“Darkness on the Edge of Corktown” — Bruce Springsteen Tribute Show Features Detroit Singer-Songwriters and Benefits Motor City Mitten Mission January 17 at Lager House

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In December 2022, a group of Detroit singer-songwriters hosted a Bruce Springsteen tribute show to benefit the homeless.

Billed as Darkness on the Edge of Corktown at Lager House, the show featured local artists performing songs from The Boss’ extensive catalog and collecting donated winter clothing for people in need.

“We did it then for the first time and accepted clothing donations, but we didn’t have a nonprofit partner per se,” said Mike Ward, a folk singer-songwriter who co-organized the show.

“Everybody had a great time at it, and [co-organizer] Nick Juno was the one who said, ‘Hey, we should be doing that again.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, you know what, you’re right, we should.’”

Two years later, Darkness on the Edge of Corktown returns January 17 for a second edition at Lager House.

The Springsteen-themed show includes performances from 25 singer-songwriters and benefits the Motor City Mitten Mission, a St. Clair Shores, Michigan nonprofit that supports the homeless.

“Darkness on the Edge of Town is one of Springsteen’s albums and it’s one of my favorite albums of all time. It works because we’re right at the edge of Corktown where Lager House is,” Ward said.

“For this show, we figured out the logistics of having a benefit for the Motor City Mitten Mission and we talked to executive director Gail Marlow. She’s totally into it because she does a lot of promoting with the Detroit Lions—she’s a tireless worker.”

The show also serves as a collection site to donate winter clothing and outdoor gear for the homeless. Only new donations will be accepted.

Show attendees can donate any of the following items—sweatshirts, sweatpants, long underwear, sleeping bags, backpacks, tarps, hand and toe warmers, and more—and receive a discounted entry fee of $5 that night.

People also can make monetary donations at the show or through the Motor City Mitten Mission’s website. All donations and proceeds from the show will go to the nonprofit.

“The Motor City Mitten Mission is a fantastic organization, so we felt like, ‘OK if we’re gonna do this, let’s do it right and reduce the price of admission with the donation of an item,’” said Ward, who started planning the event with Juno last summer.

“Everybody is volunteering for this event, and we’re working with general manager and talent buyer Katelyn Burkart at Lager House to coordinate it.”

In addition to supporting those in need, the show spotlights a myriad of talent from local artists, including Mark Jewett, Ryan Trager, Annie Bacon, George Montrelle, Audra Kubat, Jackamo, Emily Rose and Kate Hinote, Dave Boutette and Kristi Davis, and others. During the show, each artist will perform a different Springsteen song.

“We liked that format of everybody playing a song and everybody had a great time at the first show,” Ward said. “There’s so much camaraderie in this community, and we have all these different performers joining up with others and doing duets—it’s going to be fun.”

Darkness on the Edge of Corktown is January 17 at Lager House, 1254 Michigan Avenue, Detroit. The show is a benefit for the Motor City Mitten Mission. Admission is $5 with donation or $10 without donation. Doors are 7 p.m. and show is 8 p.m. For tickets, visit Lager House’s website.

Assembling “Disassemble” — Marty Gray’s Shoegaze Album Was Inspired by the Struggles of Family and Friends

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Marty Gray features a guitar-driven rock and shoegaze sound on “Disassemble.” Photo courtesy of Marty Gray.

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

Marty Gray empathizes with loved ones battling dementia, depression, and other personal challenges on his latest album, Disassemble.

“The whole album is autobiographical, it’s just about the people around me,” said the Ann Arbor singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. “It’s rare that there is a song about me, but I’m telling you how I feel about these people throughout the whole record.”

Gray explores that fragility and the observations of a concerned bystander on Disassemble. The album’s poetic lyrics, ethereal vocals, and cinematic instrumentation convey the emotions he encounters while witnessing family and friends decline.

“There are some songs about my friends and the things that they’re going through,” said Gray, who studied opera at the University of Michigan. “There are friends in my life that are losing the battle with depression. I have a couple of songs about my grandparents; I have one about my opa and one about my [late] oma … and my oma’s dementia and seeing what happened with her brain, her mind, and her life.”

