Music

Music Kristi Kates Massive Attack - Heligoland - V Records
Massive Attack combine a plethora of electronica approaches into their latest disc, so many that perhaps that’s why it took them a half-dozen years to return with a new album. Also abundant are guest vocalists, from Blur/Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn to Hope Sandoval; Tunde Adebimpe (TV on the Radio) layers his vocals one over another on “Pray For Rain,” and Portishead’s Adrian Utley guests on guitar on “Saturday...,” which also features vocals from the aforementioned Albarn. And it’s all produced in spare fashion, all the better to showcase the talent.

Music Rick Coates Uncle Kracker Plans to Bring a Smile to Northern Michigan
By Rick Coates
Uncle Kracker returns to Northern Michigan with a “Smile” on his face. He is kicking off the second leg of his tour in support of his latest release Happy Hour this week in Michigan and will perform Saturday night at Ground Zero Nightclub in Traverse City.
Uncle Kracker has a fondness for Northern Michigan; he grew up in Mt. Clemens and has a place up here where he hangs when he is not touring. Best known for collaborations with artists such as Kid Rock and Kenny Chesney, as well as his own hits, such as “Follow Me,” and a cover of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away,” Uncle Kracker collaborated this time with another Michigan native singer songwriter JTX on several songs, including the smash hit, “Smile.”
He took time from rehearsing with his band to answer a few questions for the Express.

Music Kristi Kates Kris Allen - Kris Allen - Jive
Small-town Season 8 American Idol winner Allen’s lead single from his
debut album, “Live Like We’re Dying,” may have a great message, but
doesn’t showcase the best Allen has to offer. While some of the tunes
here occasionally stray into sterile Idol-songwriter territory, others
are standouts that indicate the potential of Allen’s talent (not
unlike the vocal stylings of one Jack Johnson), such as the jovial and
well-crafted “Alright With Me” (co-penned with The Fray), the
emotional “Bring It Back,” and “Heartless,” on which he improves on
the Kanye West original.

Music Kristi Kates Claudia Schmidt’s New Promising Sky
By Kristi Kates
Northern Michigan-based singer-songwriter and Prairie Home Companion favorite Claudia Schmidt opens her latest album, Promising Sky, with a big burst of singing stripped bare - an a capella version of the title track comprised of layered choral harmonies (by Rachael Davis, Seth Bernard, and May Erlewine) that are filled with bright promise, indeed.
“That song was a capella because it was inspired by the South African singing I had heard on a trip there in the previous year,” Schmidt explains.

Music Kristi Kates Squirrel Nut Zippers - Lost at Sea - Megaforce
Squirrel Nut Zippers sank out of view, for the most part, back in 2000 after the release of Bedlam Ballroom, but now they’re back with their first ever live album, a great move considering that one of their strong suits has always been their live performances. The neo-swing, gypsy jazz band is as full of energy as always, as they groove through 17 lilting, sassy tracks in a spontaneous, peppy performance. Highlights include the jukebox twist of “Prince Nez,” the fidgety quirk of “Bad Businessman,” and, of course, the sassy and sarcastic anti-hit “Hell.”

Music Kristi Kates The Cranberries - Bualadh Bos Live - Island
Dolores O’Riordan, brothers Noel and Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler make up Irish alt-pop band The Cranberries, who were best known in the mid-’90s. Although the bandmates themselves have moved on to work on other musical projects, this new collection brings together plenty of the band’s best known hits as well as some of their equally-worthy but lesser heard B-sides. The concert itself is recorded fairly well, typical, for the most part, for this sort of live album; the songs were collected from a variety of venues, including Cranberries shows in Toronto (“Forever Yellow Skies”), the Feile Festival (“Dreams”), The Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo (“Promises”), and Live at the Record Plant (“Linger.”)

Music Rick Coates Troubled waters no problem for Puddle of Mudd
By Rick Coates
When Puddle of Mudd takes the stage Friday night at Ground Zero
Nightclub in Traverse City it will be a reunion of a couple of
survivors. POM performed to a sold-out crowd three years ago at Ground
Zero and both the band and the club have found a way to survive the
challenges they have faced.

Music Rick Coates The View from China Journalist Li Jin reports on Interlochen and the music scene
For the next two weeks Chinese music journalist Li Jin will be visiting the region. Jin is the editor of “Music Weekly” in China and is on assignment to write a profile about Interlochen Center for The Arts. Express contributing editor Rick Coates interviewed Li Jin via phone from her home in Hangzhou, China (13 hours time difference). While Rick does not speak fluent Chinese Li Jin fortunately speaks fluent English.

