February 2012 // ispymagazine.co
Christopher Norman Lawless Carver Matt Jones and the Reconstruction
The Ragbirds
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Feb 5th
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Feb 11th
Winter Warmer Throw on your warm winter snow gear, embrace the elements and enjoy a lively afternoon in our beer garden. Receive happy hour prices from 1-4pm while being entertained by an ice carving team!
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Feb 21st
Fat Tuesday Bring your beads and party mask to help celebrate Fat Tuesday DRAGON WAGO N New Orleans style. Feast on a selection of traditional Cajun delicacies while enjoying a specially brewed Hurrican beer. Dragon Wagon will be bringing their bluegrass-folk rock starting at 8:00pm.
Feb 26th
Depot Town Chili Cook Off
Our annual Depot Town community event following the Wheels in Motion Bike Ride. Vote for your favorite chili from over 12 samples from participating Depot Town locations. All proceeds benefit SOS Community Services, which provides critical services to homeless families and children throughout Washtenaw County. Cook Off runs from 3-5:30pm, followed by an after hours party at Corner Brewery.
contents
FEBRUARY
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[the buzz] 06
Frontier Ruckus, FlashClash, William Fitszimmons, Heroes on Parade
07 Chili Cook-Off, The Broadway we Love, Artini Martini, DJ Godfather
Christopher Norman + pg 10
[style] 08
Weird Weather and Your Wordrobe
09
My Folky Valentine
[scene] 10 11
Lawless Carver + pg 14
Christopher Norman Story Telling Festival
[features]
14 Lawless Carver 18 The Ragbirds
20 Ford Lake Frozen Leap
22 Matt Jones and the Reconstruction
Frozen Leap + pg 20
Best Films of 2011 + pg 29
[foodie] 12
The Dish: The Arena + Woodruff’s
13 Adventures in Local Food #14
[around you]
16 February Events Calendar
[review]
26 Rate it! - Sounds 28 29
Rate it! - The Cut Best Films of 2011 + Must See for 2012
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EDITORIAL +
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ART +
[designers] tim adkins, jennifer oliphant [photographers]
The Washtenaw County Events and Entertainment Guide Pakmode Media + Marketing 124 Pearl st. Suite 407, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Office: 734.484.0349 Email: ispy@pakmode.com
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THE BUZZ //
FLASHCLASH // Magic Bag / Feb. 3
William Fitzsimmons // The Ark / Feb. 9
BY IAN CRUZ
This February will bring William Fitzsimmons, bearded wonder and singer/songwriter from the plains of Illinois, to Ann Arbor. With three albums under his belt since 2005, Fitzsimmons has made a name by blending bittersweet melodies with melancholic guitar and some more lighthearted backing electronic vibes. He specializes in soft spoken lyrics with themes of family matters, depravity and autobiographical word schemes that drive listeners into a naturally intimate state of mind. His first studio album, “Gold in the Shadow,” showcases diverse creative sides from Fitzsimmons. In fact, “Gold in the Shadow” was named one of the best Singer/Songwriter releases by iTunes in 2011. Tickets are available for his February 9 show at The Ark via the web or at the door. Arrive early so that you don’t miss out on Dennison Witmer’s opening performance.
Hey, Ferndale. I heard you guys like to dance – is that so? Because FLASHCLASH – the astounding new age rock/electro/house groove band – is going to be invading the Magic Bag on February 3. With their bleeps and bloops, Flash Clash remains the strongest “psycho-electro” band hailing from Michigan. The band seems to have great affection for outer space and the psychedelic. According to front man Yorg in a recent interview with MetroTimes, he describes their shows as having “visuals shooting at the audience from all angles, choreographed lights and black light jungles.” In support of their latest effort, “Born of Astronauts EP,” FLASHCLASH is making their rounds all across the mitten state – so don’t miss their February 3 stop at the Magic Bag, as it promises to be an out-of-this-world experience.
Heroes on Parade // Blind Pig / Feb. 10 BY MARISSA MCNEES
BY IAN CRUZ
Making their return to Michigan on February 10 are, quite literally, the local heroes of Heroes On Parade. The band will be headlining a show at the Blind Pig this month after a successful summer on tour with the Vans Warped Tour and Rockapalooza. With the release of their full-length debut, “Where Are We?,” Heroes On Parade made a huge impression on the pop-punk scene by selling out their limited edition pre-sales in the first week of release. Since then, it’s been nothing but success for the Detroit natives. Often compared to Paramore, don’t mistake this group for anything but themselves. It’s easy to get compared to a band with a strong leading lady on the forefront, but Jenny can hold her own with the likes of Paramore as well as Forever the Sickest Kids, Chidos and the many other artists Jenny and her bandmates encountered on the road. You definitely won’t want to miss this group as they make their way to Ann Arbor. Special guests include Jack & The Bear, VP and Undesirable People. Cover is $8 for ages 18 – 20 and $5 for 21 and up. For more information and a list of tour dates, visit heroesonparade.net.
Frontier Ruckus // The Ark / Feb. 2 BY iSPY STAFF
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Rolling Stone raves that Michigan natives, Frontier Ruckus, are “The perfect recipe for Gothic Americana.” In the words of Cleveland Scene, Frontier Ruckus “delivers spirited, acoustic-based roots music driven by David W. Jones’ banjo and fleshed out with saws, horns and other left-field touches. Frontman Matthew Milia’s vocals convey a dreamy, twangy quality, like someone who’s wandering aimlessly through the woods at night. He recalls Michael Stipe in his vivid wordplay and oblique imagery.”
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Need we say more? What’s unique about Frontier Ruckus is they use country instrumentation to depict not a rustic utopia but life along the interstate as most of us live it. They’ve got an attractive lyrical streak, and each of their albums so far has been brilliantly original in concept. They’ve been working on new music, and they’ll be bringing it to The Ark at 8 p.m. on February 2, so don’t miss it! Tickets are $15. For more information, visit frontierruckus.com.
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ANNUAL
// THE BUZZ
ANNUAL
3rd Annual Chili Cook-off // Corner Brewery / Feb. 12
The Broadway We Love // Kerrytown Concert House / Feb. 14
BY DAVID NASSAR
BY MARY SIMKINS
Looking for a way to warm up now that snow is on the ground and winter has officially hit? Look no further than the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s Third Annual Chili Cook-Off. A can’tmiss event for local chili-aficionados, the event promises to serve up steaming hot bowls of some of the tastiest and most unique chili concoctions you’ve ever seen. While you’re there, you can wash it all down with the Corner Brewery’s delicious brews and throw down a bid at the silent auction. All proceeds from the event and the silent auction will go towards supporting the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, one of the country’s oldest and most beloved community theaters. The festivities kick off at noon and last until 3 p.m. Full-priced tickets cost $20 and include 10 chili tastes, 5 sample beer tastings and a keepsake beer glass. Chili-only and kids’ tickets are also available, and all children under five years old are admitted for free. Advanced tickets can be purchased by calling 734-971-2228, or you can purchase them at the door the day of the event. For more information and to take a peek at some of the silent auction items, visit the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre’s website at a2ct.org.
