THURSDAY AUGUST 13
Fucked-Up Movie Night
SILVER SCREEN STIMULI
Once a month, the cinephiles behind Fucked-Up Movie Night screen cinematic obscurities for just $2, featuring everything from underground foreign masterpieces and campy sci-fi to overlooked comedies and low-budget, made-for-TV melodramas. This week's offerings include This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse, the second film in Brazilian filmmaker José Mojica Marins' Coffin Joe trilogy, which follows the sadistic undertaker Coffin Joe on his bloody quest for the perfect woman; and Girl Boss Blues: Queen Bee's Counter Attack, a 1971 example of the Japanese pinky-violence genre — action flicks featuring badass chicks as the head of mafia gangs. Doors at 7 p.m., films start at 7:30 at 555 Gallery and Studios, 5716 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 888-495-ARTS; info at myspace.com/detroitmovienight.
FRIDAY AUGUST 14
Ann Arbor Art Center Annual All-Media Exhibition
PAINT FOR THE PRIZE
The Ann Arbor Art Center has presented this annual juried exhibit yearly since 1922, featuring work in a variety of media by artists from all over the state, ranging from emerging talents to established maestros. This year's juror is Detroit's own Mitch Cope, of Design 99 and Power House fame. The exhibit opens with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ann Arbor Art Center, 117 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-994-8004, ext. 101. Works will be on display through Sept. 27. And for info on the numerous workshops and classes — from throwing pots to wine appreciation — that the Art Center offers in addition to exhibitions, see annarborartcenter.org.
FRIDAY AUGUST 14
The Breeders
YOU'RE A CANNONBALL
Fans of enigmatic '90s alternative rockers the Breeders are used to having to wait — nine years between breakthrough success Last Splash, which featured the radio-friendly hit "Cannonball," and the lo-fi weirdness of 2003's Title TK, and then another six before last year's critically acclaimed Mountain Battles. So it comes as a pleasant surprise that the Breeders, led by twin sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, are already back on tour in support of another release. The Fate to Fatal EP is replete with the messy rock, quirky charm and oddly appealing whisper-shout vocals that have kept the Breeders an indie rock mainstay despite the years of inactivity. With Whispertown 2000 at 8 p.m. at the Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac; 248-858-9333; thecrofoot.com; $17; all ages. The quartet will also be signing records at 2 p.m. at Stormy Records, 13210 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-581-9322.
FRIDAY-SUNDAY AUGUST 14-16
African World Festival and International Caribbean Festival & Parade
BETCHA BY GOLLY WOW AND MORE
In a local display of Pan-African unity, the African World Festival and the Caribbean Festival join forces for a massive shebang hullabaloo throwdown at Hart Plaza. Friday headliners include Amp Fiddler, Johnnie Bassett and Bobby Murray, plus a tribute to the late Baatin of Slum Village. Saturday features a ?uestlove DJ set, Marcus Belgrave, Pathe Jassi and Russell ("Betcha By Golly, Wow") Thompkins Jr. and the New Stylistics. Sunday goes over the top with the Platinum Pied Pipers, Thornetta Davis, Roberta Flack and Sister (Black Cinderella) Carol. That's not to mention such attractions as African drumming, a carnival pageant, a step show, a free-throw competition and the annual Caribbean Parade (which dances from the intersection of Mack and Woodward avenues toward Hart Plaza at 11 a.m., with judging at the plaza to follow). From noon to 11:30 p.m. each day; full schedule at awfdetroit.com; call 313-494-5824; free.
SATURDAY AUGUST 15
Otep
NU-METAL MUTINY
The eponymous Otep Shamaya founded this metal fusion quartet in Los Angeles in 2000. A record deal and a spot on Ozzfest quickly followed, thanks to the unrestrained drama of the group's live performances and Shamaya's sinisterly sexy metal-girl growl. The group has become known for infusing its music with erudite political outspokeness — Shamaya, also a poet and painter, even spoke at the Democratic National Convention last year — as well as for its savvy use of technology, from social networking sites to streaming live performances, all of which helps the band keep in near-constant contact with its rabid fans. Otep is on tour in support of Smash the Control Machine, their forthcoming fourth disc, which promises to deliver a hearty "fuck you" to corporate pigs while applauding the tireless working class. Viva la revolución! At 5 p.m. at Harpo's, 14238 Harper Ave., Detroit; 313-824-1700; $15; all ages.
