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.

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

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.’”

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

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.

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

Rite of Passage — Mark Jewett and Jackamo Make Their Ark Debut With July 9 Show

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Mark Jewett and Jackamo are eager to make their Ark debut on July 9.

For both acts, playing the Ann Arbor acoustic and folk music venue is a rite of passage, especially as seasoned live performers in Southeast Michigan.

“I hope about 400 people find that The Ark holds a special place in their heart—that would be nice,” said Jewett, an Americana singer-songwriter based in Plymouth. “I’m really glad that Jackamo was able to take on the show.”

Jewett and his band, The Strategic Advisors, are headlining the show while Jackamo is opening.

“We’ve been to The Ark many times to see many different acts, but we’re really excited about it,” said Alison Wiercioch, who performs in the Detroit indie-folk band with vocalist and sister Tessa Wiercioch and guitarist Jimmy Showers. “It holds a special place in our hearts.”

As a special show, both bands promise engaging, intimate performances with a variety of songs from their growing catalogs.

“You want to show it has some flow and dynamics,” Jewett said. “Typically, you open with something that wakes everybody up, then there’s a steady-state portion, and then things quiet down, and you ramp it up. Hopefully, you close with a bang.”

To learn more, I spoke with Jewett and Jackamo ahead of the show.

Continue reading “Rite of Passage — Mark Jewett and Jackamo Make Their Ark Debut With July 9 Show” →

Sinking Feeling — Checkered Lilies Process a Breakup and Its Aftermath on “Abandon Ship” Single

Kayla, Cesca, and Trie of Checkered Lilies. Photo – John Garrod

Checkered Lilies understand the sinking feeling that comes with a breakup.

The Southwest Michigan band processes that disappointment, uncertainty, and frustration on their latest alt-pop single, “Abandon Ship.”

“It was very autobiographical just because of stuff that has happened very recently,” said Kayla, vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for Checkered Lilies.

“I tried to reframe it into more of a relationship because relationships are super complicated, no matter the nature of the relationship.”

Backed by somber piano, electric guitar, and drums, Kayla sings, “I’m tossed by the current / Buried by the waves / I hope you got that escape you craved / So now you can go / And sail through your bright, clear skies / I’ll be where you left me behind.”

“I think that was my favorite part of the writing process: trying to take this situation, which I don’t think is very easily relatable, and extending it into something that’s more applicable to people wherever they are,” she said.

“Regardless of the type of relationship, any relationship has [its] ups and downs, so people can take it and apply it to their own lives.”

“Abandon Ship” also serves as the debut single for Checkered Lilies, which features oldest sister Kayla, 20, and her two younger sisters, drummer-vocalist Trie, 18, and guitarist-vocalist Cesca, 12.

“Personally, I think one of the biggest things that’s coming up for us is the release of Checkered Lilies in and of itself,” Trie said.

“We’ve done a few originals before, but Checkered Lilies is a whole new big project where we’re really writing songs that we connect with and songs that mean something to us. We’ve got a ton of them lined up starting [this] month and continuing on through the summer, and we’re all very excited about that.”

I recently spoke with the band about their background and latest single ahead of a June 27 show at The Stray in Grand Rapids.

Continue reading “Sinking Feeling — Checkered Lilies Process a Breakup and Its Aftermath on “Abandon Ship” Single” →

Starting a New Chapter — The City Lines Have a Fresh Lineup and Roster of Summer Shows

Victoria Horne, Johnny Scott, Bob Zammit, and Pat Deneau of The City Lines. Photo – Danny Burton.

The City Lines are starting a new chapter.

The Ann Arbor-based alt-rock band recently added two new members, lead guitarist Johnny Scott and bassist Victoria Horne, to their lineup. They join vocalist-guitarist Pat Deneau and drummer Bob Zammit.

“There is a total synergy on the stage now,” Deneau said. “It’s really fun playing these songs closer to the way that we recorded them, with the lead guitar parts and some basslines that are moving a little bit. Victoria and Johnny are bringing energy to the stage that I really feed off.”

The band also recently announced three shows for this summer, including May 30 with Joe Jordan at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, June 25 with Cracked & Hooked and Pillow Princess at Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti, and August 6 with A Thousand Horses at Lager House in Detroit.

The City Lines will perform songs from their growing catalog, which includes last year’s Prescribed Fires album and two prior releases.

“We’re a new band to a lot of people who are maybe going to wonder how we got three records out under their nose and why there are as many listenable songs,” Zammit said. “It’s because we’ve been working really hard on that end of it, and now, through the support of the community, we can support folks and be helpful.”

To learn more, I spoke with the band about their new members and live shows.

Continue reading “Starting a New Chapter — The City Lines Have a Fresh Lineup and Roster of Summer Shows” →

Visible Recognition — Sammie Hershock Honors Diligent Women on “Gold Sticker” Single

Sammie Hershock recognizes diligent women whose valuable contributions often go unnoticed on “Gold Sticker.”

The Marshall, Michigan, singer-songwriter and pianist pays tribute to women who support family, friends, and community behind the scenes on her new indie-folk single.

“That’s really where the song came from, and originally when I wrote it, I was thinking about my mom,” said Hershock, who’s also a mother of three children. “It just put it all in perspective for me, and it came from realizing how much she actually did.”

On “Gold Sticker,” she sings, “But can she get a gold sticker / Can she get a prize / Or maybe a metal around her neck to reflect the light in her eyes / It took me long enough to see / That in the race of humanity / There is no winner / But can we get a gold sticker.”

