MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2013 ispymagazine.co
Wild Belle
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Passion Pit Bad Books A Silent Film Ford Lake Frozen Leap
24 / 7
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A special screening of this 2000 film starring Janet mcteeR, followed by a 30-minute presentation from UM musicology professor DR. maRK clagUe about technological advancements in music recording and historical music preservation.
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celebrate Valentine’s Day with this classic 1951 film!
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Y FEBRUAR 2013
CONTENTS
25
The Buzz
12
6 7
Yo La Tengo, Brill, Ugly Mug Art Opening, Chit Chat The Avett Brothers, Electric Six, Love Hangover, Elephant Revival
Scene 8
5th Annual Ford Lake Frozen Leap
Foodie
22
10 12 13 14
The Dish - Preview: Vellum The Dish: Isalita Adventures in Local Food #26 Drink Up: Pioneering Brewpubs, Part I: ABC
Around You Sales Sales
[print [print + online] + online]
Publisher Publisher Editorial Editorial
Tim TimAdkins Adkins
[business [business development] development]
Amanda Slater Trent Editor Editorin inChief Chief Amanda
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
Writers Writers
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timtim adkins adkins / tim@pakmode.com / tim@pakmode.com
Amanda AmandaSlater, Trent,Tim TimAdkins, Adkins, Stefanie Stefanie Stauffer, Stauffer, Richard RichardRetyi,P Paul aulKitti, Kitti,Aimee M arissa Mandle, M cnees, Mary Simkins, DavidMary N assar, J effDavid Milo,Nassar, Treasure Aimee Mandle, Simkins, Groh, Jasmine AmeliaZweifle Franceschi Jeff Milo, EasureZweifler, Groh, Jasmine r Ross Huff,
bilal bilal saeed saeed / bilal@pakmode.com / bilal@pakmode.com
Pakmode Media + Marketing
16
Features 18 20 22 25
Designers Designers
dkins & Casey Maxwell im AAdkins TTim
Wild Belle Passion Pit A Silent Film Bad Books
Review 28 29 30
Art Art
Events Calendar February 2013
Sounds: Seth Glier, Free Energy, the ollam The Cut: Zero Dark Thirty, Les Miserables Snap Shot: January Events
Photographers Photographers
Bruno Bruno Postigo Postigo&&Kristin KristinSlater Slater
www.pakmode.com The Wasthtenaw County Events The Washtenaw County Events and © 2013 2012, iSPY. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in andEntertainment EntertainmentGuid Monthly e 124 Pearl St. Suite 407 , 124 Pearl St. Suite 407 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Phcne: 734.484.034 9 Phone: 734.531.8939 Email: ispy@pakmode.co m Email: ispy@pakmode.com
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 m ust b e granted w ritten permission, w ith a possible associated cost.
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Saturday February Benefiting SOS Community Services
frozenleap.com
>> The Lake Shore Apts 11am - 1pm
Sponsors
Registration at 10 am
THE BUZZ
Yo La Tengo // Michigan Theater / Feb. 8 BY JEFF MILO
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
Yo La Tengo are just three modest musicians from Hoboken, N.J., yet they’ve managed to steadily expand an impressive universe of songs over what’s become an impressive career spanning a dozen albums and as many years as this writer’s been alive. Their canon is charmingly stocked with characteristically subtle fuzz-furled lullabies, warmly reverb-muddled rock-chuggers and intriguing experimentations in acerbic atmospherics, sustaining a multitude of dreamy melody murmurs meandering often past the seven-minute-marker. They’ve been there, tried that, done this and reinvented that, bafflingly defying myriad notions of pop through pleasing pollinations of noise-pop, indie-pop, twee-pop, surf-rock, doo-wop, punk-rock
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Brill // Performance Network Theater / Through Feb. 10
Ugly Mug Art Opening // Ugly Mug / Feb. 2
BY iSPY TEAM
BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER
Performance Network Theatre formed a special “artnership” with Creative Rights and Pop Up A2 to install visual art that follows the theme of the current and upcoming shows in the theatre’s lobby. “Brill” by David Wells with music by Frank Allison (now – February 10, 2013) features works by Adam Bota, Lea Bult, and Katie Halton in the theatre’s lobby for the duration of the performance. “Brill” is a world premiere by emerging playwright, David Wells with music by local celebrity, Frank Allison of Frank Allison and the Odd Socks. The story follows a washed up big band musician in the world famous Brill Building in Manhattan when a young woman arrives at his office with a guitar, her ambitions, and a few secrets. Performance Network Theatre is Ann Arbor’s awardwinning professional theatre and is dedicated to engaging, challenging, and inspiring audiences and artists. The works in the lobby by Bota, Bult, and Halton reflect the themes of music, the city, and inspiration of “Brill.” For tickets or information regarding the pieces, call 734-663-0681.
Art and coffee are a natural and zesty pairing – one stimulates your body and the other your mind. It seems only natural that The Ugly Mug in Ypsilanti has gotten a bit more formal with their patronage and involvement with the local art punks of our fair city. Their latest show has its opening on the evening of February 2 and features the work of Bri Howard and Melissa Phythian. These two likely lasses share some strong similarities in their work but come from two different worlds. Phythian has a background in industrial design that gives her illustration a hard edge. Howard, by contrast, brings a tattoo artist’s eye to the same types of vivid, whimsical images. Howard’s pieces often feel a bit softer and are more likely to include beautiful women than robots. The opening will begin at 7 p.m. and provides a caffeinated and cozy atmosphere to gawk and talk with the artists.
lounge-lizards, boardwalk skater-rock shredders and oh, oh, oh the harmonies. “Fade” came out on Matador a couple weeks ago, and the trio hasn’t lost any of their shine. Rustling rhythms and echo-stretched resonations bedazzle the ears from the get go, thrummed with the warmth of those harmonies and the percolating feedback wail of a guitar, like a jet engine rumbling beneath your feet as the melody threads your head into the clouds. Listen close, the whispery vocals are waxing philosophic quite often on “Fade,” soothingly-twanged tumblers sing of “resisting the flow” like resolute river rocks, gracefully bending their way into ever evolving aesthetic environments, proving ever-adaptable, decades-on.
Chit Chat // Blind Pig / Feb. 7 BY JEFF MILO They say it’s all been done before, with rock to punk to pop perversions and provocative experimental diversions. Whatever you want to call it, there’s a right way to fray the lines between pop and punk, surf and slime, howls and harmonies, and Chit Chat found it early on. Their scruffy demos impressed this writer when he happened upon them a year ago, shimmered with a snaky guitar splashing reverb over strutthumped rhythms and throaty, thrashing vocal yawps. Last December, they debuted with a proper 7” (with four fuzz-curdled rock cuts conjuring Link Wray glories as much as affecting a psychedelicsurge comparable to their contemporaries in Ypsi’s new breed of post-punkism, Bad Indians). The local quartet returned to town at the end of January, wrapping an East Coast tour with NYbased Stolen Girls, energized, inspired and ready to start recording all the new songs they’ve penned through the end of their most formative year (2012). In terms of an avant-garde psyche-rock deconstruction of bubblegum-pop and garageballadry, there’s few more industrious these days than the dynamic/raw Ty Segall. Cheers to Chit Chat as they’ll be opening things up for Ty’s show at the Blind Pig at 9 p.m. on Febuary 7.
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THE BUZZ
The Avett Brothers // Hill Auditorium / Feb. 12
BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER
The winter chill has an admittedly stultifying effect on most types of merriment, but The Ark, in cooperation with Hill Auditorium is hell bent on heating things up. Their latest installment, keen on beating back the icy death grip of a February in Michigan, brings the Avett Brothers to Ann Arbor. The popularity of the Avett Brothers has grown steadily in recent years, and it reached a fever pitch with the release of “The Carpenter” in 2012. The themes
on “The Carpenter” are their darkest and most grown-up yet, but be assured that the show will be anything but subdued with banjoes and catchy hooks that get the crowd singing along. And with tickets at $45, it’s a tune that almost anyone can dance to. The show kicks off at 8 p.m. on February 12, and tickets can be purchased in advance through The Ark’s website.
The Love Hangover // Woodruff’s / Feb. 15
Elephant Revival // The Ark / Feb. 17, 18
BY JEFF MILO
BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER
BY ISPY TEAM
Two years ago, this perennial A2-favorite released what proved to be their most experimental record, “Heartbeats & Brainwaves” – a work relying more heavily than ever upon the synthesizer and approached as though their studio were more of a laboratory with compositions more pieced-together, separated, detached and spread out through various sessions. The album itself, however complex in construction, was still dynamic in its own right and felt like a natural progression in their blend of discobeat trash-thrash panache. Late last autumn, the Electric Six released “Absolute Pleasure,” a “live” record (and, essentially, a best-of). It was an interesting time for the Electric Six – a rare window of time where they weren’t out-of-their-heads busy for the first time in more than 10 years. Now, coming up for air and listening-back to the live recordings, they were impressed with the sound. Resolved to return to their fierier rock-fundaments, backed by a bottomless cache of new material and enthused by the crisp, crazed playback of “Pleasure,” the Six should be sufficiently recharged for another characteristically piquant, sweatspackled live performance, when they kick off their winter tour at the Blind Pig on February 14.
