Tag: Detroit

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” →

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.

Best Practices — Kylee Phillips Shares “The Good Parts” of Her Personal Journey on New EP

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Kylee Phillips offers heartfelt tales of resilience and acceptance on “The Good Parts.” Photo – Misty Lyn Bergeron

Kylee Phillips doesn’t need to give herself daily pep talks anymore.

After some deep introspection, the Ypsilanti, Michigan singer-songwriter/keyboardist gained a fresh perspective and wanted to share “the good parts” of her journey on a new EP.

“I feel like the pep talks worked,” said Phillips about The Good Parts, her sophomore release. “It’s encouraging because it’s hard to see yourself grow when it’s happening, and it’s not until you look back that you say, ‘Oh, I made it to the other side.’”

Coming out the other side, Phillips offers heartfelt tales of resilience and acceptance across four honest tracks on her indie-folk-pop EP.

“The songs are about saying, ‘Maybe I need to try a different path,’ but they’re also saying, ‘These are the things I’ve noticed about myself that are not going to change—that I’m not letting go of,’” she said.

“It’s this funny combination of ‘I’m going to have to make some different choices, but I also know better who I actually am now.’”

That authenticity quickly resonates with listeners on The Good Parts, which features reflective lyrics and lush instrumentation.

“I had a friend reach out to me and say, ‘I feel like you wrote this song for me.’ And I said, ‘I wrote it for myself, and now I feel like you need it more than I do,’” she said. “I always write the stuff that I need to hear, but when it’s also what other people need to hear, it feels special.”

Continue reading “Best Practices — Kylee Phillips Shares “The Good Parts” of Her Personal Journey on New EP” →

The Power of Goodbye — Melanie Pierce Finds Closure From a Past Relationship on “Enough” Single

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Melanie Pierce shares messages of self-empowerment and resilience on “Enough.” Photo courtesy of Melanie Pierce

Melanie Pierce boldly reclaims her power on “Enough.”

The Detroit singer-songwriter asserts her true feelings and finds closure from a past relationship on her new emo-pop single.

“‘Enough’ is a song that I’m very proud of, and I’m really thankful to have had music to lean on when the events behind the song were taking place,” Pierce said.

“The song is a reflection of events that hurt or things that at the time I looked at through rose-colored glasses. Then I pulled them off and said, ‘This sucked … and it’s enough for me to get over this and move on.’’”

Surrounded by fearless acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, and drums, she sings: “I poured my heart out and I wrote you songs / You felt awkward, said it’s like someone’s singing happy birthday to you / Someday, I’m gonna find someone who actually deserves all I do / So I reclaim every song I sent you and the magic you had access to / And the girl that would have done anything for you.”

“It’s a song that screams, ‘I don’t deserve this,’” Pierce said. “I hope the takeaway for listeners is exactly that. You don’t deserve the shit you’ve put up with and you’re stronger than this.”

I spoke with Pierce about her latest single ahead of an October 11 show at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion, Michigan.

Continue reading “The Power of Goodbye — Melanie Pierce Finds Closure From a Past Relationship on “Enough” Single” →

Random Connections — Detroit’s Television City Celebrates Chance Encounters With Others on “Lost in Arkansas” Single

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Brian Raleigh, left, performs with Garret Bielaniec during a Television City show at Detroit’s Lager House in 2018. Photo – Erick Buchholz

Brian Raleigh reminisces about a special moment in the not-too-distant past.

The Television City frontman reflects on a chance encounter with a woman in the U.P. and relishes that random connection on the band’s latest alt-country-rock single, “Lost in Arkansas.”

“It was a very innocent sort of meeting where we talked, we got to know each other, and we felt a very strong connection. That’s all there was,” said Raleigh, the Detroit band’s vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist.

Backed by nostalgic electric guitar, pedal steel, and drums, Raleigh sings, “And in the blink of an eye / She was gone as quick as she came / Back to the wind, the Great Lakes / The trees and the rain / And I don’t think I’m ever gonna be the same again / As I was before / But I can remember when.”

“It’s about being lost in that moment,” he said. “It was a few years ago [when I met her] … and we’ve kept in touch a little bit.”

Raleigh wrote the track shortly after that encounter and shared it with his Television City bandmates.

“I might have written the song the day after that occurred or not too long after. And I put it away, and I thought, ‘I don’t even know if this song is any good or not,’” he said.

