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Art & Music

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Story by Jeff Milo
Photo courtesy of Blue Black Hours

The first weekend of March brings us the third annual Hamtramck Music Festival, a four-day celebration of local music with several unique venues and bars hosting lineups of live performances, featuring more than 150 bands. (www.hamtramckmusicfestival.com)

There can be a lot to choose from, but Ferndale Friends picked power trio Blue Black Hours for their potent and enthralling live presentation, creating atmosphere around the vibe of their signature rock sound with optimized lighting effects, haunting fog and trippy video projections.

Blue Black Hours defy concrete categorization, blending the wavy haze of psychedelia to the muscular thrum of proto-metal and the sludgier, swirlier and sometimes supernatural sensibilities of ‘70s rock. Not pop. Not garage. Very much their own thing.

Blue Black Hours features John “Spurzo” Spurrier on vocals/bass, Scott Lyon on guitar, and Ken Blaznek on drums. Lyon and Spurrier have been playing music together for more than 20 years, pairing with various drummers as the band has evolved. Ken Blaznek joined the band earlier in 2015. Blue Black Hours officially formed in 2005.

“Though we have many varied musical influences,” Spurrier noted, “we never set out to play any particular style or genre. Instead, we would play a lot of improvisational jams and structure our sound around what comes naturally from there. When it comes to writing, we prefer to be in the moment, letting the inspiration flow and acting as conduits for how the song would want to be created. With the music, lyrics and overall vibe, we always had a vision of connecting or reconnecting with an “otherworldly” realm.”

Now, the band has dropped a few names online through their Facebook and Bandcamp pages just to give listeners a reference point: Hawkind, The Doors, Black Sabbath. But it’s better to infer that BBH are conjuring the spirit or the energies of those bands, affecting an ethereal sense of escape or transcendence through a delicate storm of reverb and distortion, often surging or swelling their collective sounds into some kind of aural vortex (the fog is quite evocatively apt for this mad metaphor I’m cooking,) to where the music, the tones, timbres and tight percussion, start to seem as though they’re enveloping the audience (or listener.)

Perhaps you could just picture those blue, black hours, a time of evening darker and more foreboding than twilight and yet also something as spurring or enticing as that gossamer glimmer of pre-dawn light, sparking some sense of the celestial right here on earth, optimally past sunset, now…that…is part of the essence of BBH’s brew of rock. (Telling song titles include Darkness To Light and Sunlight and Dust.)

“That prog or psych genre label seems to tie in with an ‘otherworldly’ vibe, which we are naturally drawn to,” Spurrier said. “Most prog or psych tends to be ‘above the belt’ music, whereas most straight-up rock ‘n’ roll tends to be ‘below the belt.’ We’re fans of both sides of the proverbial ‘rock belt,’ therefore, we play rock ‘n’ roll that covers the whole body. We have the dark, gritty sound of the oil and graveled streets of the city in our music, but with the serene nature of the woods and rivers of the Upper Peninsula in there, too.”

You can wind up tumbling down an Internet rabbit-hole, through message boards and blogs, when it comes to debates or postulations over where a certain band fits, genre-wise. For BBH, it’s more about forging a composite vibe utilizing several of rock’s more sublime elements to hone an optimally transportive experience. BBH co-produced their self-titled full length with Jesse Wozniak in 2012 and began gaining more momentum, locally, since then. It wasn’t until 2014 that they properly released Blue Black Hours. At that same time, they put out a sensational EP titled Sunlight and Dust. Both are currently only available on BBH’s bandcamp: https://blueblackhours.bandcamp.com/

The band said that they are planning to get back into the studio to record the third album soon. Also in the near future, Blue Black Hours and Sunlight and Dust will be available on CD (again) as well as cassette. The two recordings have started bending a few ears toward their direction, some locally, but some internationally. “We plan on doing some touring soon and hopefully hit Europe, where it seems we’re getting some good recognition.”

Meanwhile, close to home, “We are excited to play the Hamtramck Music Festival,” said Spurrier. “We’re glad this is going back to the tradition of what was once known as ‘The Blowout!’ This will also be our first show back with our new drummer, Ken Blaznek, at Paychecks Lounge, on March 5 (a Saturday).”

You can find official set times and the full lineup here: http://hamtramckmusicfestival.com Highlight Paycheck’s Lounge, however, as that’s where you can hear (and see) BBH.

After ten years, Spurrier looks back on he and Lyon’s adventures as “…a series of very interesting inspirations and synchronicities. Honestly, this musical journey would make for a very interesting biography, someday… Really, we were brought together by what would seem to be a sort of divine intervention.

More info:
https://blueblackhours.bandcamp.com/
http://facebook.com/blueblackhours
http://hamtramckmusicfestival.com

If some happened with our heartiness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat emasculation and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong heartiness problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction turn on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this curing passes into breast milk.

