MAGAZINE JUNE 2013 ispymagazine.co
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Cayucas Sonic Lunch Atlas Genius A2 Restaurant Week A2 Summer Festival
Stepdad Stepdad Celebrate Three Three Years Years of of Celebrate iSPY Magazine Magazine iSPY
T N E M E V O M
THE BLACK LILLIES
Sat, June 15, 8 PM
LEE DeWYZE
Thur, June 6, 8 PM
HEY MARSEILLES
DAVE BOUTETTE w/sg BILLY KING
Mon, June 17, 8 PM
Fri, June 7, 8 PM
IMAGINARY CITIES
Tues, June 11, 8 PM
PATTERSON HOOD & THE DOWNTOWN RUMBLERS w/sg T Hardy Morris
Wed, June 12, 8 PM
JOHN FULLBRIGHT
Wed, June 26, 8 PM
JASON ISBELL w/sg Widowspeak
Thurs, June 27, 8 PM
316 S. Main Ann Arbor www.theark.org Call for Tickets: 734-763-8587 Online at www.TheArk.org
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CONTENTS
JUNE2013 The Buzz
12
6
Orion Music + More Festival, Twin Shadow, The Lumineers, The Postal Serice
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The xx + Grizzly Bear, Grillin’ for Food Gatherers, Black Flag, 41st EcoRide Scars on 45, A Band Called Death Screening
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Scene 10 11 12 13 14
Ann Arbor Summer Festival Summer Festival Artist Interviews Ypsiarbaroo - Pathetic Sounds of Detroit Cinetopia International Film Festival Sonic Lunch
Around You
24 Sales Sales
[print [print + online] + online]
Publisher Publisher Editorial Editorial
Tim TimAdkins Adkins
[business [business development] development]
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Amanda Slater Trent Editor Editorin inChief Chief Amanda Writers Writers
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timtim adkins adkins / tim@pakmode.com / tim@pakmode.com
bilal bilal saeed saeed / bilal@pakmode.com / bilal@pakmode.com
Amanda Trent, Stefanie Stauffer, Ellen Kortesoja Amanda AmandaSlater, Trent,Tim TimAdkins, Adkins, Stefanie Stefanie Stauffer, Stauffer, Paul Kitti,Retyi, MaryP Simkins, David Nassar, Jeff Milo, Richard Richard Paul aulKitti, Kitti,Aimee M arissa Mandle, M cnees, Mary Simkins, DavidMary N assar, J effDavid Milo,Nassar, Treasure Aimee Mandle, Simkins, r , Ross Huff Mandle,Coxen, Patti Smith, Ross Huff, Tammy
Pakmode Media + Marketing
Events Calendar June 2013
Foodie 18 19 20 22 23
The Dish: Bill’s Beer Garden Adventures in Local Food #30 Ann Arbor Restaurant Week The Bar: Alley Bar Taste of Ann Arbor
Features 24 26 28
Atlas Genius Stepdad Cayucas
Review
Stephen Hollowell
Art Art
Designers Designers
ey Maxwell CasDiaz dkins ,&Joel im AAdkins TTim
Photographers Photographers Bruno Bruno Postigo Postigo&&Kristin KristinSlater Slater
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www.pakmode.com
30 31 32 33 34
Sounds: Deerhunter, Vampire Weekend, Talib Kweli Sounds: The National, Daft Punk, The Neighbourhoods The Cut: The Great Gatsby The Cut: Star Trek Snap Shot: May Events
The Wasthtenaw County Events The Washtenaw County Events and © 2013 2012, iSPY. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in andEntertainment EntertainmentGuid Monthly e 124 Pearl St. Suite 407 , 124 Pearl St. Suite 407 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Phcne: 734.484.034 9 Phone: 734.531.8939 Email: ispy@pakmode.co m Email: ispy@pakmode.com
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MICHIGAN THEATER DETROIT FILM THEATRE STATE THEATER UM ANGELL HALL
SUMMER CLASSIC
THE 2013
CINEMA COMES ALIVE
FILM SERIES
SUNDAYS @ 1:30 & TUESDAYS @ 7:00
ALL SUMMER LONG!
Presented with support from:
Jle[Xp# Ale\ (- Kl\j[Xp# Ale\ (/
BLAZING SADDLES (1974)
Director MEL BROOKS’ take on the Hollywood Western is politically incorrect and relentlessly funny! Stars GENE WILDER.
Jle[Xp# Ale\ )* Kl\j[Xp# Ale\ ),
Dangerous Liaisons
VERTIGO (1958)
One of ALFRED HITCHCOCK’s darkest, most compelling suspense films stars OSCAR WINNER JAMES STEWART and KIM NOVAK.
Join us for the second annual Cinetopia International Film Festival, featuring the best films from the best festivals around the world, including SUNDANCE, CANNES, VENICE, TORONTO and BERLIN.
Jle[Xp# Ale\ *' Kl\j[Xp# Alcp )
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
(1935) The MARX BROTHERS—Groucho, Harpo and Chico—wreak hilarious havoc in the opera house in one of their biggest hits.
8;M8E:< K@:B<KJ FE J8C< 8K K@:B<KN<9%:FD FI :?8I>< 9P G?FE< 8K ///$...$/0*)% The Painting
JUNE 6–9 Cult Films for Summer Nights. Thursdays at 10 pm. All tickets $8 ($6.50 for Michigan Theater members)
London—The Modern Babylon
(1966)
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! VISIT CINETOPIAFESTIVAL.ORG
0 6/27
A coffin-dragging gunslinger enters a town caught between two feuding factions, the KKK and a gang of Mexican Bandits. That man is Django, and he is caught up in a struggle against both parties. 92 minutes. Not Rated.
Media Support By: 8;M8E:< K@:B<KJ FE J8C< 8K K@:B<KN<9%:FD FI :?8I>< 9P G?FE< 8K ///$...$/0*)%
ANN ARBOR’S DOWNTOWN CENTER FOR FINE FILM AND THE PERFORMING ARTS
-'* <% C@9<IKP JK% .*+ --/$K@D< D@:?K?<8K<I%FI>
THE BUZZ
Orion Music + More Festival // Belle Isle June 8-9 BY ROSS HUFF Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers will be headlining this year’s Orion Music + More Festival on Belle Isle. Producers of Lollapalooza are bringing their music and lifestyle brand to Detroit and will overtake rock venues featuring the Orion Art Series curated by Shepard Fairey and a series of Metallica Museum
Hall and the Fillmore, including a set by Chevy Metal (featuring Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters.) Other highlights of the festival lineup are Gogol Bordello, the Dillinger Escape Plan, the Dirtbombs, Japandroids, Foals, Death Grips, FIDLAR, Deftones, The Joy Formidable and Silversun Pickups. Tickets are available at orionmusicandmore.com.
The festival released $90 single day passes and $150 weekend passes for a 30 band bill on the weekend of June 8 – 9. Related concert events are scheduled at the Majestic Theater, St. Andrews
Twin Shadow // Magic Stick The Lumineers // DTE Energy June 5 Music Theatre / June 6
The Postal Service // The Fillmore / June 10
BY ROSS HUFF
BY AMANDA TRENT
BY ROSS HUFF
If you haven’t heard of The Lumineers by now, chances are you’ve been living under a rock – or at least don’t have access to radio or internet because by now it’s virtually impossible to turn on the radio without hearing their infectious single, “Ho Hey,” sooner or later – and this is Top 40 radio we’re talking about, which is a somewhat unusual feat for a folk band in this day and age. The Lumineers are one of the few key groups that can be credited with the return of folk music into mainstream consciousness. Although they were popular on alt radio for some time prior, they were suddenly catapulted into the spotlight around the April 2012 release of their self-titled debut album that has since peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. As a result, they were nominated for Best New Artist and Best Americana Album Grammy awards in 2013 and have been touring the world and playing for large, energetic crowds ever since. On June 6, you too can join such a crowd and dance the night away to The Lumineers’ soulful, feelgood folk music at DTE Energy Music Theatre. Be sure to come early to see supporting act, Cold War Kids, perform beforehand as they won’t disappoint, either. It’s bound to be an allaround can’t-miss summer concert experience.
“Give Up,” Sub Pop Records’ best selling album since Nirvana’s “Bleach,” was composed via U.S. Mail over ten months in 2001 – 02 when Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and electronic musician Jimmy Tamborello bounced CD-Rs from L.A. to Seattle, adding layers and lyrics. Aside from some rarities and two new tracks on the 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, this album represents the entirety of the Postal Service’s discography. Given that working method, I don’t blame them for the hiatus. However, this 2013 reunion tour proves to be a good business plan. After blowing Coachella’s
George Lewis Jr. cruises on his Triumph voice that makes me long for the glance of a crush at the school dance. He is a songwriter, from Coachella and Sasquatch, Twin Shadow plays Detroit in the midst of a pilgrimage supporting his 2012 release, “Confess.”
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
through a vocal timbre reminiscent of Sting,
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and punk rock. His guitar is dredged in Fender Twin reverb, contrasting a spectrum of analog synthesizer sounds, all of which evidence poet/critic Jeffery Berg’s description of Twin Shadow as the “New New New Wave.” Twin Shadow feels like a reminder all. Lewis will make his way through the Magic Stick in Detroit at 8 p.m. on June 5. All Ages are welcome. Tickets start at $15.
coast tour dates and sold out a dozen shows. Fans and critics both claim that this summer the Postal Service delivers the full package. They’ll be making a stop at the Fillmore Detroit at 7 p.m. on June 10 with Ra Ra Riot. The show is currently sold out, but if you can’t bear the thought of missing this show and don’t mind coughing up the cash, you might be able to score some tickets on the secondhand ticket market.
