Arts & Entertainment

December 2008
22354

ART

Art Gallery of Windsor (AGW): Art for Canada: An Illustrated History is an ongoing exhibition. • Citizen Dandy, through Jan. 4. • Snow Storms and Stories runs through Jan. 4. • Recent Acquisitions, through Jan. 11. • A representation of early abstract Canadian art is exhibited in Kathleen Munn and Lowrie Warrener: The Logic of Nature, the Romance of Space, Dec. 13-Feb. 15. $3; members free. 401 Riverside Drive West, Windsor, Ontario; 519-977-0013; agw.ca.

Art Leaders: Purchase new and unique gifts at the Holiday Trunk Show and Sale. Through December.  33030 Northwestern Hwy, West Bloomfield, 248-539-0262; info@artleaders.com.

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center (BBAC): Works by the students of Clinton Snider are up through Dec. 19. 1516 S. Cranbrook, Birmingham; 248-644-0866; bbartcenter.org.

Community Arts: Michigan Ceramics 2008: Celebrating the Michigan Ceramic Art Association’s 50th Anniversary, through Dec. 19.  150 Community Arts Building, Detroit, 313-577-2423.

Cranbrook Art Museum: Andy Warhol: Grand Slam includes paintings, photographs, prints, and films. Through Jan. 11. 39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 877-462-7262; cranbrookart.edu.

Detroit Institute of Arts: Monet to Dali focuses on artists who profoundly changed the course of European art history. Through Jan. 18. • Jane Hammond: Paper Works represents 15 years of work — resulting from 276 borrowed images that the artist manipulated to produce her own rich vocabulary. Through Jan. 11. • In the Company of Artists: Photographs from the DIA’s Collection allows viewers to experience the lives and stories of creative people through revealing photographs by André Kertész, Man Ray, Yousuf Karsh, Arnold Newman, Robert Mapplethorpe, and others. Through Feb 15. • Master Pieces: Chess Sets from the Dr. George and Vivian Dean Collection includes two dozen chess sets featuring an array of materials and designs from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, Dec. 26-March 22. Admission $8 adults; $4 ages 6-17; $6 seniors. Wed., Thur.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri.: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.-Sun.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mon.-Tue. 5200 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-7900; dia.org.

Detroit Zoo: To celebrate The Detroit Zoo’s 80th anniversary, The Detroit Zoological Society invites young competitors to create murals for The Year of the Frog. Murals remain on display for the Mosaic Murals Exhibition. Through Dec. 31.  8450 W. 10 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, 248-541-5717.

Elaine L. Jacob: Designing an Icon: Creativity and the American Automobile. Through Jan. 16. On the campus of Wayne State University, 480 W. Hancock, Detroit; 313-993-7813.

Ellen Kayrod: 6th Annual Sight Fest: All Media Group Exhibition presents Detroit-era artists’ paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, and more, beginning with an afternoon reception 12:30-2:30 p.m., Dec 5. Through Jan. 9. 4750 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1300, ext. 18; hannan.org.

555: Thursday’s View offers a new featured artist each week in the First Floor Gallery, 7-10 p.m. Thurs. and Fri.; 12-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. • The Freedom Fighters Project is a traveling exhibition of works associated with fighting for the freedom of African-Americans. Through Dec. 22. 4884 Grand River Ave., Detroit; www.555arts.org.

Forum: This student-run gallery offers an opening every week of the Cranbrook Academy of Art’s academic year. Graduate students present work to their peers and the community. From 5-9 on Friday nights. Free. On the Cranbrook campus, New Studios Building, 39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 877-462-7262; cranbrookart.edu.

Gallery Project: Flash runs through Dec. 7. • Guest Exhibition, Dec. 10-Jan. 11. Reception on Dec. 12. 215 S. Fourth, Ann Arbor; 734-997-7012.

Lawrence Street:  Little Things Mean a Lot! Competition going on Dec. 3-24. Opening reception 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Dec. 5. 22620 Woodward, Ferndale; 248-544-0394; lawrencestreetgallery.com.

