Cloud Nothings // Magic Stick / April 4
by Ian Cruz
Let me start off by saying that the Cloud Nothings’ third album “Attack on Memory” has grown to be one of my top picks for Best New Music in 2012. This band has more momentum than most of the music reviewed in any publication. Having been a side project and solo effort for frontman Dylan Baldi, Cloud Nothings have grown from being an almost pseudo, pop-punk outfit into a group of guys who just want to rock without being taken too seriously. To think they pulled off this much in only three years is a bit overwhelming, even to their listening audience. But what this means is more music, and it just keeps getting better with each new record.
Having watched hours of video footage of their live performances on YouTube, Cloud Nothings are one of those bands worth catching at your local bar. Unlike some of the bands I’ve seen lately, these guys actually move on stage! Songs like “Wasted Days” come to life when they are played to the crowds of people who come to the shows.
And now you’ll get your chance, as they will be playing the Magic Stick in downtown Detroit on April 4. Tickets are available online for $10 via TicketWeb.
Mac Miller // EMU Convocation Center / April 4
By Aimee Mandle
Pittsburgh native Mac Miller is making his way through Michigan once again – and just in time to introduce fans to his newest project “Macadelic.” Releasing his latest mixtape just a few weeks before the show hits town, Miller will be expanding his musical repertoire to more than just party jams. Opening acts also include The Come Up and The Cool Kids.
Since his solo start in 2009, Miller has released several mixtapes that have helped him gain a substantial following of fans all over the world. But it wasn’t until he signed with Rostrum Records in 2010 and released “K.I.D.S.” that he began to make his mark. In November 2011, Miller debuted his first studio album, “Blue Slide Park,” which featured content based on places and faces from his hometown.
No doubt fans will be looking forward to hearing hits “Donald Trump” and “Party on 5th Ave” as well as his latest creations. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.emutix.com for $30.
The Naked and Famous // The Crofoot / April 6
By Aimee Mandle
Chances are you’ve probably heard at least one song from New Zealand band The Naked and Famous already. The group has been featured in a variety of television shows, movies and commercials over the last few years and continues to pop up all over the map.
The Naked and Famous formed in 2008 and immediately released two EPs on an independent label. After adding two more band members, the group debuted single “Young Blood,” which created a growing buzz among critics and listeners alike. Once signed with UK label Fiction Records, they released studio album “Passive Me, Aggressive You.” Since then, the band has garnered great deal of attention that has earned them several awards.
The Naked and Famous will be performing on Friday, April 6 at The Crofoot in Pontiac. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $15. Opening acts are Now, Now and Vacationer.
Seth Glier // The Ark / April 7
By Mary Simkins
Emmy-nominated Seth Glier will be at Ann Arbor’s the Ark on April 7 as part of a nationwide tour. While this is not Glier’s first time at the Ark, it will be his first show as headliner, and crowds can expect thoughtful songwriting and skillful instrumentals as the Massachusetts native takes the stage.
Working as both musician and producer, Glier records his vocals at a project studio which he owns. Compared to singing/songwriting greats Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel, Seth Glier brings a unique vocal style to his piano pop music. His music alternates between sedately lyrical and soulfully bluesy, with the track “The Next Right Thing” earning national attention.
The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and available online at theark.org. You can check out a sampling of Glier’s songs at myspace.com/sethglier.
The Cribs // The Crofoot / April 10
by Paul Kitti
Hey scenesters, did the last album from The Strokes leave you feeling a little displaced? Are there not enough minimalistic retro-punk “The-somethings” type bands on tour this season? Well don’t put your Velvet Underground t-shirts into storage just yet because The Cribs are coming to town.
Ok, I had my tongue pressed against my cheek while I was writing that. Insulting your own audience typically doesn’t illicit the most positive response, unless you’re a group of nothing-to-lose UK punkers with not only a garage band sound, but a garage band mentality. Their intentionally lowbrow joke of a catchy single “Hey Scenesters” was told and retold on British airwaves in 2005, but I think most people got it right away. Not only did it avoid alienating their genre’s fan base, it garnered such a positive response so that now, seven years later, The Cribs are alive and well and coming to Pontiac. And you don’t have to be a scenester to gain entrance, by the way. You just gotta have a soft spot for Britpop with a dogged attitude and crystal-clear hooks (and a ticket wouldn’t hurt).
The Cribs will be playing at the Crofoot on April 10, and tickets can be purchased at the venue’s website for $12. I’ll end with an understatement: you can expect this to be energetic.
