Happy Sunday, friends! I hope your morning is a sparkling rainbow of technicolor proportions. Relax, I’m not on drugs. I just wanted a Pepsi (see the song “Institutionalized” for the reference here). Ok, I’m already off the rails, and I haven’t even started. Let’s roll on!
Cranking to 11: The Power of Art and Photos in Music
The first album I can remember buying on my own, most likely with allowance money saved up from cleaning the house and watching my dingus little brothers, was Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I think I was 9 or 10. We lived in Detroit on the corner of Tireman and Minock at the time. I don’t remember the actual moment of purchase, but I have a vague recollection of picking that album up at KMart in Westland while shopping with my mom and my sibs.
Besides the incredible power of the music on this album, I was captivated by the album artwork. I’d spend what seemed like hours pouring over the art and the photographs of the band. At that age, I couldn’t grasp the significance of the cover with Elton stepping out of this world and into another. However, I was intrigued. The inside art provided more images to cast wonder upon my young mind. Like, what was up with Elton chugging on a bottle above the lyrics for ”Social Disease”? I wasn’t quite infatuated with girls at this point in my life, but the picture of the “Sweet Painted Lady” definitely caught my eye. Then there were the Flying Vs with “Bennie and The Jets.” What kind of magical instruments were these? And who was the sadly beautiful blonde woman next to “Candle In The Wind”? Let’s not get into the fact that at 10, most of the subject matter on this album was way beyond my comprehension. It was enough that the music and visuals were endlessly fascinating.
I also dug Elton’s platform shoes on the cover of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. I would later ask to get my own pair when I was in 6th grade as I’d become a fan of other platform shoes-wearing musicians in a band called KISS. In the January 21, Sunday Sip, I mentioned my journey into the KISS army. Marveling at the covers of KISS Alive, Alive II, and Destroyer, it was easy to get lost in the visual impact of the photography and graphic artwork. With KISS, the artwork and photography created a universe of its own with their music as the soundtrack. “God of Thunder” gets heavier and more brutal when you flip through photos in Hit Parader of Gene, spitting fire and blood.
I would eventually graduate to RUSH, and once again, the album art and photos on the record sleeve would combine with the music to enchant. One of my favorite RUSH albums is Permanent Waves. The album cover instantly drew me in. It probably didn’t hurt that I was most likely stoned and feeling beautiful as I stared at the cover, trying to discern meaning while searching for Easter eggs that surely lay in plain sight. The candid photographs of Alex, Geddy, and Neil drew you into the studio with them.
When I was 16 and going on 17, I went to a record store with my buddy Kevin (who would later join me in Battalion as the second guitarist). While still a RUSH fan, my tastes in heavy music were expanding. At the time of this record store journey, we were listening to Judas Priest, Def Leppard, and Ozzy fairly regularly. I had not yet dipped my toes into Black Sabbath beyond hearing “Iron Man” or “Paranoid” on the radio. It was time to change that.
Was it Ozzy's kimono or Bill Ward’s devil red tights? Was it Geezer’s disco party clothes or Tony Iommi’s icy psycho-killer stare? I’m not sure, but the album Sabotage beckoned. The imagery on that cover sets a tone that you can feel in the music. The cover implies a psychotic edge and dystopian heaviness, and the music delivers. Amazing!
As we browsed the other albums at the Brighton record shop, we made our way to the letter “I.” I’ll never forget my nervous anticipation as Kevin picked up Iron Maiden’s debut. The visage of a skeleton-like zombie punker on the cover, along with the live photos on the back, threatened you with rage and insanity. Neither Kevin nor I had any clue who Iron Maiden were. We saw the cover and thought, this has to be deadly. Oh man, it was.
For the rest of the year, as we headed to school in our buddy John’s gold Satellite and later his army green Barracuda, we air-guitared to “Prowler,” “Phantom of the Opera,” and “Iron Maiden” while smoking pounds of weed. A single album cover and grainy photos depicting a sweat-filled concert we could only dream of attending forged our bond with Maiden.
