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CLEVELAND -- The Detroit musician known as Rodriguez, who got thrust into the national limelight this year with the documentary on his life, "Searching for Sugar Man," has been known to take playful shots at his hometown during some concerts.
On Saturday night, at a small club called Beachland in Cleveland, Rodriguez started talking about Detroit's problems.
Someone yelled out that the city needs a mayor, to which he said something like "Amongst other things."
Then he talked about the police chief sex scandals and later remarked: "It was only until I left Detroit, that I got out of Detroit, that I learned people smiled."
"We're from Detroit" "We're from Detroit," fans yelled.
"My deepest condolences," he said.
A day earlier, a Hollywood website, reported that director Malik Bendjelloul's film "Searching for Sugar Man" landed a major documentary-award nomination, its second in less than two weeks.
The film tied with "The Imposter" by landing five nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking, the Cinema Eye Honors' top award. Less than two weeks ago, "Searching for Sugar Man" was nominated for an award by the International Documentary Association.
"Detropia," another Detroit-centric film, also was nominated in the category of Oustanding Achievement in Nonfiction Filmmaking for the Cinema Eye Honors.
Rodriguez has been performing as of late internationally and domestically, including a sold-out Friday night show in Pontiac.