It’s a Valentine’s date for a good cause. The Kerrytown Concert House sponsors this night of nostalgia featuring some of the most beloved Broadway tunes of all time from The Great White Way, and featuring several up-and-coming musicians accompanying critically acclaimed tenor Aaron L. Sanko. Proceeds from the event benefit The Neutral Zone, a teen center in Ann Arbor focused on the promotion of artistry and leadership in teens. The show starts at 8 p.m. Admission is $30 for assigned rows 1 – 2, $20 for Assigned Rows 3 – 5, $15 for general admission and $10 for students. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit kerrytownconcerthouse. com For more information about The Neutral Zone, visit neutral-zone.org
Artini Martini Bar Crawl // A2 Bars / Feb. 17 BY MARY SIMKINS The Artini Martini Bar Crawl is a great way to get to know Ann Arbor’s bars. With the goal of determining the most artful martini in Ann Arbor, participants will spend the evening tasting carefully crafted creations at various establishments, with the night’s proceeds benefitting the Ann Arbor Art Center. The night will end with a vote, and a new champion will wrest the title from the 2011 winners, Alley Bar (who are not participating this year). Participating restaurants include: Babs’ Underground, Black Pearl, Cafe Felix, La Dolce Vita, Melange, Ravens Club, Rush Street and Vinology. The crawl will get started at 7 p.m. on February 17. The event is sponsored by Pearl Vodka and costs $40 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the Ann Arbor Art Center (117 W. Liberty) from noon until 8 p.m. daily. To purchase tickets online, visit annarborartcenter.org/artini2012.
DJ Godfather // Live, The Last Word / Feb. 3 BY iSPY STAFF With great power comes great responsibility. Didn’t the old guy from Spiderman say that? Either way, nothing could be further from the truth, especially when a venue in downtown Ann Arbor is concerned. Get ready to welcome in an all new spot, with a familiar name. Live and The Last Word, formerly Goodnight Gracie’s will open their doors February 3 and feature DJ Godfather and DJ Zig Zag. The Last Word, the main floor, will focus on craft cocktails, have a small floor for live entertainment and maintain a seated and intimate environment.
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The upstairs, Live, will bring the dance floor atmosphere back to the Main Street area, with DJs booked by Embarco Entertainment every Friday and Saturday night. Dancing not your thing? They’ll have other forms of entertainment on the other nights of the week. The grand opening of Live on Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4 will kick off at 9 p.m. both nights. There is no cover charge for the grand opening events and 21 and older are welcome. Live and The Last Word are located at 102 S. First St. in downtown Ann Arbor.
FEBRUARY 2012
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STYLE //
Weird Weather and Your Wordrobe BY LACEY LAKE
You would think by now we’d have this winter thing down, but lately it’s getting more difficult to adapt to. One day there’s a blizzard, the next day we have a flood. This ever changing climate leaves many of us confused as to what to put on our bodies when we step outside. Wear a heavy coat? Bring an umbrella? Wear a hat? So in order to be prepared for a typical day of Michigan weather – including rain, fog, sleet and snow – it’s all about layering. Layering, done in the right way is super cute and a huge trend right now. These ladies layered strategically by pairing their favorite skirts with tights, a cardigan and the occasional scarf. Layering is great because you can dress for two different climates all at once.
Linda: Plaid Wool Skirt Tuxedo Style Blouse with Red Cardigan Leather Belt and Matching Oxford Flats Black Vertical Striped Tights with Layering Grey Socks Amy: Cropped Lace top High Waisted Pencil Skirt Burnt Orange Tights Leather Wedges
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Annette: Buffalo Plaid Shit High Waisted Skirt Black Tights Cardigan Embellished Flats
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// SCENE
My Folky Valentine BY MARY SIMKINS Every year around Valentine’s Day, the folks at The Ark celebrate romance in their own way …with a night of folk music performed by couples. This year’s event is hosted by the event’s masterminds, Annie and Rod Capps, who have invited musical lovebirds from around the region to serenade Ark guests. Artists featured in this year’s eigth annual event include some of the region’s top musical couples: Small Potatoes (Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso), The Milroys (CJ and John Milroy) and Ann Arbor blues musicians Shari Kane and David Steele. Annie and Rod will also be performing. Chicago-based Small Potatoes bring a self-described “Celtic to Cowboy” style to their music. Hailed by Dirty Linen Magazine as “one of the most polished, inventive and entertaining shows on the circuit,” Small Potatoes boasts award-winning songwriting and incredible showmanship. CJ and John Milroy (The Milroys) promise that their “plaintive, sweet melodies will draw you in and linger like the cheap cologne of a traveling Bible salesman.” With a slightly darker spin on Americana, this songwriting performance duo has a new album out and will be sure to share some new tunes with the Folky Valentine audience. Local blues legends Shari Kane and David Steele have been playing together since their first date, sharing and learning from each other musically for 20 years, and have recently recorded their first CD as a duo. Influenced by legendary acoustic blues guitarists like Reverend Gary Davis, Robert Johnson and Blink Blake, Kane and Steele have been finding new and exciting ways to combine their sounds for years. Annie and Rod Capps describe their sound as having a “rootsy vibe, a touch of twang, and a soulful groove.” Like several of the other performers, Annie and Rod bring a beauty to the broken, creating riveting poignancy with Annie’s earthy voice accompanied effortlessly by Rod’s excellent musicianship. My Folky Valentine will start at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 12. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. To learn more about My Folky Valentine’s featured musicians, and for ticket information, visit theark.org.
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SCENE //
“I have a couple of collaborations in the works, too. I'm doing some super exciting guest vocal spots. I don't want to ruin any surprises yet, though. […] It's definitely going to be a busy year.” BY IAN CRUZ
Christopher Norman BY IAN CRUZ Ann Arbor’s Christopher Norman is a busy man. Recently, he won a spot to play for the Folk the Police festival, remixed one of our favorite DJ’s Chrome Sparks as well as Metric and has played all the bigger venues throughout the mitten as well as The Blind Pig and PJ’s Lager House. After DJing, being a producer, singer and songwriter, Norman has been working patiently at his four self-produced EPs, named “EP 1,” “EP 2,” “EP 3” and “EP 4.” But it seems to be paying off. In fact, we even selected “EP 2” as one of the Best Albums of 2011. This piece is quite a collaboration, as it gives plenty of new faces the opportunity to display their talents, such as backing vocalists David Call and Casey Clark, accompanied with cello from Rena Jones as well as viola and violin played by Kevin Amidon. Songs to keep a watchful ear for are “The Fall,” “Maps” and “Fever.” According to Norman’s Twitter, he is back in the studio to make the final completions for “EP3,” which will see the light of day this February. Recently we got the chance to catch up with him for a bit to discuss this and more.
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When did you start playing music? I started with piano lessons at age five or so – that kick started a whole world of music awesomeness. I picked up a guitar in college, so I had something to sing to when I didn’t have a piano. I was just starting to produce music then, and after a while I just ended up just doing both things at the same time. Who are some of your influences? Jamie Lidell comes to mind instantly. Depeche Mode is a biggie, too. Lykke Li, Little Dragon, Bloodshy and Avant …I listen to lots of Swedish pop, so that inevitably percolates its way out. You said “EP 3” is nearing completion. When will that be released? “EP 3” is almost done! I’ll be setting a date in the next week or so, but I’m aiming for mid to late February. The new single, “Connect Me,” will be out any day now! This EP is going to be five tracks. I’m super pumped. As for shows, how many dates have you booked and will you be coming to the Mitten during that time?
