listening to things and being able to make something really cool. And it goes the other way, too. Sometimes he’ll be stuck on something in a song, and the guys are able to come along with a fresh ear and simplify things. It’s really an interesting process, and we all balance each other out. What’s the inspiration behind your videos? When we were doing the video for “MoneyGrabber,” we wanted to do something with the amazing artwork that had been created for the actual record, and we also wanted to do something that encapsulated the live show and us as individuals. We ended up working with this amazing director Mike Mohan, who basically created the concept for the “Moneygrabber” video – everything from the colors to the quick movement of the camera angles and flashes. When we were done, it was everything we wanted it to be. When we did “Don’t Gotta Work it Out,” we wanted to put more of a focus on us, and we wanted to make sure that the video showcased each of us as a band – so you really get to see John more and me a lot more. Initially the treatment that was pitched to us was a kind of dream noirey sequence where everyone has shots set up for them specifically, and we come together toward the end of it. But it’s just really about going on this journey with someone in a relationship, and you’re running down this road to nowhere—which is the concept of the song. You guys are a pretty welldressed group. Tell me about your sense of style. When we first started, I was dressing a lot more Twiggy-like, and I had these dresses created. The guys were all wearing suits. Slowly we became more defined in ourselves and realized that we weren’t this retro band – we’re not just this group of 60’s throwbacks. We have a modern feel and we really wanted to show off our own collective style, while still looking the part. You’ll often see Fitz in these colorful suits with a T-shirt underneath now. He barely wears a tie anymore unless we’re going to an event.
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So now I change up my look. I’ve always been into fashion. I’ve run many retail stores in the past and was a wardrobe consultant for many years as well. It’s something that I love to do. When I get on stage, it just depends on my feeling that day. Sometimes I’ll wear a busier and a feather skirt – a costumey kind of piece. And there will be other times where I’ll just want to wear pants, and I find the coolest, most colorful pants that I can find and a blouse or something – which is easy for me because we’re doing so much movement on stage, and I want to be comfortable. What’s your live performance like? It’s actually really amazing and energetic. I can only say that every show we do is different. We put the focus on making sure the crowd really gets involved and has a good time. We’re doing the show for them. Our fans are so incredible. We probably have the best fans in the world. So, when we do these shows, it’s really about everyone having a good time. Fitz and the Tantrums will perform on Wednesday, November 16 at St. Andrew’s in Detroit. Tickets start at $18.50 and can be purchased at livenation.com.
The Last Saturday of Every Month Only in the Red Room at Necto
Dance. Love. Glow. October 29 Halloween Party Costume Contest Win Tickets to Lupe Fiasco 21+ $7
“We’re really living the dream, you know? It’s really hard to say that, but we are.”
i SPY NOVEMBER 2011
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Weekly Specials Mon mon tues tues wed Wed fri Fri VIP NIght, $.25 beers til 11pm DJ at 10pm Cover: $3 and $6
improv night, skits and games. doors at 5pm, show at 9:30pm hot wings and cold brews. no cover from 5pm - 9pm
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country night with dj cody featuring margaritas
Theo's is located at 705 w. cross st - ypsilanti, mi 48197 734.485.6720 www.theosbar.com find us on facebook
REVIEW // SOUNDS
+++rate
it I should have been a bigger fan when Clap Your Hands Say Yeah released their self-titled album back in 2005, but my eardrums were too inclined to the sounds of bands like Brand New and Arcade Fire, and I turned the opposite direction – bad mistake on my part. When “Hysterical” dropped on September 12, I had no idea the band still existed. In my book, they were long gone and past their time – like many other bands that I don’t feel need to be named here. At first listen, I was caught by surprise. They’re not just the latest buzz band, and, I can honestly say that the new album actually isn’t bad.