Gray ventures into new sonic territory on his fourth album, too, trading his previous pop sound for guitar-driven rock and shoegaze.

“Part of this story is me falling in love with guitar,” Gray said. “And I’ve never been a fabulously talented guitar player. With shoegaze, you don’t have to be a ripper. If the story calls for it and if the story wants it to be big shoegaze with lots of reverb, lots of distortion, lots of everything … [then] let’s go for it.”

To learn more, I spoke with Gray about Disassemble ahead of a January 8 show at The Blind Pig.

Continue reading “Assembling “Disassemble” — Marty Gray’s Shoegaze Album Was Inspired by the Struggles of Family and Friends” →

“How’d You Write That?” — Bill Edwards and Mike Green Explore the Craft of Songwriting During January 10 Show at Trinity House Theatre

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Bill Edwards and Mike Green will include a mixture of performance and conversation for their show.

Bill Edwards and Mike Green want to demystify the songwriting process.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan singer-songwriters plan to explore the craft and share creative insights during a January 10 show—known as How’d You Write That?— at Trinity House Theatre.  

The show includes a mixture of performance and conversation: Edwards and Green will perform songs from their catalogs, interview each other about songwriting, and take questions from the audience.

“People don’t really talk about the process and talk about the nuts and bolts of how this song came to be or how a song comes to be,” said Edwards about the show’s format at the Livonia, Michigan listening room. “I think this will dig more into that.”

To prepare for the event, the duo sought inspiration from a songwriting group called Song Salon and a past TV show called Inside the Actors Studio.

“We bring in songs in any form and critique them … We just dig in, and we get really deep into the weeds of saying, ‘That word doesn’t work.’ We make suggestions, and my songs are all better as a result of being part of [Song Salon],” said Green, who also works as a booking agent.

“But it came out of that work, and I thought about Inside the Actors Studio and realized people would be interested in this. Trinity House is small enough that we can get a good-sized group of people in there, and it’s a home for many singer-songwriters in Southeastern Michigan.”

During the show, Edwards and Green will each perform 10 to 11 songs, including a mix of new material and past favorites. In 2023, Edwards released his latest album, So Far, and Green released his debut album, Listening for the Bell.

“Mike and I write differently,” Edwards said. “I tend to repeat a lot of the choruses in my songs, and Mike doesn’t so much. I’m interested to hear what influenced him to take that path and why he writes like that.”

The show also serves as a “pilot” for How’d You Write That? and allows the duo to test the waters before launching a regular series in the fall. They would curate the series and include singer-songwriters who are willing to interview each other.

“There’s not that many moving parts to it. It’s just something that we’re both interested in, and we think many people that we know will be interested,” Green said.

“Hopefully, there will be more than the people that we know. Based on the early social media stuff we’ve been doing, many people have said they’re interested.”

Bill Edwards and Mike Green perform January 10 for “How’d You Write That?” at Trinity House Theatre, 38840 Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan. For tickets, visit Trinity House Theatre’s website.

Total Immersion — Toledo’s John Eagan Offers a Spectrum of Electronic Sounds on “Signal” Instrumental Album

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John Eagan explores a range of electronic sounds on “Signal.” Photo courtesy of John Eagan

John Eagan creates an immersive sonic experience for listeners on Signal.

The Toledo, Ohio multi-instrumentalist and producer invites listeners to slip on a pair of headphones and absorb a spectrum of electronic sounds on his latest album.

“Everything I ever make is intended as headphone music,” Eagan said. “It’s not something to put on while doing the dishes. Some things are ambient—and in that sense—there are some things that people would label with the ambient term.”

As part of that electronic music exploration, listeners encounter six instrumental tracks that range from atmospheric to contemplative to chaotic to cinematic.

“I make music for people who are paying attention. It doesn’t even matter if it’s exactly matching whatever idea I might have. For that matter, sometimes the idea in my head is vague or nebulous,” said Eagan, who plays keyboards and percussion on Signal.