I’m playing PJ’s Lager House in Detroit tonight, then the Blind Pig next Saturday as a part of the Folk the Police show. I live in Ann Arbor, so I’m doing random little shows in the area all the time. I’m still organizing a few dates around the “EP 3” release, but I’ll definitely be playing Woodruff’s at that time. What other projects are you working on besides your solo effort? Any collaborations? After a year of straight solo material, I need to get out of my own head. Once I wrap the EP, I’m putting on my engineer hat to do some mix and production work on an album for Hopscotch, an up and coming artist in the California Bay Area. I have a couple of collaborations in the works, too. I’m doing some super exciting guest vocal spots. I don’t want to ruin any surprises yet, though – it’s still a little too soon to tell. Maybe an album is on the horizon. It’s definitely going to be a busy year. Norman’s six track installment from his EP series can be downloaded online for a mere $4, and “EP 2” can be streamed at music.misternorman.com.
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// SCENE
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS w/sg Denison Witmer February 9, 8 PM
Story Telling Festival BY DAVID NASSAR Each year for the past quarter-century, raconteurs from far and wide have converged on The Ark in Ann Arbor to entertain and inspire through the primal art of storytelling. In collaboration with the Ann Arbor Storyteller’s Guild, previous year’s festivals have attracted some of the world’s most renowned tale spinners, and this year’s event promises to be one of the most diverse ever, bringing bards from very different walks of life together to share their stories and songs with young and old alike. Headlining this year’s festival is veteran entertainer, Willy Claflin, whose combination of original and traditional tales and songs, along with an entourage of hand puppets, makes him equally engaging for both adult and child audiences. His musical repertoire includes more than 1,000 ballads from the British Isles and Appalachia, along with a healthy dose of blues and rock and roll. But his most endearing role may be as the voice of puppet sidekick and award-winning author, Maynard Moose, who is known far and wide as “the only authentic Native American Moose currently on the festival circuit” SLATER and “the last known teller of ancient Mother Moose Tales.” BY AMANDA Known as “The Multicolored Lady,” Hungarian storyteller Zalska Csenge Virag has been entertaining audiences in English, Spanish and Hungarian ever since forgoing her college-studies in archaeology in 2004. After studying at Trinity College in 2008, Virag began traveling the U.S. and internationally, sharing traditional Hungarian folktales with audiences, young and old, all over the world. Returning after her triumphant appearance at last year’s Moth Mainstage at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, singer/songwriter Allison Downey will unleash her dynamic storytelling presence at this year’s festival. It has been said that her energetic and intimate persona “can make an audience in a 500-seat theatre feel like they’re in her living room,” demonstrating her natural charisma and formal training as a theatre performer. Rounding out this year’s lineup is Lyn Powrie Davidge. A retired librarian and an active member of the AASG, she is a longtime local resident of Ann Arbor and a favorite of her colleagues at The Guild’s annual Tellebration concert. According to the AASG website, “Lyn’s original stories are often built around everyday adventures or exceptional people.” As always, The Ark Storytelling Festival will feature an adult concert on Saturday, February 18 and a family concert on Sunday, February 19, with shows starting on both evenings at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20 and are available for purchase online at TheArk.org. For more information about this year’s festival performers, visit the AASG at AnnArborStorytelling.org.
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Call for tickets: 734-763-8587
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6 S. Main St w AnnFEBRUARY Arbor w www.theark.org 2012 i SPY
FOODIE // THE DISH
The Arena BY MARISSA MCNEES
203 E. Washington, Ann Arbor
One of my favorite things to do is find a new sports bar where I can hang out and catch a game every now and then. The kind of atmosphere where complete strangers are suddenly high-fiving and sharing a drink or two just puts me in a good mood. I could tell when I first walked into The Arena that this was that kind of place. Sure, there wasn't a big game on TV that night, so the high-fiving and yelling was in short supply, but any place that calls itself the “Restaurant of Champions” has to be pretty good, right? Turns out it was. Right off the bat, the atmosphere was that of a typical sports bar – memorabilia everywhere. What stood out most to me about The Arena were the individual TVs at each booth. I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes to watch multiple games at a time, so what could be better than having your own personal TV for those days when your team might not be projected on their big screen? Now, I'll get to what is sure to be on everyone's mind—the food. It's safe to say that almost every item on the menu is around $7.99 with a wide variety of appetizers and entrees. As a vegetarian, sometimes it's hard to find restaurants (especially sports bars) with food that caters to my meat-free lifestyle, but I'm happy to say that The Arena wasn't one of them, and there were at least five meatless entrees I could choose from. I finally decided on the fajita salad, and, since it was happy hour, I took advantage of the $3 draft beers that were on special. Bar food definitely has its place, but thankfully The Arena was more than that. I'll definitely be checking this place out again – and maybe next time I'll get some of those high-fives that I love so much.
Woodruff’s BY MARY SIMKINS
When I was assigned a food review for Woodruff’s, I racked my brain to remember whether I’d ever seen anyone eating there. Known for its great live music and extensive drink selection, I just didn’t know anything about its kitchen. Thankfully, that has changed. The kitchen window at Woodruff’s is reminiscent of a Memphis diner and is surrounded by video games and colorful lights. As I perused the menu, I noticed that along with inventive sliders and vegetarian corndogs, Woodruff’s offers quite the variety of French fries. I ordered Combo #1, which came with two sliders (Almond chicken and 50/50, which is half bacon and half beef) and fries sprinkled with fennel seeds and salt – delicious! Choosing only two from many delicious fries options, we also ordered the Five Alarm Fries and the Creamy Pesto Fries with Feta – all for only $12! After waiting at the counter to receive our food, we took it to our table and paired it with some beer (Bell’s Winter White and Two Hearted Ale). While the fennel fries may have been my favorite, but everything was delicious. The Five Alarm fries were spicy without being crazy-person spicy, and the Pesto Fries were unique and had plenty of Feta. I definitely liked the 50/50 slider better than the Almond Chicken. But I must say, I would not go back to Woodruff’s without trying another of their burger sliders. The verdict: Woodruff’s offers bar food, but it’s inventive bar food with reasonable across-the-board pricing for small or large portions.