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Story by Jeff Lilly
Photos by Jeff Lilly and
courtesy of Puzzle Piece Theatre

On an unseasonably warm January morning, I found myself at 460 Hilton Road, in one of the tiny industrial buildings between 8 and 9 Mile, standing on what was once a factory floor. There, I watched actors Steven Davenport, Anna Marck, and Casey Hibbert stand in a triangle, facing each other, and do a slow series of stretches and motions, perfectly mimicking each other.

ff11654_Page_1_Image_0002D.B. Schroeder, Producing Artistic Director of the Puzzle Piece Theatre, stood nearby, watching this exercise designed to get everyone in synch. In just a few weeks, the three actors will become robots in a modern, steampunk-inspired staging of a 96-year old groundbreaking science fiction play by Czech writer Karel Capek; Rossum’s Universal Robots, or R.U.R. for short. How groundbreaking? Among other things, this is the very work that gave the word robot to the world’s lexicon. Rossum’s Universal Robots is Puzzle Piece’s largest and most ambitious production to date, featuring ten actors. Schroeder calls it a “cautionary tale” that examines many of the same themes of overreliance on technology, dehumanization, and the human cost of progress that its film contemporary, Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, explored.

One wonders if Mr. Capek himself would marvel at the juxtaposition of time, place, and style, the future he imagined versus the future we have, with human concerns remaining timeless. Provoking these conversations and expanding the boundaries of theater are what Puzzle Piece is all about.

“We incorporated in 2011.” Schroeder says. “Our first production was a shared storytelling experience on Belle Isle. We spent about a year getting it together.” Launched with a Kiva microloan, the experience was a success, and money left over was rolled over into the next project.

ff11654_Page_1_Image_0003Puzzle Piece was on its way, but they remained nomadic for the first few years. Based in Mt. Clemens for the first season (two shows,) then the Abreact in Detroit for the following season, both of these early venues closed, forcing them to keep moving. But then, “Bailey Boudreau (Artistic Director of the Slipstream Theatre Initiative) approached us when they found this venue in Ferndale, and asked if we’d like to be in residence here.” During Slipstream’s down time, Puzzle Piece rents the venue and puts on their plays. “I think it’s a great match, because they focus on reimagining the classics, and we skew more contemporary.”

“We try to take storytelling and find new pathways for audiences to approach the work,” Schroeder continues. “I like playing with framing devices. We like to surprise the audience. Often I’ll have the space active, with actors doing things as the audience enters.” Puzzle Piece’s productions are intimate and immediate; for the upcoming staging of R.U.R., there are only 30 seats.

Asked about the process of choosing material, Schroeder explains, “We like doing work that you can’t find other places, work that has topical social themes.” That includes choosing works that stretch boundaries and comfort zones. Last year’s White People explored racism and perceptions of minorities from the perspective of three whites from different places and socioeconomic backgrounds. “It was a controversial show, and we knew that going in.” Schroeder says. Past productions had been criticized, and “Our version was kind of skewered in the Metro Times.” They praised the production, but had issues with the content. For Schroeder, that’s a risk worth taking. “Theater can ask questions that aren’t being asked, or reframe the debate.” He explains. With Detroit seeing a new influx of young whites moving back to a predominantly African-American city, Schroeder points out, it’s also topical.

ff11654_Page_1_Image_0004Puzzle Piece has also performed such diverse works as Matthew Osman’s The Boy Who Cried, a meditation on mental illness and depression presented as the interrogation and trial of a boy accused of being a werewolf; Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, exploring the reactions of those left behind when people flee an area, and Lanford Wilson’s Talley’s Folly, about two outsiders finding their shared value together.

How does a small theater group stay afloat financially? “Our budget is less than $15,000 a year.” Schroeder says. They pay the actors a stipend, which Schroeder wistfully admits is too low for the amount of work the actors put in. Schroeder and Associate Artistic Director Laura Heikkinen, however, volunteer their time to the productions.

A big key is smart use of limited resources. “One of our reviews praised our ‘ingenuity,’ which is a good way to describe us.” Schroeder says. They also have a small but growing core of supporters that provide a good chunk of operating budget. They’ve been successful enough to expand to three shows this season. Puzzle Piece is also starting to sell program space to advertisers, and is actively looking for corporate sponsorship. Puzzle Piece Theatre is a 501c3 charity, so they can offer tax deductions to donors.

Ticket sales, though, are still the most important source of revenue. Letting people know they exist is the biggest problem. With their limited resources best used for production instead of advertising, word-of-mouth and social media are being used to inexpensively build a following. After getting coverage on WDET, Schroeder says, “People have heard of us now. But raising awareness and getting the word out… that’s the key (to growth.)”

Having worked in various theatrical markets across the country (Schroeder is from St. Louis, and worked in Chicago before relocating the the Detroit area,) he is “Very excited by the different type work being done here in Detroit. There really is a place here for different types of work. Audiences here are realy willing to embrace new things.”

Rossum’s Universal Robots runs from February 12 through 28 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 P.M. and Sundays at 2:00 P.M. at the Slipstream Theater, located at 460 Hilton in Ferndale. Tickets are $20 and are only available online. To purchase tickets or for more information on Puzzle Piece Theatre, visit their website at www.puzzlestage.org. Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PuzzlePieceTheatre.

If something happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What folk talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual malfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk.

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Story by Rebecca Hammond
Photo courtesy of Ferndale Garden Club

THERE ARE GREEN MEETINGS in Ferndale and there are enjoyable meetings in Ferndale, and the Garden Club is both.