I recently picked up the new album from Michigan’s own Carbon Decoy called Superstition Plagues the Purity of All. The cover is haunting and beguiling, making you wonder if there are spells cast within or if this is a requiem? The inner sleeve features some shots by Cidney Bundon that capture the spirit of the band in action. The music on the album is hypnotic, just like the cover art and inner sleeve photos. They work together to create a multi-dimensional experience. Add in a band’s t-shirt, and you can share your love of the band’s music and art with the world.
Let’s not forget gig posters. If you love music like me, your social media feed is probably exploding, with bands sharing their show announcements. The key to capturing your attention is the gig poster. There is magic in the gig poster. The artist creates a subliminal message to your unconscious that says, “Get to this show. It will be incredible!!!” The imagery could be mysterious or strikingly bold or, cosmically wonderful or all of these and more. I’ve adorned the walls of my office with some spectacular gig posters that I’ve picked up. Some of my favorites are by Jeremey Wheeler and Shawn Knight.
The power of album, poster, and t-shirt art, along with photography of a band, are incredibly potent prompts that serve to amplify and accentuate the music. It is a total package. The crazy thing is that you often don’t know the name of the artist who created that spectacular poster, mesmerizing album cover, or captivating band photo. With the help of some fellow music lovers, I’m hoping to change that in a small way.
GIG - The Art of Michigan Music
A dedicated team of music and art enthusiasts (myself included) is putting together a three-day extravaganza called GIG - The Art of Michigan Music to celebrate and promote the fabulous art being created in support of Michigan music. The goal is to shine a spotlight on the artists who create the stellar gig posters, the vibrant album covers, those ridiculously awesome t-shirts, and phenomenal band and concert photos. Over three days in November (8th, 9th, and 10th) at Art 634 in Jackson, we’ll showcase the work of some fantastic Michigan artists and celebrate Michigan Music.
Friday, November 8th, GIG - The Art of Michigan Music kicks off with a special exhibit opening. You’ll meet some of the outstanding artists such as Craig Horky (a surreal artist who is creating this year’s GIG poster!), Derek Ketchum (Local Spins top gun photographer), Jonathan Doyle (supercharged poster artist), Jena Hovey (photography magician) and more. We’ll celebrate with dinner, a cash bar, and live music from Jon Torrence, Wilson Thicket, Jennifer Westwood and Dylan Dunbar, and a special secret guest!
If you missed the Friday night shindig, come out on Saturday to stroll through the art. Then stay a while, and you might learn something. We’ll have a variety of sessions, including brand management with Sadie Quagliotto of HIp In Detroit, guitar setup and maintenance with Joe Kesselring (Fret Rescue), and more in the works. In case you get hungry, we’ll have food trucks. Thirsty? Check out the cash bar where all sales go to benefit our friends at the Michigan Music Alliance. Hang out with us Saturday night for the Michigan Mixtape. We’ll kick out the jams with Ladyship Warship, Carbon Decoy, The Blueflowers and close out the night with Nathan Walton and the Remedy.
Come back on Sunday to stroll through the art and check out the music market. We’ll fill the event space at Art 634 with artwork, band merchandise, vinyl records, and musical instruments for sale. 100% of the artwork sales at GIG—The Art of Michigan Music—go to the artists.
If you are thinking, damn, I need to get a room in Jackson so you can attend each day of GIG, we have you covered with super hotel rates at Courtyard Jackson and TownePlace Suites Jackson.
Putting this all together takes a village, and I need your help. I’m very thankful for the sponsorship from Dawn Corporate Giving, Experience Jackson, Ogma Brewing, Manchester Underground Music and Art, and yours truly - Life In Michigan. But we’ll need more cash to cover the costs of putting on this event, including paying the bands a fair wage for their work.
Sponsor GIG!
If you or someone you know can support our efforts to make GIG - The Art of Michigan Music a success, visit our Be A Part of Gig page and then get in touch with me via email (chuck@lifeinmichigan.com). With your help, the goal of showcasing the outstanding artistic talent behind Michigan Music becomes attainable. Ultimately, we want this to be a yearly event that helps this segment of the artist community thrive.