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36 E. Cross St., Ypsi
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// FOODIE
adventures in local food #14
Advantage Michigan ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY STEFANIE T. STAUFFER Without even knowing that Michigan had just made the top 10 list for U.S. states with the most winter farmer’s markets, last month we celebrated the bounty of Southeast Michigan’s winter-time local food harvest. Thanks to season extension technology, the efforts of many to eat seasonspecific foods and the increasing popularity and availability of year-round markets, there is more locally-grown food available in the colder months and it is also easier to obtain than ever before. Winter local food has come to a location near you, so you should take advantage of it. If you’ve been following Adventures in Local Food at all in the last year, you’ve probably noticed that Michigan has some other advantages as well when it comes to the availability of locally-grown food. You may remember that Michigan, thanks in large to the
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But that’s not all. The “Buy Michigan” movement has been gaining traction as well. For instance, when I first began my research on urban farming and the local food movement in California and Michigan back in 2007, the local food movement seemed to be primarily motivated by a concern for how food is grown, raised and produced. Wanting to “know your farmer” or wanting to reduce “food miles” (the distance food travels from field to fork) seemed to be the most commonly articulated reasons to buy from local producers. However, since the economic downturn made things more politically, economically and socially volatile in this country, the most often articulated reason to buy local food that I now hear is the desire to support local businesses. For example, in a recent survey I conducted about the local food movement, 100% of respondents noted that they prefer to shop at independently-owned, local businesses, while almost all said that they support local food production in order to support local businesses. Furthermore, a survey of Washtenaw County independent businesses, sponsored by Think Local First of Washtenaw County, showed that 90% of the businesses surveyed agreed that public awareness about the positives of locallyowned businesses has increased since 2009. The popular food movement slogan “Vote with your varieties of fruit grown throughout the Great Lakes State, is second only to California in terms Fork” encapsulates this sentiment that food purchases can directly shape the character of our economies of agricultural diversity. And, although California and political system and that they are no longer just does have a longer potential growing season, about cost, flavor or “food miles.” In this sense, the that growing season advantage is gradually local food movement shows us that changing the being eroded by prolonged drought, the loss of way we eat can have a direct impact not only on the farmland to development, the huge demand for economic livelihoods of producers and how food out of season produce like tomatoes and the is grown and raised, but also on the character of increasing number of farmers in colder places (like Michigan) extending the growing season with community relations, public health, global economic inequality, resource scarcity and public policy. Local hoop houses, cold frames and other techniques. food shows people that they can play a role in bringing In addition, Michigan has the second highest about positive changes in the food system and that number of independently-owned farms in the their concerns about how food is produced, who is nation, and the number of small-scale growers compensated, how it affects the environment and and producers selling their wares at farmer’s how it impacts inequality both at home and abroad markets and grocery stores, farm-direct through are important. And, more often than not, the choice to CSAs, to restaurants and elsewhere has been buy local for one person often encourages friends and steadily increasing. family to alter their consumption practices as well.
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FEATURE //
Lawless Carver BY JEFF MILO PHOTO BY KIMBERLY ANNE WILKINS Guitarist Hunter Boyd is “literally speechless, sometimes, by what these cats come up with … and this is just the beginning.” Well, it’s essentially the beginning, but it’s been brewing for a while. True, Ypsi-based Lawless Carver began, properly, less than two years ago. They’ve kept busy (through live shows and an EP) churning out their propulsive, tone-barreling spacerock squalls and trippy/swooning ambient blends of percussive electronica and spindly, metal-zinged math-rock meditations, but most of the quintet has been playing together through other means for years. Boyd, with bassist Andy Lukofsky and drummer Ryan Hampton had a band called We Only Kill Cops in 2009, which was “pretty much a heavier version of what we’re doing now,” according to Lukofsky. Hampton went off to join another band (Bloodlined Calligraphy) and guitarist Adam Nola joined – only to see Nola eventually leave, as Hampton simultaneously seesawed back in. However, 11 years ago, when Nola was only 14, he joined another band with Boyd and Lukofsky called Black Market Surgery.
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Keyboardist Dustin Mcdonald, meanwhile, had been performing in the scene for a few years while day-jobbing at a small Ypsi venue with Hampton in the late 00’s. “[Nola] was a youngster that would frequent the bar. He seemed alright,” Mcdonald remembers. “[He] didn’t get out of hand …usually.” He found out later how well the youngster could play guitar – and though he’d never met Lukofsky or Boyd until Lawless Carver’s fateful birth inside Nola’s basement in early ’10, he knew, assuredly, “after a couple hours and a few adult beverages that these were guys I could really click with, musically.” Nola said their approach is just “finding what works best around what each other is writing…” dotted with “calls and echoes between each instrument.” Lukosfky, meanwhile, said he just locks in with Hampton and shunts / shakes / surges things forward. Their sound, albeit orbiting the shimmering atmospheres of space-rock – or perhaps affecting a more keyed-up jazz-tinged post-rock trip, could never truly be pinned down. As Boyd says, each appreciates a wide palette of
styles and genres. Last month they released a live EP, recorded at Detroit’s Groovebox Studios, a fan-funded recording project secured through online fundraising site Kickstarter. The GBS EP was recorded and filmed live in one take, “no overdubs …no studio tricks.” “We’ve been at it for years,” said Boyd, “but it wasn’t until 2011 that this Petri-dish of musical DNA sprouted legs.” The all-instrumental format hasn’t lead them astray yet, so none of them question it. One of their recent music videos is set to avant-garde filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky’s work – just a whiff of the band’s other quirky/experimental cultural penchants that range from David Lynch to antiquing, dark humor, whiskey and creative people. Boyd adds to the list, “Creativity (in anything really).” Nola chimes in: “quality craftsmanship.” It shows. For more information on Lawless Carver, visit http://lawlesscarver.bandcamp.com/
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s u k r c e i u t n R o r F FE BRUARY 2 8 PM
Hours Mon. - Sat. 10a-6p Sun. 12p-5p
“The perfect ic recipe for Goth Americana” --Rolling Stone
Additional hours gladly by appt. Concierge service available 5 Nickels Arcade Ann Arbor, MI48104
Call for tickets: 734-763-8587
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OCTOBER 2011
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6 S. Main St w Ann Arbor w www.TheArk.org
CALENDAR // AROUND YOU
january//february
BY AMANDA SLATER
music 2/1: • Dragon Wagon, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • Zion I, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Falling in Reverse, 6:30 p.m., Saint
Andrews Hall, Detroit • Chrome Sparks, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/2: • Little Island Lake, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Frontier Ruckus, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Royale, 8 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/3: • Ann Arbor Soul Club, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • The Cab, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Prussia, 7:30 p.m., The Pike Room, Pontiac • Cheryl Wheeler, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Matt Jones and the Reconstruction, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/4: • UNICEF Benefit Show, The B-Side Venue, 7:00p.m. • Bob Marley Birthday Bash, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Sebastian Bach, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • Third Coast Kings, 9 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Yiddishe Cup, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/5: • Dan Bennet Quartet, 8 p.m.,
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Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/6: • Voo Doo Glow Skulls, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Todd Osborn, 11 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Laith Al-Saadi, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/7: • Blind Pilot, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Chucho Valdes, 8 p.m., Music Hall Center, Detroit • The Global Jazz Project, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/8: • Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • OCD Moosh and Twist, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Craig Finn, 9 p.m., PJ’s Lager House, Detroit • Girlyman and Edie Carey, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Lord Centipede, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/9: • Cornmeal, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Giantour, featuring Megadeth and Motorhead, 6:30 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • Dark Star Orchestra, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • William Fitzsimmons and Denison Witmer, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/10: • Heroes on Parade, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Nick Carter, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • The Darkness with Foxy Shazam, 7:30 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
i SPY FEBRUARY 2012
