iSPY Magazine // May 2012

M A G A Z I N E May 2012 // ispymagazine.co

Mayer Hawthorne Ann Arbor Summer Festival Movement 2012 A2/Ypsi Bucket List

Andrew Bird

CORNER BREWERY AD Check

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Thursday, May17

Monday, May14

Meet and Greet with Matt & Rene Greff Ypsi Pride Day Special Beer Release

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Friday, May18

Tuesday, May15 Game Night Industry Day

Saturday, May19

Party in the Brewery Meet the Brewers

Depot Town Progressive Craft Beer Tour

Sunday, May20

Wednesday, May16

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Dr Arnold Bulos received his doctorate from the Illinois College of Optometry and his Pre-Optometric education from the University of California, Los Angeles. His Clinical rotations have included the areas of Primary Care Optometry, Low Vision and Pediatric/ Binocular Vision. In addition to his Clinical rotations at the Illinois College of Optometry , Dr Bulos Served as Chief Military Optometrist of the Troop Medical Clinic Fourth Infantry Division, Ft Hood Texas. He has been a Practicing Optometrist for 18 years in the Ann Arbor area. Community activities include serving inner city Detroit children with optical examinations. Volunteer missions have extended to serving patients in Guadalajara, Mexico. Dr Bulos has also been a member with the local performing arts group Measure for Measure.

Dr Bulos feels technology is rapidly changing the eye care industry: we utilize the latest in diagnostic equipment and are committed in keeping up with whatever advances will come next.

2048 Whittaker Rd. Ypsilanti, MI 48197

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contents

MAY

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[the buzz] 06

Green Street Fair, M83, Aziz Ansari, Neon Indian

07

Grouplove, The Muggs, The Avett Brothers, Jam-N-Slam

10

Eve 6, B.B. King, Afrojack

08

Colin Hay, Kurt Vile, Avicii

Adventures in Local Food + pg 13

[foodie]

A2/Ypsi Bucket List + pg 20

12 The Dish: Al Dente Pasta Company 13

Adventures in Local Food #17

14

Ann Arbor Summer Festival

[scene] 15

Jack White

20

Retyi. Set. Go. - A2/Ypsi College Bucket List

15

Movement 2012

[around you]

Mayer Hawthorne + pg 18

Rate It + pg 26

16 May Events Calendar

[style] 21

Denim Daze

[features]

18 Mayer Hawthorne 22 Andrew Bird

[review] 26 29

Rate it! - Sounds Rate it! - The Cut Cover by Cameron Wittig

Join Our Online Community facebook.com/ispymagazine @ispymagazine

youtube.com/ispymagazine

foursquare.com/ispymagazine search “ispy magazine”

PUBLISHER + tim adkins

EDITORIAL +

[editor in chief] amanda slater [writers] amanda slater, tim adkins, stefanie stauffer, richard retyi paul kitti, marissa mcnees, aimee mandle, mary simkins, david nassar, jeff milo

ART +

[designers] tim adkins, joel diaz [photographers] bruno postigo, kristin slater

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

SALES +

[print + online] tim adkins / tim@pakmode.com pat raymond / pat@pakmode. com [business development] bilal saeed / bilal@pakmode.com

© 2012, 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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PUBLIC ENEMY

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MONDAY 5/28

SUNDAY 5/27

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JEFF MILLS

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THE BUZZ //

M83 // Majestic Theater / Green Street Fair // Downtown Plymouth / May 4 May 5

Aziz Ansari // Royal Oak Music Theatre / May 5

BY ISPY STAFF

BY MARISSA MCNEES

BY AIMEE MANDLE

The Green Street Fair will celebrate its 5th anniversary this spring in Downtown Plymouth on May 4 -- 6, 2012.

Green Street Fair, Inc. was founded to help educate and inform people of all ages about the benefits of green, organic, and eco-friendly products and services. To promote global interest and personal well-being, the Green Street Fair blends companies, artisans, entertainers and workshops together in a friendly and familyoriented outdoor environment. Consumers who attend the Green Street Fair will be encouraged to learn the advantages of taking strides, large or small, towards living a healthier and greener life.

The 2011 Green Street Fair had an estimated attendance of 90,000 attendees during the three day event. Over 200 exhibitors and 30 sponsors were on-site showcasing, demonstrating and selling eco-friendly, organic and green products.

To learn more about the Green Street Fair, visit www.greenstreetfair.com.

Neon Indian // Magic Stick / May 6

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BY MARY SIMKINS

i SPY MAY 2012

Named after spiral galaxy Messier 83, French duo Anthony Gonzalez and Nicolas Fromageau formed their ambient pop act in 2001. Two years later, the group received international praise for their breakthrough album “Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts.”

Since then, M83 has released six albums, with their latest double album “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming” achieving acclaim from critics and fans alike. Gonzalez dreamed of creating this album since he heard The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” The album was “written like a soundtrack to an imaginary movie with different ambiences, different atmospheres, different temps, different orchestrations and different instrumentation.”

Fresh off from Coachella, the band will be performing on Saturday, May 5 at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $20.

Hailed by Rolling Stone as one of the hottest new bands of the year (2010), indie electronic sensation Neon Indian has been instrumental (pun intended) in forming a whole new genre of music.

The hypnagogic pop/glo-fi/chillwave genre has benefited from the multi-talented Alan Palomo, the man behind Neon Indian. Palomo’s brainchild, Neon Indian, will roll into Detroit on Sunday, May 6 for what promises to be a high-energy show at the Magic Stick.

Hailing from Denton, Texas, Neon Indian has toured with big-names like Phoenix, Sleigh Bells and Massive Attack. The debut album “Psychic Chasms” received critical attention when Pitchfork

Comedian Aziz Ansari, known for his stand-up acts and role on NBC’s hit show “Parks and Recreation,” will be at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on May 5.

This show is one of the few stops on what Ansari is calling the Buried Alive tour. The tour will feature all new material not previously seen in Ansari’s Dangerously Delicious special, so fans of the comedian can prepare themselves for what is sure to be a hilarious show.

A word to those considering buying tickets, Ansari urged in a recent statement, “Please don’t buy tickets for this show and try to use them to sneak into an Usher concert – that will NOT work.”

We’ll try to remember that, Aziz.

Tickets for the show can be purchased at www.tour.azizansari.com.

named it number 14 on the staff’s list of 50 best albums of 2009. Twenty-three year-old Alan Palomo composes all of his own songs, and appears onstage with a live band consisting of drummer Jason Faries, keyboardist and vocalist Leanne Macomber and visual stylist Lars Larsen. No stranger to the festival scene, Neon Indian was recently seen performing at Coachella and the band is now gearing up for a slot at August’s Lollapalooza festival. But you can catch them at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 6 at the Magic Stick in Detroit. Tickets are $15.

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// THE BUZZ

Of all the band formation stories I’ve heard, this may be one of the more interesting in recent memory: Five individuals. Two meet in New York, dig each other’s styles, then, naturally, take a trip to Crete together. Two others – childhood friends – and a lone wolf third happen to be staying at the same commune on the same island. Like a trippy comedy, the personalities converge, discover near-identical musical tastes and philosophies and form a band bursting with hippieinduced creativity and bound for the dorm rooms of every college student with a pair of headphones and a free afternoon for music-scavenging.

Grouplove // The Crofoot / May 11

The Muggs // Woodruff’s / May 12

BY PAUL KITTI

BY PAUL KITTI PHOTO FABRIZIO COSTANTI

They’re Grouplove, and they’re really quite good. Their music is dripping with youth and imagination and freedom – all that good stuff – and they excel at turning sunshine into a sound. You could exit one of their indoor concerts with a sunburn. They’ve been getting a whole lotta love back, too, with their singles “Colours” and “Tongue Tied” creeping up the charts last year, a turn as MTV Artist of the Week in February and a performance on Jimmy Kimmel just before that.

Don’t miss them at the Crofoot on May 11. And don’t forget sunscreen and dancing shoes.

