Category: Music

REVIEW: The Head & the Heart

Jane Ziecik

Last Tuesday, October 29th, The Head and The Heart performed at the Royal Oak Music Theatre with opening bands Thao & the Get Down Stay Down and The Quiet Life. The Royal Oak Music Theatre only offers general seating, which is bad news for anyone arriving minutes before the main act. However, for those willing to stand packed tightly right in front, this venue is for you! Unfortunately, those opting for this option (as my friend and I ultimately did) would have had to listen to almost three hours of openers before The Head and The Heart graced the stage.

Though the first band, The Quiet Life, only started around 7:30 pm, they fed the crowd what we all wanted: some good lively music. With a sound that I can only describe as upbeat country, members of The Quiet Life played like they weren’t performing for another venue on the tour, but as if they were playing in some practice room for fun. In other words, they were up on stage just having an experience with each other.

The second opening act, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, brought with them a completely different environment that definitely changed things up. What was most remarkable about this band was the ease at which they changed their vibe from song to song. With electric energy, leader singer Thao Nguyen danced about the stage singing passionately starting their performance off big…that is, until the mood drastically changed with the next song. Here, the melodies turned darker and the lyrics harsher. Instead of predictable, building tempos, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down would usually play consistently slow right up until the chorus. Here the music burst with palpable energy, lead singer whirling around the stage. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down had just one slow tempo song, but this one was my favorite because it didn’t have any harsh undertones and wasn’t startling. After the performance I looked up this band and it really seems to me that the quality of their music is significantly better off their album. I would definitely recommend buying their album off iTunes, but perhaps would not elect to see them live again.

By the time The Head and The Heart actually started to play, it was 10 pm. I’d gotten there on time, so it had been three hours at that point and I was tired, pretty thirsty, and getting impatient. However, what was truly impressive was that as soon as they got on stage, none of it mattered. They brought with them such an uplifting vibe that from the second they began playing, all pain from waiting was forgotten and the crowd was completely recharged.

What’s really great about this band is that unlike most other groups, the lead sound in each song comes from someone different, each as talented as the last. They switch singers from song to song, alternating between Josiah Johnson, Jonathan Russell, and the only female band member Charity Rose Thielen.

Photo by Vik Santaprakash
Pictured: Josiah Johnson, photo by Vik Santaprakash
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Pictured: Jonathan Russell and Josiah Johnson, photo by Vik Santaprakash

They highlight different instruments in each song as well, often the guitar is most prominent, sometimes only the piano, and even the harmonica. The Head and The Heart had an amazing performance, cutting through the audience with their genuine spirit and utter joy. This band is the epitome of the kind of sound you want to hear in person, they are no less impressive than in their music videos or straight off their iTunes album. The only difference is, live, you get to feel their energy with them. To add to their playful stage presence, their between-song commentary was witty and entertaining. To be at this concert, to be a member of the audience, to see these characters in person…it was just fun.

REVIEW: Halloween Concert

csatter

As the orchestra marched into Hill Auditorium while playing March of the Little Goblins, I found myself surrounded by zombies, Pokémon characters, the cast of Alice in Wonderland, Mario and his friends, and an entire viola section full of Despicable Me minions, not to mention all of the costumed audience members. After taking their seats, the orchestra proceeded to play without intermission, presenting a concert that showed off their excitement, skill, and playfulness.

The program consisted of seven classical pieces, all with a bit of Halloween flair, conducted by seven different conductors dressed to match their piece. The orchestra was a combination of undergraduate student musicians from the University Symphony Orchestra and the University Philharmonia Orchestra and the conductors were masters students in the conducting program. Although in full Halloween costume, the orchestra played with the precision and enthusiasm of a professional orchestra.

While all of the pieces were played exceedingly well, especially The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld, the highlight of the concert was when the costumed bear who had previously chased one of the conductors around the auditorium looking for food took the podium to conduct a piece. Soliciting laughs and supportive cheers from the audience, the bear danced his way to the podium and excitedly picked up the baton to conduct Queen Mab Scherzo from Romeo et Juliette.

After the final piece, the orchestra delighted the audience with an encore, playing the theme from Ghostbusters. As the seven conductors danced around in blue jumpsuits and lights flashed around the auditorium, the costumed orchestra danced in their seats, and the audience clapped and danced down the aisles.

Overall, this concert was fun and exciting, and the perfect way to get ready for Halloween. The orchestra didn’t disappoint with their creative costumes, skits, and wonderfully performed pieces. Since this is an annual event, be sure to check it out next year.

REVIEW: Band-O-Rama

Gabriella

The Michigan Marching Band graces the stage at Hill Auditorium.
The Michigan Marching Band graces the stage at Hill Auditorium.

Last night at 100-year-old Hill Auditorium, the bands of Michigan converged onto one stage for Band-O-Rama. While the first half of the show felt like a typical band concert with the concert and symphony band performing signature pieces, the second half featuring the marching band really riled up the crowed while performing fan favorites from this year’s shows and previous seasons. Perhaps my favorite part of the show was listening to Carl Grapenstine, “The Voice of the Michigan Band” for 44 years, announcing each number. He’s the man behind introducing the band at home football games, so to hear and see him looking dapper at Hill Auditorium was quite the treat.

