4/30/09

MCB-VIDEO: Jesus Chainsaw Massacre - playing Izzy's Raw Art Gallery Corktown Detroit - Sat May 2nd 2009



READY SET GO
freebies freebies freebies

J C M

A 1 of a kind Hit & Remixes CD to the lucky winner

Personally mixed by -jr of The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre
CD will be autographed by band members
a $500 value for free
if winner is in state, must be at show on saturday to receive
if winner is out of state, arrangements will be made
if the winner is out of the country
you can send a self addressed stamped envelope
with $25 dollars of your own country's $$$$
and we will ship ASAP
this is a 1 of 1 cd no others will be produced
good luck
we have a winner - thanks!
5th emailer gets the goods

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Other weekend materials to fill your schedule

Win this Fender Strat for Showtimes 20th anniversary. Come to the store for details.

Head on over to The Stonehouse Bar on Satuday - there are bunch of great detroit bands playing to celebrate Showtime Clothings billions of years dressing dietroit bands - and to hook it up even more they are giving away the Fender Strat guitar that has been in the store for the past few months to a lucky random shopper who entered the raffle.
If you are downriver head on over to Simon's Bar in Allen Park for another trio of good ol' detroit rock n roll bands = The Handgrenades - The Singles - The Lessmores

don't miss another great event by the Hell City Records guys including a bunch of bands and fashion show rock and roll style at everyone's favoritre Hamtramck watering hole
SMALLS BAR


"MCB IS DETROIT"
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FREE CDs and MP3s: Electric Six & Evil Cowards - Show in Ann Arbor May 9th 2009

Detroit's ELECTRIC SIX are on tap
to play The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor
Saturday May 9th 2009
$15 Cover // 18+
We got 2 CDs for the 6th emailer
Electric Six - FLASHY
Evil Cowards - Covered in Gas
we have a winner - thanks
Evil Cowards is a new band...
If your in NYC catch them at
The Bowery Ballroom on May 5th 2009
head on over to the MOTOR CITY BAR after the show
to knock back a few cold ones

The laws of human anatomy dictate that if you squirt a stream of scalding hot water up your left nostril, two things will happen. The first thing that will happen is that you will cause permanent damage to your sinus tissue and your first line of defense against infection will be rendered useless for the rest of your life. But secondly, and most important for our purposes in this piece of propaganda, the water will exit your from your right nostril. In order for water to enter and exit your head, it takes two nostrils!!!

Like the apple falling from the mountain and hitting Isaac Newton in the face, this was a real-life, real-time event that happened to one of today’s leading rock stars – Electric Six’s Tyler Spencer. Upon cycling boiling water through his sinuses for kicks, he realized it was a metaphor for his approach to creating music.

“The water,” thought Spencer “is God’s love. And it goes in me and destroys my sinus walls and immune system and comes dangerously close to my brain. In order for God’s love to come out of me and become music, I need a second nostril. And that second nostril should be my friend William Bates from the band Fall On Your Sword. He has a studio in New York City. I live in New York City. We can do this quite easily.”

And so the two nostrils, Bates and Spencer, collaborated in the summer of 2008 in Bates’ Tribeca studio. Not because of sinus problems. Not because of God. Not because of anything we’ve established heretofore. No, they collaborated because they had something to say.

And so it was that Evil Cowards came to be.
Bates and Spencer kicked out the 13 songs that would comprise their debut CD Covered In Gas at a pace of their choosing.
The infectious album opener “Love Pigs” was borne in their first session and it was decided then that more songs had to be created. The two men, unafraid to make songs sound catchy and repetitive and formulaic, did just that.
Because those are the types of songs that stay in your head, unlike scalding water, which will exit your head via your right nostril, William Bates.

Tyler Spencer is an American.
Nowhere is his robust Americanism more pronounced than in his ode to the two most American of endeavors – love and war. In the funky “Sex Wars” we pay homage to the greatest generation, our GIs and our jarheads. Yes, they went overseas and they killed some guys, but they also liked to fuck. Somehow the two things become the same. That’s what this song is about. And it’s catchy!!!

William Bates in an Englishman. The album closer “Chopping Up the Teacher” is sung by Bates in his native tongue – English. When you are English, anything is possible. You have abandoned the Church and your toes are still tapping. But you still need to confess. Best to do it while you are pissed and hanging out with your mates at the Hawley Arms.

To summarize, Evil Cowards are releasing their debut album entitled Covered in Gas on May 19, 2009 on Metropolis Records. Every song on the album is catchy while bathing in the majesty William Bates’ unique production.
The band will do live performances over the summer
that promise to be as entertaining as the record itself.
horeography, nudity, live animals, prosthetic limbs –
all these things will feature in the Evil Cowards live show.
Neither Electric Six nor Fall On Your Sword are ceasing operations.
Evil Cowards are here to stay.

MCB is rolling to the Ann Arbor Electric Six show for some photos and video interview
if you need a ride let us know...

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS: Access an Installation Art Exhibit on Belle Isle Detroit

ACCESS
an INSTALLATION EXHIBITION HOSTED
on BELLE ISLE

Sicily McRaven
Louis Casinelli
isleaccess@gmail.com

OPEN CALL

Abstract:
As one of Detroit’s hubs, Belle Isle serves as a point of reference for the local population. The island provides a social space for the city, and is a source of inspiration for those that frequent the park. Access intends to be a reminder of the moving qualities evoked through the landscape by exhibiting artists’ works at the park.

Who:
In Collaboration with Belle Isle Parks and Recreation, Sicily McRaven & Louis Casinelli, two local artist, are co-organizing an installation art exhibition, Access, to be hosted at Belle Isle.

What:
We invite any artist to submit a project proposal for installation/earthworks. We encourage you to use materials found at the park. However, proposals that use outside materials will also be considered. Please keep in mind all projects should be planned as temporary installations.

Where:
BELLE ISLE PARK

When:
The exhibition is tentatively scheduled for late June/early July. The specific date and time is to be released at the end of May.

Please send proposals to isleaccess@gmail.com by
MAY 20, 2009.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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FREE MP3: Tori Amos "Maybe California"

Now we get a lot of MP3 requests and we usually save them our weekly drop on Monday
In this case though - Tori Amos gets her own post
Download the free tunes as they might available for to long
Look for some Tori freebies hopefully soon
Tori Amos is offering a free download of her new song
off Abnormally Attracted to Sin
(out May 19)
Here’s the download page with a special message from Tori
and the “Maybe California” mp3 and 'visualette':

Check out her new video here

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Catch the Night Move this weekend and head to Detroit!

MCB's Paul Hitz snapped these shots when The Night Move and MOTORCITYBLOG
made the virgin run from Royal Oak to Ferndale to Detroit last year
Reason #92 to ride the Night Move:
To get to metro D's hottest pool hall, Ferndale's The Loving Touch,
or its sister bars the WAB and Emory.
Hit Ferndale to watch the game (whatever game that may be),
play some pool, and of course, get drunk.
What's your favorite reason to Night Move?

Hola kiddos, Bus Here...Hope all is well.
If it's not, then I hope I can help you out with that by being
my lovely cheerful self and sending some merriment your way.
First up in Night Move news today: Tomorrow is Inside Detroit's Open House from 5pm to 8pm. Come see the new Welcome Center at 1253 Woodward, and make friends with some Detroit movers and shakers. Make sure you RSVP, and snag some free food from Bucharest Grill and Traffic Jam & Snug, and beer from Atwater Block Brewery. Also, check out Jeanette's (one of the founders of Inside Detroit) guest blog on Metromode this week.
The second Wings playoff series starts Friday night, against the Anaheim Ducks at the Joe at 7pm. Take the Night Move to Greektown and the People Mover to the Joe, or if you're not going to the game, take the Night Move to your favorite sports bar to watch it. Go Wings!Also Friday night, take the Night Move to watch the Tigers take on Cleveland at 7pm.
Let's hope the Tig''s don't repeat the fourth inning of yesterday's game against the Yankees... Yikes.Saturday: Continuing Inside Detroit's (Re)Discover Detroit Weekend, they have three different tours Saturday and another one Sunday. Learn more at InsideDetroit.org.
The Mexicantown Pub Crawl is this Saturday.
Ride the Night Move down from Royal Oak and Ferndale at 12 and 12:10, and book your spot on the crawl at detroitsynergy.org. Happy Cinco de Mayo!
Also Saturday, at C Pop Gallery: The opening reception for their closing show (you following?) from 6pm to11pm. C-Pop will be closing its doors after this exhibit, called "It's All About ©." Don't fret, gallery owners have hinted at a potential reopening to come at a later date as yet unknown.
Coming soon: Kick off the summer with the Downtown Hoedown, Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17. We'll run extended hours: Friday-Saturday: 3pm-3am, Sunday: 3pm to 11pm, unless you guys would like us to run earlier/later. Feedback welcome.For all you techno fans, the Detroit Electronic Music Festival (DEMF) is coming soon; it'll be here May 23 through 25.
The Night Move will be running extended hours for the event, from 2pm to 3am Saturday and Sunday, and 2pm to 3am on Monday. (We'll start earlier if there's demand -- just let us know.) It's gonna be mega.
Heading downtown for DEMF and need a place to stay?
Tell your friends and any out-of-towners you know. Includes room, board, festival tickets, food, booze, green shuttle service and MORE! Also stay tuned for details about the Detroit Windsor International Film Festival (DWIFF) coming your way June 25-28.
It's gonna be mega.
Coming less soon:
June 25-28, 2009. More details headed your way soon.
Recap on Taste-full Tours to come:
May 14: Downtown Detroit Markets and Artisans' Shops.
June 18: International Markets.
June 25: Beer and BBQ. (This one WILL sell out, so hurry.)
June 27: Ann Arbor. (I heart Zingerman's carrot cake -- and you will too.)
Standard closing remarks:
Looking for more reasons to ride the bus?
For ideas, hit up:
As always, flash your Night Move ticket to take advantage of this stuff:
$2 off of well drinks at Mosaic on Fridays

No cover at Fifth Avenue, plus Night Move drink specials
20% off your fare in a Michigan Green Cab

And remember:
if you work at Moosejaw, Quicken, Google or ePrize,
use your coupon code for a discount.
Work somewhere else, but want your company to get a discount?
Let us know, and we'll work something out.

Cool. Kisses,
The Bus

"The Night Move IS DETROIT"
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reposting another reminder: MAY DAYS by Loco Gnosis this Friday @ BoHouse Detroit - May 1st 2009

get there early for some BBQ
with Woodman in the parking lot
LOCO GNOSIS PRODUCTIONS

"MAY DAYS. A WEEKEND CELEBRATING DETROIT CULTURE; IT'S ART, JAZZ, POETRY
AND ROCK 'N' ROLL HOSTED BY JOHN SINCLAIR AND THE PINKEYE ORCHESTRA"

2 NIGHTS: FRIDAY MAY 1st 2009 - SATURDAY MAY 2nd 2009

THE BOHOUSE (historically the Bohemian National Home)
3009 TILLMAN
DETROIT, MI 48216

DOORS: 6PM
SHOW: 7pm
COVER: $5 (nightly)
ALL AGES

-FRIDAY'S PROGRAM FEATURES:

IN THE GALLERY:

7:00 AHH CHARLIE *Adam Fuller from Woodman
http://www.myspace.com/www_slapdashtrash_com
8:15 RED CHINA
http://www.myspace.com/redchina
9:30 SLOW GIANT
http://www.myspace.com/maxdaley

IN THE LIBRARY:

7:20 OUTDATED FATE
http://www.myspace.com/outdatedfate
7:55 HELL BLOWER *named by Mike from the Hentchmen for their debut show
http://www.myspace.com/hellblower
8:30 BLACK LODGE
http://www.myspace.com/blacklodgedetroit
9:05 THE SUMMER PLEDGE
http://www.myspace.com/thesummerpledge
9:40 HOT DAMN!
http://www.myspace.com/hotdamnoh
10:15 BARS OF GOLD *BEAR VS. SHARK
*THROUGHOUT THE EVENING, JAZZ,
POETRY & RANDOM/CHANCE HAPPENINGS
presented by James Semark & the DETROIT ARTIST'S WORKSHOP:

THREE PIECES BY JOHN CAGE (performance art)
LUCIDO - SEMARK - WILLEM COLLABORATION (jazz)
RON ENGLISH ENSEMBLE (jazz)
JOHN SINCLAIR (poet in residence)
WARDELL MONTGOMERY (poet)
DONNA VINSTRA (poet)
BILL HARRIS (poet)
DOCTOR DETROIT (poet)
http://www.detroitartistsworkshop.com/
-sponsored by DETROIT LIFE
http://www.myspace.com/holicepwoods

SATURDAY'S PROGRAM FEATURES:
IN THE GALLERY:

7:00 DANDYLYON WHINE
http://www.myspace.com/dandylyonwhine
8:15 INDIAN GUIDES/JURA
http://www.myspace.com/indianguides
http://www.myspace.com/juramusic
9:30 ROOT BEAR
http://www.myspace.com/rootbearband

IN THE LIBRARY:
7:30 MOTHER WHALE
http://www.myspace.com/themotherwhale
8:05 OATMEAL
http://www.myspace.com/thebandoatmeal
8:40 AL SCHEURMAN
http://www.myspace.com/alanpatrick
9:15 THE MANTONS
http://www.myspace.com/mantons
9:50 GARDENS
http://www.myspace.com/gardensforfree
10:25 OBLISK
http://www.myspace.com/oblisk
11:00 BLUE SONG
http://www.myspace.com/bluesongband
11:35 DUENDE!
http://www.myspace.com/duendetroit
12:10 PIGEON
*Leslie Hardy from the Murder City Devils
*Tony Vega from
the Hi-Fi Hand Grenades
http://www.myspace.com/murdercitydevils
http://www.myspace.com/hifihandgrenades
12:45 FRIENDLY FOES
http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfoes

IN THE BALLROOM:
9:00 DUTCH PINK
http://www.myspace.com/withagainst
10:00 RED CHINA
http://www.myspace.com/redchina
11:00 MADAME XD
http://www.myspace.com/xdwei
12:00 MAZINGA
http://www.myspace.com/xmazingax
1:ish JOHN SINCLAIR & THE PINKEYE ORCHESTRA
http://johnsinclair.us/

DISPLAYING UPSTAIRS(entire weekend):
STEPHEN LIGOSKY (fine art painter)
CARL LUNDGREN (rock poster artist & fine art painter)
GARY GRIMSHAW (rock poster artist)
LENI SINCLAIR (rock photography)

DISPLAYING DOWNSTAIRS GALLERY(entire weekend):
ROBIN VERESH (fine art painter)
GLEN ALLEN (fine art painter)
CHRIS KENNINGTON (fine art painter)
JEN THOMPSON (fine art painter)
ALANA CARLSON (fine art painter)

BACK STORY:
"This chance meeting with Jeff Howitt had turned into a thing of great
beauty-a tremendous artistic experience deeply rooted in my own personal
geography and brought to bloom through the robust energy and intelligence
of these young musicians out of the old bohemian tradition." wrote John
Sinclair for the liner notes of
TEARING DOWN THE SHRINE
OF TRUTH AND BEAUTY;
his collaboration with PINKEYE last summer.
The sessions were released through LOCO GNOSIS on Sinclair's 67th
Birthday Party held at THE BOHOUSE where he was named Poet-In-Residence
and given a key so he has an actual room of his own to live in when he is
in the United States.

