It’s a busy week for new releases when it comes to the Michigan music scene, particularly around the metro Detroit area!

Let’s start with the incomparable Flint-based musician/artist Tunde Olaniran, releasing their latest album, Chaotic Good, celebrated by a performance next Saturday, at the Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids!

Too Bad by Tunde Olaniran

Meanwhile, Detroit-based electronic art-pop auteur My Brightest Diamond, aka Shara Nova, have released three new singles from her forthcoming album, Fight the Real Terror, which is out today!

We heard this song, “Safe House,” last week on MI Local.

Fight The Real Terror by My Brightest Diamond

Next, let’s bend our ears towards Kalamazoo to listen to an interesting new album featuring the versatile instrumental hip-hop producer known as The Lasso (aka Andy Catlin), paired up with the boundary-pushing indie-rock quartet known as The Go Rounds.

Catlin is a former member of The Go Rounds, which made this a natural collaboration. This new album by The Lasso (& The Go Rounds), released just yesterday, is titled Pedal Steel, and our favorite track from it is “Goldwine.”

PETAL STEEL by The Lasso, The Go Rounds

Back here in Detroit, a ’90s-vibed indie-rock quartet known as The Microplastics have released a catchy and dreamy little ballad that has just the right amount of spookiness to help us settle into some autumnal vibes; it’s called “Undead.”

Undead – Single by The Microplastics

Listen to “MI Local” with Jeff Milo every Tuesday from 9-10 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET.

A new study published this week found people with asthma have an especially hard time breathing properly in Detroit.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America rated the Motor City the third worst municipality in the nation for those who routinely need to use an inhaler or nebulizer.

The foundations’ president, Kenneth Mendez, says the group weighed how many people in a city have asthma, how frequently people die from it and the number of times the condition drives residents to visit an emergency room.

“Detroit ranks high in those three areas and that’s one of the reasons why it’s No. 3 on the list.”

– Kenneth Mendez, president of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Listen: New report ranks Detroit as third worst city in U.S. for those with asthma

The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Kenneth Mendez: Detroit ranks high in those three areas and that’s one of the reasons why it’s No. 3 on the list. There’s social determinants of health, there’s family origins related to it, but certainly it really hits communities of color. Black Americans are three times more likely to be diagnosed with asthma, five times more likely to be treated in an emergency room. And Black women have the highest mortality rate of any gender or ethnic group. So those factors really are emblematic of things that we need to do in order to better control our asthma and work with our doctors.

Quinn Klinefelter, WDET News: Are those demographic groups especially at risk because they have less access to good health care? Or because the factories or whatever might produce pollution that could exacerbate asthma happen to be based in communities of color or poorer areas?

KM: There are a number of factors that go into it. Clearly, your zip code, where you live, has an impact. You can tell how long someone’s gonna live from that. But access to care, additional pollution in certain areas is a trigger for asthma. People in some communities can’t afford to live in areas that do not have high levels of pollution. Those are the kinds of things that go into asthma exacerbation and triggers if you have asthma.

QK: Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Talib, for one, has long pushed to get the Environmental Protection Agency to take into account the cumulative impact of pollution in a given area if they’re going to issue a permit through the Clean Air or Clean Water Acts. If that kind of legislation was passed, do you think it would really make a difference?

KM: Let me break that into two pieces. One is, I think the laws and policies will help. The EPA has come out with a “tailpipe rule” to reduce emissions from light trucks and cars, which are significant contributors to bad air and carbon dioxide. So I think having pieces of legislation passed, whether they’re at the federal or at the state level, can be very helpful to those with asthma. For example, in local communities, you can have an idling rule on school grounds basically saying when people are picking up their children, they shouldn’t have their cars idling. Reducing those kind of tailpipe emissions can go a long way towards helping people with asthma and allergies, in particular in some of those communities that are disproportionately impacted.

In the big picture, the longer growing seasons, the additional carbon dioxide, all those things have an impact on allergies. And allergies are a trigger for asthma. Those are the things that through federal policies and legislation we can try and eliminate. The Inflation Reduction Act clearly had some incentives to reduce pollution and try and amplify clean energy alternatives. So those kinds of things can make a difference. Climate change, with the longer growing seasons, more intense releases of pollen because of carbon dioxide, are all triggers for allergies and asthma. A lot of people say, ‘I’ve never had allergies before. They’re getting a lot worse.’ And that’s because of the additional load on your system from those triggers. We need to reduce our carbon footprint. That will go a long way towards reducing asthma and allergies.

On this episode of Visions, I unintentionally do a blast from the ’70s past. When I started crafting this playlist, I had only a few things from the 1970s that I wanted to play, including Gene Harris, Charlie Rouse and Donald Byrd. But as I kept adding music to my list, I realized this theme was emerging — so I decided to run with it.

This isn’t the first time I’ve done an episode centered around jazz from the ’70s, and that episode garnered a lot of positive feedback. I think the ’70s is a time of great musical exploration, and clearly an era in people’s hearts and minds that reigns supreme to this day. So, why not provide a taste of what people want to hear?

I also play Elvin Jones (featuring my favorite baritone saxophonist of all time, and Detroiter, Pepper Adams), Lonnie Liston Smith, Mary Lou Williams, and Groove Holmes. I play some almost ’70s music with selections from Wes Montgomery, Detroit’s Yusef Lateef and Roy Ayers.

I also break up this episode with a new single from Walter Smith III, and more modern music from Grace Kelly, Dave Holland, and Diana Krall.

But, maybe my favorite selections on this episode are even older than my ’70s theme.

