Monday July 17, 2006 arts.michigandaily.com artspage@michigandaily.com ATS fidiiga Iail Art fair to flood the streets once again By Caroline Hartmann Daily Arts Writer It's that time of year again. Visitors will flock to the city in droves, and even the locals will have to fight for a parking spot. The reason behind this crowd- ing is to discover what the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has in store Street Art Fair this time around. Wednesday through The fair will grace Friday 10 a.m. to North University Ave- 9 p.m. nue, Ingalls Mall and Saturday from the Diag for four days. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festivities begin Free on Wednesday, and At North University Ave., continue through the Ingalls Mall and the Diag week until Saturday. Triumphed as one of the nation's premier art shows, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has been one of the city's most distinctive events since 1960, when the show was established to help new artists break into the art market. Now boasting 175 artists, the fair has grown to include hands-on crafts projects for kids, art technique demonstrations, live music and guided walking tours. Second only to the artists and their art- work is the comprehensive variety of musi- cal performances scheduled to take place at Ingalls Mall near the Burton Carillon Tower throughout the fair. The Canterbury House Concert Series, coordinating the music for this year's Street Art Fair, hopes to provide a sonic background that will both complement the show's artistic integrity and appeal to all ages and interests. While artists and performers at the art fair hail from a variety of backgrounds, many creative participants are students and others new to their craft. Among the performers will be School of Music alum Luke Gyure, a singer-songwriter accompanied by School of Music junior Theo Katzman on guitar and percussionist School of Music senior Mike Shea. Gyure's latest work, after graduating from the University's School of Music this year, focuses on religion and sexuality. "Of all the protest artists and people who are trying to iniate change in this world, Luke is one of the only people I've met who has a chance to intiate change through his honesty and his desire to create dialogue," Katzman said. "He's not just a protest singer-songwrit- er, this is just one facet of his life." School of Music junior Aaron Gold, the book- ing and promotional agent for Canterbury House, is highly anticipating the group's performance. "Their style is along the lines of musical storytelling," Gold said. "It's incredibly emo- tional stuff." The group is scheduled to perform at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Other performers will include the fair's peren- nial pianist Mr. B., who will be "tickling the ivories" outside Burton Tower, according to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair's website. Ohio native Russell Donnellon will play solo classical guitar and Circus Twerkus will perform for families in the mornings. In addition to the medley of musical acts, the remaining branches of fine art will be adequately represented with several dance group performances and circus entertain- ment geared toward the fair's younger audi- ence, such as jugglers and a live statue. Year after year, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair continues to draw thousands to our quaint streets. The fair's enduring signifi- cance is a welcome relief for those in the grip of summer's humid lull. Even if you only pass through on the way to class, it's doubtful the festivities won't leave you in a better mood. Additional information, including perfor- mance and demonstration schedules, an art- ist directory and maps and directions, can be found at the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair's web- site at www.artfair.org. ABOVE: Artist Marc Sijan's human sculptures were constantly mistaken for performance art. BELOW: Ron Vanasdien and Shirley Bistline of Howell, Michigan admire Michael Gard's work. Ohio bluesmen give pier an honest tribute By Andrew Klein Managing Arts Editor It's hard to give Chulahoma, The Black Keys' recent EP, three stars - the ultimate rating for a middle-of-the-road, could-have-been-great-but-just-didn't-have-enough-of-some- thing kind of album. But the Black Keys, hailing from subterranean Ohio, do have The Black something. Just like certain Detroiters, Keys they represent the extension of the electric blues from its roots in Chicago and Detroit Chulahoma into today's music. Fat Possum The Big Come Up, their 2002 debut album, boldly set the pace for a band reclaiming the foundations of blues. Their raunchy, lo-fi sound comes from a two-man team: vocalist dripping with the sweat, dirt and humidity of classic blues rock. and guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney. Eschew- The album's strongest track by far, though, is "Meet Me In The ing the tradition of the bassist holding down the groove, Auerbach's City." Heavenly tremolo-infused, the track is a country lullaby of extremely tasteful guitar work couldn't work better under his voice, a groove. It's reminiscent of "Act Nice and Gentle," from 2004's which can range from crooning soul to overdriven hard rock. "Rubber Factory," but goes far and beyond the traditional groove. Chulahoma, a six-song EP, is both a dedication and tribute to Auerbach's starts with a gentle tone, but builds to the climactic Junior Kimbrough, a blues heavyweight who passed away in 1998. chorus with a fury that stretches his voice to the breaking point. If You don't need Auerbach's explanation in the liner notes to hear this horrible, bug-ridden, humid summer needed a saving anthem, why his music is important the group. The opening groove, "Keep this would be it. Your Hands Off Her," immediately makes an undeniable connection The six tracks are all solid statements, but each could be placed' between the man and the band. The guitar riff full of reverb and within the context of the group's past albums. As a singular state- rock-steady beat create the types of intoxicating textures that drive ment, Chulahoma certainly makes clear the group's debt to Kim- the blues. The Black Keys have taken Kimbrough's tunes and, while brough, but aside from that, it doesn't say anything new for the keeping intact the feeling and the groove, added their own addictive band. But there certainly is no loss of momentum. There is much spin. "Have Mercy On Me" and "Work Me," the album's second and to expect from these two Ohio boys - this latest release having third tracks, could have easily fit on 2003's Thickfreakness, an album barely whetted the palette.