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THE BUZZ
The xx + Grizzly Bear // The Fillmore June 12
BY JEFF MILO
had their name, cryptic as it is and, at displayed in lower case. They were minimalists making loungey, late-night meditations in the vein of electronicheavy trip-hop. They were gorgeous, precious little secrets whispered through windy winter day that could so easily be shattered like thin ice or blustered away into overcast skies. Now they play to vast throngs of festival-goers in Sydney or at Bonnarroo and they write songs featured on soundtracks of multimillion-dollar, multi-dimensional gaudy Hollywood
blockbusters like the Great Gatsby while winning awards (for 2011’s “Coexist”) and covering Beyonce and Aaliyah songs. The duo are touring with comparable indie-darlings Grizzly Bear, yet another band that had humble beginnings but got drummed up to wider, wordly esteem through the blog-buzzed words of digital mouths. These are two bands you’ve been hearing buried in the backgrounds of car commercials (and sleek, arty indiebut now, it seems, their names should be in all caps. They will be coming through The Fillmore Detroit at 6 p.m. on June 12. Tickets are still available starting at $35.
Black Flag // Majestic Theatre 41st EcoRide // Riverside Park June 23 June 10
BY ROSS HUFF
BY JEFF MILO
BY ROSS HUFF
The pages of hyperbolic hardcore punk rock history usually states that the seminal, the pioneering, the preeminent, quintessential, ultimate example, 9 times out of 10, is Black Flag. And they’re back. Black Flag, the band born in the late 70s that went on to spearhead the DIY-“Get In The Van”tour revolution, inspiring myriad descendent indie bands, are back with a new album (and a new line-up). A new single came out in May (and a new rivalry with past members sizzled thereafter). New tour dates include a stop in Detroit on the June 10. Founder Greg Ginn sparred over the internet with past members like OFF!’s Keith Morris, who daringly started another band, FLAG, featuring former Black Flag members, interpreting songs from “all eras” of the group’s history. “Down In The Dirt,” the new single from the Ginn-group (the “real” Black Flag), was predictably received with applause, disenchantment or middling mehs, as it goes with almost every reunited/reboot of bands with looming legends/legacies, but that shouldn’t discount the opportunity to see a modern godfather of punk-rock guitarism along with singer Ron Reyes and drummer Gregory Moore, loud and live and back together again. Wonder what Henry Rollins has to say about all this?
The Ecology Center is celebrating its 41st Annual EcoRide on Sunday, June 23. EcoRide is an opportunity to fundraise for the Ecology Center, explore the trail network along the Huron River and connect with cyclists and the ecologically minded in the community. Join cyclists, rollerbladers and walkers as they raise funds for the enviornment and tour as much as 55 miles of the beautiful Huron River Valley. There are opportunities to become a volunteer, donor, sponsor or rider. One may also just snack on the Ecology Center’s grub and listen to the dulcet tones of Dragon Wagon – a string band that plays “bluegrass folk rock with a shot of Irish whiskey.” Although, as this family event is in a City Park, serious Dragon Wagon fans may therefore be advised to research local ordinances regarding consumption of the latter. The music is free along with the recycled crafts, kids activities, prize drawings, solar energy tours, local foods and drum circle. The event will be held at Ann Arbor’s Riverside Park (on Canal St.) and runs from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The 24-Carrot Year Annual Food Gatherers County esidents struggling with hunger. Master of Ceremonies Martin Bandyke broadcasts live on Ann Arbor’s 107one as rockabilly bon vivant George Bedard and the Kingpins headline the 24th anniversary of Food Gatherers. Guests can enjoy delicacies provided by more than 30 area restaurants including Zingerman’s Bakehouse and Creamery. The Ben Daniels Band and Chris Dupont provide additional entertainment along with family fun from the Hands-On Museum and a silent auction. A $50 adult ticket purchase provides over 100 meals for our neighbors in need – part of the 5.6 million pounds Food Gathers distributes annually. The event takes place Sunday, June 9 from 3 – 8 p.m. rain or shine at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds at 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. Advance tickets are available online at foodgatherers.org and at locations around town.
www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Grillin’ for Food Gatherers // Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds / June 9
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THE BUZZ
A Band Called Death Screening // Uptown 8 Birmingham Theater / June 28-July 4
June 23 BY ROSS HUFF
BY JEFF MILO
Mariel Almendras was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in kindergarten. Over the next two
on Thanksgiving Day in 2011. When Scars on 45 met Mariel’s family at Sonic Lunch 2012, they
enjoyment of reading and music, she developed a friendship with her tutor, second grade teacher Cathy Cieglo. In the summer of 2010, Mariel traveled to Houston, TX for an intensive round of treatment. Mrs. Cieglo welcomed Mariel back by taking her to hear their favorite music at the Sonic Lunch concert series. Mariel so enjoyed it that she wished to meet the band, Scars on 45, who were moved by her story. Her passion for life and music shone through her hardship. When Scars on 45 returned to the area that fall, Mariel was back in the hospital for a third time. They were unable to meet together. The band continued to send her gifts of music and art. Mariel passed away
awareness about ovarian cancer. There is currently no detection test to diagnose ovarian cancer in its early stages, when it is most treatable. For this reason, MIOCA’s mission is to increase awareness and advocacy, turning the town teal and claiming, “until there’s a test, awareness is best.” Scars on 45 plays in Mariel’s memory and to raise money and awareness for the Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance on Sunday, June 23 at 6 p.m. at LIVE (102 S. 1st St., Ann Arbor.) Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for 15 and younger. For more information about the event or early signs and detection, visit mioca.org.
Enjoy rustic Italian cuisine at Palio!
This band died when it refused a record exec’s request to change their name. I mean, how much more brutally “punk” can you be beyond calling yourself “Death”? But these unheralded punk-rock pioneers were lost in music history’s hall of obscurity before Drag City Records uncovered and properly packaged a release of the handful of songs they
winning
documentary
“Searching
Called Death,” similarly spotlights the Hackney brothers’ story and their rise to newfound popularity decades later, with a notable performance at this year’s SXSW Music Festival. Fellow Detroit-native Jack White announced plans to distribute two unreleased songs from the punk power-trio this summer via his Third Man Records. A Band Called…premiered May 24 (Video On Demand) with a special theatre screening at the Uptown Birmingham 8 theater lined up for June 28 – July 4. In May, they joined the line-up for Metallica’s Orion Music Festival on Belle Isle, performing June 9.
under Columbia Records. It was a revelation for modern audiences: that something as good, as crazy, as tight and as torrid as anything the Stooges, MC5 or the Clash was born and raised right here in your backyard from three brothers in their basement in East Detroit. This band’s the like the Missing Link, bridging Hendrix to Bad Brains. And just as the world learned of mellow mystic folk singer Rodriguez via the Oscar-
Reservations at (888) 456-3463 PalioRestaurant.com Facebook/PalioAnnArbor 347 South Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104
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Enjoy Ann Arbor’s largest and most popular outdoor gathering spot on Palio’s rooftop patio - Palio del Sole. With beautiful views of Ann Arbor’s energetic downtown and our legendary Sangria by the pitcher, Palio’s rooftop dining is sure to make you smile! Open every night for dinner. Mon.-Thurs. 5-10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 5-11 p.m., Sun. 4-9 p.m.
o del Sole P a li no
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
lk-in seating only) (wa
Palio is a Mainstreet Ventures restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For more information on our family of restaurants, visit MSVentures.com. facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
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ANN ARBOR SUMMER FESTIVAL
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER
In the summertime the city of Ann Arbor seems to be awash in festivals. Where once was a desolate land with only the occasional cool show for sustenance now thrives a riot of music, art, food and fun. The Ann Arbor Summer Festival is the big daddy of them all. Beginning on June 14, all roads lead to Ann Arbor with attractions as varied as dancing radio hosts, late night movies, capoeira demonstrations and boozy book discussions. The best part, kids, is that (nearly) every event is free, free, FREE! The main draw of A2SF for most people is the music – and for good reason. This year they’ve tapped folky bluegrass acts like The Appleseed Collective, Matt Jones and Theo Katzman among others, to populate both of the festival stages in addition to Wild Belle, who are currently making quite the stir in the national indie music scene. A slew of great DJs like Ross Federman and Michael Dykehouse will keep the cool kids up late during the DJs After Dark series at The Grove stage, sponsored by iSPY Magazine. While all of these acts are music to our ears, there’s more to love about A2SF than just the sonic banquet. The “Spontaneous Art” happening, an interactive and unpredictable piece of performance art will take place on the evening of the June 20 at the South Ingalls Mall.
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A delightful kid’s event called Tangle (essentially a huge elastic spider web that the young ones weave themselves) will be spun on June 19 as well as “Superhero” – a concept that really has to be seen to be believed (check the A2SF website) – make up some of the one off events of the festival. A tradition in long-standing has been the outdoor movies shown after the sun goes down, and this year’s crop does not disappoint with classics like “The Goonies,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Sixteen Candles” and the Hitchcock thriller: “Vertigo.” Some more recent of blockbusters like “The Hunger Games” and of Pi” and the latest Wes Anderson quirk-fest “Moonrise Kingdom,” making the offerings pretty omnivorous. Like I said, none of these events will cost you one red cent, but for those of us who love poppin’ collas and dropping dollas, the events get even bigger. Ann Arbor’s Power Center plays host to the festival’s Mainstage events which include performances from the futuristic Django Django, the vaguely orchestral Pink Martini and a trio of NPR heavy hitters. Garrison Keillor will be doing his Prairie Home Companion shtick at Hill
Auditorium, Glynn Washington will be steering the ship on the Snap Judgment storytelling juggernaut and Ira Glass will be engaged in some sort of mad dance off. This year’s Ann Arbor Summer Festival promises thrills and trills for all, but they are far too numerous to chronicle in this little piece. I can’t stress how much the 33 1/3 book series merits a trip, for example. For a full schedule of events and details to boot, visit a2sf.org or download their awesome mobile app and see for yourself.
