The Spirit of Adventure – Bart Moore Shares Colorful Folktales on ‘Wild Flora’ Album

When it comes to music, Bart Moore possesses a lively, adventurous spirit.

The Grand Ledge, Michigan singer-songwriter and guitarist infectiously captures that essence and beckons listeners to come along for a rollicking-filled quest on Wild Flora.

“In the vast majority of the songs, there is something happening, a story of sorts,” said Moore about his latest alt-folk album. “My previous album, Graveyards Wind & War, was unconsciously dark. I wanted Wild Flora to be different— funnier with more movement and more adventures.”

On Wild Flora, Moore features storied lyrics and charged folk instrumentation across nine insightful tracks. Each song explores compelling characters at various points in time and captures the excitement, fear, and disappointment they encounter along the way.

“I like that the more I think about it,” Moore said. “There’s certainly more color than Graveyards—hence the title, Wild Flora, with the cover shot of the woman in my wildflower meadow.”

To learn more, I spoke with Moore ahead of a June 2 album release show at EagleMonk Pub and Brewery in Lansing, Michigan.

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Scary Good – Dylan Dunbar Celebrates Release of ‘Free Candy: A Horror Story Collection’ With May 9 Book Signing and Live Show

Dylan Dunbar is ready to bring some scary good stories to light.

The Detroit guitarist for Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils has released a new book of strange and terrifying short stories called Free Candy: A Horror Story Collection.

It’s the first published work for Dunbar, who discovered a love for writing in 2020 upon tackling an addiction to alcohol.

“I’m now more than three years sober and couldn’t have imagined when I started writing how much of a positive impact it would make in my life—or that I’d be publishing,” he said.

Inspired by The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, Creepshow, and Tales from the Crypt, Free Candy includes eight intriguing short stories exploring everything from classic battles of good and evil to zombie outbreaks.

Dunbar is celebrating the release of his book on May 9 with a signing at Belle’s Lounge at Valentine Distilling in Ferndale, Michigan. Copies of Free Candy will be available for sale at the event.

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Back to Basics – Hollow Head Explores Raw Alt-Rock Sound on New Self-Titled Album

hollow-head-3 — Hollow Head’s Elliott Miller, Ian Gerrard, John Baldwin, and Jim Adame. Photo – Paul Gerrard

Last August, Hollow Head’s Jim Adame and Elliott Miller took an expeditious approach to writing and recording their sophomore release.

The two bandmates from the Denver quartet created a makeshift studio at an Airbnb in Fairplay, Colorado to quickly capture the nine tracks for Hollow Head over six days.

“We didn’t go into this album with a theme in mind. The main thing that we wanted to do was write and record the majority of the songs together at once,” said Adame, the band’s vocalist-guitarist, about their new album.

“They all weren’t written at the same time, but most of them were written in a shorter period of time compared to A Spark of Madness. That’s more of a common theme with our songs.”

What resulted are nine tracks filled with honest, thoughtful, and vulnerable lyrics about processing internal struggles and sharing them with the outside world.

“That’s also why we decided to have the album be self-titled,” Adame said. “There wasn’t a lot of separation this time between Elliott and me—it was a lot more collaborative.”

Miller, Hollow Head’s vocalist-drummer, agreed: “It feels like our first true record. The other one was a bunch of different stuff pieced together.”

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Another World – Nick Behnan Explores the Line Between Fantasy and Reality on ‘What You Got’ Single

whatyougotcover — Nick Behnan reconciles his expectations of fantasy with reality on “What You Got.”

As a longtime musician, Nick Behnan searches for the right balance between fantasy and reality.

The Detroit singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer straddles those two worlds on his latest pop-soul single, “What You Got.”

“I think the nature of what I do for a living creates pretty drastic swings of highs and lows,” Behnan said. “I feel fortunate to not have to have a 9-5, but the ups and downs and expectations can sometimes be difficult to navigate. It’s the nature of the beast though.”

Surrounded by hypnotic electric guitar, bass, electric piano, and drums, he sings, “It’s a whole new paradigm / Livin’ what I had in mind / So I keep it movin’ all the time / Until I find / Just what I’m tryin’ to do.”

“The new thing everyone in my business is freaking out about is AI, which could threaten the music business as a whole and especially sync licensing for TV, film, and commercials,” Behnan said.

“Hopefully, the right regulations get put in place before it goes bonkers, but it’s like the Wild West right now. I find it’s the most important to stay creative and productive—it’s also a mindset thing.”

To learn more, I spoke to Behnan about his past releases, latest singles, creative process, summer plans, and sync licensing opportunities.

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Magic Wand – Carolyn Striho Recaptures Stirring Emotions on ‘Blue Ridiculous Love’ Single

Carolyn Striho cherishes the magical moments in life.

In those fleeting moments, the Detroit singer-songwriter feels grateful and inspired while spending time with others.

However, that magic often dissipates as people move on or pass away, but the love and appreciation from those interactions remain with Striho.

She beautifully shares that sentiment and a longing to recapture it in her new single, “Blue Ridiculous Love,” which features poetic lyrics and heartfelt rock instrumentation.

“I saw this song more as a painting, and with a painting, you’re interpreting it your way,” said Striho, who co-wrote the track with husband-guitarist Scott Dailey. “I’m talking about the ‘green grass of gold dirt,’ and it reminds me of one of the Beatnik poets, and you get these images.”

Surrounded by eager acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and drums, Striho sings, “I had this magic / It’s right on my side / Then everybody took a ride / The evening shadows / The tiny voice in my head / Starts talking louder / It’s an evil eye.”

“It’s a romantic song with an angst about the future and missing people, but it’s also about how falling in love can feel ridiculous,” she said.

”The lyric, ‘Everybody took a ride,’ could mean different things: They just left your life or they could have died. I had this magic, and I thought, ‘Wait, where did everybody go?’ It prompts you to look back and say, ‘Wait a minute, those people are gone.’”

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

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.’”

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

image_123650291 (3) — 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

carolyn-striho-scott-dailey-14-miles-of-bad-road — 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

jim-cherewick-1 — 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.

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

gaston-reggio — 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” →

The Stratton Setlist

Catch the opener. Stay for the encore.

Category: Concerts