“I like a bit of ambiguity in music—it doesn’t have to be all spelled out. You might come up with something different than I had in my head and I’ll think that’s cool. It’s food for your imagination.”

To learn more, I recently spoke with Eagan about his background and the creative process for Signal.

Continue reading “Total Immersion — Toledo’s John Eagan Offers a Spectrum of Electronic Sounds on “Signal” Instrumental Album” →

Rocky Mountain High — Detroit’s Jeremy Porter Longs for a Snowy Holiday Out West on “Colorado Christmas” Single

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Detroit’s Jeremy Porter offers a fresh take on Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Colorado Christmas.” Photo – Noreen Porter

Two years ago, Jeremy Porter discovered a hidden Christmas classic in a collection of 7-inch vinyl singles.

The Detroit singer-songwriter and guitarist flipped over a “Mr. Bojangles” single for the Nitty Gritty Dirty Band and found “Colorado Christmas” on the B-side.

“Their version is solid, of course, but it was the B-side, ‘Colorado Christmas,’ that really caught my ear,” said Porter, who also fronts The Tucos. “I’m always looking for a good Christmas song to cover. I actually spent a Christmas in Colorado as a kid, so it just seemed like a natural choice.”

Porter decided to record a rendition of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Colorado Christmas” during the studio sessions for his latest alt-country album, Dynamite Alley, via GTG Records.

On “Colorado Christmas,” the protagonist longs to escape Los Angeles for a snow-filled Christmas in Colorado.

Surrounded by somber banjo and pedal steel, Porter sings, “Now the sun is setting in the California sky / And I can’t find the spirit anywhere / So I think it’s time for me to tell Los Angeles goodbye / I’m going back home to look for Christmas there.”

“The lyrics exploring the contradiction between winter in the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles traffic and palm trees was the icing on the cake,” Porter said.

Continue reading “Rocky Mountain High — Detroit’s Jeremy Porter Longs for a Snowy Holiday Out West on “Colorado Christmas” Single” →

All Ears — Detroit Prog Rockers Belling The Tiger Share Empathetic and Cathartic Tales on “Listen” EP

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Belling The Tiger members Nick Geiersbach, Andrew Harvey, Ani Balalau, Michael Allen Moore, and Duane Harvey. Photo – John Willems

Michael Allen Moore advocates being an active listener.

The frontman for Belling The Tiger applied that skill after reading The Lost Art of Listening many years ago.

“I was shocked and embarrassed about how many mistakes I made in listening to others,” said Moore, the band’s vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist.

“However, I was truly flabbergasted at how badly everybody else I was around at the time was. It helped immensely and allowed me to be a more empathetic human being.”

He also embraced that mindset while writing the title track for the Detroit prog-rock quintet’s latest five-track EP, Listen.

“I think writing music and lyrics is cathartic,” Moore said. “I’m happy to sneak in my self-expression as therapy with the music, and if people don’t pick up on the details, then I’m at peace with that. I have a Buddhist sensibility when it comes to the goals of making music.”

On the title track, Belling The Tiger attempts to help someone who’s on a destructive path before it’s too late.

Alongside Moore, bandmates Duane Harvey (drums, percussion), Andrew Harvey (bass), Ani Balalau (vocals, various instruments), and Nick Geiersbach (keys, trumpet, flugelhorn, various instruments) provide a melodic mix of serene and fearless instrumentation.

Moore sings, “Follow me if you can linear / Thoughts unforgiving and twisting / Speak to me if you can honestly / Unafraid of what we are.”

“The song is about a particular person—however—that person turns out to be a stereotype,” he said. “Therefore, it can have a universal application to others.”

I recently spoke to Belling The Tiger about its EP ahead of two Metro Detroit shows this week.

