University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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By Kara DeBoer On the University campus, music was everywhere. From Hill Auditorium ' s renowned acoustics to random street corners improvisa- tional amateurs, Ann Arbor was overflowing with lyrical talent. LSA junior Krystal Dickens ' most memorable music moment came from an unlikely source: the Diag. I ' ve seen the great- est performances on the Diag. Once I was on my way to a football game, and this Jamaican guy was playing the drums and making up music based on the people walking by. It was great, Dickens said. And there ' s a guy playing the harmonica there every day. Other students saw music in more tra- ditional venues, like Hill Auditorium. I ' ve seen Guster twice, once at Hill and once at the Mich- igan Theatre, said LSA junior Jordan Powell. I ' ve also been to the Bird of Paradise, where I saw some really classy jazz music. LSA senior Casey Lindberg saw Beck and the Men ' s Glee Club at Hill Auditorium. As Hill was to undergo mass renovations in the summer, Lindberg added that he hoped to see the old-style, tiered layout of the auditorium at the venue the next year. Besides the theatres that showed mainly large-scale acts, including Hill Audi- torium, the Michigan Theatre, and the State Theatre, students also attended performances in more intimate settings. The Blind Pig, the Ark, the Firefly Club, and many cafes featured everything from jazz and folk trios to hip-hop groups. Mark Schneider, LSA junior and local musician, played acoustic guitar at many local cafes including Espresso Royale. Having recently moved from Pittsburg, he was much impressed with Ann Arbor ' s live music scene. The acoustic scene in Ann Arbor is really strong, but under- ground, he said. There are far more acoustic groups than rock bands but we don ' t hear 80 percent of them. Schneider added that the majority of groups in Ann Arbor are aging folk- hippie groups. Residential College sophomore Anna Blackburn preferred the area ' s most alternative venues, such as the Blind Pig, St. Andrews Hall in Detroit and the Magic Stick in Ferndale. They show a lot of really diverse acts, she said. Blackburn added that some of the best bands play at casual parties and local bars on the weekends. Smokestack, Saturday Looks Good to Me, and Pedro the Lion are great, she said. It ' s always fun to get somewhere and find out there ' s a band playing. A less notorious but very worthwhile venue, according to Blackburn, was a stage in the basement of dormitory East Quad called Half- way Inn where many local groups performed. The University offered multi-faceted entertainment and venues. This diversity allowed all students to discover and listen to music of their own liking. MICHIGAN LIFE 5 1

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n ...Ann Arbor was overflowing with lyrical talent. MUSIC ' The sign for the Crow Bar on Man Street shines in the afternoon sunlight. Many venues downtown remaned dormant during the day, only lo explode with activity once darkness fell C. McEntee photo PI m The Ark, located downtown on Main Street, awaits a surge of activity to come later in the night. The club, which remained one of the most popular in the city, featured open mic nights ano a wide array of popular music C. McEntee photo Junior Enc Kogelshawtz beats on the drums during a Faces For Radio set at a party on a weekend night. Local student bands added an extra dimension to parties on campus, and were a favorite over a stereo any night. C. McEntee photo 50 MlCHlGANENS IAN

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Senior history major Dan Conklin serves a collider with a smile. Rod ' s Diner, located on State Street, was a common place for students to eat and work, offering cheap, good food and a friendly environment. S. Thomas photo 52 -NSIAN