The Love Hangover is an annual event comprised of five simultaneous shows in venues across the country. In their own words “playing songs to heal broken hearts and break whole ones.” It’s a concert that has outposts in places as far flung as Brooklyn and North Carolina, and this year will descend on Woodruff’s in Ypsilanti on the day after Valentine’s Day (of course). The show is simple in concept – you hunt down the best talent in the area and then you pair them off with the task of covering their favorite love songs, to the delight of lovers everywhere. Participants in years past have included members of Cat Power and the Magnetic Fields. This year’s bill has been kept under wraps so far, but love should be surprising right? Tickets can be purchased at the door and cost $8, which is a small price for love in this writer’s opinion.
Young in age and fresh in conception, Colorado’s Elephant Revival brings creativity and inspiration that was easy to feel at the 2012 Ann Arbor Folk Festival. This neo-acoustic quintet is on the cutting edge of an emerging new genre known as Transcendental Folk. Individually and collectively the band members have performed with Bela Fleck, John Paul Jones, Michael Franti, Little Feat, Yonder Mountain String Band, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, and Leftover Salmon. Elephant Revival delves into Scottish/ Celtic fiddle tunes, original folk pieces, traditional ballads, psychedelic country, indie rock, powerful reggae grooves, ‘40s/’50s jazz standards, and an occasional hip-hop beat, but in whatever they do they keep a sense of encountering musical materials for the first time and finding their spiritual power. In the words of Bill Nershi of String Cheese Incident, “Elephant Revival is a magical blend of melodies and rhythms with their roots in the past and their hearts in the future.”
www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
Electric Six // Blind Pig / Feb. 14
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SCENE
Ford Lake Frozen Leap i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
BY ISPY TEAM
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The Ford Lake Frozen Leap has become a winter tradition in Ypsilanti. Now it’s back and bigger than ever. The Lake Shore Apartments and Pakmode Media + Marketing are teaming up for the fifth year in a row to raise money and awareness for a great, local non-profit by asking you to leap into the frozen waters of Ford Lake on February 16. Last year with the help of the Ypsilanti community, the leap raised over $10,000 for SOS Community Services, which helped make a direct impact on their effort to end homelessness in Washtenaw County. Organizers have a big goal of doubling last year’s donations and hope to raise $20,000 in this year’s leap. “SOS Community Services is delighted to benefit from the Ford Lake Frozen Leap,” said Chelsea Brown, community relations and volunteer resources supervisor. “This event helps raise awareness about homelessness in Washtenaw County and allows SOS to continue helping those in need.” Leapers, donors and sightseers can plan on expecting the same fun and exciting event as in years past. However, a big addition to this year’s fundraising efforts will include a few local
celebrities offering to help out. Former University of Michigan and Indianapolis Colts running back and current Eastern Michigan University running back coach Mike Hart will join the Fox Sports Detroit Girls in making their first appearance at the Ford Lake Frozen Leap. More details on their appearance and involvement can be found at frozenleap.com. “It’s great to have some well known names and faces helping out with fundraising efforts this year,” said Jen Matson, General Manager of MCC Properties. “We’re so excited to have them on board to help raise awareness and donations for SOS.” Unlike other events of its kind, The Ford Lake Frozen Leap really pampers its participants. Leapers can expect a heated changing tent, blankets to dry off with, warm food and drinks, live entertainment and prizes to recognize outstanding achievements. Prizes for this year’s leap will be awarded to the top team fundraiser, top individual fundraiser, best team costume and best leap. Organizers will also be recognizing several teams for their multiple years of participation. Organizers are now looking for corporate
sponsors, donors and teams. To find out more on how you can be a part of this one of a kind event, visit www.frozenleap.com or register through Crowdrise at www.crowdrise.com/ fordlakefrozenleap. To stay connected, visit the Ford Lake Frozen Leap Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ frozenleap) and Twitter (@frozenleap).
FLFL 5 WHERE
The Lake Shore Apartments WHEN
Feb. 16 WHY
SOS Community Services facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
BOAA
FOODIE
Vellum
Take a peek inside Main Street’s newest kid on the block.
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
I had a chance to stop by the longanticipated Vellum for drinks with friends. It was less than two weeks after it opened, and I really liked what I saw. The space has been completely redone and is chic and polished but still welcoming. The staff was attentive and eager to please, as you’d expect from a newly opened restaurant. But what about the food and drinks? In a word: wow. Vellum’s New American cuisine has a level of sophistication and polish that I associate with much larger cities. The presentation of each plate is stunning, from the dramatic splatter of aged parmesan and tomato sauce accompanying a rich mushroom tart to the delicate garnishes and rounds of poached apple accompanying a luscious game terrine. Chef Russell Bronson incorporates bits of avant-garde and modernist cooking techniques to good effect, and the flavors live up to the expectations set by the
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BY TAMMY COXEN beautiful plates. Head bartender Travis Reeves is presenting a menu of creative craft cocktails. Thanks to friends willing to share sips, I got to try several on my short visit, and all of them were not only tasty, but interesting. My favorite, the Poblano Gimlet, has a brilliant green flavor, savory elements and just a little heat from the poblano chile puree. Best of all, none of the drinks were too sweet. I’m looking forward to exploring wine and beer offerings on a future visit. I don’t mean to imply that everything is perfect – they’re still working out some opening week kinks, and I expect Vellum to be a work in progress as they figure out how to fit into the Ann Arbor scene. But so far they are exceeding my expectations, and I’m looking forward to enjoying a full dinner there soon. Look out, Ann Arbor – a little bit of NYC just waltzed into town.
NEW YEAR. NEW YOU. NEW CAR? WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED FEBRUARY, 23!! PRESENTED BY
$5 TICKETS Men’s and Women’s EMU Basketball
EMUTIX.COM // PROMO CODE “WINCAR” *VIEW MENUS AND MORE AT TOGETHER WE WIN. ANNARBORRESTAURANTWEEK.COM facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
ELEPHANT REVIVAL w/Birds of Chicago
Sun, February 17, 7:30 PM Mon, February 18, 8 PM
SANDRA BERNHARD
Fri, February 1, 8 PM Sat, February 2, 8 PM
TIFT MERRITT
BRIAN VANDER ARK PAT MCGEE Wed, February 20, 8 PM
Wed, February 6, 8 PM
SUZANNE VEGA
Sat, February 23, 8 PM
An Acoustic Evening with: moe.
Thurs, February 7, 7:30 PM
ERIN McKEOWN
Sun, February 10, 7:30 PM
ANTJE DUVEKOT
Sun, February 24, 7:30 PM
316 S. Main w Ann Arbor w www.theark.org Call for Tickets: 734-763-8587 w Online at www.TheArk.org
FOODIE
Isalita
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
BY STEFANIE T. STAUFFER Nestled at the corner of East Liberty and South Division in the same building as sister restaurant Mani Osteria & Bar, Isalita is one of Ann Arbor’s newest (and most anticipated) new restaurants. A creation of Mani owner Adam Baru and local chef Brendan McCall, Isalita has been consistently drawing crowds of Mexican food enthusiasts from all over Southeast Michigan since it opened in the last week of December. Although Isalita’s exterior quietly blends into the surroundings in a way that makes you almost miss the entrance, once you walk through the door, the interior transports you to somewhere else. The back wall and bar area are painted a vibrant lime green, there’s a large rustic mural on the other wall and the whole room is accented by repurposed wooden produce basket lamps and Mexico-infused décor. In this way, Isalita brings the flair of south of the border to the north – an experience they call “100% Puro Mexico.” Inspired by Mexican street food, their menu is accented by more upscale interpretations of grab and go favorites like tacos, nachos, ceviches, sopes and guacamole. The bar is fully stocked with a wide variety of liquors, wine, Mexican beer and even aguas frescas like hibiscus tea (or Jamaica). They also serve a pretty tasty michelada, for those of you who are fans of this desert thirst-quencher made from clamato, tecate and lime (although it did feel a bit odd drinking one in the winter in Michigan rather than the hot summer). If tequila is your fancy, they have a wide variety of agave spirits to tantalize you including Don
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Julio and a few types of mescal. The blood orange frozen margaritas are a must, and they even offer tequila flights for the adventurous agave aficionado. But whether we are talking food or drink, everything I’ve tasted at Isalita has been quite good. One of my all-time favorite Mexican dishes is coctél de camarón (shrimp cocktail), where the restaurant often supplies you with the shrimp and an array of sauces for you to create your own concoction – kind of like a build your own Bloody Mary bar for raw seafood. Although the version at Isalita diverges from that Mexican standard, I was struck by its delectable balance of avocado, chile, lime, salt and lightly brined shrimp. There were a few other standouts for me as well, including the crispy duck taquitos, the earthy forest mushroom tacos and the tangy fish tacos with pickled red cabbage. For dessert, you can choose between traditional tres leches cake, helado (ice cream) or a sweet and savory sundae made with housemade caramel and salted pumpkin seeds over strawberry ice cream. The fact that I loved the food at Isalita so much was an especially pleasant surprise for me as someone who used to live in California and who owns a homegrown, locally-made salsa business. However, some may fault Isalita for their high prices and small portions, and it is true that the cost tends to stack up if you plan on eating a lot as well as drinking. To their credit, though, they do explain their emphasis on street food and small plates up front, so my advice is to approach it more like you would a tapas bar. Besides,
the food is incredibly delicious and is worth the occasional splurge. Plus, it’s a really great place to grab a drink during happy hour or a quick bite in the early evening. With a dusting of fresh cilantro sprouts and radish slaw, the food at Isalita shines with the lustre of top-quality, locally-sourced ingredients infused with the spirit of Mexico.