I’ve been wanting to play these influential women for awhile and this episode I finally worked them in — Jutta Hipp (with Zoot Sims), the incredible Detroit pianist and vibraphonist Terry Pollard, and a group of all women before that was even the norm — Vi Redd, Marian McPartland, Mary Osborne, Lynn Milano, and Dottie Dodgion. These selections go all the way back to the mid-1950s, but their sounds and playing styles are so forward-thinking so they fit seamlessly into this playlist.

I hope you enjoy what I selected for you this week!

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Sept. 9, 2024

• “Mr. Jones” – Elvin Jones
• “Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong” – Gene Harris
• “Cézanne” – Walter Smith III
• “Filosophical Flying Fish” – Grace Kelly
• “Hopscotch” – Charlie Rouse
• “Last Minute Man” – Dave Holland Big Band
• “Almost Blue” – Diana Krall
• “Scrapple from the Apple” – Terry Pollard
• “Soft Winds” – Dorothy Ashby
• “Woodward Avenue” – Yusef Lateef
• “Goin on to Detroit” – Wes Montgomery
• “Places & Spaces” – Donald Byrd
• “Devika (Goddess)” – Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes
• “Wee Dot” – Jutta Hipp & Zoot Sims
• “Now’s the Time” – Vi Redd, Marian McPartland, Mary Osborne, Lynn Milano, Dottie Dodgion
• “Praise the Lord” – Mary Lou Williams
• “The Ringer” – Roy Ayers
• “Red Onion” – Richard “Groove” Holmes

There’s a new record store in downtown Petoskey. It’s called Hexagon Records and it’s one of the few places in northern Michigan devoted to selling vinyl.

Michael Griggs has two record players connected to some old speakers that he found at a garage sale.

His store is on Howard Street in Petoskey. It’s up stairs in a 700-square-foot space. Inside there’s a stuffed raccoon mounted to the wall, framed posters of the 70s sci-fi classic ‘Solaris,’ and tons and tons of records.

Between his personal collection, what he has in storage, and what he sells at the shop – it all totals around 20,000 vinyls.

One of his favorite sections is called “Difficult Concepts.”

“Some of it’s like, you know, kind of like that, the new music, kind of the new classical music, like Stockhausen and stuff like that,” Griggs said. “And, you know, there’s some unusual like this, this extremely bizarre record from Hungary.”

There’s some newer artists on display too. Sealed LPs from Beyonce, Chappell Roan and Tyler, the Creator are next to classic artists like Yes!, The Smiths and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Records are priced anywhere from $5 dollars to $150 dollars.The rarest is an album by the ‘60s psychedelic band Maze.

“I think there’s a fairly decent chance that I own one of the best copies of it in existence,” he said. “Yes, so I think that record is probably worth in the, maybe the $1,000 range?”

Griggs is 51. He opened in June after he was laid off from a corporate job in the health care industry. He worked at record stores in the ‘90s and owning one has always been a dream of his. Griggs said getting laid off was good news.

“This doesn’t feel like work and the buying, cleaning and cataloging of records, definitely scratches some sort of OCD itch in me,” he said. “I think it’s good for me, mental health wise, kind of to be kind of immersed in something that I can kind of give myself over to.”

Griggs is sharing his passion with people of all generations. He said his customer base trends younger, but during our conversation, an older couple came in with some sealed records they were looking to sell. Everything from Perry Como to Harry Belafonte. But unfortunately:

“These really aren’t worth anything,” Griggs said. “Age doesn’t really mean anything to record value. It is interesting that these are still sealed. That said it would be very difficult for me to sell most of these.”

Griggs said they would fare better selling them online and offered to help do that.

Soon after the couple left, Ryan Cassidy, a younger musician from Petoskey came in. He’s a singer-songwriter inspired by alternative rock from the ‘90s and The Beatles. His CD is for sale at Hexagon. Cassidy said it’s a huge deal to have a record shop in Petoskey.

“Because we used to have to travel to Traverse City,” he said. “That’s the closest thing that we had, so to have something here right downtown, it’s huge. We needed it, there’s a big clientele for it, that’s for sure. It’s coming back, big time.”

Griggs wants more local musicians to sell their music at his shop. He gives all the money back to the artist. So for Cassidy, it could be 10 bucks in his pocket, but today it’s store credit for some Alice Cooper.

According to Billboard.com 2023 was the 18th straight year for growth in record sales. Vinyl albums sold in the U.S. nearly totaled 50 million. Griggs said there is an appetite for tangible media amid the plethora of streaming services.

“Streamed music is just really ephemeral. And the physicality to physical media is, like, there’s something that obviously does something for people,” he said. “And it’s not just a generational thing. And part of it is the, you know, just the design and art of album covers, that sort of thing.”

Griggs has also noticed people buying more what he calls “zombie media” – things like cassettes and VHS tapes. He might carry those some day as well.

Griggs said he has repeat customers and his sales are consistent. His approach to the business is pragmatic, but he’s been waiting to give this a shot for a long time.

“I’m under no delusion that I’m going to make, you know, become a millionaire doing this,” he said. “But I all I want is just to make enough money to live off of because it’s such a fun business to be a part of. Being able to talk to people all day about music is, you know, really fun.”

Griggs has other plans in the works, too. He’ll be hosting live music nights at Malted Vinyl, a cocktail bar in Petoskey where people can play vinyl. And eventually, he’ll have his own listening station at Hexagon so curious customers can try out some of the records.

Interlochen Public Radio is part of the Michigan Public Radio Network. To read more stories from IPR, visit interlochenpublicradio.org.

This week on MI Local, I premiered several new songs by local artists, including indie-pop ballads from established groups like soundslikeotto and Reggi Roomers, plus a brand new dance track from a project fittingly called Dancepack.

