Character Studies — Jeremy Porter and The Tucos Create Relatable Protagonists on “Sell Their Souls” Album

From left: Jake Reilly, Jeremy Porter, and Troy Toma of Jeremy Porter and The Tucos. Photo – Noreen Porter

As a proficient songwriter, Jeremy Porter brings compelling characters to life.

His characters range from dogs and kids to Shakespearean sidekicks and ranch hands, and together they face regrets, challenges, and hard lessons in different situations.

They’re prominently featured throughout the 12 tracks on Sell Their Souls, Porter’s latest multigenre album with The Tucos.

“It wasn’t really intentional,” said Porter, who’s based in Plymouth, Michigan. “I think you just summed up all the different things that I tend to write songs about. Regret is a constant theme, and it seems in my lyrics that I keep coming back to that.”

To create relatable protagonists, Porter draws inspiration from a variety of TV shows and films, including Wes Anderson movies, neo-Western dramas, and true-crime documentaries.

“I get a lot of inspiration from that,” Porter said. “If I hear somebody say something on the screen that catches my ear, I’ll put it right into my phone, and I’ll build a song around it.”

But his storied lyrics are only part of the equation for Sell Their Souls. The turbocharged, fearless instrumentation from Porter (guitar, vocals, piano, lap steel) and Tucos bandmates Gabriel Doman (drums, vocals, percussion, piano, guitar) and Jake Reilly (bass, vocals) provides the other crucial portion. (The band’s current live drummer is Troy Toma.)

“This is a bit of a heavier record for us, and it’s a bit more rock than we usually do,” said Porter, who released the album via GTG Records. “I always like albums like The Who’s The Who Sell Out. I wanted [the album’s title] to be like that, like a news headline—Jeremy Porter and The Tucos Sell Their Souls—that’s a sentence.”

I recently spoke with Porter ahead of an October 10 album release show at Parts and Labor Bar in Melvindale.

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Musical Awakening — Dexter’s Brad Phillips Rediscovers His Purpose for Writing and Performing Music

Brad Phillips, right, performs with Jeff Daniels at JD’s Stage Bistro in Chelsea. Photo by Bern.

After years of working as a sideman, Brad Phillips realized it’s time to be front and center.

The Dexter, Michigan, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is focusing more on his own material and live shows.

“I’m at this point where I’m looking back at the whole road that I’ve traveled; I’ve done a lot of stuff, and I’m grateful for it,” Phillips said. “It’s exciting to think about what comes next, and instead of waiting for who’s going to call me next, I’m calling me. And so, I’m trying to be intentional about just doing that on purpose.”

Phillips spent four days this summer revisiting his musical purpose in the woods by writing and practicing music. Playing a variety of different instruments—acoustic guitar, mandolin, and violin, to name a few—helped him feel reconnected to it.

“I brought my little recording rig and creative-vomited for four days, and I got back to basics and practiced my scales and my etudes,” he said. “It was like: ‘Oh yeah, this is a part of who I am, and it always has been.’”

Before taking his musical retreat, Phillips had been touring on and off with actress and singer Patti LuPone for the last two to three years. He also collaborated with LuPone on her 2024 album, A Life in Notes.

“That’s been the primary thing, all while trying to understand what inspires me musically as an individual and as the musician Brad under my own name,” Phillips said. “My whole thing over the last 20-25 years has been: ‘How can I best serve other people’s visions?’ And of course, that is essentially a side man, which I love, and I will always love.”

While he enjoys collaborating and performing with a roster of Michigan musicians, including May Erlewine, Joshua Davis, Chris DuPont, Rachael Davis, and Jeff Daniels, he’s begun releasing his own material.

Americana-folk songs like “How Sweet the Sound” and “Dance Again” demonstrate the musical depth and breadth he brings as a singer-songwriter.

“I’ve gone through a lot in the last decade—a lot of transition, a lot of change—and all of it has brought me closer to living more truthfully, more authentically, which then allows for the creativity to flow a little more organically,” said Phillips, who’s a lecturer at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

I recently spoke with Phillips about his career ahead of a November 6 show at Rancho Tranquilico in Dexter.

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Fifth Edition — Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert Marks First Major Milestone for Kalamazoo’s Sounds of the Zoo Music Festival

Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert. Courtesy photo.

For Jennifer Hudson-Prenkert, the fifth year feels special.

