Tag: the Ark

PREVIEW: The Timbre of Cedar

Angela Lin Leave a comment

From the Metro Detroit area, The Timbre of Cedar is coming to Ann Arbor to conquer the stage at The Ark. This 5 member alternative indie band is bringing their unique sound to the music scene. Strong vocalist Marrissa Parham will tantalize the stage with the soulful lyrics and emotions this band passionately evokes. With songwriter Chris DuPont opening, the night is bound to be one to remember.

8:00 PM. January 17. The Ark. Be there.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at http://theark.org/shows-events/2018/jan/17/timbre-cedar or at the Michigan Union Ticket Office. This event is also free with a Passport to the Arts voucher! All the more reason to go!

 

REVIEW: Howie Day

Aria Gerson Leave a comment

Watching Howie Day perform was like a little kid watching a magic show.

During the climax of his opening number, “Sorry So Sorry,” he stopped playing his guitar altogether. But the music still resonated throughout the room, a full, sonorous sound that sounded like it could not possibly have come from one instrument. Was he using prerecorded music in his show? That seemed antithetical to not only what I had heard about Day’s live shows but to the venue itself, a place dedicated to stripped-down acoustic performances.

It took a few songs before I realized what he was doing. He would play a simple melody, sing a refrain, and tap out beats on the base of his guitar. He recorded it all, then layered the sounds together as he was performing to create a backing track of sorts. His flawless looping, the way he developed harmonies there on the spot using only his voice and his guitar, had to be seen to be believed.

Even after the show ended, “Sorry So Sorry” stuck with me. It was more than just the layering and looping. Day’s performance of the song was incredibly emotional and raw, something a lot of live performances lack. He took a page from the musical theatre playbook when he hit a high note with precision, then held it for several beats and let his vibrato take over. He then utilized the reverb pedal so that the sound echoed throughout the room, a move that was especially powerful in such a small venue.

Day also showcased his creativity and adaptability when unexpected trouble struck. In the middle of a performance of “Disco,” a string on his guitar broke. Because he didn’t have a backing band or a stage crew, he had to go backstage and fix it himself. When it became clear that he couldn’t finish the song, he tapped out a rhythm on his guitar and sang a small refrain from the song, then put it on repeat for the audience while he went tended to his instrument. He came back and finished the song to raucous applause.

Unlike many artists I’ve seen at The Ark, Day did very little talking in between numbers, opting to instead let the music speak for itself. He did, however, utilize musical interludes where he would layer sound upon sound, sometimes incorporating whistling or even his own whispers for a greater effect. Those interludes were as breathtaking as they were unexpected — most do not appear on his albums, and his appearance as “white man with acoustic guitar” doesn’t invoke images of innovative instrumentation.

The unexpectedness of Day’s set was part of what made it more magical. He combined the best parts of an arena concert — epic instrumentals and a sense of getting lost in the moment — with the intimacy and emotion of a small venue.

Day saved his biggest hit, “Collide,” for his final encore, opting for a more stripped-down arrangement of the song that made him famous. In holding off on “Collide,” Day was able to show the audience all he could do, then allow them to sit back and enjoy a song they already knew and loved, the cherry on top of a night I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

REVIEW: The Verve Pipe

Angela Lin 1 Comment

The sold-out show last night at The Ark was sold out for all the right reasons. The Verve Pipe’s performance was one of the best concerts I’ve seen, hands down.

In an age where much of the top hits are auto-tuned and live concerts expose artists for their true skills, it was definitely a heartwarming treat to hear The Verve Pipe sound exactly like they do on their records—if not better, as the power and passion radiated off the stage in a way no CD could ever justly capture.

Brian Vander Ark’s voice was tantalizing, and I’m sure it was just as beautiful and magical back in the 90s when the band first formed. He didn’t seem to have aged one bit, bringing a charisma and energy to every note he sang, whether he belted it out powerfully and held it for ages or whispered it with a rawness that touched the soul.

With Lou Musa on guitar, Brad Philips (who is a University of Michigan SMTD grad—Go Blue!) on violin, Channing Lee on tambourine and backup vocals, Joel Ferguson on bass, Randy Sly on keyboard and accordion, and Sam Briggs on drums, The Verve Pipe captivated the entire room with its spunk and rock. Musa and Philips had some unbelievable solos that just blew everyone away, and Lee’s soft yet powerhouse vocals beautifully complemented Vander Ark’s, with her occasional moments to show everyone what she’s got. Mark Byerly made several guest appearances on trumpet as well, which was just a cherry on top for a stage filled with incredibly talented musicians.

The band seemed to be having a wonderful time, smiling and laughing and rocking on stage, and the audience was absolutely loving it. This crowd of old-school fans definitely were past their youth, but the old hits brought out this energy in them that was just as youthful and lively. The ability for this 90s band to hold such a loyal and excited fan base is a true testament to the music they have created—music that continues to evoke emotions that never die with time, and the band’s continued presence by touring and creating new albums even today ensures their fan base is ever-expanding, which now includes yours truly.

I surprised myself by knowing almost all the words to 90% of the songs played, as I didn’t realize just how much I’ve listened to The Verve Pipe since I first stumbled upon them back in September. With the top 13 requested songs in the first half, pieces from their newer albums in the second, and encores that only left everyone screaming for more, the entire night was filled with enjoyable, quality music that is rare to find today.