Stay tuned to the GIG - The Art of Michigan Music website and our socials on Facebook and Instagram for updates. I look forward to seeing you in Jackson on November 8-10!
Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss
There is so much to share every week. If you have events that we missed, please be sure to post a note on Substack. There are a shit ton of cool shows on April 20 (4/20) - Evidently, everybody must get stoned!
Ogma Artist Series: “Signs of Life” - Opening reception on April 18th - Ogma continues their excellent series of artist showcases with the surreal work of Zack Snyder. Meet Zack, enjoy a beer, and revel in the art.
You shouldn’t miss an Evening with Wilson Thicket on April 18th at Jerry’s Pub and Restaurant for a night of incredible alt-bluegrass music that benefits the Brooklyn Food Pantry.
On Guard Pre-Prohibition Lager Release Party and Documentary viewing on April 19th—Come on out to Batch Brewing in Detroit for a very special beer release they brewed with friends at the Detroit Free Press. This beer celebrates Detroit’s journalism heritage. Learn about the making of this beer and check out a short produced by Brian Kaufman, the Free Press’ Emmy-winning executive video producer.
Against The Grain with Superdevil, Iron Mountain, and Unabomb at Outer Limits on April 19th - Speed rockers Against The Grain are back in action!! They’ve got new tunes and are throwing down with friends at the Outer Limits in Detroit. The sweet poster art is by the master Robert “Nix” Nixon.
420 Party on Superior featuring The Lucid Furs on April 20th—Get over to Albion Malleable Brewing Company for their annual 420 party. At 4:20 p.m., they tap their 420 Superior Juice Hazy IPA. Then, at 7 p.m., get ready for the mind-blowing psychedelic rock of The Lucid Furs.
Warhorses, Royal Sweets, Angel of Mars, and Along With Ghosts at Ziggy’s on April 20th–Over in Ypsilanti, our friends from Warhorses and Angel of Mars will be rocking out. This show is highly recommended.
Fat Animals at Handmap Brewing on April 20th - Head out to Handmap Brewing in Battle Creek for a night of rock, blues, soul, and more with the irresistible Fat Animals.
Chris DuPont and Kylee Phillips with Jackamo at the Penn Theatre on April 20th–At the Penn Theatre in Plymouth, you’ll find an amazing collection of singer-songwriters featuring Chris DuPont and Kylee Phillips.
Judy Banker at Manchester Underground on April 20th– Manchester Underground continues to bring excellent tunes to the River Raisin Distillery in Manchester. This time around, they have the captivating Americana of the Judy Banker band.
Duende, Ultimate Ovation, The Gashounds at Ghost Light on April 20th–Join our friends Duende for a night of most excellent tunes at Ghost Light in Hamtramck.
Fangs & Twang at North Star Lounge on April 20th–Fangs & Twang bring their brilliant and witty monster-themed Americana music to Depot Town in Ann Arbor.
Resonator - Beer Release and Metal Festival at Kognisjon Bryggeri on April 20th - On man, I wish I could make it up to the Kog for this one. Their new super dank IPA called Resonator will be on tap and in cans. You can enjoy this beauty while head-banging to a host of metal bands featuring The Glorious Dead (Traverse City), Woodcult (Traverse City), Horrid Mass (Milwaukee), and The Hard (Negaunee). Andrew Tyler of Thrash and Trash Tuesdays on Radio X and Marquette Music Scene will be spinning some heavy tunes before and between sets.
Record Store Day on April 20th - Hit up any and all of your local record stores and celebrate the return of vinyl as king! If you need help finding a store, we’ve got some posts where we visited Green Light Music in Kalamazoo, Flat Black and Circular in Lansing, and stops at Underground and Encore in Ann Arbor. RPM is up in Traverse City, along with Eugene’s Record Co-op. Near Detroit, there are a ton of great stores, such as Rock City in Livonia or Village Vinyl near Warren. I still have to write about a few more in the Detroit Area, such as Flipside, Found Sound, UHF, and Detroit Record Club. In the U.P., there are some excellent stores in Marquette.