THE DISH WHAT
Isalita WHERE
341A E. Liberty Ann Arbor INFO
Twitter @Isalita
facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FOODIE
Adventures in Local Food #26
(Re) Imagining a Fair Food System PHOTOS AND STORY BY STEFANIE T. STAUFFER
www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
Michigan-owned businesses will be represented throughout the summit (I even heard a rumor about Ypsi-local Riki Tiki Pies!). Also, chefs and students from the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program at WCC will be tackling the food preparation and service. So, in addition to providing delicious, locally-sourced food, the summit will also be a great learning experience for students who are pursuing a career in the food world. As this year’s theme is (Re)Imagining a Fair Food System, the keynote is Malik Yakini, a 2012 James Beard Leadership Award Winner and Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. There will also be a panel addressing strategies to bring about a more fair food system, featuring food system leaders from SE Michigan and Saru Jayaraman, Co-Founder/ Co-Director of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United in New York and the author of the forthcoming book, “Behind the Kitchen Door.” In addition, there will be an activity called “Innovations for a Fair Food System: From Stories to Solutions,” where participants will propose an innovative idea to the audience in order to inspire further interest, involvement and action to bring about a food system that is more fair. The afternoon portion will be comprised of workshops, panels and skillshares in the afternoon, discussing
every topic from Food Forests to Garden Education to Local Investing to Urban Agriculture to Nutrition and Public Health. In the afternoon, there will be tours of innovative local food facilities, like the Farm at St. Joe’s. At the Michigan Theater the night before the summit, Whole Foods Market is sponsoring a screening of the film “The Greenhorns” as a benefit for Slow Food Huron Valley. Part of Whole Foods Market’s Do Something Reel Film Festival, “The Greenhorns” focuses on the new generation of farmers at the heart of the nation’s local food movement. Following the film, participants can meet with members of the Michigan Young Farmer Coalition and enjoy refreshments. So if you are a stakeholder in the local food system and want to join the conversation, I invite you to participate in the Fifth Annual Local Food Summit coming up on February 22 at the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College. Come talk with your neighbors, meet local growers and celebrate exciting initiatives going on throughout Washtenaw County as we carry local food into the future and make it more fair. For more info on the Local Food Summit or to register, visit localfoodsummit.org
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
Do you like to eat locally grown and produced food? Are you a stakeholder in the regional food system of Washtenaw County and Southeast Michigan? Then you’re in luck, as the Homegrown Local Food Summit returns to Washtenaw Community College on Friday, February 22. In its fifth year, this full day summit brings together growers, eaters, educators, health providers, students, chefs, advocates, entrepreneurs and many more to share knowledge and inspire action on issues related to local food. It also functions as a sort of community meeting point for our local food community, where friends often see each other for the first time since the end of the regular growing season and hatch plans for future collaboration. It’s also a great place to hear from people that are incredibly involved locally, regionally and even nationally in all aspects of hometown growing. Any local food enthusiast is welcome, though, and scholarships are available as well for those with a financial need who apply. As the food is the centerpiece for the event, you can expect a multiplicity of locally-grown, locally-raised and locally-produced items to figure prominently into the breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack that are included in the day. From Roos Roast Coffee and Eden Foods to local favorites like the Brinery, a lot of awesome
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FOODIE
Pioneering Brewpubs Part One: Arbor Brewing Company i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
PHOTOS AND STORY BY TAMMY COXEN AND PATTI SMITH Ahh, pioneers! My first real memory of anything pioneer related was the late, great Oregon Trail video game. I usually got eaten by some wild beast about five seconds into it, but it was fun while it lasted. Here in Ann Arbor, we have a different kind of pioneer: the brewers. Back in the (19)90s, these brave souls looked around our fine town and decided we were missing some good brewpubs. This article is the first in a short series about people who remedied that problem: Arbor Brewing Company (ABC) and Grizzly Peak. Rene and Matt Greff were kind enough to talk to me about being one of the first. One of the challenges at the beginning was maneuvering through a much regulated industry while teaching people about craft beer. Back in 1995, we were not the “Great Beer State” nor were there the social media outlets that we enjoy today. On the other hand, being one of the first did have some benefits. Rene said that they “weren’t constrained by pre-conceived notions of what a brewpub is “supposed to be.” This gave them room to grow and make some mistakes – a luxury that startups in today’s crowded marketplace don’t always
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have. The first brewpubs made a difference not just for craft beer lovers, but also for our downtown. Rene pointed out that in the mid-90s, Washington Street was still sort of off the beaten path. Grizzly Peak and ABC helped anchor the street and attracted new businesses and people to the area. Further, ABC was instrumental in getting the Fourth and Washington parking structure re-built (said rebuilding also gave a name to an absolutely delicious beer called Jackhammer). Speaking of beers, Rene and Matt identified some of their favorite beers, which also happen to have good stories behind them. For example, Faricy Stout was named after Matt’s best friend who died in a car accident. Another preferred beer is the Terminator which began life as a fundraising beer to help fund the monthly homeless breakfasts that ABC hosted before the Delonis Center opened. Food is also critical to Arbor’s mission. Head Chef Nicole recently introduced a vegan menu which joins numerous vegetarian options as well as plenty of choices for meat eaters. The ground beef comes from Farmer Dave (from Steinhauser
Farm). The cows enjoy a good life munching on a diet of grass supplemented with leftover grains from Arbor’s brewing process. At the end of their lives, they are turned into ground beef which then become delicious hamburgers. (Author’s note: I once used this example when describing the “cycle of life” to a senior in high school.) When asked about one day or event that stands out in their memory, the Greffs pointed to a few things: a time during the “dark days” when Mary Black’s Irish band came in after a performance and were the only customers in the pub, a fateful day when payroll checks bounced and that very first time they got the keys and sat in an empty bar wondering “oh boy, now what do we do?” Given that ABC has won awards from “Best in Show” at the World Beer Expo to Best Brewpub in the Midwest by Brewpub magazine, it’s almost hard to believe those days were ever there! Do yourself a favor and get out to this thriving brewpub – happy hour is daily from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. But any time you go, you will get amazing food and drink – and, unlike my early experience with pioneers, you won’t even have to worry about fording any rivers or getting dysentery! facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
“As directed by Edward Hall, Propeller specializes in knuckleduster Shakespeare that digs for the harshness beneath the lyricism. Funny, antic, bawdy: the productions are all these expected things. But they also make sure that the chuckles stick in your throat. The poetry may be pretty; the comedy is definitely not.” (The New York Times)
2/20-24 Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night & The Taming of the Shrew Propeller Ed Hall, director Twelfth Night Wednesday, February 20, 7:30 pm Friday, February 22, 7:30 pm Saturday, February 23, 2 pm Sunday, February 24, 7:30 pm The Taming of the Shrew Thursday, February 21, 7:30 pm Saturday, February 23, 7:30 pm Sunday, February 24, 2 pm Power Center Opening Night Q&A UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | ANN ARBOR
Tickets on Sale For more information, visit www.ums.org or call 734.764.2538.