2012 • Newfound Road, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Student Songwriter Series, 8 p.m., U of M Museum of Art, Ann Arbor • Dilla Day Detroit with Busta Rhymes, 8 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Tamer Hosny, 8:30 p.m., Detroit Opera House • Jehovah’s Witness Protection Program, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/11: • Killer Flamingos, 10 p.m., Millennium Club, Ann Arbor • The Love Bang!, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Trick Trick, 8 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • Mustard’s Retreat, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Lawless Carver, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Bury the Witness and Caesar, The B-side Venue, 7:00p.m. 2/12: • Cody Simpson, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • My Folky Valentine, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Todd Osborn, 11 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/13: • Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Laith Al-Saadi, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/14: • Solas, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • The Broadway we Love, Kerrytown Concert House, 8:00p.m. 2/15: • Woody Pines, 10: 30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • Veronica Falls, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig,
Ann Arbor • JT Nero and Allison Russell, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • The Love Hangover, 7 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/16: • Iggy Shevak, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
• Manhattan Transfer, 8 p.m., Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit • Jill Sobule, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/17: • The Dirty Guv’Nahs, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Flogging Molly, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Ekoostik Hookah, 8 p.m., Magic Bag, Ferndale • Kansas, 8 p.m., Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren • The RFD Boys, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/18: • Papadosio, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Wayne Static, 5 p.m., Harpos, Detroit • Umphrey’s McGee, 6:30 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Rock the Runway Concert, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • Marsha Ambrosius, 8 p.m., Detroit Opera House • Mord Fustang, 9 p.m., St. Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Elbow Deep, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/19: • ASAP Rocky, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Kate Clinton, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor
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AROUND YOU // CALENDAR
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comedy/ 2/11: • D. L. Hughley, 8 p.m., Music Hall
e
Performanc
2/9 – 2/11: • The Vagina Monologues, EMU Student Center Auditorium
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COmmunity 1/27 – 5/8: • Karanis Revealed II, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Ann Arbor 2/5: • Super Bowl Party, Noon, The Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti • Super Bowl XLVI, 4 p.m., Arbor Brewing Company, Ann Arbor 2/8: • WCBN Free Movie Night, 8:30 p.m., Tap Room, Ypsilanti 2/11: • Ford Lake Frozen Leap, 10 a.m., Lake Shore Apartments, Ypsilanti 2/12: • Ann Arbor Civic Theatre Chili Cook-off, Noon, Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti 2/17: •Artini Martini Bar Crawl, A2 Bars, 7:00p.m. 2/18: • The Ark’s 25th Annual Storytelling Festival, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/19:
• Storytelling Festival for Kids, 1 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/26 – 2/27: • Depot Town Chili Cookoff, Noon, Corner Brewery and Depot Town, Ypsilanti
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Theatre, 7:00p.m. • The Finer Things, 9: 30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Jane’s Addiction, 7:30 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Trey Songz with Big Sean, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit
Center, Detroit • Ladies’ Night Out R&B and Comedy Show, featuring Carl Thomas and Bill Bellamy, 8 p.m., Detroit Opera House 2/25: • Royal Comedy Tour, 7 p.m., Detroit Opera House
FEBRUARY 2012
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2/20: • Van Halen, 7:30 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • Yacht, 8 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Gaelic Storm, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/21: • The Moth, 7:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • Nit Grit & Two Fresh, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Mike Doughty, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/22: • Back Forty, 10: 30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • Doomtree, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Playing for Change, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/23: • Fareed Haque’s Math Games, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • August Burns Red, 6 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Korn, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Rehab, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • Emilie Autumn, 8 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Musiq Soulchild, 8 p.m., Sound Board at Motor City Casino Hotel, Detroit • Jeffrey Foucault, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/24: • Vintage Hollywood: Take 3, Michigan
• BreakFEST 2012 to benefit Breakfast at St. Andrew’s, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Big Gigantic, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak • Black Jake and the Carnies, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/25: • Killer Flamingos, 10 p.m., Millennium Club, Ann Arbor • Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Dim Mak’s Deadmeat Tour, 6:30 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Big Time Rush, 7 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit • Lady Antebellum, 7 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • Third Annual Punk Rock Winter Formal, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Susan Werner, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Drunken Barn Dance, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/26: • Matthew Good with Emily Greene, 7 p.m., Saint Andrews Hall, Detroit • David Francey, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/27: • Mona, Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit 2/28: • Young the Giant, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit 2/29: • Cold Men Young, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Islands, Magnetic Recording, 8 p.m., Pontiac
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FEATURE //
The Ragbirds 18
i SPY FEBRUARY 2012
BY MARY SIMKINS
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// FEATURE
) y l l a r e t i L ( d e l i O l l e W A Travelin’ Machine
Originally from Ypsilanti, the now Ann Arborbased Ragbirds have been gaining national momentum (and touring their tailfeathers off!) during the past year, but the effortless fusion of world cultures and styles in their music has been pleasing fans since 2005. Currently touring the U.S., the five-piece band employs a great variety of instruments to create a truly unique sound. With a newlyreleased fourth album and a growing fanbase (or flock), this small town band is making it big, while still remembering to appreciate the little things. When Erin Zindle (the band’s lead singer, writer and multiinnstrumentalist) answers my phone call, the band is stopped somewhere between Birmingam, Alabama and Oxford, Mississippi. Why are they stopped, you ask? Oh, just empyting out grease traps from a local restaurant. With a tour bus that runs on recycled waste vegetable oil, stops like this one are a regular occurrence on the road. While Randy (the tour manager) sees a guy about a greasetrap, Erin is kind enough to answer a few questions. Your new album, “Traveling Machine,” definitely has an eclectic energy. Is it important to you to feature many different styles in your albums? “Traveling Machine” is definitely in keeping with our style of eclectic fusion, influenced by rhythms from all over the world. The title of
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the album, as well as the music, was inspired by all of the traveling we do as a band. Having been able to experience so many different people’s worldviews has allowed us to see the big picture… to see all of these really diverse people as kind of a mosaic of God. The songs each seem to have their own unique personalities. Did any stand out as favorites, whether in production or as a finished product? I really loved the way “The Race” turned out. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but another one I loved was “Tomorrow River.” Michael Ibrahim played the ood on that track, which helped make it so rich. It’s also the first song I’ve written for my mother, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. Among the many accolades the Ragbirds have received lately, you were recently named by High Times Magazine as “Band of the Month” for January 2012. How has the growing national attention affected things for you? It’s been encouraging! I’ve been doing interviews almost every day. A lot more people are talking about us. It’s exciting, especially with the album still fresh off the presses. It’s great to see some momentum already. So, with a bus run on vegetable oil, you must be quite an environmentally-conscious group. Are there other steps you take toward “living green”?
Really it’s all just about personal actions – making daily decisions to try to use our own water bottles and real cups and plates when we can. It’s the little things, and we try our best. It’s difficult on the go, because it’s easier to run with the disposable lifestyle, but we do what we can. We care about the impact our actions make on the earth. Your solo album, “Scenes From the Fragile Agile Avian World,” was released late last year and has already been touted by critics. What can those who haven’t heard it yet expect from it? Well, I’m always inspired to write by the things around me, and, for a while now, I’ve been accumulating songs that just didn’t really seem like Ragbirds songs – there’s a lot of piano. As a songwriter, there are a lot of different styles of music that I love to express myself through, and I had fun experimenting with what I could do without my band behind me with their drums and bass. And last, but not least, when can we see you guys back home? We’ll be at The Ark in Ann Arbor on March 23 for sort of an album release party for “Traveling Machine.” It’s more of a “CD celebration” actually, since the album was released while we’ve been away on tour. We’re excited to be home and want everyone to come party with us. We can’t wait to share our new songs with our hometown fans.
