Category: Concerts

Fantasy World – Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys Explores Fictional Romance on ‘Gone By Dawn’ Single

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Tyler Mazurek, Harry Dean and Lee Vanderkolk of Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys step into a fantasy world on “Gone by Dawn.” Photo courtesy of Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys

Harry Dean doesn’t consider himself a fantasy writer.

The lead vocalist-guitarist for Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys assumed a fictional persona while penning the country-rock trio’s latest single, “Gone By Dawn.”

“For the longest time, I was writing only from my own experiences,” said Dean, who’s based in Grand Rapids, Michigan with guitarist Lee Vanderkolk and drummer Tyler Mazurek.

“One of my favorite writers, Zach Bryan, has multiple songs where he is making up stories about fictional characters, and I thought that was an awesome concept.”

With a concept in mind for “Gone by Dawn,” Dean landed on a man out west who meets a mysterious woman one night. They share a passionate night at a hotel before going their separate ways the next day.

“I never had that one passionate night,” he said. “I have been with my wife since we were juniors in high school and we got married in June of 2023.”

Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys instantly brings that passionate night to life in “Gone by Dawn” through fearless electric guitar, enthusiastic acoustic guitar, driving bass and thumping drums.

Dean sings, “She might look good in my shirt / And I knew this wouldn’t work / But oh it felt so right / That mysterious girl / She might have stolen my world / Even if only for one night.”

“It was a lot of fun for me to step out of my comfort zone and write a story that was pure fantasy to me,” he said. “We are really proud of how this story came along.”

I recently spoke to Dean about his background, the formation of Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys, the band’s 2023 EP and latest single, upcoming live shows and future plans.

Continue reading “Fantasy World – Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys Explores Fictional Romance on ‘Gone By Dawn’ Single” →

Clear and Present – Darrin James Looks at Marriage, Family and Loss on ‘See Right Through’

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Darrin James explores a gamut of emotions on “See Right Through.” Photo – Doug Coombe

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

When it comes to writing about love and loss, Darrin James believes in being crystal clear.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan singer-songwriter and producer shares honest and vulnerable stories about marriage, family, death, and uncertainty on his latest album, See Right Through.

“A lot of people say it’s heart-on-your-sleeve. I think that’s true and it’s always how I’ve kinda written. This album came from the more reflective side of things, and you have to embrace the vulnerability to write an honest song,” said James, who plays guitar, piano, organ, and synth on his fourth full-length release.

“Sometimes those tropes can express really true feelings … and sometimes when you’re being honest, a song is easier to write. It comes out more like a diary … and you’re staring at it thinking, ‘Now that it came out of me, that’s the song—it’s done.’”

On See Right Through, James reveals a gamut of emotions ranging from gratitude to joy to grief to hopelessness across seven tracks. Those raw feelings come to life through the album’s personal lyrics, heartfelt roots-rock instrumentation, and dreamy synth and horn textures.

“Those were personal songs that I waited until I had [them], and it made more sense after I had the love songs to counter the sad songs. I thought, ‘Now the whole album can have an arc of not just being a sad story,’” he said.

“Because [the songs] are more personal, they’re also more universal and timeless … Those themes I’m trying to deal with are ones that everyone [experiences].”

Continue reading “Clear and Present – Darrin James Looks at Marriage, Family and Loss on ‘See Right Through’” →

All The Time – Frontier Ruckus Explores The Past, Present and Future on New Album

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David Jones, Matthew Milia, and Zachary Nichols of Frontier Ruckus. Photo – John Mark Hanson.

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

For Frontier Ruckus, aging represents a mixture of nostalgia, fear, and hope.

The Detroit-Ypsilanti folk-rock trio of Matthew Milia, David Jones, and Zachary Nichols explores those feelings alongside the passage of time on its new album, On the Northline.

“The main soundbite that Matt has been saying about the record is that half of the songs were written before he met his wife, Lauren,” said Nichols, who plays trumpet, musical saw, melodica, and air organ on the album.

“He said half of the songs are angsty and half of them are happy. I hear a lot in the lyrics about getting older, looking back, and thinking about the future. I think we all feel a little bit middle-aged now.”

As part of that reflection, Frontier Ruckus engages in deep soul-searching across On the Northline’s dozen tracks. Contemplative lyrics, vivid suburban imagery, and wistful Americana, country, and jazz-inspired instrumentation encourage listeners to ponder their life trajectories.