ARTIST: Wilco ALBUM: The Whole Love 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI Wilco has only maintained enough consistency over their fifteen-plus-year career to keep them in the same spot, which is on the front porch of alternative rock where country and indie-spirited experimentation occasionally stop by to hang out. Ignoring expectations while unassumingly meeting them, “The Whole Love” finds the Chicagobased outfit stringing together genres on an alternative rock thread, delivering unshakeable pop melodies in between creative bursts of organ, crunchy guitar and twangy strings. Lead singer Jeff Tweedy delivers interchangeably moving and abstract lyrics with a controlled energy bubbling beneath the surface on slower tracks like “Rising Red Lung” and the medita-
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ARTIST: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah ALBUM: Hysterical 3/5 TOWERS BY IAN CRUZ
tive “One Sunday Morning.” That pressurized energy threatens to burst on tracks like “I Might” and “Standing O,” where Wilco sounds their most uptight and most comfortable – a combination that very few bands can relate to. An American jam band at heart with a responsibility to capitalize on creative impulse, Wilco often interrupts their more calculated arrangements with segments of blitzy instrumentation. “The Whole Love” is an album that is unpredicatable, yet not surprising, and full of single-worthy tracks that make this a more-than-worthwhile listen – although it might have been interesting to see something more conceptually unified.
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Even when Feist is doing her upbeat poppy thing (the stuck-in-your-head favorite “1,2,3,4”), her lilting yet raspy voice adds a deeper emotional element. In her newest album, “Metals,” the maracas and upbeat percussions of her previous project, “Reminder,” are gone without a trace, leaving behind a soulful album with intense instrumentals for a somewhat darker Feist than we’ve grown to know. My knee-jerk reaction was to wonder if she had just gone through a breakup – the lyrics are predominantly pessimistic and the instrumentals are largely heartbroken and bluesy. But, despite her blues, Feist’s deft vocal variance will leave you feeling anything but depressed – think the soothing sadness of Norah Jones or Otis Redding. In fact, there are several tracks, such as “How Come You Never Go There,” and “The Circle Married the Line” that may even have you tapping your foot …you know, the melancholy / pensive sort of foot tap. To steal from a song title, Feist’s “bit-
As I listened to the band’s back catalog before typing up this review, I came to one brash conclusion – these guys are like something you’d really want to dance to, and I am all about dancing. “Hysterical” is driven by the indie-pop synth ballads listeners are acquainted with – such as standout tracks “Hysterical” and “Into Your Alien Arms,” while the opening track, “Same Mistake,” alone will literally kick any listener off their seats and push them onto the closest dance floor. When looking for a good pop album from this millennia, or, as you put together your next pre-game dance mix, be sure to pick this album up and give it a listen. You can’t go wrong with a bunch of dudes who just want to have fun as they play with their synthesizers.
ARTIST: Feist ALBUM: Metals 5/5 TOWERS BY MARY SIMKINS tersweet melodies” will have you playing the album over and over again, finding new meaning each time.
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SOUNDS // REVIEW
ARTIST: Jack’s Mannequin ALBUM: People and Things 4/5 TOWERS BY MARISSA MCNEES
After a three year hiatus, Jack’s Mannequin is back with a new album, “People and Things.” Jack’s Mannequin frontman, Andrew McMahon, has been chronicling his life through music since his first album, “Everything in Transit,” in 2005, and, after battling lymphoblastic leukemia for several years, “People and Things” is a story of McMahon’s return to normalcy. McMahon has always been influenced by classic artists like Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, and that is definitely more apparent on this album than those in the past. The rock-and-roll track, “Television,”
really showcases his instrumental talent, and other tracks like “Amelia Jean” display McMahon’s knack for storytelling. With a mature vibe that hasn’t been apparent in much of McMahon’s other music and songs about the everyday struggles of life, “People and Things” gives listeners something relatable. Songs like “Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die)” and “Amy, I” talk about living life to the fullest and not taking anything for granted. Overall, this album will not disappoint faithful Jack’s Mannequin fans, and those who maybe haven’t given them a listen yet should pick it up, as it is a happy medium between the poppunk, upbeat style of “Everything in Transit” and the emotional, thoughtprovoking song-writing of “The Glass Passenger.”