Continue reading “All Ears — Detroit Prog Rockers Belling The Tiger Share Empathetic and Cathartic Tales on “Listen” EP” →

Changing Course — The Steve Taylor Three Ponders New Beginnings and Closed Chapters on “Temporary Heart” Album

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Bryan Frink, Steve Taylor, and Carey Weaver of The Steve Taylor Three. Photo courtesy of Steve Taylor

The passage of time weighs heavily on Steve Taylor’s mind.

The Metro Detroit singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist ponders new beginnings and closed chapters on The Steve Taylor Three’s new album, Temporary Heart.

“The songs were all written in the same period, so there were certain themes that were on my mind—certainly aging,” Taylor said. “I’m 51 now, so turning 50 was a big deal from an age standpoint.”

Alongside bandmates Bryan Frink (bass, guitars, keys, vocals) and Carey Weaver (drums, percussion, vocals), Taylor explores changing family dynamics, fluctuating relationships, and childhood memories on the trio’s fifth release.

“A good friend of mine that I grew up with got married very young and then got divorced,” Taylor said. “That’s what the song, ‘Anymore,’ is about and love comes with age. I keep saying that the topics that are most on my mind right now are aging and the weather.”

On Temporary Heart, The Steve Taylor Three features a dozen heartfelt tracks bursting with rich harmonies, ruminative lyrics, and vibrant Midwest Americana instrumentation.

While the songs reflect on the fleeting nature of change, the album’s universal themes and infectious soundscapes remain deeply embedded in our hearts and minds.

To learn more, I spoke with Taylor about Temporary Heart ahead of the band’s November 29 album release show.

Continue reading “Changing Course — The Steve Taylor Three Ponders New Beginnings and Closed Chapters on “Temporary Heart” Album” →

Sounds Like Michigan — Michigan Music Alliance Celebrates Relaunch With November 23 Fundraiser Show at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre

Editor’s note as of November 23, 2024: Frontier Ruckus is unable to perform at tonight’s Sounds Like Michigan show due to COVID.

The Michigan Music Alliance is ready to take center stage and shine a spotlight on the state’s music community.

The statewide nonprofit is marking its official relaunch with Sounds Like Michigan, a live music fundraiser taking place November 23 at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“We’ve spent the last year working behind the scenes to set the organization up for long-term success, especially when it comes to the educational programming we provide to Michigan musicians,” said Nicholas James Thomasma, interim executive director of the Michigan Music Alliance. “Now, it’s time to celebrate, and Sounds Like Michigan is a celebration of Michigan music.”

Detroit-Ypsilanti indie-folk-rock trio Frontier Ruckus is headlining the event, which also includes Detroit R&B artist ARI B, Grand Rapids alt-Latin band Cabildo, and Grand Rapids indie-rock band The American Hotel System.

“It’s an eclectic bill with a mix of well-known and up-and-coming artists from both sides of the state,” Thomasma said. “It’s bridging the gap between the two communities and showcasing the collaborative spirit of the Michigan music scene.”

During the show, the Michigan Music Alliance will unveil its programming for 2025 and acknowledge grants awarded for more than $23,000 from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the Great Lakes Energy People Fund.

It also will feature a Sounds of the Zoo-hosted silent auction for attendees to bid on exclusive items, including:

In addition, attendees can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets and limited-edition merchandise. Meanwhile, VIP ticket holders will receive a private performance and meet-and-greet with Frontier Ruckus before doors open. All proceeds from the show will go to the Michigan Music Alliance.

Local Spins editor and publisher John Sinkevics will emcee Sounds Like Michigan, which features the West Michigan music website as an event partner along with WYCE (88.1-FM) and Triumph Music Academy. Event sponsors include Our Family, Founders Brewing Co., Studio C, and Tee See Tee.

Tickets for Sounds Like Michigan are on sale now via the Grand Rapids Community Media website. VIP tickets are $100 and general admission tickets are $35.

The Michigan Music Alliance’s Sounds Like Michigan fundraiser show is November 23 at the Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Doors are at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. For details, visit the Michigan Music Alliance’s website.