The Muggs could only remain Detroit’s best-kept secret for a small window of time. Forming in 2000 out of what now seems like an inevitable act of destiny, they’ve gone on to defy what’s traditionally possible for mostly unsigned, underground rock bands. They were featured in a “rockumentary” of best underground bands on PBS in 2007 as well as the FOX TV series “The Next Great American Band,” placing in the top 12 out of over 10,000. They were named “Outstanding Rock Artist/Group” at the 2008 Detroit Music Awards, were placed on the 100 Hot Unsigned Bands list in Music Connection Magazine in 2008 and declared Real

The Avett Brothers // The Fillmore / May 18

Community Records Jam-N-Slam // St. Luke’s / May 19

BY ISPY STAFF

BY PAUL KITTI What most people don’t know about the banjo-wielding Avett Brothers is that they have roots in hard rock. Before Rick Rubin stumbled upon their “softer” stuff, the North Carolina siblings were catching their breath from climbing the American rock ‘n’ roll ladder with weekly back-porch jam sessions – real rowdy, southern style stuff. Those sessions eventually turned into “I and Love and You,” the inescapable folk-rock soundtrack of 2009.

They spent a lot of time in the studio earlier this year (new album soon?) and are back on the road where I expect they’ll have plenty of sounds

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Detroit Weekly’s Best Band of 2009.

Their story has continued with a highly-praised 2011 release, “Born Ugly.” Their 60s and 70s bluesinfluenced rock is as gritty, hardhitting and relentless as rock can be while still placing emphasis on style and song structure, and it’s only sharpened its edge over the years.

Their name – which brings to mind the words “ugly” and “mutt” – is a strange but spot-on definition of a Detroit band that is both bruised and bruising, persistent and loyal.

Catch them at at Woodruff’s in Ypsilanti on May 12 to see why they’ve become one of the most highly demanded rock bands in Detroit.

we haven’t heard before. Look for them at the Fillmore in Detroit on May 18. When you see them performing their Americana folk with the energy of some caffeinated headbangers, you’ll know where it came from.

Community Records is a social mission organization that builds community by bringing together diverse populations through collaborative participation in music & music education. The community records Jam-N-Slam is an opportunity for local high school bands, MCs and performers to come together for a musical battle of epic proportions sponsored

by Community Records. Prizes include the chance to play the Detroit Concert of Colors for $150 cash, music video production of the performance produced by MtheB.com, on-air radio time on

Tree Town Sound on 107one and a feature article in iSPY magazine.

Make sure you stop by St. Luke’s and support the future of the music scene in the area.

The Jam-N-Slam will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 at St. Luke’s church on 120 N. Huron Street in Ypsilanti.

BUZZ CONTINUED ON PG. 8

MAY 2012

i SPY

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THE BUZZ //

Colin Hay // The Ark / May 19 & 20

Avicii // Joe Louis Arena / May 22

BY MARY SIMKINS

BY MARY SIMKINS

If you’ve heard the music of the band Men at Work, then you’ve heard Colin Hay. More likely, you’ve heard his music in any one of Zach Braff’s projects (including the television show Scrubs in which Hay spends the entire episode popping up and singing). Known for his distinctive voice and skill on the acoustic guitar, this Scottish-Australian’s solo work has been pleasing fans and critics for years.

Booked for a two-night engagement at The Ark in Ann Arbor, the show promises to make good use of the intimate venue. It’s been said that Colin Hay is as much a lovable comedian as a talented musician and that his shows tend to make the audience feel as though they are taking a journey with him. If you are interested in embarking on said journey, don’t miss out on his May 19 – 20 performance at The Ark in Ann Arbor. Tickets are $28. For more information, visit theark.org. To sample some of Hay’s music, visit myspace.com/colinhay.

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i SPY MAY 2012

Kurt Vile // Blind Pig / May 19

BY MARY SIMKINS Musician and songwriter Kurt Vile will be at the Blind Pig with his band The Violators on May 19 with guests Black Bananas and True Widow. Chosen by Animal Collective to play at Somerset’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in 2011, Kurt Vile’s music is adored by fans and fellow musicians alike. Vile’s most recent album, “Smoke Ring for My Halo” reached #154 on the U.S. chart and is available for download on iTunes and his website (kurtvile.com).

A founding member of the band, The War on Drugs, Vile has been compared to artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. Often appearing on stage alongside The Violators, is former War on Drugs bandmate Adam Granduciel.

Vile will perform at 9 p.m. on May 19 at the Blind Pig as part of his Unites States tour, which will end in mid-June when he takes off for Germany to begin touring in Europe.

Tickets are $15. Ages 18 and up are welcome.

To buy tickets online, visit blindpigmusic. com. To learn more about Kurt Vile’s musical inspirations and sample some of his music, visit myspace.com/kurtvile or his website.

Tim Bergling, better known by his stage name Avicii, will be coming to Detroit at the end of May. With influences such as Daft Punk, Tiesto and Laidback Luke, Avicii has also acknowledged the Swedish House Mafia and Eric Prydz for exposing him to house music in the first place.

Avicii was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2011 for his collaboration with David Guetta on the track “Sunshine.” Other artists’ interest in Avicii’s music has caused there to be some controversy surrounding creative rights and royalties, but his focus remains on the music. Avicii seems to be always working on something new, with a current collaboration in the works with Tiesto and Sebastian Ingrosso, two internationally acclaimed DJs. Whether playing a festival or solo concert, Avicii’s shows have an energy level that never disappoints fans.

Avicii will perform at 9 p.m. on May 22 at the Joe Louis Arena. To listen to some of Avicii’s music, visit myspace.com/avicii or check out his official site at avicii.com.

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THE BUZZ //

I’m pretty sure that whoever coined the term “signature sound” must have been talking about B.B. King. At 86 years old, the road warrior of the blues, B.B. King, shows no signs of slowing down. Returning for what has become a yearly event, King and his faithful sidekick, Lucile, will take the stage at Detroit’s Fox Theater at 7:30 p.m. on May 23.

Sure, I could sit here and try to come up with something that’s never been said about him, something to describe the most legendary of living legends. But, you know as well as I

B.B. King // Fox Theater / May 22

Eve 6 // St. Andrew’s / May 22

BY PAUL KITTI

BY MARY SIMKINS

do that it would be a futile endeavor.

When you’re one of the most beloved American musicians of all time, well, all you can really say is that it’s good to be King. Of course, it’s also pretty good to be in the audience while he holds court. Tickets are still available starting at $42.50.

If you remember the golden age of alternative rock/punk-pop from the late ‘90s and early 2000s, you’ll be excited to hear that one of the staple SoCal bands from that time has reunited and are back on tour. Of course they are older these days, so crazy shenanigans are probably out of the question if you make it out to their show – however, if you’ve attended one, you know that their shows are most definitely memorable.

Known for their anthemic hits, the band put out three albums and hit

singles “Here’s to the Night,” “Inside Out,” “Promise” and “Think Twice.”

They also made appearances on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, TRL, Late Night with Conan O’Brian and The Late Show.

Eve 6 will play on Tuesday, May 22 at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, featuring special guests The Audition and Fall From Grace. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit livenation.com.

Afrojack // The Fillmore / May 27

BY MARY SIMKINS Afrojack (or Nick van de Wall) will be bringing his Jacked Tour to Detroit with a show at The Fillmore in Detroit in May. A Dutch music producer and DJ, Afrojack was named number seven on DJ Mag’s top 100 DJs of 2011.

He has loved music all of his life, and as a student was more interested in making music than anything else.

After finishing school, he worked in catering and part-time at bars to support his music career. It was during this time that he discovered the Rotterdam club scene and started accumulating small DJ jobs and side work in the club.

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Afrojack’s single “Take Over Control” was an international charttopper, and he has contributed to projects by various other artists including Snoop Dogg, Beyonce, Kid Cudi and the Black Eyed Peas.

Afrojack will stop by the Fillmore Detroit at 9 p.m. on May 27. Tickets are available at livenation.com.

To learn more about Afrojack’s music, visit afrojack.com.

