Arts & Humanities, Erin Elliott
Marquette's Music Scene

If you're looking for a variety of live entertainment, the U.P. really is the place to be. Lots of clubs offer lots of different musical styles, most featuring local talent. Whatever you're in the mood for, you're more than likely to find it right here.
  If you like folk music, give a listen to Hermansville native Paul Whitens. He plays every Tuesday night at Harley's lounge inside the Ramada Inn.
  Whitens' decision to become a full-time musician seems effortless. "I was out in Colorado seven years ago and decided to quit my job in sales," he said. "I hung a blank calendar on my wall, opened the yellow pages and started calling around to get myself booked."
  Most musicians must maintain another job in order to support their musical career. Whitens is no exception. He worked as a bartender during the winter months to earn money to be able to play his music full-time. He finally succeeded.
  Whitens recently has released a CD of his folk music titled, "Things that Rust and Fade" recorded in Marquette at North Star Studios. It is available at Sam Goody in Marquette, The Record Rack in Escanaba, the Music Tree in Iron Mountain and through his website:
www.paulwhitens.com
  For Whitens, this collaboration was a true family affair.
  "My cousin, Jalaine, sings harmony on the CD," he said. "We grew up together." Another cousin, Brian Whitens, was co-writer for the CD's title track and helped design Whitens' website.
  Although folk music is Whitens' forte, his musical repertoire is quite varied. He plays everything from Jimi Hendrix and the Beatles to Johnny Cash and the Counting Crows. He also takes audience requests. "Variety has helped me to make money," he said.
  Variety is also a priority for the Brickhouse on Ontario Street in Marquette. "We showcase quite a variety of music," said owner Dan Noel. "I like to mix it up for everybody."
  Tuesdays are easy listening nights featuring duets and singles. According to Noel, folk country music is the sound of choice and the atmosphere is mellow. Chris Valenti is a regular at the Brickhouse on Tuesdays. Saturdays feature bigger bands in the area, mainly rock and country. Bands such as Foxfire, No Problem, Siphin, Yellow Dog, Slip Rizzo (formerly Stone Gypsy), Rack and Dave Naked are just some of the names that entertain patrons.
  Noel offers a reason for visitors to check out his establishment: "We're known for our good times."
  Big Daddy's Entertainment Center in Marquette highlights its own house band in the Boom-Boom Room. Passion, a band originating in California, plays every Wednesday through Saturday.
  "We do a wide variety of music," said Ron Rillera, co-owner of Big Daddy's and founding member of Passion. "We make sure everyone is having fun. We like to entertain."
  Passion is yet another group that knows the value of variety in music. According to the band, they have a list of close to 400 songs, including their own original material. Their musical styles include everything from big band and jazz to funk and Latin pop. The members of the band are as varied as their performances. Ron Rillera is a former Capitol Records recording artist originally from Las Vegas. He plays the keyboards and guitar and sings. His brother, Al Rillera, performs on the keyboards, bass, guitar and vocals. In his youth, he had private piano lessons in classical music and also has studied music arranging, jazz improvisation and film and television music production.
  Two female lead singers are in the group. Sarah Linn is from Waterford, Ohio. She has a degree in mathematics from Ohio State University and received informal music training in her youth singing with her family in church. Melanie Rochelle, also from Ohio, has a master's degree in music from Florida State University. After graduation, she spent time performing and recording original music.
  The final member of Passion is Tim Lloyd from Reisterstown, Maryland. He is well known along the eastern seaboard for his drum performance. In the band, he uses electronic drums to provide the beat.
  They came through Marquette on their way to Minnesota from Detroit. They liked the venue and returned. "I wanted to write songs and I needed to stay in one place to do it," said Ron Rillera.
  According to their biography, Passion has been designated the number one band on three different national touring nightclub circuits for over five years in a row and have been the top grossing group (in sales revenue) in every venue they have performed.
  One of the more recent venues for musicians to perform in Marquette is at Upfront & Company, located on Main Street. They like to vary their live entertainment between local musicians and groups that are touring nationally.
  "We are a varied venue," said Steve Smith, talent buyer and one of two sound engineers for Upfront. "We have acoustic, rock, country, folk, reggae, pop, blues, just about anything."