“The feelings and the ruminations on aging and getting to the point that we’re at in our lives … they’re probably a little conflicted because it’s conflicting for all of us,” said Jones, the band’s banjoist-vocalist. “To a certain extent in Matt’s songs, there’s always a lot of nostalgia in a way that’s positive, but sad as well.”

Despite those conflicting thoughts, Frontier Ruckus forges ahead and finds some solace while revisiting hometown landmarks, adapting to everyday surroundings, and welcoming unexpected changes.

“There’s a certain amount of happiness to be where we are now and be past the turbulent days of our youth when we were in the van all the time,” Jones said. “There’s a level of contentment with being in this place that we’ve all settled in that feels good and more comfortable.”

I recently spoke with Jones and Nichols about waiting seven years between releases, dissecting the album’s introspective themes and tracks, writing and recording the album, preparing for two celebratory shows, and going back out on the road.

Continue reading “All The Time – Frontier Ruckus Explores The Past, Present and Future on New Album” →

Weatherproof – Annie and Rod Capps Celebrate Life’s Highs and Lows on ‘Love and Rain’ Album

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Rod and Annie Capps explore the importance of gratitude on “Love and Rain.” Photo by Jen Prouty.

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

Annie and Rod Capps weather life’s sunny and stormy moments together on Love and Rain.

Those moments also serve as lighthearted and serious reminders about gratitude on the married duo’s latest album.

“There’s an overarching theme of love and rain being that contrast and balance of life,” said Annie Capps, the duo’s vocalist-guitarist, who’s based in Chelsea, Michigan with her husband Rod Capps. “It’s about not taking the rough stuff too seriously, yet it’s also about being grateful for the good stuff and not taking things for granted.”

The Capps demonstrate that mindset personally and professionally on Love and Rain, which features 10 tracks filled with perceptive lyrics, vibrant Americana instrumentation, and rich harmonies.

“Annie is fortunate because she has an outlet to write songs about these things,” said Rod Capps, the duo’s guitarist-violinist-violist, who will celebrate 30 years of marriage to Annie Capps in June. “My role in the songwriting is to color around the edges. Annie builds these structures, and I help flesh them in and put filigree in.”

I recently spoke to the Capps about celebrating their anniversary, working with their bandmates, exploring different themes on the album, writing and recording tracks for Love and Rain, preparing for their annual Valentine’s Day show at The Ark, and planning for other performances and projects.

Continue reading “Weatherproof – Annie and Rod Capps Celebrate Life’s Highs and Lows on ‘Love and Rain’ Album” →

Dearly Departed – Emily Rose Honors Late Singer-Songwriters Through ‘Ghost Night at Ghost Light’ Monthly Concert Series

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Emily Rose performs with Dan “Ozzie” Andrews during a “Ghost Night at Ghost Light” show. Photo – Jeff Spisak

Six years ago, Emily Rose tested out a new concept for a live show.

The Detroit indie-folk singer-songwriter hosted a tribute night honoring a late artist at Ghost Light Bar in Hamtramck, Michigan.

“One of the bartenders at Ghost Light is a close friend and he said, ‘Emily, you could have a regular show here if you wanted.’ He planted that seed, and I did a Jim Croce tribute night in 2017 because he’s a songwriter that I love,” Rose said.

“It was a great show and it was so much fun. In the back of my head, I thought, ‘Well, maybe someday I’ll do a monthly show where I learn a bunch of songs by a different artist.’”

At the time, Rose laid the foundation for what would become “Ghost Night at Ghost Light,” a monthly tribute show featuring local artists performing the music of departed singer-songwriters as well as sharing their own material.

“Last year I was in a position where I realized I needed something to focus my energy on,” said Rose, who launched the concert series last June. “I needed a project to throw myself into … and a lot of my favorite songwriters are dead. The idea to do a different departed songwriter every month just made sense.”

Continue reading “Dearly Departed – Emily Rose Honors Late Singer-Songwriters Through ‘Ghost Night at Ghost Light’ Monthly Concert Series” →

DIY Approach – Manchester Underground Music and Art Supports Local Artists Through Monthly Live Shows

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“Pistol” Pete Midtgard performs with The Twistin’ Tarantulas in July 2023 at River Raisin Distillery for a Manchester Underground Music and Art show. Photo – Chuck Marshall of Life in Michigan

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

Back in 1977, high school friends Steve Girbach and John Mooneyham bonded over listening to Rush, Judas Priest, and AC/DC albums after school.