It has been quite some time since Ryan Adams has put out and album and, arguably, an even longer stretch since he’s put out a solo country-folk album. “Ashes & Fire” features a strong case that Adams can put out an album that is more than the sum of its parts – something that is uncommon in even the most gifted musicians. Maybe it’s his marriage to Mandy Moore that has him tamer these days, but “Ashes & Fire” is noticeably less self-pitying than www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
rate it+++
If, like me, you grew up listening to Motown and thinking that The Temptations were singing about you in their song “My Girl,” then “How Do You Do” from Ann Arbor native Mayer Hawthorne (aka Haircut) will knock your socks off. Hawthorne’s second major studio release, “How Do You Do” is the follow up to Hawthorne’s first album “A Strange Arrangement” (2009). “How Do You Do” is consistently strong, beginning with some romantic R&B, and moving
to upbeat 60s-inspired, danceable soul. You may have heard the album’s popular single, “The Walk,” on Ann Arbor’s 107.1 and thought it was a rediscovered gem from a bygone era (I did). Hawthorne channels the fun, self-assured spirit of Motown while still keeping things modern (the song “Can’t Stop,” for example, features none other than Snoop D-ODouble G) enough to remind us that the year is, in fact, 2011. This album provides much to be impressed by, including: Mayer Hawthorne’s vocal range, his grasp on his subject matter and what an important role is still played by the legacy of Motown. If I could, I’d give “How Do You Do” six Water Towers, but I’ll just give it five and say (in CAPS so you know I mean it), LISTEN TO THIS ALBUM.
Artist: Mayer Hawthorne Album: How Do You Do 5/5 TOWERS BY MARY SIMKINS
If you’re like me, it’s pretty rare to fall in love with an album the first time through. Even some of my favorite albums took at least a couple of listens to really connect ARTIST: Ryan Adams with. This is just one more reason ALBUM: Ashes & Fire why “Perfect Season,” the latest 4/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE from the Ypsilanti-based quintet, The Juliets, is unique. What really sets this album apart, though, is those that came before. Each song sounds Jeremy Freer’s polished and popmore like a lullaby, and less like an ode to hook laden song writing combined his struggle as a human being. Adams’ with the aggressively arranged new perspective is a welcome change cello and violin of classically Artist: The Juliets from his previous routine, with each track trained musicians, Kaylan Mitch- Album: The Perfect Season sounding like a stripped down version of ell and Sarah Myers. Beautifully 5/5 TOWERS BY DAVID NASSAR his folky Carolina roots. While there is little melodic ballads like the title track, variation to be had, the emotion that is “A Perfect Season,” are woven beinvested in each song is exceptional. It is / Baby repent / I’ll be your religion, tween straight-ahead rock songs like difficult to hear anything beyond the raw“Only You,” driven by Jacklyn Phillips’ beginning and end / Amen!” ness that Adams brings to the table. Perfect Season will be available tight and powerful drum flourishes. Though “Ashes & Fire” does little to starting November 5 at the band’s Freer’s lyrics range from the playdeviate from its intense material, it still record release party at Woodruff’s fully whimsical first single, “Loon,” manages to be an encompassing whole. in Depot Town and on their website, to the ponderous desire evident in With its soft melodies and even softer sub- “G.W.N.L.” asking, “Do you love me? TheJuliets.bandcamp.com. ject matter, it is a solid addition to Adams’ range of work.
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REVIEW // THE CUT
+++rate
it
Based on a novel by James Sallis, “Drive” is centered on Ryan Gosling as an intense nameless movie stunt driver by day and a driver for criminals by night. His mentor (Bryan Cranston) is set on turning him into a Nascar driver, with financial help from mobsters (Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman). It isn’t until Gosling takes an interest in his quiet neighbor, Irene (Carey Mulligan), and her son that his monotone life starts to take a drastic change. (Adding on to the cast is Oscar Isaac and Cristina Hendricks in minor, but strong roles.) It wouldn’t be right to reveal any more of the film, but what I can say is it rapidly escalates in violence once the halfway mark passes by. And, with the lack of dialogue, there is nothing else to go on besides the unsettling momentum that keeps each character rooted in their predicament. It is a surprising film that focuses on the current state of things, leaving questions to what brought these characters to where they are now and where it leaves them after the chaos has
subsided. The film’s cinematography relays the harsh, gritty feel of L.A., all the while lacing in an electronic based soundtrack that beats through each scene like a death rattle that is reminiscent of classic films, like “Scarface.” As you watch the story unfold as a passenger, you get the feeling that there is no longer a safety net involved. All bets are off and elements will come into play that will grossly underestimate your understanding of just how bad things can become in a matter of minutes. It’s unnerving because just when you think you’ve seen the worst of it, things get even worse. However, at the end of all this film’s twists and turns, it is essentially the story of an unlikely hero.