Want to join a congenial bunch of folks, have great snacks, talk gardening, raise money for scholarships, and discuss green living? Head to the Kulick Center the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 P.M. and enjoy.

The Ferndale Garden Club’s aim is a testament to Ferndale philosophy, combining support for and love of gardening with the protection of native birds and promotion of civic pride. The Club has been in existence almost as long as Ferndale has. Organized in 1931, it became part of the Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan 20 years later. The members call themselves a “dig in the earth club” and emphasize hands-on involvement.

At January’s meeting a series of members gave their choicest tips, even bringing their favorite (and unusual) tools to show and explain. President Dominic Scappaticci told us that nasturtium seeds scattered in any bare places will fill in those spots, overcome any weeds that dare to compete, producing not only lovely flowers but edible leaves. He plants the seeds as early as the end of April, and lets the plants turn to green manure the next winter. Sue McPherson followed up a horticulture report brimming with green tips with her advice on raising and propagating coleus, something she does year-round inside and out. She educated the group on the benefits of native plants, telling us that one clutch of chickadees requires the parents to find 6- to 9,000 caterpillars (and that our natives oaks do a wonderful job of producing them.) A sad fact Sue revealed: we have 50 per cent fewer birds than we did 50 years ago. It doesn’t take much to help them out.

ff11638_Page_1_Image_0002Club member Jean Russell told about a Ferndale Seniors trip to the Rouge plant, part of the tour being a view and explanation of the plant’s huge green roof, a many-acres version of our library’s roof. Jean pointed out something about most of our own good intentions: We live near these wonderful places but often don’t visit them. She noticed more out-of-towners than locals, the foreign languages of auto show attendees being noticeable. The group tends the community garden at our north end of Livernois on Oakridge. If you haven’t strolled through there, take a wander at any time of year. I’m always fascinated by the variety of ground covers.

The club holds a blind auction in November to fund their annual scholarship, given to a FHS student who plans to go into a related field. Counselors at Ferndale High School choose the recipient from applications with at least a 3.0 GPA who are interested in occupations like horticulture, landscaping, and biology.
The group has about 40 members, charges dues of $20 a year, and had a nice crowd of 17 or so in January.

Upcoming events include  in February (who thought we’d ever need to protect our Ferndale Gardens from deer?); The Ferndale Monarch Project (featuring yours truly) in March; Peonies, by Cheryl Black of Black Cat Pottery in April; and in May their annual scholarship presentation.

The Kulick Community Center is located at 1201 Livernois Street in Ferndale. For more info, call (248) 541-6427.

If something happened with our soundness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotency and other states united to erectile disfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual malfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a state called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this physic is not for use in women, it is not known whether this medication passes into breast milk.

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Story by Jeff Lilly & Derek Lindamood
Photos by Fifth Estate

It was 1965, two years before the Summer of Love, but the cultural revolution was already in full swing. 17-year-old Harvey Ovshinsky took a summer trip to California that year, and worked at a little radical underground paper called the L.A. Free Press.

“It talked about the people and things the straight press ignored.” He recalls. Personal freedom, anti-war, anti-establishment. When he returned to Detroit, Harvey decided to start his own underground paper, and named it after the coffee shop above the L.A. Free Press’s offices. Thus was born the Fifth Estate. The first issue, all of eight pages, rolled off the press in November of 1965.

The strain of attending college and publishing soon wore Harvey out, and he enlisted the help of similar-minded radicals. Among them was Peter Werbe, at the time a 20-something college dropout and already a seasoned agitator.

“I started it, Peter saved it.” Harvey explains. “I was burning the candle at both ends.”

The late ‘60s were a heady and fruitful time for radical publishing. Around 500 underground papers were in print. The Fifth Estate boasted a circulation in the tens of thousands, sold in head shops and on street corners by dedicated youth. The struggle against authority was real and visceral. Copies were sent to GIs serving in Vietnam, calling for them to desert. During the chaos of the 1967 Detroit Black Rebellion, the Fifth Estate office, then located on Warren Avenue near Wayne State University, was attacked and gassed by the National Guard.

“We had a situation, there in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, where we thought we might achieve both worldwide revolution and the Age of Aquarius.” Werbe explains. But trouble was coming. Ovshinsky had left the paper in April of 1968 for his alternative service as a conscientious objector after being drafted, leaving Werbe and the others to soldier on. Things fell apart in 1972, after “The re-election of the war-criminal, Nixon.” Underground papers, bereft of direction, folded one by one.

By 1975, nearly alone, the Fifth Estate took a sharp turn toward anarchism. While revolution and struggle were always themes, anarchy became more central to the paper’s identity.

ff11635_Page_1_Image_0003Just what is anarchism? You might picture bomb-tossers in silent films, but in Werbe’s words, it is a “Utopian sense that society could move beyond its negative aspects: violence, war, poverty. The Spanish and Italians talked about ‘the ideal.’ Anarchism is a personal code of conduct to uphold while you’re trying to bring about a different society. Neither side of the current political groups are very admirable.”