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i SPY MAY 2012

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FOODIE // THE DISH

Al Dente Pasta Company ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY STEFANIE STAUFFER The Al Dente Pasta Company has come a long way since the early days when owner Monique Deschaine would personally make all of the pasta by hand. Nowadays, their locally-famous pastas and sauces are distributed from their small factory in Whitmore Lake to stores across the nation and even in Canada. In fact, their newest “Bona Chia” line of vegan chia seed pastas recently caught the attention of Whole Foods and will soon be hitting the shelves of all their stores in the Midwest.

So, although there’s a lot that has changed in Al Dente’s 30 years of business, what hasn’t changed is the true source of their success: the owners’ passion for pasta made the old-fashioned way with high quality, all natural and locally-sourced ingredients.

And that passion is contagious. When we first arrived at Al Dente, we were hit with a smell of durum flour that made us want to immediately eat plate after plate of delicious pasta. We then entered the factory, a veritable pasta dreamworld of spinach fettuccine being carefully-made, packaged and dried on racks all around us. All the pasta is made during the day so that it can dry overnight in custom dryers developed by Monique’s husband Dennis, who also helped design other parts of their production facility. His designs have enabled them to scale up production without sacrificing quality, and you can literally

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i SPY MAY 2012

taste that attention to detail in the pasta.

Monique’s mother is from France, so she grew up eating foods made with “fresh, local and in season” ingredients. She also came of age in the food world by working at Complete Cuisine in Ann Arbor the same year that Alice Waters opened the famous locavore restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. Working at Complete Cuisine in the days before Zingerman’s gave her exposure to artisanal foods, high profile chefs and afterhours access to the kitchen in which she made her first pastas. In a word, Monique is a local food pioneer whose business philosophy is rooted in her love of fresh, hand-crafted foods.

And you can taste that love in the high quality ingredients used in all Al Dente pastas. For instance, they source quality ingredients as locally as possible, using wheat from a cooperative in North Dakota and eggs from Michigan or Illinois.

They use frozen Michigan spinach (packed with vitamin A and iron) instead of the spinach powder used in most other pastas on the market.

More recently, they have also translated that commitment to quality into their line of organic “pasta duets” that pair egg pasta with varieties like mushroom, spinach and squid ink, as well as their whole-wheat pastas with flax seed.

Overall, Al Dente produces 26 varieties of linguine, fettuccine, and pappardelle, and four

varieties of pasta sauce. They even have a “carbanada” line of low-carb/low-sugar pasta that is incredibly popular with diabetics. My current favorite is the “Bona Chia” since the texture is pasta perfect and it is made from an antioxidantrich ancient grain superfood. I also enjoy the organic duets and, for a change of pasta pace, the spicy sesame linguine. But, really, I like all types of Al Dente pasta, so go taste the local difference for yourself!

Whether your prefer chia, whole wheat, spinach, organic egg and mushroom or spicy sesame, you can pick up Al Dente pastas and sauces at the Ypsilanti Food Cooperative, the People’s Food Cooperative, The Produce Station, Busch’s, Meijer and a host of other local markets. The care they put into the production process, aided by staff members who have worked there for 10 years or longer, explain why Al Dente pastas sell as fast as they are made. And that’s how Monique likes it: “We grew very slowly, very organically, which is why we are probably still in business now vs. so many of the pasta companies that started in 1981.

We don’t want to get any bigger. We like it just the way we are.”

More information about Al Dente pasta, philosophy and where to purchase products can be found at aldentepasta.com.

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// FOODIE

Tuesday

It’s Grow Time

Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer’s Market When: 2 – 6 p.m., May – October Where: Ferris Street at Hamilton (behind Key Bank Lot) Info: http://growinghope.net/programs/market

Wednesday Ann Arbor Kerrytown Farmer’s Market When: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., May – December Where: 315 Detroit Street

Adventures in Local Food #17

Info: www.a2gov.org/market The Farm at St. Joe’s Farmer’s Market When: 11a.m. – 1 p.m., Year-Round Where: St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Lobby Info: http://www.realtimefarms.com/market/st-joseph-mercy-hospitalfarmers-market Ann Arbor Kerrytown Evening Market When: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m., May – September

ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY STEFANIE T. STAUFFER

The best time of year for local food is upon us again in Washtenaw County: farmer’s market season! The first week of May will see most of our local farmer’s markets opening again, with the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer’s Market opening on May 1, the Ann Arbor Wednesday Market opening May 2 and the Ypsilanti Depot Town Market opening May 5. There’s lots of exciting developments this year as well, including earlier start dates, new vendors and even some brandnew markets!

One such new market is the Mix Marketplace in Downtown Ypsilanti. Although Mix Market started primarily as a winter market for artisanal food producers and crafters last November, Mix Market will now be open on Fridays and Saturdays year-round. In addition to the regular host of people selling vintage items, honey, eggs, baked goods and produce, Mix Market will also feature foods made on-site by Bona Sera, the underground Ann Arbor supper club turned above-ground Ypsilanti cafe.

Another brand new market in the Ypsilanti area this season is the Dixboro Farmer’s Market, happening Fridays in Downtown Dixboro. The Dixboro market starts May 18 and will feature fantastic local products like “Dick’s Pretty Good Garlic” from the Dyer Family Organic Farm. As for newer markets in Ann Arbor, the Wednesday Evening Market is gearing up to kick off its www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine

Where: 315 Detroit Street

second (extended) season on May 15 with Info: www.a2gov.org/market produce, prepared foods and the return of the Thursday beer garden.

Westside Farmer’s Market As for new vendors, since we live in the local When: 3 – 7 p.m., June – September food hub that is SE Michigan, there’s way too Where: Corner of Maple and Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor many new farms, CSAs and Cottage Food Info: http://www.westsidefarmersmarket.com producers to mention here. What a great problem Friday to have! This year there’s a lot of young farmers Dixboro Farmer’s Market joining the ranks of local food producers in both When: 3:30 – 7:30 p.m., May 18 – October Ypsi and Ann Arbor, whether independently, Where: 5221 Church Road, Ann Arbor cooperatively or through the Tillian Farm Info: www.dixborofarmersmarket.org Development Center that recently added two Mix Marketplace farms to its incubator roster.

When: 5 – 9 p.m., Year-Round However, for me the most inspiring new Where: 200 W. Michigan Avenue (in the former J. Neill’s Mongolian market vendor, or vendors, is the Ypsilanti Grille) Grower’s Cooperative (YGC) at the Downtown Info: http://mix-marketplace.com Ypsilanti Farmer’s Market. An urban growers’ Saturday co-op launched by local folks wanting to sell Ann Arbor Kerrytown Farmer’s Market sustainably-grown surplus from their backyard When: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m., May – December & 8am – 3 p.m., January-April gardens, the YGC will have items grown literally Where: 315 Detroit Street within blocks of the market. You can’t get much Ypsilanti Depot Town Farmer’s Market more local than that. Plus, if you have some When: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., May – October extra produce of your own, you can even join Where: Freighthouse Plaza the co-op. If you’re interested, contact Eva at Info: http://www.facebook.com/ypsidepottownfarmersmarket growinghope.net.

Mix Marketplace And, in case you were wondering, Nightshade When: Noon – 5 p.m., Year-Round Army Industries will be back with all the YpsiWhere: 200 W. Michigan Avenue (in the former J. Neill’s Mongolian Grown, Ypsi-Made hot sauce and salsa you can Grille) handle starting around July 15. Until then, I’ll see you at one of these markets...

MAY 2012

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i SPY

SCENE //

Start Your Summer Right

Feist

BY DAVID NASSAR Since its first full-season in 1984, the Ann Arbor Summer Festival has exploded into one of the area’s premiere summer attractions. Growing by leaps and bounds every year, the festival’s mission is to present a world-class celebration of arts and entertainment that enriches the cultural, economic and social vitality of the region. Previous years have drawn legendary performances by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Cash, Elvis Costello, Buddy Guy and Willie Nelson. This year’s Mainstage lineup is so huge, it’s busting at the seams and spilling over into two high-profile, pre-festival performances.

On May 25, blues icon and queen of the slideguitar, Bonnie Raitt (wsg Marc Cohn), will hit the stage at Hill Auditorium on her nation-wide Slipstream Tour. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also catch a pre-fest performance from indie-pop powerhouse Feist (wsg The Low Anthem) on June 5 at the Power Center.

