Happy Summer Solstice! We have a big show at Concert of Colors in Detroit in July over 2 nights! I’ll be performing on the Don Was All-Star Revue, returning for a 3rd time with Scott Dailey, and with the Was (Not Was), which includes many former bandmates from my Detroit Energy Asylum! Also on the bill are the legendary Martha Reeves, Mitch Ryder and more. We’ll be at the DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) Saturday night, July 13th at 8 pm, and at the Jackson Michigan Theatre on Friday night, July 12th at 8 pm. The Concert of Colors is completely free, too! Hope you can make it. http://concertofcolors.com/
We’ve got several festival dates coming up, including Earthwork Harvest in northern Michigan in September. More details here at http://www.earthworkharvestgathering.com/ and I’ll be doing a show at The Pink Fund in October at Dancing with the Survivors./https://www.pinkfund.org/Check back for more, as there are several other festivals and 20 Front Street in Lake Orion coming up, too!! https://20frontstreet.com/
I’m working on new music after another full year of teaching! More shortly, and have a great July.
Summer news update! We will be returning to The Parliament Room at Otus Supply in Ferndale, Michigan, on Friday night, June 7th, 9 pm! We’ll be performing with Nadir Omowale! Nadir is a fantastic artist, and he and his band are joining forces with us for a super evening! It’s a big return to forever back together at Otus Supply in Ferndale, Michigan – a not to miss show ! http://www.otussupply.com/http://www.otussupply.com/
And a third time is a charm! I’ll be returning to perform with Don Was and The Don Was All-Star Revue at the Concert of Colors. Many members of the house band were in Detroit Energy Asylum way back with me. For the 2019 Concert of Colors, Scott Dailey and I will be performing with Don and the Revue at The Michigan Theatre Jackson and at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) on Friday, July 12th and Saturday, July 13th – Much more info at http://concertofcolors.com
Another new radio show is on Sunday, June 2nd where I’ll be hosting a fresh DJ show on 100.7 FM Ferndale Radio, broadcasting from The Rust Belt Market, sponsored by Axle Brewing Company. Listen in – live streaming is coming soon – 1 to 3 pm Sunday, June 2nd – new releases, local releases and gems of a mystic bent played by yours truly. http://ferndaleradio.com/
The show at Trinity House Theatre was amazing in May. Thanks to so many who came out. Mary McGuire and Chris McCall were fabulous, and Scott Dailey and Keith Malinowski, too. We’ll be back to this charming sound room again.
Aquarius Press’ Heather Buchanan and I have been working hard on finishing the book I’m doing and we’re hoping to have it out by early November with an exhibit/book release and music party. https://aquariuspress.myshopify.com/
I also have news in July on Poets and Pies, where I’ll be reading at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library in the Detroit Cultural Center, with the fabulous Scott Dailey. More details coming and more shows to be announced soon. Thanks for listening, and all the summer happiness to you!
Hail Spring! I’m happy to remind you of an upcoming live show near Detroit in early May. Mary McGuire, Chris McCall, Carolyn Striho, Scott Dailey, and Keith Malinowski performing Saturday night, May 4th at 8 pm at The Trinity House Theatre. Trinity’s an incredible music performance/showcase venue and tickets are selling fast. All info here at https://www.trinityhousetheatre.org/
More live shows to be announced soon!
Also in the works is another new U.K. tour we’re working on for next summer. We’ll be on the East Coast later in the summer, arm permitting. Scott Dailey and I have been on tour in Europe many times, and I have a torn rotator cuff injury after a violent fall on the ice this winter, so it’s making it a bit tough on live shows these days.
New Recording News
Yet, work is moving ahead on our new album tentatively called “14 Miles (of Bad Road)” and it’s sounding really cool. It’s got a mix of organic fuzz guitar with blending of a B3 organ sound, but also, synthesizers and some surprising originals. Slated for a 2020 release, Scott Dailey and I have begun work on several songs and are working on finalizing writing on more tracks. Grateful to be back in the studio!
