It’s ‘About Time’ — Dexter Singer-Songwriter Jim Bizer Releases First New Solo Album in 20 Years

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

After two decades, Jim Bizer realized it was time to release a new solo record.

The Dexter, Michigan singer-songwriter hadn’t focused on his own album since 2004’s Connected and had spent ample time working on several collaborative projects, including a duo with Jan Krist and groups The Yellow Room Gang, Diamonds in the Rust, and Floyd King and The Bushwackers.

“It’s crazy that I’ve taken that long,” said Bizer about his new folk album, About Time. “I’ve done things in between, and the thing I did the most was the duo with Jan, but I wound up in a few different bands and made records with some of them.”

Even as he worked on different projects, Bizer’s songs for About Time started brewing in 2005, and they began accumulating.

He eventually landed on 13 tracks for his third solo album and noticed a theme of time had emerged. On About Time, Bizer brings that theme to life through evocative lyrics and soundtracks it with earnest folk instrumentation.

“Not that every single song deals directly with time, but a fair number of them do. I got a kick out of writing ‘Going Nowhere’ about slowing time down and what that could mean and how that would work,” said Bizer, who produced About Time and played guitar, bass, and guitjo.

“There’s also the fact that it’s been so long since I put out my last record, and time played a piece of that. And I think of these songs as a time capsule of the last 20 years, so time was so much on my mind as I was putting the record together.”

To learn more, I spoke to Bizer about his latest album ahead of a July 7 show at Livonia’s Trinity House Theatre.

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Keeping It Simple — Sunny State Revisits and Reimagines ‘Solutions’ Single With New Acoustic Version

Sunny State’s Chris Reed is releasing a slew of new singles, including acoustic versions of several songs.

With a growing catalog, Sunny State prefers to keep things simple.

The reggae-fusion quartet of Chris Reed (vocals, ukulele, guitar, sax), Julian Perez (lead guitar), Freddie Vega (bass), and James Moreno (drums, percussion) is revisiting and reimagining past singles as acoustic versions—starting with “Solutions.”

“When we first did this song, it was our first single … and the band was split on their happiness of the song. Some said, ‘Oh, this doesn’t sound like the way we play it live,’ and I thought, ‘It does, but it also doesn’t,’” Reed said.

“It was also our first time working with [co-producer/engineer] Ryan Palma in the studio. We were getting to know each other and figuring out how things would sound in the studio.”

Originally released in 2019, “Solutions” captures the San Jose, California band’s vibrant sound and reiterates the importance of unity, gratitude, and freedom in today’s society.

Reed sings, “Your pure voice is on my mind / Through sleepless nights and red wine / We philosophize as we rhyme / Of what can be done in this precious time.”

“This song itself was unique because it was a crowdsourced-lyric song. I was asking people, ‘Give me words that you want to hear, and I’m gonna write a song about it,’ and I did,” he said.

“In the second verse, we talk about family, and the meaning of that over time evolves. The third verse is more unique to an individual woman and so forth.”
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After the ‘Storm’ — Ann Arbor Singer-Songwriter Annie Bacon Explores Grief on Her New Folk-Rock Album

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

When it comes to grief, Annie Bacon doesn’t want people to feel alone.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan singer-songwriter and guitarist views it as a shared emotion that fosters connection and growth with others.

“Something that I’ve done with my art and that I feel like is important is to take on this role and say, ‘I don’t know if anybody understands me, but I’m going to explain what I’m going through in a way that hopefully other people can feel seen and understood,’” said Bacon, who performs under the moniker Annie Bacon & Her Oshen.

“I try to find the places where my experience might be universal and create these little bridges into my experience. That’s one of my philosophical approaches to songwriting: I want to as accurately as possible describe the experience I’m going through in the hopes that it creates a witness for somebody else.”

Bacon masters that honest songwriting approach and explores grief in all its forms on her new folk-rock album, Storm. The record’s 14 poignant tracks take listeners on an emotional odyssey through death, divorce, job changes, the pandemic, and a loss of identity.

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Hungry Like the Bear — Ursa Day Embraces Hearty Appetite for Music on ‘Hyperphagia’ EP

Ursa Day’s Matt Drew, Cormac Egan, Ryan Haley, and Ryan Drew. Photo courtesy of Ursa Day

When it comes to music, Ursa Day has an insatiable appetite.

