Chris Azzopardi
Protesters blast anti-gay coach at MSU
Around 130 protesters scattered through the Breslin Arena to rally against anti-gay Penn State coach Rene Portland as her team played against Michigan State University on Feb. 1. "I thought it was good to go out and make a statement and … show that [...]
Busy 'Boy'
Reuben Butchart has worked 10-hour days before, but not like the ones leading up to the release of his sophomore album. As the elements of Butchart's disc, "Golden Boy," melded – the addition of orchestral components, the singer's emotional cadence [...]
"Not Yet Rated" gets 'G' for Great
Two guys going at it: Zap! NC-17! But two gender-opposites fornicating in a stairwell? Rated R. Director Kirby Dick's strongest argument in "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" comes from an eye-opening montage of clips offering a side-by-side sex [...]
Lost 'love': Diana Ross records generic comeback album
With The Supremes-like "Dreamgirls" singing high notes at the box office, Diana Ross' break from her seven-year hiatus couldn't be more appropriately timed. Even if it's not so dreamy. The R&B legend's new solo outing, "I Love You," doesn't hold [...]
Protesters put down Portland
ANN ARBOR – The University of Michigan women's basketball team won their first Big 10 game of the season against Penn State on Sunday at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor. But for nearly 300 protesters – about one-sixth of the total attendees – the real [...]
The Word of Kreis
cut/ Levi Kreis channels Madonna's "Confessions On a Dance Floor" for a more upbeat offering. cut/ Levi Kreis followed an "ex-gay" regimen before realizing that God doesn't discriminate, he says. INFO BOX ÒThe Gospel According to LeviÓ Levi [...]
Musical offers tropical getaway
Forget the chilly weather. Throw on some shorts because it's about to heat up at Baldwin Theatre in Royal Oak. Stagecrafters presents the beautiful tropical-tinged musical "Once On This Island" from Jan. 12-Feb. 4. The production, based on a book by [...]
AIDS activist strived for visibility of minorities
Pam Lynch could always count on Derrick Anderson. Whether she needed a shoulder to cry on or a floor to sleep on, Lynch's best friend wasn't more than a phone call away. Anderson, 51, died in late November of AIDS-related illness. "He came to teach [...]
Burning up
Danielle Bollinger. Friday, Sept. 1. The Necto. Ann Arbor. (734) 994-5436. http://www.daniellebollinger.com There's a reason dance crooner Danielle Bollinger flaunts her curvaceous body. It's not to sell records – though it can't hurt either. It's [...]
Aguilera's soul disc bold, basic
It's easy to dog Christina Aguilera for her smutty "Dirrty" days. But, ass-less chaps or not, it's undeniable that the girl can blow. She's got one helluva a voice, tailored for the musical renderings of classic soul songstresses like Etta James and [...]
Blair unburied
Blair Burying the Evidence 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 1515 Broadway, Detroit It's ironic that Blair's three brothers used to listen to Village People records. After all, he's the gay one, he says. "I hadn't thought about that in years," laughs the Detroit [...]
Blige show proves powerful
Soul singer Mary J. Blige showed the female-heavy crowd on Sunday at DTE Energy Music Theater that, despite overcoming a troubled past, it's hard to escape it. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul scatted through parts of her aggressive performance of "My [...]