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Music awa is celebrate
By Lis Harwin Awards was a time to recognize th
Daily Arts Writer future of Detroit music. While Detroi
Every person with an interest in lobal will always be known for its extraordi
music is bound to have a particitlar narily diverse musical community and
favorite band. A band that theytve remembered for artists like Aretha
watched transform from a bunch' of Franklin and Smokey Robinson, this
guys practicing in the garage into a awards show serves instead to high-
band signed to a major label, tou'ring light the achievements of the next gen-
eration of Detroit talent. Bands wer
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RIEVIEW,
Detroit Music
Awards
State Theater
December 2, 1995
ground the country. A band that they
love, whether ornot they sell-out shows,
sell-out records, or just plain sell-out.
So, for those people who consider De-
troit bands "local," along came the De-
troit Music Awards and a chance to
give their favorite band the attention
they deserve.
In years past, the MetroTiries, in
conjunction with several othe spon-
sors, solicited nominations frm the
public, then passed them on to a knowl-
edgeable panel ofjudges who nade the
final decision. But this year, the lucky
thirteenth year, tradition was reversed.
Instead of letting thejudges have all the
fun as in years past, this year thejudges
did the nominating while the fans of
local music were the ones voting for the
actualbwinners. So, if you were one of
the people who merely glimpsed at the
ballot in the November 15-22 issue of
the MetroTimes...you let your band
down.
As was mentioned inoneofthe many
Ifull page spreads in the MetroTimes,
the Thirteenth Annual Detroit Music
FILM
Continued from page 28
directorial effort, "Unstrung Heroes"
(December 21), is a more mature dark
comedy about family and loss.
Finally, the complex mystery film,
" Mute Witness" (December 20 and 21),
will provide some chilling suspenseto the
local film-goer over Christmas break.
FilmedinMoscow,thismovieisanintricate
tale ofa group ofAmerican filmmakers and
their many problems with the KGB.
,~Closing out the month, the atypical
costume comedy "Restoration" (Decem-
ber 23 to 31) will feature many popular
actors involved in arichly-detailed tale of
London's 17th-century aristocracy. Rob-
ert Downey, Jr., Hugh Grant, Meg Ryan
and Sam Neill all star in this sweeping
period piece that is sure to enlighten.
Moreover, it will appropriaely conclude
what will be an entertaining few weeks at
the Michigan Theater.
KAUKONEN
Continue from page 2B
.I was lucky enough to bae chosen by
music (folk/blues) that is timeless."
In his first solo studio album in almost
I 1 years, "The Land of Heroes,"
Kaukonen has mixed together a tasty
blend of his folk and blues roots with that
unique brand offinger-picking guitarthat
has become his stylistic trademark. "This
is the record that I have always wanted to
make, and I finally foundIthe right situa-
tion to do it," he said. 'This record is
Jorma Kaukonen."
It may have taken him 30 years, 40
some albums, and a million miles on the
road, but Jorma Kaukonen may have
finally found that elusive white rabbit.
HICOK
Continued from page 2B
from AIDS to innocence, and his poetry is
rich with a blend of realistic optimism, a
t' ne that acknowledges both the hollow
pain andthe siimplepleasures livingbrings.
,From the first poem,"In Her Hand,"
with a line like "the wandering signature
of his heart's jazz," th'readerknows that
this is a poet who can make magic out of
language. Poems that seem intensely per-
sonallike"530 Lakewood,"apoemabout
revisiting a childhood ome, and "Ten
Years Dry," a poem dedicated to a recov-
eringalcoholic friend,arejuxtaposedwith
broader, more universal poems.
In some cases, these poems work like
fiction, creating an image ofvividcharac-
ters or complex stories in several stanzas
and a few brief images. One such poem,
"Duke," tells the story.of a man rendered
mentally handicapped after being as-
saulted by a mugger. The last image is so
moving that you almost have to pause
after it, reread it, and then take a deep
breath and move on: "He could least
accept and lived 12 years without/ no
embrace or cares, no kiss on the lips
before sleep,/until he died in the lounge
looking out at a winter sky/that seemed
eager to snow all day but didn't."
Other poems like "Man of the House"
and "85" take one into the minds of a
middle-aged man and an 85-year-old man,
respectively. These poems exemplify
Hicok's ability to create the feeling of
chosen on the basis of three qualities;
persistence, commitment and talent.
Furthermore, the proceeds from the
.music awards went towards an excel-
lent cause: The Rob Tyner Scholarship
Fund. Formerly a member and singer
for the MC5, Rob Tyner's unexpected
death caused the Detroit music com-
rmunity to unite to support a common
goal. Many of the funds raised in his
niame were donated to the Center for
Creative Studies, in hopes that under-
l1is year's music
ow went far
byond most
exrpectations.
privileged children will also have the
opportunity to attend CCS. While at
this~ time it is uncertain just how much
money was raised, it is clear that the
mon~ey is a worthwhile investment back
into the Detroit community.
This year's awards show went far
beynd most people's expectations.
Hosed by the ever-popular Judy Tenuta;
then nght also featured perform ances by
artis s such as Lucky Haskins and
Harvey Thompson. In addition, fol-
lowi I g the presentations, local artists
local heroes
Charm Farm, Kenny Larkin and Carl
Craig all performed for theClubX audi-
ences.
Judy Tenuta was truly the most atten-
tion-getting star of the evening. Filling
the State Theater with her loud and
obnoxious comments about everything
from homosexuals to Jerry Garcia,
Tenuta managed to offend everyone
while still making the audience laugh.