EXPERIENCE IT WHAT
Ann Arbor Summer Festival WHEN
June 14 - July 7 WHERE
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Summer Festival Artists
We asked some of our favorite local Ann Arbor Summer Festival artists about the festival. Here’s what they had to say:
ERIN ZINDLE OF THE RAGBIRDS
ROSS HUFF OF THE MACPODZ What do you love about the www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
in civilization. What’s your favorite Ann Arbor Summer Festival memory? We were scheduled to play opening night in 2008 with My Dear Disco (who later became Ella Riot). Around 6:30 p.m. we had all the gear staged in the side-tent but didn’t set it up because dark clouds were rolling in. There was much speculation, hemming and hawing, hopes that the storm wouldn’t 86 the gig and vague planning for shortened set times. Brennan has a knack for the right action, and, realizing we weren’t going to accomplish anything standing around in the street, suggested that we wait out the inclemency at Arbor Brewing Co. The lot of us, a dozen deep, arrived at the pub just as the storm hit. It lasted long enough for two frothy pints apiece and blew away in plenty of time for MDD’s 8 p.m. downbeat. At the end of the Macpodz set, some of their gang came on stage with us, and we performed one of worst cover versions of “Dancing in the Streets” in history. It’s only right that over the years we’ve had both our most triumphal and most embarrassing moments on the same stage in front of all of our families, friends and neighbors – like the year that Brennan’s bass cable was 10 feet long but the vocal microphone was 13 feet away or the year our manager neglected to tell us that we were supposed to take a set break. They made us get right back onstage and we wound up playing for three hours straight. Afterwards I was a staggering wreck. We never ran out of material, though. The Macpodz will perform at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 16 at the Rackham Stage.
FEATURE DAN HENIG What do you love about the Summer Festival? I love pretty much everything about Summer Festival. Ann Arbor is beautiful in the summer, and music downtown with good people and good food makes it even better. What are you looking forward to most about performing at the Summer Festival? I’m looking forward to being part of Ann Arbor’s iconic summer festival and performing for genuine music lovers. What’s your favorite Ann Arbor Summer Festival memory? My favorite memory has to be when I performed last year. It was so much fun, and I got to meet and talk to some really cool people through it. Dan Henig will perform at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3 at the Grove Stage.
KATE PETERSON OF NERVOUS BUT EXCITED What do you love about the Summer Festival? To me, it’s the ultimate Ann Arbor – community, local arts, local food, lots and lots of friends. It’s a good excuse to make a night of a Tuesday and an opportunity to really enforce the idea that summer is here. What are you looking forward to most about performing at the Summer Festival? The Grove Stage is awesome! It’s shady, breezy Summer Festival, and I am going to try out some new stuff – and going back to back with Matt Jones is quite a treat. What’s your favorite Ann Arbor Summer Festival memory? Nervous but Excited. We all out brought the “danciest” versions of ourselves, and it was a pretty perfect night. We encouraged an already enthusiastic crowd to attempt the worm during one of our songs, and the winner got a free CD. The recording of the show has some pretty hilarious responses to the event – including some more painful sounding ones based on the teenage boy who really put his heart into it. Thankfully, he was okay and we hear the CD helped him in the “healing process.” Kate Peterson will perform at 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 16 at the Grove Stage.
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
What do you love about the Summer Festival? The Summer Festival is a great experience for artists and music lovers alike. The Ragbirds have performed at Top of the Park many times over the years, and it’s always a great community experience – great sound and lights, children and adults of all ages dancing together in the street, good food and beer. It is also a great way to discover new music and keep up with what’s happening in the Ann Arbor music scene. We love coming out to support and enjoy other bands who are performing and running into so many friends when we get there. It feels like a family party. What are you looking forward to most about performing at the Summer Festival? This year we will be gathering a group of friends to join us for our Top of the Park performance, and we’ll be announcing our guests soon, but it will be a special show for all of us. We’re planning on digging in and getting creative to make this performance really unique. What’s your favorite Ann Arbor Summer Festival memory? One of our Ann Arbor super-fans who has become a good friend of ours casually suggested a Talking Heads song for us to cover. We liked the suggestion (but didn’t tell him) and when we played at Top of The Park, we decided to play that song as an encore because he was dancing in the front row. His surprise and excitement alone sent sparks into an already super-charged crowd, and it made everyone really happy. It was the perfect way to end the show. The Ragbirds will perform at 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 21 at the Rackham Stage.
Summer Festival? It causes us to look around and be happy about our town. I love that young kids and our parents can come hear us – folks that don’t want to stay up until midnight at the Pig. You can walk down there any evening and run into some friends and hear amazing music. It’s really inspiring to see the community come together to just goof off. What are you looking forward to most about performing at the Summer Festival? Our set is on Father’s Day, and I think Brennan (Andes) is excited to play for his daughter and her gang of soap-dodgers. I always love playing outdoors among the beautiful architecture. The lighting schemes in the trees and people of all ages having fun makes it magical. It’s also hilarious to have the Burton Memorial Tower as a stage-clock. It’s impossible to start late or run over-time. I’m glad that our friends (and brilliant songwriters) Matt Jones and Kate Peterson each will play a set on the Grove Stage. Top it off with one of those jalapeño and cheese infused hot
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YPSIARBOROO
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER Every year in early June, like the swallows of Capistrano, so descends the profound craziness that is Ypsiarboroo. This annual bacchanal is coincident with organizer/gadabout Christopher “Chewy” Anderson’s birthday, and this is a big one. In honor of his thirtieth birthday, this year’s Ypsiarboroo will feature 33 artists, range over three days (June 8, 9 and 10) and occupy six venues. It’ll be a veritable three-for-all, and some of the area’s best bands will be rocking out in some of the area’s weirder venues all in honor of our tow-headed musical messiah, Chewy. Ypsilanti doesn’t have a wealth of music venues, but what we do have is a wealth of talent. Ypsiarboroo embraces the house parties and basement shows that this sort of disparity necessitates in our little town. The Pontiac Trail House and The Alexander Hamilton House are among the listed venues that you but the oddest certainly has to be the afternoon of the June 9, which features shows at the Prospect Park Skatepark. While the venues may be a bit off the map, the musical talent has got massive appeal. The Pontiac Trail show will feature Blackjack on Pluto and Trembling Earth among others. Guests at the Alexander Hamilton House will be treated to the musical
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stylings of a one amorphous hippie hootenanny known as the Vagrant Symphony, featuring the birthday boy himself. And if that isn’t enough, DJ Ayinde Audio on the wheels of steel Some of our local tried and true venues will be getting in on the fun as well. Ypsilanti’s Café Ollie and Woodruff’s Bar will both play host to the festivities with the fun spilling into the next city with performances at the Blind Pig from Supercollider and Disinformants, among others. The Ypsi shows will feature local favorites like Walk Your Bike and Little Island Lake, not to mention Capricorn (and Unicorn …adding some rhyme to the bill). A personal favorite of mine, Minus9, will close out the set at Woodruff’s. All three nights will include various and sundry merriments like a screening of The Big Lebowski
The camaraderie is undeniable. Bands working together and supporting each other – there’s such a strong sense of community. I know you’ve heard that touchy-feely refrain in lots of write-ups in zines covering local scene, but “Pathetic Sounds of Detroit” embodies it. Succinctly put by project engineer Topher Horn, it’s “…a bunch of friends helping friends to make music and having a good time doing it.” “Pathetic…” was envisioned by musician/songwriter Joshua Woodcock as “a compilation, an extensive look at the local music scene with selected bands recording on the same equipment with the same producer, sharing/ comparing cohesive sounds.” From August 2012 to March 2013, selected bands recorded exclusive tracks live onto one fourth inch analog reel tape and got it pressed to vinyl (notably given the supportive seal of approval from Third Man Records’ Jack White and Ben Blackwell throughout the process). It was the former White Stripe himself who organized a similar project 12 years ago. “The Sympathetic Sounds of Detroit” featured modern icons of the “Garage explosion” like the Dirtbombs, the Hentchmen, the Von Bondies and more. “Pathetic…” features a talented circle of Detroit musicians/
bands: The HandGrenades, The Hit Society, The Ashleys, Citizen Smile, White Shag and many more. Singer/bassist Laura Mendoza (White Shag) addresses any “torch passing” metaphors: “The torch got dropped and hasn’t been picked up since.” A union of the new/newer groups is vital, says the School of Rock instructor, and this comp is the Woodcock says the purest goal of “Pathetic” was collectively drumming up exposure for each band. And they’re not messing other. Their hope is to get local radio station exposure, with a promotional team mobilized (even here in Ann Arbor). “Some bands expect opportunity to land in their lap rather than put in the hard work for opportunity.” The premise was purely to show bands working together “on a project that wound up worth listening to.” It wasn’t meant to just be an awesome vinyl record comp, but “an archive,” says Woodcock, “of a certain time in Detroit music that you could see and hear.” (He
interviews and music videos.) And see these bands LIVE at P.J.’s Lager House, split two stages between 10 (maybe 11?) bands on June 8.
White Russians for all in attendance. Extended jams are a certainty and guests stars are to be expected, but you have to be there to see for yourself what transpires. A comprehensive schedule is available on the Ypsiarboroo Facebook page.