Supported by: Charles H. Gershenson Trust Maurice Binkow, Trustee Funded in part by: National Endowment for the Arts Media Partners: Between the Lines, Michigan Radio 91.7 FM, and Detroit Jewish News
AROUND YOU
+Calendar
February 2013
BY AMANDA TRENT
ENTERTAINMENT
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
2/1: • Crackjaw, 6 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Young Empires, 7 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • Balance and Composure, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Lez Zeppelin, 8 p.m., Magic Bag, Ferndale • Uli Jon Roth, 8 p.m., The Token Lounge, Westland • Ann Arbor Soul Club, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Lawnmower Midwest, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Sandra Bernhard, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Lotus, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak 2/2: • Monument Monument, 7 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Trapt, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Umphrey’s McGee, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Enslaved, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Lez Zeppelin, 8 p.m., Magic Bag,
• Graveyard, 7 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • Dark Star Orchestra, 8 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit • Cheap A$$ Punk, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/5: • Whitechapel and Emmure, 6 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Taddy Porter, 7 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • dada, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Dave Boutette & Erik Santos Acoustic Open Mic, 7 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/6: • Buke & Gase, 8 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Tift Merritt, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Chris McFarland, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/7: • Alan Jackson, 7 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • Hunter Valentine, 7 p.m., The Loving Touch, Ferndale • Aaron Lewis, 8 p.m., Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit • Ty Segall, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Hairy Karaoke, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • moe., 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor
• El Anatsui, 5:10, Michigan Theater, Ferndale Ann Arbor • The Roast of Marvwon, 10 p.m., 2/8: Shelter, Detroit • Coheed and Cambria, 6:30 p.m., The • Nine Years Away, 9:30 p.m., Blind Fillmore, Detroit Pig, Ann Arbor • Nick Offerman, 8 p.m., Royal Oak • October Babies, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Music Theatre, Royal Oak Ypsilanti • Geoff Rickly, 6:30 p.m., Pike Room, • Sandra Bernhard, 8 p.m., The Ark, Pontiac Ann Arbor • Candlebox, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s 2/3: Hall, Detroit • Papadosio, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s • The Dirty Joke Show, 8 p.m., Magic Hall, Detroit Bag, Ferndale • Boylesque, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, • Yo La Tengo, 8 p.m., Michigan Ypsilanti Theater, Ann Arbor • Mysteries of Ancient Egypt, 1:30 • Joe Hertler and the Rainbow p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Seekers, 2/4:
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9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Against The Grain, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Newfound Road, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/9: • Action Item, 6 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • IAMDYNAMITE, 7 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • To Write Love on Her Arms Heavy and Light Tour, 6 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Blues at the Crossroads 2, 8 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor • Dilla Day Detroit with Talib Kweli, 8 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • The Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch, 8 p.m., Music Hall Center, Detroit • Johns with Chit-Chat, 9 p.m., Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit • Bob Marley Birthday Bash, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Wax Kings!, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Big Gigantic, 8 p.m., Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak • Judy Collins, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/10: • Until The End, 5 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Allstar Weekend with Cute Is What We Aim For, 6 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Take Action Tour with The used, 6 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Gojira, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • Rock vs. Rap Charity Event, 7:30 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • Speck Mountain, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Shape Note Singing, 2 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • National Theatre Live: The Magistrate, 7 p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor • Erin McKeown and Jenn Grant, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Charlie Slick, Lightning Love, Johnny
Headband and Timothy Monger State Park, 8 p.m., Arbor Vitae Loft, Ann Arbor 2/11: • Of Mice & Men, 6 p.m., The Crofoot Ballroom, Pontiac • Cheap A$$ Punk, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/12: • A Silent Film, 7 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • The Avett Brothers, 7:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor • Doro with Sister Sin, 8 p.m., Token Lounge, Westland • Dave Boutette & Erik Santos Acoustic Open Mic, 7 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Fat Tuesday with Hullabaloo, 8 p.m., Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti 2/13: • Kishi Bashi, 8 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • RiFF RaFF, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Bowling Greene, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • International Guitar Night, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Nothing Says “I Love You” Like Breakcore 2, Far House, Ann Arbor • Baauer with Just Blaze, 9 p.m., Necto, Ann Arbor 2/14: • King Conquer, 6:30 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Maroon 5, 7:30 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • The Whispers, 8 p.m., Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit • Rick Braun and Richard Elliot, 8 p.m., Scottish Rite Cathedral at Masonic Temple, Detroit • Electric Six, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Hairy Karaoke, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • My Folky Valentine, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor
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Ann Arbor Bag, Ferndale • Elephant Revival, 7:30 p.m., The • Soulful Sista’s Tour, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Perani Arena and Event Center, 2/18: Flint • Cheap A$$ Punk, 10 p.m., • The Werks, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Detroit • Elephant Revival, 8 p.m., The Ark, • Hospin with Gameboi, 6:30 p.m., Ann Arbor Blind Pig, Ann Arbor 2/19: • To Write Love On Her Arms Benefit • Wild Belle, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Concert, 10 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor Arbor • Dave Boutette & Erik Santos • The Hot Club of Cowtown, 8 p.m., Acoustic Open Mic, 7 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti 2/23: • Pierre Bensusan, 8 p.m., The Ark, • Miranda Lambert, 7 p.m., Breslin Ann Arbor Center, East Lansing • Ann Delisi’s Essential Music, 7 • Daedelus, 8 p.m., The Loving Touch, p.m., Majestic Café, Detroit Ferndale 2/20: • Lmao Comedy Jam, 8 p.m., Music • 2 Chainz, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Hall Center, Detroit Detroit • Murder By Death, 8 p.m., Magic • Corporate Sellout, 9:30 p.m., Blind Stick, Detroit Pig, Ann Arbor • Big Chocolate, 9 p.m., Saint • Jennae Raynes and more, 9 p.m., Andrew’s, Detroit Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • The Noise Birds, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, • Brian Vander Ark and Pat McGee, 8 Ypsilanti p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Suzanne Vega, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann • First Annual Far Fest, Far House, Arbor Ann Arbor • TBS: That Brown Show, 7 p.m., 2/21: Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor • Tremonti, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, • Bugs & Rats, 10 p.m., Garden Bowl, Pontiac Detroit • The Pimps of Joytime, 9 p.m., 2/24: Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Behind the Gun, 5 p.m., Pike Room, • Hairy Karaoke, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Pontiac Ypsilanti • Dri, 6 p.m., The Token Lounge, • John Jorgenson, 8 p.m., The Ark, Westland Ann Arbor • Terror + H20, 6 p.m., Magic Stick, • Tania Bruguera, 5:10 p.m., Detroit Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor • Omar Rodriguez-Lopez presents • Passion Pit with Matt and Kim, Bosnian Rainbows, 7 p.m., Saint 8:30 p.m., Compuware Arena, Andrew’s Hall, Detroit Plymouth • The Pink Floyd Experience, 7 p.m., • Gold Tapes Fest: Feelings, 10 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit Garden Bowl, Detroit • Tom Keifer, 8 p.m., Magic Bag, 2/22: Ferndale • Black Veil Brides, 6:30 p.m., The • BreakFest 2013 – Fourth Annual Crofoot, Pontiac Benefit Concert for the Breakfast at • 1964 The Tribute, 8 p.m., St. Andrew’s, 1:30 p.m., The Ark, McMorran Place Sports and Ann Arbor Entertainment Center, Port Huron • Antje Duvekot, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, • Deadstring Brothers, 8 p.m., Magic Ann Arbor
2/25: • Trust, 8 p.m., Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit • Dirt Cheap Mondays, 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/26: • Dave Boutette & Erik Santos Acoustic Oopen Mic, 7 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Take a Chance Tuesday with Lake Street Dive, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/27: • Buddy Guy, 8 p.m., Fox Theatre, Detroit • Mouse On Mars, 8 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Hell Shovel, 9 p.m., Magic Stick Lounge, Detroit • Turn My Music Up Vol. 1, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • The Ark’s Open Stage, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/28: • Chris Dupont with Jetty Rae and Abigail Stauffer, 8 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Hairy Karaoke, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • The SteelDrivers, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor
COMMUNITY i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
• Harald Falckenberg, 5:10, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor 2/15: • Bad Books, 7 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Van Halentine’s Day, 7 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • Elvis to the Max, 8 p.m., Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren • The Ragbirds, 8 p.m., Magic Bag, Ferndale • Dragon Wagon and Ekoostik Hookah, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Love Hangover, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Klezmer Guy and Gerald Ross, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor 2/16: • The Jamboree 2013, 6:30 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Jamey Johnson, 7 p.m., The Fillmore, Detroit • Lady Gaga, 7:30 p.m., The Palace, Auburn Hills • Emile Autumn, 8 p.m., The Crofoot, Pontiac • Richard Lewis, 8 p.m., Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, Warren • Erykah Badu, 8:30 p.m., Masonic Temple, Detroit • 26th Annual Storytelling Festival, 7:30 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor • Lady Starlight’s Lil Monsters Dirty Metal Disco Afterparty, 10 p.m., Shelter, Detroit • The Bang!, 9:30 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • Unstuck, Noon, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor • Punk Rock Formal, 8 p.m., Magic Stick, Detroit • RJD2, 9 p.m., Majestic Theatre, Detroit 2/17: • Devin and the Dead Frets, 5 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac • Insane Clown Posse, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit • G-Easy, 9 p.m., Blind Pig, Ann Arbor • The Flips with Bad Indians, 9 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti • Storytelling for Kids, 1 p.m., The Ark,
AROUND YOU
2/9: • Traverse City Music and Beer Festival, Traverse City 2/16: • Ford Lake Frozen Leap, 10 a.m., Ford Lake at Lake Shore Apartments, Ypsilanti 2/17: • Depot Town Chili Cookoff, Ypsilanti
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i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
FEATURE
18
SEE THEM WHERE
The Blind Pig WHEN
Feb. 19
Wild Belle Elliot Bergman on his new bands and his second home.