The word anarchism comes from ancient Greek, meaning “the absence of a master.” And although anarchism is commonly misunderstood as something violent, it actually aims to create a society within which individuals freely cooperate together, as equals, peacefully, opposing all forms of hierarchical control. Anarchists thus believe that without the artificial restrictions of the State and government, without the coercion of imposed authority, a harmony of interests amongst human beings will emerge.

Werbe says the magazine, now with a Ferndale address, “writes itself,” and continues to pour out articles scrutinizing issues such as expropriations of native people from their land, the role of television as a subjugation mechanism in society, and the existence of capitalism, government, and even money itself. Then, as now, it’s “published by a volunteer collective of friends and comrades. We don’t pay salaries, but we also don’t take ads.” The paper is entirely supported through subscriptions and donations.

But the field, so to speak, has shrunk considerably. The Fifth Estate continues on with a fraction of its 1960s circulation numbers. But the dream, Werbe says, is still alive.

“When you talk about preaching to the choir… there’s a real use for that.” Werbe explains. “You want to keep the congregation together. Right now, a voice within the worldwide anarchist movement that maintains its ideas and vision.”

We’re in Werbe’s office, a little room on one side of his house, the walls covered with framed posters and other memorabilia of Fifth Estate’s long run. Once the target of establishment attacks and scrutiny (the FBI held extensive files on the paper and its crew,) the Fifth Estate has found itself in the unusual position of now being honored by that same establishment. The Detroit Historical Museum and Museum of Contemprary Art Detroit (MOCAD) hosted exhibits honoring the 50th anniversary of the Fifth Estate (the DHM exhibit is still running until August 2016.) Werbe welcomes the ironic honor, even as it amazes him. He shakes his head gently, perhaps perplexedly, as he clicks through photos of the museum exhibits. Still, his collectivist ideals shine through. “Peter refused to take credit in the exhibits.” Harvey explains. “His name is nowhere.”

In the beginning, did Werbe imagine being here fifty years later, still in print, last paper standing?

ff11635_Page_1_Image_0002“I couldn’t even imagine being fifty years older.” Werbe says with a chuckle. Still, he has his eyes on the future. “We’re looking for the next generation… writers to help continue the magazine’s publication for the next 50 years, and also to expand its readership.”

“I think the existence of the Fifth Estate, and Ferndale Friends, puts lie to the idea that print is dead.” Werbe says in closing. “They’re touchable, palpable, real.”

Fifty years of struggle, and many more to come. Utopia is still out there, somewhere over the horizon, and the hope has never wavered that someday, it may yet be reached.

Harvey Ovshinsky is a writer, story consultant, producer, and teacher. He is currently contributing to a biography of his father, Stanford Ovshinsky, a prolific inventor whose accomplishments include the nickelhydride battery. Read more at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Ovshinsky

Peter Werbe, not content with a fifty-year run publishing a paper, has also hosted Nightcall on WRIF for the last four decades (Sundays at 11:00 P.M.) as well as the Peter Werbe Show, featuring interviews, at 1:00 A.M. on Mondays on WRIF and at 6:00 A.M. Sundays on WCSX.

His website is www.peterwerbe.com

The Fifth Estate: www.fifthestate.org

If slightly happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotency and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a status called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

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Story & photos by Kevin Alan Lamb

FEW MONTHS PASS WITHOUT DISCOVERING something new in Ferndale. Did you know that there is a Ferndale Community Concert Band? The FCCB was founded in 2015 as the result of the efforts made by the Ferndale Arts and Cultural Commission, who issued a community survey to find out what residents wanted when it came to fine arts.

Surveys revealed a desire for visual and performing arts. Sharon Chess and Timothy Brennan were appointed to follow up. They issued another survey to determine the genre of performing arts desired. A band emerged as the favorite choice. A Facebook page appeared in February 2015 seeking volunteers, and 104 interested musicians came forward.

Next, Mark Haas, retired Director of Music for Cass Technical High School, paved the path for longtime friend Ed Quick to become conductor. Quick taught music for 30 years, 29 in the Detroit Public Schools where he developed prolific band programs. At the Detroit School of Arts he erected a program that received national and international acclaim. Quick was the assistant band director for the Musical Youth International Band on their 1986 tour of the Far East. That organization also honored him for his efforts to involve talented minority students in their own world musical tours. He received the “Spirit of Detroit” award twice from the Detroit City Council and in 1996 was selected as a “Teacher of the Year” by Newsweek and WDIV-TV.

An illustrious career has been complemented by a busy retirement, as Quick remains active in the music community. He regularly works with area high school ensembles and adjudicates for Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association festivals. Additionally, he is the Director of the New Horizons Band program at the new MSU Community Music School-Detroit.

Yet even with the conductor’s active role, he made time for a Q&A with Ferndale Friends.

Ferndale Friends: What are you most excited for on the 2016 event calendar?

Ed Quick: The FCCB’S April 3, 2016 Concert collaboration with Ms. Ava Ordman, Professor of Trombone at Michigan State University. She will be our featured soloist. On that program, the band will feature Hector Berlioz’s masterwork for band, the Grande Symphonie Funerale et Triomphe, which is rarely performed. Ms. Ordman will be featured, not only on a solo with the band, but also on the second movement of the symphony which features solo trombone.

ff11629_Page_1_Image_0002

FF: What are three things people probably don’t know about The Ferndale Community Concert Band?