The Hazel Park, Michigan indie-rock quartet is eager to write, record, and release a growing catalog of new material, including their latest EP, Hyperphagia.

“The big thing that we had as a direction concept-wise for the record was Hyperphagia being a state of hunger. What we learned in the name selection process, and we picked this name quite a while ago, is that it happens to bears right before they go into hibernation,” said Ryan Haley, Ursa Day’s vocalist-guitarist.

“After we came out of Habitat, we were excited by that process … and we were hungry to share more projects with everybody else. That direction, whether it was musically or artistically, was a strong driving force behind a lot of the lyrics and what we can do to pepper the feeling of those lyrics throughout a tune.”

Haley and his bandmates Matt Drew (guitar, engineering, production), Ryan Drew (bass), and Cormac Egan (drums) effortlessly achieve that goal on Hyperphagia. The EP’s profound lyrics, fantasy-versus-reality themes, and mighty blues rock-inspired instrumentation entice listeners with six savory tracks and leave them wanting more.

“We’re all different people, and our musical influences are varied. Ryan has a strong allegiance to the pop bass player; he likes James Jamerson and has a feel similar to those happy, melodic solo-ish basslines. Matt is eclectic and has a wealth of knowledge about the indie scene,” said Haley, who’s influenced by Peter Green, Jeff Beck, and Larry Carlton.

“He mixes well with the influence that I have with the British guitar players and Ryan’s pop influence to put us on more of a unique, alternative-based sound. Cormac is one of the most interesting musicians I have ever met as far as tastes go. When I walk into a rehearsal and ask Cormac what he’s been listening to, he’ll talk to you about movie scores and large, elaborate instrumentation … and then he’ll be playing Metallica double-kick-style drums really well.”

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Spellbinding Sensation – Carolyn Striho Releases Enchanting ‘Piano Moon’ Instrumental Single

carolyn-striho-piano-moon — Carolyn Striho performs at Scuderie Aldobrandini in Frascati, Italy. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Striho

For Carolyn Striho, a clear, wintry night sky evokes feelings of enchantment.

The Detroit singer-songwriter captures that spellbinding sensation on her latest instrumental single, “Piano Moon.”

“There’s something about playing in A minor on the piano; it’s just one of my favorite ways to write songs. It’s what I was doing with a 3/4 time signature, and I was starting to write that as I heard the melody line,” said Striho, who penned her single in Detroit and Fiuggi, Italy.

“I liked it so much as an instrumental. I had it written out, and it needed something, so this winter I came up with that dramatic middle part. It was also during the holiday season, and I was thinking of Trans-Siberian Orchestra and that dramatic, dark classical feel.”

On “Piano Moon,” she brings that symphonic piano to life alongside wistful cello, haunting electric guitar, and glistening percussion. Part of the song’s inspiration also comes from “Bear Dance” by Béla Bartók.

“I used to play it, and it’s amazing and super avant-garde. It’s a difficult piece, and my mom loved it, too,” Striho said. “She would hear me play it, and I worked hard on that.”

Striho wanted to recapture that magical feeling while recording “Piano Moon” at Inner Door Music with Jason Charboneau (cello), husband Scott Dailey (electric guitar), and Ron Wolf (percussion).

“We had talked about putting violin on it, but when Jason came over and was doing the cello, it was just this moment of inspiration,” she said.

“Piano Moon” is the third new single from Striho since releasing “14 Miles of Bad Road” and “Blue Ridiculous Love” with Dailey in March and April, respectively. More recently, she’s focused on Detroit (Maiden Energy), her 2019 collection of poetry, and its 2020 audiobook.

“‘Piano Moon’ is a fierce, yet soft song with a melody line that is memorable, and it unfolds with desire and raw strength,” said Striho, who’s shared a new video for the single. “It will be released later in a second version with vocals.”

Striho is also performing her new music at several live shows with Dailey, including June 8 at the Nor-East’r Music & Art Festival in Mio, Michigan, June 23 with The Orbitsuns at Cadieux Café in Detroit, and July 21 with the Don Was Detroit All Star Revue for the Concert of Colors at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

“We have some great summer shows bringing our eclectic blend of new music,” she said. “We’re excited for Nor-East’r this weekend; for our full-band matinee show with Jason, John Barron, and Todd Glass and The Orbitsuns; and at the amazing Concert of Colors with the wonderful Don Was Detroit All Star Revue.”

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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The Stratton Setlist

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Category: Concerts