New Year's Rockin' Eve

T

here's a reason Dick Clark calls it "New
Year's Rockin' Eve."
Next to passing the bar, getting that big
promotion and cousin Josh's bar mitzvah,
New Year's is the world's best excuse to party. And,
with apologies to assorted and sundry brewers,
nothing goes better with a party than rock 'n' roll.
Here, then, is a quick critical guide to this year's
major New Year's Eve rock 'n' roll parties, minus a
few regular players — the Palace is dark due to
Lenny Kravitz's cancellation and the State Theatre
has a private party — but still a potent scene for
Sunday night.

Ted Nugent's 10th Annual Whiplash Bash,
with Brother Cane
The Motor City Madman's soiree remains the
loudest and proudest New Year's Eve party
in the metro area. His entrances — swing-
ing on a rope, riding a white buffalo — are leg-
endary. And, opening act Brother Cane gives
this year's Bash some solid support. 9 p.m.
at Cobo Arena, Detroit. (313) 596-3200.

Block, The Plain
A bona fide modern rock `do,' with four top bands
that all seem headed for a bright 1996. Get there
early, and don't miss a note. 9 p.m.
r
at St. Andrews Hall, 431 E. Con-
ct!)
c!)
gress, Detroit. (313) 961-6358.t

Lita Ford
This former Runaway hasn't had nearly the impact
as her former band mate, Joan Jett — and people
don't even know who she is anymore, either.
9 p.m. at Harpo's, 42388 Harper, Detroit. (313)
824-1700.

The Verve Pipe, Botfly, 19 Wheels
Peer into '96 by catching The Verve Pipe, Michigan
rockers whose major-label debut comes out early
next year. 9 p.m. at The Majestic, 4140 Woodward,
Detroit. (313) 833-9700. (Also, check out Cathouse,
one of Detroit's finest local rock bands,
next door at the Magic Stick.)

Spencer Barefield Quartet
Award-winning guitarist Barefield and his accom-
plished sidemen — pianist Henry Bigson, bassist
Jaribu Shahid and drummer Tani Tabbal — can
be counted on for an evening of tasty jazz. 9 p.m. at
Royal Oak Women's Club, 404 S. Pleas-
ant at Fourth Street. (313) 891-2514.

® v

Frank Allison & the Odd Sox
There's always a plethora of party potential
when this group hits the stage. New Year's
Eve should just up the excitement a notch or
two. 9 p.m. at The Blind Pig, 208
First St., Ann Arbor. (313) 996- 10 c.i.)
8555.

Al Green and the Emo-
tions
With his latest album, Green has come down
from the pulpit and gotten back to making
the righteous soul music that makes him one
of pop music's indispensable treasures. A
must-see. 9 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 2211
Woodward, Detroit. (313) 596-
3200.

Orange Lake Drive
This perennial favorite hasn't broken big like
many think it should, but its brand of electric,
modern jazz is as exciting as ever. 9 p.m. at
Bakers Keyboard Lounge, Liver-
nois at Eight Mile Road, Detroit. ® c!..)
(313) 345-6300.

— Gary Graff

Sponge
These homegrown rockers will be celebrating
a wonderful '95: a debut album, Rotting Pina-
ta, that's nearing a million copies sold; hits
such as "Plowed" and "Molly (16 Candles)";
and a firm spot atop the modern rock pan-
theon. 9 p.m. at The Palladium, 17580 Frazho
Road, Roseville. (810) 778-6404.

~ JU

Speedball, Hoarse, Big

Bagel Barometer
Outstanding
®

Very Good

(=c3

Good

Fair

V

Sponge has absorbed a great '95 and will rock in '96 at the Palladium.

This Week's Best Bets

-.

Chimera: Lynda Benglis.
Benglis' ceramic forms seem to
pulsate, slither and writhe, ac-
tions indicative of the energetic
creative process which made the
artist famous. Through Jan,,14,
1996. 1-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sun-
days, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays.
Tickets: $4/adults, $2/full-time
students, children, and seniors.
Center and South Galleries,
Cranbrook Art Museum, 1221
North Woodward Ave., Bloom-
field Hills. (810) 645-3312,

it Paintings
coveringa.*ide range of sub-
jects using vibrant colorain. d 9
stylization. Through Dec. 3
a.m.-9 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m.-5
p.m. Saturdays, and noon-5 p.m.
Sundays. Dovmtown Farming-
ton Library, 23550 Liberty St.
near Grand River. (810) 474-
7770.

Industrial Revelations: Pho-
tographs by Michael Kenna
of the Rouge and Other Sites.
Approximately 60 photographs
of the Rouge Steel plant and 20
views of industrial sites in Eng-

Vimigh Feb. 11. 11 a.m.-
esdays-Fridays, 1.1.
4 P.
a.m.-5 pin. weekends. Detroit
Institute of Arts, 5200 Wood-
ward Ave. (313) 833-7900.

Art To Wear: A Group Jew-
ehy Exhibition. Seventeen
artists display their work, re
defining the idea of jewelry as or-
nament. Through Jan, 20. 11
a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday,
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays. Ha-
batat/Shaw Gallery, 7 North
Saginaw, Pontiac. (810) 333-
1070.

oc or

can Time
and Timepiedeg. 100 time-
pieces spanning four centuries
and a number of interactive ele-
ments. 9 a.ra.-5 p.m. Tickets:
$12.50/adults, $11.50/seniors
62+, $6.25/children 5-12. Ad-
mission to the museum and vil-
lage is separate. Henry Ford
Museum & Greenfield Village,
20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn.
(313) 271-1976.

Walter Crane. Exhibit featur-
ing original artwork, first edi-
tions and manuscripts. Through
Jan. 31. 1-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sat-

:At%AtatantOntyt

5201
1476.

w ay

Made in America: Ten Cen-
turies of American Art .
Works of art spanning 1,000
years of America's visual histo-
ry, through Jan. 7. Toledo Mu-
seum of Art. (800) 766-6048.

Collage. Showcase of original
art by Susan Roth, illustrator of
children's books. Through Jan.
13. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Sat-
urday, 6-8:30 p.m. first Thurs-
day of each month. Elizabeth

