Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features emo-tinged punk by Geranium Red, yoga music by Golden Feelings, electronica by Evan W, improv and electronics by Panto Collapsar & Cyrus Pireh, and indie-tronica by Ness Lake with DJ FLP.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features three electronica artists from the Sunbabe Records stable—Magoose, Caly3r, and Billion Dollar Mind—along with R&B from Vonsiwel and more electronic beauty via Otherseas.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features punk rock by Sex Change, electro-prog by The Strange Theory of Light and Matter, space rock by Tomorrowland, Americana by Wells & the Outfit, and distorted beats by Foreign Carnivals.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features Irish-American fiddle folk by Hannah O'Brien & Grant Flick, original electronica courtesy of MEMCO, drum 'n' bass by Indigo Virus, country-folk by Kathy Wieland, and a Phil Collins cover by Chris DuPont.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features prog-post-noise rock by Lunch, electro-screamo by Oblivion Heirs, emo-indie by Fawn, dark electronics by Model No. 1021999, and live jams by Chirp.

VAZUM didn’t expect a Western film to inspire the title of its latest album.

The Jackson duo of Zach Pliska (vocals, guitars, drums) and Emily Sturm (vocals, bass) stumbled upon the phrase “Western violence” while watching The Quick and the Dead.

“We had some of the songs fleshed out and usually we go with a ‘V’ in the name for our albums. We were watching [the 1995 film] by Sam Raimi and the rating was ‘R,’ and it said two words: ‘Western violence,’” said Sturm about the duo’s doomgaze album, Western Violence.

“We said, ‘Oh my god, that’s what we’re writing about,’ and it just summed it up. And then we said, ‘That’s what we’re living in … This is how our society expresses itself now.’”

On Western Violence, VAZUM reflects on the disintegration and disillusionment of our country and provides a social commentary on the personal, cultural, and political events that impact it.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features jazz by the Alex Anest Organ Trio, sadcore by Hubbard Lake Baking Club, dark ambient by Paper Petals, jungle by Duburban, and live jams by Stormy Chromer.

It’s a bittersweet time in Brad Phillips’ life.

“My daughter Alyson is off to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts next month, and I’ve been weeping big dad tears on and off all summer,” said the Dexter singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Alyson is a singer, and she’ll join her dad for a special show at The Ark on August 8 along with bandmates Chris DuPont, Drew De Four, Brennan Andes, Keith Billik, and Mike Shea.

Brad has also been busy as a lecturer at the University of Michigan, a resident artist at The Purple Rose Theatre Company, touring with actress and singer Patti LuPone, and featuring on her new album, A Life in Notes, playing violin, mandolin, guitar, octave mandolin, and U-bass.

“Patti is an icon and it’s no accident. She’s a legend for a reason and to be on stage with her in front of her adoring fans is electric,” Phillips said. “Summer has been both chaotic, emotional, and wonderful all at the same time! It’s been a big year around here.”

To learn more, I spoke with Phillips about his work and tour with Patti LuPone and his family’s artistic accomplishments.

Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This edition features hip-hop from two MC Kadence-associated groups—Patience With Creatures and Barefoot Sneaker Slaves—as well as electronica by Misotear and Northbad, goth-folk by Dollie Rot, and solo piano jazz by Marc Hannaford.

After encountering heartbreak and grief, Moonwreckers understands the importance of feeling seen and validated.

The Metro Detroit-Ann Arbor quartet of Matt Galbraith (vocals, guitar), Matt Konkle (drums), Paul Stiem (guitar), and Jamus Sumner (bass, vocals) explores that emotional need and its evolution on the album, Why Look Here?.

“It certainly is autobiographical. At the time, I was married, and we were having issues, and we did eventually divorce. A lot of these songs were written around the time when I was in my early 30s, so shit hit the fan between us and we had been together since we were 18 years old,” said Galbraith about the band’s indie-rock-meets-emo debut release.

“I didn’t know what a world looked like without that, so I was very lost, and it was scary to me what life looked like outside of that relationship. There’s some coming-of-age stuff in there, too, but a lot of it has to do with that relationship, the struggles and the attempts of trying to reconcile things, and then failing and rinse and repeat."

Moonwreckers examines that trajectory across 12 personal tracks on Why Look Here?. The album’s honest lyrics, plaintive vocals, and evocative instrumentation prompt listeners to process their emotions and struggles alongside the band.