It marks the start of longevity and the first major milestone for Sounds of the Zoo, the free-admission music festival she’s hosted since 2022 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

“It feels pretty amazing to still be here,” said Hudson-Prenkert, founder, curator, and director of Sounds of the Zoo.

“Recently, Sounds of the Zoo was recognized by Local Spins as the No. 2 September music festival in Michigan—right behind Wheatland. That’s an incredible honor and something I’m really proud of. I’m trying to take a moment to sit back, take it in, and recognize that we made it to year five. But honestly, I also feel like I’m just getting started.”

Running September 21-27, the festival features more than 40 acts at several locations across the city. Some of the acts include Myron Elkins, The Mark Lavengood Band, Desmond Jones, The Go Rounds, MexiCuba, The Rupple Brothers, Grace Theisen, Kylee Phillips, Chris Canas, and others.

In addition to celebrating Michigan music, Sounds of the Zoo has become part of the city’s cultural movement and has built partnerships with local venues, Western Michigan University, and other organizations.

“Sounds of the Zoo is so much more than a festival,” Hudson-Prenkert said. “It’s rooted in community, but it also reaches beyond the community. I think that’s part of what makes it different. Festivals can sometimes have a certain stereotype or formula, and I’ve always wanted Sounds of the Zoo to feel different.”

I recently spoke with Hudson-Prenkert about preparing for the festival and celebrating its first milestone.

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Highway Companion — Joe Jaber Celebrates the Open Road on “Ride With Me” Single

Joe Jaber relishes the freedom of the open road on “Ride With Me.”

The Novi, Michigan, singer-guitarist captures that sense of adventure and the enjoyment of sharing it with someone special on his latest blues-rock single.

“We all have so much in our daily to-dos, and sometimes we lose track of what’s important,” Jaber said. “Traveling with someone that lights your fire and exploring what’s on the open road without restrictions makes us feel alive.”

Backed by fiery electric guitar, upbeat piano, and pounding drums, Jaber sings, “Gotta get away / Can’t wait another day / The grind is going to beat me down / I know you’re the one / Let’s ride under the sun / Our destiny is now.”

“I hear a little Bob Seger inspiration in that one,” he said. “I’ve been releasing some of the deeper-side-of-life songs lately, and I wanted to put one of the many I haven’t released yet that has that roll-the-windows-down and crank-out-the-jams vibe for summer. I’ve been told this one will deliver.”

Once he had “Ride With Me” written, Jaber shared it with producer Bryan Reilly at Scramble Shack recording studio in Ferndale. The two recorded the song with guitarist Pete Peltier, who brought an explosive sound.

“It was especially fun in the studio with the band, and Pete Peltier is an excellent guitarist and so easy to work with,” Jaber said.

“He had a great tone and drive for the song throughout it. At the end, I heard an outro melody in my head that I loved. I verbalized it to Pete, and he nailed it. I love the final stamp on the song.”

Jaber and his band The Last Divide will share songs like “Ride With Me” and his previous single “Paper Doll” during a September 18 show at Cadieux Café in Detroit. He will also premiere the new video for “Paper Doll” at the show.

“The setlist will be a variety of songs … but we will also be playing some good-time Americana / blues rock,” Jaber said. “We are playing with up-and-coming artist Cami Rose, and we are still finalizing an opener. Both the opener and the closer will be great female artists.”

I recently spoke with Jaber about his background and recent releases ahead of the show.

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Nothing Personal – Bill Edwards Explores Songs From Different Perspectives on “Enough About Me” Album

Editor’s Note: For a related article, see the One Track Mind feature from Pulp.

Bill Edwards is satisfied with having one less personal collection of music in the world.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan, singer-songwriter adopts that mindset and overarching premise for his new album, Enough About Me, and its title track.

“I read American Songwriter magazine, and there’s an article on the cover that says, ‘So-and-so has put out their most personal album yet,’” said Edwards, who’s also multi-instrumentalist.

“I don’t think a statement is intrinsically more important because it’s your personal history. It can be, if it’s something you’ve gone through and it’s really important and something that people will recognize and feel themselves, but there are other ways to do it too.”

On the title track, Edwards sings, “Must we keep dronin’ on / About ourselves? / It’s a big ol’ world out there / Can’t we talk about somethin’ else?”

“I don’t mean anything against anybody,” he said. “People do what they need to do or what they want to do, but just for me at my stage of life and stage of music production, I was ready to say, ‘You know, I want to write about something else; I want to write about other people.’”