FILM: Drive DIRECTOR: Nicolas Winding Refn 5/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE
FILM: Moneyball DIRECTOR: Bennett Miller 2/5 TOWERS BY DAVID NASSAR One of the hardest things to pull off in a movie is to engage the audience in a story when they already know the ending. Unfortunately, Bennett Miller’s retelling of the Michael Lewis book covering Oakland A’s general manager, Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), during the 2002 MLB season falls short of accomplishing this feat. Faced with rebuilding a team with the lowest payroll in the majors after a disappointing 2001 playoff elimination, Beane employs an unorthodox strategy with the help of Peter Brand (Jonah Hill). Beane, who had a disappointing
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and short-lived playing career of his own, is forced to confront the doubts of his nay-saying staff, on top of some of his own innerdemons. While the film does have some enjoyable moments, including a few memorable one-liners and more than adequate performances by Pitt and Hill, it feels like the story never quite reaches the dramatic crescendo that you might anticipate. Instead, the mood of the film meanders along a flat-line with few, if any, emotional spikes.
i SPY NOVEMBER 2011
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When George Clooney brought his crew to the University of Michigan campus last fall to film his new political drama, I was one of those people that answered the casting call. My dreams of appearing in the background of a George Clooney film for two seconds were shot down when filming began and my talents hadn’t been summoned on the set. But it was filmed on my campus, nonetheless, so I figured I should support the film, despite my loathsome attitude towards political films. I don’t like movies with a political agenda. I don’t want to pay money to see a fictionalized version of what I accidentally witness on Fox News or CNN while I’m chan-
FILM: Ides of March DIRECTOR: George Clooney 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI
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nel surfing. I was put in my place when the reasons why I didn’t want to see this movie turned out to be the reasons why I really enjoyed this movie: There was no political agenda to it. It wasn’t trying to sell a certain party or highlight a specific flaw in our government and rally moviegoers behind some over-conversationalized cause. “The Ides of March” is a behindthe-scenes look at a presidential campaign, focusing on a campaign press secretary played by Ryan Gosling. It portrays a political battle where the only ethical concern is loyalty – everything else is thrown out the window. Clooney’s role as the presidential hopeful is surprisingly restrained, yet effective, and Clooney gives the reigns to the talented Gosling, who carries the film with support from Phillip Seymour Hoffman (who turns every one of his roles into a subtly hypnotic exercise). With the release of this film, there should be no doubt about Cloo-
THE CUT // REVIEW
ney’s skills behind the camera. The film moves at a quick, smooth pace, slowing down at all the right moments to deliver some powerful drama. The only lesson the film delivers is that politics are dirty. It’s a lesson that none of us really need to learn – it is the underlying theme behind nearly every political endeavor, and even when it cannot be seen, it can be assumed (now I’m starting to sound as cynical as this film). But Clooney’s aim is to show us that dirtiness slithering through the aisles of every political office, exposing it through realistic characters and testing moral battles. “The Ides of March” doesn’t really bring any new ideas to light, and it certainly isn’t a happy movie. But it’s got the entertainment factor down, and it’s refreshing to see a political movie that is so …non-political.
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At Wiard’s Orchards I am writing this as a survivor, and for some, that’s all the clear they need to go check out the haunted houses of Wiards Orchards. Sure, it’s an all ages welcome gig, but evil doesn’t discriminate between ages – it only evaluates the temperament of the soul. Ok, I’ll just tell you about the place. Of the four main haunted attractions, I chose the Asylum. I was promised psychotic killers, doctors with ill motives and unidentifiable parts of both. It sounded appealing, so I bought my ticket and took the hay-laden trail to what I was told would be the last night of my life. While the sensationalistic tactics of the Wiards employees didn’t phase me, I did get the distinct feeling that the patients within the Asylum desired to harm me, so I was sure to have my wits about me as I tiptoed over needles and body parts. Having been greeted by Dr. Pickles, who was demonically offbeat, yet chivalrous in a cannibalistic kind of way, I proceeded to the lobby of the Asylum. Before I even stepped off the parking lot, I could hear the lingering screams of those who had been abandoned in the fog, as well as the echoing warning of metal rapping against metal, much like an attention-seeking plea from a crazed and voiceless inmate. Dr. Pickles was all too eager to show me the source of these strange sounds, and he allowed his prize patient – I think his name was Jimmy – to lead me down the first shadowy hallway.