“And then I brought it out when we were looking for songs to record this next batch, and [guitarist] Garret [Bielaniec] said, ‘That’s the one.’”

Now, Raleigh is celebrating the release of “Lost in Arkansas” with Television City during a September 28 show with Jim Roll, Mike Galbraith, and Courtney Hurley at Ghost Light in Hamtramck, Michigan.

To learn more, I spoke with Raleigh about the band and single ahead of the show.

Continue reading “Random Connections — Detroit’s Television City Celebrates Chance Encounters With Others on “Lost in Arkansas” Single” →

Higher Purpose — Carolyn Striho Celebrates Empowerment and Connection on “I Will Rise” Single

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Carolyn Striho shares messages of hope and strength on “I Will Rise.” Photo – Chelsea Whitaker Photography

Carolyn Striho wants to help people rise to the occasion.

The Detroit singer-songwriter captures that empowering sentiment on her latest rock single, “I Will Rise.”

“I wrote ‘I Will Rise’ after the 2017 Women’s March to invoke hope, especially after having had breast cancer, but to connect with all people,” Striho said.

“With so much competition and anger among people, it focuses on love and survival. It also shares messages of hope and strength and encourages people to come together.”

Surrounded by determined piano, acoustic guitar, synth, bass, and drums, Striho sings, “I will rise, my friends, and be alive / We will rise through the pain in our disguise / Smiling instead of crying / It’s so hard we’re trying / Every day is counting time.”

“People would hear it and they liked it. You could see it as a political song or a song about breast cancer and women, but I realized it could be for anybody,” she said.

“I start out by singing, ‘I will rise, my sisters,’ and then I change it to more of a universal reference with the lyric, ‘I will rise, my friends.’”

Continue reading “Higher Purpose — Carolyn Striho Celebrates Empowerment and Connection on “I Will Rise” Single” →

Doomgaze into the Abyss — VAZUM Explores the Darker Side of Life on “Western Violence”

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Zach Pliska and Emily Sturm of VAZUM. Photo courtesy of VAZUM

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

VAZUM didn’t expect a Western film to inspire the title of its latest album.

The Jackson duo of Zach Pliska (vocals, guitars, drums) and Emily Sturm (vocals, bass) stumbled upon the phrase “Western violence” while watching The Quick and the Dead.

“We had some of the songs fleshed out and usually we go with a ‘V’ in the name for our albums. We were watching [the 1995 film] by Sam Raimi and the rating was ‘R,’ and it said two words: ‘Western violence,’” said Sturm about the duo’s doomgaze album, Western Violence.

“We said, ‘Oh my god, that’s what we’re writing about,’ and it just summed it up. And then we said, ‘That’s what we’re living in … This is how our society expresses itself now.’”

On Western Violence, VAZUM reflects on the disintegration and disillusionment of our country and provides a social commentary on the personal, cultural, and political events that impact it.

The album’s dozen tracks explore topics ranging from the opioid epidemic to gun violence to a dystopian future to toxic relationships. It also takes inspiration from VAZUM’s past tours through the southern U.S., the U.K., and France.

“We were driving through Georgia and we went through some areas with houses falling apart,” said Pliska, who’s a University of Michigan alum.

“To see the extent of the poverty and those places you’re driving through, it’s still shocking. Our tours in the U.K. and France were eye-opening with just seeing how different the countries are.”

As part of that perspective, VAZUM brings Western Violence’s themes to life through vigilant lyrics, ethereal vocals, and spellbinding instrumentation filled with goth-rock, post-punk, and shoegaze elements.

To learn more, I spoke with the duo about the album ahead of an August 10 set at Ogma Brewing Co.’s Art Pop ‘24 festival in Jackson.

Continue reading “Doomgaze into the Abyss — VAZUM Explores the Darker Side of Life on “Western Violence”” →

Feeling Seen and Validated — Moonwreckers Examines the Trajectory of Heartbreak and Grief on “Why Look Here?” Album

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Paul Stiem, Jamus Sumner, Matt Konkle, and Matt Galbraith of Moonwreckers. Photo by Chuck Marshall

After encountering heartbreak and grief, Moonwreckers understands the importance of feeling seen and validated.

The Metro Detroit quartet of Matt Galbraith (vocals, guitar), Matt Konkle (drums), Paul Stiem (guitar), and Jamus Sumner (bass, vocals) explores that emotional need and its evolution on the album, Why Look Here?

