D.E. Carr’s debut novel, When Squirrels Fly, starts with a discovery that launches a mystery and takes characters all over Ann Arbor. Main character Allie Caldwell realizes, “Safety could not be taken for granted.”

When Allie bumps up visiting her Aunt Mel owing to concerns about her well-being, Allie alarmingly does not find her aunt at home. What she does find is a handsome neighbor named George, troublesome questions about her aunt’s research, and dangerous consequences for investigating all of the above. The nature of her aunt’s research on migraines leads Allie and George to a wormhole that compounds the mystery of her aunt’s whereabouts. Despite the sinister plot turns, the characters and their pursuit bring abundant humor as well.

Early on in her visit, after a suspicious accident injures George, Allie wonders about this attractive man whom she just met:

The Radar tracks new music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels. Written by Lori Stratton (LS) and Christopher Porter (CP).

This week: Kylee Phillips, Geranium Red, Katie Greene, Bekka, Jacob Sigman, and Davis Caruso.

This article originally ran on February 9, 2021. We’re highlighting it again because Ann Arbor Funhouse is hosting a “50 Years of Ramones Tribute” show on August 6 with Templetons, Scissor Now!, and Human Skull. 

[Updated February 9, 2021, with photos and reviews from The Ann Arbor News].

The Blind Pig is a favorite club of many rock musicians, and the venue has hosted so many legendary bands over the years.

But The Ramones' love lay elsewhere in Ann Arbor.

Between 1977 and 1983, the New York City punk godfathers played Tree Town seven times—and every show was as headliners at The Second Chance, which is now Necto, 516 E. Liberty St. The Blind Pig was still a blues bar back then while The Second Chance was hosting numerous rockers, from Bob Seger (when the club was known as Chances Are) to Bow Wow Wow. In fact, during that period The Ramones headlined nearly as many shows in Ann Arbor as they did in Detroit (nine).

The first time they played Michigan was as the opener for Flamin' Groovies, October 17, 1976, at the Royal Oak Music Theater.

But The Ramones' first show as headliners in Michigan was a little over five months later in Ann Arbor on March 28, 1977, with Sonic's Rendezvous Band opening. There doesn't appear to be any audio or video of this show, but here are two excellent photos by legendary Detroit Rock City and Creem magazine photographer Robert Mathieu of Tommy and Johnny Ramone backstage with the Fred "Sonic" Smith, Ron Asheton, and Scott Asheton:

A preview of artist exhibitions in August throughout Washtenaw County for Dzanc House, Ann Arbor Art Center, Gutman Gallery, Crazy Wisdom Bookstore, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, Riverside Arts Center, and U-M’s Residential College Art Gallery.

One Track Mind features a Washtenaw County-associated artist discussing a single song.

Standout Track: No. 5, “Full Body Headache,” from Toadally, an indie-rock group from Ann Arbor. The band’s debut EP, Crash, explores the opportunities and challenges of risk-taking from personal and professional perspectives.

On “Full Body Headache,” vocalist-guitarist Fangbo Yuan sings about feeling overwhelmed and trapped in an unsatisfying job.

“The whole idea is when you wake up in the morning, and you feel OK—like new day, new me—I’m gonna make the most of it,” he said. “And then you’re basically realizing that it’s gonna go the exact same as it has been, and by the end of the day, you’re feeling this soreness, like that feeling you got hit by a car when you’re down with the flu. That’s a full-body headache.”

Growing up in Washtenaw County and attending the University of Michigan, Darla Hand became well-versed in what community theater options were available to aspiring thespians.

Participating in theater since middle school and studying music at U-M, the Whitmore Lake High School alum was introduced to some of the limitations of traditional community theater while directing her first show for a local production two years ago.

But that first directing role inspired a bigger idea: Instead of following the rules that included renting out one of four traditional theater venues, why not open it up to the countless restaurants, patios, cafés and other everyday spaces the area has to offer?

“There's a lot of theater around Ann Arbor, and it's all sort of the same thing,” Hand said. “So, I thought the best way to do it would be to find outside places to do it.”

The Radar tracks new music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels. Written by Lori Stratton (LS) and Christopher Porter (CP).

This week: OMO x Le Dawg, Gostbustaz, Saint Louie, Josie G, Rabbitology, Intercept Reality, HUES, Sudden Merganzer, Steve DeDoes, and Tristan Cappel.

One Track Mind features a Washtenaw County-associated artist discussing a single song.

Standout Track: “Limbo,” a standalone single from Mree, aka Marie Hsiao, an Ann Arbor singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. The dream-pop song explores the emotional journey of moving from hopelessness to resilience and learning how to persevere.

“Everyone is going through something,” Mree wrote in an email interview. “I hope this song is helpful to anyone who needs to be seen in their struggles, and to remind them—and myself—that the way back to joy and lightness doesn’t have to be an insurmountable climb. It can, and it usually is, a journey made up of little wins here and there that add up over time.”

“Limbo” is also reflective of Mree’s introspective approach to songwriting, which often happens while she’s producing her music. “A lot of the songs on my upcoming album, strangely/magically, feel like letters I wrote to my future self,” she wrote. “At the time of writing, I didn’t really know why the lyrics came as they did, but sitting here now, it’s a song I desperately needed after an incredibly dark and difficult year.”

Tokyo (Live), the second full-length release from Kenji Lee’s Fortune Teller Trio, is a thrilling document of the group’s tenderly ferocious ability to fill small spaces with their big sound. Recorded live in Japan, the album presents largely improvised music that took place across two nights of performances in the Tokyo underground last winter. 

As a student at the University of Michigan, Lee obtained degrees in jazz studies and music education. Primarily a tenor saxophonist who also plays stand-up bass, he now serves as instructor of woodwind pedagogy and applied saxophone at Madonna University and instructor of jazz saxophone at Interlochen Arts Camp and the Detroit Jazz Workshop, while also maintaining an active private studio. 

Lee, who moved to Michigan from California in 2015 after spending the first few years of his life in Japan, has made a name for himself in the scene that stretches from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to Detroit, working with everyone from U-M professor, pianist, and composer Andy Milne to Detroit-based legends like drummer Dr. Prof. Leonard King and bassists Jaribu Shahid and Marion Hayden. 

The Fortune Teller Trio was formed about half a decade ago, although the three members—which include bassist Andy Peck and drummer Jonathan Barahal—have been playing with each other in different configurations for even longer. The group has done a couple of tours in the Midwest, but this album captures their first foray into another part of the globe.

Since 2012, Chuck and Brenda Marshall have been committed to telling the stories of their home state on their Life in Michigan blog. But their retirements four years ago cleared the slate for a full-on commitment to working on their website and numerous other creative activities, including two podcasts, a weekly newsletter, and restarting an annual event celebrating the wide spectrum of art in Michigan music.

“I do think [these projects], in many ways, helped keep that richness of your life,” Brenda Marshall said. “When you retire, you've got to have something to fill it out. It certainly has filled it out a lot. Sometimes I'm like, ‘Oh my goodness, I might have to retire from Life in Michigan.’”

The GIG - The Art of Michigan Music exhibition was first curated 10 years ago for the Ann Arbor Art Center to showcase the work of Michigan music photographers. Chuck Marshall restarted the event three years ago when folks from Manchester Underground encouraged him to bring it back during his Fans With Bands podcast.

After revamping GIG as a three-day festival in Jackson with everything from industry expert speakers to live music, for 2026, Chuck and Brenda have brought a revised edition to Chelsea’s Sound & Sights Festival.