Photos "taken" by Ethan Milner

Live music has a way of re-contextualizing its performer.  An example that comes to mind is the “art-metal” outfit Kylesa, who so cunningly convince of their talent by way of excellent recorded production value.  See them once live, however, and marvel at your newfound respect for engineering and production.  Live performance is another beast entirely.

Thus I was apprehensive about what I should expect from a Cass McCombs live show.  McCombs has a strong output of recorded work, including the very complete album Catacombs.  His other records, however, tend to have a few standout tracks but a lot of imbalance, his most recent effort Humor Risk being a prime example.  Would he play a great set incorporating “the hits,” or deliver a recalcitrant one of only new material?  Could McCombs pull off that sneaky falsetto on “County Line?”  Would he play “I Went to the Hospital?”  Would the fireman’s ball in the Crofoot Ballroom spill over and turn the show into a bacchanalian feast of untold ecstasies? So many questions!

Luckily, seeing a show at Pontiac’s Pike Room is rarely a wasted trip, even if the bands aren’t so good.  Nearly every show I’ve seen at the Crofoot complex has sounded stellar, and this one was no exception.  

The man who once said “I want to be famous for falling in love,” comes into Pontiac hot.  Two albums in 2011 found McCombs at a prolific pace, expressing and exploring the many spaces songwriting can go.  His record Wit’s End added soulful, dark touches to his oeuvre.  He followed this with late-year release Humor

Photo by Sandy Kim

Risk, which his press packet claims is ”an attempt at laughter instead of confusion, chaos instead of morality, or, as fellow Northern Californian Jack London said, “I would rather be ashes than dust!”  Sure it is!

What you, reader, must know, is that McCombs is an artist that has continued to grow, to mature musically over the years.  Wit’s End breaks out with a dashing falsetto for Pete’s sake!  Layer beneath that a sense of lyricism clearly influenced by Pop music’s geniuses, from the emotional accuracy of Cohen to the witty beauty of David Berman, and a comfort for experimentation, and you’ll begin to approximate McCombs.  If you think I’m hyperbolizing, check out the lyric video for his outstanding track “I Went To the Hospital.” 

McCombs comes to Pontiac’s Pike Room January 28th.  Doors at 8, show is $10.

Ethan Milner

Chris Bathgate “Salt Year”
The Weeknd “House of Balloons”
Wilco “The Whole Love”
James Blake – “S/T”
Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor “Spectra Spirit”
Real Estate “Days”
Phantasmagoria “Spirit”
Curren$y “Weekend At Burnie’s”
The War on Drugs “Slave Ambient”

Jeremy Porter

1. Glen Campbell “Ghost On The Canvas”
2. Tom Waits “Bad As Me”
3. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit “Here We Rest”
4. Sloan “The Double Cross”
5. Steve Earle “I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive”
6. Tommy Stinson “One Man Mutiny”
7. Drive-By Truckers “Go-Go Boots”
8. Wanda Jackson “The Party Ain’t Over”
9. Emmylou Harris “Hard Bargain”
10. Bottle Rockets “Not So Loud: An Acoustic Evening with the Bottle Rockets”

Jason Revoir

1. Kurt Vile “Smoke Ring For My Halo”
2. Eleanor Friedberger “Last Summer”
3. M83 “Hurry Up We’re Dreaming”
4. Neon Indian “Era Extraña”
5. Tycho “Dive”
6. Active Child “You Are All I See”
7. Fleet Foxes “Helplessness Blues”
8. Death Cab For Cutie “Codes and Keys”
9. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah “Hysterical”
10. New Villager “New Villager”

Steve Barman

1. Beirut “The Rip Tide”
2. Wild Flag “Wild Flag”
3. Washed Out “Within And Without”
4. Tom Waits “Bad As Me”
5. The Drums “Portamento”
6. Cults “Cults”
7. Neon Indian “Era Extraña”
8. St. Vincent “Strange Mercy”
9. Charlie Slick “A Farout Indian”
10. Smoking Popes “This Is Only A Test”

Beard Owl Beard

Break out those bells of folly, because it’s that time of year again! You know, the one when you Christians ceaselessly worship the birth of your baby God. And as the holiday season is afoot, we of little faith must all pinch our noses and inhale the sickly green and red vapors of Christmas cheer! As Bart Simpson once said, “Christmas is a time when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus.”

Okay, maybe I’m being a bit of Scrooge. I like trees and lights as much as the next guy. And fortunately some of these yuletide suppositories come with great food, tunes, art, and community spirit. Such is the case with the forthcoming celebration of Noel Night at the historic Scarab Club in Detroit. Don’t know what the Scarab Club is? Well look it up, you’re on the fucking internet already.

Noel night will feature three floors of entertainment, local art and literature, food, a cash bar, and most importantly, fun local indie folk. Western Michigan favorites Breathe Owl Breathe will be playing, an act that features diverse instrumentation, tingle-inducing harmonies, and a bevvy of feelings. Performance schedule below, or you can visit the Noel Night website HERE.

Performances:

5:15 pm DSA “The Achievers” Ladies Ensemble
6:15 pm Lac La Belle
7:15 pm Little Wings
8:00 pm Breathe Owl Breathe

OUTDOORS: The Allen Park High School Marching Band performs at 7:00.

Today is National Coming Out Day, and here at MCR we’d like to come out as a media ally to the LGBTQQ community!

It can be difficult to understand what’s happening in this world. Amid protestors and bigots and wars and revolutions the plight of people just around the corner, hiding in the margins, can so easily become obscured.

There are almost 700,000 homeless / runaway LGBTQQ youth in this country; the National Runaway Switchboard estimates that young people who identify as LGBTQ are seven times more likely to be a victim of crime than their straight peers.

Today we all have the opportunity to practice tolerance.  We suggest this way to help:

The Ruth Ellis Center is in the midst of a fundraiser! For those who don’t know, Ruth Ellis Center is an organization in Highland Park that offers various services for LGBTQQ youth, including:

• Second Stories, a Street Outreach Program and Drop-Center that serves youth and young adults ages 14 to 24.
• The Ruth’s House has two residential programs, serving LGBTQ youth in need of safe and supportive living conditions. The transitional living program serves young adults 16 to 21; Young people ages 12 to 17 are served through a semi-independent living program

Some other local resources can be found here, a list compiled by Affirmations in Ferndale, an outstanding resource in its own right.

Please consider donating some money or some time to help one of these worthy causes. And please: Be Yourself!