Those listening sessions at Mooneyham’s house in Manchester, Mchigan eventually turned into serious discussions about forming a band and playing live shows.

It wasn’t until a few years after graduating from Manchester High School that Girbach and Mooneyham put their musical plan into action.

“Steve and I were talking and we said, ‘Why don’t we get some gear and we’ll put on shows and festivals?’ We had all these grand ideas people in their early 20s come up with,” said Mooneyham, who now co-runs the Manchester Underground Music and Art monthly concert series with Girbach.

“About a month later, Steve said, ‘I invited some guys over to your house to play some music and you’re gonna play bass.’”

Together, guitarist Girbach and bassist Mooneyham played in two cover bands, Allister and The DTs, and later hosted a music festival featuring 13 acts at a former amusement park in the Irish Hills.

Not long after that, The DTs called it quits and everyday life took over for Girbach and Mooneyham. What they didn’t realize at the time was that initial music festival helped lay the groundwork for what would become Manchester Underground Music and Art in 2019.

Continue reading “DIY Approach – Manchester Underground Music and Art Supports Local Artists Through Monthly Live Shows” →

The Dark Side – Painted Friends Explores Jealousy and Envy on ‘Cain Complex’ Single

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Painted Friends’ Jeremiah McWhorter and Mitch Crosby examine the power of negative emotions on “Cain Complex.” Photo – Hannah McWhorter

Painted Friends vicariously explores the powerful, destructive forces of jealousy and envy on “Cain Complex.”

The Detroit indie-rock duo of Jeremiah McWhorter (vocals, guitar, bass) and Mitch Crosby (drums) examines those fierce emotions through the biblical perspective of Cain on their dark new single.

“The Cain and Abel story is one of the deepest stories in all of literature, no matter what belief system you hold. Putting myself in Cain’s shoes for a song made me realize how easy it was, especially in the music scene today,” McWhorter said.

“It is very easy to feel jealous toward other musicians who appear to have ‘made it’ and here I am still struggling to make a dime with my songs, yet I put so much work and passion toward it.”

That passion comes alive as McWhorter sings alongside fiery electric guitar, bass and drums, “I was the first man / The oldest of sons / What I give away is much better than blood / The envy that filled me was sent from above / And the reason I’m standing is not due to love.”

“Jealousy and envy are similar to drugs in my opinion. They almost become like an addiction that once it takes hold, [it] can literally bring you to the point of murdering another person,” he said.

“It is a song that is toeing the line between being appropriate and inappropriate, but I wanted to allow myself to do that for at least one song. It felt and still feels necessary.”

I recently spoke to McWhorter and Crosby about their backgrounds, previous releases, passionate new single, Feb. 9 live show in Detroit and plans for 2024.

Continue reading “The Dark Side – Painted Friends Explores Jealousy and Envy on ‘Cain Complex’ Single” →

The Long Run – Brian Perrone Adopts a Broader Perspective on Life and Love for ‘Alive’ Album

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Brian Perrone shares a raw, vulnerable and wise perspective on “Alive.” Photo courtesy of Brian Perrone

When it comes to life and love, Brian Perrone prefers to focus on the long run.

The Livonia, Michigan singer-songwriter adopts that broader perspective on his latest pop-rock album, Alive.

“I try to remind myself to be present as much as possible, [but] admittedly I often forget. A lot of times it seems easy to get caught up in the daily hustle,” said Perrone, who also plays piano and drums on the album.

“Everyday rushing around can almost create white noise if you’re not careful. When writing this album, it really made me think about life and its experiences—all the ups and downs.”

As part of that mindset, Perrone searches for a balance between acceptance and gratitude, which flows throughout Alive’s eight reflective tracks.

“People are very similar in many ways. We encounter a lot of the same emotions, highs and lows, and of course, those insecurities that sometimes find a way to creep in,” he said. “Now is the time to recognize who and what is important in your life.”

On Alive, Perrone deeply conveys that sentiment through introspective lyrics, earnest vocals and spirited pop-rock and alt-rock instrumentation.

“This type of album was written from a more raw and vulnerable perspective,” he said. “I hope that these songs will resonate with the listener. Certain songs will probably hit harder than others depending on the circumstance.”