Ingrid Michaelson // Royal Oak Music Theatre / April 11
By Marissa McNees
Ingrid Michaelson will be playing to a sold-out crowd at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on April 11. Even if you don’t think you’re familiar with Michaelson’s music, odds are good that you’ve heard one her songs on any number of television shows or advertisements.
Best known for her stirring songwriting and sweet melodies, Michaelson has been on in the indie-pop scene and releasing albums since 2005. Michaelson hasn’t exactly rushed onto the indie music stage and stolen the spotlight. Singing backup vocals on PlayRadioPlay’s album “Texas” and collaborating with Sara Bareilles have helped create a wide-ranging and eclectic presence.
Michaelson’s latest album, “Human Again” was released in January 2012 and took the Number Two spot on U.S. Rock charts (Number One in the indie category).
Although the April 11 show is sold-out, there’s still a chance you’ll be able to pick up some tickets from Stubhub – or at the very least you can sample some of Ingrid Michaelson’s music and learn more about her at ingridmichaelson.com. Doors are at 7 p.m.
Rodrigo y Gabriela // Royal Oak Music Theatre / April 14
by Marissa McNees
International music duo Rodrigo y Gabriela, known by their fans as Rod and Gab, will be making their way through the Midwest this April. One of their few stops will be the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Saturday, April 14.
Known for their unique, acoustic sound, what really sets this group apart is their devotion to hard rock. Since their self-released album in 2001, the duo has sold over one million records and sold out tours around the world – one of which including a trip to the White House to play for President Barack Obama.
Earlier this year, Rodrigo y Gabriela released their newest album, “Area 52,” as their first ever collaboration with another group of musicians. For this project, the duo teamed up with a thirteen-piece Cuban orchestra, collectively known as the C.U.B.A. The album won 11 Latin Grammys.
For more information on Rodrigo y Gabriela or to purchase tickets for the show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on April 14, please visit rodgab.com.
fun. // St. Andrew’s / April 15
by Paul Kitti
They came in droves some ten to twelve years ago and, while many have since disappeared, others have slid into their place like top-of-the-pile gumballs at the turn of the crank. There never seems to be any shortage of bands in the bubblegum-pop-rock machine, but finally here’s one that brings some charisma and inventiveness to the mix.
I’ll go ahead and warn you right away: if you want to see the anthemic indie darlings make good on their slowly accumulating critical buzz at St. Andrews Hall on April 15th, you may have to Stubhub your way in because it sold out weeks ago. But this tuneful trio is sure to make any extra navigation worth it. Their second album “Some Nights” was released in February with the single “We Are Young” debuting at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s rousing and, under the right conditions, chill-inducing, with singer Nate Ruess (formerly of The Format) coming through loud, smooth and empathetic. After years in pop-rock rotation it seems that he’s found a sort of soul project in this new band – where the lesson is that you can have fun and be smart about it.
Bela Fleck & the Flecktones // Michigan Theater / April 19
by David Nassar
Really, what can you say other than, “He’s the man.” Perhaps no one since Jimi Hendrix has done more to redefine the possibilities of what a single instrument can do. For decades, Bela Fleck has used his finger-picking prowess to wow audiences with his banjo-laden bluegrass, jazz and world music. Now, for the first time in 20 years, the original lineup of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones reunites and hits the road.
Hot off the heels of their Grammy-winning 2011 release, “Rocket Science,” Bela and the boys blast off on a world tour that will land them at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. If you’ve never seen Fleck perform live, it is truly one of the most awe-inspiring musical experiences you can have at a live show. Few can hold a candle to the artistry of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones. To put it simply, they are in a league of their own.
Tickets are available starting at $29.50, and the show starts at 8:00 p.m. For tickets and information, visit MichiganTheater.org.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. // Majestic Theatre / April 21
by Paul Kitti
If making good music isn’t enough to amass attention, donning a peculiar moniker and performing in NASCAR suits should get the job done. Michigan’s own Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. plays it safe with all three, proving to be one of the most interesting acts to come out of the mitten in the last year.
Daniel Zott and Joshua Epstein are indie-pop technicians whose production-savvy instincts fuel their charming, if not calculated, sound, but with a reputation for quirky stage antics and occasionally blazing energy, they’re as strategic on the stage as they are in the studio. Check out their debut album “It’s A Corporate World” if you haven’t already, because that’s the first half of getting to know this exciting new band. The second will be when these guys come to play in their home state on April 21 in what I expect will be an amusingly bizarre and rocking experience.