But for the majority of the show, I directed a sonic spotlight toward two distinct music events scheduled this weekend featuring local artists, starting with Saturday’s Dally in the Alley performers Elephant Den and Olive and the Stoned Fruits.

This week’s in-studio guest is Justin Snyder, creative director for New Music Detroit — a local collective of musicians dedicated to performing groundbreaking musical works from late-20th century to the present day.

New Music Detroit was “founded by members of the DSO, almost 20 years ago,” Snyder said, “in order to fill a gap that they felt was missing in Detroit, which was bringing classical contemporary music to the city. We just wanted to be adventurous, and there’s an audience here for it. And this is year 17 for Strange Beautiful Music. We’ve done it before in different venues around the city, like warehouses, clubs [and] galleries.”

Snyder discussed the Strange Beautiful Music event, happening Saturday at Andy Arts in Detroit.

“Strange Beautiful Music is a smorgasbord of every type of music — and stuff that resists genre as well,” Snyder said. “We’ll have jazz, classical, techno…this year we have electronic music, art-pop, harp music and lots more.”

Strange Beautiful Music performers featured on MI Local include My Brightest Diamond, Ahya Simone and Dominant Hand. See the full lineup and ticket details here.

See the full playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the player at the top.

MI Local Playlist for Sept. 3, 2024

• “All of Last Year” – Elephant Den
• “Born Day” – Olive & the Stoned Fruits
• “Up Late” – Dancepack
• “The Bog Bodies” – Rabbitology
• “Cry Without Shame” – Kind Beast
• “Silence” – Reggi Roomers
• “Bright Blue” – soundslikeotto
• “Cruisin'” – Fishfly
• “When I Left” – The Stools
• “Re(VS)olution” – Na Bonsai
• “G-Force” – Serenemoon
• “Safe House” – My Brightest Diamond
• “Frostbite” – Ahya Simone
• “Before It Turns” – Dominant Hand and Bora Yoon

Get ready for Ghost-Note, the dynamic ensemble led by Snarky Puppy’s multi-Grammy-winning percussion duo Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth.

The group takes over WDET’s airwaves in an exclusive live performance at Rustbelt Studios. Hosted by Ann Delisi, this session features the band in full force, delivering a powerful blend of funk, Afrobeat, hip-hop and psychedelia. With an impressive roster of musicians, Ghost-Note is pushing the boundaries of modern funk music.

In this special segment, you’ll not only witness Ghost-Note’s explosive live performances, but also dive into an insightful interview with Searight and Werth. The duo shares the story behind the band’s formation, their wide-ranging influences — from the iconic sounds of James Brown and Prince to the deep grooves of Detroit — and how they’re revolutionizing the future of funk.

The conversation is interwoven with stellar performances by the entire band, featuring Robert “Sput” Searight on drums, Nate Werth on percussion, Dominique Xavier Taplin on keyboards, Jonathan Mones on alto sax and flute, Daniel Wytanis on trombone, Jam McK on bass, Xavier Lynn on guitar, and Mackenzie on vocals.

Don’t miss this must-see performance as Ghost-Note gears up for their set at the Detroit Jazz Festival, happening Sunday at Hart Plaza.

Busy show in the best way! New music from Dummy, Freya McKee, Mint Field & Mabe Fratti, English Teacher take on Billie Eilish and fresh stuff from Jamie xx. 

On top of that, a preview of who to see and what to do at Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, which features a ton of great Detroit acts including Double Winter, Dusty Rose Band and Jack White teaming up with local punk legends The Henchmen. See the full schedule here.

WDET’s The New Music Show host Shigeto drops in to preview his new album, Cherry Blossom Baby, out October 25 via Ghostly International. He also talked about his tribute to the late musician Kraig Kilby taking place at Spot Lite on Saturday. Tickets are available here.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for Aug. 30, 2024

• “Blue Dada” – Dummy
• “Grow In Pains (feat. SUGARTHIEF)” – Freya McKee
• “Cherry Sunshine” – Somesurprises
• “Grow Up To” – Miss Grit
• “Army of Me” – Julia Jacklin & RVG
• “El Mar Me Veía” – Mint Field & Mabe Fratti
• “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” – English Teacher
• “Last Night With You” – Wu-Lu
• “They Came In Peace” – Tranquility Bass
• “Water” – Salar Ansari
• “Neon_cave” – Ian Fink
• “Dafodil (feat. Kelsey Lu, John Glacier & Panda Bear)” – Jamie xx
• “Bam Bam” – Sister Nancy
• “False Start Dub” – Kings of High Speed & JKriv
• “Hello? (feat. aden) [Maurice Fulton Remix]” – musclecars
• “Restoration” – Monty Alexander
• “Take It From The Top” – Double Winter
• “Person Of Light (unreleased)” – Dusty Rose Band
• “Old Scratch Blues” – Jack White
• “Bless Yourself” – Jack White
• “That’s How I’m Feeling” – Jack White
• “Ouroboros” – GOAT
• “Ooo, I” – Forest Law
• “Fuzz Jam (Harvey Sutherland X-Tra Fuzz Remix)” – The Lazy Eyes
• “Ready. Set. Flex.” – Shigeto, Zelooperz & Ian Maciak
• “The Punch!” – Shigeto & Kesswa
• “Sometime Soon” – Kraig Kilby
• “Strawberry Point” – Kraig Kilby

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

It’s called Hood Camp: Urban Survival for Today’s Youth.

“We call it Hood Camp because it is a camp that’s in the hood,” said Mama Shu, CEO and founder of Avalon Village — the sustainable eco-village on Avalon Street in Highland Park that hosts the camp. “And we do it because there are a lot of children who are not able to afford camp.”