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MoCAD): Broadcast does as it implies — directly from the MoCAD, with 13 international artists subverting mainstream authority and using the museum’s own radio station in the interactive exhibition curated by Irene Hofmann, executive director of the Contemporary Museum in Baltimore. Through Dec. 28. • Business as Usual, curated by Jacob Proctor with the University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor, brings together seven artists to explore the intersection of art and commerce. Continues through Dec. 28. • Becoming: Photographs from the Wedge Collection takes a long view on the ways in which ideas of personal and cultural identity have been created, challenged, or affirmed. Through Dec. 28. 4454 Woodward, Detroit; 313-832-6622; mocadetroit.org.

Oakland University Art Gallery: Senior Thesis in Studio Art I introduced with an opening reception 5-7 p.m., Dec. 5. Through Dec. 21. 2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester; 248-370-2100.

Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA): Holiday Objects Up and Down offers a collection of gift items created by Michigan artists, ranging from glass, ceramic, painting, fibers, jewelry, toys, metal, mixed media, and more. Through Jan. 3. 407 Pine St.; 248-651-4110; pccart.org.

UMMA Off/Site: The Infinite Landscape: Master Photographers from the UMMA Collection includes new acquisitions such as Edward Curtis, Peter Henry Emerson, Karl Struss, and Edward Steichen — all on view for the first time. Through Jan. 3. Free. 1301 S. University, Ann Arbor; 734-763-8662; umma.umich.edu.

Woods Gallery: Robert Stewart’s Black & White Photography runs through Dec. 24. 26415 Scotia, Huntington Woods; 248-581-2696; woodsgallery.org.

 

CLASSICAL

Chamber Music Society of Detroit: Violinist Christian Tetzlaff performs an all-Bach recital. 8 p.m., Dec. 6 A pre-concert talk with Steven Rings, assistant professor of music at the University of Chicago, is included from 6:45-7:30 p.m. $25-$75. Seligman Performing Arts Center, 22305 W. 13 Mile, Beverly Hills; 248-855-6070; comehearcmsd.org.

Cranbrook Music Guild: Yehonatan Berick is an internationally known soloist, recitalist, chamber musician (on violin as well as on viola) and pedagogue, as well as prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus. His performance, with pianist Pauline Martin, is at 8 p.m. on Dec. 9. $30. 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills; 248-645-0097; cranbrookmusicguild.org.

Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings: Holiday Brass performances are scheduled for Christ Church Cranbrook at 4 p.m., Dec. 7. 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills. The DCWS will also be performing at Christ Church Grosse Pointe at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14. Enjoy the Holiday Sing-Along, at 6:45 p.m., Dec. 14.  61 Grosse Pointe Blvd, Grosse Pointe Farms.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra: Leonard Slatkin makes his official debut as the 12th music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, leading the forces in Carl Orff’s ever-popular Carmina Burana, the overture to Verdi’s La Forza del Destino, and the world premiere of St. Joseph, Mich.-born composer James Lee III’s A Different Soldier’s Tale . Dec. 11-14. • Get into the holiday spirit in a musical way as the DSO performs seasonal favorites in a program called Home for the Holidays. Thomas Wilkins is on the podium. Dec. 18-21. $19-$123. Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward, Detroit; 313-576-5111; detroitsymphony.com.

University Musical Society: The UMS Choral Union and the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra launch the holiday season with a signature holiday work, Handel’s Messiah. Dec. 6-7. $10-$42. Hill Auditorium, 825 N. University, Ann Arbor; 734-763-3333; ums.org.

 

DANCE

Oakland Dance Theatre: The talented students of Oakland University’s Dance Theatre present their annual fall concert. Dec. 5-6. $6-$12. 2200 N. Squirrel Rd., Rochester; 248-370-2100.

Michigan Opera Theatre Dance Series: Tchaikovsky’s beloved holiday ballet The Nutcracker leaps into town with Chicago’s renowned Joffrey Ballet doing the honors. Matinee performances feature face painting, photos with Santa, the Sugar Plum Parade, live reindeer, and more. Dec. 4-7. $28-$75. Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway, Detroit; 313-237-SING; motopera.org.

 

EVENTS

Christmas Spectacular: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular comes to Detroit in a brand-new arena show. This celebrated annual holiday event, starring the world-famous Rockettes, has entertained metro Detroiters at the Fox Theatre for nine years, and now it’s bringing the same production to a new venue. Through Dec. 28. $25-$75. Joe Louis Arena, 600 Civic Center Drive, Detroit; 313-396-7422.

