Concentrate

Karaoke. Robots. Booze. And it's all for the children (again). Ann Arbor writing and tutoring center 826michigan continues to raise funds for its mission of helping kids by hosting Total Eclipse of the Bot, a robot themed karaoke event at Goodnight Gracie.

Inspired by 826michigan's Bot Caroling last December, Total Eclipse is another excuse to replace original lyrics with robot themes. Think cleverly singing "Muh, muh, muh, interface, muh, muh interface" instead of Lady Gaga's intended poker face lyric. The fine people at Google lent 826 a karaoke machine for the event, so you won't have to worry about Stoo staring at you the whole time.

Jason DePasquale, my former roommate and the co-creator of 826michigan's robot store, used to sing karaoke with me each week when we lived together in Ypsilanti. We did a lot of duets where I knew 80% of the words and Jason mainly knew the choruses. He already has this weird habit of making a lot of bleeps and bloops during regular karaoke, so he'll be the star of Bot karaoke. Unless he tries to sing The Bangles. He can't hit those notes.

Attendees are encouraged to dress up. Be clever. Admission is $10.

Classical music in the park is the thing of picture books and good episodes of Mad Men. There's just something so damn classy about it.

The Ypsilanti Symphony Orchestra presents a FREE outdoor concert titled "An Afternoon at the Drive-In" this Saturday. The symphony will perform classic songs from popular film favorites (please, please, please play "Danger Zone" from Top Gun !!!) in the beautiful outdoor setting of Riverside Park in Ypsilanti. Music director Adam C. Riccinto leads the orchestra, which has been going strong since 1999.

Symphony music in the park is a delightful experience. From summer concerts at the West Park band shell in Ann Arbor to performances at Top of the Park and the now-defunct Lilith Fair Tour - all are underrated experiences. Bring the family, wear elaborate hats, pack a picnic lunch and wear your sunscreen. It'll be a gorgeous day.

Brooklyn-based, indie-punk, riotgrrrl, Jewish rock band The Shondes headline a three-band show at the Neutral Zone's B-Side Sunday night. Shonde, Yiddish for shame or disgrace, is a concept the band embraces and incorporates in their lyrics, with songs dealing with queer issues, views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and growing up Jewish.

The four-piece Shondes are stars of the Jewish music scene. Spin says, "The three vocalists all have a deep Patti Smith inflection, that slathered with (Elijah) Oberman's fiddle and (Ian) Brannigan's grungy leads, make the band sound like the minor-key, Yiddish version of Garbage." The Shondes released their second CD, My Dear One, in May on the indie label Fanatic Records. They've toured with some decent names, and the Ann Arbor stop is a special one.

Opening for The Shondes are brother/sister indie-rock duo The White Ravens and saxophone-driven punk band Scissor Now. Admission is $7, or $5 for students.

I used to think parades were for little kids and old people. It took me a few Fourth of July parades in Indian River to realize how stupid I've become.

Parades are for everyone. Infants, children, tweens, teens, recent college graduates, recent(ish) college graduates, recent(ish) college graduates still living at home with mom and dad and working 30 hours at Jets Pizza, and, yes, old people.

It is a poor writer's crutch to quote from the dictionary, but: Parade: A large public procession, usually including a marching band, and often of a festive nature, held in honor of an anniversary, person, event, etc…

Let's review. Large public procession (I like). Usually including a marching band (who doesn't like that?). Festive nature (hot dog!). Who cares what we're honoring, it's a frickin' parade!

Now, the fact that it's the Memorial Day parade, commemorating the men and women of the United States armed forces who died serving their country, makes it that much more important. Line the streets of your respective towns and bring those elaborate hats and sunscreen I asked you to wear to the symphony in the park on Saturday. Embrace parades once again. You'll thank me later.

The Bang! is Ann Arbor's premier monthly dance party, holding themed sweat-fests at the Blind Pig that regularly sell out. This month's Bang is the athletics-centered Ball Bang - the sibling of last summer's Physical Bang. Expect referee get-ups, sexy cheerleaders, kickball players, and hockey helmets. The more creative you get, the more compliments you'll receive. It's an excuse to dress up, dance until you're coated in sweat (not all of it your own) and enjoy DJ Jeremy Wheeler and Jason Gibner's sweet playlists.

The Bang team decorates the venue with a few set pieces each time out and projects videos on giant bed sheets bracketing the main dance floor. There are photographers all over the place, so be sure to keep your good side to the camera. The Bang posts pictures after each event, so bet your friends how many you can get into!

If you get tired or bad sweaty (that means sweating something other than sweat), take a walk downstairs to the 8-Ball where you can relax in a slightly chillier atmosphere. The 8-Ball bar is also a good idea if the line for drinks upstairs is too long. Did I mention free popcorn? Free popcorn!

Cover is $8.

The Crossroads Summer Festival is a Friday night staple of life in the downtown core of Ypsilanti. Every Friday from June through August, a stage is erected on North Washington Street between Pearl and Michigan Avenue and tons of plastic chairs are set up for an evening of music, dance and food. A wide mix of musical stylings grace the Crossroads Summer Festival, from ska-funk, to blues, soul, rock  and, this year, an 11-piece folk orchestra.

Families congregate on North Washington to enjoy the music and dance in the street. A food tent is usually set up, but that's not your only option on Washington. You have Beezy's, Biggie's, Pub 13, the Tap Room and a liquor store just a block away. (The pre-packaged corned beef sandwiches are to die for!). In case of rain, the event moves inside the Savoy.

The free festival opens on Friday with the six-piece Martindales ("the best blues jam around" – AnnArbor.com) and the Chris Canas Blues Revolution.

The Crossroads Summer Festival is always looking for volunteers, so send a note to info@daypsi.com.