The Accidentals at The Ark on April 25th - Check out the jaw-droppingly wonderful sounds of The Accidentals at the Ark in Ann Arbor.
Chirp at the Blind Pig with Vibe & Direct and Beanstalk on April 26th - It is hard to classify Chirp’s music other than spellbinding, funky, rocking, soulful, and progressive. They do it all and do it well. See them at the legendary Blind Pig for a hometown reunion in Ann Arbor.
Katie Stanley and Kate Peterson at University United Methodist Church - MSU on April 26th - Our terrific friend and Life In Michigan webmaster, Kate Peterson, is also an amazing musician. Check her out with Katie Stanley for a night of music you won’t soon forget.
In Other News
Be sure to check out a stellar photo essay on the annual Festifools celebration of spring in Ann Arbor by our friend Doug Coombe for Concentrate. Over at Live, Love, Local Michigan, Tamara Graham has a piece on the North Country Trail that has me thinking of spring hikes.
Substack Restack Attack
Substack is where it’s at. Check out these other superb publications, and then let us know what you think:
Anthony Morganti on Photography: Gestural Photography–I had no clue there was a term or type of photography called Gesture. I’m not sure I quite understand it yet, but I found this story interesting nonetheless.
5AM Storytalk by Cole Haddon: Is This the Greatest Tracking Shot in Film History?--While I’ve never made a movie, I find the process interesting. Cole dives into tracking shots. Check this out and his other story on his 15 favorite tracking shots, including two from Children of Men!
Adventures Yet To Print
I’m nearly finished with the photos and review of Oigs Fest 7 that I attended last weekend. The show was fantastic, and hopefully, I can relay a bit of that awesomeness to you in the post. Guess what is still on deck? That’s right, I still have a rundown of record stores near Detroit with beer in the queue. I'm not sure I’ll get that bad boy out in time for Record Store Day. We’ll see! The next edition of MiBrew Trail will also feature Brenda’s state of the beer industry story with Michigan Brewers Guild executive director Scott Graham. Brenda is also cooking up a rundown of what makes Michigan hot in the hop world for MiBrew Trail.
What Are You Reading?
With the daily 5-milers resuming, my reading (listening) is off and running. I finished The Greatest Beer Run Ever by John “Chick” Donohue for our neighborhood book club. As usual, the book is WAY better than the movie. In fact, I think that Chick Donohue would be sort of pissed after watching the movie as it makes him out to be a bit of a loser which he definitely is not based on his book. It is a great memoir and snapshot of the Vietnam War.
I also jammed through Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, which, like his other books, was extremely thought-provoking and interesting. There is a lot to think about in terms of snap judgments and first impressions. I think it is wild that describing what you experience can change what you think. For example, describing a taste when you are not practiced in the art of tasting can alter your impression of that taste. I’m probably not relaying this correctly, so read the book and share your thoughts with me.
What Are You Spinning?
I had a treasure trove of albums waiting for me when I returned home. One gem is the new Temple of the Fuzz Witch called Apotheosis. They are taking Sabbath-inspired doom to a new level. The songwriting is tight and devastingingly heavy. The addition of blackened vocals adds a dark and vicious edge. Great stuff!
Another bit of gold in the treasure chest is Clutch’s Transnational Speedway League: anthems, anecdotes and undeniable truths, which is the band’s first recording (from 1993). However, this is the first time on vinyl. I think it crushes the CD version. The sounds are brooding, boisterous, and gripping. Everyone should get a copy and let it rip.
That’s A Wrap
Once again, I’ve rambled on for quite a bit. Thanks for hanging in there until the end. I would love to get your feedback on anything in this edition of the Sunday Sip that you liked or didn’t like. While dropping a comment or sending me an email, let me know what else you are up to. Enjoy your day and the rest of the week! Cheers!