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What followed is something of a blur, though a few images escaped with clarity, as I can still see the plastery, severed head of (was he a janitor?) convulsing on a medical table and a gap-toothed mother begging me to hold her baby, who was clearly under-fed and under-loved. Several times I was followed down tight hallways by savage patients, and I was most uncomfortable when it got too dark and I had to ask them for directions. What truly taunts me in my nightmares, however, is the heart of the Asylum. I entered through a series of black rubber flaps (like those used to dry cars in a carwash …or remove blood from people in a lawless asylum) and found myself walking through what seemed to be a thick, white cloud where I could see nothing but white and more white. I was completely blind. One of the nicer patients came to my rescue, wearing a white padded suit and a blood-spotted Hannibal Lecter mask. I couldn’t see him until he was about a foot away, when he lifted his arm and pointed towards the exit. When the whole thing was over, I felt like I had been in that god-forsaken dungeon for nearly fifteen minutes – and I was right, which left plenty of time for cider and donuts. The Wiards Orchards ticket office opens at 7:15pm, and the haunted attractions will continue through Halloween. The Asylum is one of four haunted attractions. For more information, visit wiards.com
BY PAUL KITTI PHOTOS BY KRISTIN SLATER
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// FEATURE
// DEPOT TOWN RAG
Depot Town Rag
iSPY
read more from Depot Town Rag at mispymag.com
By Tom Dodd
Waiting for the Morning Train? Be patient.
Potential commuters following the advice of Michigan author Bruce Catton in “Waiting for the Morning Train” will be waiting even longer, according to the most recent report from South Eastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). Earlier reports said the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti-Metro Airport-DearbornDetroit train was planned to stop in Ypsi in October 2011. You may want to call a cab. City Councilmember Peter Murdock says, “Funding is secured to construct the platform in Ypsilanti and Carmen Palombo from SEMCOG reported that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has reversed itself and is no longer requiring a full blown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) so it looks like the Environmental Review will be completed in early 2012. This could mean Ypsilanti platform construction in spring or summer of 2012. In addition,
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event trains are being planned with AMTRAK and the FTA and a schedule will be available in the future. The latest update on the longawaited SEMCOG Commuter rail train gives reports of the project’s progres:.
Ann Arbor – Detroit Regional Rail Project
Summer 2011 marks significant progress! Summer 2011 has been a busy season for work on the Ann ArborDetroit Regional Rail Project. Below are updates on several fronts, as well as some exciting photos of progress being made on the passenger cars and infrastructure. Cab Cars and Coaches The Great Lakes Central Railroad is nearing completion on refurbishing nine passenger cars for the Ann Arbor-
Detroit service Two cars are complete and will undergo safety and mechanical testing in October 2011. Seats The crash-worthiness of the seats in the passenger cars was a significant hurdle to overcome. American Seating (based in Grand Rapids, Michigan) designed and is manufacturing the seats. This summer the seats passed a rigorous set of Federal Railroad Administration crash tests. The seats are being delivered and installed in the cars as they are produced. West Detroit Connection Track Project This rail infrastructure project will shave ten minutes off the travel time for the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail service. Agreements with the host railroads have either been executed or are in final negotiations. Construction of the West Detroit