PATHETIC SOUNDS OF
DETROIT
BY JEFF MILO
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SCENE
CINETOPIA “BROKEN”
BY DREW WALLER If you’re anything like me when it comes to
and think “That looks like a good movie!” Only to
“THE PAINTING”
“PIETA”
near you until say six to umpteen months after you’ve almost forgotten about it. Okay, taking a step back, so maybe you’re not as neurotic as I am when it comes to being up on current art house. It must be said it has a certain place in my heart, working for an incredible community resource as the Michigan Theater – so that no one thinks this article doesn’t have a bit of a slant, but, the sentiment of being “in the know” weight of digital cinema package means something, even if it is verbal sparring across a barstool with a colleague over the weekend. Fear not because what was missing in southeastern Michigan is now growing to represent Washtenaw County while bringing Detroit in the mix: enter Cinetopia International Film Festival. Happening Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, this four-day cinema feast serves up some of Film Festivals from around the globe. Think of it: Cannes in France, Venice in Italy, Berlin in Germany, Toronto in Canada, our own Sundance in Utah – all the award-winning, jury-adored, festival premiere
“LASTING”
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this festival to get you ready for a solid four days of incredible cinema: “Broken” – [UK] Starring Tim Roth (“Rob Roy”, “Reservoir Dogs”), Cillian Murphy (“Inception”, “Wind that Shakes the Barley”), Lily James (“Downton Abbey”) and newcomer Eloise Laurence,
director Ki-duk Kim takes viewers down a long, dark path of kinship and hopeful redemption in his “Twenty Feet to Stardom” – [USA] When you think of the mind-blowing talent that lights up a stage from a rock star, it is easy to neglect the glow around them that is emanating from the talent deserving light on those people. Incredible talent in their own right, singers like Darlene Love, Merry Clayton and Lisa Fischer are just a few of the gems “Lasting” Sundance International Film Festival Selection for 2013 and winner of Best Achievement for Cinematography, is an epic love story that brings a pair of Polish students to each other across the backdrop of Spain. But what happens between them when unforeseen circumstances arise questions their newfound love. Cinetopia will also honor Michigan’s proud legacy of outstanding screenwriters through special
with directors, writers, and stars featuring a stellar collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Screen Arts and Cultures and the work of Robert Altman. Don’t take my article’s word for it, though. Tickets, voucher booklets and all access passes are now on sale at cinetopiafestival.org where you can
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
“TWENTY FEET TO STARDOM”
it gets its art house debut across the U.S. In its second year, the Cinetopia International Film Festival looks to welcome an estimated 10,000 to its four venues over four days including two screens at the historic Michigan Theater, the State Theatre and U of M’s Angell Hall all in downtown Ann Arbor with a new fourth venue in the shape of an beautiful new partnership with the Detroit Film Theatre at the DIA in Detroit. Don’t take my word for it, though. Check out a
Film and follows the life of a 12-year-old girl who makes the best of the life she has in suburban London while depicting how she and her community deals with a violent turn of events that happen in her neighborhood. “The Painting” animated adventure that touches within the canvas of an actual painting where a world of characters live, connive, conspire and thrive. The French sensation will be playing both at the Detroit Film Theatre as a premiere and in Ann Arbor that weekend. “Pieta” of the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival and the Jury Grand Prize for its actress Min-
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SCENE
Sonic Lunch
BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER PHOTOS BY BRUNO POSTIGO
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Serendipity is a beautiful thing, dear readers. So you can imagine my delight when looking hungrily over this year’s Sonic Lunch lineup that I saw Martha Reeves and the Vandellas would be opening the season. Their monster hit “Dancing in the Street” is possibly the best way to sum up the Sonic Lunch experience. But this long list of delights in store for us at Sonic Lunch this year. Since 2008, the event has grown under the loving cultivation of Matthew Altruda and the Bank of Ann Arbor. Last year reached dizzying new heights, capped by a packed house at the Michigan Theatre for Mayer Hawthorne’s set. This year sees the return of some familiar faces, as well as some newbies and a wide range of styles. Again, we open with rock and roll hall of famer Martha Reeves and her Vandellas, who I assume are lady vandals, on June 6 at noon (like every show) for free (again, like every show in the series). While nearly all of the Sonic Lunch shows take place in the Liberty Plaza, there are a few lately that have necessitated, because of the magnitude of the act, a spillover into the nearby Michigan Theatre. Hawthorne was one such, and, this year, one of the most surprising acts on the bill will be taking over the theatre. Darren Criss (yeah that guy from Glee!) will be performing with Theo Katzman opening the show.
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must remember that Criss, before becoming a superstar heartthrob, was a U of M grad and an accomplished singer/songwriter. Next in line on June 20 are rising stars and iSPY cover-kids Family of the Year. The following week’s act is sure to have all the hipster’s salivating when Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. pillages the plaza at Liberty Square. Their performance last year was one of the highlights of the season. They’ll bring their bubble machine and equally bubbly beats and get the whole crowd crazy. July 11 sees a new face on the plaza with the entrance of Luke Winslow-King. He immigrated from the mitten to New Orleans and there he honed his mix of “jazz, Delta blues, folk and hints of gospel” opening for legends like Taj Mahal and fellow Michigander Jack White. The rest of July bleeds into August heat with such sweltering acts as Brett Dennen and Dan Henig, the always effervescent Ragbirds, and the screamin’ blues of Laith al Saadi. Midway through August the foot stompin’, whiskey drenched ruckus that is Greensky Bluegrass will take over. Nashville’s Kopecky Family Band is up next. Closing out the season on August 28 will be local staple George Bedard and his Kingpins. The entire schedule and links to music by each artist is available on the Sonic Lunch website. facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
AROUND YOU
+Calendar BY AMANDA TRENT
ENTERTAINMENT 6/1:
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
MotorCity Casino Hotel, Detroit
JUNE 2013 Detroit Detroit 6/10:
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Pontiac Detroit 6/7:
Detroit
Detroit
Rockets, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Blind Pig, Ann Arbor The Ark, Ann Arbor Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Ann Arbor
Detroit 6/11: Royal Oak 6/15:
Arbor
2 p.m., Comerica Park Parking Lot, Detroit Saint Andrew’s, Detroit
Detroit
Detroit Detroit
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Auburn Hills
Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor and T. Hardy Morris, 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
Detroit 6/8:
The Fillmore, Detroit Room, Pontiac
7 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac 6/4: 6/5:
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Ann Arbor
Detroit
6/6:
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7:30 p.m., Pike Room, Pontiac 6/16:
Detroit Grove Stage, Ann Arbor Palace, Auburn Hills
Theatre, Detroit 6/13: Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
7 p.m., Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
Ferndale Ann Arbor Cathedral, Detroit Ypsilanti
Detroit
Royal Oak
Arbor Lounge, Detroit
Detroit 6/3:
Butlers and The Sun Messengers, 7 p.m., Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Arbor
Ferndale 6/2:
Comerica Park Parking Lot, Detroit
Devine, 5 p.m., Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
Ferndale 6/12:
Music Festival, Rochester Hills
Detroit The Fillmore, Detroit 6/9:
Liberty Plaza, Ann Arbor
Pig, Ann Arbor
Music Theatre, Clarkston
Ann Arbor
Café, Detroit 6/14: Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
Theatre, Royal Oak 6/17: Ann Arbor 6/18:
Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
Stage, Ann Arbor
Bingo! Show, 7 p.m., Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
The Ark, Ann Arbor Detroit Ypsilanti Ann Arbor Ypsilanti
Ann Arbor
HAVE AN EVENT? SUBMIT IT ONLINE. FREE!
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AROUND YOU
HAVE AN EVENT? SUBMIT IT ONLINE. FREE!
Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
Showroom, Warren
Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
6/22: Touch, Ferndale 6/19:
Ballroom, Pontiac Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
5 p.m., Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor Orleans Bingo!, 8 p.m., Mainstage, Ann Arbor
Paul Band and Third Coast Kings, 7 p.m., Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Ypsilanti Chene Park, Detroit 6/26: 5 p.m., Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
Mainstage, Ann Arbor
Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor
The Ark, Ann Arbor
w/ Stepdad, Phanstasmagoria and Ayinde Audio 10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti
The Ark, Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Andrew’s, Detroit
Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit
Music Theatre, Royal Oak 6/20:
Music Theatre, Clarkston
Ann Arbor 5 p.m., Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor 8 p.m., The Ark, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Andrew’s Hall, Detroit Theatre, Detroit 6/21:
Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
6/27: Plaza, Ann Arbor Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Mainstage, Ann Arbor
Mainstage, Ann Arbor Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
Festival, Rochester Hills Music Theatre, Clarkston Ballroom, Pontiac Detroit Ferndale
COMMUNITY
5 p.m., Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
The Ark, Ann Arbor
Friends, Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Theatre, Clarkston
Ann Arbor
Detroit
Downtown Ann Arbor 6/4:
Ypsilanti
Detroit
6/8 – 6/9:
Ypsilanti
Music Festival, 8 p.m., Rochester Hills 6/28:
p.m., Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor Lounge, Detroit 7 p.m., LIVE, Ann Arbor 6/24:
Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
7 p.m., Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor Stage, Ann Arbor Ann Arbor
6/2:
Park, Tecumseh 6/9: Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, Ann Arbor 6/9 – 6/14: Ann Arbor 6/14:
10 p.m., Woodruff’s, Ypsilanti Ann Arbor Hall, Detroit
Street, Ann Arbor 6/15:
Room, Pontiac
Experience, 7 p.m., Saint Andrew’s Hall, Detroit Ferndale
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Lounge, Detroit 6/25:
Detroit 6/29:
Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
5 p.m., Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
Top Rackham Stage, Ann Arbor
Bravo and Orquesta RITMO,
6/23: Annual Summer Fundraiser, Riverside Park, Ann Arbor 6/29:
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Top Grove Stage, Ann Arbor
Masonic Temple, Detroit 6/23:
Enemy, 7 p.m., DTE Energy Music Theatre, Clarkston
Rite Cathedral, Detroit 6/30:
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FOODIE
Bill’s Beer Garden i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
BY STEFANIE STAUFFER
Parking lot by day, community gathering place by night, Bill’s Beer Garden is an Ann Arbor original. Once the cars exit, the lot transforms into a relaxed beer garden, complete with open-air seating areas and direct access to a diverse array of Michigan craft beers, mixed drinks and a diverse selection of wines that go really well with the delicious food on offer steps away at Mark’s Carts. After all, what can be better than a local beverage with local snacks? Not much, especially when the Michigan brews on tap include local favorites from the likes of Arbor Brewing Company, Original Gravity, Wolverine Brewing as well as Bell’s, Dark Horse, Founders and more. In addition, Mark’s Carts now has eight different food carts in operation with cuisines ranging from Asian street food to Southern BBQ to Nutrilicious Indian street food – many with an emphasis on local sourcing, so you’ll be The Lunch Room cart is gone since they are opening The Lunch Room in Kerrytown in June, their presence is still felt at Bill’s Beer Garden as Phillis Engelbert is the Events Coordinator and can often be spotted behind the bar pouring Michigan beer and making margaritas. Bill’s Beer Garden, the work of Downtown Home and Garden owner Mark Hodesh and long-time friend and business associate Bill Zolkowski, began with a chance conversation in July of 2011. What began as a conversation in July 2011 about building community and encouraging people to sit down and talk with strangers, quickly became a community hub in the fall of 2012 although initially open for just 7 weekends.