The program, for only $50 per child, offers local youth a chance to have an outdoor camping experience in the comfort of their own neighborhood.

Shu says she started the camp because as a young girl she always wanted to camp in her backyard, but her mom wouldn’t let her. But now as an adult, she can share that dream with others.

“I was like ‘You know what? I’m doing this! Let me see if I can get some children and parents who would let their children come and start this Hood Camp.'”

The first camp, in 2011, was just one night with 17 kids — and later up to 40. That lasted for the first 10 years. Eventually, by popular demand from the kids, Shu extended the camp to an entire weekend.

“Because the kids used to always say, ‘Mama Shu we want to spend another night.’ Because they loved spending the night outside,” she said.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the camp reduced its attendance down to 25 -30 children.

At the camp, children learn all about emergency preparedness and surviving outside. They learn how to cook outside, how to garden and purify water. They even learn about different plants that most typically would classify as weeds, and how they can be used for medicinal purposes.

Shu also recruits the Highland Park Fire and Police Departments to teach fire and gun safety and general community safety.

Each camper gets a survival kit with items like batteries, matches, candles, a first aid kit, and a solar backpack. And at the end of the weekend, they go home with a certificate that reads: “I survived in the hood.”

“We are showing them basically how you can fit in and how you can utilize these things first and how to survive in your own neighborhood,” Shu said.

Shu gave the example of a blackout in the neighborhood as an opportunity for the children to use their skills.

“We had out light go out for days in Highland Park,” Shu said “They still have to go to school. Well, they have the solar backpacks so they can charge their phones and their computers. And hopefully not miss a beat with their studies.”

Shu said she always receives positive feedback from the children and their parents about the Hood Camp program. Some former students return each year to participate again, while some who have grown up and graduated return as volunteers.

“It’s just wonderful seeing them still be interested in helping out in the community. And being able to volunteer and support something that when they were kids, they were involved in,” Shu said.

Hood Camp runs Aug. 30 through Sept. 1, 2024. For more information or to register a camper, visit www.theavalonvilllage.org.

Gearing up for 2024 Detroit Jazz Fest — my favorite festival in all of Detroit — with a live in-studio performance from saxophonist Kasan Belgrave and his band (Michael Abbo on bass, Jordan Anderson on piano, Kaleb Robinson on drums). Kasan is the son of Marcus Belgrave, one of the most iconic jazz musicians and educators to come out of Detroit and an internationally recognized talent. 

There’s some really powerful legacy there for sure, but Kasan is stepping out and doing his own thing on his debut album, Dual Citizen, due out later this year. During his session on In The Groove, he performed two songs from the upcoming record. Kasan’s session was absolutely incredible — I’m still buzzing from it!

You can experience it for yourself when Kasan and his band will perform on Monday at 2 p.m. ET on the Carhartt Stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival. Check out the full schedule here.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for Aug. 28, 2024

• “Kodama” – Kikagaku Moyo
• “Sleeping Ute” – Grizzly Bear
• “Do I Move You?” – Nina Simone
• “Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘N’ Roll (Punk Song)” – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
• “Firesuite” – Doves
• “Tile By Tile” – Alvvays
• “Far Away” – Eddie Chacon
• “Loso Na Madesu (feat. Natanya) [Lewis OfMan Remix]” – Brian Nasty
• “You Are Mine” – Jay Robinson
• “Golden Lady” – Stevie Wonder
• “Livin’ And Lovin’ In My Own Way (feat. Pete Rock)” – Brandee Younger
• “Dreamin’” – Common & Pete Rock
• “Futile Devices (Shigeto Remix)” – Sufjan Stevens
• “Connaissais de Face (Tiger?)” – Khruangbin & Ginger Root
• “Mission Statement” – Julius Rodriguez
• “Dream Of You” – Lionlimb & Angel Olsen
• “Brown Paper Bag” – DIIV
• “Talk For Hours” – High Vis
• “Ruby My Dear (Radio Edit)” – Geri Allen & Kurt Rosenwinkel
• “Turiya and Ramakrishna” – Alice Coltrane
• “Hold Up (Live On WDET)” – Kasan Belgrave
• “Switch Lanes (Live On WDET)” – Kasan Belgrave
• “Number Three (Live On WDET)” – Kasan Belgrave
• “African Rumble” – Timo Lassy
• “Choy Soda (Waajeed’s Hi-Tech Jazz Remix)” – Takuya Kuroda

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Michigan’s new climate laws require utilities to transition to entirely “clean” electricity sources by 2040. As the state’s Public Service Commission figures out what that will look like, it has to pay special attention to the Upper Peninsula and the natural gas plants that went online there just five years ago.

The U.P. is a huge area with many rural communities, and power can be unreliable. Over the years, some utility rates have been among the highest in the state and even the country.

But Chair Dan Scripps said when it comes to the energy transition, the region may have a leg up.

“Largely because of the hydroelectric assets — the dams across the Upper Peninsula — the Upper Peninsula actually gets a significant higher amount of its electricity from renewable resources than the rest of the state,” he said.

Energy crossroads

Transitions in the U.P. are nothing new.

In 2013, the iron ore mining company now called Cleveland-Cliffs switched from the coal-burning Presque Isle Power Plant to a different provider. (That was made possible by a 2008 law that allowed mining companies to choose where they got their energy.)

The Cliffs mining company was the Presque Isle plant’s biggest customer, using around 85% of the load. With federal pollution standards looming as well, the Wisconsin utility that ran the coal plant, We Energies, announced plans to shut it down.