Connection Track is expected to begin in early 2012. Environmental Clearance This summer, the federal lead agency responsibility for the Ann Arbor-Detroit Regional Rail Project was transferred from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to Federal Transit Administration (FTA). FTA is now reviewing MDOT and SEMCOG’s request to initiate the environmental process to clear the project. FTA will determine whether an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required. Once this process is completed, additional investments can be made in the project. Ann Arbor & Detroit Layover Tracks and Facilities Work is underway regarding the design of layover tracks and facilities. The host railroads and host communities are a crucial part of the design. Other Rail Infrastructure Improvements A capacity analysis has been completed for most of the corridor, including the identification of infrastructure improvements needed to initiate the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail service. The analysis revealed the need for improvements such as new sidings, switches, and crossovers. Work on these improvements can begin once environmental clearance has been granted. MORE RAG ON PG 34
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DEPOT TOWN RAG //
Something to do while waiting for the train 10 Things:
• Rent an engineer’s costume from Fantasy Attic Costumes • Visit the site of the Great 1926 Train Wreck at Sidetrack’s east patios • Wave at the passing freight and Amtrak trains––but don’t applaud. People will think you’re from Ann Arbor • Visit the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum to remember waiting for the train in a Hudson Hornet in the days when 26 trains a day stopped here • Take moody photos of the ruin that once was the MCRR depot at Ypsilanti • Look at prints and paintings of trains at the crossing at Nelson Amos’s Studio • Wave a big red flag from the top of the Crossing Guard Tower to see if today’s engineers recognize the traditional “Stop!” signal • Put on your denims, tie a red bandana around your neck, stand out by the tracks with one of those obnoxious wooden train whistles, and keep looking at your watch. Get 100 friends to join you and we’ll have another local street festival! • Ask passing dog-walkers if they think it’s safe to cross the tracks yet • Get a haircut. Get several. How fast does your hair grow?
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See the NEW Hudson Automobiles
Now on display at the Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum Twenty-seven members of the League of Retired Automotive Designers have chosen Detroit’s Hudson for their celebration of “American Orphan Brands.” The exhibit continues here through the end of January. You saw their products on the road for most of your lifetime; now see what they have put together for their 2012-2014 fantasy version of the Fabulous Hudson Hornet: Bob Ackerman – Chrysler Clark Lincoln – GM Bob Barnes – Ford Bud Magaldi – Ford Rich Beck – Ford David McIntosh – GM Jerry Brochstein – GM Bill Michalak – GM George Camp – GM Bill Moraniec – Ford Virgil Exner, Jr. Ford Howard “Buck” Mook - Ford Tony Frasetto – Ford Joe Papai – Chrysler Darwin Hawthorne – Ford Steve Pastenier – GM Bob Hubbach – Chrysler John Perkins – GM John T. Houlihan – GM Dennis Reardon – Ford Roger Hughet – GM Elia Russ Russinoff – GM Wayne Kady – GM Stu Shuster – GM Rolph Kneefel – Ford Bernie Smith – GM
SPONSORS OF THE DEPOT TOWN RAG >>>>>
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We’re growing mustaches. Join us. In an effort to raise awareness for men’s health, we’re participating in Movember and we want you to join us. Starting Nov. 1 and running through the month, we’re growing mustaches and fundraising for organizations like Livestrong and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Check out all the info and learn how to get invovled at mispymag.com/movember or by scanning the QR code below.
November
benefit Freemason Fundrasiser to 5th, 2011 Food Gatherers. November @ 6:00 PM
The Freemasons (Ann Arbor-Fraternity Lodge #262) would like to invite you and all your friends to a fundraiser party to benefit Food Gatherers.
et r Farmers Mark e t n i W s ’ e p o H Growing 011 @ 3:00 PM 2 , 2 2 d n a 8 r Novembe
Experience the best of the season at Growing Hope’s Winter Farmers Market. Fresh food, great beer and a great time.
ase Rat Pad Rele M 011 @ 6:00 P 2 inah t 6 1 , r e b create imag s Novem r e w e r b l We release ssiona ew system. r and profe
u Rat Pad br n Local amate o l at 6:00pm. l a h g t n 0 o 1 m r h u c o a e n o of tive beers d Wednesday r i h t e h t n o Halcyon Sund these brews aze
Novemberr 20 , 2011
Kick off the holiday seas on with us as we bring Ha lcyon indoors for the wint ery season. We’re scream ing, “Baby it’s cold outside! ” So we’ll be bundled up in our warmest flannels, sipp ing hot cocoa (or high gr avity brews) under the craz y fantastical Holidaze tr ee, listening to stories, wh ile DJ’s spin melodic se asonal tunes.
720 Norris St. Ypsilanti MI, 48198 (734) 480.2739
Check out our new website at arborbrewing.com