EQ: One… The band is made up of people from all over the metropolitan area. Members come from Detroit, St. Clair Shores, Roseville, Grosse Pointe, Highland, Farmington Hills, Dearborn, West Bloomfield, Macomb Township, and Monroe, in addition to Ferndale.

Two… The band has been in existence less than a year, but has already earned a reputation for quality. They have been selected as a featured ensemble for the Motor City Brass Band Annual Festival of Bands. This event brings together each year several of Michigan’s best Community Bands for a collaborative concert each April. The April 10, 2016 Festival of Bands event will be held at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn.

Three… The community band has a large contingent of music educators and active performers in its ranks.

FF: Please elaborate on the significance of performing arts in a community.

EQ: The arts humanize the community, and give us inspiration and opportunities to connect as people. It is the face and fiber of a community, and a source of pride.

FF: Could you imagine a better community for a concert band?

EQ: Ferndale is a perfect place for successful community music ensembles. The Ferndale Public Schools have had superior arts education in place for decades, and the community places great value on this. To have an adult band is a natural extension of the Ferndale performing arts programs. Additionally, the diversity of the city’s population makes Ferndale a very education in place for decades, and the community places great value on this. To have an adult band is a natural extension of the Ferndale performing arts programs. Additionally, the diversity of the city’s population makes Ferndale a very creative place for the arts to flourish.

ff11630_Page_1_Image_0004As the director of the band, I believe that Ferndale should have a community-based music school that would offer music education focused on adults that would include not only the Ferndale Community Concert Band, but a community orchestra, jazz band, and chorus. Even more important, it would include the New Horizons International Music model. New Horizons Music programs provide entry points to music making for adults, including those with no musical experience at all. Many adults would like an opportunity to learn music in a group setting similar to that offered in schools, but the last entry point in most cases was elementary school. This model is highly successful and is used worldwide. Having a program like this would allow all adults to be involved in the arts!

FF: Who is your dream collaboration?

EQ: Northshore Concert Band. The FCCB is modeled after this prestigious band, celebrating their 60th anniversary season in 2016!”

FF: How may someone become a member of the band?

EQ: Qualifications include a high level of playing proficiency. Technical abilities (scales, arpeggios, intervals, rudiments, etc.) advanced rhythms and time signatures, sight-reading skills and the ability to work out individual parts without supervision. If qualified candidates play an instrument that has a full section, they may be placed on a substitute/waiting list, if they desire.The Ferndale Community Concert Band’s next performance is February 21 at the Ferndale High School Auditorium. Admission is free, with a suggested donation at the doors of $3 per person and $5 per family.

How to follow the band:

Website: www.fcconcertband.org

Contact: fcconcertband@gmail.com

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ferndalecommunityconcertband

Special thanks to Mr. Roger Smith, former band director and current Principal of Ferndale High School, Mr. Elon Jamison, Director of Bands at FHS, and Tim Burke, Director of Music for Ferndale Middle School. Both have helped permit the use of Ferndales spacious facilities for rehearsals and concert venue. Mr. Jamison has also serves as guest conductor in the absence of Mr. Quick.

If slightly happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states connected to erectile disfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual disfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

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Hey! IT’S THE HOLIDAYS. YOU’RE ANXIOUS. WHAT’S THAT PERFECT GIFT TO GIVE THAT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU FEEL FULFILLED? I’VE GOT IT. LOCAL MUSIC. WHILE I WAS PUTTING TOGETHER THIS COLUMN, I FOUND IT WAS TOUGH TO NARROW THINGS DOWN. THERE WERE SO MANY AWESOME LOCAL ALBUMS RELEASED THIS YEAR FROM METRO DETROIT ARTISTS. YOU COULD EASILY FIND THE PERFECT GIFT EITHER AT FOUND SOUND IN FERNDALE, OR MAYBE UHF UP IN ROYAL OAK OR STREET CORNER MUSIC IN OAK PARK, JUST BY WALKING IN AND ASKING WHERE TO FIND THEIR “LOCAL MUSIC” SECTION. OR, YOU CAN FIND THE SONGS ONLINE, VIA BANDCAMP.COM OR THEIR MAIN MUSIC SITES (I’LL INCLUDE SOME LINKS.) THE ONLY THING LEFT TO DO NOW IS MAKE A LIST & CHECK IT TWICE! (THEN PRESS “PLAY”.)