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i SPY
FEATURE //
In 2009, the Lake Shore Apartments and Pakmode Media + Marketing (publishers of iSPY Magazine) teamed up to create this “cool” event. With over 50 jumpers, and $4,000 raised in their first year and over $10,000 the past 3, the two companies knew they had created an event that would not only engage the youth of the community to give back, but quickly realized that people of all ages wanted to participate in this daring challenge of leaping into the ice cold waters of Ford Lake in the middle of Februrary. “It really became apparent to us last year that people of all ages wanted to participate in this event. When we first started in 2009, almost all of our jumpers were students, but last year we had a grandma and grandson duo take the leap together. We welcome and encourage people of all ages to participate,” said Bilal Saeed, Brofounder of Pakmode Media + Marketing and one of the organizers of the event. “The thing that makes our event unique compared to ones similar is that we give our leapers all of the support necessary to make this
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i SPY FEBRUARY 2012
experience as fun and memorable as possible. At other events, you jump in and once you get out your on your own. We provide a warming shower tent, dressing rooms and a heated tent which serves coffee, hot chocolate and food to those who participated,” added Jen Radziszewski of the Lake Shore Apartments team. Those daring enough to take the plunge are required to raise a minimum of $50 and have a team of 3 or more. This gets each leaper a commemorative Ford Lake Frozen Leap t-shirt, amongst other goodies which are donated from different local and regional sponsors of the event. Leapers are encouraged to dress in costumes to add a little flare. Teams can register by going to http://www. crowdrise.com/fordlakefrozenleap, by visiting the website at http://www.frozenleap.com or by stopping by the Lake Shore Apartments leasing office at 2500 Lake Shore Blvd. Ypsilanti, MI 48197. The event has set a goal of $10,000, which will beat all previous years’ efforts. Prizes will be
awarded to the top fundraiser, most spirited team and top fundraising team. To help fundraising efforts, this year the organizers teamed up with community favorites, Beezy’s Cafe and the Ypsilanti Buffalo Wild Wings to “Dine and Donate.” Just stop by Beezy’s on Saturday, February 4th from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and 10% of your order will be donated, and on Wednesday, February 8th the Ypsilanti Buffalo Wild Wings will be donating 20% of your bill. But if you dine in between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. they’ll be donating 25%! SOS Community Services is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness in Washtenaw County through partnerships with caring individuals, local businesses and organizations, social service agencies and professionals. For more info on the 4th Annual Ford Lake Frozen Leap, visit their website at www.frozenleap.com.
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FEATURE //
Matt Jones 22
and the Reconstruction
BY PAUL KITTI
i SPY FEBRUARY 2012
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// FEATURE
A conversation with Matt Jones – musician, circus dreamer and amateur historian The elevator door opens with a squeak and a rattle to reveal two blond-haired musicians: Matt Jones with his guitar and Colette Alexander with her cello. It’s a cram on the way up to the fourth floor, but they’ve seen their share of tight spaces. From the cozy confines of Ann Arbor’s The Getup to packed vans to tiny Philadelphia stages, Matt Jones and his bandmates have grown accustomed to delivering their folky, story-laden baroque-pop through any means necessary, but I think they’re about to get a little more elbow room. There are dozens of impressive acts brewing in our local music scene, but Matt Jones – along with friends and musical teammates Chris Bathgate and Misty Lynn – is one of the few to bubble to the surface. I don’t need to spend too much time convincing you that there’s a much larger audience for his music lingering around the corner. A spin through his 2009 release “The Black Path” or a night spent at one of his shows gets that point across. But tonight, they’ve come to play for an audience of two in our Ypsilanti office. With a speaking voice appropriate for his six-foot six-inches frame and flannel-chested, bespectacled appearance, the voice that shows up in his songs can be unexpected. It’s a soft, almost crooning tenor, like how that little voice in your head would sound if it were to sing, but not without the ability to belt it out at times. And there’s another layer of deception: beneath the inviting vocals and whimsical, stringsdriven soundscapes are stories of sadness and regret, dark history lessons and resonating commentaries. All told in poet’s words, of course. It’s not a stretch to compare Jones to the historyobsessed Decemberists or a more sped-up
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Death Cab For Cutie, but I wouldn’t say these comparisons really prepare you for what you’ll hear from the Michigan-born musician. As Jones explains, his eccentric background plays heavily into his musical interests: “My mother’s side of the family were all musicians, including musicians in the circus. I’ve actually been asked to do that as well... I would love to, but maybe a hundred years ago.” The circus lore embedded generations-deep in his family is perhaps evidenced in the spooky, almost quirky quality of his story-driven songs, which evoke imagery in a Sufjan Stevensesque way. Jones recalls growing up in Adrian, Michigan, where “there was nothing else to do except play music,” so it makes sense that his lyrics take a sort of hard-working Midwestern narrative, told from the perspective of someone with a fairytale imagination supplemented by a tall stack of history books. While his mom’s side gets credit for the circus influence, Jones’ obsession with the Civil War was initiated by his dad, who was always trying to get him to read. “It wasn’t until I got extremely sick one weekend and couldn’t leave my bed that I picked up one of the books he gave me and started reading,” Jones recalls. “I’ve always been attracted to history – things that are old and have a little historical character to them.” This obsession seems to crop up in his music as well, with snippets of historical imagery and themes of tragedy and destruction interacting with stringed instrumentation that produces a haunting, spirits-over-battlefields vibe. Embedded in his poetic writing are lines that have the ability to stun, such as this one from “Holy Light” where Jones sings, “you took the soul from my songs cause the soul was bad / I cried treason and trials
were had / but defense was trite.” Today, however, Jones and Alexander are performing new songs from “Half Poison, Half Pure,” which will be released in March. “It’s a lot different from The Black Path,” Jones says. “I actually let a lot of other people put their hand in it. It came out really good, but it came out as something I’m completely not used to. I thought you had to love your own album before you put it out, and I don’t think that’s true anymore. I’m gonna put it out and I know I’m gonna continue to like it even more.” New instruments and band members were added for this “less spooky” album, so the ensemble is collectively named Matt Jones and the Reconstruction. That last word refers to the noticeable but not-extreme change in musical style, and, of course, the Civil War. Strapped around Jones is a guitar that’s nearing eligibility for resale in antique shops, and Alexander sits upright with her cello. They perform “Games We Used to Play,” which introduces an unshakeable hook with vocals that are quick and punchy in the verses and longingly drawn-out in the chorus. It’s a mix of dark and delightful – a sound that is sure to win over new audiences as they tour with Chris Bathgate in Europe towards the end of this spring. “I should have brought my uniform,” Jones says, posing for a picture to accompany this article. “You actually have a uniform from the Civil War?” I ask. I immediately retract the question. Of course he does. View our interview and watch a live, in studio performance with Matt and Colette over at www. ispymagazine.co.
