Roar On — Adaboy! Salutes the Detroit Lions on “Uncaged” Single

Vince Modern, Steve Nyquist, Mike Richards, and Joe Balbaugh of Adaboy!. Courtesy photo.

Adaboy! embodies the pride and spirit of the Detroit Lions on “Uncaged.”

The Bay City, Michigan band pays tribute to the team’s resilience and success on its latest rock single.

“Have you ever listened to Dan Campbell, the coach?” said Mike Richards, lead vocalist and guitarist for Adaboy!.

“Have you ever heard him speak about his team and the mentality he wants his football team to have? He doesn’t necessarily speak on mental health, but it’s all the nitty-gritty of what it takes to be focused on your mental health.”

Along with Adaboy! bandmates Joe Balbaugh (vocals, bass), Vince Modern (vocals, guitar), and Steve Nyquist (drums), Richards celebrates that mindset through motivational lyrics and fiery instrumentation on “Uncaged.”

He sings, “Take your place / There’s something going on in here / Grit and glory / We’ve been waiting for all these years / Can’t stop, won’t stop / Come on people, get on your feet / It’s electric in the air / We’re the real America’s team.”

“Dan Campbell is putting all of these analogies out there about what his team is gonna be like,” Richards said. “It felt like he was talking to us because Adaboy! has that mentality of saying, ‘You can’t stop us, and we’re gonna fail. We’ve already made our peace with failing. We’re expecting the fail, but it’s how we’ve made up our mind and how we’re going to respond to the failure.’

“We latched onto his messaging of the Lions, and we’ve adopted it. It just aligns with the mission and messaging of Adaboy!.”

To learn more, I spoke with Richards and Modern about the band’s background and music ahead of a November 21 show at JJ’s Roadhouse in Saginaw.

Continue reading “Roar On — Adaboy! Salutes the Detroit Lions on “Uncaged” Single” →

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.’”

Continue reading “Magic Wand – Carolyn Striho Recaptures Stirring Emotions on ‘Blue Ridiculous Love’ Single” →

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” →

The Soundcheck – The Idiot Kids, Dog Latin and Ally Evenson

The November edition of The Soundcheck spotlights looking inward to see how we’ve evolved over time and what the next life chapter might bring. There’s a refreshing honesty and authenticity that comes with sharing that growth and the unexpected wisdom that emerges from it—regardless of your age or experience.

The Idiot Kids, “Wilted Bloom” & “White Flags”

The Idiot Kids openly address overcoming addiction and missing past interactions with friends on “Wilted Bloom.”

The Detroit garage-punk trio of Jon-Mikal Bartee (vocals, guitar), Nicholas Zambeck (bass) and Andrew Maslowsky (drums, vocals) share those honest reflections on the new single from their upcoming album, Chapels, which drops Dec. 1.

“‘Wilted Bloom’ is more about that feeling of being an addict and seeing those things,” said Bartee, who’s now seven years sober. “I was driving around a few months ago, and I just saw someone smoking a cigarette with the windows down and the weather was incredible. I was like, ‘I miss it so much; I miss the meditative aspect of it.’”

Backed by fiery electric guitar, bass and drums, Bartee sings, “You’re just a weed inside my garden / Hoping that I’ll pluck you soon / You want me to feed upon your pollen / Well, I’ve got an appetite for you!”

Continue reading “The Soundcheck – The Idiot Kids, Dog Latin and Ally Evenson” →

Then and Now – Metro Detroit’s Ash Can Van Gogh Looks Backward and Forward on the Band’s Evolution

Back in 1986, Billy Brandt and JC Whitelaw placed an ad in the Metro Times looking for a female vocalist and instrumentalist.

The two Metro Detroit singer-songwriters envisioned forming a folk-rock band—now known as Ash Can Van Gogh—that specialized in three-part harmonies.

It wasn’t long until Mary McGuire saw the ad and called Brandt from a payphone at the Inn Season Café in Royal Oak. The Lansing singer-songwriter was working at the vegetarian-vegan restaurant at the time.

“I’m standing there holding the Metro Times, and I put a dime in the phone. Billy answers the phone, and I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m calling about your ad in the Metro Times, and my name is Mary,’ and he’s like, ‘What’s your sign?’” McGuire said.

“That was the first thing he said to me, and I was like, ‘Scorpio,’ and he’s like, ‘Oh, that’s cool; I’m a Capricorn.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, we’ll get along. I have a moon in Capricorn,’ so then we chatted about our influences and found we were big fans of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.”

That first conversation quickly led to Brandt and Whitelaw seeing McGuire perform at Sir Charles Pub in Royal Oak and then singing with her at her house later that night.

Continue reading “Then and Now – Metro Detroit’s Ash Can Van Gogh Looks Backward and Forward on the Band’s Evolution” →

Big Picture – Mark Zhu and Felix Lahann Illustrate Self-Confidence on ‘paint the world red’ Single

Mark Zhu

Felix Lahann

Mark Zhu and Felix Lahann present a vivid picture of self-confidence on “paint the world red.”

The Ann Arbor indie-pop singer-songwriter and hip-hop / EDM producer add vibrant layers of growth and courage to their latest empowering hip-hop anthem.