"Fast forward 40 years and here I am again, in the same neighborhood with
exactly the same sort of people I'd grown up with at the(Detroit
Artist's)Workshop and doing the exact same thing!"

With that sentiment Sinclair asked Howitt to help him design an event for
"May 1st and/or 2nd". Howitt(whose inaugural event for LOCO GNOSIS at the
Masonic Temple in 2006 featured 12 bands on 2 stages volleying sets for 8
hours of unbroken music)immediately knew it had to run 2 days. Howitt
recruited band mates Jason Worden and Frank Stephens and MAY DAYS started
to take shape.
They invited the Detroit Artists Workshop and Detroit Life
to help keep one eye on lineage, another on friendship and the third on
the spirit of this city and how it reflects in it's people and culture.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Four Hour Friends - Cliff Bell's Detroit - Sun May 3rd 2009

Treasure and GlassGhost (Brooklyn)
Sunday May 3rd 2009
Cliff Bell's Detroit
2030 Park Ave.

"We are happy to have our friends Treasure and GlassGhost come in from Brooklyn to play with us this Sunday at CliffBells. Also performing will be Dr.Doctor, a brand new band from Detroit.
Dr. Doctor is the brainchild of Michael Cianfarani (ex-TinySteps) who is currently back in Detroit after a stint in London. DaleWilson and Jeremy Stork of The Four Hour Friends will be helping out on Bass and drums. "
"FOUR HOUR FRIENDS ARE DETROIT"
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UPCOMING EVENT: 24 Community Spacewalk - Downtown Detroit -


DATE:
June 13-14, 2009
Where:
All over Detroit
Why:
For the entire city community to come together
and bring hope to the city.

Statement of purpose
The 24 Hour Community Spacewalk is a twenty-four hour long creative adventure.

It takes place in a participating area of a city and incorporates the local community, artists, restaurants, non-profits, and churches. The Spacewalk festival begins at noon in a designated location with a collective event. Then, with program and map in hand, Spacewalkers begin their own odyssey. Spacewalks conclude with another collective event in a particular location with the focus on contributions, for example in-kind donations by restaurants to feed the local needy, or cleaning the streets where needed.

The Spacewalk creates an opportunity for individuals to work, create, collaborate, organize and celebrate as a community team. It encourages the individual to take on the responsibility for their own ideas and how they can interact within and affect their community.

Spacewalk events have already occurred in San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Spacewalk potential has been sited in London, Berlin, and Barcelona.

In 1997 and 1998 Spacewalk collaborated with the San Francisco Arts Commission. In 1999 the Hollywood Arts Council fiscally sponsored the event.

Spacewalk's future includes travel to art schools, organizations, community groups, and businesses giving talks and teaching collaboration workshops.

The Spacewalk will involve various events throughout the Detroit City Area. This is a "leaderless event." Imagine one of those art festivals out in the middle of nowhere, except in the city, and with a community flair. You create your art piece, your group, and you produce your event through out the downtown-midtown-eastern market area of the city.

Your event could be 1 minute, 1 hour, 1/2 a day or the full 24 hours.

Projects want to be interactive, performative, sculptural, or whatever you can imagine. The idea is to beautify the city with creativity for people who intentionally come to the event, or happen upon it by walking by. This concept lasts for 24 hours, and hopes to spread out all over the city. Everything must coincide with the law, and avoid creating violence. We promote peace, and will be invoking the feeling of Happiness, Abundance, and Radiance throughout the city.We hope to cross promote with Metro Area churches, spiritual organizations, events, and venues. Community Outreach is the primary reason for this event. The morning and finale of the event is a large feast for the homeless and needy.We also want to beautify the city, with residual art pieces that will be left over after the event.

Can you create a mural in 24 Hours, and have an audience watch you do it?
Can you sculpt limestone in a vacant lot and have a group help you do it?

How about a temporary performance that happens in a park, or on the sidewalk, and leave people with the impression of beauty for the rest of their lives? We are looking for volunteers so join us!! please send an email to get involved. You can be an artist, you can be an organizer, or you can simply come and experience this crazy evolutionary happenin.Official Information:
The potential of doing a Spacewalk in Detroit is here!


What we do!
Spacewalk provides an opportunity to bridge class, gender and racial boundaries through interaction and creation. This is not just another art opening, festival or carnival, or projects teach and demand communication, teamwork, imagination, and organization. Through the support of local organizations each individual, business or non-profit group works together to produce the festival.

These unique adventures are comprised of mobile art, performance, theatre, life-sized interactive games, non-motorized vehicle parades, theme camp headquarters, late night silent parades, and anything else you can possibly imagine.

WE PROMOTE FUN, PEACE, HEALING,
AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
IN AREAS IN NEED OF CHANGE.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Meet Your Best Friend at The Detroit Zoo - Sat Sun May 2nd 3rd 2009



Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo is brought to you by the
Michigan Humane Society and the Detroit Zoo


The Michigan Humane Society (MHS) and the Detroit Zoo will host the 17th annual spring “Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo,” presented by Pedigree® Food for Dogs, on Saturday and Sunday, May 2 & 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. Hundreds of adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, kittens and rabbits will be available for immediate adoption at the largest off-site adoption event in the country.

There is no charge for admission to the event or for parking.

Because puppies are often in high demand, “puppy passes” will be given each morning to the first 25 adoption event guests who are looking specifically to adopt a puppy. Those with puppy passes will be allowed to enter the adoption tents at 9:45 a.m., with the remainder of guests allowed to enter at 10 a.m. Doing so will prevent a “puppy rush” and ensure that all adopters - and the adoptable animals - will have a wonderful experience. A “get acquainted” area will be available to give guests an opportunity to spend time with an animal before adopting.

The participating organizations, in addition to the Michigan Humane Society, include: Adopt-A-Pet, Animal Rescue Connection, Animal Welfare Society, AuSable Valley Animal Shelter, Faerie Tales Cat Rescue, Feline Friends, Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, Home Fur-Ever, K-9 Stray Rescue, Last Chance for Animals, Metro Area Animal Adoption Association, Michigan Greyhound Connection, Mid-Michigan Cat Rescue, Midwest Small Breed Rescue, Oakland County Animal Care Center, Precious Animal Welfare Society (P.A.W.S.), Roofs for Woofs Animal Rescue, Roscommon County Animal Shelter, Sanilac County Humane Society, Tigerlily Cat Rescue and WAG Animal Rescue.

Adoption fees and policies are set by each participating group and not by event sponsors. Animals will be adopted only to qualified homes. Adopters must present a driver’s license or state ID card. All dogs and cats will have received a medical check-up and age-appropriate vaccinations. For health and safety reasons, please leave current companion animals at home.

Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo is presented by Pedigree® Food for Dogs and sponsored by Fetch Pet Care, PetSmart, Pet Suite Retreat, VCA Animal Hospitals and 104.3 WOMC.

The event will be held outdoors under tents in the Detroit Zoo front parking lot, located at 8450 W. 10 Mile Road in Royal Oak.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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FREE CDs FROM TRIPLE DOWN RECORDS - upcoming shows at Lager House Detroit and Crofoot Pontiac

TRIPLE DOWN RECORDS IS GIVING AWAY A COPY
OF THE FOLLOWING CDs
TO THE 3RD AND 5TH EMAILERS

we have a winner and another winner - thanks
Gigantic Hand will be on tour in support of
their debut release Permanent Skin.
Check them when they play with
JSB Squad and The Satin Peaches

May 8, 2009
Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot



ADAM’S CASTLE, an instrumental, psychedelic art-rock trio from Brooklyn, is embarking on a U.S. tour of the East coast and Midwest beginning May 7th and continuing through May 24th. The band has recently re-united after a four-year hiatus and intends to tour in support of their recent release of the “lost LP”, DEATHLESS, recorded in 2003,
and now available from Triple Down Records.
Check them out if you can!

May 13 2009 - Lager House
Detroit, Michigan

May 14 2009 - Blind Pig
Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Mega Art Openings this weekend - Check this list and get out to support local Detroit artists!

Friday May 1st 2009
A slew of exhibition openings...

** Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center presents:
"The New Geometry" curated by Sally Schluter Tardella,
including work by: Luke Buffenmyer, Kevin Hogan,
Valerie Parks, David Rubello, and Henry Samelson.
Opening 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
1516 S. Cranbrook Rd. Bloomfield Hills.
www.bbartcenter.org

** Epiphany Glass Studio presents: "Spring Open Studio" Epiphany is open only twice per year for the public to watch live glassblowing demonstrations by master glassblowers APRIL WAGNER and JASON RUFF. Enjoy snacks, libations, demonstrations and fun (and buy works too!). Friday, 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. 770 Orchard Lake Road, Pontiac.
www.epiphanyglass.com

** Detroit Artists Market presents: "2009 All Media Exhibition"
Over 50 artists show their new work juried by art critic Roger Green.
Opening 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. 4719 Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
www.detroitartistsmarket.org

** Russell Industrial Center presents: "Ground Control (to Major Pels)"
An exhibition of installations by the CCS students of sculpture Professor Marsha Pels.
Opening 7:00 to midnight.
1600 Clay Avenue, Building 4, Third floor. Detroit.

** Design Within Reach presents: "New Classics"
An exhibition of interpretations of classic chairs designed
by students from the CCS Product Design department.
Opening 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. 168 W. Maple Road, Birmingham. 248.593.9640.

** Artspace II presents: "Vidvuds Zviedris: New Works"
An exhibition, by this CCS alumnus, of new paintings
inspired by the poems of Arthur Rimbaud.
Exhibition continues through May 24.
Artspace II is open late on Thursdays in May...
stop by for a glass of wine and great art.
303 E. Maple, Birmingham. T: 248.258.1540.

"MP IS DETROIT"
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4/29/09

PHOTOS: Design for Life: Denim/Fundraiser for Michigan AIDS Coalition April 2009



MOTORCITYBLOG was asked to come down to MOCAD Detroit for a fundraiser called Design for Life: Denim thrown by the Michigan AIDS Coalition - April 2009

Photography by Sue Antosh

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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FREE MUSIC: Check out pretty lights @ Rothbury Reminder - 2 Day Tickets available



INTRODUCING PRETTY LIGHTS....
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW!!

Pretty Lights is the musical vision of the ultra-versatile Colorado based producer Derek Vincent Smith, accompanied in the live setting by drummer, Cory Eberhard. Together these two achieve a raw energy rarely reached in the realm of electronic music.

At a time when music lovers from almost all subcultures and genres are finding common ground in the basic form of bangin' beats, Pretty Lights is giving the people what they want; electro organic cutting-edge party rocking beats that fill venues with energy and emotion and send dance floors into frenzies. What makes Pretty Lights truly different though, is that these beats have serious soul.


Derek's most recent album, Filling Up The City Skies, is a two-disc, 26 track journey through past, present, and future. He juxtaposes collages of beautiful vintage samples against backdrops of futuristic synthesis and dirty broken beats, creating a sound that can snap your neck while simultaneously shedding your tears.
Check out two of the songs below from Filling Up The City Skies.
Filling Up The City Skies is available for

"Hot Like Sauce" MP3
"The Time Has Come" MP3

Look for a new album in May for free download and catch a show over the next few months including a show as part of the Rothbury lineup in July here in MI
ROTHBURY Weekend Tickets
ROTHBURY’s general admission Weekend Ticket includes a four day festival pass
(Thursday through Sunday) and onsite camping/parking.