My One and Only — Jeff Adams and 11:21 Pay Homage to Soulmates on “Everything … A Love Song”

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Jeff Adams celebrates finding true love on his latest single, “Everything … A Love Song,” with 11:21. Photo courtesy of Jeff Adams

Jeff Adams doesn’t mind stepping outside his comfort zone.

The St. Clair Shores, Michigan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist entered unexpected musical territory while penning his latest single, “Everything … A Love Song.”

“I don’t usually write love songs. It’s not my forte, but I’m usually writing about the human condition and believing in yourself,” said Adams, who fronts the prog-rock collective 11:21 and plays guitar, keys, and piano.

“The first line that came to me was ‘You’re my everything,’ and I thought, ‘Oh no, this is a love song!’ And when a song takes over, it takes over like a monster. Until I record it and let it go, it has me completely consumed.”

What resulted is an inspirational ode to true love on “Everything … A Love Song,” which features personal lyrics and soaring prog-rock and Americana instrumentation.

Surrounded by grateful pedal steel and cello, Adams sings, “We walk side by side / ‘Cause you’re my everything / When you need me for support / I will do anything / When I let you deep inside / You handle my scary things / Together we can fly / And that’s the very thing / That keeps me coming back to you / It was always meant to be.”

“I am with a partner here, and I went and spent two years with her in LA during COVID. And then we bought a house and moved back here with three dogs, seven cats, and a bunny,” he said.

“Every time I got to the part, ‘You’re my everything,’ I couldn’t get it out of my head, so I was stuck … and I had to back-engineer it. Then I started to think about my partner, and I thought, ‘Yeah if you need me for support, I’ll do anything—don’t even think twice. When I let you deep inside, you handle my scary things—that’s trust.’”

Continue reading “My One and Only — Jeff Adams and 11:21 Pay Homage to Soulmates on “Everything … A Love Song”” →

State of the Art — GIG Conference Celebrates Michigan Art and Music November 8-10 at Jackson’s ART 634

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The weekend-long conference spotlights Michigan visual artists who specialize in concert photography, show posters, T-shirt designs, and album artwork.

Editor’s Note: The Stratton Setlist is a sponsor of GIG – The Art of Michigan Music.

Eight years ago, Chuck Marshall attended ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and left with a new idea.

The Life in Michigan blogger/co-publisher and Fans With Bands podcaster wanted to curate an art exhibit called GIG – The Art of Michigan Music, which focuses on the visual aspects of music.

“I’d met some great photographers and graphic artists in the local Michigan music scene and wanted to call attention to their work,” said Marshall, who’s from Ann Arbor and is a concert photographer.

“The Ann Arbor Art Center at the time accepted applications for people to curate an exhibit. I thought, ‘Why not?’ I contacted them and they were very helpful and receptive.”

Then Marshall contacted several artists and asked them to join the inaugural GIG – The Art of Michigan Music art show. It spotlighted artists who specialize in concert photography, show posters, T-shirt designs, and album artwork.

“That first show went over really well,” he said. “Over time, folks have asked if I’d do it again, and with work and other projects, I didn’t have time. Last year, my friends at Manchester Underground Music and Art—Steve Girbach and John Mooneyham—said, ‘Hey, you should do GIG again and we will help.’ So I said, ‘OK, let’s do it!’”

The trio quickly expanded GIG – The Art of Michigan Music into more than an art show and assembled a team of local musicians and music supporters to plan the event.

What resulted is a three-day conference packed with art exhibits, educational sessions, a mixer with Jennifer Westwood, live music, and a music market with local vendors.

“It was the rebirth of GIG – The Art of Michigan Music—bigger, better, stronger!” Marshall said. “It is The Six Million Dollar Man of art and music events if you will.”

Now, Marshall will realize his vision for GIG – The Art of Michigan Music November 8-10 at ART 634 in Jackson, Michigan.

I spoke with Marshall about GIG – The Art of Michigan Music ahead of next weekend’s event.

Continue reading “State of the Art — GIG Conference Celebrates Michigan Art and Music November 8-10 at Jackson’s ART 634” →