Entertainment

Enjoy patriotic tunes during 'Ypsi Pops' at Riverside Park

Ann Dwyer — Tue, 21 May, 2013 1:08 p.m.

The Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra and Ypsilanti High School Marching Band will present Ypsi Pops at Riverside Park on Saturday.

'The Voice' 2013: Bloggers like Michelle Chamuel's chances

Bob Needham — Tue, 21 May, 2013 12:22 p.m.

• Related story: Michelle Chamuel wows "The Voice" judges

Last night on "The Voice," former Ann Arbor resident Michelle Chamuel again impressed the judges, Usher, Adam Levine, Shakira and Blake Shelton. And today, much of the online community following NBC's singing competition seems to agree.

A sampling:

Ann Arbor City Club to hold annual car show

Ann Dwyer — Tue, 21 May, 2013 10:20 a.m.

See unique, one-of-a-kind classic vehicles Saturday at the annual Classics at the City Club at the Ann Arbor City Club.

Livingston Taylor talks about record industry, new songs ahead of Ark show

Kevin Ransom — Tue, 21 May, 2013 6:41 a.m.

Livingston Taylor

photo by Philip Porcella

For roughly the first 20 years of Livingston Taylor’s music career, starting in about 1969-'70, he devoted himself full-time to performing and recording.

But in 1989, Taylor joined the faculty of the Berklee School of Music—and, all these years later, he continues to teach two Stage Performance courses per semester.

So, for these last 24 years, Taylor has enjoyed the variety of being both a performer / recording artist and a teacher. And in the last few years, he’s also become involved in the administration at Berklee, so these days, he’s at the school four days a week.

Consequently, he does not spend as much time recording and performing as he did in his pre-Berklee days. He’s released two albums in the last 15 years, and he mostly limits his “touring” to the summer months, when he’s not teaching. Although, during the school year, he still frequently does weekend shows in the Boston area, where he lives, but out of town as well.

Michelle Chamuel wows 'The Voice' judges with Pink's 'Just Give Me a Reason'

Jenn McKee — Mon, 20 May, 2013 11:40 p.m.

Former Ann Arborite Michelle Chamuel nailed yet another performance on NBC's "The Voice" on Monday, May 20, singing Pink's "Just Give Me a Reason" to close the show.

Celebrate 15 years of the Blackbird Theatre at Frenchie's

Ann Dwyer — Mon, 20 May, 2013 12:48 p.m.

It's the little theater company that could. And they have, for 15 years, by presenting bold theater productions up close and personal—and sometimes outdoors. To celebrate, they're doing what nearly every adult does after some hard work and having a well-deserved drink.

Andrew WK talks about his youth in Ann Arbor, My Little Pony, and more

Jenn McKee — Mon, 20 May, 2013 10:57 a.m.

Island Records

Ann Arbor native and “Party Hard” rock star Andrew WK (Wilkes-Krier) has had, to put it mildly, an eclectic career.

His life in music began at age 4, when he started studying classical piano; and throughout his teens, he was part of several bands. Eventually, after WK moved to New York, his party-anthem hit "Party Hard" brought him national attention back in 2001.

Since then, he has since stayed famous by way of: motivational speaking (at NYU and Yale, among other places); an appearance at a My Little Pony conference; an apparent appointment as a U.S. cultural ambassador to the Middle East (which the U.S. Department of State revoked just before WK was scheduled to fly to Bahrain); being named spokesman for Fresh + Sexy Wipes; being co-owner of New York’s Santos Party House in New York City; and belting Ramones songs with Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg at Santos and, soon, on a world tour.

Before that happens, though, WK will play a secret late-night show in Southeast Michigan on May 25, following his performance at Howell’s Bledfest music festival. The money raised by WK's midnight show will support Ann Arbor’s Community High School. WK attended CHS from 1993-97.

Details about the location and time of the secret house party will be released via Twitter following WK’s set at Bledfest.

Celebrate spring at the Paesano 'Micro Brew-Haha'

Ann Dwyer — Mon, 20 May, 2013 10:29 a.m.

This spring has been ridiculous. However, you can enjoy the good days in style with the help of the Micro Brew-Haha dinner at Paesano restaurant on the patio.

Watch Ann Arbor's Dominican Sisters of Mary team compete in 'American Bible Challenge' finals May 23

Jenn McKee — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:49 a.m.

A three-woman team from Ann Arbor's Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist - "a Roman Catholic community of women … founded in the Dominican tradition to spread the witness of religious life in accord with Pope John Paul II's vision for a new evangelization," according to DSM's website - became the first established finalists on Game Show Network's "American Bible Challenge" this season, and they will compete for the grand prize of $100,000 on an episode that's scheduled to air May 23.

Multi-band Nirvana tribute returning to Blind Pig

Kevin Ransom — Mon, 20 May, 2013 5:41 a.m.

A vintage Nirvana publicity photo

When Dustin Lince organized the first Nirvana tribute show at the Blind Pig, in 2004, the year had historic significance. That year was the 10th anniversary of Nirvana singer-songwriter-guitarist Kurt Cobain taking his own life.

That show was a one-off deal, but Lince revived the Nirvana tribute concert in 2010, and has turned it into an annual event. Friday will be the third annual Nirvana tribute show at the Pig.

For Lince and other musicians his age—he's 38—Nirvana—which itself played the Blind Pig a couple of times—still stands out as one of the most important bands that came along in his lifetime.

"I was born in 1975, so they came along when I was in high school, in Pinckney," recalls Lince, who sings for one of the bands on the bill.