ROTHBURY’s discounted 2-DAY SAT & SUN TICKET
Price includes a two day Festival pass (Saturday and Sunday only)
and onsite camping and parking for Saturday and Sunday.
www.rothburyfestival.com
Tour kicks off tomorrow
04.30.09 – Light Bar – Austin, TX **
05.01.09 – One Eyed Jack’s – New Orleans, LA **
05.02.09 – Lizard Lounge – Dallas, TX **
05.09.09 – Aggie Theatre w/ Lyrics Born – Fort Collins, CO **
05.13.09 – The Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY **
05.14.09 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA **
05.15.09 – Valarium – Knoxville, TN **
05.16.09 – Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC **
05.22.09 – The Music Farm – Charleston, SC
05.23.09 – KEFI – Wilmington, NC
05.24.09 – The Norva – Norfolk, VA
05.30.09 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
06.04.09 – Wakarusa Music Festival – Ozark, AR
06.12.09 – Bonnaroo – Manchester, TN
07.02.09 – High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy, CA
07.03.09 – High Sierra Music Festival – Quincy, CA
07.04.09 – Rothbury Music Festival – Rothbury, MI
07.10.09 – Forecastle Festival – Louisville, KY
07.17.09 – Camp Bisco – Mariaville, NY
07.22.09 – 10K Lakes Festival – Detroit Lakes, MN
07.25.09 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO ##

** Co-Headlining with Dieselboy
## Supporting STS9

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This Week in Art @ MCBW Detroit - Bryant Tillman

Wednesday April 29th
8pm-MN
MCBW presents:
This Week in Art with Bryant Tillman

Motor City Brewing Works
470 West Canfield
Detroit
T: 313.832.2700

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The Nolan Factor - April 29th 2009

JeffNolan - one of MCB's longtime contributors will be dropping a few posts from time to time about music / art / state of the economy / women / food / car repair / laundry tips

"The Nolan Factor"

I spent this last week painting a pair of mannequin legs for a Harley Davidson dealership and working day and night on a small pile of logo designs and as a result of this excessive freelancing
I didn't do shit this week.
I basically did nothing fun outside of drink gallons of coffee
in my tiny house in Royal Oak.
You may notice that my usual Tuesday column is appearing on a day that is not Tuesday, this is a side-effect of me not having any fun for a week, as my column is typically about me having fun.
So this week instead of hot chicks puking in the streets, rock & rolling around Detroit, and general debauchery I am writing about the old Michigan Central Station, graffiti writers, and Nikki DeSautelle in addition to a grab bag of CD reviews.

I am not yet sure how I feel about the supposed impending doom of the iconic train station. Although it is a total cliché of Detroit, it is not without a certain charm. I first visited with a few graffiti writing friends (efes who wrote camp20 at the time and Slut) who showed me how to get in with out having to climb any fences. It basically involved crawling through a hole in the basement and navigating around gaping holes in near total darkness to a stairway that led to the main lobby.

Inside the train station I have met several photographers, none of whom ever seem to leave the main lobby, a few homeless, and a few writers, most notably Porab.
Porab is a small-statured twenty something of an indeterminate ethnicity. When asked about his name he clarified his heritage, Po for Polish, Rab for Arab.

Less known than the old Michigan Central but more impressive are the train tracks that run through eastern market. You merely have to climb under a bridge or hop a fence in most cases to get down and you are surrounded by towering grafs, homeless digs, and miles and miles of endless tags with no authority figures to be seen- even in the middle of the day, just watch out for the occasional construction crew or train, not that I would ever advocate anyone break the law...

If you already make a past time of vandalizing public buildings and trespassing on private property, why not steal shit too? This is the rationale of nah brah aka dracula who explained to me how he and several other detroit taggers obtain their paint. This is done by walking into Home Depot with a shopping cart, scoping out heavy things that are right in the entrance (bags of salt, dirt, paving stones, cumbersome gardening tools) and then immediately walking to the spray paint isle and filling the cart to the brim.
Then they walk straight out the door with it. In the event that a vigilant employee spot them they claim that they were just taking the cart to the front to put in previously spied heavy object:
“Oh no sir- Of course I wasn't about to leave without paying!
I was just taking this cart full of paint to the front to safely pick up this bag of dirt.”


MONDAY
APRIL 27 2009
Nikki's DeSautelle Solo show
U-245


Nikki DeSautelle is a Detroit based illustrator just finishing her final year at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Her solo show held in the U-245 gallery was a tribute to all things small: 42 tiny paintings lined the walls of the one room gallery, a very small book (no larger than a business card) adorned a corner pedestal, and miniature tacos served with mini cupcakes (“minifood” according to her facebook page). Her naïve line work and non-committal washes capture the minute details of her subjects. A particularly striking piece was of a pair of high contrast Michael Jackson-esque dance shoes on their points in a setting that hinted at a lighted stage without putting it directly. Her tiny compositions imply a sense of space beyond the miniature confines of her work by means of her careful cropping and attention to the details that most of the world simply overlook. Her illustrative style of painting is based in drawing and consists primarily of line drawings that define the forms and are essentially painted in.

A book of her work as well as some of her classmates'
is available as a FREE download
or about $28 if you would like a physical copy at
www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/the-hallway-show/6910573

After a few weeks of reviewing albums in my column I have decided on a slight amendment which will hopefully add clarity to my overall liking (or disliking) of a CD: a 1 to 5 star rating which will accompany each review. It will break down like this:

* = unlistenable
** = not so good, kind of bad
*** = tolerably alright
**** = pretty damn good
***** = phenomenally awesome


Dan Deacon
Bromst

****
Dan Deacon is a deviously trendy electro-dance composer who has been crisscrossing the world playing at every place that asks him to. He has been on some of the largest stages in the world (an the smallest) and has become a leader of the current generation of electronic musicians for his incredibly inventive and intelligent use of samples and noise, subtlety, and above all his wild live performances.
Previous shows in Detroit were hosted by the rambunctious Scrummage kids, in which he placed his folding table of homebrew electronic gizmos and flashing lights in the crowd and fought off the crushing circle of hipsters with his elbows. His newest release is if anything more mature and carefully crafted than previous installments, all available for free from http://www.dandeacon.com/ .
It is a departure from his previous work in that he is now supported by a full band consisting of 8 percussionists, 5 synthesizers, and 2 guitarists instead of playing along to an ipod.


Pete Doherty
Grace / Wastelands
***

Until I had listened to this album Pete Doherty was just that guy who was dating Kate Moss and taking drugs. Evidently he also makes music. His solo album is something like a youthful Bob Dylan knockoff. It features stripped down compositions primarily featuring just he and a guitar. It is dreary and melodramatic with a british accent.
It sounds at times like another mopey English export, the Verve. Winding from spacey tunes to neo-psychedelic folk the album is slow paced and reflective. It maintains a consistent pensive mood with subject matter that varies from Pete Doherty's heroin use, rainstorms, and lost love.
Good music to take a nap to.

"The Nolan Factor IS DETROIT"
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Mastodon - Crofoot Ballroom Pontiac - Fri May 1st 2009

1 S. Saginaw St.
Pontiac MI

Friday May 1st 2009
doors at 7PM
$20

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Grand Opening of Club Sound Board @ Motor City Casino - Sat May 9th - 9pm

Grand Opening:
Club Sound Board
Featuring DJ Samantha Ronson
wsg DJ LaFemme
Motor City Casino Hotel

MotorCity Casino Hotel and Vital Productions are proud to announce the Grand Opening of Club Sound Board; featuring DJ Samantha Ronson and DJ Jenny LaFemme on Saturday, May 9th.
Doors open at 9pm

Club Sound Board is a state of the art, world -class nightclub. The Club includes VIP areas, dance floor, stage, extensive lighting, cutting edge sound equipment, and world renowned DJs.International sensation, DJ Samantha Ronson will be spinning to celebrate the Grand Opening. As a DJ, Ronson performs some of the most high profile gigs around the country. Appearances include Jessica Simpson's Birthday Party, the American Music Awards, ElleGirl Prom, Blender, Maxim, IFC Awards, Playstation at the Super Bowl, Sundance and the VMA's in Miami.Opening this event will be DJ Jenny LaFemme, a Detroit based/Russian born House Music tour de force, who also a successful music producer and songwriter whose latest collaboration with Euro-pop sensation, In-Grid, resulted in 3 of her songs featured on her soon to be released, 2009 album.

SOUND BOARD
is an intimate live performance venue,
located at MotorCity Casino Hotel.

The venue features four bars and several private suites that are available to create an unforgettable live entertainment experience. Complimentary valet and convenient self-parking is also available.

Tickets (General Admission $20) are on sale
at all Ticketmaster locations and www.Ticketmaster.com
Tickets are also available through
the MotorCity Casino Hotel Box Office
Friday-Sunday.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS
Limited VIP accommodations
contact 248.566.4499

Sound Board
MotorCity Casino Hotel
2901 Grand River Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201


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4/28/09

SikSik Nation - Lager House Detroit - Fri May 1st

Friday, May 1
SikSik Nation
w/Wicked Hemlocks, Carradine, Qualia
10pm
PJ's Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave.
Corktown Detroit MI

SikSik Nation portrays a blue collar solemnity mixed with Brit-pop sensibility and heavy feedback. Many of their songs are socially conscious but avoid coming across as preachy. Self-described "beer fueled rock'n'roll"—I think we know how to deal with that!

Thunders is here from Indianapolis with great songs, musicianship and outstanding stage presence. The group combines garage-rock punch and power with the more wistful and feedback-laden elements of late 80s/early 90s combos like The Jesus and Mary Chain.

Of Wicked Hemlocks, NPR says: "[They] experiment wildly with a number of sounds, from funk to chaotic, noisy rock. On their latest CD — the appropriately-titled Quill of the Mad — the group uses heavy effects to bend and warp songs into '60s-flavored psychedelia, similar Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd or the Silver Apples."

Detroit's Qualia operates in the same vein; psychedelic out there space out freak out turn on drop out-- featuring former members of Friends of Dennis Wilson and Ghostcity.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Live Mexican Wrestling FREE May 2nd/3rd


WE RE-WRITE THE REVOLUTION WITH A FREE SHOW IN SW DETROIT!
International Big Time Wrestling returns to action & presents
"Fiesta de lucha libre 2009"
LIVE!!

2pm Sunday afternoon, May 3rd, from the Las Brisas mexican resturant, 8445 W.Vernor Ave. SouthWest Detroit with a FREE! .. thats right, a Free wrestling event immediately following IBW's appearance in Southwest Detroit's annual Cinco De Mayo parade.
This is our way of saying thank you and that we do care, to all our great fans for there support through out the year despite, the tough economic struggles this country is facing with so many good hardworking men & women losing more jobs by the day in this time of need,We do thank you that for without you, the fans, there would be NO us.

In your MAIN EVENT!! International Big Time Wrestling is proud to announce for the very first time in Pro Wrestling History, Hardcore Legends will meet in a one-on-one match of the ages. Hardcore Icon vs.Hardcore Icon, as Mexico's Own, longtime NWA great, "The Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez makes his IBW debut as he takes on the former multi-time JCW & IBW champion, Big Japan & IWA great "Mad Man" Pondo in a NO disqualification, NO count out, SouthWest Detroit street fight.

Don't Miss this epic confrontation as these 2 Hardcore Legends collide on the biggest holiday weekend & grandest stage of all in Southwest Detroit!!

For The International Big Time Wrestling Heavyweight Championship..the challenger, who came off with a big win at our last show "The Battle of SouthWest Detroit" being the sole survivor & securing the future of IBW thus being rewarded with a title shot is the Jackson state penatentry evil resident and former 3 time IBW Heavyweight champion, Alcatraz as he takes on the current IBW Heavyweight Champion & former WCW superstar Lenny Lane in his very first IBW heavyweight title defense.

But can the prisoner make it lane's last defense as well??
Or will Lenny Lane make Alcatraz wish he was going Awol??

For the International Big Time Wrestling Tag Team Championship, The newly crowned champions "The Suicycos", Slasher & Overkill along with there manager Slick Rick take on them red-necked rebels "Dixie Muscle" JD Mason & Johnny Rebel. Dixie Muscle made their intentions known with a vicious attack on the Suicycos just a mere seconds after the Suicycos captured the tag team gold at "The Battle of SouthWest Detroit".

Can the Suicycos avenge that despicable sneak attack & retain the tag team titles??? OR will Dixie Muscle hit there patient "Slam-Slop-Drop" and become the new tag team champions??

PLUS.. In a Special Attraction Grudge Match, "The Human Amplifire" Anthony Rivera will step in the ring with his former friend, now bitter enemy "The Richie Boy" Breyer Wellington to avenge his loss from "The Battle Of SouthWest Detroit" when Wellington decided to turn on Rivera, to join the IBW and putting an end to the PWA for good!

ALSO.. All Your Favorite International BigTime Wrestling Superstars including...former JCW hardcore champion & SW Detroit's own "The RudeBoy", former TNA superstar D Ray 3000, The NEW IBW Great Lakes Regional Champion The Aztek Warrior, Oblivion with his manager "The Modfather", El Tejano, El Tigre De San Juan, "Mad Dragon", The Masked Mechanic Rusty Baddwrench, Mr.Main Event AND much, much more..

Wrestling Fans Don't Miss Out!! As International Big Time Wrestling once again sets the tone for the Michigan Area Independent with a FREE Mega Super Show!! and proves that we are the REAL DEAL in town!!! the One & ONLY Hispanic owned and operated wrestling company from Southwest Detroit, and the ONLY wrestling company that gives back to all our great fans with a FREE wrestling show on this holiday weekend! PLUS, Don't miss out on the other great events sponsored by a brother promotions, SOUTH WEST DETROIT BOXING on May 2nd at 3PM, from the Cesar Chavez Academy High School, 1761 Waterman st. Detroit, 48209 followed by The International Big Time Wrestling Fan Fest from Las Brisas Mexican Resturant at 9pm. More Info in the coming days.
See you May 2nd & 3rd!!!