But, despite her arrogance, the self-
proclaimed "Love Goddess" did man-
age to prove her skill at stand-up, and
her impersonations of people ranging
from Roseanne Barr to Rita Rudner to
Dr. Ruth were consistently dead-on.
Even her comment that if Sally Struthers
really wanted people to be fed, she
would just drop herself over Somalia,
garnered some giggles from the crowd.
But, where Judy Tenuta was abra-
sive, the other live performers were
soothing. Harvey Thompson, a jazz
singer with a voice as smooth as silk,
woke everyone up as the first performer
of the evening. Taking over the reins
were bands such as Stewart Franeke
with a Detroit music medley, Thornetta
Davis with members of now-defunct
BigChief, George Bedardand the King-
pins, and Ann Arbor's own Commu-
nity High School rockabilly band,
Lucky Haskins. All of the performers
were outstanding, and one, Thornetta
Davis, even managed to take home her
own award for Best R & B vocalist.
In other categories, bands like Blue
Dog took Best Contemporary Jazz
Band, while Mr. B and the Bird of
Paradise Orchestra won Best Traditional
Jazz Band. Likewise, Red Tree won the
Best Metal Band, while Brothers From
Another Planet lead the pack for'Best
Rap Act. Ann Arbor was even recog-
nized for being the home of the Best
Everyone's favorite local perverts, Charm Farm.
Local Music Label, Schoolkids'
Records.
At the Thirteenth Annual Detroit
Music Awards, the presenters were
well-known, even if the bands were
not. Announcers ranging from radio
DJs for The Planet and 89X to striking
MetroTimes workers were all on hand
to recognize the best that Detroit has to
offer. Most notably, Juan Atkins, a
Detroit techno-master, was given the
Lifetime Achievement Award, quite an
honor given the achievements of other
native Michiganders.
Following the awards portion of the
evening, 89X offered attendees a spe-
cial edition ofClubX featuring the win-
ners of Best Rock Record and Best
Modern Rock Band, Charm Farm.
Charm Farm put on an excellent show,
blasting through most of their album,
"Pervert." Immediately after, Carl Craig
took the stage, moving the already en-
ergetic audience into a frenzy with his
techno. Having recently started his own
label, I Ner Zon, Craig is already at the
top of the heap of Detroit's techno art-
ists. Likewise, Kenny Larkin, the final
performer in the late night lineup, had
been nominated last year for the award
for Best Techno Artist. This year, Larkin
came through, winning the category
and winning over the ClubX crowd.
Touring on a regular basis throughout
Europe, Larkin is now enjoying suc-
cess throughout the world.
Overall, each and every performer,
nominee and audience member went
home from the Detroit Music Awards
a winner. The performers won for
having the opportunity to play for a
tremendous crowd in a venue usually
reserved for only the most current
modern rock acts. The nominees, for
having been good enough to be con-
sidered one of the top four in their
genre. And, the audience members
for their support of local bands at any
stage of development and for their
skill at so adeptly picking the winners
of this year's ceremony.
Lita's back in the
saddle and ready
to rock motor city
Well, Ozzy Osbourne is coming back in
February. But if you can't wait for some
connection to the Ozman until then,
you might as well go see Lita Ford on
New Year's Eve at Harpos. After all,
they did do the duet "Close My Eyes
Forever." The ultimate bloated rock
togetherness song that predates
Meatloaf's "I'd Do Anything For Love"
by a good portion of someone's teen
years.
Of course, Lita is Lita, and has her own
career. Sure, it's a career based on
looking like a slutty metal babe, but
that doesn't mean she's untalented. So
get your masochistic butt down to the
famous metal concert theater at
14238 Harper in Detroit and ring in
1996 with a songstress who will likely
have hair with a volume several times
the head it's on and fishnet stockings
that require her to wax that tricky
bikini area.
Ted Watts.
There's trouble in the monkey house.
Actually, there isn't trouble there yet, but when Sub Pop recording stars Six
Finger Satellite invade the Shelter next Thursday, there sure will be. Their recent
album "Severe Exposure" is a fertile fiefdom of well produced noise in the vein of
Chrome with-plenty of classic Instruments that include keyboard interfaces, but
for the '90s.
The band's appearance supporting Mike Watt at the Blind Pig this year should
have driven home for the Ann Arbor community the power of the band. Looking
pale, emaciated and scraggly, sort of like members of a reactioanry militia, the
group transcended their appearance and entertained like a mamma jamma.
if you missed them before, next Thursday's your chance to rectify your situation. Go
to the Shelter for the all ages show. Doors open at 8 and Thometta Davis opens.
RECORDS
Continued from page 6B
UItraviolence
Psycho Drama
Earache
Well, it's another part of that dearth
of techno CD operas. And as with most
of its ilk, it comes with its own libretto,
without which the work would make
*minimal sense. Part of the CD's virtue
lies in the fact that the songs themselves
impart enough of the story to not be
entirely uncomprehensible.
"Psycho Drama" is the story about a
woman named Jessica, from her birth
to her drug-abusing life to her suicide
pact to her journey through the after-
life. Pretty standard.
The music is fairly driving, however.
It has enough beats to make it a club
piece, undoubtedly. And it is at least
minorly interesting as a story. How-
ever, repetition over an extended pe-
riod is unlikely to endear it to your
heart. Well, it's better than spending
your money on drugs.
_ Ted Watts
IV
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