Whit Hill at the Ark

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Madonna. Geez.

Whit founded the theatrical modern dance company People Dancing and was its choreographer for about 100 years. In her current performance incarnation, she plays acoustic guitar, sings, and writes songs. She shares the stage with three others: her husband, local blues legend Al Hill, sings harmonies and plays guitar and keyboards; Chuck Navyac is the drummer; and Pat Prouty plays upright bass. Last March, I arrived at the Ark for the release performance of the Postcards' CD Farsighted (the show also served as a benefit for the Ark) just as Ms. Smarty Pants said, "Do you know what happened on this day in 1976? Hot-air ballooning was made legal in Michigan. That's good information to have."

The songs range from straight-up country to big blues, dramatic waltzes, and sweet acoustic stories. "Sweetie Momma" is a tribute to elderly, tough-as-nails Maggie, who used to live across the street from Whit and Al. In the funky, sexy "Regimen," Whit talks about her "treatments" and how the doctor says she's "a lucky girl." If Al's love treatments are anything like his slide guitar treatment, then she sure is lucky. Then consider these lyrics from the dramatic waltz "Fall":