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FREE CD: The Bronx ~ "White Drugs" - Date of Detroit show TBD

LA band The Bronx has a new record out
and they want to give a copy to you
the readers of MCB
be the 3rd emailer at gone!
and check them out underwater below
and click on the pic above
to get your own special copy of
White Drugs



"MCB IS DETROIT"
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FREE TICKETS & CD: Fastball play show next Monday May 4th @ Magic Bag Ferndale


MCB has a free pair of tickets and the latest release ready to roll
be the 3rd emailer - these are gone man!
(full name and mailing address required - USA only)

Monday May 4th 2009
Ferndale MI
w/Friendly Foes

With the release of their fifth studio album Little White Lies
on April 14, 2009 (MRI/RED Dist.),
the members of FASTBALL have been taking
their show on the road.

Wowing audiences with seven shows at SXSW last month, Fastball have perfected a set that is chock full of new material such as "All I Was Looking For Was You", "The Malcontent (The Modern World)" and the first single, "Little White Lies". Of course, some old classics like "Out of My Head" and "The Way" off of their Grammy nominated album, All the Pain Money Can Buy make their way into the set to keep new and old fans happy.

Beginning the trek at LA's The Mint on April 25th, Fastball will travel up the West Coast to Seattle and then head Westward making stops in Chicago, Columbus and New York City on May 9th before heading South to finish up the tour in Charlottesville, VA on May 13th, 2009.
Little White Lies, produced by C.J. Eiriksson (Blue October, Jack's Mannequin) and vocalist/guitarist Miles Zuniga, boasts the same great harmonies, retro guitar riffs and toe-tapping melodies that encompass the very being of Fastball.

The addition of Corey Glaeser (bass) to the live band frees Tony Scalzo (guitar, piano, vox) to tickle the ivories and strum his guitar while completing Fastball's dual vocal attack, and brings an entirely new element to the live show. With the support of Joey Shuffield's clockwork drumbeats, this show is guaranteed to keep you whistling and humming all the way home.
Check out a free download
of the first single "Little White Lies"

Tour Dates:
Apr 25 The Mint Los Angeles, CA
Apr 26 Café Du Nord San Francisco, CA
Apr 28 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR
Apr 29 Tractor Tavern Seattle, WA
May 03 Empty Bottle Chicago, IL
May 04 The Magic Bag Ferndale, MI
May 05 Musica Akron, OH
May 06 The Basement Columbus, OH
May 07 Tin Angel Philadelphia, PA
May 09 City Winery New York, NY
May 12 Jammin’ Java Vienna, VA
May 13 Gravity Lounge Charlottesville, VA
Jun 20 Washington Park Manitowoc, WI
Sept 12 Nomahegan Park Cranford, NJ

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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PHOTOS: New Found Glory / FIREWORKS @ ROMT by Shane Glenn


MCB's Shane Glenn was over at Royal Oak Music Center on Sunday night for the New Found Glory concert with recently added openers FIREWORKS who hail from the motorcity

Congrats to FIREWORKS for the score and all the lucky ladies
who were escorted out of the front row by security

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Wild At Heart - Tuesday April 28

Hey Kirk-doesn't this weather suck!
here is this week's blog post - Bill

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University


Wild At Heart

Not much is going in my world today except I have started putting put resumes again since I just got laid off my new job after 2 months due to lack of work. After a year off of work, I was really enjoying getting back into a work setting and was getting some recognition from upper management about the quality of my work in some areas. I met some really nice people and ran into a few employees that I had worked with before at my previous job so I felt right at home. The day before being let go, I was in my first supervisor meeting about dealing with stress and hearing about how the company had now stabilized. Guess they knew I would need the stress. On the good side, I now qualify for free movies courtesy of Emagine Entertainment who is offering qualifying guests and their immediate family members FREE MOVIES along with FREE SODA AND POPCORN from Monday, April 27th through Thursday, April 30th on a first come/first serve basis. Participating
theatres include Emagine Novi on 12 Mile Road just west of Novi Road, Emagine Canton on Ford Road just east of I-275 & Cinema Hollywood on Dixie Highway in Birch Run.
Speaking of movies, here is one to miss. It is called “Fighting” and stars Channing Tatum as a young man named Shawn MacArthur who moves to New York where he struggles to make a living selling counterfeit goods on the street. He is spotted by Harvey (Terrence Howard) who is a veteran street fighting coach who offers him the chance to earn big money by competing in illegal underground fights. Maybe it’s just me, but neither character really captured my attention and I found both basically dull as they go through the movie trying to capture something from their past. The fight scenes never seem to come together and are basically boring. A fighter from Shawn’s troubled past enters the picture and sets up the big fight scene at the end which almost is worth it but not quite. All in all, I can find nothing in this movie which makes me want to recommend it as nothing in this movie grabs my attention enough to give it a fighting chance. My grade
is a F.

For Star Trek fans, here is some new news about the Detroit release. The film will open
at the Science Center with showings at 7PM and 9:30PM on May 7, preceded by launch activities starting at 5 PM. Visitors can enjoy Star Trek trivia on the Science Stage at 6PM and 8PM and enter a costume contest from 5-9PM. Visitors may also add Star Trek: The Exhibition to their experience for an additional fee. Call 313-577-8400, Option 5, to reserve advance tickets.

Sonic Youth ticket go on sale this Saturday for their 6/29 show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre but you can win tickets on WXOU 88.3FM between 8-10AM during my show which you can listen to online at www.wxou.org.

I had Josh Epstein of The Silent Years on my show last week promoting their new EP “Let Go” which has a definite Lovin’ Spoonful sound to it who Josh admits is a hugh influence on his music and that he considers lead singer John Sebastian as one of the great artists of all time. You can go to their myspace page and listen to their new song “Madame Shocking” or go to http://thesilentyears.com for more info on the band and links to purchase their EP. Support your local music.
Some interesting shows this week. Colin Hay is playing at the Ark tonight for all you Men At Work fans. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart is playing the Crofoot on Wednesday 4/29 with openers Zaza, a nice brooding electronic band from NYC (who you might have heard interviewed on my show last Sat). Heavy metal band Mastodon will be at the Crofoot on Friday 5/01 which I am excited about since they were one of the few bands I wanted to see 2 years ago at Ozzfest but they had to cancel due to a family emergency. Saturday 5/2 has a free Serena Ryder show at Hard Rock Café and the wacky fun-loving Japanese Peelander Z @ the Magic Stick (the last time they did human bowling). Sunday 5/03 gets things kicked of with Franz Ferdinand at Clutch Cargos, London based early punk rockers Eddie & The Hot Rods @ the Magic Stick or you can see “One Tree Hill” star Kate Voegele @ the Eagle Theatre.
This seems short this week but I will be back next week so take care and have a good week


"MCB IS DETROIT"
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4/27/09

PHOTOS: Pure Detroit Acoustic Show @ Guardian Bldg Detroit by Ross Sandelius

Sister's Lucas


Chris Bathgate & Frontier Ruckes


MCB's Ross Sandelius and Amy Palomar were hanging at the Pure Detroit
acoustic party last week at The Guardian Bldg
"check out these shots hosebag"
is the email we got just 10 minutes ago letting us know the photos were finally ready
thats the hired help for you...
have a look!

"PURE DETROIT IS DETROIT"
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Michigan Peace Team presents "An Evening with Michael Moore" - Sat May 2nd 2009

An Evening with Michael Moore

Academy Award-winning American filmmaker, author and liberal political commentator Michael Moore will be speaking at the Democratic Club of Taylor on May 2nd 2009 at a fundraiser supporting Michigan Peace Team.
He is the director and producer of Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, and Sicko, three of the top five highest-grossing documentaries of all time. Born and raised in Davisburg, Moore attended the University of Michigan – Flint, and never lost touch with his Michigan roots.
When Michael Moore speaks, people listen.

The Lansing-based Michigan Peace Team was founded in 1993
by Father Peter Dougherty and a handful of his friends.
“While working on nuclear disarmament strategies, the first Gulf war began, bringing with it carpet bombing in Iraq. Our goal was to go to Iraq and put our bodies in the way, to help deter the bombing. We went to Bosnia during the four years’ war there, and we’ve also worked domestically in places where hate groups have surfaced,” said Father Dougherty.

“Michigan Peace Team is committed to promoting non-violent alternatives to militarism and violence through empowered peacemaking,” said Kimberly Redigan, one of the co-chairs of the Evening with Michael Moore.
“We place well-trained domestic and international peace teams in areas of conflict,
and we also offer nonviolence trainings and educational programs
on a variety of topics related to nonviolence.”

In addition to Bosnia and Iraq, MPT has placed teams in Chiapas, Mexico, Israel/Palestine, and the U.S.-Mexican border. Closer to home, MPT has placed violence reduction teams at the execution of Timothy McVeigh, the Gay Pride Fest in Lansing, a Klan rally in Ann Arbor, and the 2009 Republican Convention in Minneapolis.

“We are grounded in the spirituality of non-violence, namely nurturing the interconnectedness between all people and all things,” explained Father Dougherty. “We reach out the humanness of the adversary. We go humbly into other communities, walking with the people who are suffering in given conflicts.”

The Michael Moore event is a fundraiser to further MPT’s work for a more just and peaceful world. The dinner and program, including a silent auction, is scheduled for 6:00-9:00 P.M. at a cost of $50 per person.
Attendees are also invited to attend a pre-program wine and cheese reception
with Michael Moore from 4:30 – 6:00 at a cost of $100.
Donations over $18 per person are tax deductible.

For further information about
“An Evening with Michael Moore”
or to reserve a seat or table

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Motor City Mayhem - Corktown Tavern Detroit - Fri May 1st 2009

STATIC PRESENTS:
MOTOR CITY MAY-HEM!
A night of Detroit rock and words.

This night of May-hem features
three fine local rock bands
with four of the city’s top wordsmiths
for a collision of rock n’ roll, spoken word
and comedy

Featuring performances by:
BULLCOCK-(rawk n’roll born and bred in Detroit)
The Luckouts-(Motor City rock n’roll)
Graveside Manner-(Detroit psychobilly)


Spoken word artists:
Jimmy Doom-(thee Motor City Mad Man)
Lisa Vicious-(They call her vicious for a reason)
Mike Bobbitt-(comedian extraordinaire)
Neil P.-(frontman of Downtown Brown-budding comedian)


Friday May 1st 2009~ 9pm
The Corktown Tavern
1716 Michigan Avenue
Detroit MI
(313-964-5103)
21 & over welcome
$5 cover

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The Gourds - The Ark Ann Arbor - Wed April 29th

The Gourds
316 S. Main
Ann Arbor MI
(734) 761-1800
April 29th 2009

"Gourds Music" has its next chapter.
Unclassifiable Austin sons The Gourds are back with Haymaker!, The crooked cousin to their critically acclaimed last album, Noble Creatures. On Haymaker! the band circles back, digs beneath and climbs over their gin soaked music roots with an album of grass-fed cosmic country.
Rattling flourishes of soul, swamp rock and gospel rhythms spill out all over the place.
Psychic songwriting apparatus Jimmy Smith, Kevin Shinyribs Russell and Max Johnston continue their chronicling of askew Texas characters who populate the subterranean Lone Star State, a world of ‘Fossil Contender's’, ‘Luddite's’, ‘Valentines’ and women with skin like chocolate milk, so beautiful they make married men feel no guilt.
Haymaker! will undoubtedly slake the thirst of hardcore and fledgling Gourds fans alike and tip unsuspecting ears to the colorful Texas thump being laid down by this legendary band.

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FREE TICKETS & CD: Chris Richards and the Subtractions - Hard Rock Cafe Detroit - Thur April 30th

1st emailer gets on the guest list
and also get a copy Sad Sounds of the Summer
these are gone!!!
wsg The Pounders
Thursday 4/30/09
8pm

Check out the Gangplank Records
website for free MP3s

AMG review

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Wonder Women of Detroit - Northern Lights Lounge Detroit - Sat May 2nd 2009 - THE RETURN OF HELL'S BELLES Detroit


is a new group
created to celebrate
the creative woman in Detroit.

The 1st event will take place next Friday and involves three prominent women
in Detroit who had the idea to bring women of multiple creative talents together.
These women are Beth Amber, fromRock N Rummage and AmberVillain Films,
Turabelle, co-founder of Hell'sBelles Girlie Revue and former Detroit Derby Girl,
and Betty Bruises from Toxic Shock and Clots.
The trio had the mutual feeling that very few groups
support women in metro Detroit,
so they decided to create a group that caters to them.
As their first promotional outing,
Wonder Women Detroit will host “Heroes and Villains”,
Saturday, May 2nd at Northern Lights Lounge.
The evening will feature a myriad
of female entertainers from the Detroit area.
DJ Delilah will warm up the night, spinning her girlie favorites and getting the crowd in the mood. Next up is the long-awaited return of Detroit burlesque queens, Hell’s Belles Girlie Revue.
The shindig ends with rockabilly favorites,
The Phantom Shakers, featuring the velvet voice of front woman, Elle Mae.
Plus we’ve got eight amazing artists selling their wares,
including photography, multi - media, jewelry and collage art.
Come join in the girl fest!
Doors are at 9pm.
Admission is only $5!
For information about the event please contact

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Desolation Angels - Berkley Front - Sat May 2nd

No-frills rock this Saturday night
at The Berkley Front

Saturday May 2nd 2009
Longtime Detroit faves Desolation Angels
will be joined by new bands Darling Imperial and Trick 9
at one of metro Detroit's best beer-soaked bars,the Berkley Front,
for a night of soulful and melodic mix of equals alt-county and pop rock.
Festivities take place upstairs in the Dean Martini Lounge at 9 pm.
The Desolation Angels , currently hard at work recording a new album, have been crafting their own unique blend of alt. country, rockabilly, and punk for years now, and with a new release due this summer, are opening a new chapter.
Darling Imperial has been gaining momentum and buzz with their beautifully crafted melodies and just released a six-song EP.
Trick 9 is the new incarnation of The Badways with a new singer and lead guitarist.
3087 12 Mile Rd
Berkley MI
21 and up

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"lacquer" - org gallery RIC - May 8th 6-10pm


Ian Swanson
"lacquer"
opens May 8th 6pm - 10pm
@
org gallery
Detroit artists
Ian Swanson, Chris Samuels, and Lindsay Yeo
have banded together to open
The Org Gallery
in the Russell Industrial Center.
They will be producing and directing regular bi-monthly shows
of cutting-edge contemporary art
from local and national artists at the gallery.
An exhibition of recent painting and sculpture by artist and gallery director Ian Swanson will kick off the galleries inception on May 8th and will be on display through June 6th.
Ian Swanson says about his work:
"Often I find myself searching for a fleeting simplicity or domesticity
that has somehow been misplaced amidst routine information overload.
Feeling lost in the hyper-stylized hybridization of technology, responsibility, and social activity that's required to maintain the façade of normalcy and productivity.
I gaze uncertainly at the comfort of cynicism and the challenge of optimism, engaged in a hypothetical tug of war between what was, what is, and what can be.
Currently my work deals with notions of repair, utilizing impossible models of fictional structures; hovering in the space between the slickness of mass production, and the intimacy of labor and chance.
The Org Gallery is located on the third floor of Building 2 at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, MI, down the hall from Detroit Industrial Projects.