All of this leads up to the official start of the 2012 AASF, which will include more than 100 indoor and outdoor events from June 15 through July

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i SPY MAY 2012

8. This year’s festival will include performances that span a multitude of styles and genres that celebrate the best in music, dance, comedy, film, spoken word and street art. Mainstage musical performances will include soul legend Al Green, jazz bass dynamo Esperanza Spalding, eclectic songwriter and Broadway star Nellie McKay and folk-pop virtuoso Rufus Wainwright. Adding a bit of diversity to the Mainstage lineup will be radio personality and storyteller Ira Glass, the acrobatic dance troupes Pilobolus and Circa, comedy performances from The Capitol Steps and Cinematic Titanic and, one of my personal favorites, the always popular The Moth Mainstage.

Tickets for Mainstage performances can be purchased individually, but if you want to go to three or more shows, you can earn a discount by purchasing tickets by phone or in person before May 31.

If your pocketbook is a little light this year, you can also catch numerous admission-free attractions (although donations are appreciated) including the highly anticipated return of the free

concert series, Top of the Park. Although the Top of the Park lineup is still being kept under wraps, you can find out who will be there at the May 7 community open-house Announcement Party held at Arbor Brewing Company from 5 – 8 p.m. Admission is free, and you can also get the season’s first pint of ABC’s special brew, Festival Saison. Last year’s Top of the Park lineup included performances by Chris Bathgate, Ella Riot and The Third Coast Kings, as well as a selection of contemporary, classic and cult film favorites and a host of family-friendly and kid-centric events.

While there are limited schedules of events already posted, new announcements will be released throughout the month of May. For more information, to purchase tickets or to donate or volunteer, visit AnnArborSummerFestival.org.

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// SCENE

Jack White

If you are a fan of electronic music and don’t have plans for Memorial Day weekend, you may want to check out Movement, Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival. This three-day showcase of electronic dance music seeks every year to preserve the tradition of emphasizing the progressive nature of the electronic music culture through performances by DJs and musicians.

Headliners for the festival include Public Enemy, Lil’ Louis and The Wizard aka Jeff Mills.

The Detroit Electronic Music Festival has been around since 2000 with the first launch seeing over one million attendees. Though it has undergone several name changes to reflect transitions in management, it has been known as Movement since 2009. This year’s festival will take place from May 26 – 28 in Hart Plaza in Detroit.

Started in 2000 by Carol Marvinn and her company Pop Culture Media, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival was actually a second attempt at an idea conceived in 1994 called the World Party. The intent behind The World Party was to draw attention

BY DAVID NASSAR

BY MARY SIMKINS

With the April release of his debut solo album, “Blunderbuss,” Jack White leaves his Nashville home

BY AMANDA SLATER and returns to where it all started for him and Meg more than a decade ago. (Although, when you maintain the kind of artistic control that White has for years, calling this his first solo project is probably a bit misleading.)

White will be hitting the road with both backing bands he used for “Blunderbuss” (one all-male, one all-female) and playing tunes from his days with the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather, along with tracks from the new album. Reportedly, this will be a fly-by-the-seat-of-hisvintage-suit-pants tour, as White won’t decide which songs to play or which band to play with until the night of each show. Joining him will be the southern retro-soul quartet, Alabama Shakes, a band well-worth showing up early for. If you don’t

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already have tickets, you’d better start hitting up your favorite online broker because the 7:30 p.m. show sold out in 13 minutes. Or you might have been one of the die-hard fans in line at one of two independent record stores in Oak Park and Royal Oak on April 24 where tickets for his 2 p.m. show at the Masonic were exclusively sold.

All in all, both performances promise to deliver nothing but the eccentric and undeniably cool Jack White antics we love along with what is sure to be two of the most unique and talked about shows of the year.

Jack White will be performing at the Scottish Rite Cathedral at Masonic Temple on May 24. For tour information and more on Jack White’s solo debut check out www. jackwhiteiii.com.

to the overlooked culture of Detroit’s electronic music, but it floundered due to low attendance and an overheated arena.

Since its revamp in 2000, the music festival has been held at Hart Plaza every year and continues to feature big names while also bringing attention to talented up-and-comers.

Movement is promoting a ticket giveaway contest on their website, so if you’re interested in winning a pair of general admission tickets to this jam-packed event, check out movement.us. You can also stay up to date on Movement news and artists by following Movement on twitter @ movementdetroit and on Facebook at facebook.com/movementdetroit.

Movement is sponsored by Red Bull Music Academy, Beatport, Made in Detroit, Vitamin Water and MGM Grand in addition to many other local businesses.

Tickets for this year’s festival are $45 for a day pass and $80 for a three-day pass. For information on the artist lineup and to purchase tickets, visit movement.us.

Movement

15

PHOTO BY BRUNO POSTIGO

MAY 2012

i SPY

CALENDAR // AROUND YOU

May //

2012

BY AMANDA SLATER

music 5/1: • Frankie Rose, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 5/2: • The Tony Rice Unit, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Dragon Wagon, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor 5/3: • The Air I Breathe, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Pop Evil, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • Kina Grannis, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Pete Seeger Birthday Tribute, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 5/4: • Spiritualized, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit • Flashclash, 9 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • Cairn to Cairn, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Calypso-Caribbean Jazz, 8 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor • Killer Flamingos, 10 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards Millennium Club, Ann Arbor 5/5: • Face to Face, 7 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • La Dispute, 7 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Young Buck, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • M83, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit • Weird Al Yankovic, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit

16

i SPY MAY 2012

HAVE AN EVENT? SUBMIT IT ONLINE. FOR FREE!

• Kadence, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Josh White Jr., 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Wilson, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 5/6: • Neon Indian, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Rammstein, 8 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • Black Dice, 9 p.m., PJ’s Lager House, Detroit • The Spring Standards, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Garnet Rogers, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Rusko, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak • Deuce Illusive, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 5/7: • David Olney and Sergio Webb, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Cambridge Piano Quartet, 8 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor 5/8: • The Features, 7:30 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Steppin’ in It, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 5/9: • Violet Void, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • David Lindley, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Lonesome Country, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor 5/10: • Andrew Bird, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Plants and Animals, 7 p.m., Pike Room @ The Crofoot, Pontiac • Policia, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Madeleine Peyroux, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor

ispymagazine.co

• Jeffrey Osborne, 8 p.m., Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit 5/11: • Gucci Mane, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Charlie Slick, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Natasha Leggero, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Magic Bag, Ferndale • Grouplove, 8 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Patty Larkin and Lucy Kaplansky, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak • Dave Sharp and the Secret Seven, 8 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor • Breakin’ Curfew, 8 p.m., Power Center, Ann Arbor 5/12: • Kittie, 6 p.m., Blondies, Detroit • Clutch, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Kid Rock, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit • The Bang!, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Sarah Jarosz, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Competition, 7 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House • The Muggs, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 5/13: • Sabaton, 6 p.m., Blondies, Detroit • Soul Seventies, 7 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit • Sharp Note Singing, 2 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Abigail Stauffer, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Really Jazz 2012, 6:30 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak • Jazz with the Ellen Rowe Trio, 2 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor

5/14: • Chickenfoot, 6:30 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Hank 3, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor 5/15: • Fear Factory, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Mayer Hawthorne, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit • Tyler Hilton, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor 5/16: • Meshuggah, 6:30 p.m., Saint Andrew’s, Detroit • Steve Winwood, 6:30 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Kenny White and Jess Klein, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Star Slinger, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Whistle Pigs, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • Deniz Tek, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 5/17: • Craig Owens, 6 p.m., Hard Rock Café, Detroit • The Polyphonic Spree, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Al Kooper, 8 p.m., Jazz Café at Music Hall, Detroit • Willie the Kid, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Jonathan Edwards, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Flux Pavilion, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak 5/18: • Watain, 5 p.m., Harpo’s, Detroit • Craig Owens, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • The Avett Brothers, 8 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Mustard Plug, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Daedalus, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor

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AROUND YOU // CALENDAR • Glen Philips and Jonathan Kingham, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Jazz Masters Series, 8 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor 5/19: • Candlebox, 7 p.m., Emerald Theatre, Mt. Clemens • Kurt Vile, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • The Bollywood Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Music Hall Center, Detroit • Little Ozzy with the Holy Divers, 8 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Colin Hay, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Killer Flamingos, 10 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards Millennium Club, Ann Arbor 5/20: • Colin Hay, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Saturday Looks Good to Me, 8 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 5/21: • Michelle Shocked, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 5/22: • Eve 6, 6 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Avicii, 8 p.m., Joe Louis Arena, Detroit • Fierce, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • San Juanito Pascual Trio, 8 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor 5/23: • The Maine, 6 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • LMFAO, 7 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • B. B. King, 7:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit • Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor 5/24: • Curren$y, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Jack White, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Scottish Rite Cathedral at Masonic Temple, Detroit • Danilo Perez, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor

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5/25: • Eddie Money, 7:30 p.m., DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston • Joe Pug, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Stella!, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 5/26: • Movement Electronic Music Festival 2012, 10 a.m., Hart Plaza, Detroit • Gogol Bordello, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Universal Xpression, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Marcia Ball, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • PhoenixPhest!, 7:30 p.m., Kerrrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor 5/27: • Afrojack, 9 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit 5/28: • Langhorne Slim, 8 p.m., The

Crofoot, Pontiac 5/29: • Ron Pope, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor 5/30: • Drake, 7 p.m., DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston • Henhouse Prowlers, 10:30 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor • Yelawolf, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Stephane Wrembel, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 5/31: • Creed, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Queen Extravaganza, 7:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit • Anybody Killa, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Hana Malhas and The

Overthinkers, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor

comedy

5/5: • Aziz Ansari, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak 5/16: • Trailer Park Boys, 7:30 p.m., Ford Community Performing Arts Center, Dearborn 5/18: • Tracy Morgan, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak 5/20: • Carlos Mencia, 7:30 p.m., Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit

art

5/5: • E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Midnight, State Theater, Ann Arbor 5/19: • The Royal Tenenbaums, Midnight, State Theater, Ann Arbor 5/20: • Michigan Vintage Volkswagen Festival, Riverside Park, Ypsilanti 5/26: • Wet Hot American Summer, Midnight, State Theater, Ann Arbor

5/10: • Gallery Reception: John Lilley, 5 p.m., Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor

COmmunity

5/4 – 5/6: • Green Street Fair, Downtown

Plymouth 5/12: • Pre Mother’s Day White Party, 2:30 p.m., The Diamond Queen River Boat, Detroit 5/15: • The Moth, 6 p.m., Circus Bar & Billiards, Ann Arbor 5/19: • Community Records Jam-N-Slam, 7 p.m., St. Luke’s, Ypsilanti • Family Day: Monsters and Myths, Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, Ann Arbor • Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E, All Day, Parks and Community areas, Ypsilanti 5/21: • An Evening with Dan Rather, 7 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor

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MAY 2012

17

i SPY

FEATURE //

Mayer Hawthorne

Confessions of a music nerd and food addict.

18

BY AMANDA SLATER AND MARY SIMKINS

i SPY MAY 2012

facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co

// FEATURE Mayer Hawthorne’s Wikipedia page advertizes Hawthorne (born Andrew Mayer Cohen) as a singer, producer, songwriter, arranger, audio engineer, DJ, rapper and multi instrumentalist – all of which is true. And his Twitter account advertises his love of food – among other things.

Hawthorne came up with his stage name by combining his middle name with the street he grew up on. Formerly, he was an aspiring hiphop artist performing with Athletic Mic League under the name “Haircut.” However, Hawthorne’s retro-style solo music took off after he showed a couple of demos to Stones Throw’s Peanut Butter Wolf. At the time, Wolf said he thought they were covers rather than Hawthorne’s original songs. The fact that Hawthorne played all of the instruments featured in the songs amazed Wolf even more. It wasn’t long until Hawthorne’s single, “Just Aint Gonna Work Out” was Starbucks’ iTunes Pick of the Week. That same month, Rolling Stone spotlighted Hawthorne in a “Breaking” artist segment. After years of pursing his dream, Hawthorne had finally arrived. Now, with a new album that has received a slew of critical praise and a new hit single entitled “The Walk” that has made it to #45 on the rock charts, it doesn’t seem that he is going to be slowing down anytime soon.

As an Ann Arbor native, Detroit and the surrounding area plays a special role in Hawthorne’s music, with the song “A Long Time” being dedicated to the city’s reinvigoration, and he has made no secret of the city’s influence on his music (his father still plays in a Detroit band). So, what better setting to see Hawthorne perform than the birthplace of Motown itself during his May 15 performance at The Majestic?

Our editor, Amanda Slater, caught up with Hawthorne a while back and got to ask him about his work with the Athletic Mic League, his thoughts on the Michigan music scene and the extent of his “food addiction.” Here’s what he had to say.

I know you’re originally from Ann Arbor, right?

How long ago did you move to L.A.?

I’ve been in L.A. for four years.

Back when you were in Ann Arbor, where did you hang out?

I spent a lot of time at the Bagel Factory when it was open, Encore Records, Blimpy Burger, Madras Masala. I’m a food guy. I relate everything to food.

What do you think of the music scene in the area?

Michigan has the most talented artists and musicians in the whole world, hands down.

Unfortunately, there is very little music industry there to support them. I think a lot of [people] in Detroit do not appreciate what they have. They

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don’t understand. It’s like pulling teeth to get people to come out to a show in Detroit. The L.A. music scene is a lot more supportive of their local artists. Even the radio stations in the city place a lot more emphasis on their local artists. But, you know, Detroit’s got plenty of things to work on.

“I’m a food nerd. I pretend that these tours are about the shows, when really, for me, it’s about the food. I just want to go around the world and eat.”

I’ve heard you’ve played with Eminem…

We [The Athletic Mic League] have done a few shows with Eminem.

Where did your Athletic Mic League name, “DJ Haircut,” come from?

The name came from when I was a baby. When I would be taken to get a haircut, I would have a temper tantrum. And [my parents] would buy me records to keep me occupied so I wouldn’t have a fit. I’ve been collecting records since before I could read the labels on them.

How would you describe Athletic Mic League’s sound?

Athletic Mic League is always 10 years ahead of everybody. It’s frustrating because we put out an album, and it usually goes way over everyone’s head. Then, 10 years later, people are searching for it and paying $50 for it on eBay. Did you ever think you would get to where you are?

I knew that I would get here one day, but I didn’t think it would be through soul music or as a soul singer.

Is hip-hop your first love?

I don’t know if it’s my first love, but hip-hop was the first music that I really bonded with, that I felt was my own and not my parents’ music.

Why did you decide to switch genres?

I didn’t. I wanted to make hip-hop music, and when I moved to L.A., that’s what I was doing. It was even going pretty well. But when I met Peanut Butter Wolf, he kind of flipped out about these soul music demos that I had done in my bedroom on the side just for fun, and he asked me if I’d record a whole album of that material – which is something I’d never thought about doing. But I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with Stones Throw, a

label I really loved and respected. So I said, “Sure, I’ll do it, and then I’ll go back to hip hop stuff.” Little did we know that this project was going to explode.

Now people like John Mayer are giving you props on Twitter. How does that feel?

It’s super surreal. We had a great show in New Orleans, and I was on the bus after the show in the back listening to some records that I had bought earlier in the day. There was a knock on the door, and it’s Mos Def. It doesn’t get any more surreal than that. It’s hard to actually wrap your brain around it.

You’ve been an example of someone who has really pursued a dream. How hard is it to do that and actually see it through?

It takes an insane amount of work and dedication, and for every bit of success that I’ve had in the music industry, I’ve had 20 failures and it sucks. It’s not an easy thing to do, but I’ve always known that I wanted to make music. You’ve got to do what you love, what makes you happy.

You’ve described yourself as being a nerd.

How are you a nerd?