  Local and regional acts can be seen and heard on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, while the touring bands play on Fridays and Saturdays. Out-of-town acts come from all over the country and Canada.
  Smith said he looks for bands that he has heard of or that he knows. He also finds his talent online or from the press packets and CDs that he receives from agencies. Local musicians interested in performing at Upfront usually send him promotional materials, CDs or call the office to inquire about a booking.
  Upfront is in the process of changing its style and performance schedules. According to Smith, they are seeking a lot more of the college scene entertainment and are changing their musical styles each week to keep people coming back. "You won't know until you get there," he said.
  My Place in Marquette's Holiday Inn also features local rock bands. According to Kacey Grasso, My Place books bands from U.P. Stage Entertainment twice a month. Uncle Ugly and Neon Moon frequent the locale. "It's a fun place," said Grasso.
  If you're in a romantic mind-set, try the Landmark Inn. At this time it is in the process of hiring a pianist from Northern Michigan University to play in its Heritage Dining Room.
  "It's a nice complement to a special dinner," said Landmark Inn staffer Michelle Cook.
  Other places in Marquette serve as venues for local musicians. The Common Grounds Coffee House, J.T.'s Shaft, The Northwoods Supper Club and Sweet Water Café offer the community a chance to hear more of the abounding talent the area has to offer.
  And don't count out the Keewenaw.
  One local group is Finn Street. Members include Sue Ellen Kingsley, Floyd Henderson, Norm Kendall and Kris Kyro. They all are from the Hancock area.
  According to Kingsley, the original formation of the band began when she and Henderson played Christmas gigs together. Kyro was added when they heard her singing in one of their audiences and Kendall joined when Kingsley, his neighbor, heard him singing.
  Finn Street is yet another versatile group playing folk, country, Latin, blues and old pop. "We really like to do vocal harmonies," said Kingsley. "That is our strong part. There is a physiological high you can get from singing harmonies. You can feel it in your head."
  One of the hardest things for Finn Street as well as other musicians is finding the time to commit to the band. Kingsley said that it is hard to find a time to practice when all four members are available. "We're all busy," she said. When they do find a time, the practices usually are short.
  Summers are the busiest time for Finn Street. They play two to four gigs per month and some are scheduled close together, usually on afternoons and evenings. The members also have jobs, making their commitment an admirable one.
  "It's hard to go straight from work," said Kingsley. "But we're rejuvenated from singing."
  The band goes over their calendars at the beginning of the season to make sure they all are available. Of course, conflicts do arise in the scheduling. Kingsley said that they will usually go ahead if one member can't make it, but they will cancel if two are unable to attend.
  Finn Street plays at parties and has performed at the former Superior Music Café and outside venues such as the Peace Hill Concerts in Silver City and Fiddler's Jamboree. They also have played at the Motherlode and the Calumet Theatre.
  The Calumet Theatre is an enduring presence in the Copper Country. On March 20, it will celebrate the 101st anniversary of its first performance. Today, it showcases an array of live entertainment.
  "We do just about everything from country to opera," said Dick Hazzard. "The atmosphere varies with the performance."
  The theatre mainly brings out-of-town performers. However, they support local producers, the Calumet Players, and recently brought the Marquette Senior High School production of "The Music Man" to town.
  "We try to be comfortable with the people," said Hazzard. "They go to the theater to relax and we don't want to take that away from them."
  Other Keewenaw nightspots include The Library, a restaurant in Houghton that occasionally features local entertainers. They have hosted Fat Cow and Jazz Tech on a regular basis in the past.
  The Motherlode is relocating to 52 North Huron Street in Houghton, the address of the former Superior Music Café and Los Dos Amigos. Their plan is to have a coffee house atmosphere and serve as a study hall, working around the hours of Michigan Tech students. It will be a smoke-free and alcohol-free establishment and eventually will feature live jazz, blues and acoustic music every other Friday and Sunday.
  This article can't possibly contain all the welcoming venues and incredible talent that abound in the area.
  The U.P. certainly doesn't lack for a great variety of local talent. Whatever your taste, you can be sure to find the live entertainment to suit it. It takes a great deal of dedication and commitment to be a musician. Keep checking the Marquette Monthly's club guide for the schedules of your favorite artists and locales.
—Erin Elliott