ETCETERA

KIDDUSH CLUB

Gary Graff: The Opining Sofer of Song
Belts One Out with RT

By Natalie Sugarman

ary Graff has been coined the "Rabbi of Rock;' a music journalist with an uncanny
ear for great music. Former critic for the Detroit Free Press, Graff is the man who
refused to be heeled by the man, or cross the picket line during the newspaper's
1995 strike; he was summarily dismissed.
Since then, Graff has juggled a variety of freelance gigs, including writing for the
New York Times features syndicate, Reuters wire service, Billboard and the Cleveland
Plain-Dealer. He writes regular columns for the Oakland Press and recently co-wrote
two books: Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes with Bob Seger and Neil
Young: Long May You Run.

G

RT: What led you to a career in music journalism?
GG: Two things: One was ninth-grade biology, when I figured out I was not going
to become the nice Jewish doctor my mother thought I was going to be; also, at
a certain point I realized I was not going to be able to play third base for the Pitts-
burgh (where I grew up) Pirates.
It was in fourth grade that I started writing for what was then the school news-
paper — and it really planted that seed in me. When I got into high school, there
were journalism classes and a more substantial newspaper to do things for.
The music component came from a brother who was more than 11 years older
than I — the hippie. So, growing up as a kid I was hearing all the great music of the
'60s. It instilled a real love of music in me; and both [aspects] coexisted — regardless of
the kind of journalism I was doing over the years.
I would always write about music on the side; it would always be part of what I did.
When I had the chance to do it full time, the timing was right. I was 21 years old, and
there was an opportunity in Detroit.

RT: When did you move to Michigan?
GG: I came to Detroit in 1982, right after I graduated from the University of Missouri.

RT: Why didn't you cross the picket line when you were at the Detroit Free
Press?
GG:"It was the right thing to do, and I still believe that."

RT: How has the quality of music changed over the years?
GG: It hasn't; there's still good music and bad music. I don't have trouble finding it.
It's very hip to say,'Music sucks; I don't like music anymore, whether you are a classic
rock fan — who figures that all music stopped being good in the mid-to-late '70s — or
a young hipster who figures if it's not obscure punk rock then it's no good.
Do I think that everything I like is going to wind up being tomorrow's classic music?
Of course not — but I still think it's out there. I almost think that people, at some point,
arrest their musical tastes so they don't have to worry about keeping up anymore.

RT: Which interview has really blown you away?
GG: Quite a few of my interviews have blown me away, some by the mere fact of
who they were — folks like Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger, who carry that special aura
about them; Keith Richards, who I watched down a bottle of Rebel Yell and then crack
a fresh Jack Daniel's during our interview; and Dave Grohl, who's really as genuine as
he seems.
The key to a good interview is not necessarily who it's with as much as what we talk
about; it's as cool to talk with Jeff Beck about his passion for vintage Fords, for instance,
as it is about his guitar playing. So, a lot of the ones that blow me away are the artists
who have other interests and passions that are part of their lives. E-17

THE SCALLION: A SATIRE

Whole Foods Market is Latest to Taunt City Leaders

Grocer secretly believes "the impoverished" make the best customers.

By Drew P. Hodensack

n

ews spread quickly — courtesy of media outlets and city
leaders alike — that luxury grocery chain Whole Foods
Market was contemplating the possibility taking up retail
space in Detroit's Midtown area.
The purveyor of organic products, nicknamed "Whole Pay-
check," currently has outlets in Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield and
Troy. The addition of a Midtown location, retail analysts say,
would be a good way to extend its well-heeled brand.
"It's a panacea, that's for sure," said homeless man Alvin
Warner, who hopes the posh retailer opens soon. "I'm hungry
and can only imagine the delicacies I'll find in the dumpster;
this will be great for the city!'
It's been nearly four years since Detroit's last grocer, the
now-defunct Farmer Jack, closed due to financial problems;
but some don't see that as a harbinger.
"Whole Foods seems like a no-brainer for Detroit," said a
former Lehman Brothers executive, who asked that his name
be withheld until federal
regulators got bored with
him.
"I recommend Whole
Foods spend millions
WH&E
in renovationsrthe
FOODS
Lehman's source said."I'm
sure those people will
pay $4 for a half-gallon of
organic milks'