Also, I got word there’s a new vinyl release from Orchide Records of a new Detroit Energy Asylum album. DEA was a vehicle for my vocals, songwriting and musicianship for many years. Besides my many originals, we did several versions of some gorgeous cover songs, and producer and ex, Freddie Brooks and Orchide Records, have released a limited edition red vinyl of “Recreation.” Recreation features stalwarts Dave McMurray, Luis Resto, Joey Mazzola, and Wayne Gerard, among many others, including the iconic rock and roll poet and legend, Patti Smith. https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/
New Book release coming this year
Also, my new book will be coming out later this year as part of the Aquarius Press/Willow Books “Living Detroit” series. Aquarius Press is celebrating 20 years of publishing, and I’m excited to be working with Heather Buchanan with my book. I’ll also be reading some of my poetry/writing at several events, too, in advance of the new book with Aquarius Press. Also, one of my poems is included in a Detroit/Michigan anthology from poet M.L. Liebler coming out this Fall on Michigan State University Press with a short reading by poets and musicians on Tuesday April 23rd at 12:30 pm at Wayne State University. And for more on Aquarius Press, please check https://aquariuspress.myshopify.com/
2019 Detroit Music Awards Nominee
It’s an honor to be in the final nominations for the 2019 Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Rock Songwriter and Outstanding Rock Vocalist. This is nice news, and there’s incredible amounts of amazing musicians in Detroit and the world. Thanks for the new nominations! https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/
New Radio shows
Finally, I’ve got 2 new DJ shows coming up on Ferndale Radio 100.7 at The Rust Belt Market and Axle Brewing in Ferndale, Michigan. Tune in on Record Store Day on Saturday, April 13 from 1 to 3 pm and Saturday May 18 from 3 to 5 pm where I’ll be broadcasting live with new releases from The Raconteurs, Bettye LaVette, Lily & Madeleine, Ziggy Marley, local artists Detroit Energy Asylum, Tracy Kash and much, much more. Tune in if you’re in Ferndale! http://ferndaleradio.com/
It’s March, and time for spring…well, we can dream! Scott Dailey and I will be playing several new songs this Sunday March 10th in Royal Oak, Michigan at Steve Taylor’s Dixie Moon Saloon’s Songwriter Sunday 6 pm to 8 pm. It’s an early Sunday show for all us sleepyheads teachers/artists/musicians who teach and rock during the day too. I’m looking forward to hearing some new artists I’ve not met yet, too. We’ll be with great songwriters Barelyon and Mike Gailbraith with more info here: http://dixiemoonsaloon.com/
Also, a really cool save the date in May at Trinity House Theatre in Livonia Michigan with Mary McGuire, Chris McCall, Scott Dailey and Keith Malinowski, Saturday night May 4th, 2019 – 8 pm show with some surprises, too! Tickets on sale shortly and more on this show soon at http://www.trinityhousetheatre.org
Also in March, I’ll also be back with a fresh DJ show on 100.7 FM
Ferndale Radio on Saturday, March 16, 2019 3 pm to 5 pm – tune in if
you’re in the Ferndale, Michigan area, at The Rustbelt Market from Axle
Brewing! http://ferndaleradio.com/
And I’m working on recording my new album for a release late in the year or early 2020, with “14 Miles of Bad Road”, ”Gracious Spoke” and more new tracks, possibly a vinyl and CD release.
A big announcement is coming soon on my first book release this year with Aquarius Press “Living Detroit” Series. This is exciting news and something I’ve been working on with my writing. I’ll be reading some of my poetry/writing at several events, too!
Also this year, I’m on the Second Ballot again in the 2019 Detroit Music Awards in Rock and General categories, and Scott Dailey is on the Ballot for Americana. Percussionist Ron Wolf also received a submission for Americana. We also received a Nomination for Best Live Act for Carolyn Striho (thanks!) and Best Live Act for The Triple Goddess/Midsummer Night Dream shows with Barbara Payton, Mary McGuire and Carolyn Striho w/Scott Dailey and Ron Wolf -Thanks again, I’ve grateful for a great run of Detroit Music Awards. https://www.detroitmusicawards.net/
So be safe and well in the Ides of March, New Moon, Spring Equinox, St. Patrick’s Day and the Mercury Retrograde. Cheers to all who create in the wild world of music and Happy International Women’s Day!
Detroit December 2018. At the holidays, we miss so many who have passed away. It can be really hard. We want to thank Donne in Musica and Patricia Adkins Chiti for all our shows/tours in Italy. We were honored to perform in Rome, Frascati and Fiuggi in 2006, 2011 and 2014 with Donne in Musica. Patricia was a huge proponent of women’s music, women’s rights and woman musicianship throughout Italy and Europe and a great artist. Donne in Musica is a multi-cultural Italian and European music foundation of which we were really honored to be a part of – they are continuing on the work. Patricia and I last talked early this year, and I’m sad to hear she has passed away. We had a beautiful stage every time, where we performed and were cheered on by beautiful crowds and by Patricia and the outstanding organization, Donne In Musica. Also, on request, I sang “The Song of Fiuggi” in Italian on one of the shows. Thank you, grazie, for everything, hope to meet up again when we play back overseas! http://composeralliance.org/in-memoriam-patricia-adkins-chiti/
This year has been a fast one. With much airplay for my previous catalogue and our recent album “Afterthought,” which was again nominated for several awards and also on The Grammy Awards First Ballot 2018 for Best Rock Album (thank you!) I’ve begun checking out my new songs and recording for a new album with Scott Dailey. The first song which is getting closer, “14 Miles of Bad Road,” is the beginning of a new adventure.It really is an unusual album and the songs are taking on new personalities and changes as we’re finishing up several more. Scott and I are readying up for the studio again soon.