Featuring 14 tracks, the country-bluegrass album explores songs from the perspectives of several characters, including women, men, teens, veterans, sanitation workers, and drifters.

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Remember the Time — The Brothers Harrington Return With “Experience the Music of 1971” Show in Canton

Amy Petty and Jason Briggs perform as part of “Experience the Music of 1971” at the Canton Village Theater in 2025. Courtesy photo.

The Brothers Harrington are musical time travelers.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan, musicians and siblings are building a metaphorical portal to 1971, a year that featured era-defining music from iconic artists like Led Zeppelin, The Who, Carole King, Marvin Gaye, and David Bowie.

That portal is in the form of a live revue-style show called Experience the Music of 1971. After debuting at the Canton Village Theater last fall, the show is back for a two-night run—October 1-2—at the same venue.

“It will be a completely organic performance, and that’s in the spirit of the music,” said Billy Harrington, a drummer who’s co-producing the show with his younger brother, guitarist Michael Harrington.

“We’re doing it the way that people did in the early ‘70s, given the tech that we have. It’s live instruments and live music in a room, and hopefully, we’re connecting with the audience and reminding them, or introducing them to this music.”

The Brothers Harrington developed the concept for the show after discussing a shared love of songs and albums from that transformative year with friend Mark Jay, owner-engineer of Immersifi Recording Services in Ann Arbor, and a sponsor of Experience the Music of 1971. (Immersifi Recording Services specializes in live recording, audio preservation and restoration, and noise and vibration consultancy services.)

“It kept coming up, and Mark was one of the inspirations to push it into the show world,” said Billy Harrington, who’s also performed and toured nationally with different tribute shows.

Last year’s inaugural show sold out and featured a roster of Michigan musicians performing songs like “Stairway to Heaven,” “What’s Going On,” “Roundabout,” and “Baba O’Riley.”

“It’s a lot of really challenging music, and it’s on our shoulders [again] to perform and do it right,” said Michael Harrington. “I think it will be fun, but it will be a lot of hard work and really rewarding.”

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Head Over Heels — Kelsey. Chronicles the Cycle of a Passionate Relationship on “LOVE HARD” Album

Kelsey. follows her passion on LOVE HARD.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist embraces that intense emotional state on her full-length debut album.

“It was written about one relationship, and it’s very dynamic,” said Kelsey. (pronounced Kelsey period), aka Kelsey Detering.

“There are a lot of layers to it, and every relationship is kind of like mini relationships all in one. It was one epic encounter, and that’s why I felt the need to write this whole album about it.”

On LOVE HARD, Kelsey. explores the intimate cycles of a volatile relationship—love, heartbreak, and longing—and its trajectory across 16 tracks.

“It was more like my own therapy when this happened to me,” she said. “I had to communicate my feelings about all of this … and whatever was going on with it, a song would just come out.”

Featuring a detailed storyline, LOVE HARD is an immersive, multigenre release that lands somewhere in between a concept record and a double album.

“I wanted it to be a cohesive piece of art that you sit down and listen to, and you immerse yourself in,” Kelsey. said.

“It has those segues, instrumentals, and things to really keep you in there. It’s very much for the music lover, especially if you’re the kind of person who wants to put your headphones on and really immerse yourself in something.”

Kelsey. also plans to recreate that immersive experience live on August 21 during her album release show at The Arboretum in Saline.

“It’s going to be a cool format, and I want to play [the album] by side,” she said. “We’ll play a side, and then we’ll talk to the audience for a minute. Then, we’ll play the other side, and it’ll literally be like you’re listening to the record.”

I recently spoke with Kelsey. about her new album ahead of the show.

Continue reading “Head Over Heels — Kelsey. Chronicles the Cycle of a Passionate Relationship on “LOVE HARD” Album” →

Ongoing Evolution — Annie and Rod Capps Embrace Self-Improvement and Lessons Learned on “Never Done” Album

Rod Capps, Annie Capps, Ozzie Andrews, and Jason Dennie. Photo – Jen Prouty.

For Annie and Rod Capps, self-improvement is a lifelong process and commitment.

The Chelsea, Michigan, couple explores that concept and the lessons they’ve learned on their latest folk album, Never Done.

“I’m always trying to do better, be better,” said Annie Capps. “I don’t always succeed, but the best kind of growth is that which creeps up on you after a long time of doing a lot of inner work.”

As part of that inner work, the duo examines the impact personal growth and wisdom have on them over time. They also reveal epiphanies about past behaviors, decisions, and actions that surfaced while writing the 10 tracks for Never Done.