One of my favorite moments was during their hit song, The Freshmen. They performed the original version as Vander Ark and Musa took the stage with this raw classic. Everyone was singing along from the beginning, and there was a moment when the chorus came around where Vander Ark stopped singing and let the crowd carry the song. It was so pure and powerful and beautiful, and Vander Ark was clearly touched by it. I’d be lying if I said tears didn’t come to my eyes during that moment.

The Verve Pipe was everything I imagined them to be live, and more. In an unforgettable night, I suffered a pop smear so great, I would be more than happy to “suffer” again and again with this group of humble, talented, just absolutely amazing people.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go listen to The Verve Pipe some more as I’m sure I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life.

PREVIEW: Howie Day

Aria Gerson Leave a comment

I listen to so much music that playlist attrition is a natural consequence. I get tired of songs eventually and clear them out to make room for other, newer, more exciting ones.

But there are a few songs that are exceptions, that are timeless enough to me that they stick on my playlists for years. Howie Day’s Collide is one of those songs. Five years after it originally landed on my iPod, back when I was 13 and my favorite genre of music was whatever was on the radio, the lyrics still speak to me.

“Even the best fall down sometimes, even the stars refuse to shine, out of the doubt that fills my mind, I somehow find you and I collide.”

Through middle school and high school and now college, those words have been with me. So when I saw Howie Day was coming to The Ark, I knew I had to go.

Day hasn’t released an album since 2015 because he spends so much time touring. I haven’t seen him in concert before, but he’s known for his innovative live arrangements and instrumentation, something that should play well at an intimate venue like The Ark.

Day isn’t the traditional folk artist usually associated with The Ark. Instead, his music is emotional acoustic guitar-based pop rock, similar to that of bands like The Fray. If folk isn’t really your thing but you want a fairly inexpensive local concert at a great venue, he’s worth checking out.

Howie Day comes to The Ark with opening act Shane Piasecki, another acoustic pop singer-songwriter, this Sunday, December 3, at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $20 at The Ark, at the Michigan Union Ticket Office, or online at theark.org.

PREVIEW: The Verve Pipe

Angela Lin 1 Comment

Twenty-five years. Three million albums sold worldwide. A Michigan-native rock and roll band formed in the 1990s, The Verve Pipe’s music explores heartbreak, family, love, and loss that is as real now as it was back then. Filled with soul-searching lyrics and layered instrumentals, their work tackles problems and evokes emotions that is rare to find in contemporary alternative music today.

Still touring and still going strong, the band is bringing back all their hits from their first two albums and fan favorites from their entire discography with an exclusive, personal show at The Ark that will surely live up to its reputation of dazzling live shows.

I’ve become a huge fan of their music and I’m really excited to see them perform in such an intimate venue. Join me as The Verve Pipe performs their show “I’ve Suffered A Pop Smear” at The Ark on December 2 at 8:00pm. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Michigan Union Ticket Office or online at www.thevervepipe.com.

REVIEW: The Milk Carton Kids

Aria Gerson Leave a comment

I thought when I went to The Ark for Tuesday’s Milk Carton Kids show that I was getting a low-key acoustic show. I got that, but also so much more. At times funny, ridiculous, and bittersweet, The Milk Carton Kids and their opener Sammy Miller and the Congregation defied description in a concert I won’t be forgetting any time soon.

The name Sammy Miller and the Congregation sounds like a throwback to the Jazz Age, but theirs wasn’t a traditional jazz show. In fact, they told us, they were banned from the genre of jazz for reasons that were implied to be related to their production of a “jopera:” a jazz opera that eschewed any genre. The band incorporated theatrical elements, humor, and even a little pop music into their set. Their jopera was weird and wonderful, incorporating costumes, singing, and even a nonsensical storyline (an essential part of any opera). They engaged the audience, sometimes leaving stage and returning via the seats, as actors often do. I’m still not sure how to describe what I saw, but I know I was entertained.

The Milk Carton Kids, a duo consisting of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, couldn’t have been more different in style and substance from their opener. Their sole instruments were two acoustic guitars. They wore suits and stood around one mic while they performed a set of mostly melancholy folk songs. But they, too, injected a surprising amount of humor into their set in their pre-song introductions.

At the beginning of the set, for instance, Kenneth confessed that he was watching the World Series on a device hidden in his bag (I don’t blame him). That joke recurred throughout, and there were times when Joey would start introducing a song and Kenneth would stand at the back of the stage, tuning his guitar and clearly peering into his bag. The whole audience was laughing at their intros, which were at turns funny, awkward, and self-effacing. It was an odd juxtaposition; it was almost as if they were performing a comedy show in between their folk concert.

The music itself was entertaining for very different reasons. I was impressed by the band’s harmonies, particularly on their slower songs. The intimate setup of The Ark and the songs’ sparse arrangements really brought out those harmonies. One song I particularly enjoyed was “I Only See the Moon,” a song from their upcoming album. Their penultimate song “Michigan” was also a highlight. Luckily, they were lying when they sang “Michigan’s in the rearview mirror” and came out for an encore.

I also enjoyed listening to the lyrics of the songs they played. Many were about traditional topics of contemporary folk, such as melancholy memories and places of the past, but others were political or even happy and upbeat. I allowed myself to sit back and get lost in the imagery of the lyrics, something that’s not possible at other types of concerts.

Though the Milk Carton Kids aren’t the kind of band I regularly listen to, and their concert wasn’t the kind of concert I usually attend, I was glad I went. The music was beautiful and the spoken interludes were entertaining. I’d never seen anything like this concert before, and I have a feeling I won’t ever again. But I’ll remember every bit: the humor and the harmonies, the beautiful and the weird.