I recently spoke with Perrone about releasing two new albums this year, sharing select tracks from Alive, collaborating with Tony Hamera at the Rayburn Room and Tempermill Studio and preparing for 2024 as a solo artist and drummer for the Detroit hard-rock band Gangway.

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Going Stateside – New Zealand’s Maggie Cocco Returns to Michigan for Science for Sociopaths Show and Girls Rock Detroit Benefit Concert

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Maggie Cocco performs at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe in Detroit on Dec. 12. Photo – Micky Nogher Photography

After four years of living out of state and abroad, Maggie Cocco is back in Metro Detroit making some new musical memories.

The pop singer-songwriter is visiting her home state during the holidays and playing two live shows: Dec. 18 at The Ark in Ann Arbor with Joanna Sterling and Dec. 22 at Tin Roof Detroit for the Music Mavens of Michigan, a fundraising concert to benefit Girls Rock Detroit featuring a lineup of local femme artists.

“The Ark will be a very special show for me. It’s my only show on the Michigan leg of the Analog tour where I’ll play through the entire song cycle as it is on [my new] album, [Like a Moth],” said Cocco, who now resides in Whangārei, New Zealand and performs under the moniker Science for Sociopaths.

“I’m [also] ridiculously stoked about this [Music Mavens of Michigan] lineup. Tin Roof Detroit has a capacity of 400 people, and we’re hoping to reach it! With a lineup like this, I think we can. We’ll be holding what’s called round robins with each artist offering two self-accompanied songs and sharing the stage with three to four artists at a time.”

For the Music Mavens of Michigan show, Cocco will be performing alongside Audra Kubat, Carolyn Striho, Julianne Ankley, Coko Buttafli, Fay Burns, Gwenyth Hayes, Julia Rose Pagac, Jacki Daniels and others.

“Even if you’ve seen any or all of these artists live, this will be a truly unique and collaborative experience,” said Cocco, who grew up in Sterling Heights. “We’ll also have a couple of youth performers to open the show and a finale featuring all participating artists, plus an open jam to end.”

I recently spoke to Cocco about living in New Zealand, visiting the U.S., working with Girls Rock Detroit, preparing for The Ark and Music Mavens of Michigan shows, writing and recording her Like a Moth album and looking ahead to 2024.

Continue reading “Going Stateside – New Zealand’s Maggie Cocco Returns to Michigan for Science for Sociopaths Show and Girls Rock Detroit Benefit Concert” →

Dig Out – The Idiot Kids Mine Past Struggles and Make Room for the Future on ‘Chapels’ Album

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The Idiot Kids’ Nicholas Zambeck, Jon-Mikal Bartee and Andrew Maslowsky search for acceptance on “Chapels.” Photo – Jackleen Diana Eve

For Jon-Mikal Bartee, a new album with The Idiot Kids allows for a deep exploration of the past and a clear pathway for the future.

The lead vocalist-guitarist of the Detroit garage-punk trio mines personal experiences, thoughts and emotions related to sex, identity, addiction and trauma on Chapels. In turn, those excavations create more space for relief and renewal.

“That’s kind of what the whole album is about. Through trauma and addiction and all of that, trying to find acceptance. That’s just what it kind of turned into. It’s not like we sat down and said, ‘I want to write an album about my childhood,’” Bartee said.

“For me, listening to artists like Elliott Smith, Thom Yorke, Bob Dylan and people who talked about very personal things—sometimes in a more abstract way and sometimes a little more literally—that’s what I connected to. Just from hearing people talk about what they’re dealing with didn’t resonate in the same way as like putting it to a melody or a rhythm.”

Alongside bandmates Nicholas Zambeck (bass) and Andrew Maslowsky (drums, vocals), Bartee adopts that refreshing approach on Chapels, which features a dozen tracks filled with candid lyrics, earworm choruses and turbocharged punk-rock instrumentation.

“This is the kind of stuff, as a kid and as a teenager, I didn’t hear anyone talking about. Luckily, the world has come a long way in the last 20 years. But, at the same time, with more visibility, there’s also more hatred, so it’s kind of like this battling force back and forth,” said Bartee, who grew up in a religious family and came out as an adult.

“These are the songs I wish I had heard as a teenager or a young adult, and I was dealing with that internalized homophobia and religious trauma and whatnot. That’s why I ended up calling it Chapels because it all kind of went down to that.”

Continue reading “Dig Out – The Idiot Kids Mine Past Struggles and Make Room for the Future on ‘Chapels’ Album” →