“It’s almost as if a light bulb goes off and those self-improvements start to show themselves in real ways,” said Annie Capps. “I write what I’m feeling, and my lyrics often reflect a combination of reality—the kind of person I am—and the kind of person I want to be.”

Annie Capps (songwriting, vocals, guitar) shares those self-reflections through lyrics that range from personal and anecdotal to conversational and humorous.

“Part of the healthier version of self-reflection is not to take myself so seriously, especially when lamenting the mistakes of my youth,” she said. “I guess I’m in the season of life where reflecting on the past is natural, but I’m also looking at it through a more compassionate lens.”

Through another lens, Annie and Rod Capps (guitar, viola, vocals) view Never Done as a milestone of sorts—it’s their 10^th studio album.

They recorded the album in their Chelsea home studio and at Ann Arbor’s Big Sky Recording with bandmates Jason Dennie (mandolin, vocals), Dan “Ozzie” Andrews (bass), and Michael Shimmin (drums, percussion).

“Fast forward, I think we have gotten very comfortable with certain musicians and certain ways of recording,” Rod Capps said “I think we’ve learned what we can do and what works and what doesn’t.”

To learn more, I spoke with Annie and Rod Capps about their album ahead of an August 27 show at The Ark in Ann Arbor.

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Community Climb — Big Sky Company Rallies to Unite People on “Walk Up This Hill” Single

Big Sky Company’s Mike Ward, Annie Bacon, Kristi Davis, and Dave Boutette. Not pictured: Neil Donato and Jim Latini. Photo courtesy of Mike Ward.

No mountain—or hill—is too big for Big Sky Company to climb.

The Ann Arbor-Detroit collective explores that notion on its new folk single, “Walk Up This Hill.”

Featuring singer-songwriters and musicians Mike Ward, Dave Boutette, Neil Donato, Annie Bacon, Kristi Davis, and Jim Latini, the hopeful song serves as a rallying call to unite people and build community in divisive times.

“There are plenty of songs out there that people are writing and singing that are calls to action, but then, the action to me is not always what I’m looking for,” said Dave Boutette, who co-wrote “Walk Up This Hill” with Mike Ward.

“Mike’s songs have a unifying air about them; they have a unifying core, and frankly, that’s why he’s part of this project is because he brings people together, and his songs do that, too.”

Eighteen months ago, Boutette recruited Ward to pen the single after Geoff Michael, the owner-engineer of Big Sky Recording Company, suggested writing a social-commentary song.

“In our local music community, he felt like something was missing,” Boutette said.

“Given the tone of our times, there wasn’t enough social commentary and protest stuff out on the airwaves to the level that he would like. He tapped me to make it happen, and I said, ‘Well, I know the guy who’s going to write the song—Mike Ward.’”

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Adventure of a Lifetime — Dearborn’s Molly Kober Longs for a Past Trip on “Booking That Flight” Single

The Dearborn, Michigan, singer-songwriter and her friend Trianna traveled to Australia on a whim the summer after their freshman year of college.

“We were not loving life; it was really difficult, and we needed something to look forward to,” Kober said. “We said, ‘Hey, we’ve got nothing to lose. Why don’t we do something we’ve always wanted to do and go to Australia?’ We were trying to think of the furthest possible place from home aside from going to the moon.”

The two friends ventured up and down Australia’s East Coast, visiting places like Sydney, Byron Bay, and Brisbane.

“We were there for a month,” Kober said. “It was the best decision I ever made. I had never left home before, so it was like being immersed in adulthood for the first time.”

A year later, that same trip fueled the inspiration for Kober’s debut single, “Booking That Flight.” The pop song explores reliving a memorable vacation and longing for that same sense of adventure.

Backed by cinematic instrumentation, Kober sings, “What a magical few hours that it was / My guiding hand around the city / Watch your step here, it’s not pretty / A prince among men bought a perfect stranger lunch / Swapping stories of our crushed dreams / Laughing hard until the tears streamed.”

“It truly was the best thing I ever did, and Australia is so beautiful,” said Kober, who graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2025.

“We were staying in hostels, so we got to meet people from all over the world who really impacted us. Being able to be around that many people from that many different places and to find common ground with them really shook me.”

I recently spoke with Kober about getting started in music and writing her debut single.

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The Stratton Setlist

Catch the opener. Stay for the encore.

Category: Concerts