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It was so popular in fact that Bill’s Beer Garden is now open with a full schedule for the 2013 season! In May and June, they’re open every weekend Thursday – Sunday, while for the summer months they’ll be open six days a week. After this, they will revert back to their fall hours of weekends only from October until early December. Cheers!
The Dish
HOURS:
WHAT
May & June: Thur - Sat: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Sun 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
July – September: Tue - Sat: Sun:
5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
October, November & December: Thur - Sat: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Sun: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Bill’s Beer Garden WHERE 218 S. Ashley Street, Ann Arbor INFO
billsbeergarden.com
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Adventures in Local Food #30
FOODIE
To Market!
PHOTOS AND STORY BY STEFANIE STAUFFER Have you ever felt like there were so many great farmer’s markets in the Ypsi Arbor area that you wish you could get to them all? Have you noticed the exponential increase in Washtenaw County farmer’s markets in the last few years so now there is practically one every day of the week with multiple markets happening on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays? You’re not alone, and the 2013 farmer’s market season here aims to be the most in bloom to date. Lucky for you, it’ll be even easier to coordinate your work (or play!) schedule around a market this summer. For instance, have you been unable to get to the Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer’s Market before Arbor (or elsewhere) at 5:30? Well, it may be easier for you this year to hit Cobblestone Farm Market on the way home from work since it’s open until 7 p.m. The same thing now goes for Thursdays. If you can’t make the Tuesday markets in Ypsi or Ann Arbor – maybe because that’s the day you take off to go kayaking down the Huron river – there is also to add to the roster. Following Ann Arbor Westside and Manchester markets, that makes three now on Thursday in Washtenaw County (and there’s also a brand new one opening in June in Downtown Detroit!). On Wednesdays, the Ann Arbor farmer’s daytime
Wednesday Evening Market features stellar local farm products, tasty food carts, garlic that’s to die for and sometimes even a beer garden and live music. On Friday evenings on the other side of Ann Arbor, the popular Dixboro market returns for its second season on the Village Green. As for Saturdays, the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market is as bustling as ever, and you’ll surely be able Gardenworks, Tantre Farm, The Brinery, Seeley Farm, Brines Farm, Pilar’s Tamales, Green Things Farm and many many more fabulous vendors of all stripes. On the Ypsi side of things, the Depot Town Farmer’s Market is already in full swing with new management, a later start time and many new (and old) purveyors of delicious vegetables, meats, eggs, breads and other local goodness. There’s also a summer farmer’s market in Saline on Saturdays as well as Tuesdays and The Farm at St. Joe’s holds its farmer’s market in the hospital lobby on Mondays as well. As you can see, there are plenty of choices for farmer’s markets each week this season, and you could practically go to one every day. For those of you ambitious enough to try, check out the farmer’s market guide for quick reference of the 2013 Washtenaw County Farmer’s Markets. A desire for local food is clearly growing, and I’ll take “too many markets” any day over too few. See you at the market(s)!
market returns for its third season! The Ann Arbor
The Farm @ St. Joe’s Farmer’s Market
11 a.m. – 5 p.m. in the Hospital Lobby, 5301 McAuley Dr., Ypsi
Tuesdays Cobblestone Farm Market Downtown Ypsilanti Farmer’s Market Saline Summer Tuesday Market
4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at 2781 Packard Rd, Ann Arbor 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Ferris Street at S. Hamilton 3 p.m – 7 p.m. at Saline Library, 555 N Maple Rd.
(May 21 – Nov. 5) (May – Oct.) (June – Sept.)
7 a.m. – 3 p.m. 315 Detroit St. Ann Arbor 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. 315 Detroit St. Ann Arbor
(May – Dec.) (June – Oct.)
3 p.m. – 7 p.m., Jackson Rd at N. Maple, Ann Arbor 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., 6201 W. Michigan Ave 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Adrian Street, Manchester
(June – Sept.) (*NEW: June 13 – Oct. 10) (May – Oct.)
3:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 5221 Church Road Ann Arbor
(May 31 – Oct.)
7 a.m. – 3 p.m. Kerrytown Market Plaza 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 100 Rice St, Ypsilanti 8 a.m. – Noon Downtown on S. Ann Arbor St
(Summer Hours) (May – Oct.) (May – Oct.)
Wednesdays Ann Arbor Wednesday Daytime Market Ann Arbor Wednesday Evening Market
Thursdays Ann Arbor Westside Farmer’s Market Manchester Farmer’s Market
Fridays Dixboro Farmer’s Market
Saturdays Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market Depot Town Farmer’s Market Saline Summer Saturday Market
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i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Mondays
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FOODIE
ANN ARBOR RESTAURANT WEEK
BY ELLEN KORTESOJA
It is that time of year, once again – the time of year adventurous restaurant-goers crave most: Restaurant Week in Ann Arbor. Throughout June 9 –14, participating Ann Arbor restaurants offer a three-course dinner. Want to try that swanky restaurant you’ve had your eye on for ages or that mysterious new place that everyone has a different opinion on? Now is your chance! The event is made for all of us coupon-loving commitaphobes who want the luxury of getting a taste of many items while keeping the cost light
on our pockets. There are 50+ restaurants to choose from that span across Ann Arbor’s downtown area ranging from established city staples like Gandy Dancer, Prickly Pear and The Original Cottage Inn. to more recent places like The Raven’s Club, Kuroshio, Chela’s Restaurant and Taqueria on S. Maple Rd. Almost all venues offer various choices for the different courses and many restaurants have twofor-one dining options (which makes this week a great chance for a date night). Reservations are strongly recommended
can be found at annarborrestaurantweek.com including individual restaurant menus. After choosing where you’d like to dine, call or visit reservation. Remember, you won’t get another chance like this until January, so start your summer dining off in style and experience what some of the many talented Ann Arbor chefs have in store. Chances are they’ll lure you in and keep you coming back for more!
WHAT CREPE
RESTAURANT WEEK HIGHLIGHTS i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
BY ELLEN KORTESOJA
Thinking about checking our Ann Arbor Restaurant Week on June 9 – 14 but aren’t sure where to start? Let us help you out! iSPY got the Restaurant Week lowdown from three very different participating restaurants – ranging from an established classic to some mysterious (to some), foreign cuisine to a trendy buzz restaurant that’s making waves. The Chop House, an Ann Arbor essential since 1998, is known for its elegant atmosphere and luxurious experience. The Chop House is a perfect feature for Restaurant Week because a normally high-priced meal is much more Alex Wannemacher says The Chop House is featuring its classic dishes, which are what the restaurant is most known for – premium cuts of salad and raspberry cheesecake for dessert, The Chop House’s menu for the week is for those looking for an assured excellence. Wannemacher
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says he wants customers to enjoy classic favorites with a modern twist and a fresh taste, such as the avocado and grilled corn tapenade Mercy’s, located at the Bell Tower Hotel, has and-coming restaurant on the scene, Mercy’s has been continuously reinventing its menu, says owner Mercy Kasle. Two popular items, the steamed dumplings and the Ono Kau Swe (a coconut chicken soup over egg noodles), are available on the Restaurant Week menu among many other exciting offerings, such as the eggplant puree and crispy-fried tofu. Head Chef, Miguel Leal, is known for his creative presentation and ability to combine Burmese-inspired spices and curries into menu items. As the only locale in town serving up Burmese food, Kasle says she looks forward to new customers experiencing One of the most notable new restaurants, Mani
Week. Instead of offering only a handful of choices for each course, Mani will offer almost its complete menu and a variety of dining options for the event. Executive Chef Brendan McCall says the restaurant chose this direction so that restaurant-goers can truly experience the Mani philosophy. As a tapas-style restaurant, Mani emphasizes the dining experience by encouraging guests to try and share dishes, ask questions and utilize the server as their guide. Menu favorites are the Pickled Tomatoes, Crispy Pork Belly with apricot marmaletta, tartufo pizza (mushrooms, cappalletti pasta with broccolini and sage cream sauce. As a distinguished Italian hotspot, Mani newbies rubbing elbows with its faithful regulars by keeping the menu as similar as possible and still participating in the excitement of Restaurant Week. facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FOODIE
The Alley Bar PHOTOS AND STORY BY TAMMY COXEN AND PATTI SMITH not sure that I can ever drink a plain shot of whiskey again. (If you are familiar with the “lick it, slam it, suck it” tequila shots, think of the pickle juice as taking the place of the salt and lime.) Phil says that the bar didn’t make up the Pickleback, but “we made it the best.” If pickle brine isn’t your thing, you can choose from wine, beer or cocktails. All of the draft beer is from Michigan and currently includes Right Brain’s Amber Ale, Greenbush’s Anger, Bell’s Lager of the Lakes and Arcadia’s Whitsun. The cocktails are many and varied, including a personal favorite of Patti’s called the Cucumber Melon. Other cocktails include the classic Sazerac, the Kentucky Mule (bourbon, mint, lemon, ginger beer) and the regularly changing Noble Experiment. want some quality hang out time to sit and chill with your friends, get there at 7 p.m. when they open. In the summer, that means you can get people watching as Ann Arbor walks by. Grab a game of pinball in the back or check out the local art on the otherwise non-descript walls. Or just settle into the bar and drink really good drinks served by a bartender who’ll remember you next time you come in. Truly, the Alley has something for everyone.