Wayne County Lightfest: Get into the holiday spirit with a drive through the longest holiday light display in the Midwest at the Wayne County Lightfest. Four miles of lights are on display at this annual show, and visitors should enter off Merriman Road between Ann Arbor Trial and Warren Avenue. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Through Jan. 1. $5 per car. http://waynecounty.com/parks/special.htm

Big Bright Light Show: This downtown Rochester event promises to be bigger and brighter than ever. Attracting more than 1 million visitors yearly, the show features most of the city’s downtown stores decorated with more than a million lights, along East and West Fourth Street. There will also be lighted displays on Walnut from Third to University, a Dancing Tree of Lights at the Depot Plaza, and The Snowflake Spectacular on the Western Knitting Mill on Walter Street. Through Jan. 4. Downtown Rochester; downtownrochesstermi.com

Michigan Christmas Show: Shopping is made easy with a one-stop experience at the annual Christmas show. Enjoy decorated doors, trees, and wreaths, or take a picture of Santa, regardless of your age. Gift shops will offer ornaments, jewelry, stockings, accessories, and more. Guests will also have the chance to enjoy holiday concerts, and makeovers. Through Dec. 3. $4-$10.  Rock Financial Showplace, 41600 Grand River, Novi; michiganchristmasshow.com

Noel Night: The 36th annual Noel Night offers free admission to more than 30 institutions, including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Science Center, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The event will also include a community sing-along on Woodward Avenue led by the Salvation Army Band, as well as horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday shopping, and family craft activities. 5 p.m.- 9:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Free. In and around Midtown Detroit’s Cultural Center institutions, between Cass and John R and Kirby and Willis, Detroit; 313-577-5088.

Harlem Globetrotters World Tour: For 82 years, the Globetrotters have been entertaining crowds around the world. The tour has played more than 25,000 games, and makes a stop in the Motor City this month. 6 p.m. Dec. 28. $15-$39.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

 

FILM

Detroit Science Center IMAX: The next best thing to actually going somewhere and seeing something in person is seeing it at an IMAX. So, if you can’t make it to the Grand Canyon, head on down to the Science Center for a little trip out West. Grand Canyon Adventure will take you to one of America’s greatest sites, fly you over and drop you down into this expansive natural monument. And it’ll cost only the price of a theater ticket. • From the deep northern waters of Lake Superior to the eastern edges of Lake Ontario, Mysteries of the Great Lakes takes the viewer on a spin through some of most beautiful shorelines and scenery the nation has to offer. And you’ll stay dry. All through December. $7.25-$12.95. 5020 John R, Detroit; 313-577-8400; detroitsciencecenter.org

The Redford Theatre: After an old drunkard is fired from the Santa position at Macy’s department store, another old man is asked to take his place. But something is strange about this guy. He calls himself Kris Kringle and claims to be Santa himself. Doris Walker, the event coordinator, doesn’t believe him. And Mrs. Walker’s cynicism has been instilled in her daughter, Susan. Mr. Kringle finds himself in court trying to prove his authenticity. Is he the real Santa? Or is he just another nut case? Will it be a Miracle on 34th Street ? Dec. 5-6 • White Christmas is a story of song, dance, and romantic mix-ups. Two friends team up as a song-and-dance act after World War II. They meet two sisters who also have a song-and-dance act. The four of them end up in Vermont where the two WW II vets run into their general, who owns the lodge where they are all performing. Shenanigans ensue. Dec. 19-20. All films $4. 17360 Lahser, Detroit; 313-537-2560; redfordtheatre.com.

Penn Theatre: In It’s a Wonderful Life, Angel Second-Class Clarence Odbody is sent to Earth to earn his wings by saving George Bailey from suicide. George’s one ambition was to see the world, something he never got to do. He has, much to his disappointment, spent his whole life in Bedford Falls, giving himself to the city. George thinks he’s been insignificant until Clarence shows him how many lives he’s changed in his community. Dec. 4-5. • You can also catch White Christmas at the Penn Theatre, too. Dec. 11. • Is Santa real? Well, a boy’s doubts are put to rest when the Polar Express shows up on Christmas Eve to take the youngster to the North Pole for a Santa introduction. Dec. 19-21. All films $3. 760 Penniman, Plymouth; 734-453-0870; penntheatre.com.

