Friday Mar 26, 2010

The Ark: Paul Thorn

Dark, bluesy, sharp-witted, pungently idiomatic original songs by this veteran Mississippi singer-songwriter, the son of a tent revival minister and former professional boxer. His music often provokes comparisons to Lyle Lovett, and his recent CD Mission Temple Fireworks Stand is an engagingly varied collection of trenchantly funny and seductively tenderhearted songs. All Music Guide writer Thom Jurek calls Thorn a “soul singer who can slip down into the murk and mess of human emotions with style and aplomb.” Opening act is Ellizabeth Cook, an Americana folk-singer-songwriter from Florida who calls herself a “hippie diva with a scuffling country show.” $20. [venue info]

The Blind Pig: Flying Lotus

Experimental L.A. psychedelic hip-hop MC. Opening act is Mahjonng, a Chicago minimalist industrial quintet. Advance tickets: $15. ($10 with Ann Arbor Film Festival pass.) [venue info]

Cleary’s Pub: Rush Clement

Blues, rock, and country by thos acoustic singer-guitarist. [venue info]

Crazy Wisdom Tea Room: Seven Bridges

Country-rock originals by this Detroit trio led by singer-songwriter Keith Howard and featuring vocalist Lisa Chambers and bassist Dave Chambers. [venue info]

Dreamland Theater: Burning Cacti

Canton experimental psychedelic pop band. Opening acts TBA. [venue info]

The Earle: Rick Burgess Trio

Veteran local jazz trio founded by the late pianist Rick Burgess which now usually features Patrick Whitehead on piano. [venue info]

Elbow Room: Ganon.

Ferndale noise-metal band. Opening acts are Goes Cube, an indie punk-rock trio from Brooklyn (NY), and East of the Wall, an NYC experimental progressive rock band. [venue info]

Foggy Bottom Coffeehouse: Greg Z.

Country-folk originals and covers by this singer-guitarist. [venue info]

Goodnite Gracie: Drivin’ Sideways

Veteran local band fueled by Pontiac Pete Ferguson’s alternately soulful and ornery vocals. Their country-based repertoire still features lots of classic honky-tonk, but they also cover everyone from Chuck Berry and Johnny Burnette to the Beatles and James Brown. With guitarist George Bedard, bassist Chris G, drummer Mark Newbound, and keyboardist Jim King. 6:30-9 p.m. [venue info]

Goodnite Gracie: The Ultraviolet Hippopotamus

Progressive-funk jam band from Big Rapids. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. [venue info]

Guy Hollerin's: "Rock for Haiti"

With an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, R&B, Motown, and pop by the Laith Al-Saadi Trio, blues and blues-rock by The Bluescasters, and ska and 80s-style pop by Hullabaloo. Proceeds benefit the Haiti Nursing Foundation, which supports the FSIL Haiti School of Nursing in Leogane, Haiti.The school has become a temporary hospital and tent village to thousands of injured and displaced Haitians after the earthquake. $10. 6 p.m.-midnight. [venue info]