You can get your tickets from ticketmaster for $15. And, in case you’re wondering, their namesake is reportedly a fan.
Five Year Engagement Pre-Screening // Michigan Theater / April 20
Courtesy of 826 Michigan
Imagine, if you will, a red carpet. Imagine those weird rotating spotlights that always go along with red carpets. Other possible elements: the glitter of flashbulbs, screaming crowds, the scent of really good popcorn.
Now imagine that you are at the Michigan Theater on April 20 for a special pre-release screening of The Five-Year Engagement with writer/director/producer Nicholas Stoller and producer Rodney Rothman.
This filmed-in-Ann-Arbor, set-in-Ann-Arbor, featuring-such-Ann-Arbor-things-as-Zingerman’s-and-Liberty-Square movie has been greatly anticipated by many Michigan natives who are both fans of Stoller, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt and all things local.
Beginning where most romantic comedies end, this new film from director Nicholas Stoller, producer Judd Apatow and Rodney Rothman looks at what happens when an engaged couple (played by Segel and Blunt) keeps getting tripped up on the long walk down the aisle.
The night will also feature a Q&A session with Stoller and Rothman at the Michigan Theatre. General admission tickets are $20. Or bump yourself up to VIP status with tickets including movie admission with reserved seating and a special post-screening, catered-by-Zingerman’s wine and cocktail party with Stoller and Rothman. (And when you’re thinking Hollywood, you can never tell which A-list friends might show up . . .
Devin the Dude // Blind Pig / April 20
by Marissa McNees
Fans of underground hip-hop looking for something to do on Friday, April 20 should be sure to check out rapper Devin the Dude as he makes his way to the Blind Pig.
Often viewed as rap’s best kept secret, Devin Copeland, as he’s known when he’s not performing, will be bringing special guests Coughee Brothaz North, his former hip-hop group formerly known as the Odd Squad.
Copeland has released seven solo albums to date, his most recent being “Gotta Be Me” in 2011. On top of taking over the underground hip-hop scene, he has worked with artists such as Young Jeezy, Tech N9ne and Dr. Dre.
Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased at blindpigmusic.com with doors opening at 9 p.m. on the night of the show. The Blind Pig is an 18-and-older venue.
Cults // Magic Bag / April 22
by Ian Cruz
The brother-sister duo (which they aren’t, but sometimes like to say they are in interviews) known as Cults will be bringing their 60’s pop outfit to Ferndale’s the Magic Bag. And since I am sure most of our readers adore Cults’ self-titled debut, to see them live would mean you are going to hear that album in almost its entirety – and probably not much else. I say this because in a recent interview on Pitchfork.tv’s video series +1, guitarist Brian Oblivion went on to say that today’s standard of playing new songs before they are released is a bad idea – why? Because of cellular phones.
“If you play a new song ever, it’s like 500 crappy versions of that song and they’re making their rounds all over the places,” said Oblivion. “Some shitty version of a new song is not how we want that new song to be heard or be seen, ya know? You want to give people something that’s going to be good for them.”
Cults recently played the infamous South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. Their show in Ferndale will be on April 22 at the Magic Bag. Tickets are available at the venue and can be purchased online at TicketWeb for $15.
Sleigh Bells // St. Andrew’s / April 25
by Amanda Slater
Hot off their new album “Reign of Terror,” Sleigh Bells are going to be back in the D and ready to rock. For those unfamiliar with the Brooklyn-based pop meets hardcore duo, Sleigh Bells consists of Alexis Krauss (formerly a member of the teen pop group Rubyblue) and Derek Miller (formerly the guitarist for hardcore band Poison the Well). The two met in 2008 at a Brazilian restaurant in Brooklyn where Miller was waiting tables. The result was a success almost overnight. Their debut album “Treats” featured easily stuck-in-your-head tracks such as “Crown on the Ground,” “Infinity Guitars,” “Rill Rill” and “Kids,” which have been featured in various commercials and promos. Now, with new album “Reign of Terror” having been recently released along with single “Comeback Kid,” Sleigh Bells are ready to continue doing what they do best – making music that’s as catchy as it is loud and putting on fantastic shows that ooze with energy and make audience members practically want to jump on stage to sing along. Catch them at 7 p.m. on April 25 at Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit. Tickets are $22.
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