After a lovely evening of wood planked salmon, roasted fingerlings, and ricotta beignets courtesy of Allison, fresh asparagus and salad from our garden, and too many glasses of Smackintosh from Tandem Cider (now available at the Produce Station in A2!), it was off to Johnny's Speakeasy.
Now, if you've never been, I will tell you my secrets. I may have to kill you afterwards, but at least you will die knowing that some place this magical exists.
In a little old unassuming farmhouse on the west side of Ann Arbor, there is a place, a wonderful place, where music magic happens. You would never know it from the outside, but after your first decent down those steep wooden stairs into the old fruit cellar, you will never be the same. The space was used for apple storage for the old farm on the same property. When Johnny bought the house years ago, the story goes that there were many an interested party. Each buyer would walk down the stairs and exclaim their excitement over all of the "storage space." But when Johnny walked down those stairs he saw the best little roots music venue around. Sold.
Christmas lights draped romantically, old farm implements, and guitars, ukes, and banjos grace the walls. Bring your own beverage, and maybe a snack to share. Support good local music, and leave richer for your experience. It doesn't. Get. Better.
Saturday night featured the lovely duo Some Velvet Evening, composed of the handsome John Holk, and the lovely Carrie Shepard. They were backed by Gary Indiana on guitar, and I can't remember the drummer's name (sorry awesome drummer!). Click here to watch the amazing old school video for their song Shooting the Breeze, part of their self proclaimed "cheating trilogy" on their new album.
Maybe, if you are nice to me, I will take you there some day. I said maybe, and there should probably be free cocktails involved. Just sayin'.
A few numbers by Some Velvet Evening! Waylon Jenning's Rainy Day Woman,
and Once a Day (an original?)
As I finish this I am sun kissed, well fed, and perfectly content after a long day at the beach with good people. Amen.
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