BY AMANDA TRENT
facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
“We wanted to do something that was sort of wild and beautiful, and that’s kind of a way you want to live your life – not being constrained by other people’s expectations of you…”
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playing it and something will emerge, and it’s different than what you would come up with if you were playing like an acoustic guitar or something. It’s just another tool when you’re composing to have in your arsenal – and something that you built yourself. I know you guys recorded at Key Club Recording in Benton Harbor, Mich. What made you choose that location? I’ve done a bunch of records there. They are just really great people to work with, really creative and hardworking and really fun to be around. We’ve done almost all of the Nomo records there, too, so it definitely feels like home. What are you most proud of with the album Wild Belle is about to release? I’m proud of my sister. She’s really grown so much in the past couple of years. I’m proud that it’s really a family affair. We’ve just had so much help from our friends and family making everything come together. It definitely feels like this thing that we couldn’t have done without the support of a lot of people, so the record is very meaningful to us. We even ended up using some of my mom’s paintings. My mom died about six years ago from brain cancer, but she was really an incredible artist and musician. We were just going through some of her old slides a few months ago, and we kept coming back to this one image that’s sort of this weird island, space ship type looking thing, and there’s all of these geometric shapes coming out of this landscape in really beautiful, earthy colors. It’s something she painted when she was in college, but it somehow seemed like just the perfect image to represent our record. She would be very excited about it. We’re sad we can’t share it with her. It sounds like you had a really unique, artistic family background. Is that true? Ya, everyone in my family is involved in arts in some way. My sister, Elise Bergman, is a really great designer. She’s doing a lot here in Chicago. Then our youngest brother, Bennet, he’s a really cool writer. And he actually shot our video for the song “Backslider.” It’s a great thing, and we are kind of unusually close for [siblings our] age. You guys have a very interesting aesthetic visually and in your sound that has a dreamy, throwback 70s-esque quality. What inspires that? Definitely the music that we love. We really love a lot of soul stuff from the 60s and 70s, but we try to walk a line between incorporating those production values and keeping things in a modern
context. I’m sure everyone asks about the band name. I know Belle is Natalie’s middle name, right? Yeah. But why the wild? Where did you get that idea? Well, you must not have met my sister, but … she’s… no, I’m just kidding. It’s not necessarily her persona or anything like that. It’s just we wanted to do something that was sort of wild and beautiful, and that’s kind of a way you want to live your life – not being constrained by other people’s expectations of you and doing what you’ve done before but being able to be creative and be able to push yourself. So that was kind of where the idea came from. And what’s the inspiration behind your Tumblr? Is it Natalie that maintains it? It’s mostly Natalie that does it. I just have a few sporadic contributions, but it’s mostly Natalie’s personal, visual taste and just kind of things that we’re drawn to. You’ll find a lot of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley. It’s just kind of being able to throw visual ideas up and have them catalogued in a way without having to explain too much. It’s sort of a visual notebook. Why do you feel what you are doing is important? I don’t know how important it is. It’s important to me. For one thing, it’s one way of connecting with people. There are always these songs that are kind of like, what we’re here to do is to show people love and joy and pain and share that with them. Music really does have the power to connect with people in ways that they don’t even know aobut. I saw with my mom when she was sick -- she was all but in a vegetative state, but you put on some music, she could sing a little bit to some records. She was almost dancing in her bed. There’s different ways that music can affect people that we don’t really understand consciously. What excites you most about your upcoming show at the Blind Pig? Just excited to see all of my Ann Arbor friends. I’m excited to get something to eat and stop into Encore. Wild Belle will be performing at 9 p.m. on February 19 at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor along with Saturday Looks Good to Me. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door. Ages 18 and up.
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
Lately Elliot Bergman has been making waves along with his sister Natalie Bergman as the Chicago-based duo, Wild Belle. Although their debut full length album hasn’t even hit yet (scheduled for a March 2013 release), the pair have already been featured as Vogue magazine’s band of the week and have heavily circulated three well-received singles (“Keep You,” “Backslider” and “It’s Too Late”). However, back before Wild Belle was in existence, Elliot hung his hat in Ann Arbor where he studied music at U of M, worked at Encore Records and was part of the Ann Arbor-based band, Nomo. We got to catch up with Elliot about all of that and more in anticipation of Wild Belle’s Ann Arbor 19 show at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. I know you have a lot of familiarity with Ann Arbor. Yeah, I love Ann Arbor. What do you love about it? I went to school there, so a lot of my fondest musical experiences were around Ann Arbor and Detroit. My band started in Ann Arbor. There’s just a little scene there. It’s a supportive community. I love the Blind Pig. I love Encore Records. There are just great things about Ann Arbor, and it’s kind of a second home to me. Are you guys excited to play as Wild Belle at the Blind Pig? I’m definitely excited to come back with Wild Belle to the Blind Pig. What are some of your favorite Ann Arbor hangouts? I worked at Encore for a number of years during college. That’s a special spot for us. And Treasure Mart. One of my favorite things about Ann Arbor is there are so many amazing things that are recycled and reused – and they use them to build instruments. I’ve found really cool instruments there. But really the whole recycling culture in Ann Arbor is so much more developed than almost everywhere else in the country that that’s one of the things I really love about the town. There’s a real consciousness about the environment and not being wasteful. I appreciate those things about Ann Arbor. I know that you’ve built your own instruments. Why is that appealing to you? The process of creating a new thing is always kind of rewarding and fun. And you make this thing that’s got all of these idiosyncrasies. It’s kind of crude but then it makes all of these unusual sounds. You kind of find that there’s a little song inside of each thing that you make, so you’ll start
FEATURE
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i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
FEATURE
20
SEE THEM WHERE
Compuware Arena WHEN
Passion Pit
The dark story behind one of music’s brightest burning stars. BY AMANDA TRENT
Feb. 21 facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FEATURE
“Passion Pit has always kind of been an evolution [reflecting] whatever point Michael is at in his life when he’s writing.”
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reality that, over time, became impossible for the band to ignore. Just before the release of “Gossamer,” Angelakos posted on the Passion Pit website that the band had cancelled the remaining July tour dates and suspended the tour as he sought treatment for bipolar disorder – a condition that he was diagnosed with at 18, according to a Pitchfork interview. As fans and critics began to digest the album, it became evident that threads of Angelakos’ struggle were woven throughout – although there were also hints in past seemingly upbeat tracks like “The Reeling” and “Little Secrets” that were largely overlooked. However, if the lyrics on “Manners” were laced with a whisper of Angelakos’ inner struggles, those on “Gossamer” were more like a scream. For instance, “Where We Belong” alludes to one of Angelakos’ suicide attempts that occurred while he was attending Boston’s Emerson College (“And then I’m lifted up / Out of the crimson tub / The bath begins to drain / And from the floor he prays away all my pain”). In the same Pitchfork interview, Angelakos described the incident, saying “It was a pretty gruesome scene. I walked myself to the hospital and waited for hours – my coat had blood seeping through it, and I was passing out on the floor. The hospital employees finally realized what was wrong with me and said, ‘Why did you not tell us what was happening?’ I didn’t tell them because I was embarrassed.” However, at this point in his life Angelakos seems to have traded in his embarrassment and is open about his struggle. “This is something that he’s been dealing with his whole life. I’ve been a part of it as well since I’ve known him for the past six years or so. He just got to a point where he was like, ‘I don’t want to hide this anymore.’ He felt enough courage to open up to everyone and let everyone else know what’s going on,” says Hultquist. “I’m really proud of him,” he says. “I think it was for the best and that it helped us grow closer as a band. I definitely hope that it helps people find courage do to that as well. It’s something that you can’t do on your own. I’m not saying that every single person in the world needs to know about everyone’s personal details, but being able to
stand up and say you need help with something definitely shows a lot.” “Gossamer” also delves into Angelakos’ evolving experience with serious relationships – something he had little of before he began dating his now fiancée, Kristy Mucci, three years ago. Prior to dating Mucci, his view of relationships was very different. “I was very carnivorous. I just thought I was going to ruin someone else’s life and someone was going to be impeding on my life, too,” he said to Pitchfork. “I don’t know how to make sense of love or lust – that’s why I write about it a lot. […] On a literal level, love does not make sense. But that’s what makes it love.” He proposed to Mucci, who he credits with saving his life many times, after dating for a year and a half – although no concrete wedding plans have surfaced as of yet. At this point in Passion Pit’s life as a band, their next step is anybody’s guess. In addition to their ever-evolving discography, they consistently surprise the music world with collaborations and other anomalies – like Tiesto’s remix and video for “Carried Away.” As far as Angelakos’ health goes, he has a world of support behind him in the form of his fiancée, family, band and now a large – and growing – fanbase. Although Hultquist admits to the band toying with a few ideas for a new album, he says “nothing’s been written at this point or set in stone” – and, in the meantime, they have a year of touring ahead of them. On Thursday, February 21, their tour will stop in Plymouth, Michigan where they will perform at Compuware Arena, supported by Matt and Kim. Those attending the show can expect an engaging and exciting live performance that is a far cry from the days of Angelakos performing alone aided only by his computer. “I’m really proud of us as a live band and that we really perform the songs as much as possible, where I know a lot of electronic acts these days don’t really do as much groundwork and it’s kind of just press play and dance around. I am really proud of the fact that we strive to be better musicians by fully playing these songs,” says Hultquist. “We always love coming through the area, and we look forward to coming back out.”