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which manages the region’s transmission, rejected those plans. MISO reasoned that it would destabilize the grid. And the cost of keeping the coal plant open was pushed onto customers in the U.P., hiking rates higher.

After years of wrangling between the state, feds, mining companies and utilities, the Public Service Commission agreed to replace coal with natural gas.

“This new gas-fired generation is a critical piece in shaping the future of energy supplies in the U.P. — a future that is cleaner, more reliable and affordable for U.P. residents and businesses,” said then-chair of the commission Sally Talberg in a 2017 news release.

The commission approved a plan to spend $277 million on two natural gas stations. It was proposed by Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp., a U.P.-based subsidiary of the Wisconsin utility WEC Energy Group.

The plants are in Baraga and Marquette counties and hold a total of 10 reciprocating internal combustion engines, known as RICE units. They went online in 2019 and were built to last for decades, according to UMERC, which serves around 42,000 customers.

Scripps said the natural gas units “were put in place to solve a very specific concern, and in partnership with the largest customer — again, the mines in the Upper Peninsula.”

As part of that agreement, Cleveland-Cliffs pays back half of the $277 million over 20 years, and residents and businesses pay the rest.

Natural gas conundrum 

If the utility keeps using those natural gas units as is, it might not be able to meet what’s required under Michigan’s clean energy law.

The legislation specifically mentions these natural gas plants as a hurdle and directs the public service commission to figure out what to do.

According to Scripps, this might require a more flexible approach, like reducing or offsetting their emissions instead of shutting them down.

“How do you effectively get to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 but maybe with more flexibility around carbon capture and that sort of thing,” he said, saying that reasoning has been used in other parts of the state.

The law allows for natural gas that’s paired with carbon capture and storage, when emissions are trapped and then stored deep underground, a technology that’s still being developed.

Burning natural gas generally emits less carbon dioxide than coal. But it’s still a fossil fuel made up mostly of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. And groups like the climate think tank RMI argue that many comparisons of coal and gas only consider end-use emissions, and don’t account for methane leaks during production or transportation. According to an RMI analysis published last year, those leaks can put the climate impacts of natural gas on par with coal.

Reliability and cost

The Upper Peninsula’s instability — and the lack of affordable energy — can have serious consequences for people living there.

People in the U.P. say that “a squirrel sneezes and the power goes out,” according to Tori McGeshick, a member of the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

McGeshick, who now lives in northern Wisconsin, works as a climate resilience coordinator for the tribe and the U.P. organizer for the advocacy group We the People MI. She wants energy decisions to include more input from tribal nations.

Unreliable power has had a profound effect on her community, McGeshick said, especially elders and people with specific medical needs in remote areas.

“A lot of my elders live like 15 to 20 miles on the outskirts of town, and they experience the outages the most. And a lot of the elders that I’ve spoken to have medical issues,” she said. “That’s when it just becomes a survival issue.”

For her, this process is about energy justice for the entire region.

“If you’re constantly raising the utility rates and expecting us to pay these rates, but then also not giving us the reliability that should come with it, then it’s a problem,” she said.

Some Yoopers are strongly in favor of keeping natural gas. During the commission’s public hearing in Marquette at the end of July, some said they’ve already footed the bill for the natural gas plants and that it was important to energy security.

“Access to affordable and reliable energy is key to keeping the Marquette Iron Range competitive and viable for another 177 years,” said Michael Grondz of Ishpeming, who works at the Cleveland-Cliffs Tilden mine and is the vice president of the United Steelworkers Local 4950. “Cleveland-Cliffs has made great progress to reduce emissions by replacing the Presque Isle Power Plant with the modern gas RICE generators, while reducing the cost and making local electricity supply more reliable for families like mine all over the Upper Peninsula.”

Others believe a compromise can be worked out, and don’t think the state’s laws necessarily need to change.

“Renewables continue to be more and more efficient,” said Abby Wallace, a member of the Michigan Environmental Council and a student at Northern Michigan University who spoke at the public hearing in July. “There are ways that the RICE units could be made more efficient themselves. And I think it’s premature to say that the U.P. in no way could meet the goals that the rest of the state are being held to in the legislation.”

And not everyone agrees that natural gas is key to energy security. Roman Sidortsov, an associate professor of energy policy at Michigan Technological University, said gas prices are variable and hard to predict.

“People tend to forget that fossil fuels, and oil and gas in particular, it’s incredibly volatile business,” he said. “There’s very little stability in the prices.”

Sidortsov, who was a member of the state’s U.P. Energy Task Force several years ago, said the U.P. deals with different environmental factors and customers than the rest of the state. And the grid was built to serve industries that aren’t as robust as they once were.

He thinks a lot of the region’s demand can be met with distributed generation — getting power through smaller, more localized sources of energy, something energy experts have discussed for years.

The model of large, centralized power plants has worked for the Lower Peninsula and other parts of the country, he said, “but it’s perhaps not the most efficient way to produce and deliver power when you are talking about the geography of the Upper Peninsula when the distances are vast.”

The Public Service Commission has to recommend what to do with the natural gas units and determine how feasible renewable energy is in the U.P. It must submit a report to the governor and legislature by December 1.

People can reply to public comments on the commission’s energy transition study until Sept. 13.

On this episode of Visions, I do my fifth and final preview of artists coming to the 45th annual Detroit Jazz Festival. I play three selections from Artist-in-Residence Brian Blade, plus music from Carmen Lundy, The Bad Plus and Nate Smith.