FEBRUARY 2012
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i SPY
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REVIEW // SOUNDS
rate it+++
ARTIST: The Ragbirds ALBUM: Traveling Machine 4/5 TOWERS BY MARY SIMKINS The Ragbirds are known for their eclectic folk style, and their latest release is no different. “Traveling Machine” borrows sounds from all over while adding some great writing and expected instruments to produce an incredibly enjoyable record. Whether songs are upbeat, pensive or (in the case of “Mercy of the Sea”) eerily reminiscent of a pirate drinking song, “Traveling Machine” uses metaphor and story to uplift the listener. The wonderful thing about this album is that it does, indeed, take you on a journey around the world, sharing the band’s diverse experiences through their music. Whether offering a glimpse into life on the road with upbeat island percussion as in “Six Wheels” or making you dance with an upbeat love song (“Following You”), The Ragbirds keep your attention for the duration of the album. Several tracks had me hitting ‘Repeat’ for their uniqueness. “Learn to Shine” has light
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instrumentals and a fairytale rock vibe, but what makes it memorable is its endearing lyrics and encouraging metaphor. “The Bully” was another track in which the rhythm and lyrics will give you an urge to jump up and take control, stand up for yourself or beat up the neighborhood bully (not recommended for people over 18). Of my favorites, the most stand-out, fantastic, welldone song was “Moribayassa (I’ll Fly Away).” This beautifully arranged reinvention of an oldtime hymn will bring a new appreciation to an old favorite. If you’re looking for a new sound by local artists, “Traveling Machine” will serve as a good introduction to The Ragbirds’ unique and adored style.
i SPY FEBRUARY 2012
You can’t call it a comeback, but considering how “Universal Mind Control” was received with blank and incredulous stares, it’s nice to see Common embrace his craft again with his ninth studio album “The Dreamer, The Believer.” To be honest, I thought we may have lost him for good to the film industry. But he has returned, bringing dynamic producer No I.D. and gritty wordplay with him. However, it’s surprising that Common is not only setting the stage to show that he’s still a contender but is also letting his harder side show through on tracks like “Ghetto Dreams,” featuring Nas (and primal admiration for women). Common’s brazen attitude also extends itself to “Sweet,” an aggressive attack on Drake and “Raw (How You Like It).” He doesn’t completely abandon his neo-soul shine and empowering messages, though, as those are still in abundance – such
as in the Maya Angelou collaborative track, “The Dreamer,” and “Windows,” which is dedicated to his daughter. These elements also shine through in the falsetto hooks and relationship musing in “Lovin’ I Lost and in the R&B groove, “Gold.” As far as cohesive samples go, this is Common’s most solid contribution. But the album isn’t a far cry from what Common has done before. If anything, it’s another strong set of tracks to add to his overall compilation. Even if it does sound somewhat like a recycling of previous trajectories, it still carries a distinctive flair that has been noticeably absent since “Be.” And, if there is anything that works best for the MC, it’s when he’s most comfortable in his musical skin.
ARTIST: Common ALBUM: The Dreamer,The Believer 4/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE
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SOUNDS // REVIEW
rate it+++ Toronto’s Abel Tesfaye belongs to the small club of deserving artists who achieved recognition in 2011 through strategic use of the internet. Releasing free music under the name The Weeknd, he connected with listeners – among them fellow Canadian, Drake – through a mix of creative samples, synth-driven R&B, a confident falsetto and darkly clever lyrics. “Echoes of Silence” is The Weeknd’s third album in nine months, and it stands as the most tightly produced and conceptually sound. Opener “D.D.” sets the tone for the eight tracks that follow. An indecipherable chain of ghostly vocal samples introduces Tesfaye at his most Michael Jackson-esque, slowly building up tension in his chest until he’s competing with hostile percussive pounding. It’s unsettling and alluring, communicating self-destruction both through its sound and conversational lyrics.
“Echoes of Silence” is essentially a series of stories ranging from sad to sadistic, told from the day-after lamenting of someone who needed the night to turn out differently. When Tesfaye isn’t inwardly-focused – he’s critically observant: “Cause these nights pass so much quicker than the days did / same clothes you ain’t ready for your day shift / But you’re up and you need money for your face lift,” he sings on love-song-gone-wrong “XO/The Host.” It’s a dark ride, moody and supremely secular, with just enough turns to keep it unpredictable and compelling.
ARTIST: The Weeknd ALBUM: Echoes of Silence 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI
Honestly, I’ve never been the biggest Snow Patrol fan. Something about the slow, depressing sound just never did anything for me and, after “Chasing Cars,” it was pretty much all downhill from there. But, now that I listen to their new album, I can’t help but think that maybe I didn’t give Snow Patrol a fighting chance. I have to say, there’s something about their new album, “Fallen Empires,” that intrigues me. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still that signature Snow Patrol melancholy throughout the album, but the band has been heading towards a new sound and that has never been more apparent than in this album. Right away, the album piqued my interest with the opening two songs “I’ll Never Let Go” and “Called Out in the Dark” – two tracks with upbeat melodies with contrasting lyrics that are not exactly cheerful.
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However, my favorite track on the album is the bonus acoustic version of the track “This Isn’t Everything You Are.” It’s got a raw, honest sound that I appreciate, and it remains true to Snow Patrol’s signature sounds while mixing it up on an album that contains a lot of upbeat guitar and synthesized sounds. I may not be a true believer just yet, but I must say, it’s worth giving this album a listen. And, for those of you who already dig Snow Patrol, you won’t be disappointed either.
ARTIST: Snow Patrol ALBUM: Fallen Empires 3/5 TOWERS BY MARISSA MCNEES
FEBRUARY 2012
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REVIEW // THE CUT
Is there a mole in the heart of the British intelligence? That simple question unravels into a massive pile of tangled threads, complex histories and illusive associations in “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” a meticulous Cold War thriller with a brooding atmosphere. Director Tomas Alfredson (“Let the Right One In”) makes all the right moves in differentiating this adaptation of the 1974 novel from other films in the genre. Characters are developed quickly and fully, and the extremely dense plot is set into a brisk motion that demands detective-like concentration from audiences. It’s not enough to just pay attention – if you aren’t actively problem-solving and picking up on queues hidden in the dialogue and facial expressions of the actors, you won’t enjoy this film. Except, of course, if you become taken with Gary Oldman’s mesmerizing – yes, mesmerizing – performance and realize that his turn as the quietlyerupting protagonist, George
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+++rate
FILM: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy DIRECTOR: Tomas Alfredson 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI
Let’s be honest for a second. This film, while well worth the viewing, mainly targets American viewers who haven’t seen the 2009 Swedish version. So, if you are looking for a comparison, this isn’t it. Just know that both films stick closely to the novel and depict it in marginally different, but compelling ways. However, the American version makes the interesting choice of keeping the film’s setting in Sweden, with characters speaking in Swedish-tinged English. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is an adaptation from Stieg Larsson’s popular thriller, centered on heroine Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) and disgraced journalist Mikael Blomkvist’s (Daniel Craig) look into a 40 year-old unsolved death on an isolated island in Sweden. While this may sound a little Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew-ish, I assure you that it is far from it. The story
it
is far more complicated and dark with its Nazi links, abusive scenes, and sinister characters that have rooted their evil ways into the country’s political stage. What stands out in this film are its visually stunning depictions against the backdrop of an engaging storyline. The overall tone and cast are seamlessly woven together to fashion a compelling look into any given situation. Stellan Skarsgard, Christopher Plummer and Craig give outstanding performances as they lay down the foundation for the film’s primary plotline. But it is Mara’s portrayal of emotionally removed Salander that provides a connection to the audience. Viewers may find her circumstances unimaginable and overwhelmingly disturbing, but how she chooses to persevere is what sets her apart from other female champions.