“By openly sharing our personal experiences, we gain a sense of catharsis and self-acceptance. It reminds us that we’re not alone in our struggles and that vulnerability can be a powerful tool for personal growth,” said Zhu, who graduated from Skyline High School earlier this month.

“Writing this track allowed us to express our vulnerabilities and showcase the strength that comes from embracing them. We wanted to create a song that could serve as a source of empowerment and encouragement for listeners, so the idea of ‘painting the world red’ represents how our music, ideas and confidence is contagious enough to influence others.”

Together, they spread that steadfast reassurance alongside eager beats filled with glistening synth, rowdy bass and bouncy percussion. Zhu sings, “Somedays, I don’t believe I belong here / On the runway, I’ll conceal my fears / Once I paint everything red / There won’t be any spots left / I’m getting so fast / No holding me back / Just paint the world red.”

“Growing up, I found it hard to fit in and struggled with body image. I also feared rejection and failure, as I was always pressured to succeed in my community,” Zhu said.

“As I work through these struggles I have learned to channel my experiences into my music, and ‘paint the world red’ is a reflection of that journey. Collaborating with Felix Lahann, we shared our stories and found solace in our shared experiences of self-confidence, courage, fear and self-doubt.”

Continue reading “Big Picture – Mark Zhu and Felix Lahann Illustrate Self-Confidence on ‘paint the world red’ Single” →

Shine On – Read the Sun Enters Experimental Sonic Orbit on ‘Living Thru’ EP

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Read the Sun revolves around an ever-changing musical landscape drenched in brilliant rays of experimental indie rock.

The Detroit indie rock quartet of Alexa Gabriel (vocals, guitar), Jon Meyer (guitar), Sean Hussett (bass) and Joseph Jankowski (drums, percussion) beautifully fuses cinematic elements of classic, prog and alt rock to produce a soaring sonic experience on their latest five-track EP, “Living Thru,” which dropped in August.

“Living Thru” opens with a gorgeous instrumental, “Living,” to elegantly blend high-tone guitars and vibrating synths with light cymbal taps for a brief infectious sonic rotation. It seamlessly segues into an intense emotional track, “Brown Shoes,” as a metaphor for the struggle about starting a transition as a transgender woman.

Slow rhythmic drums, vibrant guitars and deep bass echo the struggle depicted throughout “Brown Shoes” – “I could walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes/And find nothing wrong with these other soles/I could take mine away/And leave nothing more.”

“One of the things we wanted to deliver in this EP is our continuous change of sound that we are beginning to solidify. We have started to amplify each of our strengths in the writing process and weed out the desire to imitate. We are currently on a good path towards fully realizing a more consistent sound,” said Read the Sun, whose members are influenced by Pink Floyd, The Flaming Lips, Radiohead and Snarky Puppy.

Together, the band recorded “Living Thru” in Gabriel’s bedroom where she runs a portable studio for recording and mixing. They also recorded their striking 2018 debut, “Music for Birds,” over nine months at a family-owned barn up north over a three-day stay. Coincidentally, bird sounds crept into every recording on their first full-length release.

Before they discovered “Music for Birds,” Read the Sun started as a jam session among four Plymouth-Canton high school friends. That jam session solidified into an official project by 2017 as the band members honed themselves as musicians and songwriters and cultivated an evolutionary sonic path.

Along their growing sonic path, Read The Sun continues to solder different sounds on “Living Thru,” including “The SacroMambo,” a dancy six-minute track that shimmies and sways with a symphony of electric guitars, drums, bass, saxophone and percussion.

Continue reading “Shine On – Read the Sun Enters Experimental Sonic Orbit on ‘Living Thru’ EP” →

‘Be Careful Be Safe’ — New E-Man Bates Album Honors Mother’s Memory, Addresses Inner Struggles

Emmanuel “E-Man ” Bates keeps the phrase, “be careful, be safe,” close to his heart.

The Canton hip-hop artist frequently heard that cautionary, heartwarming phrase from his mother while growing up.

“Every time I left the house, no matter what I was doing, no matter if I was going out with friends or doing some sports stuff or going out to shows,” he said. “It was ‘be careful, be safe, make smart decisions.’”

Bates decided to name his latest album, “Be Careful Be Safe,” which drops today, as a tribute to his mother, who passed away in January. He also timed the album’s release to coincide with his mother’s Oct. 6 birthday.

“The original title was going to be ‘Green Balloons,’ which is the theme for the whole album, but then my mom passed, and I decided to go with the quote she always said to me,” he said.

Throughout the eight-minute title track, Bates sings about heeding his mother’s timeless advice and the lasting impact it’s had on him.

The song speeds up and down against a jazzy sonic backdrop, courtesy of metro Detroit’s Honey Monsoon, to chronicle the rollercoaster of emotions he’s experienced since losing his mother. Bates also included the lyrics from the slower part of “Be Careful Be Safe” in his mom’s obituary.

Continue reading “‘Be Careful Be Safe’ — New E-Man Bates Album Honors Mother’s Memory, Addresses Inner Struggles” →

The Stratton Setlist

Catch the opener. Stay for the encore.

Tag: Canton