I piece things together with music from John Lee Hooker, Alice Coltrane (both of which have birthdays right around the time of this episode), Nadje Noordhuis, Helen Sung, Lionel Loueke, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Joni Mitchell, and Brandford Marsalis. I also play the late, great Wayne Shorter — who would have turned 91 last Sunday.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Aug. 26, 2024

• “Ghana Nila” – Alice Coltrane
• “Bumble Bee Blues” – John Lee Hooker
• “The Robots” – The Bad Plus
• “Le Fin” – Nadje Noordhuis
• “Duality” – Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
• “The Island, The Sea and You (feat. Patrice Rushen, Ben Williams, Kendrick Scott & Jeff Parker)” – Carmen Lundy
• “Feed the Fire (with Harlem Quartet)” – Helen Sung
• “Moon Song” – Cécile McLorin Salvant
• “Evinrude-Fifty (Trembling)” – Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
• “Hejira” – Joni Mitchell
• “Footprints” – Lionel Loueke, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland
• “Return of the Prodigal Son” – Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band
• “Spinning Down” – Nate Smith
• “Wild Flower” – Wayne Shorter
• “Friday the 13Th” – Branford Marsalis

Detroit Month of Design is celebrating its 14th annual showcase of immersive design.  

In this case, the word “design” is meant to be used in the broadest sense — we’re talking fashion, mobility and technology. More than 100 events will take place across the city in September, which will include tours and workshops.  

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

The showcase will be hosted by Design Core Detroit, an organization that supports design-driven businesses to help grow Detroit’s economy. 

Kiana Wenzell, co-executive director of Design Core Detroit, and Detroit photographer Elonte Davis joined The Metro on Friday to discuss Detroit Month of Design and what attendees can expect.

“Design Core Detroit is about growth, growing the creatives that are here. We want to see Elonte and his business grow. We’re about attraction. We want to attract more talent, creative talent and visitors to our city using platforms like the festival to do that,” Wenzell said. “And we want to retain talent. We don’t want Elonte to move, we love him. We want to see him thrive and survive in our city. So the festival is about connecting creatives with each other, helping to introduce them to new audiences and opportunities, and highlighting the reason why Detroit was designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.”

Use the media player above to listen to the full interview with Wenzell and Davis.

More headlines from The Metro on Aug. 23, 2024:

• Detroit’s North End neighborhood is filled with history and community — a lot of it due to the work of the Vanguard Community Development Corporation. The group is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a party on Sept. 7. at The Henry Ford Health Detroit Piston’s Performance Center. Vanguard Chairwoman Leslie Graham Andrews joined the show to discuss the organization’s work.
• A new report on children from the Michigan League for Public Policy revealed a mixed bag when it comes to measures of child well-being. To discuss the report’s findings, Michigan League for Public Policy President and CEO Monique Stanton joined the show.
• Outlier Media Civic Life Reporter Laura Herberg and Detroit Documenters Coordinator Noah Kincade joined the show as part of The Metro‘s Detroit Documenters public meetings roundup each Friday.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 11 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on-demand.

It’s the type of show I dream of doing — the celebration of an album that has meant so much to me over the years and its 30th anniversary.

This time, it’s all about the trip hop classic Dummy by Portishead, released on this very day back in 1994. The otherworldly voice of Beth Gibbons (who has some of her solo work played on the show today, too), the production duo of Adrian Utley and Geoff Barrow (his new Beak> album gets a spin, too).

It’s like down tempo lightning in a bottle.

I bought this CD blind when I was still in high school at a now-closed record store in Royal Oak called Wendell’s. The cover sucked me. I took it home, turned it up and my world was forever changed.

And I said that on air today — “anyone hearing this for the first time? Is it changing your life like it did mine?” And I got an email from Josh in Sarnia, Ontario who wrote in, “This is the first time I’ve heard Portishead! Gorgeous.”

That made my whole damn week. Thank you for listening and enjoying one of my favorite albums with me!

There’s some other trip-hop building blocks in the playlist today including Massive Attack, Tranquility Bass and, I’d argue, you can hear the influence on Digable Planets’ “Black Ego,” too (they’ll be in town this week with the Roots). Plus new stuff from SAHRA, Astrid Sonne, Adrianne Lenker and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for Aug. 22, 2024

• “Glory Box” – Portishead
• “Strawberry Line” – Beak>
• “My Girls” – Animal Collective
• “Reaching Out” – Beth Gibbons
• “Black Ego” – Digable Planets
• “Love and Happiness” – Monty Alexander
• “Grandma’s Hands” – Bill Withers
• “Risk It All” – SAHRA
• “Bittersweet” – LIanne La Havas
• “Hammers” – Kessoncoda
• “Say You Love Me” – Astrid Sonne
• “God Herself (Tune-Yards Remix)” – Madison McFerrin
• “As” – Stevie Wonder
• “Rock Steady (Sure Is Pure Remix)” – Aretha Franklin
• “Protection” – Massive Attack
• “They Came In Peace” – Tranquility Bass
• “It Could Be Sweet” – Portishead
• “Mysterons (Roseland NYC Live)” – Portishead
• “Count The Days (feat. Jenny Lewis)” – Swamp Dogg
• “Once a Bunch” – Adrianne Lenker
• “Wild Wood (Sheared Wood Remix) [Paul Weller Vs. Portishead]” – Paul Weller & Portishead
• “Strangers” – Portishead
• “Into The 90s” – Photek
• “Crushed Velvet (feat. Thee Sacred Souls)” – Molly Lewis
• “909” – Starflyer 59
• “Fishbrain” – Mount Kimbie
• “Too Much, Enough” – Nation of Language
• “Build A Bridge” – Deeper
• “Favourite” – Fontaines D.C.
• “Lullaby” – The Cure

