Tuesday, January 06, 2009

NIGHT & DAY

Edited by Megan O'Neil

1/6/2009

Black Jake and the Carnies

The Ark, Ann Arbor.

Ypsilanti's foot stompin', whiskey swillin' and banjo pluckin' "kings of crabgrass" celebrate the squalling, bloody birth of 2009 with one of their typically raucous live shows. Their backwoods-meets-concrete sound melds old-timey strings with fast-paced lyrics and a punk rock ethos (available for your listening pleasure on their debut Where the Heather Grows). Enjoy two sets of cautionary tales, murder ballads and rowdy reels, along with carnival games (they call themselves carnies, after all) at 8 p.m. at the Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1800; theark.org; $15.

1/8/2009

Phil Woods and Sophie Milman

Max M. Fisher Music Center, Detroit.

1/9/2009

Robert Gordon

Magic Bag, Ferndale.

Featuring Chris Spedding. With George Friend & Black Beauty.

1/9/2009

Rubberbandance Group

Power Center for the Performing Arts, Ann Arbor.

1/9/2009

Wild Years

Corktown Tavern, Detroit.

With Prussia and Pop Songs for People.

1/9/2009

Vagabond Opera

Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit.

1/10/2009

Russian National Ballet Theater's Don Quixote

Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, Detroit.

1/10/2009

Rubberbandance Group

Power Center for the Performing Arts, Ann Arbor.

1/10/2009

Bacchanal Closing Party

Izzy's Raw Art Gallery, Detroit.

This riotous celebration has less to do with drunken revelry and more with artistic carousing (although we're willing to bet booze was involved at some point in the creative process). Representatives of Detroit's eclectic musical mélange used paint, ink, found objects, trash, dirt, debris and who knows what else to create visual explorations of their sonic talent. Artists include a wonderfully varied cadre of miscreants including Tim Vulgar, T.M. Caldwell, Ron Zakrin, Danny Kroha, Wendy Case, Jaimie Easter and more. The show will be on display through Jan. 10 with a closing party that night at Izzy's Raw Art Gallery, 2572 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 248-207-7547.