With 2013 drawing to a close, Some Kind of Jam is on the move yet again. After a year in lovely South Korea, it's time to head back to sweet home Chicago... and yet my home state of Michigan is on my mind. As always. Aside from the 3,177 miles of Great Lakes shoreline,
the third largest suspension bridge in the world, and the best baseball team in the history of humankind, we Michiganders have also kicked ass in the music industry.
Berry Gordy's Motown Records saw Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five come through the Motor City. Then there was Grand Funk Railroad, Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels, Bob Segar, ? and the Mysterians, and The Stooges. More recently the White Stripes helped usher in a revival of straight up rock n' roll.
Put plainly, you either love Michigan music or you're wrong.
It was with the Great Lakes State heavy in heart that I put together some of my favorite Michigan artists. I left off (most) extremely well known artists not only because you've already heard their songs, but also to give a tip of the cap to contemporary artists still making waves in the Michigan music scene. As much as I love hearing the majestic garage rock of ? and the Mysterians (and believe me I do), the thinking was to shed some light on new and old sounds coming from the current generation of Michiganders.
All of the artists featured in the episode came onto the scene in the late 90's or post-2000 and some, like
friends of the show Greensky Bluegrass, have made amazing strides in that time.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. continues to pick up national attention, and
Mayer Hawthorne went and got himself nominated for a Grammy. But, other than those proverbial big guns, the episode is rounded out by a slew of amazingly talented artists that aren't as well known outside of the Mitten. Not forgetting the city that still owns my heart, Detroit is extremely well represented by
The Come Ons,
The Detroit Cobras,
The Dirtbombs,
Ko and the Knockouts, and
The Juliets.
Continuing the Michigan love, this episode is proudly sponsored by
MittenStretcher.com. The website is dedicated to sharing positive things happening in Michigan, as well as Michigan folks all around the globe. The Wolverine State can take a hit or two in the media, but we Michiganders truly love it and Mitten Stretcher is working to bring our collective merriment together in one place. The hope is to start new conversations and turn those already existing into something more positive and uplifting.
Lastly, if there's an artist you feel was left out please feel free to leave a comment below or drop a line on
Facebook or
Twitter. Otherwise, grab yourself a Faygo, a bag of Better Made chips, perhaps some Mackinac fudge and kick back and enjoy!
Start Time – Artist / Track / Album
00:24 –
The White Stripes / Hotel Yorba / White Blood Cells
02:29 –
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. / Run / The Speed of Things
05:22 –
The Come Ons / It's Alright / Hip Check!
08:16 –
Mayer Hawthorne / The Walk / How Do You Do
11:50 –
The Crane Wives / Strangler Fig / The Fool In Her Wedding Gown
15:07 –
The Dirtbombs / It's Gonna Be Alright / Ooey Gooey Chewy Ka-Blooey!
17:54 –
Absofacto / Möbius Strip (Thru My Fingers) / [Loners]: Vol.1
21:33 –
Ko and the Knockouts / Set Me Free / Ko and the Knockouts
24:31 –
Lightning Love / Together / Blonde Album
27:27 –
Steppin' In It / Give My Regards to Miss Moline / Simple Tunes for Troubled Times
30:30 –
Seth Bernard and Daisy May / Shine On / Seth Bernard and Daisy May
35:13 –
The Detroit Cobras / Cha Cha Twist / The Original Recordings
37:54 –
De La Montaña / City Slicker / Postmodern Whirlwind
41:36 –
Total Blam Blams / Find Me A Woman / Total Blam Blams
43:44 –
Great Lakes Myth Society / She's Come Home to Steal Her Rainbows / Rainbows
46:26 –
The Ragbirds / Tarantella / Wanderlove
50:14 –
The Juliets / Sweetheart / The Juliets
54:09 –
Greensky Bluegrass / I'd Probably Kill You / Handguns
http://ia600405.us.archive.org/16/items/SomeKindOfJamVol.1/Episode62.mp3