Success can make you more famous, but it can’t make you less of a nerd. I’m the kind of guy that would spend six hours in a record store when everybody was ready to go five hours ago. I’m a studio nerd. I like to spend my time in the studio recording. I’m a food nerd. I pretend that these tours are about the shows, when really, for me, it’s about the food. I just want to go around the world and eat.

What kind of food do you like?

I’m an equal-opportunity eater. I love it all. I’m really adventurous when it comes to food. I’ll try anything once. I like to try it all.

What’s the craziest thing you tried?

I tried some crazy stuff in Japan when I was over there – sea urchin and squid and whatnot.

And how did that taste?

Most of it is really good. Sea urchin I was not a big fan of – but that’s how you find out. You never know, it could be your favorite thing in the world.

Anything else you’d like to tell readers?

Follow me on Twitter. I love Twitter. I’m on there all day every day. I give away songs on there. I give away tickets to shows. I put up photos of all my favorite foods. It’s worth your while to follow me on Twitter.

Mayer Hawthorne will perform on May 15 at The Majestic in Detroit. Doors are at 8 p.m. and tickets are $25 (general admission). Follow him on Twitter @MayerHawthorne.

MAY 2012

19

i SPY

SCENE // RETYI. SET. GO. Trustees, faculty members, proud parents, family and friends. Graduating class of 2012, I’m honored and grateful that you’ve invited me to be a part of such an important moment in your lives. I stand here today before you, the graduating classes of Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan, congratulating you on the culmination of four to six years of hard work. You’ve done it. You’re through. You crossed those I’s and dotted those T’s and your ready to enter the workforce or, more likely, continue your schooling somewhere else with vague career goals in mind.

One thing is certain – you’ll never be an undergraduate again. Being an undergrad carries with it a cloak of forgiveness. You’re supposed to be kind of dumb. You’re supposed to make mistakes. You’re supposed to explore and do fun things and choose a night out and three hours of sleep over on-demand episodes of Hardcore Pawn. You’ll have plenty of days and nights to be old, but you’ve only got a few more days to cram as much Washtenaw County down your gullet as you can before you return to your hometowns, start polishing those cover letters and try to avoid your retired father who wants you to cut the lawn every two days because it’s been raining a lot lately.

For the graduates and their hangers-on, I present this cross-city list of must-sees and must-dos before you officially end your undergraduate college careers and become as boring as the rest of us. I encourage graduates from Eastern Michigan to explore the big city of Ann Arbor as much as I encourage the cloistered Wolverines of Ann Arbor to make a trip to Ypsilanti and explore a city with a lot to offer.

Fellow Graduates Your A2/Ypsi Bucket List

BY RICHARD RETYI

• Get the raisin toast at Angelo’s in Ann Arbor. It’s usually pretty busy and the parking situation is a nightmare, but book an early-morning breakfast at Angelo’s. It’s worth it.

• Tour Highland and St. John’s Cemeteries in Ypsilanti. Two beautiful cemeteries can be found on North River with the much larger and cooler Highland Cemetery being home to the Starweather Memorial Chapel. It’s a beautiful afternoon walk if the zombie apocalypse hasn’t happened.

• Get yelled at in Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor.

Some people call this the greatest burger in Michigan. I go for the abuse. Be sure to follow proper protocol when ordering or you’ll get yelled at. But I guess that’s half the fun.

• Drink shooters like it’s 1979 at Good Time Charley’s in Ann Arbor. Their shooter list is as long as a giraffe’s neck, including concoctions called the Tennessee River Monster, Hairy Gorilla Fart and Piss Behind the Urinal. Uh, yum, am I right?

• Spend an evening at Arthur’s in Ypsilanti. Any night at Arthur’s is an experience, from the clientele to the staff to the jello shooters. Bring cash. And maybe don’t wear your nicest clothes. An Ypsi original.

• Buy anything local in Ann Arbor or Ypsi. You’ve got tons of local clothiers and specialty shops in

20

i SPY MAY 2012

Ann Arbor and Ypsi selling shirts and bags and shoes and magnets. Buy something. Then buy something for your loved ones.

• Catch a Michigan softball game. I’m not kidding.

Michigan softball games are a lot of fun. Cheap tickets (when you can get them), a cool atmosphere and the games move fast. Bring your glove and sit in the outfield.

• Drink the boot at the Heidelberg in Ann Arbor.

Whether in the basement Rathskeller or on the main floor, order a boot of beer at the Heidelberg.

You can fill it with domestic beer or go native and top it off with a German brew. Then buy the boot and keep it on your mantle as a souvenir.

• Go to Goth Night at Necto in Ann Arbor. Every Monday is Goth Night at Necto, and there’s no collection of more earnest, committed individuals on any other themed night of the week. Wear something black to kind of blend in and stomp, stomp, stomp. It’s a lot of fun.

• See a puppet show at the Dreamland Theater in Ypsi. We can all agree that puppets are creepy, but support local art and theater by attending a puppet show at Dreamland. They often stage famous children’s tales with a creepy twist. Nightmares for years.

• Fish the Huron River. There are actually fish in there – trust me. Rent or borrow a rod from someone, buy some nightcrawlers and drop a line into the Huron and see what happens.

• Mariachi music at Los Amigos in Ypsi. Every Sunday a mariachi band works its way through the booths and tables at Los Amigos playing music romantica as you eat your burritos and tamales.

Stuff a $5 bill into the big man’s guitarron and he might not hit on your significant other.

• Eat like your grandparents at Haab’s in Ypsi. It’s the kind of place your parents would have taken you after some big event when you were in fourth grade. Order outdated drinks (a Harvey Wallbanger perhaps) and enjoy chicken in a basket or ribs.

Dress up, too. You’re worth it.

• Drink beer and play darts at the 8 Ball Saloon in Ann Arbor. You may have seen a show at the Blind Pig and used the bathrooms in the basement.

That’s the 8 Ball. Dirty, dingy and since the restaurant/bar smoking ban in Michigan, it smells like stale beer and puke now instead of Spirit cigarettes. Doesn’t matter. Slide into the cracked vinyl booths, order an obscenely cheap pitcher of beer and play darts.

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// STYLE

Denim Daze

BY LACEY LAKE

Last monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heat wave gave us all a taste of what the summer could be like. Everyone dug into their closets to find their sandals and shorts and went to town showing a little skin! However, chilly days are beginning to pop up, leaving you wanting to add a few layers to an ensemble. These Washtenaw County kids took full advantage of the chilly temperatures by covering up with colored denim! Adding a colored denim piece is one of the quickest ways to stay warm while looking fresh on a chilly spring day! Remember to balance any colored pant with a neutral top and coordinate with colorful accessories.

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MAY 2012

21

i SPY

FEATURE //

Barn Music at its Best with Andrew Bird

BY AMANDA SLATER

22

PHOTO BY CAMERON WITTIG

i SPY MAY 2012

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// FEATURE In many ways, Andrew Bird is an enigma. In some circles, his name is synonymous with “musical genius,” yet both his music and personality could be described as understated. His nine to five takes place in a barn (he’s not a farmer).

He enjoys isolation when writing music – which (somewhat ironically) helps him create beautiful, flowing melodies that often end up bringing people together. He is never done “writing” his songs, as he continues to improvise and change them from show to show. And he is an excellent whistler.

Famous for his multi-instrumentalism combined with his ability to weave music from multiple instruments and various sounds together in a one-man live show, he began playing the violin at the age of four and has never worked a traditional job. Now, with his recently released album, “Break It Yourself,” racking up critical acclaim, he will be making a stop at The Fillmore Detroit on May 10, where those that are familiar with his shows will know to expect the unexpected from his characteristically fresh, unscripted and charismatic show.

Recently, iSPY got the chance to catch up with Bird for an exclusive interview where he discussed all these things and the tightrope act/cooking show that makes up his live performance.

What sets your new album apart from your previous albums?

It’s quite different in that the whole record was done live in a barn. It’s a performance, not a production. There are no overdubs. It’s got more live energy.

Was there any particular inspiration for the album?