Smiley, is worth the ticket price. Sex and violence isn’t exploited through extended erotic and dizzying scenes, as we’ve become accustomed to seeing in most high-production films of this nature. Instead, the real entertainment is rooted in rich storytelling and a heavily-present human element. But the whole experience can be a little exhausting and (although rewarding) may take a second run to absorb.
i SPY FEBRUARY 2012
FILM: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo DIRECTOR: David Fincher 4/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE
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// REVIEW
Pause, Rewind, Fast Forward The best films of 2011 and the most anticipated 2012 releases BY PAUL KITTI
If humans needed to take a month out of the year to hibernate, you can bet every movie lover would choose January. It has become the pre-Oscar dumping ground, where every theater that isn’t a ghost town probably should be because paying to see most January releases is like some kind of warped charity. That’s why, instead of focusing too heavily on current releases, we’re going to look back at some of the best films of 2011 (all of which will have been released on DVD as of January 31st), then forward to the 2012 films that should be worth waking up for.
Best Oscar Nominees of 2011
The Tree of Life
God bless Brad Pitt for escaping his seemingly inevitable fate as a typecast next-gen Redford earlier in his career. Had he not done so, he never would’ve been in the position to act as the powerful anchor of Terrence Malick’s latest exercise in film mastery. “The Tree of Life” has been that one film of the year that just won’t go away even months after viewing, and I’m beginning to think of it in terms of this whole decade. Through a small-town Texas family, viewers witness nothing less than the creation of the universe and the escalating tangle between humanity and the idea of God, perfectly acted and poetically crafted, with imagery that can steal your breath. Watch it twice. Nominated for 2012 Oscars for Best Picture, Cinematography and Directing
Midnight in Paris The legendary Woody Allen has made some of the best and some of the worst movies I’ve seen, but if there’s one thing he always does with excellence it’s capturing the character of the cities his stories take place in. With that being said, I wanted to see “Midnight in Paris” as soon as the title was revealed. Surprisingly this time, after over a decade of turning out mediocre films, Allen delivers one that gets everything just right – alluring depiction of Paris included. Sure, it’s a bit less daring than some of the other movies on this list. And yeah, you could argue that Owen Wilson talks a bit too much. But there’s something enchanting and irresistible about “Midnight in Paris,” and witnessing great literary heroes of the 1920’s come to life is pleasantly nostalgic. This is Woody Allen still gripping onto his signature cynicism and dark humor, but with a remarkably gleeful countenance. Nominated for Best Picture, Art Direction, Directing and Writing (Original Screenplay)
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Drive
When you see that rare perfect film, it can be frustratingly difficult to determine exactly what made that film perfect. In the case of “Drive,” maybe it was Ryan Gosling’s masterful feat of acting almost solely through facial expressions as the quiet and nameless Driver. Maybe it was the unnerving synth score pulsing at varying rates throughout or the consistent ‘80s vibe or the insanely rapid-smooth pacing. It could also be the way Nicolas Winding Refn’s eerie restraint occasionally blips to reveal grisly violence or near-suffocating chase sequences. I’m gonna watch it again and again until I figure it out, which I’m hoping will take a long time. Nominated for a 2012 Oscar for Sound Editing – and was snubbed in many other categories, in my opinion.
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Best Sleeper Comedies of 2011
Trollhunter This comically self-aware Swedish film in the style of “The Blair Witch Project” and the spirit of “Shawn of the Dead” took a little while to catch on in the U.S., but those who were exposed to “Trollhunter” are ensuring its continued spread through American family rooms. The only film that’s ever made me laugh while cringing in suspense while dumbified in dazzlement, it had me in a vicious troll-grip from the very beginning. I could get into the film’s hysterical abuse of its characters or its charmingly twisted treatment of Norwegian folklore, but the less you know the better.
Win Win
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This is a comedy-drama in the way that real life is often heavy and occasionally hilarious. Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan give acting lessons as they inhabit their roles, leaving the natural quality of the script unscathed. On the surface, this is just another feel-good film focusing on a middle-class American family – which is why its power to impress left me temporarily perplexed. But, after some thought, I think I figured it out: “Win Win” derives emotion organically, never forcing its characters in certain directions. It explores friendships and family dynamics candidly; it’s gritty and heartfelt and cynical in equal measure. Also, it’s centered around wrestling – and I still liked it.
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If the world ends this December, at least the apocalypse had the courtesy of holding off until we got the chance to see some of the most exciting movies to come around in a long time. The following are just a handful of what the coming months have to offer.
Blockbusters The Hunger Games (March 23) No popular book series is safe from the ever-watchful eye of Hollywood, but unlike a certain vampire trilogy, this one looks like it may be worthwhile. The novel was the fourteenth best-selling book of 2010, meaning a lot of people were interested in reading about kids fighting to the death. I’m betting even more will be interested in actually seeing it. Marvel’s The Avengers (May 4) In a sense, this movie has had four feature-length “trailers” to promote it. Marvel Studios has spent the past few years making sure that Avengers is perpetually in the back of audience’s minds. Comic book lovers have been separated into two camps, including resolute obsession and unbridled disdain. So in May, when Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America and the rest of the elite gang shows up to save everybody, they better be damn entertaining doing it. If not, Batman won’t be too far behind. And he always gets the job done. The Dark Knight Rises (July 20) If the trailer is any indicator, this final chapter in Christopher Nolan’s unrivaled Batman series could become “The Godfather” of the superhero genre. It’s safe to say that Nolan simply did it right, and I’m excited to see what the innovative director tackles next. And here’s to hoping Hollywood doesn’t pull a Spiderman on the franchise. Leave Batman alone. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (December 14) Peter Jackson takes us back to Middle Earth in this first installment of the long-awaited two-part project. Anticipation is currently contained to widespread murmuring, but expect the buzz to swell into worldwide obsession as December approaches. The Great Gatsby (December 25) There’s something to be said about the timing of bringing F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel back to the screen. An examination of extravagant and indulgent lifestyles with tragic destinations, it’ll be interesting to see how the tale resonates with this generation. And, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carrey Mulligan in the lead roles and the revered reputation of the novel in the hands of director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!), “The Great Gatsby” is certain to reach a massive audience.
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Argo / Ben Affleck (September 14) With each film, Ben Affleck is shaping up to be one of the best actorturned-directors of his generation. Who saw that coming? Frankenweenie / Tim Burton (October TBD) It would be a bland year without one of Tim Burton’s morbidly charming stop-motion features, and this resurrection of an ‘80s short about a boy who brings his dog back to life could rank up there with Nightmare. At the very least, it’s almost guaranteed to have the coolest title of any movie this year. Lincoln / Steven Spielberg (December TBD) Daniel Day Lewis is one of the last method actors alive, and he only takes one role every few years. His turn as Abraham Lincoln could put his own name in future history books. The Master / Paul Thomas Anderson (TBD) Paul Thomas Anderson is holed up in his laboratory concocting his follow-up to “There Will Be Blood,” and his lab assistants are Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix. He’s becoming one of those rare directors who generates interest while trying not to.
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2012 Must See Films
These films may be smaller dots on the Hollywood radar, but they have the potential to sneak up and shoot the others out of the sky:
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