Chris Azzopardi
Real time terror
By the end of "United 93" – a documentary-style, real time film portraying the only flight that didn't hit its target on Sept. 11, 2001 – the characters' names don't stand out. But they don't need to. Not because they aren't unique people, but [...]
The sound of something sweet
ANN ARBOR – For over three decades, Grammy Award-winning Sweet Honey in the Rock have raised their compelling voices to influence positive social change. "We talk about the things that are happening contemporarily in this world today," Sweet Honey [...]
Chris Pureka: music from the road and the heart
Chris Pureka has come a long way from hammering on instruments as a band member in The Sparks, which she now only categorizes into one genre: "terrible." "We were banging around on instruments that we didn't know how to play," she says, [...]
Photo exhibit puts family values front and center
ANN ARBOR – With two recent bills proposed this month that attack LGBT parenting, "Love Makes A Family," an exhibit highlighting LGBT families, travels across Michigan, stopping at universities, the Detroit Public Library and the State [...]
The Sound of Garrison Starr
ANN ARBOR – Some musicians want a lavish mansion on Miami Beach. Some dream of playing at Carnegie Hall. But Garrison Starr just wants to get out of debt. "That's the main thing I want to accomplish," the singer-songwriter says by phone as she [...]
King maker
"I'm pretty quick from when I arrive until when I'm done," Tom Atwood says as he lounges in one of six black mesh chairs in his living room. He is, of course, referring to his prompt and informal work ethic that's helped craft his photography [...]
Peak by peak
ANN ARBOR – For her newest collection of ditties, "I'm a Mountain," Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah Harmer leaves behind the programmed synthesizers and electric guitar and treads down-home territory Dolly-style. For the bluegrass/folk collection – [...]
Knitting store keeps idle hands out of trouble
ANN ARBOR – At 6 feet 4 inches tall, Kevin Bryant could be a quarterback. But he's not. He'd rather score some yarn to knit a pair of socks. And for that, Bryant chose Busy Hands in Ann Arbor. "The people are very friendly," he said. "Some knitting [...]
Start the insanity
One night. Two shows. Five comics. "It'll be interesting to see," says Dewey Chaffee, whose first boyfriend was a Puerto Rican drag queen. "It doesn't get any gayer than that," the comic says. And, well, he's right – for the most part. On Saturday, [...]
One gas station at a time
ANN ARBOR – Musician Ellis Bergeron isn't hesitant to admit she belts out Dolly Parton cruising down the highway in her Dodge Grand Caravan. "I definitely do that quite a bit," says 29-year-old singer-songwriter. But Ellis, who has toured [...]
Wheeler, party of one
ANN ARBOR – Fresh off her stint as emcee for the Folk Festival in Ann Arbor last month, singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler returns with her unique musical style that jumps from emotionally intense to uproariously comedic. Wheeler's newest album, [...]
Out of Body
No more vaginas. No more tummies. No more asses. Eve Ensler, award-winning author of "The Vagina Monologues," is ready to move on to something bigger – and no, not breasts. "I'm leaving the body for a while," Ensler says from her hotel room in L.A. [...]