Vacuum - Edward Vielmetti in Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

St Urho's Day in Detroit - Conga se Menne - Cranbrook - March 15, 2008

For more St Urho's Day information see
St Urho - Legendary Patron Saint of Finland

Happy St Urho's Day 2007 (last year's links)
delicious tag urho

St Urho, of course, drove the grasshoppers out of Finland, saving the grape crop; his day is March 16, one day before St Patrick's, and two days after Pi Day (3.14).

15 (Sat) Conga Se Menne in concert, 8 p.m., Cranbrook Performing Arts Center, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. For information, call (248) 645-3000. (via the Finnish American Reporter)

From the Observer and Eccentric:

You've heard of singing in the shower? Get ready for songs about saunas...and hunting, fishing, forests and cold winters in the U.P. from the Marquette band, Conga Se Menne.

The group that combines traditional Finnish schottisches and polkas with blues, funk, Latin, reggae, rock, and Caribbean beats, will perform a concert called "Finnish Reggae and Other Sauna Beats," from 8-10 p.m., Saturday, March 15 at Cranbrook's Art Museum, in Bloomfield Hills. The concert, co-sponsored by The Finlandia Foundation National and The Finnish Club of Detroit, will include a cash bar and traditional Finnish refreshments. Doors will open at 7 p.m., allowing time to check out the museum's current exhibit, "Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future," a look at the life and work of one of America's most innovative architects. Admission to the concert, which includes entrance to the exhibit, is $15 per person for the general public and $10 per person for members of the Finlandia Foundation National, Finnish Cultural Center and the Finnish American Club of Detroit. The event is free for ArtMembers@Cranbrook. To reserve tickets, call (248) 645-3314.

"Living Inna Northern Paradise" (Conga Se Menne)

Take Five, Dave Brubeck Quartet on Dutch TV 1961

via Tom Brandt (thanks)

Upcoming music in Ann Arbor

Here's some shows on our radar.

Chris Smither, Oct 20, the Ark.
Garnet Rogers, Nov 9, the Ark

Yo-Yo Ma, Nov 10, Rackham. (sold out)

Leo Kottke and the Turtle Island String Quartet, Dec 9, Rackham.

Shakey Jake "second line" blues funeral procession video

Saul and I went to Shaky Jake's memorial service this afternoon. There were a lot of people there (300? 400?) including members of his family. Quite a turnout.

There was a procession afterwards - I include one of the announcements of it (via Ron Suarez). The T-shirt of choice was "Wake for Jake" with grey lettering on black.

New Orleans-style “second line” procession in honor of Shakey Jake Woods (the most popular person in Ann Arbor).

Route, destination, and step-off time all TBD. Repertoire to include “When the Saints Go Marching In” (in G) and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (key TBD).

Like the Critical Mass bicycle events, this is a “disorganized coincidence.” Just show up.

R.I.P. Shakin’ Jake Woods.

More:
- Shaky Jake (Arborwiki)
- Video: Memorial, parade for 'Shakey' Jake Woods (Ann Arbor News blog)
- Veteran Ann Arbor street musician dies at 82 (MSNBC / WOOD-TV / Associated Press)

Technorati Tags: annarbor, shaky-jake, shakin-jake, shakey-jake, jake-woods, funeral, blues-funeral, music, blues

Understanding the electric company

Thanks to Matt Hampel for noting this "early video news release".

Turn the Glasses Over (trad arr. Cindy Kallet)

I've been to London, I've been to Dover
I've traveled this wide world all over.
Over, over, three times over
Drink all you have to drink and turn the glasses over.
Sailing east, sailing west
Sailing over the ocean,
Better watch out when the boat begins to rock
Or you'll lose your girl in the ocean

as heard on her Leave The Cake In The Mailbox CD.

Technorati Tags: lyrics

Michael Penn - "Walter Reed" - May 8 2007, The Ark, tix $20

Michael Penn is coming to Ann Arbor's The Ark in May. This is the video of his song Walter Reed, which I found in MP3 format on PodBop. Thanks to rosefirerising for unearthing the video.

Ark show May 8, 8PM - tix $20

(needs link to MP3)

It's the best. I like bibimbop.

Technorati Tags: a2b3, bibimbop, youtube

Ann Arbor polling place hours for November 2006 election

The polls in Ann Arbor, Michigan are open from 7am to 8pm. I looked for information about polling hours locally, in Washenaw County, and statewide, and didn't see a single place where that information was being consolidated. In particular, at this point I don't know if all polling places are open that early. Updates as I have them; in Michigan you can generate your own sample ballot at Publius which will have your local hours printed on it.

For official information in Washtenaw County see washtenawvotes.org which is run by the county (Larry Kestenbaum, county clerk and register of deeds).

My friend Bob Tyler writes:

Dear Friends:

Vox Populi approaches!
Since we have a sacred duty and it's not a national holiday and the weather
may be iffy and it'll be a bit of a zoo, I have located something soothing
yet uplifting with a good beat.

This may help you: finishing work in time to go and vote, or arranging
someone to watch the kids, or waiting onboard mass transit, driving through
traffic, trying to find a parking spot, waiting in line, wishing you weren't
hungry, waiting some more, and finally, after waiting some more, it's your
turn!

Crooks and Liars » C&L Premiere: Rickie Lee Jones sings “Have You Had Enough?”

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/HYHEMix.mp3

And THIS is maybe why you want to vote so bad:
Rolling Stone : COVER STORY: Time to Go! Inside the Worst Congress Ever

Technorati Tags: a2voterguide, annarbor, elections, michigan, vote, washtenaw

Cindy Kallet fall 2006 concert schedule

From: Cindy Kallet <info@cindykallet.com>
Subject: FALL 2006 CONCERTS!

Dear friends,

Here is the schedule of performances for September through November.
There are concerts on both coasts as well as inbetween: a concert with
Ellen and Michael in Massachusetts, solo ones for me in Wisconsin and
New Hampshire, and a pile with Grey in Indiana, Massachusetts, upstate
New York, and California. Hope to see many of you this fall. Please
say hello to us if you come to a concert! And you might want to check
out the website ( [www.cindykallet.com][1]) for your Halloween
shopping - those $5 cassettes make great crunchy treats!

All the best,

Cindy