Music
Hanging Gardens
The above Feature was shot for Single Barrel Detroit showing the Hanging Gardens Project and The Juliets.
A riddle: name two homophones with opposite meanings. In English there are, as far as I know, two common answers. One is hole/whole, which is arguably a bit of a stretch. Hole isn’t exactly the opposite of whole, though one does happen to cancel the other out. The other and more accurate answer is raise/raze, a single sound which signifies both to create and to destroy, to build up and to burn down. Resurget cineribus and so on, you see where I’m going with this.
There are a handful of rumors surrounding the razing of the Forest Arms, rumors which could be effectively condensed into this: a man in dire straits, at the end of some sort of rope, sets fire to his own apartment after barricading himself inside, presumably in a desperate act of retribution toward an indifferent world. Another rumor suggests that he was simply a smoker who had fallen asleep amidst some paperwork with a lit cigarette in use. The facts are these: in the early morning of February 6, 2008, a fire started in the apartment of John Christian Robinson. It took four hours to contain, resulted in the death of Robinson, the displacement of over 100 residents, and the near-total destruction of the century-old complex. Also succumbed to the flames: Amsterdam Espresso, a community-driven café which burgeoned into an active local art gallery and music venue in its short time, and People’s Records, one of Detroit’s premiere record shops which has since relocated to Woodward and Peterboro.
I lived on the first floor of the Forest Arms for a year, between 2006 and 2007. It was my second year living in Detroit and I was knee-deep in my undergraduate studies at Wayne State. The places in which you come of age tend to quickly expand and then slowly contract over time in your memory, one long, labored breath. A lot of my memories from the Forest Arms had been neutralized in the past few years, had sizzled out and congealed. Something I did not expect was for these memories – or perhaps emotional responses attached to these memories which themselves have otherwise been relegated to my subconscious – to be suddenly, if only for a beat or two, jolted back to life.
I make my way from the lobby through the south wing, trying to get my bearings, the once meaty interior having shrunken to a static imprint, a wireframe of dingy timber. I reach my old apartment. It looks considerably smaller without any walls. The bathroom tiles are still visible in gaps between piles of detritus. There is a newly exposed, disused fireplace in the front bedroom, having previously been entombed by layers of plaster. I stood inside the outline on the floor which signified where my bedroom had once stood, trying to think of a joke.
If anything can provide some warmth to such overcast sentiments, it’s a diverse group of volunteers spending the day transforming the courtyard into a hanging garden, draping the façade with flowers and ivy while the building resonates with the bittersweet chamber pop of local favorites The Juliets. The task proves to be as much of a celebration as it is work, a labor of love culminating in a roof-top performance by the Juliets for the volunteers.
When the Forest Arms expired it left Midtown with a big blank, a void which the community works with measured pace to replenish. The hanging gardens are a subtle reminder of the life which used to be rooted in that building, and the creative accomplishments made possible by a motivated community. The breadth of the day fills me up – on second thought, the hole/whole answer to that riddle works pretty well here, too.
- Jeremy Franchi
Jonsi
It was a pleasure to shoot jonsi’s world tour at the vic theatre in Chicago.
One of the best individuals of my generation in music and in general (I think personally).
The live show with a amazing set by 59 productions of changing backgrounds and projected moving images complimented the music really well.
I am always inspire and encouraged by his music and love that as I see more and more of the world and get older so does my appreciation for Jonsi.
Iceland where the singer is from was one ( the first) of the areas that experienced the economic crisis before Detroit did.
I like to think that go the new album gives encouragement that we can recover and go higher then ever thought possible.
Mostly he is just looking at animals and finding beautiful things about them.
takk fyrir
Zoos of Berlin Single Barrel Detroit
It was great to work with Single Barrel Detroit and Zoos of Berlin .
thanks to everyone that came together to make a great experience.
Everything was shot in the Masonic Temple .
one of the video’s is above.
Formal is at noon was shot in the very top level of the building. The room has pretty much been untouched for years.
click on single barrel to see the full page of video’s, photography,music downloads, and everyone that was involved.
“Zoos of Berlin performed their ritual in a house of rituals, and Single Barrel Detroit sanctified their own rite of passage. We entered an edifice that for generations has housed the illusive presence of the Freemasons and their ideals. With their codes and secrets placed in plain view we complemented them with our own ideals of sound and structure. Forever capturing the feeling of the day the shoot rendered the events in space and time and they will live on in film as the building stands like a stone gavel on the corner of Temple and Second preaching truth, strength and charity.” Candace O’Leary
Women : A celebration of Art and Culture
Valentines weekend this year women came together to celebrate the art and culture they participate in. Henry Frederick Wischusen the 3rd helped coordinate the event at the crofoot and took a minute to explained why he is so passionate about it. There is more information on their facebook

Untitled from philip southern on Vimeo.
Thunderbirds Are Now
Thunderbirds are Now are great guys. I has been a bit since I have heard them play live. Here is a mix of new and old songs. It was great hearing the recitals play their final show at The Magestic Theatre. Some of their song will be posted here soon!
P.S.
Thanks John Krohn from Deep Deep Pink for helping with the sound.
Untitled from philip southern on Vimeo.
White Hinterland
Have you ever just wanted to club dance to ambient, chill, surreal, indie music. Well I do almost every day and that is why you should listen to White Hinterland ! I saw them October 9th at the pike room between some of my friends playing. The video isn’t the best quality but you need to hear them to really understand the above comment!
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan has been away for a bit and it was exciting to hear him play in pontiac. He had a lot of new material which was great to hear.I recommend hearing an artist in a location that inspired some of their songs.
Matt and Kim
It seem like yesterday I was at the magic stick listening to matt and kim with about 50 people . When I went to their show yesterday there were so many people I literally thought the speakers were going to fall on me and that made me feel good. Kim stood up in the middle of the performance and personally thanked Detroit for the support. This is a group you can’t really get until you see them live. Their openness and friendly attitude is infectious.
Single Barrel
Single Barrel put on a big show at the crofoot in Pontiac. If you’re not familiar with single barrel yet it is a great cause that is trying to give attention to the great music and places in detroit. Amazing night with a lot of talented artists! Above is Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr
Daniel Zott and Josh Epstein collaboration = mind-blowing.
deastro
Deastro has always brought interest to the stage. It was great to hear a full band tightly keep to the vision of their lead singer randy at the magic stick in detroit. I have been a fan for a few years but lately I have especially loved their music. MOONDAGGER is a must for this year! …
http://www.myspace.com/deastro










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