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
When the single, “Take a Walk,” was released, some Passion Pit fans were a bit confused. It was the first single off “Gossamer,” the band’s sophomore effort – and in many ways it had the markings of a band trying to reinvent itself. Unlike so many of the songs from “Manners,” it wasn’t the kind of track that you’d hear in some kind of underground danceclub. Plus, the lyrics were clearly discernible with a soul-searching quality to them. For a moment, it seemed a far cry from the poppy, electronic explosion of early Passion Pit songs that were as foreign and mysterious as they were catchy and danceable. Or was it? The brainchild of Michael Angelakos, Passion Pit first began with the “Chunk of Change” EP, a collection of songs written by Angelakos as a belated Valentine’s Day gift to his girlfriend at the time. Although, at first, Passion Pit just consisted of Angelakos and his computer, friend and former bandmate Ian Hultquist approached Angelakos during one of his solo shows in the Boston area about the possibility of collaborating. Slowly, a full band began to form with the purpose of performing Angelakos’ songs live. “I just thought it was a fun thing to try to do. I thought we’d put on a couple of shows, and that would be the end of it,” says Hultquist. Instead, things quickly sped up. The “Chunk of Change” EP was released in September 2008, and the EP’s single, “Sleepyhead,” soon skyrocketed to popularity, with the video earning a spot on Pitchfork’s Top 40 Music Videos of 2008. The band’s first full-length album, “Manners,” was released in May 2009 to rave reviews and “Gossamer” was released in July 2012 to further critical acclaim. “Passion Pit has always kind of been an evolution [reflecting] whatever point Michael is at in his life when he’s writing,” says Hultquist. “He’s always been very adamant about how he didn’t want to repeat himself and make the same record over and over. So when the ‘Chunk of Change’ EP came out, he was like, ‘Oh, I never want to do that again.’ And when ‘Manners’ came out, he was like, “Oh, I never want to do that again.” I think you hear his maturity as a songwriter through the albums.” But the road to success has been anything but easy for Passion Pit, and behind the upbeat, synthy sounds on Angelakos’ tracks lies a darker
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i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
FEATURE
22
SEE THEM WHERE
The Shelter Detroit WHEN
Feb. 12
A Silent Film
Rob of A Silent Film on Woody Allen, Kebabs and Life on the Road
BY AMANDA TRENT
facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FEATURE
“I don’t get a buzz out of anything like writing new music and the creative arts.”
www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
they don’t understand. Being away from family and friends is the worst because you have this full on commitment to this music thing where we could literally be busy every single day of the year. There’s no weekends. There’s no bank holidays for us. We just stay on the tour. Sometimes it’s not even financially practical to fly home from America to England. The end game is obviously to be able to control your work so that it’s incorporated with family – so you bring people on the road or you have time off so you can actually properly relax, but at the moment it’s a tough juggling act. What is the thing you miss most about being home other than the people? This is going to make me sound like such a simpleton, but kebabs. It’s like a food cart or street vendor. I think you’d cry with laughter if you see the kind of stuff we eat out of them. It’s usually like weird kind of Turkish meat. They put it on this massive stick and saw it off and put it on chips – fries, sorry. They cover it in mayonnaise – I know Americans don’t like mayonnaise – and raw onions and salad. It’s just the best thing – a total guilt food. Anything else? Just your own bed that’s still and not moving. What keeps you going and makes you want to continue life on the road? I don’t get a buzz out of anything like writing new music and the creative arts. I don’t understand what it is, and I always chase it. If I had to stop that, I don’t know where I’d get that thrill of the chase. I’ve heard you drop Woody Allen references. You must be somewhat of a movie buff. Yes, I’m a total Woody Allen buff. What are your favorites? “Play It Again, Sam,” “Annie Hall,” “Sleeper” What makes you like Woody Allen and identify with him? I’m not sure what would have come first for me. I adore New York maybe because of Woody Allen or maybe I feel a kinship with him because I adore New York, and so many of his films were based around New York. I think it’s just his wit and absolute truthful sort of life philosophies
that inspire me. You can’t take life too seriously, but every one of his films has a clear, underlying philosophical query going on that is intriguing. How did you like “Midnights in Paris”? That one was a little different. I loved that one! I thought it was amazing. I was so shocked. I didn’t know anything about it. I always make an effort to never ever watch a trailer. Every year, Woody Allen releases a film, and I’ll just go to the cinema to see it – always on my own. Tell me about your song “Danny, Dakota and the Wishing Well.” What was it inspired by? For me, it was just having driven around America for the first time, we got the sense of space and we thought it would be fun. In England, you can’t really have stories about people who live in Howell, then they move to Southampton – it’s just not as romantic. In America, you’ve got the north and the south in this amazing country that could be sort of 50 countries rolled into one. And I thought it would be nice to experiment and play around with two characters and the space. Also, I was really digging “The River” by Bruce Springsteen – the story songs. I thought that I’d give it a go. The best thing about creating stories is I don’t have to write about myself because I’m quite an ordinary guy – middle class, white, Oxford. Everything about me is as normal as they come. Everything about me is English. It’s not great to write songs about, to be honest. My life isn’t all that exciting, but I love seeing other people’s experiences and trying to react with how that makes me feel and then write stories to exhibit that, making things general enough that other people can interpret them in their own way. What is your live show like? We like to engage the audience on a very humane level. I can’t stand it when artists put up that barrier. It’s usually because they’re insecure and don’t want to be judged. I used to feel like I was supposed to sing my songs and the audience was supposed to watch, and that’s where the relationship ends, but now it’s a much more of a give and take thing. We play around a lot, and we’re very welcoming people. I enjoy the freedom to sort of express myself and react to the
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
Robert Stevenson is the frontman of A Silent Film, an Oxford, England-based alt rock fivepiece that has consistently maintained a presence on the American alt charts. Their debut album, “A City That Sleeps,” was released in October 2008 (U.K. edition – the U.S. edition was released in November 2010), featuring the single “You Will Leave a Mark,” which hit number one in the Sunday Times Culture magazine’s Hottest Downloads chart. In June of 2012, the band released their second full-length album, “Sand & Snow,” which includes the popular single “Danny, Dakota and the Wishing Well.” Now, after being featured on shows such as MTV’s The Hills and The Hard Times of RJ Berger, Investigation Discovery and even the Rockband video game, A Silent Film continues to make a name in the U.S. by doing one of the things they do best – touring, getting to know their fans and picking up some new ones along the way. Recently, iSPY had the opportunity to chat with Stevenson about everything from life on the road to his love for Woody Allen. Do you enjoy traveling as much as you do? What do you do to pass your time while you’re on the road or in the air? We love traveling. It’s quite the lifestyle. I think it could wear you down after a while. But it’s always good news, wherever we’re going. This is how I get through my day – I think it’s just a really really long drive and then we’re going to have a party and then there’s going to be another really really long drive and then another party – you get the idea. The trick is not to enjoy the party so much that you can’t get to the next party. I’ve never been to the U.K. What are some of the differences between our way of life and your way of life there? There’s so much salt in your food, Amanda. It’s so difficult for me. I feel like a slug or a snail or something that is allergic to salt. Americans always come to England and complain that the food is too bland. I know why now. Also, people in America are super welcoming and happy to see you, and that feels really good to us. Tell me, what are some of the things about being a musician that people glamorize and
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audience each night. People are starting to sing along to our songs now – I love it. It’s amazing. I catch it occasionally because usually I’m just singing along, doing my own thing, then suddenly I think I hear them singing – but I don’t want to stop singing and realize no one is singing and I was just imagining it. I haven’t really gotten to that point yet where you thrust the microphone out into the audience and get them to sing along, but it feels close. What are your favorite lyrics that you’ve ever written? I don’t like any of them – that’s the problem. I have problems with saying that anything of mine is of any worth or good. The one time I think I kind of tickled the underbelly of something good is on a song called “West Snowbirds Have Flown.” I wrote it all in one sitting. It just flew out and fell right and I never changed a word. It didn’t actually make it on the album – ooh, how indie (laughs). We kind of messed up the recording, but we play it live a lot. It’s one of my favorites.
What is something about yourself that not many people know? I wear glasses. I wear contact lenses all the time, but I love wearing glasses. I think the only reason I don’t wear glasses on stage is because if they fall off, you are the most pitied man. Can you imagine the sight of a musician with big, geeky glasses and they fall off? And he has to walk around on his hands and knees trying to find his glasses? That would be horrible. Do you have any advice for people who are aspiring musicians? No. Get out of my way (laughs). It’s tough. You’ve got to want it then want it some more. There’s absolutely no one you can trust to add momentum more than yourself, and I think new songs are key. Everything comes from new songs. You can write a new song in a couple of hours that will change the rest of your life. A Silent Film will perform at 7 p.m. on February 19 at The Shelter in Detroit. For more information, visit saintandrewsdetroit.com.
Opening in February!