www.redthreadmagazine.com

In fact, at a recent
meeting of young
professionals, Detroit
Mayor Dave Bing
virtually guaranteed the
venture, implying Whole
Foods was all but certain
to move here.
"It's not a question of
'if' but 'when;" Bing said,
according to the front
page of Crain's Detroit Business.
Crain's, by breaking the story on page 1, followed inside by
18 speculative paragraphs on how a really pricey market —
serving less than 5 percent of the city's residents could be a
good thing — will likely put more pressure on the retailer.
Previous prognostications by city leaders and the media —
including the renovation of the Michigan Central Station and a
burgeoning retail district around Campus Martius — bode well
for residents that this will come to pass.
When pressed for confirmation, representatives at Whole
Foods would only acknowledge the company prides itself on
charging outrageous prices for most food items.
"I hope having a market in the city nobody can afford means
things are better than my pocketbook thinks;' said Shirley Price,
a local activist. "If so, then I'm going to buy some Camembert
cheese, truffles and organic flax seed oil."

Uncork with Israel's
Best on Yorn HaAtzmaut

oming off two months of great excuses to
drink — Purim and Passover — we decided
keep the good times rolling by celebrating
Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day, with
one of the Holy Land's lesser known exports —
wine.
Once was a time when kosher wine was rel-
egated to the equivalent of fermented pancake
syrup. However, the days of viscous, diabetic
coma-inducing alcohol has passed.
Today's Israeli wines compete with the best
from the United States, Chili, Australia and
France. And, since our understanding of grapes
could be a libation liability, we thought it prudent
to solicit advice from newly made friend Michael
Calvert — the sommelier at swanky Papa Joe's
market in Birmingham.
So let's toast to Israel's victory — celebrated
this year on May 10.

DOMIANE DU CASTEL
PETIT CASTEL

$48.99

Calvert told us this pricey bottle is courtesy of
a boutique winery with a yearly production of
just 8,000 cases. "With a blend of Cabernet Sauvi-
gnon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, this wine is deep
garnet in color, full-bodied, with soft tannins," he
explained."It has flavors of blackcurrants, black-
berries and black cherries!'
Letting us know that Petit Castel has touches
of anise and cedar wood on the finish, and is a
complex, deep and long wine, should go a long
way in the credibility department.

GALIL MOUNTAIN WINERY
PINOT NOIR

$21.99

We gave a shout out to Galil Mountain way
back in December 2010, when we bestowed the
Galilee winery's Yiron Cabernet with a "best buy"
nod. The Pinot Noir it produces, in addition to a
similar price point, also scores kudos with Calvert.
"This dark garnet, medium-bodied wine with
fine density, balance and structure has flavors
of red and black berries, cassis and spices, and is
complemented nicely by a gentle hint of sweet-
and-spicy wood;' Calvert explained.
He also said it's a good accompaniment to
grilled meats or Iamb.

SEGAL'S "SPECIAL RESERVE"
$19.99
MERLOT

Calvert said this offering, running in the middle
of the pack, is another exceptional wine from the
Upper Galilee region. The sommelier swooned
about the "rich body" and "deep flavor" of this
Merlot, which includes notes of"licorice, plum,
black cherry and a hint of herbs!'
Suggested pairings include grilled or sauced
chicken, or fish dishes.

BEN AMI CHARDONNAY

$11,99

Ben Ami, old friend, so glad you made the cut.
Forgive us for the sappy opine, but we're big fans
of Ben Ami; dare we say it's the grape equivalent
of Knob Creek Kentucky Bourbon — great prod-
uct at a great price.
Not only is Ben Ami a perfect default selec-
tion, but this Chardonnay is also the only white
to make the list. Our wine aficionado said this
choice is "a balanced wine with crisp, clean
flavors of pineapple and guava!' Not surpris-
ing, Calvert suggests this bottle goes great with
cheeses and lighter fare.

ZMORA CABERNET SAUVIGNON,
ISRAEL
$8,99

Don't let the inexpensive price fool you — this
is a great wine for the price. (To be fair, we were a
little skeptical ourselves so we picked up a bottle
for Shabbat.) When have you ever seen a kosher
wine for less than $10 — and at a high-end gro-
cer to top it off?
Calvert said of Zmora:"A young semisweet
wine with fresh berry, cherry and hint of rasp-
berry flavors; soft texture, vibrant color — a
great example of youthful Cabernet with all its
enchanting nuances:'
That reads like a Red Thread-inspired choice.
L'Chaim!
— Red Thread staff

In TIMID I May 2011 17

