Wednesday, September 23, 2009
I arrived in Ann Arbor in 1980 not knowing much about it except that Commander Cody and the Stooges came from there. I went to chase a girl (of course) and ended up meeting my wife there – so it was a pretty productive time. I knew something was up when I was walking down a street my first day and these two guys came over carrying guitars and said something like “you look cool, you should come and see The Detroit Puppets tonite at the Sure Thing in Ypsilanti”. We then had a long chat – and an education for me – on the musical significance of the area (I was way more familiar with Detroit for obvious reasons). Unfortunately I never got to see these guys (no car) that night and only saw them later when they opened up for us (I was in a band called the Flexibles) at the 2nd Chance and they were great. A drummer and two dan electros through some crappy amps. No bass. They were the white stripes way before Jack White got the idea. The best part was they would scream “we are the Detroit puppets’ throughout every song and break. You couldn’t see these guys and forget them.
Anyway Ann Arbor was great. A cool, small town with friendly folks, great music – lots of blues (lots), some country, some great rockabilly (George Bedard is a God), and a lot of what would be called ‘indie’ music (that’s where we fit). We had a great time. Until we fell apart and went our separate ways (too many shared girlfriends amongst other diversions). But I got to see some great music and enjoy the mid-west for the first time. It was cold however – growing up in the UK it never got that cold. Arriving in Michigan in February was another thing. I wouldn’t leave the house without having a car all nicely warmed up and ready to jump into outside the house. I discovered two things. One that you can have fun in -80 degree weather (with the wind chill) and two, that down is your friend. Haven’t been back for a while. Must do that.
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