 

MUSEUMS

Arab American National Museum: Utopian Visions is a visiting exhibition featuring four female artists who live and work in various locations throughout the world but came together to explore the concept of a perfect world. Rima Al-Awar (North Carolina/Toronto), Rana Chalabi (Cairo, Egypt), Roula Ayoub (Beirut, Lebanon), and Emna Zghai (Tunis, Tunisia/New York) created abstract and figural works, as well as projected images for this project. Through March 29. • The Arab world has been making contributions in science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and art since the Pharaohs. The exhibition Arab Civilization: Our Heritage features Arab contributions to the early world. Ongoing in the Community Courtyard. • Arab-Americans come from a land that stretches from northern Africa to western Asia. The diversity can be as vast as the land, but they all have a shared sense of history and language, which they brought to America, starting about 1880. Coming to America features these immigrants and the culture they brought. Ongoing in Gallery 1. • Living in America exhibits early Arab-American life and the integral part they played in the early history of the United States. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 2. • Making an Impact celebrates the stories of Arab-American athletes, organizations, physicians, labor leaders, and entertainers. One featured person is Detroit-born journalist Helen Thomas. Ongoing exhibit in Gallery 3. Tickets are $10-$12. Call for details. $3-$6. 13624 Michigan Ave., Dearborn; 313-582-2266; arabamericanmuseum.org.

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Tutankhamun is back — or at least a skillful reproduction of the traveling exhibition from the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, that toured the world from 1961 to 1981. Presented in five chambers, the exhibit takes viewers from an introduction to ancient Egypt through archaeological discovery to view the private and public pharaoh — and a royal burial. Through January. • Women of a New Tribe  is a national exhibit featuring the black-and-white photography of Jerry Taliaferro. His images showcase the physical and inner beauty of African-American women in the 1930s to 1940. Through April 6. • Stories in Stained Glass: The Art of Samuel A. Hodge, a series of intricate and colorful works focusing on three areas of African-American culture and history — musicians, dancers, and freedom advocates — is one of the ongoing exhibits in the Main Level Corridor. • A Is for Africa includes 26 interactive stations making up a 3-D “dictionary” designed for children. Ongoing in the Lower Level Corridor. • And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture is an expansive, evolving exhibit that recounts the 3.5-million-year-old odyssey that began in Africa and ends in Detroit. Ongoing in the Core Exhibition Gallery. • Genealogy, a work designed by local artist Hubert Massey, depicts the struggles of African-Americans in the United States. Ongoing on the Main Level. • Detroit Performs is a photomontage dedicated to those who have gained national and international prominence in the performing arts. Ongoing in the Main Level Corridor. • Target has initiated a program of Free First Sundays at the museum; general admission at other times is $5-$8. 315 E. Warren, Detroit; 313-494-5800; maah-detroit.org.

Cranbrook Institute of Science: Bring the little ones to experiment with someone else’s playthings in Science in Toyland, a highly interactive exhibit that develops scientific reasoning and research skills. In the museum’s traveling exhibit called Bats: Myths and Mysteries, visitors can visit with live bats and learn about the common misconceptions that cause people to harbor fears. Both exhibits run through January. General admission is $6-$8. Daily hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Fridays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 39221 Woodward, Bloomfield Hills; 1-877-462-7262; science.cranbrook.edu.

Detroit Historical Museum: The museum recently opened four new exhibits. • Automotive Showplace celebrates the Model T centennial by displaying a “Tin Lizzie” from 1911. • Hero or Villain: Metro Detroit’s Legacy of Leadership examines the controversial lives of 16 public figures from the area’s past 300 years, including Augustus Woodward, Jimmy Hoffa, and Coleman Young. • 100 Years Ago allows visitors to relate to past Detroiters through different forms of media that captured daily life in 1908. • Fabulous 5 will add “Detroit’s Entertainment Venues” to its showcase of local pop culture. • Just as men were building Detroit’s landscape of the early 20th century, Amy Lorimer was painting it. The exhibit Detroit Artist Showcase is a mini-gallery of paintings by this historic Detroit artist. Permanent exhibitions include Streets of Old Detroit, Frontiers to Factories, The Motor City, and The Glancy Trains. General admission $4-$6. 5401 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-1805; detroithistorical.org.