“When I play this for people, I can’t even tell you how many people come up afterward and say, ‘I needed to hear that,’” Hershock said. “I almost always play that song, and at the end, I have free gold stickers.”

“Gold Sticker” features an A-list roster of musicians, including Dominic Davis on bass, Mike Shimmin on drums, Spencer LaJoye on violin and background vocals, Kyle Joe on background vocals, and producer Chris DuPont on guitar.

“When I started working with Chris DuPont, I already had amazing musicians on it, and the skeleton of the record was perfect,” said Hershock, whose new single will appear on her upcoming album, Wings. “I loved it, but I just knew that I wanted it to be filled out a little bit more.”

Hershock also recently entered “Gold Sticker” in the Grassy Hill New Folk Competition for Emerging Songwriters, which is affiliated with the Kerrville Folk Festival in Kerrville, Texas.

She placed as one of 24 semi-finalists for the competition and is traveling to Kerrville this weekend to perform at the festival on May 24.

I recently spoke with Hershock about her background, new material, and upcoming plans.

Continue reading “Visible Recognition — Sammie Hershock Honors Diligent Women on “Gold Sticker” Single” →

Trust and Believe — Nick Behnan Follows His Heart on “When It’s Right, It’s Right” Single

Nick Behnan. Photo taken from Nick Behnan’s Facebook page.

Nick Behnan knows when to trust his intuition.

The Detroit artist and guitarist sings about finding his purpose and following his own path on “When It’s Right, It’s Right.”

“I’ve always had the most success in life and in my career when I follow my own nose, so to speak,” said Behnan about his latest garage rock-funk single.

“I guess ‘following your heart’ is a better way to put it, but it’s focusing on what I know I’m good at and was put on this planet to do.”

Backed by fiery electric guitar and thunderous drums, he sings, “I said go ahead and squeeze me / I tell you, when it’s right, it’s right / But you won’t get nothin’ outta me / I tell you, when it’s right, it’s right.”

“The song was definitely inspired by that mentality that I have, but also I thought the lyrics were fitting for these days with so much left-versus-right division between everyone,” Behnan said. “There does come a point where regardless of your political views, what is right is right. It kinda started there and then moved closer to [the song’s overall theme].”

To learn more, I spoke with Behnan about his latest projects and upcoming plans.

Continue reading “Trust and Believe — Nick Behnan Follows His Heart on “When It’s Right, It’s Right” Single” →

One Track Mind — Kelsey., “Our Eyes”

Kelsey. Photo taken from Kelsey.’s Facebook page.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pulp blog.

One Track Mind features a Washtenaw County-associated artist or band discussing a single song.

Standout Track: “Our Eyes” from Kelsey., aka Kelsey Detering, an Ann Arbor singer-songwriter, bassist, and pianist. Her latest single examines a new relationship between two people and their shared sense of connection, while also exploring themes of authenticity and validation. “That’s really the core of it, knowing that someone sees you almost chillingly well, that they understand the core of you, and in this case, your music,” wrote Kelsey. in an email interview.

“It’s almost too good to be true, just the connection itself. And what this song is really about is wanting to be the person they see, that they love and believe in. And also the reverse, which is how you see deep inside of them, and how all that is conveyed in just one look. You feel like you’ve truly known this person your entire life.”
Continue reading “One Track Mind — Kelsey., “Our Eyes”” →

Keep It Simple — La La Delivery Adopts Easygoing Mindset on “Enjoy the Journey” EP

James Mitchell, Lindsey Taylor, and Dan Zanetti of La La Delivery. Photo – autumnfalltime.

La La Delivery prefers to keep things fun and simple.

The Lansing, Michigan, trio celebrates being present and adopts an easygoing mindset on its latest EP, Enjoy the Journey.

“At this point, I would say it’s sonically closing a chapter,” said Lindsey Taylor, the vocalist and guitarist for La La Delivery. “After this, we’re in more of our fun era. We have to close that [old] chapter of our lives and move forward. We’re going to be a little sillier from here on out.”

Along with bassist James Mitchell and drummer Dan Zanetti, Taylor takes a lighthearted but intentional approach to La La Delivery’s songs about overthinking life, feeling nostalgic, and overcoming depression.

“There will still be some melancholy that writes its way in there because that doesn’t just go away,” she said. “You can’t control how it comes out of you, because when you write, it’s just gonna be what it is. You just have to let it come out and get it out of your system.”

Enjoy the Journey also reflects the personal thoughts and experiences of all three members since the pandemic.

“A lot has gone on both in the world and individually for all of us,” Mitchell said. “This EP definitely feels like we have gone through so much. We are—like Lindsey said—closing that chapter and headed toward something [new].”

Like the band, listeners can explore those relatable themes and moments through contemplative songs and introspective lyrics.

“Just like anything, it’s a craft, and we just keep building on it,” Zanetti said. We keep honing, finding efficiencies, and learning. It’s just one big learning opportunity and growth for all of us.”

Sonically, the six tracks on Enjoy the Journey come to life through ethereal vocals, vibrant electric guitars, thumping bass, and driving drums. The EP also reflects a variety of styles, ranging from indie rock and shoegaze to post-punk and alternative rock.

I recently spoke with La La Delivery about the inspiration behind Enjoy the Journey.

Continue reading “Keep It Simple — La La Delivery Adopts Easygoing Mindset on “Enjoy the Journey” EP” →

The Stratton Setlist

Catch the opener. Stay for the encore.

Category: Concerts