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THWARTED SOUL - Detroit Industrial Projects @ RIC - Fri May 8th

THWARTED SOUL
by artist Diane Whitehead

Exhibition - May 8 - June 6, 2009
Opening Reception - Friday, May 8th, 6p.m.-10p.m.

Detroit Industrial Projects presents Thwarted Soul, an installation showcasing figurative drawings on paper that are crumbled, suspended, cut, embedded, constructed and deconstructed within the space and in the gallery walls.

The former New York artist, now creating in a studio at the Russell Industrial Center in Detroit, presents an exhibit that moves from two-dimensional art to sculptural.

Gallery hours: Saturday, 1pm-5pm or by appointment.

Gallery located in the
Russell Industrial Center
1610 Clay Ave
Detroit, MI 48211

The mission of painter and founder Jeanette Strezinski’s Detroit Industrial Projects
is to “provide artists with an environment where they can showcase their art
in an uninhibited setting free of conventional constraints.”

-- Jeanette Strezinski
Detroit Industrial Projects

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Sonic Youth to play Royal Oak Music Theatre ~ June 29th 2009

Sonic Youth
Live at the Royal Oak Music Theatre
Monday, June 29th 2009

AEG Live presents Sonic Youth live at the Royal Oak Music Theatre
Monday, June 29th 2009.
Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 2nd at 10 am.

Sonic Youth is one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of the past 30 years. Their musical journey began in New York City in 1981, when the band released their self-titled album on Neutral Records. After releasing a few more critically acclaimed independent albums, they released the two-disc Daydream Nation in 1988. The album was instantly hailed as one of the greatest albums of the decade. Despite the critical success, the album didn’t initially sell many copies because the record label that released it, Enigma Records, went out of business shortly after the release, thus making the album hard to find. The album was reissued by DGC Records in 1993.

Sonic Youth have been hailed as pioneers of eclectic “noise rock”, using alternate guitar tunings, unconventional song structures, incorporations of non-musical instruments and lots of feedback. The band has recently experimented with more traditional songs, and the band’s new album The Eternal promises a mix of old and new influences. The album will be the first independent release by the band since leaving Geffen Records. That combined with a new writing and recording process should result in Sonic Youth’s most ambitious release to date.

For more info visit

Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 2nd at 10 am and are $25.
Doors are at 7 pm and all ages are welcome.
Tickets can be purchased at the Royal Oak Music Theatre box office,
or charge by phone at 800.919.6272

For more info visit http://www.romtlive.com
For live updates visit http://www.twitter.com/royaloakmusic

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Detroit Tigers host New York Yankees in 3 game homestand starting tonight - Take the Night Move to the game!


The Detroit Tigers are hosting the New York Yankees for the next 3 games and The Night Move wants to make sure you get down and back for the game

safe and sound....

you know how those night games go so jump on the detroit's green bus for a quick and easy ride downtown

The Bus leaves at 5pm and 6pm tonight!!

Get your tickets here



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Action Painters - Belmont Hamtramck - Fri May 2nd

Action Painters hit Detroit as part of their tour
and will be part of a fundraiser
over at the Belmont in Hamtramck
on Friday night May 1st 2009


Recycled Treasures Benefit
Action Painters (from N.Y.)
Cowboy Messiah
The Meltdowns
Jawbone
The Belmont
10215 Joseph Campau
Hamtramck MI
Benefit to raise money for Recycled Treasures

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Jesus Chainsaw Massacre - Izzy's Raw Art Gallery Detroit - Sat May 2nd 2009


The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre
Saturday May 2nd 2009 8PM
Izzy’s Raw Art Gallery
2572 Michigan Ave.
South end of Corktown
Detroit MI
w/ Electric Lions & Murder Mystery

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It’s All About © - ©POP Gallery Dietroit - Sat May 2nd 2009 6pm

Detroit's Cultural Icon, Calls it a Day
with an All Star roster of some of ©Pop's best artists,
locally and internationally.
"It's All About ©"
Opens May 2nd 6PM.

(DETROIT) ©POP, one of the very first galleries inspired by and dedicated solely to the promotion and exhibition of an entirely new aesthetic genre – an art movement based in the visual vocabulary of popular culture – announces, “It’s All About ©”, the final exhibition at its Detroit location, with a gala farewell opening- Saturday, May 2nd, 2009, 6PM until 11PM.

This cultural beacon will celebrate a more than ten year run at its iconic space, which is world renowned for hosting legendary events, with yet another historic showcase. The work by many of the greats who made ©POP an internationally recognized name, as well as many whom the gallery has helped raise to global acclaim, will be presented in an exhibition of unrivaled creative magnitude.
Artists include:

Anthony Ausgang
Glenn Barr
Bask
Davin Brainard
Greg Brotherton
Topher Crowder
Mark Dancey
Chris Dean
Matt Eaton
Tristan Eaton
Shepard Fairey
Matt Gordon
H.R. Giger
Tyree Guyton
Derek Hess
Kevin Kelly
Dan Kennedy
Amy Kollar-Anderson
Kymm!
Gary Lee
Liz (Bloodbath) McGrath
Tara McPherson
Camilo Pardo
Lisa Petrucci
The Pizz
Alex Porbe
Niagara
Isabel Samaras
Mijn Schatje
Winston Smith
Jeff Soto
Tes One
Tom Thewes
The Thunderdog Collective
Jerry Vile
Charles White
Eric White
Robert Williams
Ron Zakrin

Many of the artists will be in attendance to show their support of this groundbreaking Detroit institution. It will be a rare opportunity, and possibly the last for a long time, in which local audiences can enjoy first-hand the work of these artists.
Their presence bears witness to the truly monumental
cultural significance of ©POP for the region and world.

Nevertheless, with the fire of its mission still fiercely burning, the gallery will continue to internationally promote and exhibit what it considers to be the most important global cultural movement in history.
By focusing on web and print based resources, alternative exhibition opportunities, and entertainment programming, ©POP will move further forward as the leader of this aesthetic movement, which it considers to be too often misrepresented and misunderstood even by those media and promotional vehicles that seek to promote it.
So look for cpop.com to launch later this spring
and for more exciting announcements from ©POP later in the year.

It’s All About © runs through May.

©POP Gallery
4160 Woodward
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 833-9901
www.cpop.com
www.myspace.com/cpopgallery

Don't miss this show...

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Brazil Duo - Friday Night Live @ DIA


Brasil Duo

João Luiz and Douglas Lora met in São Paulo as teenage guitar students and have been performing together for more than ten years, perfecting a sublime synchronicity and effortless performance style. With a full touring schedule on two continents, critically acclaimed recordings and innovative programming featuring a seamless blend of traditional and Brazilian works, the Duo has quickly emerged as one of the preeminent guitar duos of its generation.
MAY 1 2009
Friday Night
Rivera Court @ DIA
@ 7:00 & 8:30

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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FREE TICKETS: Cursive w/ MAN MAN - Magic Stick Detroit -

MCB has a free pair of tickets to Cursive who are touring with Man Man
be the 3rd emailer to get on the guest list - goners


We gave away a signed CD and poster from these guys earlier on
so now is your chance to get a pair of free tickets to the show here in Detroit
Cursive // Man Man next Wednesday May 6th 2009
Magic Stick Detroit on Woodward Ave.

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PHOTOS: MEW at New Way Bar Ferndale by Moneypenny



Hello MCB readers - Moneypenny here,
back from slackerland!

Well...not really,
but I did manage to stumble across something
to write home about this weekend so dig in...

I was pleasantly surprised when my good friend Ann (who now lives in Nashville) said she was going to drive all the way up here to see her friends band play their annual reunion show.
According to her, MEW was worth the trip and she promised I would love it.
Ann has never let me down on a good time, so I grabbed my gear
and my sexy assistant Mark
and headed to the New Way Bar in Ferndale.

Once there I was quickly introduced to
both drummers
in MEW.
Marek, who sings lead and plays hand drums, and Cliff, who sings backup and plays the drum set are founding members of the band and have known each other since 1981. Both were members of the influential Detroit industrial band Shock Therapy in the late 80's and early 90's.
Marek explained that after a long haul with Shock Therapy they were sick of playing "the depressing shit" and in 1995 they turned to drums to tap into their neglected positivity.
It started out as only drums, but other musicians
couldn't help but want to be a part of the infectious groove
and soon MEW, meaning "My Entire World"
formed a whole band creating a calypso sound.

The band broke up in 2002, but has an annual reunion that attracts a loyal crowd of long-time fans and enthusiastic newcomers who are curious to hear what the heck these guys sound like.
If you're looking for Shock Therapy here,
you will be...well, shocked, as there is nothing somber or electronic about this group
(check it out for yourself at http://www.myspace.com/myentireworld).
With a highly energetic Marek in front wearing pink leopard-skin pants, MEW has an impressive collection of instruments and musicians and the prominent drums gives their music a tropical vibe that had the girls all swaying like hula dancers. They made everyone move, even Jimmy Doom was shaking his butt out there. I don't think I sat down again till I got in the car to go home.

The New Way Bar is kickass. Lisa is the sweetest (and loveliest) bartender ever. She asked who I was shooting for and when I said MOTORCITYBLOG,
she goes "oh, yeah...that cutie Kirk, right?" ;)
The whole staff seemed to have a great time with the patrons. With the combination of friendly atmosphere, dizzying dance floor experience and my good friend beer, I left with my sides aching from laughter and some seriously tired feet.

Thanks to Ann, the New Way Bar and MEW for good times.
I look forward to next years reunion!
I like it, U like it...

Cheers,
Moneypenny


"Moneypenny IS DETROIT"
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4/26/09

MEXICANTOWN PUB CRAWL - Sat May 2nd 1pm-5pm

Get your Cinco de Mayo done early with Real Detroit, Detroit Synergy and The Night Move this Saturday AFTERNOON 1pm-5pm in Mexicantown Detroit

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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MP3 Mondays on MOTORCITYBLOG

MP3 Mondays on MOTORCITYBLOG
Photo by Paul Hitz

take a look / listen

Download a track here - 2

Toronto’s brooding indie rock five-some Dinosaur Bones are set to make the most of their 2009 summer. It starts off with an appearance at Eric Warner’s all-ages Over the Top Festival in late May (opening for Sebastian Grainger and the Mountains), followed by what will surely be an unforgettable appearance at this year’s NXNE Festival.

The band is then slated to play Edgefest on June 20th at Downsview Park alongside Metric, k-os, The Stills, The Arkells and many more. Dinosaur Bones will also find themselves on many new stages throughout May as tey will be hitting the road for a string of shows throughout Ontario and Quebec

Their live set has sent critics into a daze, and with only a four song EP available, the band has struck a chord with an ever-growing number of loyal followers in their home city of Toronto. Expect a debut full length later this year, and in the meantime see the band play live to understand why everyone can’t help but sing their praises.

Just eighteen months ago, Dinosaur Bones lead singer/guitarist Ben Fox was writing songs in his Montreal apartment and recording unpolished ideas on a shifty 4-track recorder. Two months later, he decided to pack it in, abandon his English degree, and move back to hometown Toronto with only one thing on his mind; starting a band. Fox found himself back on Toronto soil assembling former band mates and recruiting local musicians. The band went to work arranging Fox’s New York-inspired indie rock recordings, augmenting them with haunting synth layers and a pulsing rhythm section. And so they began gigging at house parties and dark bars, releasing a self titled four-song demo and making a home within the fast city of Toronto. Before long, Dinosaur Bones had found themselves sharing stages with the likes of Handsome Furs, Hey Rosetta!, Hollerado, and Born Ruffians, garnering attention from bloggers and critics alike, and receiving rotation on commercial radio station Edge 102.1. Expect a full-length album in the fall, Edgefest and NXNE appearances, and of course, unforgettable live shows on countless new stages across the country.