Just my band, who I’ve never really given a chance to play on a record. They’ve added to records in the past, but my records have been sort of filled by myself one piece at a time and carefully put together, carefully controlled. This one is less controlled. As far as outside influences, I would point to certain records like music from the Big Pink and Modern Lovers. I like that kind of raw quality to a record.

You play so many different instruments. When you are writing a song, do you use any particular instrument to help you with that process?

I’ve got two modes of writing. I’m either making loops with my violin in my barn or I’m sitting on the couch playing guitar. And both of them yield different kinds of ideas, but I think the more unique stuff comes from playing the violin.

Why is a barn is a good place for you to do your performing and such? I’ve heard a lot of people say that it has a nice feel or great

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acoustics or just kind of a nostalgia. What is its appeal for you?

I guess all those reasons – and isolation is another one. Complete immersion, no distractions.

I get up, make coffee, have eggs and play until the sun goes down. You can really get to some places you can’t really get to in a city. I don’t know if I could have made the music I’ve made in the last 10 years without that kind of space. A lot of artists – whether they’re painters or whatever – if they can manage having a country studio, it is chiefly important. You can get into a bit of a vacuum in there in a good way. You can cut off all of your influences and just find out what’s inside of you.

How does your songwriting process work?

Well, no matter where I am on the planet, there’s always stuff percolating under the surface every waking moment. And ever since I was a kid, If I wasn’t eating or talking or sleeping, I’d be whistling.

There are always tones and pitches and melodies under the surface, so it’s just a matter of drawing those out and going into ideas and waving a wand and saying now it exists beyond the conscious flow. Reach in, grab some ideas and start building.

“I like to compare [my live performance] to a very insane cooking show where I’m stumbling around, spilling things and forgetting to add some of the ingredients and throwing it in at the last minute.”

How do you know when a song is done?

Well, making the record provides some sort of statement saying that this is what you’re offering to the world. But, for me, I don’t stop writing them.

I keep changing them year after year – even after the records come out – and part of that is in order to kind of pinch myself every night because you’ve got to play these songs every night. The worst feeling is when you’re out there making all of these sacrifices and working, putting everything out there and not being inspired or starting to go numb – which can happen when you’re playing every night.

You have to […] mix things up and make things more precarious. You have to think on your feet and improvise. I see bands that are sticking to the script of their records, but I find those shows really boring and I just couldn’t do that.

Your sound is described in so many different ways – from gypsy to folk and more. How would

you describe your sound?

I don’t know. Again, that would have the effect [of making me feel] pinned down. My audience has come to expect the unexpected. People don’t come to my shows to hear the hits played as they know them – at least I don’t think so. I’m writing pop songs, but they’re more off the cuff and more improvised than most pop songs and a little more experimental and odd or outside the formula.

What drew you to music at such a young age?

Well, I love it. I was four years old when I began playing the violin, but I was not an unwilling participant. I was pretty into it. No four year old is going to really have the kind of concentration it takes to master an instrument. It’s kind of all fun and games, and, the next thing you know, you’re eight years old and you can play pretty well. And I was lucky. My folks didn’t push me that hard. It was just part of my daily life. I’d practice and play and over the years it became more and more important to me. I’ve been doing it so long I don’t even think of myself of a musician, but it does dominate every part of my life.

Did you ever consider a different career or did you always know that this would be what you did for a living?

I didn’t think I was going to become a professional musician for a living, which was kind of healthy, I think. There were times where I got so focused that it was like squeezing everything out – and that wasn’t good for my music. That’s why I became a songwriter. You can put all of your experiences into a song. A song is like directing a movie or writing a script. It’s a more broad medium than simply being a violinist. I feel like I’ve got more to offer than just being a player, but it wasn’t until I was 18 or 19 that I started to think about doing it professionally. I can almost say I’ve never had a day job. I scraped by teaching and playing wedding gigs when I was 19, 20, 21 – just making enough to barely pay rent. I started touring when I was 23, and was barely paying rent for most of my 20s, and somewhere in there things started to actually click.

But it took a long, long time. When I was little had imagined where I might be. I thought I wanted to be a psychiatrist when I was eight or nine years old.

I liked the décor of the psychiatrist’s office – the mahogany.

What is the greater purpose of music or the greater place in the world that musicians have?

I think that what I do – playing in a different town every night, and these people come out of their houses and come together – it’s like a social conduit. It gets people out and talking to each other and helps people find their friends in a way,

MAY 2012

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FEATURE //

and that’s nothing I ever planned on it being, but I think it’s pretty cool when people come to me after the show and say, “We met because of your music” or “My folks and I can at least agree on your music.” I never really expected that kind of effect. I was just kind of pursing how I could realize the music that’s in my head. It was social for me at first when I got out of classical music to go play in a rock band and play Irish music sessions. That’s kind of what got me going on the whole thing, but then I got very single minded and more and more immersed in it and kind of emotional about the whole thing. It’s funny that something as isolating as music has this effect on other people – bringing people together. That’s probably the coolest thing you can see happen.

You’re going to be coming to Detroit in May. You came through Ann Arbor last summer. Do you have any fond memories or favorite hangouts in the area?

Ya – I spent some time in Ypsilanti.

My manager used to live there. There’s kind of a funky little music store in

Ypsilanti, and the train yards … It’s a cool little town. Ann Arbor is, as far as college towns go, pretty well rounded.

Sometimes college towns can be a little bit … well, a certain way. Ann Arbor is a pretty cool place. I know a lot of musicians have moved to Detroit and kind of helped revitalize the neighborhoods. […] There’s a whole community of musicians there, so maybe I’ll get a chance to check that out.

What can those who have never seen you perform live expect from your Detroit show?

I think to the uninitiated, it looks like I’m working pretty hard up there.

There’s a lot going on. You can close your eyes and just listen, but if you open your eyes, you see a bit of a balancing act with a lot of on-the-fly looping. So, you can entertain yourself with “Where is that sound coming from?” and “How did that sound get made?” because there’s a lot of sounds being made live. People think that they’re pre-recorded samples, and there’s nothing like that. But you could also just close your eyes and

let it wash over you. It’s a high wire act of sorts. I like to compare it to a very insane cooking show where I’m stumbling around, spilling things and forgetting to add some of the ingredients and throwing it in at the last minute.

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REVIEW // SOUNDS

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ARTIST:Choir of Young Believers ALBUM: Rhine Gold 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI A few months ago, the balconies, trees and telephone lines of my street became overwhelmed with crows. No one knew where they came from or where they went when they finally left; they just were, occasionally waking me up in the middle of the night with their hellish screeching, turning my yard into something gloomy and strangely enchanting.

“Rhine Gold,” the second offering from the six-piece Denmark outfit, takes me right back to that crowinfested balcony. It’s a little dark, beautiful and unsettling, pairing isolation with that eerie feeling that you’re not alone. Their style is a sleek black, blending genres into a sound that repels complicated or overstated. It’s grandiose somehow without intention, brooding without losing its glimmer and unpredictable without taking any sudden turns.

Jannis Makrigiannis has a voice that soars and levels out, sticks

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M. Ward’s new album, “A Wasteland Companion” does not disappoint. Known for his stirring lyrics, M. Ward brings just as much poignancy and depth to his seventh solo album as he has to all of his other endeavors.

Starting slow with “Clean Slate,” Ward launches into “Primitive Girl,” which is upbeat for M. Ward and features an in-your-faceness reminiscent of the Arctic Monkeys.

One of my favorite tracks, “Sweetheart,” would be right at home on a She & Him album with its Buddy Holly influence and strong Zooey presence.

After that comes another tune of simplistic optimism as Ward brings an old classic back to life on his track: “I Get Ideas,” which graduates from a chaste, oldfashioned romantic ballad to an upbeat rock and roll love song.

it

Ward doesn’t stay in the cute love song groove long, and, from “The First Time I Ran Away” onward, the title of his album seems more apt. Things mellow out and become more introspective with a self-assured angst that imparts a beautiful and not unwelcome sadness. Ending on a positive note, “Pure Joy” concludes the second half of the album, in which Ward seems to evoke a broken hearted cowboy.

