It seemed to be the place for a muggy Friday evening in late July. Downtown Chelsea Michigan was abuzz with celebration Friday night. The home of Jeff Daniels, Ted Nugnet and Jiffy Muffin and Cake Mixes, only in small town America could you perhaps find such a variety just strolling the streets during a Summerfest. Jeff Daniels, the "Dumb and Dumber" and "Super Sucker" actor whose hometown is Chelsea was there, casually talking to passersby who generally just leave him alone. His Purple Rose Theatre was just around the block where he and his wife parked his motorcyle. As he slowly passed us, he turned and waved a salute "hi" to us and grabbed a beer in the tent, stopping for La Grizzy to take a photo. He is also one of my 'myspacerfriends'. Add him to your space, and tell him "Hurricane" Duane sent you!
The Summerfest celebration was in full swing with street booths and a Classic Car Show. So La Grizzy, MYSPACE/Entertainment and CMA Videographer, was sitting perched with this author on a crooked bench waiting for the 7:00 performance by local favorites George Bedard and the Kingpins, probably closest sounding group to the Stray Cats you will ever hear. George is a hell of a guitar player. The crowd grew from a few to more than that, and "PAWS for a Cause" adoptive dogs in training passed single file thru the crowd on the borders of the tent. A great thing they're doing, training leader dogs.
George was in fine form playing everything from Rock-a-Billy- to R & B and '50's rock and roll. We enjoyed it, and Jeff was on his feet as well enjoying the music. Jeff besides being a fine actor and local activist and town-supporter, is also a great musician and singer. He's just not well known for it except to those of us that knows he plays. About half-way thru George's version of "California Sun", I nudged La Grizzy. Bothered somewhat that I disturbed her filming, I pointed out a tall man with jet black hair and long tailored sideburns, sunglasses, jewelry and a red shirt unbuttoned down the front. "What ?!" she said to me somewhat annoyed. Nothing different there. She sometimes gets annoyed at me. "There's Elvis!" I said pointing to the tall man moving along the edge of the crowd. Hey! Elvis has been seen before by people who didnt believe it, and I know he's supposed to be dead but....if it looks like Elvis...walks like Elvis...dresses like Elvis...well then? It must BE Elvis.
She knew Jeff was there, and George was there, and probably somewhere in there was Ted Nugent, another local resident. Its known by us locals that where there is a black Corvette, Jeep Renegade or Humvie with all tinted windows...Ted's in town. But this was good enough. 1st George, then Jeff and then Elvis. Now I know why she carries her video camera almost everywhere we go. She hardly misses a thing. And she's getting very good at what she does. Spyder Turner Live, the Spinners Live, Clay Aiken Live, Dr John, Marcia Ball, many others and Jeff Daniels...and now she gets to film Elvis. What a coup! So what if he's dead!? As Jeff and his wife were leaving, and George was finishing his set with the Kingpins, storm clouds were brewing to the Northwest of town, not unusual for this time of year in Michigan. As drops of rain started to hit the camera lens, we decided George was finishing, and Jeff was leaving, so we might as well hit the road ourselves. Stopping on Main Street to film a slow procession of Classic Cars, Jeff passed us on his bike waving as he headed south out of town towards his home.
The rain picked up some, and we hightailed it for the car just in time. Traffic was snarled, but that was going thru town, and we were going out of it, so I patched out North and East towards the railroad tracks and Ann Arbor. It was a great night, Warm, fun, a little humid, with great folks, and great music in a fine little farm town. Whether it's Ann Arbors Top of the Park Concerts, Dexter Days or Chelsea Summerfest, it's always nice to just go and 'be' normal for awhile. As we passed thru the Chelsea's Northend...if you could call it that, I looked back at the crowds traveling up and down the streets. Perhaps, like Jeff and us, they were heading home to beat the rain, or maybe just going along to find a seat for the next entertainer in the beer tent. It didn't matter. This was home to all, and this was small town America . As I took the turn out of town, La Grizzy turned to me and asked if I thought that tall sunglassed man was really Elvis. Hey. That was really Jeff Daniels, for sure George Bedard and his Kingpins, so why not Elvis? Just because this was a small town, that never stopped Ted Nugent from blasting down the streets either. So, why not Elvis?
In big towns and cities, people move so fast, they pay no mind if they see a big Hollywood actor like Jeff, or rocker like Ted, or George Bedard. They don't even pay attention when someone like LA is filming. They just keep moving along with blinders on. Still, I can understand her wondering if it could've really been the KING or not. But here in small town Michigan on a warm and muggy Friday night of summer...if it walks like him....looks like him....acts like him....it MUST BE Elvis!
It was great to see you both Jeff and George. Oh...and you too Mr. Presley ("Thank you very much!")
*Special Thanks: Team Detroit, Matt-Dog, the Hurricane Shelter, LA Grizzy, Sonja Paris, Larry Patterson and Treasure Island Gold, Ralph Terrana and Soulful Detroit Forum, and "Lucky" the Wonder Dog!