“It certainly is autobiographical. At the time, I was married, and we were having issues, and we did eventually divorce. A lot of these songs were written around the time when I was in my early 30s, so shit hit the fan between us and we had been together since we were 18 years old,” said Galbraith about the band’s indie-rock-meets-emo debut release.

“I didn’t know what a world looked like without that, so I was very lost, and it was scary to me what life looked like outside of that relationship. There’s some coming-of-age stuff in there, too, but a lot of it has to do with that relationship, the struggles and the attempts of trying to reconcile things, and then failing and rinse and repeat.”

Moonwreckers deeply examines that trajectory across 12 personal tracks on Why Look Here? The album’s honest lyrics, plaintive vocals, and evocative instrumentation prompt listeners to process their emotions and struggles alongside the band.

“There are so many universal themes here. Everyone’s gone through the experience of having a relationship that didn’t pan out to be what they wanted it to be,” Sumner said.

“Everyone’s gone through the frustration or the disappointment of misaligned expectations and incomplete communication and the moment someone passes or walks out of your life. There’s unfinished business and you have to work through that—except you won’t get an answer to everything.”

To learn more, I spoke with Moonwreckers about their latest album ahead of a July 26 show at Detroit’s Batch Brewing Company.

Continue reading “Feeling Seen and Validated — Moonwreckers Examines the Trajectory of Heartbreak and Grief on “Why Look Here?” Album” →

Hip-Hop Hooray — New U-M Exhibit Looks Back at 50 Years of the Music and Culture

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Dani Williams stands next to the hip-hop divas section of U-M’s “Hip Hop @ 50” exhibit at Haven Hall’s GalleryDAAS. Photo – Lori Stratton.

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

I remember the moment I fell in love with hip-hop.

It was 1985, and my older brother had rented VHS copies of the films Breakin’ and Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo from our local video store.

Seeing the breakdancing prowess of Kelly, Ozone, and Turbo in the films instantly captured my attention and spurred nine-year-old me to experiment with some moves of my own.

While I couldn’t quite emulate the popping, up-rocking, down-rocking, or power moves of the films’ heroes, I embraced a love of dancing and developed my own quirky style over the years.

As I grew up, I danced to the music of Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, Young MC, MC Hammer, and others.

By high school, I had started learning about three of the five elements of hip-hop—rapping, DJing, and breakdancing—and would encounter the other two—graffiti and historical knowledge—as an adult.

Today, these five elements provide the foundation for a hip-hop history exhibit curated by the University of Michigan’s Department of Afroamerican and African Studies and on display at Haven Hall’s GalleryDAAS through September 4.

Known as Hip Hop @ 50: Defs, Dates, Divas, Detroit & Dilla, the exhibit celebrates the 50th anniversary of the culture and explores its evolution across music, society, fashion, language, entertainment, and politics.

Continue reading “Hip-Hop Hooray — New U-M Exhibit Looks Back at 50 Years of the Music and Culture” →

Missing You — Detroit’s Twin Deer Explores Loss and Grief on New ‘Underground’ Single

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Twin Deer’s Rob Duncan, Megan Marcoux, Bill Kahler, and Tom Skill explore missing a loved one on “Underground.” Photo – Cassie Pietron

When it comes to loss, Twin Deer deeply understands the grief that remains.

The Detroit quartet of Megan Marcoux (vocals, guitar), Tom Skill (guitar), Bill Kahler (bass, synth), and Rob Duncan (drums) explores that overwhelming emotion and the ongoing struggle to move forward on “Underground.”

“It is a pure description of missing someone immensely,” said Marcoux about the group’s new dream-pop single.

“Sometimes the clarity lies in simplicity, like the line, ‘It’s not right you’re not around.’ And in the second verse, we reference how life is fragile. I find that important to mention—not to cause distress—but to remember to value the time we have.”

Backed by cathartic electric guitar, bass, and drums, she sings, “It would be nice to hear the sound / Of your voice saying you were coming around / It would be nice / If I wasn’t exhaling ice / I’m standing on the frozen ground.”

“I hope others will see that there isn’t always some profound thing that needs to be said,” Marcoux said. “Missing someone is already a lot.”

“Underground” also serves as an introspective B-side to Twin Deer’s “Fever Dream,” which was released in June.

To learn more, I spoke with Marcoux about Twin Deer’s latest singles and past releases ahead of a July 13 set at Alley Fest in Flint, Michigan.

Continue reading “Missing You — Detroit’s Twin Deer Explores Loss and Grief on New ‘Underground’ Single” →