RYAN DILLAHA & THE MIRACLE MEN – MIRACLES IN MONO

This poetic singer/songwriter demonstrated his knack for classic honky-tonk, but he couldn’t shake his lingering lean towards a more rock ‘n’ roll swagger. With a tremendous team of players like The Miracle Men having congealed a brotherly chemistry with the Ferndale based Dillaha, they were able to transmit the rock energy of their live shows onto a record that is as pastoral as a heartfelt folk anthology and yet also wears its blue collar scuff marks with quiet pride, as though emitted from a beer-splashed jukebox. ryandillaha.com

DESTROY THIS PLACE – ANIMAL RITES

Because this quartet doesn’t take anything for granted; that’s what makes them dangerous. Local music fans have been seeing these four players in other bands over the last eight or nine years so you already know they’ve got the pop/rock goods; but that doesn’t mean any of them approach DTP’s blitzing songs and live shows with any sense of local super- group entitlement. In fact, Animal Rites shines because of how much attention and meticulous care each player contributed to the overall composition. It may be the loudest, hardest and fastest they’ve ever played in their lives, but their savvy sutures a new kind of grace onto that grit. destroythisplaceband.com

OLD EMPIRE – HOW TO MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Old Empire perfected the popera, or mini pop opera, with their latest batch of rockers. The local quartet go back to the riffy qualities and driving backbeats of seminal indie-rock and imbue it with a sweeter layer of harmonization between its male/female co-leads, laying out rich narratives resonating with eerily relatable sentiments and wisdom-ringing gut punch encounters from a weekender’s life “on the scene.” Old Empire makes the pop jams for the converted cool, the reformed scenesters who’ve attained a more worldly sensibility. Fun, freewheeling stompers that also make you stop and think. oldempire.bandcamp.com

PROTOMARTYR – THE AGENT INTELLECT

This Detroit quartet became the darlings of several tastemaking blogs and hipster music zines across the country with their last record’s exceptional blend of post-punk

caustics, no-wave defiance and art-pop dynamism. Their latest demonstrates a sensibility for effective minimalism; the right tone of guitar over the sparsest clasp of drums and bass with that gravel-ly lead vocal, settin g moods of ponderous dread and cathartic cool. protomartyr.bandcamp.com/releases

VSTRS – VSTRS

VSTRS (as in, Visitors…as in, from an alien world…) are a mixed bag of music, from post-punk to new wave, to alt-rock revivalism and anywhere in between. Spacemen 3 or Mercury Rev or Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins might be good reference points, but that would also leave out some of their other inclinations towards a bit of krautrock and spacey psychedelia. visitorsarehere.bandcamp.com

ANCIENT LANGUAGE – FOLK SONGS

Initially the instrumental compositions of electronic music producer Christopher Jarvis, his brother Zachariah joined a year ago to add funky flourishes of live bass. Fans of seminal trip-hop, ambient electronica and evocative dream-pop should tune in. ancientlanguage.bandcamp.com

800BELOVED – SOME KIND OF DISTORTION

The psychedelic, shoegaze-informed, pop-ensconced noise rock of visionary songwriter / producer Sean Lynch, this trio put out their most invigorating and provocative album to date. Listen now! Their facebook page has hinted at an inevitable self-imposed demise. 800beloved.bandcamp.com

FLINT EASTWOOD – SMALL VICTORIES

This Detroit-based project is powered by Jax Anderson, a force of nature when it comes to forging endearing and relatable lyrics onto irresistible arrangements of dance-pop synthesizers, cinematic sounding guitars, window-rattling bass and nimbly-footed percussive hooks. flinteastwoodmusic.bandcamp.com

THE WHISKEY CHARMERS – THE WHISKEY CHARMERS

I’m continually charmed by the Charmers, a local duo that mine the darker sides of folk, blues and country twang to unearth a literary-tinged mysticism crossed with a quasi campy, geek sophistication; imagine if murder ballads and

ghost stories had a lot of surf-rock reverb. I could imagine their music being on almost any Jim Jarmusch soundtrack. thewhiskeycharmers.bandcamp.com/releases

MEXICAN KNIVES – MEXICAN KNIVES

Dynamic, dark-sider surf punk, with a bit of SW country-rock valiance; sounding something like Quentin Tarantino’s alternate universe conception of CBGBs-era New York grime rock. mexicanknives.bandcamp.com

GEORGE MORRIS & THE GYPSY CHORUS – WE WILL GO TO HELL FOR THIS
A bit of throwback-ish minimalism, bringing an edgy indie- rock aesthetic to a piano and synth-centric pop balladry. There’s a universe of difference between 28 and 18, and Morris, who was initially whisked away to L.A. for his first breakout rock band, has such an endearingly wiser and relatable take on life, not to mention an uncanny sense for the most persistent earworm melodies. georgemorris.bandcamp.com

TUNDE OLANIRAN – TRANSGRESSOR

There are several adjectives I could employ to elucidate this remarkable lyricist, performer, choreographer, designer, and producer; words like awe-inspiring and show-stopper and pop-iconoclast. Electronic, hip-hop, soul, R&B, dance-pop… Everything at once. Tundeolaniran.com

MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE THESE ON YOUR LIST, TOO!

Moonwalks – Lunar Phases – http://moonwalks.bandcamp.com/
Muggs – Straight Up Boogaloo – themuggs.bandcamp.com Valley Hush – Don’t Wait – valleyhush.bandcamp.com Mountain Club – Time Waits for No One – mtnclubmusic.com Crappy Future – Internet Cache – crappyfuture.bandcamp.com
JUNGLEFOWL- Strut – junglefowl.bandcamp.com
LT. Bad – Electromagnetic – ltbad.bandcamp.com
Casual Sweetheart – Always/Never – casualsweetheart.bandcamp.com
Pink Lightning – Blue Skies – pinklightning.bandcamp.com

If something happened with our soundness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a preparation. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotency and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you should look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile disfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as core trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction turn on injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a state called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual malfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

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Story by Sheldon Brown | Photos by Jeff Lilly

Screen Shot 2015-12-13 at 12.20.18 PMWHAT ART HOME DESIGN, Hazel Park, presents can best be described in one word: unique! The enterprise’s promotional post card proclaims that “We work with granite, marble, quartz and limestone.” Have an interior design need? Art Home Design can help, from the kitchen to the bathroom, and any room in between.