Dossin Great Lakes Museum: Smugglers on the Straits examines a tradition of transporting cargo, goods, even people, and how it has changed in the course of three centuries in this region. • Fun, Fast & Fancy: Great Lakes Yachts takes a fanciful look at what yachting has looked like over the years along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Both exhibits run through April. 100 Strand, Belle Isle, Detroit; 313-
833-1805; detroithistorical.org
.

Exhibit Museum of Natural History: U-M particle physicist Aaron Pierce is curator of  The World’s Biggest Experiment: At the Frontiers of Particle Physics, the latest exhibit on display exploring research in particle physics. In the Rotunda Lobby through January. A History of Pipes, part of the University of Michigan Museum of Anthropology’s collection of pipes, is a display of 15 types of smoking instruments, tracing the history and materials used for a leisure-time activity that has fallen out of favor. Through March. • Casting Tradition: Contemporary Brassworking in Ghana, exhibits the evolution of a 500-year tradition practiced by Ghana’s Akan people. The exhibit showcases objects from the town of Krofrom, along with interviews, historical interpretations, and media displays. Through May. Relics pays tribute to ingenious gadgets, such as a mirrored ball, rotating galaxy projector, video projector masks, and much more. On display indefinitely. • Dinosaur Tours are offered at 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. • Planetarium Shows are generally presented at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. weekdays; call for weekend dates. • The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather, an animated adventure about weather, plays at 12:30 weekdays. • Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity, with recorded narration by Liam Neeson, explains the formation of the early universe. At 2:30 p.m. weekdays. Planetarium prices are $4.75. Admission for the museum is free. University of Michigan Campus, 1109 Geddes Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-764-0478; lsa.umich.edu/exhibitmuseum.

Henry Ford: Out of This World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television, features more than 40 costumes from popular films and television shows. Outfits such as Captain Kirk., Darth Vader, and the Wicked Witch of the West’s pointy hat from The Wizard of Oz are all on display. Through Jan. 11. Heroes of the Sky is a permanent exhibit focusing on adventures in early aviation. • With Liberty and Justice for All explores the struggles that arise when free men and women actually try to be free. This exhibit assembles a collection of national artifacts highlighting four pivotal periods of history, beginning with the American Revolution and ending in the 1960s with the civil-rights movement. Permanent exhibit. • The automobile ultimately shaped American culture as we know it today. Automobiles in American Life honors this great invention by featuring milestones, including the 15 millionth Model T produced, as well as the Ford Mustang. Permanent exhibit. 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org.

Greenfield Village: Nearly 100 historical buildings are here; visit notable attractions such as the birthplace of Henry Ford, Noah Webster’s home, and the home of Robert Frost. $14-$20. 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn; 313-982-6001; thehenryford.org.

International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit: Three permanent exhibits are on display: The Ethel Averbach Dolls of the World, the Flags of the World, and the Mr. and Mrs. Larry S. Wilkonson Immigrant Ship Collection. Free. There’s also the International Café on the lower level. 111 E. Kirby, Detroit; 313-871-8600; iimd.org.

Motown Historical Museum: The museum at Hitsville U.S.A. houses Motown’s original recording Studio A, where stars such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and The Jackson 5 recorded their first hits. $5-$8. 2648 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-875-2264; motownmuseum.com.

New Detroit Science Center: The Chrysler Imax Dome Theatre is now showing: Mysteries of the Great Lakes and Grand Canyon Adventure, Bad Astronomy, and Leonardo da Vinci: Man, Inventor, Genius. General plus Imax admission $11.95 and up. 5020 John R, Detroit; 313-577-8400; detroitsciencecenter.org.

Selfridge Military Air Museum: The theme is planes — from the indoor armed forces exhibits to Navy and Air Force planes outside. Tours by appointment. $3. Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Hall and Jefferson, Harrison Township; 586-307-5035; selfridgeairmuseum.org.