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
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Feb. 15 www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
Bad Books
Kevin Devine of Bad Books on songwriting, loosening up and the fans BY PAUL KITTI
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
SEE THEM
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FEATURE
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
“It’s amazing to us that we can make a record every two or three years and people will listen to it and we can go tour on it. […]It’s a pretty amazing thing to have as your second or third hat you can wear.” For about the past six years, there’s been a ferocious wave roaring through the indie rock scene. It’s made up of three acts: Brand New, Manchester Orchestra and Kevin Devine. And they don’t storm the most populated beaches – they simply wouldn’t fit in. Their music can be heavy, personal and emotional, sometimes bordering on spiritual. Their incredibly consistent, yet almost-hidden following is among the most devoted I’ve ever seen. In two words, their shows are refreshingly exhausting. Like being hit by a… you get it. It seemed inevitable: after playing with each other so often, weaving in and out of each other’s sets and sharing overlapping musical influences, why not share a studio? In 2010, Kevin Devine and Andy Hull, lead singer of Manchester Orchestra, decided to give it a shot. Bad Books was formed, and the first album presented a noteworthy collaboration between two talented musicians straying from their comfort zones and exploring new techniques. But on their second album, “Bad Books II,” they shifted from being two interacting entities to a full-fledged band. Now, Bad Books has become its own force with an ever-growing following. But Hull and Devine are intent on preserving its original purpose – to experiment and have fun – while maintaining their original projects. Once their current tour ends, Hull will refocus on Manchester Orchestra and Devine will resume work on two albums, both made possible through a Kickstarter campaign that has amassed staggering fan support. One of Devine’s two albums will be produced by Jesse Lacey of Brand New and will likely see daylight this fall. We recently spoke with Devine over the phone, and he had a lot to say about the purpose and formation of Bad Books and the relationships between himself and the people he loves to play music with. Have you noticed a different kind of crowd, or even a different kind of reaction, from fans as you tour as Bad Books compared to when you’ve performed in your separate projects?
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I think the Bad Books shows are, in general, a bit looser, a little more fun, a little more playful. Not to say they’re also not serious. The intent is not to play half-assed, but I think, especially for Manchester, that their personality is fairly or unfairly pegged as being this serious, somber band. Like a serious rock band with furrowed brows or something. But they’re actually like super goofy dudes and really smart. The Bad Books shows allow both of us to display a fuller representation of our offstage personalities. I think people get that a Bad Books show is something that will only happen once every couple years. You’re gonna get 10 to 20 Bad Books shows on a record as opposed to 100 or 120 Kevin or Manchester shows on a record. I think people are willing to kinda roll with it and have some fun with it. That’s my take, but I haven’t done any exit polling. I definitely get what you’re saying. I saw Manchester a few years back, and they were amazing, but you do get the feeling something very serious is happening onstage. I was surprised to hear how laid back everyone seemed with Bad Books, especially Andy. Yeah, I feel like there’s an expectation if you write a certain kind of song, that you’re a certain kind of person. Not to devolve the interview process into undergraduate psycho-analysis or dorm room philosophizing, but I don’t really know if there is such a thing as a type of person… Everyone I know is a whole lot of things at the same time. Super serious people can also be super funny. I think Andy is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met, and that was just in the first hour of meeting him – very quick witted, very big personality, very sharp and a super funny dude. We’ve been friends going on six years and we’ve had spools of conversations on all manners of weighty subjects, but we’ve also had some of the dumbest, piss-yourpants-laughing kinds of conversations I’ve ever had with anyone. Like ridiculous, subhuman, guttural-funny ones. With Bad Books, how it manifests itself in the music is that there’s a
looseness and a breath in it. Do you and Andy collaborate on the lyrics, or write separately then bring it to the table? That I guess is the least collaborative aspect of Bad Books. A song where you hear me sing the lead vocal, I wrote that song – the melody, the chord progressions, the lyrics for sure, and it’s the same for Andy. What we did do on this record that we didn’t do the first time around is we spoke more about the lyrics. And I think for both of us, that was the final step to truly cracking that precious, perfectionist impulse every songwriter has. You get very protective of your words when you’ve been writing songs for so long, because they’re probably the closest thing to “you” that’s in your songs, right? With the first record, we didn’t even go near that. Everything else was on the table: arrangement, production... This record we actually sat down and talked about what lyrics meant. Most of your lyrics seem directed at a significant other in a dark or conflicted context, and you use of humor and detail to makes the songs both distinct and relatable. Do you draw from personal experience, and do you feel that both of you have had similar experiences? I think we do both draw from personal experiences, but I think we also draw from imagination. Some of it’s personal, and some of it’s filtering the world around you through your prism and making the impersonal sound personal, and some of it’s purely creative. Sometimes you’re a diarist, sometimes you’re a journalist and sometimes you’re a novelist. And the trick with songs like the kind we write is I really like using “I” and “you” – I like personalizing things like that, but I’m not always talking about me or some literal, existent other. Sometimes I’ll write songs to myself using I and you, which might sound somewhat schizophrenic, but I think it’s part of what we’re all like. As far as our own experiences and their similarities and dissimilarities, I think our experiences in many big ticket ways are very facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
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much so that I don’t totally feel comfortable. If I had to pick one, it’d be a coin toss between “Never Stops” and “Ambivalent Peaks.” How is the Kickstarter campaign going? Unspeakably well. It’s ridiculous. It’s amazing. I went back and forth so much about whether or not I should do it and whether or not it was sort of “career suicide” to do it. And I’ve had all of that anxiety obliterated by the clear voice of the audience – it’s crazy. It’s the most exciting thing that’s happened in my career. It’s more exciting than being signed to a major label. It’s more exciting than charting on billboards… really, what this says is the fans are saying, “we want you to make the music you want to make, and we trust you, and we would prefer it if you could do it the way you want to do it and forget about a publishing company, and we’ve got your back.” I don’t think it’s possible for me to accurately quantify how staggering that response has been for me. I understand you’re making two records, one with Jesse Lacey (of Brand New) as producer. What does he bring to the creative process? I’ve written songs with Jesse, performed and sung with Jesse and we’ve talked about music endlessly. Jesse has always poked his nose around at our recordings. He’s always been a fly on the wall or more than a fly on the wall. He’s always spoken about wanting to take a more active role and make a record with me, and it seemed like the right time to do it. He is a really excellent melodist and he knows my taste. He’s an accomplished songwriter in his own right, and he’s an honest critic – he’ll challenge me about
my songwriting and my choices. If I’m gonna bring someone in to work on these songs, I’m gonna let them criticize me, because what’s the point otherwise? He is, in some respects, the most trusted peer I have. We’ve seen each other develop in music forever. I played with Miracle of 86 with Brand New, playing together in Long Island in backyards and churches. I’ve known his music since something like 1999. If you could pick any third party to join Bad Books – another creative partner, if you will – who might that be? I think kids would love it if it was Jesse or Brand New. I think obviously that would make the most sense in some respects – it’d be cool to see what that would be like. I really love Jesse Coppenbarger, singer of Color Revolt. I’ve always thought he was a super special songwriter and a really beautiful singer. Also Dave Bazzan. He’s a total monster, but a sweet guy and a smart guy... and a ridiculous musician. I feel like he has incorporated all his influences into something that sounds like him, which is the magic trick. So those three guys would all be pretty high on the list. Bad Books are about to embark on the next leg of their tour in support of their second album. You can catch them at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac on February 15.
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
different. We come from slightly different religious upbringings. I think it’s different to grow up in Brooklyn than in Alpharetta, Georgia. I think it’s different to come from a pastor’s family than it is to come from a cop and a nurse family. Also, our romantic experiences are super different, without getting too personal. But I think sometimes the way we process things are similar or the way we look at ourselves. With Bad Books developing from an underthe-radar project to a full band with a growing fan base, have there been (or do you foresee) any challenges in maintaining your separate projects – you with the Goddamn Band and your solo work and Andy with Manchester Orchestra? I don’t think so. I mean obviously we’re coming at it from different sides. Bad Books is probably of comparable size to me in terms of the rooms we play and the number of people who come see our shows. And Manchester is a bigger band in terms of numbers. They’ve got a pretty solid thing going on at that level, and it wouldn’t make a ton of logistical sense for them to cannibalize that experience to focus on Bad Books. For me, it’s a similar feeling from a different perspective. I have a deeper foundation with my stuff and my relationship with my fan base has a lot of depth. I think we look at it as a beautiful opportunity. It’s amazing to us that we can make a record every two or three years and people will listen to it and want to hear it and we can go tour on it, and people will come to the shows to hear it. It’s a pretty amazing thing to have as your second or third hat you can wear. What first spurred you and Andy to collaborate or to start considering the possibility? I think, on some level, we started considering the possibility very shortly after we met. We did that Brand New tour, which was like spring of ‘07 where we both opened for them, and by a week into that tour we were all playing with each other, and that tour became like a three-hour megaband and was honestly one of the best tours of my life. I have a feeling when I’m done that’ll always be cast in some special light. After that I did four or five other tours with Manchester, as just me, but I’ve probably played like 150 shows with some version of Andy or Manchester since 2007. So the next step from singing on each other’s songs was, “Well, what if we wrote songs?” So we started thinking we should make a record. What would you say is the most personal song from “Bad Books II” to you and why? It’s a funny record for me, and it’s a little weird to say, but there are three songs on this record that are weirdly, super personal, and that’s a little strange because it’s not a “Kevin Devine” record. There’s these three songs that popped up on this Bad Books record that are pretty personal – so
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REVIEW
+Sounds
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
ARTIST: Seth Glier ALBUM: Things I Should Let You Know 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI
Good songwriters still exist, I swear it. The Neil Youngs and Billy Joels aren’t the only ones keeping the powerful basics alive – you just have to dig a little deeper to find the stuff that will move you. Seth Glier is that rare breed of musician who can pack a story and a wide range of emotion into a pop song. His latest release, “Things I Should Let You Know,” plays like a novel with each of its 13 chapters presenting distinct conflicts and triumphs, uncertainties and turning points. Intent listeners may find that this music reveals as much about themselves as it does about the artist – his insight and introspection moves effortlessly from his heart into your headspace. Glier proved to be a master of the ballad with the Grammy-nominated “The Next Right Thing,” but here he takes some subtle steps towards diversifying his sound. The album is bookended by two atmospheric tracks that position his voice and lyrics as the substance and focal point of the whole journey. “Man I Used to Be” is a traditionally structured pop number with keys and strings leading into a swelling chorus, and Glier follows it up with a song pulled straight from the South, complete with horns and crashing symbols. “Things I Should Let You Know” is urgent and confessional, as its title promises. “I am only as loved as I am open,” Glier sings at the album’s end. Many songwriters use their music to expose their soul, but few do it so effectively. The truth in his statement has already begun to show, as this songwriter is becoming less and less harder to find.