M. Ward fans will appreciate the display of versatility from track to track. Whether it’s a track with Zooey Deschanel that exudes practically audible grins and giggles or “Crawl After You,” a desperately hopeful track sung with a Tom Waits sandiness, M. Ward takes the listener on a journey that is at times silly and sad.

like a shadow and disappears like an echo. The 54 minutes you’ll spend with “Rhine Gold” will take you through weighty ballads, slowly progressing melodies and atmospheric moodiness – often all in the same song. Think what you might hear if Fleet Foxes produced their music in the desolate mystery of a cave rather than the sunny patches of the forest. But there are plenty of flickers of light throughout.

“Paint New Horrors” jumps out of the bunch with a suggestive, upbeat chorus, and “Patricia’s Thirst” is a fun, weird little twominute gasp between paranoid reflections. This is music that will drift in and out of sleep with you.

ARTIST: M. Ward ALBUM: A Wasteland Companion 4/5 TOWERS BY MARY SIMKINS

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it+++

SOUNDS // REVIEW It’s always a triumph when a band garners considerable hype and can actually deliver on it. In this case, Alabama Shakes does just that and throws in some panache for good measure. Already they have been raved about in the New York Times and awed audiences at SXSW. Now with the release of their debut album, “Boys & Girls,” they have shown that they are more than just hefty promotion and solid live shows.

The bluesy-rock group formed in 2009 and was originally known as The Shakes. They tacked on Alabama later on to pay homage to their geographic roots. Led by singer/guitarist Brittany Howard, whose sultry voice acts as a soulful backbone, the Alabama Shakes create modern southern rock that can be digested by more than just indie music aficionados.

It’s a dynamic compilation that

focuses on honest storytelling that hums and explodes at all the right moments, while maintaining its garage band personality. “Hold On” is a folky self directed ode that urges Howard to keep plodding on.

“Hang Loose” incorporates joyful guitar riffs and cheerful refrains.

“Heartbreak” plays on vulnerability in this emotional ballad. “You Ain’t Alone” is possibly the best track, which emphasizes the power in Howard’s voice. The album wraps up with “On Your Way,” a jam that ends with a crescendo and leaves you craving more.

What makes this album so accessible is its ability to transcend more than just one niche. It can be devoured by southern rock lovers who bemoan the times bygone and hipsters alike. It is also something that can easily be shared amongst diverse audiences and revered for its spirited sound.

ARTIST: Bear in Heaven ALBUM: I Love You, It’s Cool 3/5 TOWERS BY MARY SIMKINS Immediately before my first listen of this album, I’d been suffering through a few songs from an album recommended to me by a friend (both the album and the friend shall remain nameless). This transition could explain why I was sold from the very first track on Bear in Heaven’s sophomore album “I Love You, It’s Cool.” I mean, what is there not to love about a Brooklyn based trio making atmospheric pop that evokes an 80’s prom?

The first three tracks of the album lull you into a comfortable and ambient haze. In fact, it seems possible that you might fail to realize you had listened

to multiple songs until “Sinful Love” comes on the scene with its danceable cymbal beat. It seems as though the album was meant to be heard as one entity without too much distinction between songs. This is a highly enjoyable sort of mood album that one can listen to without paying too much attention. “I Love You, It’s Cool” provides a great backdrop for exercising, working, reading, dancing and – most of all – picturing Molly Ringwald in a pink dress walking into a crepe-papered gym.

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ARTIST: Alabama Shakes ALBUM: Boys and Girls 5/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE

MAY 2012

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REVIEW // SOUNDS

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ARTIST: Nicki Minaj ALBUM: Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded 2/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE In case you were confused about the title, let me fill you in – the album honors Nicki Minaj’s alter ego, Roman Zolanski. And Roman is a foul mouthed, irate persona that comes out in full force when Minaj gets angry.

Oh, he’s also her twin brother too.

If you’re still following, and I hope you are, “Roman Reloaded” is a semi-conceptual album that undoubtedly features Roman in the first six tracks. Full of hard hitting beats and raw lyricism, there is a noticeable absence of the clever, bubble-gum sweetness that dominates Minaj’s more pop-esque hits. “Roman Holiday” borderlines between quirky and maniacal with its Christmas infused hook and intermittent cameo from Roman’s British mother, Martha. “Come on a Cone” abuses the use of bitches and “his” (or maybe hers, symbolically speaking) dick when rapping about couture and Anna Wintour. One of the gems on the entire album is “Beez in the Trap,” with 2 Chainz making an

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appearance and contributing a verse that still wows after multiple listens.

Once Roman is weaned off, Minaj comes back into the picture with club bangers and pop jams that make the first third seem like a blip in the scheme of things. It is all sugary sweet and straight sailing with Minaj crooning and sporadic appearances from Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Beenie Man. “Pound the Alarm” is a dance track that is heavy on the bass. “Right by My Side” has Brown and Minaj harmonizing about their fictitious love for each other. “Young Forever” showcases the softer side of Minaj with heavy pulsing beats and saccharine melody.

Minaj is a master of her craft and exhibits her snarky persona throughout “Roman Reloaded.”

Though it’s difficult to see this as a conceptual album, if looked at as an experiment of flipping gender roles within hip-hop, it almost makes sense. But it’s not enough to make a strong statement.

I could empty my entire bag of genre terms all over this review and still not communicate exactly what this new beast from Miike Snow is. Most often referred to as an electro-pop outfit, these Swedish studio nerds have lent their hands to a variety of projects, including Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” some material for Madonna and Swedish hip-hop. That production savvy shines in their second proper album “Happy to You.” Like their name, it’s cool and a little peculiar, an amusement park of sounds where you’re sure to discover something new with each visit. Echoes of Vampire Weekend and Gorillaz bounce through its 12 tracks, which are danceable and often melancholic indie-pop hybrids sticky with a thick coat of electronic production. Andrew Wyatt is the voice of Miike Snow, delivering enigmatic lyrics in a

haunting but inviting style. Only problem is, it often feels like the intense studio touches are threatening to overwhelm his softer indie-tailored vocals. That disconnect – between the listener and the lyrics, between the vocals and sky-bound production – makes this album a fun but emotionless ride. There are songs that get everything right, such as “Bavarian #1 (Say You Will)” and “God Help This Divorce,” but most of the time I found myself wondering what could be if the indie-vocal stakes were pulled and the sonic atmospheres Miike Snow seems to be constantly reaching for became the new limit.

But such tradeoffs are frustrating – what would “Toxic” have become without Britney Spears?

ARTIST: Miike Snow ALBUM: Happy to You 3/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI

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Midnight Madness Downtown Ann Arbor!!!

FILM: Cabin in the Woods DIRECTOR: Drew Goddard 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI

The first worthwhile horror film of 2012 gives us the jock, the sleazy blonde, the intellectual, the virgin and the stoner, along with a heavy dose of hormones, a clunking RV and, of course, a cabin in the woods. Strangeness and paranoia ensues as these college kids settle into their getaway. Queue false alarms, thick, tensive atmosphere and cellar doors that spring open by themselves. Eerie artifacts scatter the cabin basement and the stoner senses that something just doesn’t feel right. And before you know it, we’ve lost the sleazy blonde to a resurrected corpse with a knife (if you consider this a spoiler, you’ve got another thing coming).

Trying to predict what’s going to happen in the second half of this film is useless – the tables don’t only turn, they flip, bounce and rattle within a script that juggles everything we’ve learned from horror movies with the sadistic nerve to let every piece fall to the floor with a crash. Screenwriters Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard are filmmaking Vikings bent on raping and pillaging the horror genre, in the process creating both a satire of and a monument to every torture-porn, frightfest, slasher and gore-bucket film reel that has entertained the masses over the past few decades. Every minute makes you uncomfortably aware of the reason you’re watching this bloodbath, the same reason why you’ve sat through every one before it.

I don’t want to give away too much – and I think that’s the reason why the trailer for this wicked puzzle was a self-mocking bit of brain-dead horror cliché. What I can say is that it’s smarter than it looks, with surprisingly solid acting (the stoner was comic precision), offering a fresh way to cater to our society’s insatiable horror appetite.

May 4

2012

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