UPCOMING SHOWS:
May 8 @ The Atria, OSHAWA (w. Arietta)
May 10 @ The Good Times, NEWMARKET (w. Arietta)
May 16 @ Absinthe, HAMILTON (w. Arietta)
May 21 @ Whippersnapper Gallery, TORONTO (**Over the Top Festival w. Sebastian Grainger and the Mountains)May 22 @ Call The Office, LONDON (w. The Junction)
May 23 @ Bar None, KINGSTON (w. Arietta)
May 29 @ Club Saw, OTTAWA (w. Arietta)
May 30 @ Green Room, MONTREAL (w. Arietta)
June 17- 20 @ NXNE *Showcase tba, TORONTO
June 20 @ Downsview Park, TORONTO (**Edgefest)

LINKS
www.myspace.com/dinosaurbonesband
www.edge.ca/ConcertsandEvents/Edgefest/ArtistLineUp.aspx

FREE CD to the 3rd emailer - motorcityblog@earthlink.net
DOWNLOAD FREE MP3 - "Oxygen"

Dangerous fruit retains the rootsy flair, distinctive vocals and intricate song writing that, along with her five previous solo albums and acclaimed work with popular regional act, Dirty Martini, have solidified Stephanie Schneiderman as a premier NW performing songwriter.

It also launches her sound in a completely new,
uncharted direction.

The catalyst for this is her musical partnership with one of the most prolific electronic musicians/producers/DJ's in the NW—Keith Schreiner. Known regionally for his work with Dahlia, Auditory Sculpture andSuckapunch, his resume with Grammy-winning artists Jeff Trott, Sheryl Crow andDr. Dre/Eminem'sproducer Mike Elizondoas well as Banco de Gaia, Corinna Rep andMinnie Driver speaks for itself.

The first thing that is evident on Dangerous Fruitis the balance that seems to naturally occur between the acoustic and electronic elements. Schneiderman's lead vocals, vivid lyrics, layered harmonies and subtle acoustic guitar riffs blend seamlessly with Schreiner's undulating looped beats, moody synth patches and unique production style. The traditional seems to amend and compliment the experimental—an ongoing conversation that is continually refreshed on each advancing track.

Stephanie Schneiderman delivers a new gorgeous recording that transcends genre and defies convention. Dangerous Fruit reveals 11 songs that artfully combine pop, trip hop, soul, electronica and folk, as well as the talent and vision of two established, yet very different NW artists. The album will appeal to listeners of Goldfrapp, Feist, Suzanne Vega and Beth Orton and is a testament to the magic that can happen when an unexpected collaboration hits its stride.
The duo made fast friends in the studio, deconstructing nearly all of Schneiderman's tunes, only to mold, stretch and pull until the right home was found for each.

The lead off track, “20 Slivers,” which began as a typical guitar-based folk song, became an Isaac Hayes-style, down tempo groove with Stephanie's vocals layered on top. “First Crack,” had 9 different versions until it settled into a striking atmospheric power ballad. And while many of the tracks evolved from songs that were already written, others like the Sade-inspired “The Dark is Easier,” were composed in the studio. The partnership has also effectively sparked a powerful live trio project including James Beaton (Storm and the Balls, Everclear) that will be performing in support of the record throughout the NW and beyond.
Catch her show on May 5th 2009 at The Crofoot Pontiac
STEVE EARLE TO RELEASE TOWNES MAY 12th VIA NEW WEST RECORDS;
15-SONG SET COMPRISED OF SONGS WRITTEN BY THE LEGENDARY
SINGER-SONGWRITER, TOWNES VAN ZANDT

FEATURES GUEST APPEARANCES BY TOM MORELLO, ALLISON MOORER AND,
APPEARING ON A STEVE EARLE RECORD FOR THE FIRST TIME,
JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE

“Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's
coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.” - Steve Earle (1995)

Click HERE for free mp3 download
“To Live is To Fly”

Steve Earle is set to release Townes, his highly anticipated follow up to the Grammy Award winning album Washington Square Serenade, on May 12th via New West Records. The 15-song set is comprised of songs written by Earle’s friend and mentor, the late singer-songwriter, Townes Van Zandt. Townes will also be available as a deluxe two-CD set, as well as double Limited Edition 180 gram vinyl.

The album was produced by Earle at his home in Greenwich Village, at Sound Emporium and Room and Board in Nashville, TN and The Nest in Hollywood, CA. The track “Lungs,” was produced and mixed by the Dust Brothers’ John King and features Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine/The Nightwatchman on electric guitar. Earle’s wife, the acclaimed singer-songwriter Allison Moorer, is featured on backing vocals on “Loretta” and “To Live Is To Fly.” Three songs cut in Nashville, “White Freightliner Blues,” “Delta Momma Blues,” and “Don’t Take It Too Bad” feature a bluegrass band consisting of Dennis Crouch, Tim O’Brien, Darrel Scott and Shad Cobb.

Earle met Townes Van Zandt in 1972 at one of Earle’s performances at The Old Quarter in Houston, TX. Van Zandt was in the audience and playfully heckled Earle throughout the performance to play the song “Wabash Cannonball.” Earle admitted that he didn’t know how to play the tune and Van Zandt replied incredibly “You call yourself a folksinger and you don’t know ‘Wabash Cannonball?’” Earle then silenced him by playing the Van Zandt song “Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold,” not an easy feat due to its quickly-paced mouthful of lyrics squeezed into just over two minutes of song. Their bond was immediately formed. On Townes, Earle and his son, singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle (named after
Van Zandt) trade verses on the tune, a song the two of them have been playing together since Justin was a teenager.

The songs selected for Townes were the ones that meant the most to Earle and the ones he personally connected to (not including selections featured on previous Earle albums). Some of the selections chosen were songs that Earle has played his entire career (“Pancho and Lefty,” “Lungs,” “White Freightliner Blues”) and others he had to learn specifically for recording. He learned the song “(Quicksilver Daydreams of) Maria” directly from Van Zandt, and taught himself “Marie” and “Rake” specifically for the album’s recording. Once a song he played during his live show, Earle relearned “Colorado Girl” in the original Open D tuning that Van Zandt played it in. Earle recorded the New York sessions solo and then added the other instruments later on in order to preserve the spirit of Van Zandt’s original solo performances to the best of his recollection.

When speaking about Townes, Earle stated, “This may be one of the best records I’ve ever made. That hurts a singer-songwriter’s feelings. Then again, it’s some consolation that I cherry picked through the career of one of the best songwriters that ever lived.” Townes Van Zandt’s debut album, For The Sake Of The Song, was released in 1968. His last, No Deeper Blue appeared in 1995. His life and songs are the subject of the critically acclaimed 2006 documentary film, Be Here To Love Me. Van Zandt died in 1997 at the age of 52.

While being a protege' of Van Zandt, Earle is a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Travis Tritt, The Pretenders, Joan Baez and countless others. 1986 saw the release of his debut record, Guitar Town, which shot to number one on the country charts and immediately established the term “New Country.” What followed was an extremely exciting array of twelve releases including the biting hard rock of Copperhead Road (1988), the minimalist beauty of Train A Comin’ (1995), the politically charged masterpiece Jerusalem (2002) and the Grammy Award Winning albums The Revolution Starts…Now (2004) and Washington Square Serenade (2007). Earle also produced the Grammy nominated album,
Day After Tomorrow, by the legendary Joan Baez in 2008.

On August 15th 2009 - CRUEFEST 2 - will hit the metro Detroit out at DTE.
A couple of bands that will be part of the mayhem are Drowning Pool and Charm City Devils.

3rd emailer gets a copy of the latest from Drowning Pool


Check out these MP3s

Drowing Pool
"STITCHES"


Charm City Devils
"Lets Rock n Roll" (Endless Road)


and get your CrueFest2 Tickets here

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PHOTOS: Soulive with Nigel Hall Band & The Shady Horns @ Magic Bag Ferndale by Drew Bender



The funk was brought to Ferndale on Saturday night
as Buffalo's funk/jazz/soul 'trio' Soulive
shook up the Magic Bag.

On the first simultaneously beautiful and stormy weekend of 2009, even intermittent bouts of thunder and rain couldn't keep Detroiters from lookin to get their groove on. Opening for Soulive was R&B, jazz, and soul singer and songwriter Nigel Hall.

I recently purchased some decaf coffee from Trader Joes called 'Smooth and REALLY Mellow' - pretty good stuff - and Nigel Hall makes that coffee look harsh in comparison. Hall summoned forth the spirits of Donny Hathaway and Marvin Gaye, taking his audience to bed and to church all in the same song. All this, rather briefly, from one man and a keyboard. Hall's opening four songs warmed the audience up as the Magic Bag started filling in. From what I could gather, pre-show ticket sales had been less than had been hoped for and the venue and band were sweating it a bit. I was shooting pictures from all over the venue, thanks to incredibly gracious access provided by the band and their tour manager Tony.

I like the Magic Bag, all in all, and $4.50 Bell's seems mostly reasonable for a music venue, but until I grow a 3rd arm, shooting photos and drinking beer makes me wanna get a beer helmet, or at least a beer camelback (whiskey and coke works too; vodka tonic anyone?).

At some point at the end of Nigel Hall's opening set I looked around and judged the room to be at probably 60% capacity - not so great for a Saturday night for a band that's opened for the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band, and that has featured artists such as Fred Wesley, Talib Kweli, ?uest Love and Black Thought on their albums.

At that point I started talking to my old friends Miko and Z-man (whose recording of the show can be downloaded via torrent at bt.etree.org ) and then at about 10:30, Soulive came on stage. I spent the first short bit up on the rail, and when I turned around during the first song, I realized the Magic Bag was pretty full. And truth be told, the crowd at the Magic Bag was a great cross-section of metro-Detroit.

Men and women of all ages and races were on hand, and the Magic Bag had lots of tables and seating, and most of the crowd there by show time were able to get a seat. As Soulive took the stage, the small dancefloor started filling in and then it got pretty packed.

But all in all, the crowd was awesome.

People were loving the music and the first real sunshine we've seen this year was still shining in people's eyes well into the night. Despite the aisles filling in and the dance floor space per capita decreasing, I never had any problem moving around (or not much).

Started 10 years ago by brothers Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans (Keys, Hammond B3), and guitarist Eric Krasno, Soulive combines a smooth and creamy mixture of soul, jazz, and R&B, covered in a crunchy layer of FUNK. Some of my favorite music in the past decade has been bands and projects like Greyboy Allstars, Garaj Mahal, Galactic, or Medeski, Martin, & Wood, or even the Benevento-Russo Duo.

I love the improvisation, the musicianship, the precision in these bands that create amazing original songs and reinterpret jazz, funk, and rock standards. I first saw Soulive at the first Bonnaroo festival in 2002 and remember enjoying their East Coast funk. Seeing them now, I realize that for how good they were then, how far they've become since. Erik Krasno is equal to any funk guitarist around (and he's got great 'guitar face.') The Brothers Evans kept it all moving as the bass-less trio always shows they're missing NOTHING.

Alan Evans' drumming was pretty fantastic - I lack the part of my brain that any jazz drummer must have to keep those kinds of counts for all limbs simultaneously, and I can't help but feel like it's almost super-human. On keys and Hammond B3 was Neal Evans whose deeply chunky basslines, funkadelic keys, and warbling riffs matched well with the other two and who I couldn't help but stand back and watch in awe at times.

Coming out on stage with the band after the first song were the Shady Horns - Sam Kininger and Ryan Zoidis on alto and tenor/baritone sax. These two musicians have been playing with Soulive for a while and their compliment to the overall sound was evident through most of the night. Alternating at times between slower jazz grooves and dirty, swinging, funk jobs, the band was periodically joined by Nigel Hall behind the microphone. On one appearance on stage with the band, Nigel Hall brought up Detroit's own Dwele who joined Hall and Soulive for a raging Move on Up as the party kicked it into overdrive. With the five-piece band even their setlist transitioned from softer heady staccato noodling to a soul shakedown party (no, they didn't actually play the song), the crowd stayed with them all the way.

Closing their set as just the trio showed once again that there's little they're not adept at pulling off. As appealing as the lush, big, brassy tones of the woodwind saxes combine with Soulive, the trio alone is such a tight combo demonstrating great musical agility that it's hard not to come away feelin a little whupped.

Their encore cover of the Beatles' Get Back was a welcome lighter, but still crazy number, and the JB encore had Nigel Hall channeling James Brown in a super funky finale. It was one show that left me more energized than I'd started out, and as I wandered outside I couldn't wait to see Soulive again when they play Rothybury.



WERD!!
drew


"MCB IS DETROIT"
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4/25/09

Live Music @ Northern Lights Lounge - TONIGHT Sat April 25th 10pm


Live Music
at
TONIGHT!
Saturday April 25th 2009
10:00PM

Carolyn Striho
Vivian George

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Terrible Twos - PJs Lager House Detroit - Sat April 25th


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Detroit Hip Hip with Big Noise Radio - tonight and beyond

Detroit Hip Hop on your mind?
Check out a few shows in the coming days....

"Kill the BullShit "
tonite
Elements Gallery
2125 Michigan ave
Detroit
$3
DJs CrateDigga, Sicari,
Sleepy Biggs + Special guests,
hosted by: USM
"Recession Sessions Tuesday "
(at Northern Lights Lounge ~ Detroit)
OPEN MIC NIGHT!
(which is always off the hook!)
"Wednesday"
Battle @ the Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave
Detroit
Next Friday hit up Old Miami Detroit
South on CASS
for
Blue Collar Gentlemen

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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4/23/09


Since we are so well funded here at this profitable website called MCB
we decided to take to the sky and scout around for
a new MOTORCITYBLOG headquarters location.
We took our time and after a few hours of cruising
think we have it narrowed down
It was such an awesome spring afternoon that we nearly forgot how
long we were out and noticed the fuel was running low
how funny if we would have had to put it down on Belle Isle!
looks like this weekend is shaping up to be just as nice so
get up and out and take it in
Photos by the one and only Paul Hitz
Comical relief by MCB contributors

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FREE CD: The Dear Hunter ‘Act III: Life And Death’ - Detroit show July 4th 2009

3rd emailer gets a copy of the new release
WHEN WE GET IT IN HOUSE
THE DEAR HUNTER SET TO RELEASE
THE LATEST CHAPTER IN THEIR EPIC ROCK OPERA
‘ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH’
DUE OUT JUNE 23 ON TRIPLE CROWN RECORDS;
TOUR WITH MEWITHOUTYOU STARTS JUNE 8


THE DEAR HUNTER will be releasing the third chapter of their rock opera on June 23 via Triple Crown Records. ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH chronicles the latest endeavors of “the boy,” now a man, looking (and finding) love, loss and reinvention.