Each song was selected with the show’s theme “This is Michigan!” to highlight student musicians accomplishment through music. Indeed, the concert and symphony segment of the program did just that. My favorite number from the concert band was their performance of “Summon the Heroes” composed by John Williams, which reminded me of Olympic fanfare used at the London games last year. The symphony band piece concluding piece “Victors Valiant” rounded out their segment quite well, with Michigan themes heard sprinkled throughout.

Once the stage was cleared for the marching band to arrive, my excitement levels grew. The best part about Band-O-Rama is being able to hear music from the half-time shows without the roaring crowds of Michigan Stadium. Hill Auditorium amplifies the music and lets concert goers become immersed in the awesome renditions. Highlights from the Beyonce show of the Notre Dame game, the sing-along at homecoming and Motown favorites graced the bill for MMB’s first half, among many other pieces. The drum line split up their set with a few choice numbers to keep the energy going in the auditorium. In MMB’s second set, they continued with hit after hit including stadium favorites “Sweet Caroline” and “Temptation.” Additionally, the band cleared part of the stage for the man of the show to walk through. Michigan football coach Brady Hoke thanked the Michigan Marching Band for their continued support of the football program and received an honorary band alumni membership.

Overall, I enjoyed the marching band portion of the program more than the concert and symphony band portion likely because the MMB’s exposure is far greater than the other two. Nevertheless, all bands present did a fine job of supporting the “This is Michigan!” theme. On a fall Saturday night, it doesn’t get any better than Michigan band.


The Michigan Marching Band will appear again in concert at the Crisler Concert November 17. Until then, catch them on the field at the next home football game against Nebraska on November 9.

PREVIEW: Band-O-Rama

Gabriella

Photo courtesy of MMBs facebook page
Photo courtesy of MMB's facebook page

Who: The University of Michigan Marching Band, Symphony Band and Concert Band

What: Band-O-Rama concert

Where: Hill Auditorium

When: October 26, 7:30 p.m.

Price: $5-$18 for adults, $5 for students or free with a Passport
The University of Michigan Marching Band, Symphony Band and Concert Band will take the stage at Hill Auditorium this Saturday for their annual Band-O-Rama concert featuring music from half-time shows and Michigan fan favorites. All the bands on one bill will be rallying behind Michigan spirit in support of the theme, “This is Michigan.” Come to the Hill to hail blue at Band-O-Rama this Saturday night.

For a free ticket, pick up a Passport to the Arts at your residence hall community center or the Office of New Student Programs on the first floor of the LSA building to redeem at the Michigan League Ticket Office.
Like the Michigan Marching Band on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, watch performances on their official YouTube channel, or visit their official website. Purchase tickets for the show here.

Review: Blur the Lines

Zoe Marie

Blur the Lines was a collaborative effort sponsored by SMTD Collaborative Student Assembly (CSA).
SMTD CSA’s Facebook
The performance was on October 19th in the Arthur Miller Theater at the Walgreen Drama Center. The cast was made up of student volunteers from several majors in the School of Music Theater and Dance. The goal of the event was to create, and perform, a one hour show in 24 hours.
Through Facebook promotion, Blur the Lines rounded up two volunteer composers, two writers, a director, several musicians, dancers, and actors, as well as PAT majors and a MUSIC THEORY major, to donate around 24 straight hours of their time to creating this show. First, the script writers and composers met at 8pm and wrote the show until 8am, when the performers joined in order to rehearse until the show started at 8 pm. Apparently this was the first year Blur the Lines had been organized, but I had no idea because the show was so put together, but it explains why so few people knew about it despite the Facebook efforts. However, I have no doubt, as the semesters progress, this will become a widely attended event.
BLURDALINES
It is honestly difficult to review the show because it’s such a unique situation for people to perform under, and it doesn’t seem to allow for much editing, which is arguably the most important part of the creative process. The concept of the show was supposed to be a day in the life of a person, starting in the morning, and ending at night. Honestly, that concept did not really come across. The whole show was made up of several, individual scenes about extremely varied topics. There was a scene with young love at the beginning and a scene revolving around a funeral towards the end but most of the scenes in between didn’t seem to have a strictly chronological order or revolve around time, like the theme suggested they would. The scenes also varied from great hits to scenes which could have benefited from much more editing. However, the show still had many great moments.
One of my favorite scenes was a monologue about a “Magic Girl”. I enjoyed the writing, which was very memorable, and the staging, which was active enough to hold the audience’s attention, while still complimenting the text, and music, instead of distracting from them. The scene following was also enjoyable, and extremely relatable for anyone who has grown up in a religious family, but is atheist. This monologue described how a person, forced to attend Sabbath every weekend with their family, struggles with a lack of ability to spiritually relate to the ceremony in a life “measured in Sabbaths”. The most entertaining scene was a monologue spoken by a girl about her desire for emotional and physical contact. What made this scene so unique was her “duet” with the violinist, who would respond musically to her advances, and eventually broke up with her. The two dancers in the cast also had a modern dance segment, which was very beautiful.

Honestly, what I recommend even more than seeing Blur the Lines next semester is PARTICIPATING in it. Everyone involved had the absolute time of their life and learned so much about themselves, and the creation process, no matter their major. It was also a great way for students to bridge the gap in SMTD, which is a school very separated by majors. But, what will lead to an even better experience is that the organization is planning on expanding it’s reach to the whole school, not just SMTD. I urge you to like SMTD CSA on Facebook and keep in touch about when the next Blur the Lines will be. This is an event which can only be made better by a bigger variety of student involvement, so I really hope you keep this on your radar and at least attend the next performance to see if you would like to get involved in it!