 

MUSIC

The Cheetah Girls: Well, the Cheetah Girls isn’t a club in Windsor, that’s for sure. It’s a three-piece, all-female pop group who hit it big with Disney. They have three movies to their name, a Christmas album titled Cheetah-licious Christmas, plus two other albums, and a few tours. Raven Simone, that little girl from the later Cosby episodes, actually turned down being part of this group. Though, of course, Raven is doing just fine on her own — she played this year’s state fair, after all. 7 p.m. Dec. 2. $35-$45. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

Sarah Brightman: Sarah Brightman isn’t a one-trick pony, as the saying goes — she a dancer, singer, songwriter, and actress. She’s been in plays and movies and has recorded nine albums, two of which came out this year. A Winter Symphony, just released in November, is Brightman’s dive into the holiday season. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3. $46.50-$246. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

Mudvayne: This band has one of those names that when you hear it you kind of automatically know what genre of music it’ll be. So, it shouldn’t be a shock that Mudvayne is a metal band, complete with scowling, sneering facial expressions and a one-color wardrobe. What color? Well, black, of course. 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5. $28.50. The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5450.

The Black Crowes: This group started their rock ’n’ roll conquest in Atlanta, in 1984. But back then they were called Mr. Crowes Garden. Since then, the band has seen some changes over time, including the name, but two constants have remained: brothers Chris and Rich Robinson. They are the driving force behind what VH1 ranked 92 in their “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock” list. As a side note, Chris, who’s the singer, was married to Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn’s daughter, for six years. 7 p.m. Dec. 6. $36.75-$45. The Fillmore, 2115 Woodward, Detroit; 313-961-5450.

Lucy Kaplansky: Sandwiched between Kaplansky’s folk-singing career is her becoming a doctor and going into private practice. But enough medicine; what’s up with her folk- singing career? She’s collaborated with acclaimed folk artists such as Shawn Colvin and Dar Williams during her tenure and has release numerous well-received albums. The good thing is, at her shows you can pay for some quality music and, if you’re lucky, get some quality medical care. No harm in asking, right? 8 p.m. Dec. 6. $17.50-$24.50. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818.

The Reverend Horton Heat: Psychobilly seems like a weird label for a type of music. But it’s not hard to deduce that it comes from a form of rockabilly. Psychobilly pulls from punk rock and rockabilly, fused with darker lyrics that focus on everything from science fiction to zombies. The Reverend Horton Heat isn’t straight- up psychobilly, but they have elements of this genre. This Dallas-born band is over 20 years old. 8 p.m. Dec. 6. $23. The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.

Neil Young: Some call him the Godfather of Grunge, which is fitting since he seems to be perpetually plastered with the grunge tuxedo — an unbuttoned flannel and a T-shirt. Neil Young began his illustrious career as a Canadian folk singer, moved to L.A., started Buffalo Springfield, went on to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, went solo, and now, well, he’s Neil Young — the guy who plays one-note solos. He’s done 33 studio albums with a handful of them going gold or platinum (sometimes a few times over). 7 p.m. Dec. 7. $53-$178. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

Suicidal Tendencies: Mike Muir formed this hard-core, punk band in 1981 in Venice, Calif. If you do your math right, that was 27 years ago. With longevity like that, someone is doing something right. And, despite several hiatuses and a huge turnover in members (Muir being the only constant), they still have a cult following. S.T. haven’t put out an album since their 2000 release Free Your Soul and Save My Mind, but with a fan base like theirs, there is no need to. 7 p.m. Dec. 9. $20. The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.

Shawn Colvin: Vermillion, S.D., has a population of 10,000 and is the 10th-largest city in the state. South Dakota doesn’t exactly bring images of metropolises and dense urban areas. So for Vermilion to be number 10 on the list of the most populated cities in S.D., it must be quite tiny. More of a claim to fame, then, is that it’s home to Shawn Colvin, multiple Grammy Award-winning folk singer/songwriter and one of contemporary folk’s better-known names. 8 p.m. Dec. 9. $40-$47. The Ark, 316 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-1818.

Oasis with Ryan Adams: This may be lucky number seven for these boys from Manchester. Their newest album, their seventh, Dig Out Your Soul, is being heralded as a huge step forward in their music. Despite previous big success with their earlier work, especially (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, number seven seems to be firing on all cylinders. Special guest Ryan Adams compares Dig to Radiohead’s Kid A, saying that “it sounds like they have entered into some strange, uncanny spiritual crazy door and have just lost themselves completely to it, and it is marvelous.” 7 p.m. Dec. 13. $52.50-$72.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

The Faint: It seems as if this dance-punk/new wave band from Omaha likes to synchronize a fog machine, a light show, and their music at their shows. If they don’t, it’s a real coincidence that chords are struck when lights flicker and fog is emitted from the stage. 8 p.m. Dec. 15. $18. The Majestic Theatre, 4120 Woodward, Detroit; 313-833-9700.