To celebrate the album’s release, THE DEAR HUNTER will hit the road as direct support for Mewithoutyou starting June 8 in Richmond, VA and concluding July 11 in Boston, MA.

ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH was produced by singer/pianist/guitarist/lyricist/multi-instrumentalist Casey Crescenzo and guitarist Andy Wildrick. It was recorded at the band's studio in Providence, Rhode Island, and features a number of guest musicians playing everything from strings and horns to harps and woodwinds. The music for this epic project is once again a joint venture between all the band members—Casey Crescenzo, Andy Wildrick, Erick Serna (guitars), Nick Crescenzo (drums) and Nate Patterson (bass).

One of THE DEAR HUNTER’s biggest fans, Anthony Green of Circa Survive, is one of the first people to hear the finished version of ACT III and is eager to share his thoughts about it with fellow musicians and fans alike:

“When I first heard ACT III (which was only very recently, so it’s still new to me), I had the feeling of being proud of my friend, being proud to hear him outdoing himself once again. It came to me in a time when I was in a ring of self-doubt, and it was incredibly inspiring. One moment you’re drunk at a dangerous gypsy wedding (‘Saved’), the next you’re hearing some Freddie Mercury and Janis Joplin lovechild, making you rock and bob your head incessantly, singing ‘ohh on the other side’ or ‘we have to learn to live a lie or we’re waiting here to die’--so breathtaking--you might be saying, ‘oh well he’s just that dude’s buddy and would like anything he did,’ but to that I say, ‘fuck you.’ He's threatened to kill me on more than one occasion and if this shit wasn't important I wouldn't listen to it or feel such an urgent need to pass it along and share. The album makes me want to be a better musician, it also makes me grateful to live in this amazing time in musical history where an artist like Casey should be nurtured like a baby seal that could save all our lives one day with its flippers or nosey.”

“Every band wants to say that they are evolving,” says Casey Crescenzo about ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH, “and that with each new record they are tapping into a new era for the band--usually spouting off a phrase akin to ‘This record is so much more melodic--the heavy parts are heavier, and the soft parts are more serene.’ A record speaks for itself and the only job of the artist is to create and not promote. Having said that, we make no attempts to declare the magnitude of the record from the point of view of the audience. The only thing we can proclaim is how rewarding the creation of the record has been and just how profound the effect of that creativity has been on our lives. As we approach the point of detachment, we hope that this work can translate to the listener.”

He continues, “The themes for the record fall slightly darker than previous work. Set in a WWI era, ACT III sets its own course with no direct historical ties, only a loyalty to the emotions of the human spirit, documenting the metamorphoses of a fictional central character as he makes the transition from innocence to impurity. With a great deal of care given to marrying all aspects of an album, ACT III follows these themes within the context of lyrics, music, and tonality.”

ACT III is the follow-up to 2007’s ACT II: THE MEANING OF, & ALL THINGS REGARDING MS. LEADING, which was described by Alternative Press as an album that “...goes from haunting and otherworldly (‘The Oracles On The Delphi Express’) to utterly fantastic—‘The Bitter Suite 1 And 2: Meeting Ms. Leading’ is a chamber indie-pop masterpiece, complete with an instantly memorable piano line and a chorus as big as the song title.”

“Leaving pride out of the equation,” declares Casey, “we strongly suggest you set aside an hour of your day, remove yourself from the woes of reality and enjoy ACT III: LIFE AND DEATH.”

Sat 7/4 Detroit, MI Magic Stick

www.myspace.com/thedearhunter
www.thedearhunter.com

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FREE EP DOWNLOAD: Peggy Sue on Yep Roc


Peggy Sue has attracted a lot of buzz since coming to the US
to play South by Southwest in March.

Katy Klaw, Rosa Rex and drummer Olly Olly Olly have been tagged with indie nomenclature from post-folk to anti-soul, but elementally the trio is a shambolic concoction of acoustic instruments and wry lyricism sung atop chugging gypsy rhythms.

The band has been recording in New York
and will release a full length record on Yep Roc early next year.

Click here to visit Peggy Sue’s artist page on www.yeproc.com

where you will find instructions on how to download Body Parts.

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Modernism Preview Party - Southfield Civic Center - Friday April 24th

The Detroit Area Art Deco Society will be having their annual
Modernism Preview Party tomorrow night, April 24th 2009
at the Southfield Civic Center.
It's a preview of the Modernism Antiques show that runs all weekend
and will feature food, wine and live music from the SG Ensemble.

Preview Party tickets are $50 in advance or $65 the day of the show.
The Modernism Show is $5 on both Saturday and Sunday.


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Pewter Cub // Kinetic Stereo Kids - Lager House - Thur April 23rd


Pewter Cub w/Black Lodge
Kinetic Stereokids
PJs Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave
Corktown Detroit
Thursday, April 23
10pm
Hamtramck's own Pewter Cub (that's "Cub," not "Club," they would like you to note!) is dark. They're the bastard children of drive-in movies and city chicken dinners. The duo's influences include John Carpenter, The Ventures and everything in between. Named to the 2007 "Guns & Ammo" Readers' Poll favorite list!
Detroit's Black Lodge knows the score and has been there before.
Shoegaze without the nerdiness.
Kinetic Stereokids are from Flint and have a delightful homemade sound that's almost like a lo-fi, tripped out Matthew Sweet.. but with far more talented instrumentalizing and really cool looping techniques. Quite awesome, actually.

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4/22/09

MOVEMENT POSTER 2009 by Mark Arminski

MOVEMENT 2009 LIMITED EDITION POSTERS
AVAILABLE THURSDAY

Rock Concert Poster Artist Mark Arminski
created 100 signed and numbered limited edition prints
Paxahau and 323East commissioned famous American rock concert poster artist Mark Arminski to design and produce 100 limited edition Movement 2009 prints.

Each psychedelic print depicts eight crazy-haired heads wearing green-lens eyeglasses surrounding an Old English D. The four color image has been silk screened on an 18 x 19 piece of cotton rag. Each print has been signed and numbered by Arminiski.
Prints can be purchased at
for $40 plus shipping and handling.

Mark Arminski:
An American Rock Concert Poster Artist

Considered a leader in the new school of rock 'n' roll posters, Mark Arminski has painted the landscape of Detroit and beyond with his signature pieces of concert art. His first commissioned poster work was in the form of silk screens for Iggy Pop and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Arminski is notable for bridging the gap between the psychedelic art of the 1960s and the grunge aesthetic of the early 1990s, and he has emerged as a genuine equal among his own mentors. While much of his work was originally found in and around Michigan, he has designed concert posters for events in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and he is regularly commissioned to design CD cover art. Arminski continues to have great influence among poster artists and his rich eye-popping designs have expanded beyond print media to body art and murals.

Movement 2009
Movement has become the ultimate stage for the city that founded techno music to showcase its electronic music muscle. Starting at Noon on Saturday, May 23 Techno heads, House heads and electronic dance music enthusiasts from across the globe will pour through the turnstiles at Detroit’s Hart Plaza for the start of Movement 2009.
And for the next three days and nights they will have a chance to experience the ultimate outdoor electronic music venue. 36 hours of music; 4 stages and more than 70 electronic music artists and DJs. Last year’s attendance nearly reached 80,000 over the three days of the festival. Movement 2009 weekend passes are available for purchase at a discounted presale price of $40.
To purchase passes visit www.paxahau.com

323East – Creative Culture

323 East art & fashion boutique is a collection of creative energy materialized in a mash-up of art, culture, lifestyle and fashion. Located in Royal Oak, MI, 323 East offers handcrafted works by more than 100 artists from around the world. Join the community, shop online and interact at www.323east.com.

Paxahau
Since 1998 Paxahau has promoted electronic music and has grown to include a web archive, booking agency, record label and an event production company which produces and promotes events all year round. With a network of alliances and resources that span the globe, Paxahau has earned the reputation as a premier promotions group within the electronic music industry. Visit www.paxahau.com.

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FREE TICKETS @ UPCOMING MCB SPONSERED EVENT: The 2nd Annual Rock and Rummage Spring Cleaning Spectacular @ The Belmont ~ Saturday, May 9th 2009

Make sure to pencil this one in on your calender!


"Shop, Sell, Drink, and Rock"

The 2nd Annual Rock and Rummage

Spring Cleaning Spectacular

The Belmont Bar Hamtramck

Saturday May 9th 2009

Rock 'N' Rummage
has defined the true alternative way of selling goods
in the Detroit Area for the past 4 years.

On May 9th they are having their
2nd Annual Rock and Rummage Spring Cleaning Spectacular.

This event will include 10 diverse
Detroit area Rock and Rummage vendors.

Vendors will be selling a vast array of Pop Culture goods including clothing, posters, DVD's, vinyl records, books, a variety of collectibles, Jewelry, buttons, vintage goods, a record store dealer will be on hand with a vast collection of music related goods as well as a Curator of the Kitsch debris of American Pop Culture, a collector of vintage rock and roll magazines,

and more.


It's time for spring cleaning and Rock and Rummage
is going to have a bash to make all the work a little more fun and profitable.

DJ Dougie Tangent will be spinning the tunes all night long.


Local anti-blog MOTORCITYBLOG will also be on hand
giving away free tickets to some hot Detroit concert events.


Prodigy
Fillmore Detroit

Southern Culture on the Skids
w/Los Straightjackets
Crofoot

Gogel Bordello
Royal Oak Music Theatre


VAST
Magic Bag Ferndale

Blue October
Emerald Theatre Mt Clemens

Allan Holdsworth
Music Hall Jazz Cafe

Big Business (Melvins)
wsg Tweak Bird
SMALL's Bar Hamtramck


Please visit Rock and Rummage
at www.myspace.com/rockandrummage


Saturday, May 9th 2009
at The Belmont Bar
10215 Jos Campau
(between Holbrook and Caniff)
Hamtramck, MI
(313) 871-1966
9pm-2am
18+
FREE

Rock and Rummage Radio Spots on WDET Radio






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4/21/09

Small's Bar in Hamtramck - Never been? Get on over and check out a show!

Now we aren't in the habit of posting a venue's monthly list of events but we break our own rules all the time and we wanted to let you know that May is as great a month as ever to go check a show at Hamtramck's premiere location for a great live show.

Here is the monthly list for May 2009
and dont forget to close out April with shows from
Love Meets Lust // Sugar People // or Mobile Death Camp

www.SmallsBarDetroit.com
for all the info and purchase tickets online with PAYPAL

its easy!
just double click with that well trained trigger finger


Small's Bar
10339 Conant St.
Hamtramck MI 48212
(313) 873-1117
http://www.smallsbardetroit.com/

All shows are ALL AGES and doors are at 8 p.m.
All shows are $6 for 21+ and $10 for under 21, unless otherwise noted

Tickets for shows that are on sale now are available
at Small's any night after 8 p.m.

Fri. May 1: Devious art and fashion show with Matt Ratza, Blacklist and more.
Sat. May 2: Mad Sin wsg Koffin Kats - $13/$15 on sale now
Thurs. May 7: Bella Morte wsg Ego Likeness - $10 at the door only
Fri. May 8 - Nat's Birthday with Easy Action and Kevin K Band
Sat. May 9 - Mustard Plug with St. Thomas Boy's Academy - $12
Thurs. May 14 - Jucifer wsg K.E.G. - $7
Fri. May 15 - Friends of Dennis Wilson, Oblisk, Rue Moor Counts and Electric Lions
Sat. May 16 - Big Business (Melvins) wsg Tweak Bird - $13 on sale now
Mon. May 18 - The Business with Flatfoot 56 and more - $10/$12 on sale now
Fri. May 22 - The Hard Lessons CD Release with Mick Bassett and Old Empire
Sat. May 23 - Detroit Music Award winners Jesus Chainsaw Massacre vs. JSB Squad
Thurs. May 28 - Bluesong, Mean Mother and Tarrakan (San Francisco)
Fri. May 29 - Last Tourist, Millions of Brazilians, Fydrich and Darling Imperial
Sat. May 30 - Derby Girl Championship After Party!!

