Category: Concerts

Give It a Whirl – Julianne Ankley Celebrates Following Your Dreams on ‘What Makes You Dance’ Single

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Julianne Ankley champions pursuing your passion on “What Makes You Dance.” Photo – Yorg Kerasiotis

For Julianne Ankley, a new song puts an extra spring in her step.

That spring represents the Port Huron, Michigan singer-songwriter and visual artist’s strong zest for life and her drive to inspire others on her new Americana single, “What Makes You Dance.”

“I didn’t even start music until later in life … and I just had to keep going. Other than raising three wonderful children, music and art are what make me the happiest … and you can’t ignore it when something makes you feel so good,” said Ankley, who’s also thankful for her boyfriend.

“Plus, it’s something that you give to the rest of the world. It’s not only making me happy, but it’s also making other people happy.”

Backed by grateful pedal steel and acoustic guitar, Ankley beautifully captures that sentiment while singing, “Just close your eyes / Grab a glass of wine / Turn the music up / It’ll all be fine / If you find what makes you dance.”

“We recorded it in the studio about a year ago right now, and we pitched it around just a little bit. Everybody loved it, but nobody put it on hold,” she said. “And I said, ‘It’s too good because I will be walking around my house singing it … and everybody needs to hear this one.’”

Continue reading “Give It a Whirl – Julianne Ankley Celebrates Following Your Dreams on ‘What Makes You Dance’ Single” →

Looking Ahead – Painted Friends Finds Peace and Forgiveness on New ‘Gomnia: Volume 2 (Indimindi) Album’

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Painted Friends features philosophical lyrics and emotive indie-pop and pop-rock instrumentation on “Gomnia: Volume 2 (Indimindi).” Photo – Hannah McWhorter

Painted Friends boldly embarks on a path to spiritual enlightenment.

Along the way, the Detroit indie-rock duo of Jeremiah McWhorter (vocals, guitar, bass) and Mitch Crosby (drums) finds peace and forgiveness on “Better Bones,” the honest opener from their latest album, Gomnia: Volume 2 (Indimindi).

“This song has been on my mind for a very long time—longer than any others I’ve written,” McWhorter said. “I have changed the lyrics a few times throughout the whole process, but the message of it has pretty much stayed the same. It’s the same message that is expressed throughout all of Gomnia—the idea to love our enemies or Sermon-on-the-Mount-type-stuff.”

Surrounded by hopeful synth, pounding drums, and thoughtful electric guitar, McWhorter sings, “I heard a pretty word / And fell to my knees / I took time to pray for a way / To have a better life / And now I’ve no one to hate / No reason to shake / The truth is the light / That gives me a better life.”

“Love—by definition—must be freely given; it’s a choice,” McWhorter said. “I’m not referring to romantic feelings. I’m talking about choosing not to attack someone you disagree with out of love for them and their humanity.”

That plea for love, humanity, and truth flows throughout the 10 tracks on Gomnia: Volume 2 (Indimindi). Painted Friends deeply examines those notions through philosophical lyrics and emotive indie-pop and pop-rock instrumentation.

To learn more, I spoke to McWhorter about the Gomnia album series, select tracks, a recent album release show, and plans for releasing new material.

Continue reading “Looking Ahead – Painted Friends Finds Peace and Forgiveness on New ‘Gomnia: Volume 2 (Indimindi) Album’” →

Life is a Highway – Carolyn Striho and Scott Dailey Overcome Obstacles in Their Path on ‘14 Miles of Bad Road’ Single

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Carolyn Striho and Scott Dailey focus on the journey ahead on their latest single.

For Carolyn Striho, the road of life is full of unexpected twists and turns.

But those challenges don’t prevent the Detroit singer-songwriter from moving forward.

That perseverance fuels some of the inspiration behind her latest blues-rock single, “14 Miles of Bad Road,” with husband/guitarist Scott Dailey.

“If you say you’ve been on 14 miles of bad road, it sounds far. When I wrote it, I was thinking more of being up north with roads all over the place,” Striho said. “When you think about it, it could be anywhere—a city or a town.”

Determined to reach their next destination, she sings alongside propulsive electric guitar, bass, organ, and drums, “I wish all the world could see you and me again / I wish all the world could feel like a friend again / I wish all the world could be like a kid again / I wish all the world … / I tried, my friend / You lied again / I tried again / You lied …”

“Scott came up with the lyrics, ‘I tried, my friend / You lied again,’ and it makes sense, meaning, ‘You thought there was a rosy picture of life, and when you’re young, everything seems so good,’” said Striho, who shares counterpoint vocals with Dailey on the track’s chorus.

“You also might think someone’s going to swoop in and make everything better if life’s not going well. That doesn’t always happen, though.”

Continue reading “Life is a Highway – Carolyn Striho and Scott Dailey Overcome Obstacles in Their Path on ‘14 Miles of Bad Road’ Single” →

Little Victories – Jim Cherewick Finds Cathartic Moments in Everyday Life on ‘Good News’ Album

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Jim Cherewick shares honest and insightful tales on Good News. Photo – Bryan Lackner of Lucky Penny Media

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

Jim Cherewick admits he recently went through a breakup.