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
The best way to think about Alley Bar is “dive bar with options.” There are plenty of options at Alley Bar – from bottled beer to glasses of wine to craft cocktails. The space, on Liberty between Main and Ashley (yes, right next to an alley), has been through many name changes and owners through the years. People have been drinking there since at least the 1880s when it was Binders Saloon. The most recent incarnation of Alley Bar opened in 2010 when co-owner Robben Schulz and his partners “wanted to create a place where they would want to drink.” These days, manager and creative force Allyssa Bostick and bartender Phil Attee are familiar faces to the bar’s many regulars. The Alley’s clientele is a mix of young professionals, graduate students and industry people. Staff from the new up and coming cocktail bars gather here after their shifts are done, sitting alongside folks getting a beer and shot. Or, if you prefer, you can get the Pickleback – a shot of Irish whiskey followed by a shot pickle brine. Even bartenders who can drink for free at their own bars come to the Alley for the Pickleback. The pickle brine comes from The Brinery. This is not your Vlassic stork’s pickle juice. Made without vinegar and using the “old school” fermentation process of lactobacterial fermentation, the pickle brine presents a light and tangy drink. Garlic tingles in your throat as it brings out the lingering taste of whiskey while killing the burn. I’m
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Taste of Ann Arbor
FOODIE
BY ROSS HUFF Ann Arbor has been getting national press for being a nice town. One reason for this is that we do the simple things well. Everyone knows that life feels good when you are well fed on nutritious ingredients, and I’m doing my best to make it common knowledge that singing and dancing with your neighbors has a similar effect. Combine the two, and one ends up with lots of requests on
the words “eclectic” and “contagious.” Their recent Hash Bash after party performance showcased their energetic stage presence and compelling tunes and left Ann Arbor natives wanting more. (And yes – sometimes you can believe the things you read, even Outer Vibe, also will visit from Grand Rapids and local artists Finer Roche will perform. So be sure to stop by for some dinner and dancing in the streets of downtown Ann Arbor.
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Crane Wives
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 2. During Taste of Ann Arbor, several blocks of Main Street accommodate the mobile catering units of 43 local restaurants and breweries. Attendees purchase paper carnie tickets to redeem for sample or meal size portions of each chef’s specialties. There are participatory tastings and awards for categories of food, drink and dessert, and, naturally, also a beer tent. Many cuisines are represented, including vegan and vegetarian, local and organic, seafood, barbecue, French, Italian, Polish, Cuban, Jamaican, Mediterranean – as well as Buffalo, NY and Mongolian (BW3s and BD’s are both going to have a booth). Bank of Ann Arbor’s popular Sonic Lunch series sponsors the music stage, which 107one DJ Matthew Altruda booked and will emcee along with iSPY Magazine’s publisher, Tim Adkins. The Crane Wives of Grand Rapids will headline, bringing along their banjos, acoustic guitars and three part vocal harmonies – for more
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FEATURE
single, “Trojans,” that catapulted them from obscurity into the spotlight. However, their success shouldn’t be attributed to simply luck. Brothers Keith and Michael Jeffery had been putting a lot of hard work into their music for years – including building their own studio where they could write and record music three years before they even played a live show. In the meantime, they paid the bills by performing Police, Beatles and Rolling Stones covers at local pubs. Once the studio was complete, “Trojans” was got back to their studies. Having a hard time scraping by on their meager musician incomes, Keith and Michael had both gone back to college around that time to “pursue more realistic careers.” It was then that Neon Gold discovered “Trojans” on the Triple J Unearthed website and wrote a post praising the song. As a result, when the two checked their band email account of record labels, publishers, lawyers, booking agents and management companies from all over the world had contacted them. Things quickly took off from there. It wasn’t long until “Trojans” was named iTunes Single of the Week in Australia and New Zealand and it reached the number four spot on Hype Machine. SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s Alt-Nation discovered the song on a blog and played it on the station, getting an immediate reaction from
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
songs on the station’s Alt-18 countdown, peaking at number one for four consecutive weeks. “Trojans” began selling over a thousand tracks per week on U.S. iTunes and soon climbed to 45,000 sales – all with zero promotional efforts from the still unsigned duo. Now signed with Warner Brothers Records and having released their debut album this February, Atlas Genius’ follow-up single, “If So,” has proved that this Aussie duo can keep the hits coming. To top it all off, they’ve garnered even more attention as of late with an acoustic cover of Daft Punk’s single, “Get Lucky,” that they performed for Amsterdam radio station 3FM. Now they are touring and traveling the world in promotion of their album, and things have never looked brighter.
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SEE THEM WHO
Atlas Genius WHERE
St. Andrews Hall WHEN
June 24 7 p.m.
Atlas Genius Travels the World BY AMANDA TRENT PHOTO BY FRANK MADDOCKS facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FEATURE
“You’ve got to be willing to put in a lot of years of no recognition and eating noodles.”
sometimes, but it’s not that big of an issue. It’s like any family – where you spend a lot of time with family members and feel almost a license to be a bit more critical of each other whereas you would hold your tongue in any normal circumstance, but you sort of let that go. Having said all that, we get along really great and have a really good relationship. Did you guys always want to make a career in music? I always wanted a career in music. I think that was the same for Michael. It’s just an industry that is a long hard slog to get anywhere in music – to be able to tour and make it into a career. We put a lot of effort in and thought that we needed to go back to having normal jobs, and ironically www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
that’s when things started to go really well with the music. We almost walked away when that happened. Was that around the time you wrote “Trojans?” Yeah, we put that song up while we were in school studying, and it got picked up by a blog in New York and from there there was a huge amount of interest. That is when we decided that we were going to really focus on music again. the years? I always talk about the Beatles and Beck and Death Cab for Cutie – they have the ability to most amazingly understated song. They set the benchmark for understated genius – that ability to make you connect with things you try to forget about or those moments in your past. I think “Plans” is the ultimate breakup album. There’s never been an album more suited to breaking up with someone. I think the breakup albums tend to be the best. Ya, you can always trust them. What are your favorite Death Cab for Cutie songs? “Soul Meets Body,” “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” “I Will Possess Your Heart,” “What Sarah Said…” What do you enjoy other than music? Well, it’s very non rock n roll, but I really enjoy What was it like going from not being sure if you could make a career in music to your single blowing up and signing with Warner Brothers? awareness during that whole period of making sure we make the right decision – making sure we sign with the right label because it’s a big decision. One thing we didn’t want to ever let go of is the creative side of things and marketing and that sort of thing. It’s important because it’s so easy for it to get so corporate. We didn’t want to to us like the music – the way that we wanted it to be. What have been some of the things that have been most exciting ever since this has taken off for you?
You know what, the other night when we did Letterman was a huge moment. Letterman is an iconic show. It’s the only American late night show that we get in Australia, so we grew up with that one as well. So that one meant a lot to on, the Beatles played on 50 years ago. The Ed Sullivan Show was there. What advice do you have for musicians that might be at that breaking point that you guys were at and aren’t sure if they can go on in music? For a long time we were just focusing on music one hundred percent. Everyone knows that being we got ourselves in a situation where there were no real backup options and for better or worse we had to pursue it. There was no fallback plan for a long time – although ironically at the end we did sort of choose a fallback plan to go back to university. You really have to slog it out. You have to be willing to do it for the music and the love of the music. If you’re not willing to put in hard work, it’s probably not going to happen for you. Songwriting is one of those crafts that you have to make a lot of mistakes. Someone was talking about you have to write for the wastepaper basket. You just have to go in there and see what happens with each song that you write. It’s a different thing if you want to go on American Idol or The Voice or something and you just want instant fame. And good luck to them. But if you’re trying to do what we’re doing and be a band, you’ve got to be willing to put in a lot of years of no recognition and eating noodles. What’s your favorite thing about writing music and being a musician? I’d say it’s my passion in life and my job, which is a great situation to be in because I don’t think a lot of people can say that. And being a musician, for me, I get to express myself and then – if we do it well – also we are able to change other people’s states. If someone is feeling sad, a song can console them or cheer them up. That’s the very cathartic while writing it, but it can help other people as well, so it’s pretty rewarding.
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Recently iSPY discussed this and more with the band’s vocalist and guitarist, Keith Jeffery, in preparation for their upcoming show at Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit on June 24. I’ve never been to Australia. What’s it like there? What’s the music scene like? Well, we all ride kangaroos around and everyone kind of looks and sounds like Steve Irwin pretty much. That’s the general gist of it. It’s a lot sparser than America. That’s one thing we noticed straight up. We’ve got a huge amount of desert, a huge amount of space between cities. You can drive for 10 hours and hardly pass through a town. The music scene is eclectic. Where we’re from, there’s an indie scene sort of coming up there. We’ve got a really healthy metal scene, which is not quite my bag, and a really strong DJ scene. I guess it’s a lot similar to American music. Melbourne is known for its music scene. How are you liking it here? Any favorite places you stopped at on tour? I love New York. It’s always great. There’s been really good shows in Austin. Portland, Oregon has been great. It seems that every time we go to Austin or Portland, we have a really good show. We’ve been [to Detroit] a couple of times. We were there probably two months ago with Imagine Dragons at the Fillmore. I really liked the venue. It looks amazing. What’s it like being in a band with your brother? What’s your relationship like and how does that affect your music? Obviously we’re very close. We’ve known each other for our entire lives, and that brings
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FEATURE
Stepdad
Ring in Three Years of iSPY Magazine with
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
BY AMANDA TRENT
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See Them WHO
Stepdad WHERE
Woodruff’s WHEN June 22 9 p.m.