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ARTIST: Free Energy ALBUM: Love Sign 3.5/5 TOWERS BY TREASURE GROH
Picture this: A high school gymnasium filled with ruffles, taffeta, polyester and corsages, dancing in that oh-so-awkward-school-dance way, vibrates with the sounds of electric guitars, bustling choruses and party rock anthems (no, not LMFAO). Free Energy’s “Love Sign” is the sound of all those 80s teen-based films. It’s the song that your older sister had her first kiss to. It’s mindless in the best sense, completely devoid of deep thought, which, understandably, may make it sound terrible (it’s not). But, really, it’s just fun. “Love Sign” takes all those moments your older siblings had and makes them yours. With every guitar riff, cowbell-laden beat and larger-than-life chorus, the album aims for fun – nothing more. The album’s opener, “Electric Fever,” sets the pace for what the listener can expect for the duration of the album by utilizing electric guitars, cowbell and singer Paul Sprangers’ full, 80s-infused vocals. Pair the first track with “Backscratcher” and you have the hardest hitting songs on the album. Despite the party theme, there are some tracks that are softer. “Dance All Night,” “True Love” and “Hey Tonight” hearken back to the days when you snuck your date outside to smooch as the band played on inside. Sure, Free Energy could have drawn up a sophomore album that spoke of existentialism, hard times and politics, but it really wouldn’t be Free Energy anymore, would it? A great example of an “it is what it is” album, “Love Sign” would only disappoint a pair of ears looking for depth or profound lyrics. In truth, it’s about a deep as a kiddy pool. But hey, is depth really what you want to put on at a house party? Didn’t think so.
ARTIST: the ollam ALBUM: .the ollam. 3/5 TOWERS BY ROSS HUFF
It was a marvel to receive Morse code from Ireland over the transatlantic cable in 1858. The first, terse message took hours to receive and decipher. Now, holding rehearsals over Skype, musicians send huge bundles of data back and forth with overdubs, edits and mixes. In this way was “.the olllam.” produced in southeast Michigan and Ireland in 2012. Despite geographical distance, the recording brings the listener into close proximity. The long form buildups and rhythmic dance grooves that Tyler Duncan honed with Ella Riot shape the songwriting, but here, masters of traditional Irish instruments take melodic lead. They seem to imply ancient myths about the future of global communication. You could be listening to this band in a cozy cafe, which happens to be the pub car of a bullet train. “The Follly of Wisdom” will drive wild the festival goers in their summer hayfields. You can sit on the hillside of this tune. The next couple of tracks, “The Tryst After Death,” and “Bridge of Glllass” contrasts darker tonalities, well representing the spirit of musical exploration at work in the whole. At just over 43 minutes, you’d have to be driving pretty fast to outdistance how far this album travels in the same amount of time. I was surprised to find myself longing to hear a lyric somewhere. There seems to be room to tell tales of the heroic deeds of the future or perhaps speculate about the evolving myths of our own day. Meanwhile, the Irish pipes tell a story about the intimacy of distance and the way we assimilate our memories and visions into the present moment . facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
REVIEW
If the new cinematic release of “Les Miserables” can be commended for one thing, it is truth in advertising. The film is an adaptation of the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 epic novel chronicling the stories of misery and redemption of a cast of characters in France at the outset of the 1800s. The story focuses primarily on Jean Valjean, played with dashing mournfulness by Hugh Jackman as he is pursued over several decades by the tireless and cruel Javert (Russel Crowe) after Valjean violates his parole. A twist of fate finds Valjean the caretaker of the lovely orphan Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) after her mother, Fantine – played with gaunt grandiosity by Anne Hathaway, expires in the most heart wrenching of circumstances. The original musical production with a book by Claude-Michel Shonberg and Alain Boublil and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer was one of the most influential of all time. Under the auspices of the powerhouse producer Cameron Mcintosh ,a visual
MAGAZINE
It is only fitting that “Zero Dark Thirty” begins and concludes with death. With nothing but a pitch black screen and recordings of 911 calls from those trapped in the World Trade Center, the film offers up its first heartbreaking scene – complete with pleads and cries. The ending is eerily similar, as children sob and scream while gunshots are precisely placed and adults stripped of life all for the capture and death of Osama bin Laden. These two moments not only inspired powerful emotions, but opened and closed an era centered around a tireless hunt for one man who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. In between these moments is the determined and obsessive journey of CIA agent, Maya (Jessica Chastain). Seen through her eyes, we encounter her first interrogation session and watch her flinch fractionally as she watches another agent walk her through torture as if it
FILM: Les Miserables DIRECTOR: Tom Hooper 4/5 TOWERS BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER
were a simple procedure. This is only Maya’s introduction to warfare and what she is told it takes to get information. As the story carries on, Maya shuns all distractions and focuses all of her energy on catching bin Laden through any means necessarily. Of course she is able to achieve it at the end, but not without manipulation and selfdestruction. And what a quiet, solitary end it is. Director Kathryn Bigelow raises interesting questions regarding government protocol when it comes to gaining information but without a strong opinion of what is wrong or right. While some may want a clear side taken (especially when it comes to those controversial “enhanced interrogation” scenes), “Zero Dark Thirty” performs more like a Rorschach test for viewers. It unveils an emotional response that resonates to the core.
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i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
FILM: Zero Dark Thirty DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow 4.5/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE
The Cut+
style was crafted that befitted the soaring musical numbers and sweeping and melodramatic tale. Director Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”) in no way strives to diminish the scope of Hugo’s story, and I would argue that he matches the lofty precedent. Hooper’s sweeping shots of the dirty and unspeakably beautiful city are breathtaking, and the performances are some of the best in recent memory. A lot has been made of the decision to have all of the performers sing live, and it really does make for a much more visceral experience of songs that are already pretty much a punch straight to your tear ducts. The fact is that most everything that one could hate about musicals is in abundance in “Les Miserables,” such as unexpected bursts of song, unselfconscious melodrama, over the top orchestrations – it’s all there. But for those of us who love it, “Les Mis” gives you everything you would hope for from one of the greatest musicals ever to be staged.
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REVIEW
i SPY Magazine // FEBRUARY 2013
BOOK: Super Natural Strategies for Making a Rock n’ Roll Group AUTHOR: Ian F. Svenonius 4/5 TOWERS BY JEFF MILO
Unsure masses of aspiring musicians, adrift with your unfinished song-ideas and feeling like unmatchable puzzle pieces with half, hollowed harmonies, stooped in a doubtfulness that your chance could ever come to hitch a ride on the evanescent railroad to the tranquil and idyllic rock n’ roll promiseland, this book has been written for you. Strength in numbers, right? A “How-To” for bands! Ian Svenonius, iconic punkgospel provocateur famed for rousing roles fronting left-of-center satirical-R&B-frankensteined groups like Chain & the Gang or the imitable manic-soul rock outfit The Make-Up, happens to be a cuttingly keen historian of music’s role in societal development (and the subsequent canny manipulation of it by the reel of various ruling classes over the centuries). Svenonius shows you the light (and the dark), the inroads (and pitfalls) and best practices in fostering and marshalling a group, a gang, an agency of fame and influence …i.e.: a Rock n’ Roll band. We explore the why and how of rock n’ roll’s dominate influence and prevailing enticement, the lessons left to us by our icons’ travails and triumphs, and we
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iterate the “grave responsibility” inherent to participating in the enterprise of a “rock n’ roll group” through your output, your recorded artifacts, your fleeting live performances and the inevitable love-hate-swirled relationship unwillingly entered into with ostensible “fans.” We’ll cover the why and the how, even, of maintaining your van, inviting experimentations with recreational drugs (and sex) as well as maneuvering the middlemen at labels or the “cosmic dopes and transcendental lechers” known as “critics.” Svenonius’ style is cerebral and charismatic but may need to be sipped slowly, as some points plod down headily with dizzying professorial reels of his philosophic, slightly (albeit intriguingly) slanted views. Soldier through, if this be what matters to you, because you’ll learn a lot about the greater implications (and wary focus required) in what seems so frivolous/harmless (and maybe not so “magical”) an act as starting a rock n’ roll group. “You must also strategize, conceptualize and then realize some version of the vision you want to see materialize,” Svenonius writes in what is both an instructional guide and warning device.
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