“I’ve been serving this community from my present location on John R Road for over 17 years,” reports proprietor Alex Mohammadi. “I had another store in the area before this one.

“That adds up to 34 years in total that I’ve been addressing the needs of people around here. Almost all of my clientele is generated by word-of-mouth recommendations. I’m not a fan of massive conventional advertising.”

Screen Shot 2015-12-13 at 12.20.28 PMHe adds, “That’s the way it was when I worked for my father and later inherited the ownership of his shop in Teheran, Iran before I came to the United States in 1991.”

Mohammadi is one of only a handful of artisans outside of Iran and Iraq to have mastered the art of creating indoor and exterior-designed plaster molding with a knife.

His skill was nurtured by observing his father and the experts around his parent. Mohammadi also studied interior design in Germany.

Another uncommon component of the portfolio spotlighted by Art Home Design is the company’s specialty of putting customized plaster molding in place in home shower rooms. This embellishment is frequently seen in old residences in Europe.

Screen Shot 2015-12-13 at 12.20.35 PM“Aside from our passion for cutting plaster molding,” Mohammadi says, “we are known for our expertise with granite table tops. Our computerized machine finishing, not widely- used hand polishing, generates a great deal of attention for us. So does our ability to make customers happy with two to three-day turnaround versus what other operations in this field promise in two to three weeks! We show more than 800 colors from all over the world. I advise those seeking our help about how our work will fit in with their present decor. That’s a part of our free estimate process.

“I have a designer and carpenter on my staff. Our company favors the team approach to bringing professionalism into the decision making efforts of our customers. Art Home Design does residential and commercial refacing cabinet work, too.

“Providing good service that’s reasonably priced is our policy. We care for our customers from the time we first have contact and into the future,” Mohammadi concludes.

Call (248)546-2777 or go to www.arthomedesigns.net for additional information.

 

If slightly happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states united to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most vital aspect you have to look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile malfunction can be the symptom a strong soundness problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual disfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

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Story by David Wesley | Photos courtesy of Arcade Underground

Arcade Underground, recently opened in downtown December. This show has been well-received and the
Ferndale, is a multi-functional sales and art space featuring art, fashion, and accessories, as well as art demonstrations, classes and gallery space. Ferndale Friends sat down with prime mover Barbara Troy to help get the word out.

Screen Shot 2015-12-13 at 12.09.29 PMFerndale Friends: What inspired you to open Arcade Underground, and what was the initial reception like?

Barbara Troy: I was inspired because of my love for art and fashion design. Initially, a lot of visitors were expecting bargain resale, as is generally available in Ferndale. But in the four months since our opening August 1, (people are coming for) our art exhibitions, too. We are able to offer low cost art and music classes Saturday afternoons. Currently, Detroit painter Alan Watson has a solo show of recent paintings up through mid- gallery is now open until 10:00 P.M. on Fridays and Saturdays to provide more access to this wonderful show.

FF. What are your long-term goals with Arcade Underground?

B.T. Meeting expenses, and bringing in more local artists and clothing designers. We have just added an
online webstore to our website: www.detroitartflea.com and plan for NY and international sales, as half of our 1000+ monthly visitors to our site are from outside the Detroit area and with many from Europe and Asia. Most all our clothing sales are ready-to-wear women’s clothing. We want to expand our made-to-order
designs and have brought in some mens clothing and plan to expand that. My fortune cookie today says that I will be coming into a fortune. I’m looking forward to that!

FF. How have you seen Arcade Underground’s impact on the community so far?

B.T. Arcade currently has a core of several excellent established local artists and designers on board. We have excellent community support and are sharing marketing with our neighboring shops and restaurants. Arcade now carries City Girls Soap, made of goat’s milk in Pontiac. Designer Betsey Johnson of NYC has some wonderful earrings consigned here. Actress Jaclyn Strez has some of her evening wear available. Old friend rocker Troy Gregory (Ferndale and Paris) and I have partnered on a t shirt designed from one of his paintings.

Troy has hand-signed the shirts and they are on sale at Arcade and on Band Camp. We want to continue to involve the community and artists. Anime artist Deb Scott of Ferndale will be hosting several workshops in December (ages 12 to adult) where during a three-hour Saturday afternoon session participants will make a personal animated e-greeting card. Stay tuned to our website for dates and times of these workshops, which will be held on site at Arcade Underground. Old friend and photographer Dennis Cox will be exhibiting some of his photographs and selling his coffee-table book here. We seek more local functional art such as ceramics, glassware and hand-made clothing items.