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Working through the week with new music from Tall Black Guy, a spotlight on drummer Nate Smith ahead of his performance at the 2024 Detroit Jazz Fest — plus new music from Shigeto, Sega Bodega, THUS LOVE, Chiminyo and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for Aug. 20, 2024

• “Run To My Mother and Father” – Tall Black Guy x Nate Smith x Marvin Gaye
• “Altitude (feat. Joel Ross & Michael Mayo)” – Nate Smith
• “Insane” – Madison McFerrin
• “Ready. Set. Flex.” – Shigeto, Zelooperz & Ian Maciak
• “Fade Into You” – Sega Bodega & Eartheater
• “Moon Over Marin” – Dead Kennedys
• “Repetitioner” – THUS LOVE
• “The Bed, The Room, The Rain and You” – Hinds
• “Strange” – Galaxie 500
• “Only A Shadow” – The Cleaners From Venus
• “Lucifer On the Sofa (Adrian Sherwood Reconstruction)” – Spoon
• “Inside Out” – Spoon
• “Go Up Moses” – Roberta Flack
• “Call My Name” – Joe Bataan
• “Ezekiel’s Wheel” – Erick the Architect & George Clinton
• “Liquid Love (feat. Sylvia Cox)” – Roy Ayers
• “Melody Experiment” – Blonde Redhead
• “Love in Constant Spectacle” – Jane Weaver
• “Mambo Sun” – T. Rex
• “Necessary Evil” – Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• “TNT” – Tortoise
• “Lost & Found (feat. Charlotte Dos Santos)” – Gotts Street Park
• “Numb (teddy<3version)” Sylvan Esso & Teddy Geiger
• “Saga (Pt. 2) [feat. Maria Chiara Argirò]” – Chiminyo, Pouya Ehsaei & Sam Warner
• “Cortana” – Enola Gay
• “Lonsdale Slipons” – Bug Club
• “Got To Be Mine” – Vulfmon & Evangeline
• “My Love” – Metronomy & Nourished by Time
• “Good Life” – Inner City
• “Musica” – Mildlife
• “Rain Can’t Reach Us (feat. Tony Allen)” – Yannis & the Yaw
• “Outside the Outside” – Helado Negro
• “Be Reasonable” – somesurprises
• “When The Night Is Over” – Lord Huron

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Back in April, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) was granted the ability to use $60 million state funds to help increase housing in the state.

Gongwer News Services Alethia Kasben and Zach Gorchow chat with the MSHDA Executive Director, Amy Hovey, to discuss how the MI Neighborhood program can help build more housing and stabilize the market.

In this episode:

• MSHDA’s initiatives based on the MI Neighborhood program
• How Michigan businesses are affected by the housing crisis
• What’s needed to stabilize the housing market in the state

Subscribe to MichMash on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

Historically, MSHDA hasn’t received support from the state, but the $60 million in state funding is giving them resources to help more Michiganders.

Hovey explained that the state funding helps the agency use grants.

“We’re able to do grant programs, which make it easier for folks that aren’t typically in the housing development arena, [to] get involved in utilizing programs,” said Hovey.  

According to Hovey, local businesses were having a tough time with staffing because of the housing crisis in Michigan. They hired workers from out of state or someplace far from the company’s location that would require the employee to relocate. The lack of housing gave businesses a tough time to secure employees.

The funding from MI Neighborhood can change that.

“This state funding is immensely important to be able to meet that demand across the state for all different types of income levels,” said Hovey.

When it comes to the exact funds needed to solve Michigan’s housing crisis, Hovey doesn’t know what that number is, but says, “…without incomes going up, there’s always going to be a gap in what it costs to build versus what the average Michigan family can afford to purchase. So we do need to look at incomes at the same time as housing subsidy.”

More from WDET:

• MichMash: Whitmer announces energy and housing initiatives at Mackinac Policy Conference
• Detroit Council President Pro Tem James Tate talks affordable housing, 2024 agenda and more
• Detroit Evening Report: Bills to combat housing discrimination heading to Whitmer

This week on MI Local, I premiere a new track from Detroit-based alt rock supergroup Television City called “Lost In Arkansas,” as well as a recent release by local Americana outfit Bonny Doon, “Clock Keeps Ticking,” which was recently named one of the top songs of the summer for 2024 by The Guardian.

The big focus this week is an exciting rundown of tracks by all five artists performing at this Thursday’s Sounds Like Detroit concert, happening at New Center Park. You can still get tickets at wdet.org/events.

Later in the show I take a look at Fuzz Fest, a three-day event happening at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor next weekend. Fuzz Fest features more than two dozen local rock bands, including Ypsilanti’s Virga.

We also heard new releases by Double Winter, 800cc and Madi Destroy.

The episode is capped off with a preview of Frontier Ruckus’ Live on WDET session recorded at our Studio A. The full session will premiere on Tuesday, Aug. 27, during MI Local and on WDET’s YouTube channel — make sure to subscribe!

MI Local Playlist for Aug. 13, 2024

• “Lost In Arkansas” – Television City
• “Jelly Donut” – Double Winter
• “Coming Along” – Three Spoke Wheel
• “Clock Keeps Ticking” – Bonny Doon
• “Girlfriend” – Wild Shape
• “Dizzy” – Isis Damil
• “Dance By The Moon” – Chris Lanard
• “Ambition” – Elspeth Tremblay & the Treatment
• “Games” – C3theartist
• “Life Ain’t So Bad” – Drey Skonie
• “Color of Water” – 800cc
• “Haunted” – Madi Destroy
• “Bierstadt” – Virga
• “Dizzy Seas” – Chris Bathgate
• “Everywhere But Beside You (Live on WDET session)” – Frontier Ruckus

On this episode of Visions, I have another preview of artists you can soon see at the Detroit Jazz Festival, happening Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 in downtown Detroit.