Stepdad specializes in catchy, electronic pop – upbeat, danceable, fun stuff that’s both perfect for a dance party and as background music for day to day life. The former ChicagoThey released a solid full length debut album entitled “Wildlife Pop” last year and just recently came off a major tour. They also have had songs featured on national TV shows and wrote the theme song for the web comic, “Axe Cop.” But they’re still just peeking their heads around the corner in the music world – which is partially why they’re so much fun to watch at this stage in their development. The band’s current lineup consists of Mark Tafel (known as “ultramark”), Ryan McCarthy,
Alex Fives, Nathan K and Ben Weissenborn, who recently replaced Jeremy Malvin of Chrome Sparks on drums. They say there’s no real meaning behind their band name, and it was created by a random phrase generator – which in some way seems to represent the way they approach creating music: both calculated and spontaneous. On Saturday, June 22, Stepdad will be performing at iSPY Magazine’sThree Year Anniversary Party at Woodruff’s in Ypsilanti along with Phantasmagoria and Ayinde Audio. We chatted with Ryan about the show, 80s show theme songs and more when we caught up with him recently. facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FEATURE
and watch some MacGyver and come back.”
there, we didn’t know if there was going to be a good crowd or what to expect. There was a great crowd and fans that we didn’t even know that we had who came out wearing our t-shirts, so that’s always going to be a good memory of one of the our music who weren’t actually people we already knew. I know your album was funded by a Kickstarter campaign. Would you recommend that to other artists? How did that process go www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
for you? Yeah, if you have a way to get people to know about it and promote it. The thing about Kickstarter is if you don’t meet your goal, you don’t get any of the money. If you were trying to raise $10,000, you have to make sure enough people know about your Kickstarter or you aren’t getting any of it. But if you can get enough the time so many cool things that are funded by Kickstarter. That Robocop statue that is going to be in Detroit was funded by Kickstarter. That’s awesome. You composed the theme song for that web comic, “Axe Cop.” How did that come about? Mark somehow discovered “Axe Cop” the years ago. We had just been talking about how we should write some sort of theme song for something just because that’s what Mark and I like to do on the side – think up jingle themesongy stuff. We had been watching a lot of 80s talking about how awesome the intro theme music for those shows is. Right around that time we discovered “Axe Cop” and thought we should just come up with a song and send it to the artist and see what he would think of it. At that point, “Axe Cop” was just a comic that was online. There was no need for us to do anything, but we wrote this song. It took like 40 minutes, and we sent it to him. That night, the artist got back with us and was like, “This is awesome. If anything ever fresh off the boat, brand new, so we were super
the “Axe Cop” song. What are your favorite show theme songs? The theme song from MacGyver. Also there’s this show from the 90s that starred Bruce Campbell called Brisco County Jr. It ran for one or two seasons in the mid 90s. It was like a scifrom Brisco County Jr. was pretty top notch. Full House is also a good one. If I’m ever stumped
instrumentation at the beginning of each new season. There are different versions of the theme synthesizers. The second season is the same theme song, but they record it with a rock band. The third season is slightly different – so every season there’s a different variation of the same goddamn song. So what are your favorite movies, shows and music? I’m a huge fan of John Hughes movies, but I feel like everybody is. You must be crazy to not like The Breakfast Club or Pretty in Pink. I like Wes Anderson a lot and Paul Thomas Anderson. I’m kind of obsessed with Mystery Science Theater. My favorite bands are the Talking Heads and the Beach Boys. I like a lot of Swedish pop music, too. I’m a pretty simple guy. I just watch a lot of Mystery Science Theater and write some jams. What’s your favorite Wes Anderson and P.T. Anderson movies? “Life Aquatic” and “Boogie Nights.” What are you most excited for this summer? I’m hoping to do some camping, hopefully write some good songs and write some songs with other artists, too. I think we’re all excited to just take a break from touring. We’re pretty burnt out on touring. I’d really like to start writing for mainstream radio with a little more mainstream artists. What’s on the horizon for Stepdad right now? Right now we’re taking a break from touring to write a new record. We’re working on some new stuff right now and hopefully it will be good, and then we’ll be touring in September I think.
It’s a little less full band sound and more straight up pop jams. I don’t even know how to describe it. We’ll probably put out a single sometime this summer. We’re looking forward to coming out to Woodruff’s for your anniversary party. We’re excited. It’s going to be great.
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
How long have you and Mark known each other? I met Mark four years ago in Mount Pleasant. He was performing as a solo artist, and I somehow got dragged to his show. I didn’t really want to go, but I saw Mark playing some of his songs and thought they were really good. I offered to record some of his stuff and, after a while, we started writing songs together. I’ve known him for about four years. Why does he go by “Ultramark?” I don’t know. He’s gone by that since college. I think that’s just always been his nickname. He’s got it tattooed on his chest even. That’s just what I’ve always known him by. Tell me a little about the Grand Rapids music scene. As much as we like to think we’re part of the Grand Rapids music scene, I don’t know a whole lot about it and we don’t get out to shows very much. There are some great bands. The Pyramid Scheme will probably always be one of my favorite venues to play. It’s really nice. It’s the perfect venue for a city like Grand Rapids. It’s not as big as the Intersection, but it’s also not too small. It’s the perfect sized venue for a mid-level touring act coming through Grand Rapids who wouldn’t be able to sell out The Intersection. Plus, it just opened – so it’s still clean. There are pinball machines. The stage is great. It sounds nice. There’s just something really homey about it. What about the Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area? Do you have any good memories of playing shows around here? I think we probably all just love to play Woodruff’s a lot. Woodruff’s rules. We’ve played there I don’t even know how many times now – a handful of times. And every time we’ve played there has been great. We’ve never had a bad
MacGyver and come back. The thing about MacGyver’s theme song is they change the
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FEATURE
See Them WHO
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Cayucas
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WHERE
Magic Stick Detroit WHEN June 30 8 p.m.
Bring on the Nostalgic Beach Rock SEE THEM
Welcoming Cayucas with Zach Yudin BY PAUL KITTI
facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
FEATURE
“I’ve always wanted to dance on stage at a Daft Punk show. That’d be a dream come true. Or I’ve always wanted to be a background dancer for Justin Timberlake or something like that. It’d have
Cayucos (with an “o”) is a small surf town in central California with a population of less than 3,000. You’ve probably never heard the name (pronounced ky-yook-us) and you’ll probably never have to. Unless you’re talking about the band Cayucas. When Zach Yudin passed through the town on a carefree afternoon in his college days, he had no idea it’d become the basis for his future band. One spin through Cayucas’ debut album and it all falls into place. It’s a quick, quirky, chilled-out record pulled straight from a small beach atmosphere circa 1975. The retro vibes compliment the subject matter – tales of past crushes and beach parties spun with all the detail of a dense West Coast postcard. We spoke with Yudin over the phone as he It’s been a fairly simple, roll-with-the-punches journey for Cayucas so far – perfect conditions for the easy-going singer/guitarist and his bittersweet pop-rock jams. What are you feeling right now about
It’s been two weeks since its release – have you felt any different since putting that out? Angeles, and there was a lot of momentum going into that show. The show was completely sold out and people there were really cool – knew the lyrics and felt totally different than anything before. Before, people kind of knew the band or www.ispymagazine.co // @ispymagazine
Have you been back since? I actually haven’t. If you want to venture 30 miles off the freeway, you can go to Cayucos… There’s nothing out there, it’s just a good little surf spot. It’s a cool little town, but not one you really
around the area you live? Technically, I’m in Santa Monica. It would be a totally different story if we were located in Cayucos or somewhere else. Being in Los Angeles, we’re a band amongst good bands, you headlining show at the Echo, and it was sold out. It was like impossible to get in, and they ended up selling an extra 50 tickets on top of that. It was there. If you could choose the lineup for your dream show, what would that look like? I’ve always wanted to dance on stage at a Daft Punk show. That’d be a dream come true. Or I’ve always wanted to be a background dancer for Justin Timberlake or something like that. It’d have to be a Top 40 artist. Maybe Beyonce. Yes. Anything else you’d like our readers to know? I’m looking forward to coming to Detroit. I’ve never been. I’ve heard mixed reviews (laughs). I’m excited to get there and check it out. Cayucas’ debut album, “Bigfoot,” is out now.
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
I’m excited to just land and explore… Get a vibe on Europe in general. I have no idea what’s going on over there. I don’t know if they’ll know the songs or lyrics or how it’ll be. Each territory is kind of different… Germany can be really hot, maybe Paris not so much. Can you talk a little about your new album, “Bigfoot”? It’s relatively short – eight songs, thirtysomething minutes. But I feel like it tells a story. It has a beginning, middle and end. I didn’t feel like it was lacking much. It could potentially leave you wanting more I guess, but I guess it’s better than
knew the track “High School Lover,” but here they understood the whole Cayucas vibe. You’ve described this album as being nostalgic. What things were going through your mind as you wrote it? For some reason nostalgia was in my head when I was writing this. It felt like a good underlining theme for the album. I like writing about things that are nostalgic to me, whether it’s something that happened in junior high or summer camp or whatever. I like writing about that weird thing that happened to you in seventh grade or something… That felt like it worked with the style of music I was writing. Was it at all strange recording this kind of music in Oregon? Yeah it think it is kind of strange. It is kind of a California album, so to go to Oregon and record in 10 days… It wasn’t sunny once. It was rainy and cloudy, and we were inside all day recording. I don’t know if it changed the album in any way – probably, though. How did the band come together – did everyone already know each other? They were all kind of acquaintances, friends of friends. I played with some other guitarists and drummers, and this group kind of stuck with me. I didn’t have an audition or anything. I just jammed with those people and felt it out. It wasn’t a huge process. From the time I went from needing a band to having a band, it was only about a month. Can you tell me about the town Cayucos and how that played into the band? Yeah, it’s in central California. It’s a place I went in college one time. When I wrote the song “Cayucos,” it just kind of sounded like a good song title and idea, but when we were deciding on a band name somebody suggested Cayucas,
How has the response been to your music
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REVIEW
+Sounds
ARTIST: Deerhunter ALBUM: Monomania 3.5/5 TOWERS BY JEFF MILO
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
I caught myself tapping my toes and shimmying my shoulders – enjoying myself – while listening to a Deerhunter song. It’s poppy. It’s also deranged. It’s acrid and snarling and sweet altogether. It’s a mess, and I’m joyously wallowing in it. It’s a neon junkyard. Welcome to Bradford Cox’s dark, twisted, beautiful bedroom where there’s no dreams, only nightmares, and we sleep with our eyes open and there’s no alarm clock because everything you hear could be alarming. Do you feel that? Cox and Deerhunter might be the band-equivalent to restless leg syndrome. You want to acknowledge maybe it doesn’t bother you that much and maybe it’s all in your head. There’s plenty of beauty to behold in Deerhunter – the sweet, surfy timbre to their guitars, their eclectic balance of spooky folk, spacey, popcharmed psychedelia and what would otherwise be indie-hipster average “post-punk” if it weren’t zealously punctured with a nuanced adversarial bite. There’s times you just want to stand out in the rain and get soaked, even though that last lightning strike was pretty damn close and that ensuing thunder clap startled you pretty bad. But, you stay out there, standing in the rain, enjoying the storm. That’s Deerhunter, (or, at least, it’s Monomania,) in a nutshell.