Arcade Underground is located at 195 West 9 Mile Road, downstairs in Suite B-1. Phone 248-376-6331 or visit their website at www.detroitartflea.com

If some happened with our soundness, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotency and other states connected to erectile dysfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What people talk about “viagra stories“? The most essential aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong heartiness problem such as heart trouble. Causes of sexual disfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual dysfunction. Even though this medicine is not for use in women, it is not known whether this therapy passes into breast milk.

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Story by David Wesley | Photos by Ed Abeska

LAWRENCE STREET GALLERY was established in 1987 by a small group of artists to showcase and sell their work in a gallery setting. Soon the membership expanded their goals to include other Michigan artists’ works by opening up the gallery space for solo, two- person, and group exhibitions; holding juried competitions in several different media such as photography, printmaking, ceramics and drawing/ figure exhibitions, and inviting other admired artists to participate in invitational exhibitions.

Screen Shot 2015-12-11 at 3.45.23 PMExhibits change monthly. Members are also encouraged to have their own solo shows. A lively, creative group that loves to display other area artist’s work along with their own leads to exhibit- ions that contain interesting and various media. On display at the gallery are unique artistic pieces in a wide range of media including acrylic, oil, and watercolor paintings, drawings, fibers, prints, ceramics, black and white, color, and experimental photography, metal, clay, bronze, and wood sculpture, jewelry and painted furniture.

One of the key goals of the gallery is showcasing the vast field of talented artists in local region. Another is to provide visitors with an assortment of fresh, one-of-a-kind original works at buyer-friendly prices. Their optimal membership is 28 artists, and a member artist is always available to serve and advise you as you explore the gallery.

Laura Whitesides Host has been with the Gallery from the beginning and she gave Ferndale Friends a behind- the-scenes take on the the gallery’s history.

Ferndale Friends: What inspired you and the others to start Lawrence Street Gallery?

Laura Whitesides Host: I met Carolyn Fontana, who owned a gallery in downtown Pontiac, at a party at my friend’s home back in 1986. She had bought the old Salvation Army building on Lawrence Street, and it had been the location of the Schweyer Galdo Gallery before she had purchased it. It was a beautiful gallery with large windows and soaring ceilings.and expansive wall space to exhibit a lot of artwork.

She didn’t have a lot of experience in running a gallery, but she had plenty of enthusiasm. She was thinking about changing it to an artist cooperative gallery so she would not have to do all the work. My closets were full of paintings with nowhere to go, so I attended a meeting she held to show area artists the gallery space. I took a friend along and after seeing it, we decided to take a chance. I think there were about 12 artists who ended up in the original group.

Screen Shot 2015-12-11 at 3.45.31 PMWe decided to incorporate the next year and called it Lawrence Street Gallery. Most of us really enjoyed the whole business of presenting our art and selling our work. We had all entered juried art exhibits, but really never had a chance to have our work presented in a gallery setting month after month.

We started having special themed exhibits and art fashion shows as well as teaching creative writing in the gallery setting to reach more artists. Part of our mission has always been to help area artists exhibit their work and have the public come and see the amazing work being created in this area. We gradually became a larger group and the building was sold, so we moved to Saginaw Street (Pontiac’s main street downtown) and decided to keep the name of the gallery. We were one of the first galleries in (downtown Pontiac) in the late 80’s and atone point there were 13 galleries that had openings on the First Friday of every month.

Alas, we were one of the last to leave the area and relocated to Ferndale on Woodward Avenue in 2003, keeping the Lawrence Street Gallery name. We were able to have enough room to have 30 members exhibit and have room for a featured exhibit in the front of the gallery.

FF: How have you seen Lawrence Street Gallery impact the Detroit art scene over the years?

Screen Shot 2015-12-11 at 3.45.36 PMLWH: We have exhibited many area artists’ work and many have gone on to exhibit nationally. There aren’t many art co-ops around and we are proud to still be going strong after all these years. Somehow we have found the ideal business model for an art gallery to continue.

FF: What would you and the others like to see for Lawrence Street’s future?

LWH: I would like to see continued excitement from artists to participate in the gallery’s business. I can’t believe it’s been almost 30 years since those first days. I have enjoyed the planning of event and exhibits, helping other artists learn the business of being an artist, and meeting so many creative people. It’s a lot of work, but made easier doing it with a group. All our members have gone through a jury process as well as the solo guest artists. I know I have benefited immensely by being a member of LSG. Remember my friend that came with me that first night in 1986? She’s still a member. We’re the last two original members still working at the gallery!

The Lawrence Street Gallery is located at 22620 Woodward Avenue, Suite A in Ferndale. For information on their upcoming exhibits or for information on entering your work there, visit www.lawrencestreetgallery.com or call 248-544-0394

If something happened with our health, we believe there is a solution to any maladies in a medicament. What medicines do patients purchase online? Viagra which is used to treat impotence and other states coupled to erectile malfunction. Learn more about “sildenafil“. What men talk about “viagra stories“? The most substantial aspect you must look for is “sildenafil citrate“. Such problems commonly signal other problems: low libido or erectile dysfunction can be the symptom a strong health problem such as soul trouble. Causes of sexual dysfunction include injury to the penis. Chronic disease, several medicaments, and a condition called Peyronie’s disease can also cause sexual disfunction. Even though this physic is not for use in women, it is not known whether this treatment passes into breast milk.

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