You’ll hear music from Ravi Coltrane, Joshua Redman and Detroit Jazz Fest Artist-in-Residence Brian Blade. I tie it all together with selections from Angelica Sanchez, Lux Quartet (led by Myra Melford and Allison Miller), Mulgrew Miller, Pat Metheny and Immanuel Wilkins. Plus, you’ll hear from local legends Gayelynn McKinney, Marion Hayden and the late, great Alice Coltrane.

Check out the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Visions Playlist for Aug. 12, 2024

• “Intricate Drift” – Myra Melford, Allison Miller & Lux Quartet
• “Klepto” – Ravi Coltrane
• “Closing the Chapter” – Peter Gall
• “Don Knotts” – Myra Melford & TrioM
• “Manhattan” – Joshua Redman
• “In Spite of Everything” – Brian Blade Fellowship
• “Blues Again” – Mulgrew Miller
• “Gwendolyn” – Gayelynn McKinney & The McKinney Zone
• “Have You Heard” – Pat Metheny Group
• “Face Value” – Alexa Tarantino
• “Nobody Else But Me” – Bill Evans
• “A Fungus Amungus” – Angelica Sanchez
• “Omega” – Immanuel Wilkins
• “Crescent” – Alice Coltrane
• “The Uncrowned King” – Marion Hayden

The way music is released these days — always, all the time — it kinda makes new music Friday feel a little dated. But when it comes to major releases, Friday still remains king for album drops (a lot of fresh singles arrive 48 hours before).

Anyway, I brought in a mix of major and indie releases — again, a term that may not matter as much anymore — for this Friday, including System Olympia, Shigeto & Kesswa, Leon Bridges, The Smile and many more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 9, 2024

• “Shy Shy” – System Olympia & P Nut
• “The Punch!” – Shigeto & Kesswa
• “Samba – Trip” – Richard Schneider Jr.
• “1968” – Bill Frisell
• “Taishi-Koto, Pt. 1” – L’Eclair
• “Summer Madness” – Kool & the Gang
• “Peaceful Place” – Leon Bridges
• “Don’t Get Me Started” – The Smile
• “High Speed Dubbin’” – Kings Of High Speed & JKriv
• “Love and Happiness” – Monty Alexander
• “Tearz (feat. Lee Fields & The Shacks)” – El Michels Affair
• “You” – Gold Panda
• “Thrown Around” – James Blake
• “Back On” – SBTRKT
• “Volume” – Caribou
• “Our Love” – Caribou
• “Run” – Leifur James
• “Saaqi (feat. Vijay Iyer)” – Arooj Aftab
• “Outubro” – Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding
• “C + F” – Sam Prekop
• “Musique Non-Stop” – Kraftwerk
• “Nine Clean Nails” – Dummy
• Lie in the Gutter” – Peel Dream Magazine
• “R&B” – English Teacher
• “Troglodyte” – Viagra Boys
• “When the Laughter Stops (feat. Katy J Pearson)” – Yard Act
• “Pet Rock” – L’Rain
• “To the Dancefloor” – DEBBY FRIDAY
• “Ochre” – Sofia Grant
• “New Symmetry” – Tristan De Liege & Bryony Jarman-Pinto
• “The South Atlantic (feat. This Is the Kit)” – Public Service Broadcasting
• “By Your Side” – Sade & Red Hot Org

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

I’m honoring the Paris Olympics with French double bassist Henri Texier!

I also drop new experimental prog-rock jazz (call it whatever you want) by Rich Ruth on Third Man Records! New music from Jessica Pratt and Black Pumas — plus BADBADNOTGOOD unleashes a sort of side project thing known as Group Climate and a highlight from Habibi Funk Records and their love of Arab music from all around the world.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for August 7, 2024

• “Baby I Got News For You” – Kelley Stoltz
• “My Fun” – Suki Waterhouse
• “Too Many People” – Paul McCartney & Linda McCartney
• “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All” – Father John Misty
• “Your House (feat. Astrid Sonne)” – Coined
• “No Muscle, No Memory” – Rich Ruth
• “Darkness, Darkness” – Kieran Hebden & William Tyler
• “Hot Sun” – Wilco
• “Better Hate” – Jessica Pratt
• “I Only Have Eyes For You” – Sunny & The Sunliners
• “Ice Cream (Pay Phone)” – Black Pumas
• “Soul Makossa” – Manu Dibango
• “Automoton (feat. Joe Armon-Jones)” – Ash Walker
• “Afronaught (Ron Trent Remix)” – Ash Walker, Amp Fiddler & Ron Trent
• “Our Time Is Now (feat. Frank Alowishus)” – Waajeed
• “Don’t Call It Love” – Swim Surreal & Zero 7
• “What Not to Do (Moodymann Remix)” – Róisín Murphy
• “T-U-V” – Group Climate
• “Les là-bas” – Henri Texier
• “Music de Carnaval” – Magdy Al Hussainy
• “Cards On The Table” – Nia Archives
• “He Will Follow You With His Eyes” – Corinne Bailey Rae
• “Unlikely” – Bel Cobain
• “Jimtastic Blues” – Greentea Peng
• “Didn’t Cha Know” – Erykah Badu
• “Lo Dudo” – Ëda Diaz
• “Connect” – Vampire Weekend
• “1+1=11 (Beatless Mix)” – Peggy Gou
• “Hello? (feat. aden) [Maurice Fulton Remix]” – musclecars
• “Miss Kane” – Swindle
• “I Want You (John Morales Mix)” – Marvin Gaye

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.