Music Kristi Kates The Folk Music of Mexico Sones de México offer their take on tradition
By Kristi Kates
His full instrument roster reads like a “what’s what” of musical gear:
guitar, violin, mandolin, Mariachi 5-string alto guitar, 8-string
baritone huasteco guitar, Veracruz 8-string tenor guitar, clarinet,
conch shell, guidjada, and vocals. Whew.

Music Kristi Kates Timbaland - Shock Value II - Blackground
Timbaland’s usual genre mix of collaborators, his ear for a great hook, and his skillful way around a recording studio is evident on his newest set, on which he works with a remarkably lengthy roster of almost a dozen guest musicians, including The Fray, Brandy, Chris Daughtry, Drake, and a return visit from previous collaborator Justin Timberlake. Unfortunately, Timbaland seems to rely a little too much on the ol’ Auto-Tune, which gives a flat, overproduced feel to otherwise catchy-cool tracks like “Undertow” (with The Fray and Esthero) and Timberlake’s “Carry On.”

Music Encore!
The Great Indoor Folk Festival returns Feb. 13
Based on a spectacular turnout last year, dozens of musicians from
across the region are tuning their guitars and polishing their songs
in anticipation of the second annual Great Indoor Folk Festival on
Saturday, Feb. 13 in Traverse City.

Music Rick Coates Tom ‘Terrific’ Knific brings his Quartet to Crooked Tree
By Rick Coates
One criticism college professors often receive is that they live within the protective walls of their respective institutions and don’t venture into the real world to gain practical experience in their subject matter. This is not the case with bassist and composer Tom Knific who is the professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Western Michigan University. Knific has built an international reputation for himself in the classroom and he is equally impressive on the performance stage. Jazz enthusiasts will certainly want to make their way to the Ross Stoakes Theatre within the Crooked Tree Arts Center this Saturday night for the Tom Knific Quartet.
Tom Knific may not be a household name; probably casual listeners of jazz are unfamiliar with him. But he is well respected among his academic and performing peers. “It gives me great pleasure to recommend Tom Knific, not only for his superb musicianship but equally important, in my estimation, for his fine personal qualities,” said musician David Brubeck. “I could not recommend anyone higher.”

Music Kristi Kates Owl City - Ocean Eyes - Republic
Recorded entirely in a cold basement in the middle of winter in Minnesota, where Owl City, aka Adam Young, had to contend with the ceiling freezing (literally - into icicles) whenever he turned off the noisy furnace to get a vocal recording, these songs belie their chilly location with warm synths, vibrant production, and earnest vocals. Simple lyrically but executed prettily, each track is polished with interesting synth work and beat loops, from the romantic “The Saltwater Room” and “Vanilla Twilight” to the more festive “The Tip of the Iceberg” and “Hello Seattle.”

Music Pat Stinson Wedding DJ puts his spin on the Big Day
By Pat Stinson
After “spinning discs” at 1,200-plus weddings and spending 14 years as a WRIF radio personality in Detroit, deejay Mike Staff, owner of the wedding services firm Mike Staff Productions, has seen and heard it all. He offers plenty of sage advice for would-be grooms and brides, based on his observations and those of his seasoned DJs, photographers and videographers.
Anecdotes abound in the wedding business, and there are as many stories as there are participants. Some are funny – such as when the best-looking father-of-the-groom Staff had ever seen turned out to be a transvestite. Some are sad, such as a ‘Bridezilla’ and Winnie-the-Pooh fanatic who used a microphone to yell obscenities at her new husband when he joined her in a dance with her beloved Pooh-bear.
Staff observes that there are two types of wedding clients. Most approach their Big Day as the party of their lives, and are there to have a good time. Others want to control everything. “They can’t really get into the vibe and they don’t have fun,” Staff says of the latter.
On the other hand, would-be grooms should assume one or two responsibilities, so their wishes are heard and prospective brides aren’t shouldering everything. “Remember, grooms, it’s your day too,” he says.

Music Rick Coates Ground Zero ready to rock thanks to Doug Street
By Rick Coates
After a one year hiatus, Doug Street is now back at the helm of the Ground Zero Nightclub (Streeter’s, The Terminal) in Traverse City. Street, who developed the vision for the Streeter’s entertainment complex at the age of 23 after traveling to such entertainment destinations as Las Vegas and South Beach, sold his interest in the nightclub in late 2008 but retained ownership of the property.
After a successful 10-year run of bringing major club entertainment to Northern Michigan, Street decided to look for new challenges and opened a club in Grand Rapids. He is currently opening a restaurant and nightclub in downtown Grand Rapids near Van Andel Arena.
“I am commuting between Grand Rapids and Traverse City,” said Street. “I am energized and looking to be creative in this economy to re-brand Streeter’s into Ground Zero. I don’t think that Ground Zero really had an identity over the years, this place was either Streeter’s or The Terminal; now it will be known as Ground Zero.”