SUNDAY AUGUST 16
GOLD Arts & Music Festival
ENTERTAINING ARTS
Organized by the Factory, Rochester's all-ages music club, the GOLD Arts & Music Festival is a free, community celebration of the arts, featuring demonstrations, clinics by local businesses, and performances by buzzworthy local bands. Art and biz participants include JC's Drummin Music Center, Sound Music Instruction, Carl Lundgren Art Studios, Shionne Designs and the Crofoot, plus 323 East Gallery and Rock 'n' Rummage will be hawkin' hip shit to take home with you. Bands include Millions of Brazilians, the Hard Lessons, Zoos of Berlin, Daniel Zott, Javelins and more. Other activities include face painting, rock wall climbing and mini-golf. The family, pet and earth-friendly fest takes place from noon until 10 p.m. in the parking lot of the downtown Rochester farmer's market at the corner of E. Third and Water streets, Rochester; further info at goldmusicfest.com.
SUNDAY AUGUST 16
Music Menu Reunion Party
SING THE BLUES FOR A GREAT CLUB
"The Music Menu won't ever make Mojo's hot list, or house fistfights between flavor-of-the-week candyasses, but it's an institution of expression, in all its deeply, beautifully flawed majesty. It was one of the only downtown spots for jazz, blues, R 'n' B and rock, and within weeks it will close its doors for good," opined a saddened MT scribe at the loss of the Greektown hangout in 2004. Five years on, fans and former denizens are primed to sing the blues in the Menu's memory. In on the action are Jazzhead, the Brothers Groove (with Johnnie Bassett and the Motor City Horns), Thornetta Davis, Audra Kubat, Planet D Nonet, the Orbitsuns and many more. From 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Hastings Street Ballroom and Tangent Gallery, 715 Milwaukee St., Detroit; 313-873-2955; $5 donation or bring a dish to share.
SUNDAY AUGUST 16
Daniel Johnston
HI, HOW ARE YOU?
For three decades, singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston has created sparse, simple and often heartbreaking music, earning such notable champions as Kurt Cobain and members of Sonic Youth. A well-known figure in his adopted hometown of Austin, Johnston became a national underground cult figure in ‘85 when he was featured in an MTV program about the city's music scene, and numerous of his scratchy home-recordings were subsequently released, adding cred to hipster music collections across the country. His audience was expanded even further in 2005, with the release of the film The Devil and Daniel Johnston, a documentary detailing his ongoing struggle with bipolar disorder. Johnston performs with Ralston Bowles at 8 p.m. at the Blind Pig, 208 N. First St., Ann Arbor; 734-996-8555; $15 advance, $20 day of show; all ages.
MONDAY AUGUST 17
Inca Ore
HAUNTED ALLURE
Inca Ore is the musical identity of Eva Saelens, a metro Detroit native now ensconced in Oakland, Calif. Saelens started Inca Ore on her 25th birthday in 2004, self-releasing her debut, Brute Nature Versus Wild Magic, that same year. Inca Ore's music is both reassuring and mysterious, haunting piano solos plucking out simple melodies lure listeners in, while hollow feedback and eerie vocals unsettle them. Saelens will debut some tracks from her latest effort, Silver Sea Surfer School, due out this fall, with Genders at Donovan's, 3003 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-964-2267. She'll also perform on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. with New York-based dance collective Modern Garage Movement at the Lot, 3013 Cochrane, Detroit.
TUESDAY AUGUST 18
Sweet Juniper!
(RE)DESIGNING DETROIT
On his website sweetjuniper.com, photographer and writer Jim D. Griffioen writes about being a stay-at-home dad, the state of contemporary culture, and the state of Detroit, posting pictures of abandoned homes reclaimed by nature, blogging about the city's feral dogs and documenting his traipse through the shuttered Belle Isle Zoo. As part of lecturesHAA, a lecture series created by the design firm Hamilton Anderson Associates to encourage a community dialogue about urban design issues, Griffioen will give a talk entitled "The Afflatus of Ruin: Talking Differently About Detroit's Unique and Endangered Assets." The lecture is free and open to the public at 6 p.m. at Johanson Charles Gallery, 1345 Division St., Detroit; info at roguehaa.com.
TUESDAY AUGUST 18
Drinking with Dogs
CHUG, FIDO, CHUG!
The good folks at Canine to Five, who provide day care for the dogs of Detroit's busy professionals, are hosting an event that should give dog-owners pause. The monthly shindig, called Drinking with Dogs, gives dog people an opportunity to go out drinking while taking their shaggy little pals along. Expect drinking, barking and maybe a little leg-lifting. And the dogs shouldn't be the only creatures sniffing each other out, as the mostly thirtysomething crowd usually has a pretty healthy single cohort. The Aug. 18 event, at the outdoor bar of the Omni Hotel Riverfront, promises a great view, good food and a ton of room for the four-footed friends to gambol about. From 6:30 to 10 p.m. at 1000 River Place, Detroit; free parking; no admission charge; for more info, e-mail [email protected].