But it’s not the kind of breakup that immediately comes to mind.

“A lot of it is about leaving that terrible retail [job],” said Cherewick, who previously worked at a big-box store. “It was such a burden—it was sad and it was scary. Getting out of that was so important and needed.”

Cherewick addresses that professional split on “Frosting on Fire,” the melancholic opener from the Ypsilanti, Michigan singer-songwriter/visual artist’s latest indie-country-folk album Good News.

Backed by somber acoustic guitar and keys, he sings, “Questions stick to my bones / Like how much longer do we get another try here? / Making every single day a treasure cause I’m awake / And I won’t complain, no I won’t complain / I work at one of those stores.”

“As much as I didn’t want to write about it, I did because I wrote it during [the pandemic],” Cherewick said. “The job sucked, and it was soul-crushing. It was so bad, and then they would cut hours, and then they’d be hiring new people.”

Despite that soul-crushing experience, Cherewick finds fleeting moments of catharsis and gratitude on Good News. The album’s eight tracks reflect on the harsh realities of everyday life and yearn for an escape from drudgery, disappointment, and uncertainty.

Continue reading “Little Victories – Jim Cherewick Finds Cathartic Moments in Everyday Life on ‘Good News’ Album” →

Sonic Journey – Gastón Reggio Ventures From ‘Michigan’ to North Carolina on New Jazz-Fusion Album

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Gastón Reggio chronicles an inspirational sonic journey on his new jazz-fusion album, “Michigan.” Photo courtesy of Gastón Reggio

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

For Gastón Reggio, Michigan represents the ideal name for his second full-length album.

The Uruguayan jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist penned most of the album’s tracks while living in Ann Arbor and wanted to capture those experiences from 2019 to 2021.

“Each song has and [strives] to tell a story about things that happened during that time. Particularly, I was looking for an [album] name that worked well in English and Spanish,” said Reggio, who previously drummed with Chirp and is now based in Durham, North Carolina.

“My producer Rodrigo [Cotelo] … mentioned naming the album after the song ‘Michigan’ because it summarized my [time] here and served as the basis for some of the stories that are [sonically] told through my songs.”

On Michigan, Reggio chronicles an inspirational sonic journey filled with jazz, prog rock, and world music influences. The album starts in the Great Lakes state and whisks listeners across the Appalachians to find new musical adventures in North Carolina.

“I just let the ideas for the songs come without any restrictions, and I like to combine all of my influences to create a [personal] way to express myself through music,” he said. “I hope listeners realize the depth and honesty of this music; it’s a part of me, and if you listen to it, you will get to know me a little bit more.”

To learn more about Reggio, I recently spoke with him about growing up in Uruguay, studying music and jazz drums in Brazil, coming to Ann Arbor and joining Chirp, relocating to North Carolina, working on Michigan, and preparing for several upcoming live shows.

Continue reading “Sonic Journey – Gastón Reggio Ventures From ‘Michigan’ to North Carolina on New Jazz-Fusion Album” →

Everyday Monsters – Fangs and Twang Shares the Horrors and Delights of Michigan and Out-of-State Creatures on Latest Album

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Fangs and Twang’s Joe Bertoletti, Billy LaLonde, and Andy Benes uncover a new group of beasts on You Monster. Photo courtesy of Fangs and Twang

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

After years of writing about monsters, Fangs and Twang didn’t expect to find them in human form.

The country-rock trio of Billy LaLonde (drums, vocals), Andy Benes (guitar, vocals), and Joe Bertoletti (bass, vocals) discovered some people started spreading monstrous misinformation at the height of the pandemic.

In response, Benes channeled that disbelief and frustration into the Ypsilanti, Michigan band’s opening track, “You Monster,” from its fourth album of the same name.

Alongside explosive electric guitar, organ, and fiddle, he sings, “It’s hard to be you and me / When we can’t tell what’s true / It seems to me that we can’t agree / Even that the sky is blue.”

“That song came to me … and it was done in 20 minutes,” Benes said. “All of the lyrics and all of the music just came out, and that was what was on my mind. [It’s about] not having a common set of facts or a common language that we’re speaking anymore as people and how horrible that is.”

The title track also lays the groundwork thematically for the horrors and delights Fangs and Twang uncovers on You Monster.

Continue reading “Everyday Monsters – Fangs and Twang Shares the Horrors and Delights of Michigan and Out-of-State Creatures on Latest Album” →

The Advocate — Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society Supports Local and Global Musicians Through Spring Concert Series

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Kyran Daniel headlines several upcoming live shows in partnership with the Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society.

As longtime musicians, Ron Stavale and Yeman Al-Rawi strongly advocate for fingerstyle guitarists in Michigan and beyond.

The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society (MFGS) members celebrate the skill and artistry of contemporary acoustic guitarists by showcasing their talent and technique through live shows and workshops.

“When you see an artist, it’s not gimmicky like somebody with a drum and a bell on their head doing all these things,” said Stavale, who’s played fingerstyle guitar since his 20s.

“They’re orchestrating compositions on a guitar by filling in all the things that maybe Yeman and I or another person would try and do. They do it in such a way that really draws me in.”