January started fantastic! As mentioned, we were honored to be on the Grammy Awards First Ballot 2018 for Best Rock Album for “Afterthought.”And I was in New York City for the RoundGlass Music Awards, which were magnificent. There were so many great performers, including Grammy winners Ricky Kej and Wouter Kellerman. My sister and I were at The Edison Ballroom party in Manhattan and throughout Greenwich Village, where I used to be quite a bit. There are many memories of so much there to be included soon. Grammy Weekend 2018 was great in Manhattan.
In February, Scott Dailey and I were back with Detroit Unplugged at Ferndale, Michigan’s Otus Supply with Barbara Payton, Mary McGuire and Ron Wolf – what a great night at Valentine’s week at Otus Supply – a great club with big sound adventure.
In March, the Detroit Music Awards called for us to perform at The Music Stand Detroit at a DMA Acoustic Showcase with many great artists – a good time. And I was nominated for Outstanding Rock Vocalist at The Detroit Music Awards – it was another big time in May at The Fillmore Detroit.
And in May, I also met with a publisher for working on my book in Detroit. It’s a big undertaking to be writing a book, and with new poetry and lyrics, some of the memoir is getting closer.
We also performed at PJ’s Lager House in May, which was a cool Memorial Day Weekend in Corktown, Detroit. Then moving to June, Scott Dailey and I were invited to perform at Detroit Music Weekend, where the beautiful Aretha Franklin had performed on the main stage the year before. It was pretty wild hearing The Jackson Five over on the stage as we walked out from our show at Music Hall Detroit. Aretha passed away in August, and it was an emotional time for everybody here in Detroit. We will miss you, Aretha.
In July, the new film by Chicagoan Mary Sommers (and former Detroiter) was brought to Detroit “Tough Luck: Detroit Stories” premiered at Cinema Detroit and also screened in Chicago. Featuring our song “Honesty” and interviews with playwrights, writers, artists, activists and musicians, including myself, it was a great opening.
In July, we were invited to perform back in the U.K. and it was a stellar trip! An honor always to be asked to perform in Europe, Scott and I performed in the U.K., where we had played before, but this time new venues! We were at Isle of Wight’s Rhythm Tree Festival in July and also in London, and at Hope and Anchor, the legendary punk rock bar in Islington, London where The Police got their start! Amazing shows, and we had good times onstage for our shows and off. We may be back in the U.K. performing next summer and are also looking at New York City and over in Eastern Europe. We’re so grateful to The Isle of Wight and Rhythm Tree – performing with such great bands as The Brand New Heavies, Morcheeba and more – and to London’s Loud Women, and Hope and Anchor. See you soon again!
Coming back to Detroit, we just missed our favorite, The Concert of Colors this year, but we had a great show with Detroit Unplugged’s Midsummer Night’s Dream at 20 Front Street with the fabulous Barbara Payton and marvelous Mary McGuire again. A sold out night at the magnificent 20 Front Street -thank you.
In August, I was on the Cranbrook Art Museum and Third Man Records Detroit’s Punk Rock Panel with Robert St. Mary – an honor to be at Third Man, with my previous (vintage) music possibly being re-released on a Third Man Records’ compilation album next year.
August brought us to performances at the new Motor City Muscle Festival in downtown Detroit at the Spirit of Detroit Stage, and then a return to a fresh Arts, Beats & Eats show with guest violinist Leslie DeShazor – an eclectic Saturday in Royal Oak, Michigan.
In September, I also performed at the State Fair Michigan Mega Jam with Nadir Omowale, The Gasoline Gypsies, Laura Rain and so many more Detroit artists. It was so hot and the carnival was in full swing! With Three Chord Bourbon sponsoring our shows there, it was a goodbye to summer State Fair day in Michigan. It was also the start of a new school year and radio DJ shifts at Ferndale Radio at The Rustbelt Market. My students went on great field trips this year with me, including the Detroit Auto Show, Little Caesar’s Arena, the Detroit Zoo and MCTI near Kalamazoo, Michigan.
In November, I performed at 20 Front Street again for their 2nd Anniversary show with Mary McGuire, Abigail Stouffer, Nick Piunti, and Jeremy Kittel, among others, a super time.
I’m also honored to be included on the WHFR FM Radio’s Vinyl Detroit Compilation Release with my song “Ocean” and then a new album/EP vinyl being released shortly which is a surprise, coming soon. (Other news is coming shortly, including a Detroit Energy Asylum limited edition special vinyl coming out soon)
This December and once into January 2019, I’m back on the air with two Ferndale Radio DJ Shifts coming up Sunday, Dec. 16th from 1 to 3 pm and Saturday Dec. 22 from 5 to 7 pm – tune in if you’re in the Ferndale, Michigan area to 100.7 FM, broadcasting live from the festive and vintage Rustbelt Market. With a mix of songs from punk to reggae, to classical, jazz, soul, funk and some surprises, including local music, I’m excited.
More music news, shows and recording shortly, and a belated Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happiest New Year. Please take care of your health, and each other.