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ARTIST: Vampire Weekend ALBUM: Modern Vampires of the City 4.5/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI
“Wisdom’s a gift, but you’d trade it for youth,” sings Ezra Koenig on Vampire Weekend’s third and sturdiest album. He’s still got the wit and mental reference catalog of an over-educated socialite, but now he’s a little more in tune with the heavier stuff – aging, death, God, vanity and all of that. I guess that’s what happens when your band takes off shortly following college, and after on the verge of turning thirty. But this isn’t your typical melodramatic, farreaching junior album. The lyrics are sharp and aware, deep and conversational. Some lines are spoken with such a light air that you’ll become somehow caught off-guard when you realize you’re still contemplating them long after the song is over. This is the pop-obsessed, detail-focused Vampire Weekend we’re accustomed to with a newfound resonance. The album begins with a three-song knockout – “Unbelievers,” “Step,” and “Diane Young” (say that a couple times fast) – that put this collection a notch above anything we’ve heard from Vampire Weekend before, and that quality doesn’t let up. Five years ago, these were four preppy Columbia grads with boat shoes and button-ups. Now their image has completed its full translation into incredibly smart pop music.
ARTIST: Talib Kweli ALBUM: Prisoner of Conscious 4/5 TOWERS BY AIMEE MANDLE
Earning the tag as a “conscious rapper” has come easily to Talib Kweli. Focusing the bulk of his lyrical content on analyzing and dissecting social issues has become his calling card, and his newest album continues in the same vein. “Prisoner of Conscious,” pointedly calls attention to a need to bridge the gap to a brighter future. And, though no concrete solutions are offered, the message is hopeful. “It Only Gets Better” and “Before He Walked” shed light on the soul-wearing every day grind, while anticipating a better tomorrow. These tracks, along with “Hamster Wheel” and “Human Mic,” fall in line with his past themes and socially “Prisoner of Conscious.” The crux of this album may be geared towards emotional connection and optimism in the face of a diverging sociopolitical space, but it is more than Kweli spouting off his own political agenda. “Rocket Ships” featuring Busta Rhymes, droning horns and plenty of switch-ups keeps things interesting, along with “Upper Echelon” and “Push Thru.” Kweli continues to press on in this album to create a striking litany of tracks that appeal to even the most jaded hip-hop listeners in an earpleasing solicitation to reach beyond indifference and take a deeper look into the issues of the day.
facebook.com/ispymagazine // www.ispymagazine.co
REVIEW
+Sounds
ARTIST: Daft Punk ALBUM: Random Access Memories 4/5 TOWERS BY STEPHEN HOLLOWELL
There’s something strangely comforting about The National’s dreary, anxiety-ridden rock lamentations. They seem to meet you where you’re at rather than drag you down. The National strike a reverberating chord with anyone who’s ever felt alone on a packed subway or apathetic at a wedding – they isolate the little moments of confusion and emptiness and bring them under a lens. Matt Berninger’s solemn baritone trades range for blunt impact, and he injects some dry humor into his lyrics this time around. “I am secretly in love with everyone I grew up with,” he sings on “Demons,” one of many singular introspections he cites like shedding skin. There’s a strong desolation permeating “Trouble Will Find Me,” furthered by musical choices that allow for plenty of space and some fractured percussion. This album is The National at their most focused and distinct – the songs are often distant but profoundly human, resonating with a melodic ache. But that’s not to say it’s all darkness. Take “Humiliation,” where each of The National’s strengths come together to the effect of swimming towards light breaking through the water’s surface. The suffocation is still overwhelming, but there’s no denying the beauty.
Daft Punk is playing at my house – well at the least their new highly anticipated fourth album “Random Access Memories” is and has been on repeat since its release. The French duo’s new collection of songs differs quite a bit from their previous studio albums. The group is largely credited as pioneers in the electronic dance music scene, and their image – complete with futuristic robot helmets – is unmistakable. Members Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are actually never photographed anymore without being in full costume.
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a more mellow, seventies vibe, which is evident in cameos from musicians like Nile Rodgers from Chic. Appearing on the album’s hit single “Get Lucky” with Pharrell Williams, Rodgers lays down some funky guitarwork as Williams croons, and the song is rounded out well by the duo’s trademark robot voices. Although some tracks on the album are much slower than some of their previous work, “Random Access Memories,” is still highly danceable while remaining complex and artistic and just might be their most advanced piece of work.
ARTIST: The Neighbourhood ALBUM: I Love You 3/5 TOWERS BY AMANDA TRENT
The anticipation has been building ever since “Female Robbery” started making its way around the blogosphere and got even thicker as Google searches for The Neighbourhood returned little to no results. But now that the curtain has been pulled back, it feels like it might have been just a bit too soon. There are moments of brilliance on “I Love You” that do a lot of things right. Tracks like “How,” “Female Robbery” and “Sweater Weather” have the same sexy yet almost seedy quality that permeated the Killers’ debut album, “Hot Fuss,” which is something we haven’t seen done anywhere near as well since (think “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine” and “Midnight Show”). And the catchy beats and dark, atmospheric quality that is executed particularly well on the album’s most shining tracks strike the perfect chord between ominous and downright captivating. Even though the tracks stick with a similar moments of brilliance. Where “I Love You” particularly falls short of the likes of “Hot Fuss” or “Torches” is its lack of consistency. If everything on the album was as perfectly executed as its standout tracks, there would be two more stars accompanying this review. But from slip-ups like juvenile sounding lyrics on “Afraid” to lackluster tracks like “Everybody’s Watching Me (Uh Oh)” and “Flawless,” a picture emerges of a band that is still working out the kinks and isn’t quite sure who they are yet or who their audience is, either. Overall, it’s a somewhat disappointing debut for a band that seemed to have so much potential to make a big dent in the indie scene.
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
ARTIST: The National ALBUM: Trouble Will Find Me 4/5 TOWERS BY PAUL KITTI
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REVIEW
+The Cut
GIVE. SUPPORT. GET PERKS.
FILM: The Great Gatsby DIRECTOR: Baz Luhrman 3.5/5 TOWERS BY DREW WALLER
Nick Carraway [played by Tobey Maguire] starts this grand adaptation of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel as our narrator recounting the losing side of an epic story of love, loss, class and corruption in the late 1920s all in front of his perplexed psychologist at the regional sanitarium. It does seem kind of crazy though – taking what was already a major fail, from a critical standpoint in the late twentieth century, like Francis Ford Coppola’s screenplay adaptation that featured a dashing Robert Redford alongside Mia Farrow in
i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
screenwriter for this effort) Baz Luhrman to give the literary classic that ol razzamatazz for the next generation. The opulent, sparking shots and swift, sweeping edits of 1929 with the visual volume turned up to 11 on the 1 to 10 dial was an absolute stunner to see and take in. Luhrman should once again be applauded for how he smartly takes any era and modernizes the best / worst of that time, connecting it to today. Prohibition era is EDM pop-up warehouse clubs, and the rich are still, well, mega-rich. However, I struggled with the candy coating of the characters lamenting about the woes of their privileged life and wanting what they want with almost no focus on what the oculist eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg saw in the world around him — that true division between what you want and what you sometimes simply can’t, or shouldn’t, have that is something you feel walking away from the book along with the disgust at these characters’ ability to walk away from the worst of their actions. It’s something you barely gather beyond the aerial close-ups of the end results and how it affects,
mispymag.com/sceneseries
free. Also there should be a little more of F. Scott’s novel’s quieter moments injected into the whole thing rather than leaving you feeling like you were in a car wreck of Technicolor intended for someone else’s hit and run.
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When it was announced earlier this year that J.J. Abrams would not only be the man behind the Star Trek reboot but the new Star Wars installations as well, some fans were understandably miffed – “Really? There aren’t enough nerds to go around?!”. Meanwhile, other fanboys lost their minds with what could
The expert balance Abrams struck with the
hyper-modern, visual jaw-droppery with seamless winks and nods to the classic series. The mention of IMAX 3D is included in the title of this review
weekend gross, Abrams chose wisely to deliver strong on what the additional height and width of an IMAX screen to involve more of what the viewer Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and Bones (Karl Urban) running for their lives on a distant indigenous planet, you know it’s an all in affair. The incredibly talented British actor Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s “Sherlock” reboot, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”) gives a thick, dark delivery of gravitas to the mastermind villain behind the ensuing trouble
franchise and delivers at every level. Cap’n Kirk keeps us rooting for him even driven home again and again that there is nothing a captain wouldn’t do for his crew. This is the essence of Pine’s character and the force that brings this theme to the forefront is the fearsome Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan.
REVIEW
The Cut+
evil, there is some solid wit, humor and loving nuances of recognition to these characters made famous for almost 50 years that true Trekkies will adore and not so saturated as to alienate the casual moviegoer. The best distillation of these intellectual moments during Into Darkness comes from Zachary Quinto’s Spock. His battles between logic and emotion are an elegant metaphor, and when emotion wins out – like the scene when, for him, there ain’t a dry eye in the house. Overall, Star Trek: Into Darkness is a deeply
twists than a ship full of Tribbles but does a good job of keeping the story going steady in a way that avoids confusion but still satiates the most ardent devotee. And it’s a world of entertainment worth a beam up to your local multiplex.
FILM: Star Trek DIRECTOR: J.J. Abrams 4/5 TOWERS BY JASMINE ZWEIFLER and DREW WALLER
Young Professional Spotlight What has been your career highlight?
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in the Ypsilanti Area and in just two years have been privileged to help 66 people buy or sell their homes.
What keeps you in the area? recentTRENT years I have become very BY In AMANDA area with most of them focused on
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Why are you involved with A2Y Converge? I am involved with A2Y Converge because I believe, much like the group does, that we have to work with one another to create a beautiful present and future for our region. I also like that the group is made up of and focused on others that are my age and have similar aspirations for our region.
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i SPY Magazine // JUNE 2013
Rookie of the Year Award in 2011. This accomplishment really showed me that the risk I took starting my career, as a Realtor was a wise decision. I
serving children through sports (YMCA, Special Olympics, Fitness Fridays). The more I get to know these children, their families and the citizens of Ypsilanti the more I fall in love with the area. So I guess to sum it up, the people and community that we have here in Ypsilanti are the reasons I have stayed in the area.
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