Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights kicks off its hot summer of music and art with many lively stages of righteous jams, including the psychedelic fury of Sonic Smut.
Sounds and Sights on Thursday Nights
The streets of Chelsea were hopping for the kickoff of their annual summer music and art series called Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights. The weather was absolute perfection with dazzling blue skies and just the right amount of heat to let you know that summer is around the corner.
Life In Michigan and GIG – The Art of Michigan Music had a table set up near Ugly Dog Distillery, which was overflowing with folks enjoying their stupendous craft cocktails. As we settled in to greet friends and soon-to-be friends, the line for the sinfully delicious cake-pops crafted by Cakes by Kaity was stretching down the street. An equally impressive line of people and their pets gathered next to us for a portrait by Christine Semmler of Visual Folklore.
Our partner in all things art and music, Steve Girbach (Manchester Underground), joined Brenda in greeting passers-by while I grabbed my camera to run around and capture the buzz that is Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights in Chelsea. While music is a key feature of this event, there is so much more. Kids were going nuts for the bubbles from BubbleU, chalk art creations were blooming at Palmer Commons, and people admired the sculptures sprinkled across the city.
Chelsea Art Alley
The latest addition to the bounty of art to explore is the new Chelsea Art Alley. Tucked behind Geek Brush Studio at 108 E. Middle Street, the Chelsea Art Alley turns the space between 105 and 107 Main Street into a gallery that you can browse at any time of day, every day of the year. Thanks to Brenda Fineman at Geek Brush, the art alley provides a home for local art and a peek into the creation process through a view into the artist-in-residence window inside the studio.
To celebrate the new Chelsea Art Alley, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony packed with patrons. A lot of towns profess their support for the arts, but Chelsea backs its words with action. All of the art on display is made by local artists, and you can vote for your favorite.
Sonic Smut
The gravitational pull of the psychic explosion of interstellar rhythms and riffs created by Sonic Smut was irresistible. One of my favorite bands from Detroit, Sonic Smut, brought their revolutionary psychedelic rock, melding Zappa-esque progressive jams with a splatter of funk and a fine misting of jazz, to the Rumpus Room rock stage.
Sun-kissed, vibing hard, and sporting the green for this week’s Sounds & Sights theme color, they pushed the boundaries of sonic exploration. The rhythm section, led by drummer Dave Cwik, was tight and potent as they motivated your heart to beat harder and your blood to course louder. Up front, Mike and Alice manipulated the cosmic aura of electric heat and dialed in the magnetic melodies and hypnotic harmonies. As the sun fried my skin, the brilliance of Sonic Smut baked my mind.
Music Around Every Corner
Around the corner at the Clocktower Gazebo, Skyline Blues had drawn a sizable crowd. Their exquisite a cappella performance was captivating, to say the least. Strolling down Main, I tucked into Collins Off Main to catch the smooth and satisfying solar sounds of Al Jacquez.
Over on East Middle, folks were seeking the shade as they enjoyed Brian Brickley and the Martindales. With a combination of southern-influenced originals, classic rock, and blues, there was something for everyone on Middle Street.
The bandshell at Palmer Commons hosted the incomparable country music of Audrey Ray. Folks lounged in lawn chairs or on the lawn as Audrey and her band cast a golden halo of songs rooted in traditional country music. With a voice that brings to mind the great Dolly Parton, Audrey drew the audience in with her originals as well as a super cover of “Jolene.”
After running around taking in the Sounds & Sights, it was time to pack up our toys and go home. Chelsea does it right, making for one hell of an awesome night. Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights runs from 6:30 to 8:30 every Thursday throughout June and July.
Pictures
There are more photos from Chelsea Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights in our gallery.
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