Mannheim Steamroller: Christmas: It isn’t Christmas without hearing Mannheim Steamroller, known for modern renditions of classic Christmas songs, at least five times in at least one of the many stores you’ll visit throughout this year’s Christmas shopping frenzy. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 & 8 p.m. Dec. 19. $22-$65. Masonic Temple, 500 Temple, Detroit; 313-832-7100.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: This group, known for the same thing as above (renditions of Christmas songs) injects a little more rock into you holiday spirits. 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28. $39.50-$49.50. The Palace of Auburn Hills, 4 Championship Dr., Auburn Hills; 248-377-0100.

The Hard Lessons: You could drink six Red Bulls and lose your mind or you could go to a Hard Lessons show and lose your mind. Have you seen the price of those Red Bulls? It’ll probably be cheaper to check out the Hard Lessons, Detroit’s high-energy three-piece rock outfit. 7 p.m. Dec. 27. $12. St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress, Detroit; 313-961-8137.

Rusted Root: This group has rejected the label of “jam band,” though, really, that’s what they are. And a jam band, if you don’t know, is like watching seven dudes practice on stage for two hours. This Steel City (Pittsburgh) group formed in 1990. Four years later, their major-label debut, When I Woke, went platinum. Rusted Root reincarnates the Grateful Dead, adds bluegrass, and saturates the music with percussion. 7 p.m. Dec. 30. $32.50. St. Andrew’s Hall, 431 E. Congress, Detroit; 313-961-8137.

 

THEATER

Andiamo Celebrity Showroom: The Scintas bring songs, jokes, and hilarious tales to the stage. Dec. 11-13. $49-$69. 7096 E. 14 Mile Rd., Warren; 586-268-3200.

Bonstelle: Lloyd Garrison and Roger Robb’s adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life brightens the holidays. Dec. 5-7, 12-14. Special student matinee dates (performances begin at 10 a.m.): Dec. 5-11. $12-$20. 3434 Woodward, Detroit; 313-577-2960

Fox: From movie to musical, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas returns as a favorite holiday production, scheduled for 48 shows. Through Dec. 28. $20-$100.  2211 Woodward, Detroit; 313-471-6611.

Detroit Repertory: Defiance is John Patrick Shanley’s play about racial tensions and military authority. Through Dec. 28. $17-$20. 13103 Woodward, Detroit; 313-577-2972.

Fisher: A Bronx Tale, making its Detroit debut, paints the picture of a boy’s rough childhood in New York City in the 1960s. The play stars Chazz Palminteri. Through Dec. 14. $27-$59.50. 3011 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-872-1000.

Gem: Experience the familiar voices and sounds of The Rat Pack Is Back. Through Jan. 4. $39.50. 333 Madison, Detroit; 313-963-9800; gemdetroit.com.

Hilberry: Shakespeare’s timeless Hamlet is performed Dec. 4-5. • Eurydice, by Sarah Ruhl, shows again Dec. 6-13. $20-$30. 4743 Cass, Detroit; 313-577-2972.

Jewish Ensemble Theatre: Two by Two is a musical comedy relating the tale of Noah’s Ark. Dec. 9-Jan. 4. $33-$39. 6600 W. Maple, West Bloomfield; 248-788-2900.

Meadow Brook: The popular holiday favorite A Christmas Carol continues its annual tradition through Dec. 21.  207 Wilson Hall, Oakland University, Rochester; 248-377-3300.

Music Hall: The Ant and the Elephant, based on the popular children’s classic story, transforms into an illuminating musical for the whole family. Shows at 4 p.m., Dec. 14 on the main stage. $17.  350 Madison, Detroit; 313-887-8500.

Tipping Point: Comic dialogue is exchanged among a group of confused guests in The Dinner Party, where a mystery unravels. Through Dec. 28. $20-$28. 361 E. Cady St. Northville; 248-347-0003; tix@tippingpointtheatre.org.