Nightspots
Saturday Jul 25, 2009
Arbor Brewing Company: Mr. Largebeat
Big-beat space-rock band led by veteran local singer-songwriter Jim Gertz, who plays a theremin (the original synthesizer) and percussion. Tonight the band hosts a farewell party for the Ann Arbor News staff.
The Ark: Black Jake & the Carnies
Ypsilanti octet that calls its energetic, foot-stomping blend of punk, old-time music, and bluegrass "crabgrass." All Music Guide writer Steve Leggett calls it "a kind of raucous acoustic Americana that tosses postmodern Appalachian murder ballads, Irish drinking songs, skewed, twisted love songs and general cautionary tales into a stylistic blender that has them sounding like nothing so much as a maverick, hopped-up punk polka band in full 21st-century everything-fits jug band mode." Opening act is Frontier Ruckus, a Lake Orion experimental bluegrass sextet. $15.
The Blind Pig: The Bang!
Dance party with this local DJ collective that plays garage and 70s rock.
Club Above: "Arbco Records Summer Formal."
Punk rock party headlined by the Detroit punk-surf garage band Amino Acids. Opening acts are the local crunk-metal trio Texas Prison Rodeo, the local punk band Suicide by Cop (formerly known as Dead Reagan), and the Coldwater hardcore band The Citizen's Plague. DJs Jef Porkins and Nate Pancakes spin punk records between sets.
Conor O'Neill's: Terraplanes.
Local band led by singer-guitarist Jerry Mack that plays a mix of houserocking blues, uptown swing, soulful R&B, and roots rock.
Crazy Wisdom Tea Room: John Churchville & Meeta Banerjee
North Indian classical music by tabla player Churchville and sitarist Banerjee.
Creekside Grill and Bar: II-V-I Orchestra
Veteran local big band, led by saxophonist David Swain, that plays late930s swing and 1940s R&B. 6:30-9 p.m.
Elbow Room: Gepetto Files
Idiosyncratic local marionette troupe that specializes in off-the-wall, postpunk explorations of American cultural archetypes that are simultaneously weird, hilarious, provocative, sophomoric, and haunting. Opening act is Jehovah's Witness Protection Program, a local acoustic pop-folk band.
The Firefly Club:
Live bands TBA.
The Firefly Club: "Girls Night In"
All female vocalists invited to sit in with a jazz trio TBA.
Goodnite Gracie: Michael May & the Messarounds
Jazz-inflected blues and blues-rock by this veteran local quartet led by vocalist and blues harpist May.
Guy Hollerin's: Steve Nardella Rock 'n' Roll Trio.
Ann Arbor's most passionate and compelling roots-rocker performs fiercely cathartic, blues-drenched reworkings of rock 'n' roll and rockabilly classics and obscure gems, along with some authentic Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker blues.
The Habitat Ultralounge: Ultraviolet
Detroit band that plays 70s & 80s rock hits.
The Quarter Bistro: Mike Moore
Jazz guitarist.
Tap Room:
Bands TBA.
