12 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, July 3, 2006 Ypsi festival pays homage By Mary Kate Varnau Daily Arts Writer FINE ARTs PREVIEW It's Friday night. Are you going to go to another half- assed, 10-person summer house party? Or maybe you're going to pay $9.50 to see another movieE Or you could hop on over to Ypsi to Elvisfest see the Cottonwood Cloggers, a pro- Friday from fessional performance troupe clog- 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. ging their hearts out to Elvis tunes. Saturday from That's right. It's that time of year 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. again. If you close your eyes, you Sray$ can almostrday $t5 can almost smell the beer and poly- ester. This weekend, Ypsilanti will ASHa tversiDe >arko play host to more than 10,000 Elvis Ypsilanti enthusiasts. Elvisfest is one of the biggest annual tribute concerts in the United States. Sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enter- prises, Inc., the celebration is now in its seventh year and going strong. This year's Elvisfest will feature more performances and activities than ever before, including guest appearances by Tribute Artist acts of Cher, Tom Jones, Ray Charles, the Blues Brothers and more. There will also be a professional performance troupe supporting the Elvis impersonators. The ExSpence Account Showband tours the globe performing behind Elvis Tribute Artists. Formed in the '70s, this seven- piece ensemble has mastered Elvis's entire repertoire, and can perform backup for each song in multiple arrangements. You can find detailed information about each of the professional Elvis Tribute Artists on the event's website at www.mielvisfest.org. Keane's latest a slight departure By Mala Wertenberger Daily Arts Writer If there was ever a poster band for piano-rock bands, Keane would be it. The band from East Sussex, Eng- Keane land, made up Under the Iron Sea of vocalist Tom Chaplin, pianist interscope Tim Rice-Oxley and drummer Richard Hughes, chose to strip down their sound by eschewing guitars. And though many songs on their debut, Hopes and Fears, are enhanced by a computer synthesizer, the majority of that album displayed their ability to write popular, piano-based music with- out extraneous adornment. But it seems the band got bored with just piano and drums. On first listen of their sophomore release, Under the Iron Sea, there's an obvious change in their dynamicespecially intheuse ofthe piano. The album opens with "Atlantic," an airy ballad, followed by songs that alternate between ballad and dancefloor, with the additional supportofbass guitar - acom- ponent that was absent fromtheir debut. In a refreshing change of pace, there are only a few songs that are immedi- ately recognizable as piano-driven, such as "Hamburg Song." But where the band Chris Solano as an Elvis impersonators at Elvisfest. But the weekend is more than just an Elvis imper- sonating marathon. Elvisfest takes place in Shady Riv- erside Park, where parents will be happy to note there is no shortage of outdoor activities for the kids. There promises to be something for every age with rock climbing, stilt walkers, arts and crafts, karaoke, magic acts and animal exhibits. There are higher stakes games for Mom and Dad as well, with an outdoor casino, a classic car show, drinks and a self-proclaimed "best barbeque north of Memphis." So come on. It's now or never. Tickets are $10 for Fri- day night and $15 on Saturday. Check the Web for dis- count two-day tickets. Be sure to wear your best Elvis for the costume contest and prepare to get "all shook up" this weekend in Ypsi. strays from the sound of their debut, the4 remain lyrically competent. From"Noth- inginMy Way,"arockballadaboutpeople denying a troubled relationship to "Crystal Ball" a peppy-sounding song about disil- lusionment and the loss of self, the band proves their ability to create songs that are both upbeat and thoughtful. While Under the Iron Sea is a departure from the sound of their debut, there's still something lack- ing. It's tough to create something radically new from such simple ele- ments, but Keane doesn't need to do that to please their fanbase anyway. They just need to keep cranking out mellow, inoffensive piano rock and they can retain their slot as the band that opens for the band that opens for Coldplay. Are moderate or severe I(eadacbies making your life a pain? If so, consider joining our research study. If you suffer from moderate or severe headaches, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study of the investigational use of an inhaled medication for migraines. Eligible participants must be between 18 and 50 years of age. All study-related procedures and study medication will be provided at no cost. Reimbursement for travel and other study-related expenses may be provided. For more information about this study, please contact a research nurse at (734) 677-6000 x 4. Michigan Head-Pain & Neurological Institute 3120 Professional Drive " Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 677-6000 - www.mhni.com _9 . ' , q,, i ?t 0 P9 Iq