Stavale and Al-Rawi hope to draw fingerstyle guitar enthusiasts to several upcoming MFGS live shows and workshops that feature Australian headliner Kyran Daniel along with Michigan openers David Day and Nicholas Martin over five days:

Continue reading “The Advocate — Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society Supports Local and Global Musicians Through Spring Concert Series” →

Heal Up – Lucas Powell Overcomes Heartbreak and Finds Closure on ‘Lose You on My Own’ Single

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Lucas Powell finds renewal and clarity on his new single, “Lose You on My Own.” Photo courtesy of Lucas Powell

Three years ago, Lucas Powell embarked on a pathway to self-healing.

The Royal Oak, Michigan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist found closure from a past relationship after writing a new song about it.

“I often write to tell stories about myself and my experience and to process my feelings. This one was a song I wrote to say all the things I couldn’t say directly to a former partner,” Powell said.

“Going through heartbreak without explanation leads to a lot of self-gaslighting and blame and was one of the loneliest periods of my life.”

What resulted is Powell’s cathartic new single, “Lose You on My Own,” which openly explores that heartbreak and disbelief alongside emotive indie-rock instrumentation.

Backed by intrepid electric guitar, synth, bass, and drums, Powell sings, “Now, I’m pulling at the steering wheel / And I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel / Looking in the rearview mirror because forever didn’t last / Asking, “How can this be real?”

“I hope people who hear this song will be given words for what they feel and know they aren’t alone in their experiences,” he said. “Three years later, I couldn’t be more thankful in every way for the changes I’ve endured via the specific hardship mentioned in this song.”

Continue reading “Heal Up – Lucas Powell Overcomes Heartbreak and Finds Closure on ‘Lose You on My Own’ Single” →

The Voice Within – Mike Green Follows His Instincts on ‘Listening for the Bell’ Album

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Mike Green sings about life choices and lessons on Listening for the Bell. Photo courtesy of Mike Green

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

Mike Green listened to his inner voice but wasn’t sure where it would take him.

The folk singer-songwriter, guitarist, and booking agent ruminated for years about how to share his life experiences.

“I always thought as a younger adult that I wanted to write a book of my personal philosophy, but I never had anything to say,” said Green, who resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Then when I started writing these songs [during the pandemic] … and all these things I’ve always thought about, they just sort of came out in poetic ways.”

What resulted were 12 insightful tales for his debut album, Listening for the Bell, which explores the ups and downs of following your instincts.

“There’s a bunch of those songs that were written that way, and I just trusted it,” said Green, who started as a touring musician in 1978. “And then what I realized early on—after studying all of this—is that I had been in songwriting school for nearly 40 years.”

That schooling came from representing artists like Utah Phillips, Carrie Newcomer, Jesse Winchester, and John McCutcheon as a booking agent and listening to singer-songwriters like Greg Brown, Kenny White, Chris Smither, and Stephen Fearing.

“Chris Smither, probably more than anybody, is the gold standard to me on how you marry lyrics and words and have them come out … to be that way,” said Green, who started as a booking agent in 1986 and opened his own agency in 2004. “There’s no other way you can say it, and if you don’t say it just the right way, it doesn’t fit.”

Continue reading “The Voice Within – Mike Green Follows His Instincts on ‘Listening for the Bell’ Album” →

Breakneck Speed – Mark Jewett Follows Life’s Hectic Pace on New ‘Too Fast’ Single Featuring The Accidentals

Mark Jewett brings caffeinated instrumentation, pithy lyrics and a frenzied mindset to "Too Fast," which features Sav Madigan and Katie Larson of The Accidentals. Photo - David Donher
Mark Jewett brings caffeinated instrumentation, concise lyrics and a frenzied mindset to “Too Fast,” which features Sav Madigan and Katie Larson of The Accidentals. Photo – David Donher

These days, Mark Jewett moves at warp speed.

The Plymouth, Michigan singer-songwriter maintains a frantic daily pace on his turbocharged new single, “Too Fast.”

“It was more of a general feeling of being closed in and trapped and things just coming at me faster than I could deal with them,” said Jewett about folk-pop track, which features a collaboration with Sav Madigan and Katie Larson of The Accidentals.

“One day I just took a break at my desk and I picked up my guitar and I started doing this chunking rhythm like you hear at the beginning of the song. I was drinking coffee and I thought, ‘I need some energy,’ and the line just popped into my head.”

That initial opening lyric was “I’ve got a thousand watts of black coffee / Pumpin’ through my veins,” but Jewett upped the ante to “Two thousand watts of black coffee” instead.

“Kyle Rasche caught me between shows up at Nor-East’r last year when I was in the merch barn. He said, ‘Man, that’s a great line,’ and he thought I had said something about ‘8,000 watts,’ but it was originally, ‘I’ve got a thousand watts,’” said Jewett, who started writing the track last spring. “I thought maybe there was too much there, so starting it with 2,000 [watts] just punctuates it right at the beginning.”

Continue reading “Breakneck Speed – Mark Jewett Follows Life’s Hectic Pace on New ‘Too Fast’ Single Featuring The Accidentals” →