An early evening show at the North Star Lounge with Ananda Murari leads to thoughtful enchantment.
Ananda Murari at the North Star Lounge
Last weekend, I finally made it to Ziggy’s in Ypsi for some rock music from Soot, Angel of Mars, and Ladyship Warship. This week, I finally made it to the North Star Lounge in Ann Arbor, where I caught a beautiful set of enchanting music from Ananda Murari. The evening was made that much sweeter as I had Brenda and my sister Beth along for this experience.
Located next door to the Detroit Street Filling Station is where you’ll find the intimate music room known as the North Star Lounge. The bar offers a few seats downstairs, but where you want to be is upstairs. Here, you’ll find a cozy room that sounds great. The seating is tight, but that makes you feel like you are part of the performance.
North Star Lounge has a fantastic selection of beverages, including craft beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic mocktails. If you are hungry, you can order from the Filling Stations menu (full menu until 8 p.m., snack later). We snagged a table up front and used the handy QR code to order beverages. Before you knew it, with beverages in hand, it was time for music.
The Enchanting Music of Ananda Murari
Funny story: I met Ananda in the bathroom line at Art 634 during GIG—The Art of Michigan Music 2024. We started chatting, and I learned he was a musician. In the short time we talked, Ananda impressed me with his warmth and caring. I gave him my card, and he later emailed me with a link to his music. One listen, and I was quite intrigued.
When I first heard Ananda’s music, his voice captured my attention. It has an evocative, rich timbre that, at times, reminds me of Nick Drake, Paul Simon, and Harry Connick Jr. Hearing Ananda sing with just a guitar to accompany him at the North Star Lounge, the warmth and vibrancy of his voice showed through.
Ananda played several songs from his most recent album, Ripen On The Vine, including the title track and my new favorite, “Possibility Bluebird.” The music, resonant and heartfelt, created a state of peaceful joy, not unlike the feeling you get when walking in the woods, where the wind sings songs that root you into the earth.
As I listened to Ananda share insights into the influences behind these songs, I gained a deeper appreciation. Using fables and brush strokes of philosophy, his songs explore the fundamental aspects of life that touch us all. Using his voice and the guitar, he adds depth and dimension to the thoughts being shared.
The bulk of Ananda’s set was original music. He did slip in a deep cut with “Boots of Spanish Leather” by Bob Dylan. While Ananda may have been alone on stage, he wasn’t alone. During the final song, friends and family joined in the chorus on “Dust and Iron,” adding one last touch of enchantment.
Pictures
More photos of Ananda Murari’s performance at the North Star Lounge are in our gallery. Go ahead and take a look.
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