"SMALL's Bar IS DETROIT"

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Wild At Heart - Tuesday April 21

Hey Kirk-doesn't this weather suck!
here is this week's blog post - Bill

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University


Wild At Heart


Sundays boring! Well the first person who sends me an email to doramu13@yahoo.com will win tickets to see the modern rock band New Found Glory who is touring with their new album, ‘Not Without a Fight’. You might remember their hits "My Friends Over You" & “Hit Or Miss”. They are touring with Bayside and Set Your Goals and will be in town on April 26th @ Royal Oak Music Theatre.
I hope everyone had a good weekend. I started off with going to Rochester and checking out their Earth day events. I tried out some new organic foods and the new hybrid cars which look like something out of a sci-fi movie. I was most pleased to catch the band Valkyrie which boasts WXOU’s own Maggie Ferguson (she does our wonderful folk show) and was esp fond of their rendition of Loudon Wainwright III’s “Dead Skunk”. Of course, you all know Earth Day is celebrated officially on April 22. The day is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment so look for something you can do be it something as simple as turning off lights or making sure you recycle. For those interested, Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated worldwide. The United Nations celebrates an Earth Day each year on the March equinox, a tradition which was founded by peace activist
John McConnell in 1969.
One event going on this Earth Day is that the Indigo Girls will be in concert at the Michigan Theatre but you can see them earlier in the day at Borders Bookstore in Downtown Ann Arbor. They will be performing and signing copies of their new CD “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug” @ 12:30PM on Wednesday, April 22nd. Make sure to get their early so you can get a good seat.
You can also get in the Earth Day mode by checking out getting advance tickets for the new Disney documentary, “Earth”. “Earth” is an award-winning 2007 British natural history film from the BBC Natural History Unit (the same one you did “Deep Blue”. It is going to be released on Earth Day and you can find a theatre near you and to purchase tickets, go to www.disney.com/earth. The documentary is beautiful to look at with a few nature scenes which I found unique but more often that not, it goes into familiar territory. The movie is bookended by the changing of the seasons and focuses on 3 species - the polar bear, African elephant and humpback whale. Over the course of a calendar year, “Earth” takes the viewer on a journey from the North Pole to the South, making reference to environmental changes and uses the three featured species to illustrate particular threats to the planet’s wildlife, such as the melting of the polar ice caps
or changing rainfall patterns. Of course, the film ends on a positive note but I wonder if this film would be better off as an IMAX only release due to the nature of the film. Most of the kids seem to like certain parts but its length found a few kids restless in their seats. The one big positive is that Disneynature has committed to plant a tree for everyone who sees the motion picture between April 22-28 which means that with presales at this point, over 500,000 trees will be planted so that is a good cause to support the film on opening day. My grade is a B-.
After attending the Earth Day events on Sat, I went to the fights at the Palace and must admit that it was very entertaining seeing 15 fights with 3 decisions, 7 1st round submissions/TKO and 4 in the 2nd round. The title fight was the best of the night going into the third round as Sean Baker got Ben Harris to tap out in the 3rd round of a hard fought match. My second favorite was Jennifer Kelly’s first round TKO of Allibeth Rall who managed to keep smiling even after defeat. I admit that the women are just as fierce as the guys and they seem even more appreciative of the opportunity to compete. Donofrio Entertainment put on a nice event and I look forward to the next match which will be this summer at Meadowbrook.
One of my favorite authors is Michael Chabon who won the Pulitzer Prize for comic book industry influenced “The Adventures Of Cavalier & Clay” and the wonderful “Wonder Boys” (which is also a great movie). Not so great is the 2nd Chabon novel-to-movie translation “The Mysteries of Pittsburg”. “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” is a coming-of-age tale set in early 1980s Pittsburgh. Here we have a young man, Art, who is the son of a mobster (played by Nick Nolte) who falls into a love triangle with a young, uninhibited woman named Phlox and her highly literate biker boyfriend Cleveland. While Nolte plays a strong gangster, he doesn’t appear anywhere near enough to elevate the story as the young cast seems unable to really fully capture the range of emotions needed to portray these highly complex characters. That is not to say the movie isn’t worth watching, but it doesn’t come close to the emotion of the highly superior “Wonder
Boys”. My grade is a C. It has been announced that Chabon is currently working on a screenplay for the new John Carter of Mars movie.
Speaking of people on the edge of the comic book community, it looks like the new Amanda Palmer book is out. When I had Amanda on my radio show (wxou.org from 8-10AM Sat mornings) we talked about a coffee table book of pictures of her getting killed a la ‘Twin Peaks’ Laura Palmer which accompanying poems by Neil Gaiman (best known for his Sandman series). The book is full color, red-cloth-bound, hardback with dust jacket, coffee-table sized and very beautiful. There are only printed 10,000 copies of the first edition and 1,500 of those are already spoken for so if this sounds like something of interest, the preorder will launch at noon EST on Monday April 20th. You can order from JSR's webstore HERE.
Metal fans can get excited by the return (well they actually never stopped touring) of Anvil (“Metal On Metal”) who will be playing at the Crofoot on April 21st. Before the performance of this speed metal legend, that inspired such bands as Metallica and Motorhead, you can see the documentary “Anvil! The Story the Anvil” which looks at their recent history as they try to capture the glory that seemed to pass them by 30 years ago. We see the band, mainly Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner, during a failed European tour (sometimes playing in clubs with about 10 fans) and trying to shop around their 13th album. Screenwriter Sacha Gervasi (best known for the screenplay for the tom Hanks movie “The Terminal” and as a founding member of Bush) was a roadie for the band in ’82, ’84 and ’85 and wanted to put down the history of his favorite band for the world to see. Sacha really captures “Lips” optimism as he constantly keeps the
band together and focused on achieving the success they feel they deserved. The movie will also be paying at the Main Art Theatre and is more than just a movie for people of heavy metal, but a movie of inspiration of someone trying to make his dreams come true and not allowing people to tell him no. I would say going to the Crofoot on Tuesday will be the best way to experience this film as the band plays afterwards.
I also managed to get to Ann Arbor this weekend to see the newly renovated U of M Art Museum renovations of their 53,000-square-foot expansion which almost doubles the size of the museum. Designed by principal architect Brad Cloepfil and his team at Allied Works Architecture, the $41.9 million transformation really adds to the beauty of the museum and allows for some nice viewing opportunities. There is an exhibit entitled “Museums in the 21st Century: Concepts, Projects, Buildings through May 3, 2009 Organized and circulated by Art Centre Basel” which highlights the trends in international museum architecture across four continents including the UMMA expansion and 26 of the world's leading museum building projects planned, in progress, or finished between the years 2000 and 2010. Besides this exhibit, the new building has many well lit galleries dedicated to the art works of Africa, Korea, Japan, China, India and pop art (including 2 Picasso’s
and a painting by the poet e.e. cummings). The renovation really improves the status of the gallery and puts it in the same class as the DIA and Toledo Museum of Art so make sure you get out this spring to check it out. You won’t be sorry!
David Sedaris is a Grammy Award-nominated American humorist, writer, comedian and bestselling author and radio contributor who was first publicly recognized in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay "SantaLand Diaries". Recently, “SantaLand Diaries” was performed by the Ringwald Theatre, so if you want to meet the mind behind that and other popular works, he will be at the Detroit Opera House on April 21st.
On the upcoming concert calendar, there is the Bamboozle Road Show featuring We Are Kings and Forever The Sickest Kids @ Clutch Cargos on Apr 23rd. When I was in high school, I bowled every Sat morning and our theme song was “Freeze Frame” by the J Geils Band (also the theme for the Rochester Amerks) and they will be bringing their music to the Fillmore for 2 nights (April 24th and 25th). The 25th will also showcase the folkish band Girlyman @ the Ark or hard rockers Silverstein @ the Majestic. British indie band Noah & The Whale has their rescheduled Detroit date and they will be at the Magic Bag on Apr 26th.
Lastly, the group Stomp will be performing at the Fisher Theatre from 4/21-4/26 and they put on a must-see show that is full of energy and excitement. The way they incorporate dance moves with the music of common everyday objects is very engaging. I had a member on my show last week and he said there is a number with swinging paint cans that is something to see. He also mentioned in their rehearsals, it wasn’t uncommon for a member to get a glancing blow which hopefully won’t happen onstage but adds to the thrill.
Also, tune into Wild At Heart on WXOU 88.3FM or online at www.wxou.org this Sat between 8-10AM for your chance to win tickets for Sonic Youth a week before they officially go on sale for the Royal Oak Music Theatre.





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PHOTOS: Ray LaMontagne & Jessica Lea Mayfield by Drew Bender

Ray LaMontagne:


Jessica Lea Mayfield:


Ray LaMontagne
Not so tortured after all.

Sunday night saw the return of Ray LaMontagne to Michigan, where he performed to a sold out house at the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor. Serving as a venue for both film and live performance, the Michigan Theater is a beautiful space with wonderful acoustics, and although there was ‘real’ security there, most interactions were handled by their volunteer ushers, giving a rather PBS impression for the performance providing a stark contrast to many clubs, arenas, and concert venues in southeast Michigan (the Ark being an exception for it’s similar public television pledge-drive vibe).

Opening for him was Jessica Lea Mayfield, a waifish singer-songwriter with black kohl-rimmed eyes and a penchant for angst-ridden lyrics. Playing a six string acoustic guitar, Mayfield was accompanied by a drummer and electric guitarist.
Her drummer, who might best be described as marionette-like in her pounding of the skins and guitarist whose effects- and feedback-laden sound both helped bring a dreamy quality to Mayfields songs. Jessica Lea’s guitarist physically resembled Kevin Dillon from HBO’s hit show Entourage, and somehow it was easy to pretend that this was yet another role for Johnny Drama. Many of her numbers bore strong resemblances to one another – certainly one way of establishing that sound as her own.
Reminiscent of Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval in strong use of reverb with a sweetly soulful delivery, Mayfield may be one to watch as she develops. During her performance, the crowd slowly filtered in, making it all too clear that most were there to see Ray LaMontagne.

After Mayfield’s opening set, most of the theater had filled in and I got a chance to scope out my fellow concert-goers. There were teenagers, college kids, young professionals, and plenty of folks in their 50s and 60s who were there to see the quickly rising star perform. Having released his first, widely acclaimed album Trouble in 2004, his success seems to stem from a combination of moving, emotional and accessible songwriting and sublimely distinctive vocals.
Coming out on stage with only his bass player, Ray was dimly lit from above for the first two songs of the set, both slow ballads. For the third song, stage lights grew to reveal his other two backing musicians consisting of a kit drummer and a electric guitar/pedal steel player. The raw emotion with which LaMontagne infuses his songs, his style (which I think of as blues-driven, singer-songwriter), and his distinctive voice, like fine-grain sandpaper worn velvet, kept the audience spellbound.
The combination of a real theater and a performer who connects with his audience almost exclusively through his music meant that during each song, the audience sat in quiet, rapt attention, erupting in applause at the end of the number.
Performing a diverse mix of songs from all three of his albums, I particularly enjoyed his performance of a song off his most recent album Gossip in the Grain entitled ‘Meg White’ about the White Stripes drummer.

Frequently changing gears from more blues- and rock-inspired tunes to softer ballads, the audience couldn’t get enough. At the end of his performance, LaMontagne took the stage solo. Having said nary a word to the crowd all night, and being known as a laconic performer, Ray LaMontagne suddenly started talking to the audience, after which he admitted that those two sentences were the most he’s said to an audience all tour.
After that, the floodgates didn’t exactly fly open, but he divulged more than he may have intended, commenting that there was one other time he’d spoken to the audience for 30 minutes, but that was after smoking a joint backstage, and that probably wasn’t such a good idea.
He thanked the Michigan audience for spending
their hard-earned money to come see him, stating,
“I know what it’s like to be broke.”
Among the wisdom he shared before his final songs were that he wasn’t really so pissed off – he just looked that way, and always had: as a baby he was born looking pissed off, like “really?! This again?!” He acknowledged that he’s gotten a reputation for being tortured, but according to Ray, he’s really not so tortured, not more than you or me, anyway.

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FREE CD: Upcoming shows for Nathan Kalish and the Wildfire

FREE COPY OF "WATERBIRDS" to 3rd emailer
if you can at the upcoming local shows

May 1 2009
The Factory ALL AGES w/ Tokyo Sex Whale
Rochester, Michigan

May 2 2009
PJ’s lager house w/ tba
detroit, Michigan

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Design for Life: Denim - MOCAD detroit - Sat April 25th 2009 7pm

The Michigan AIDS Coalition is hosting its first annual Design for Life: Denim, a fashion and art experience featuring custom design pieces using Carhartt denim jackets as raw material.

The event will take place at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
(MoCAD)

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by contacting Robert Thomas
248-545-1435, ext. 105 or rthomas@aidsprevention.org.

A select group of 100 creative individuals were invited to participate in Design for Life: Denim, including top designers, architects, chefs, musicians, artists and stylists. Notable artist include Glenn Barr, Robert Stanzler, Yigal Azrouel, Tony “Shades” Agee and a team from Zappos.com.
The evening will be hosted by Ongina, a former cast member of the hit reality show “Ru Paul’s Drag Race.”

Also featured will be aerial dance by Detroit Flyhouse
and aural ambience by DethLab.
Hors d’oeuvres will be served, accompanied by a cash bar.

For more than 20 years the Michigan AIDS Coalition has provided high-quality and innovative HIV/AIDS prevention and education services. Sponsors include HOUR Detroit, Emerald City Designs, Carhartt, MoCAD, Black Star Farms and Just for Us.

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Eliza Neals returns to Detroit - Memphis Smoke Royal Oak - Sun April 26th 8pm



ELIZA NEALS
Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak
Sunday April 26 at 8pm!

Eliza Neals returns home to Detroit to perform live at Royal Oak's Memphis Smoke
Eliza will perform along with other songwriters
and has begun to put the parts together for a new album,
and expects to give you a listen to some of her new songs!

A mixed line up of Upcoming Detroit Songwriters,
recognized for their contribution to the art will perform,
organized by Music Man, John D Lamb.
Get there early and try the smokey BBQ + beer and enjoy the show!


"ELIZA NEALS is DETROIT"
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4/20/09

The Nolan Factor - Tuesday April 21st 2009

Jeff Nolan - one of MCB's longtime contributors will be dropping a few posts from time to time about music / art / state of the economy / women / food / car repair / laundry tips

"The Nolan Factor"

THURSDAY
April 16 2009
Karaoke Night @ The Inn Place

A fat old man named Red greeted my girl and I at the bar
as we cringed through a drunken, slurred Bjork song (www.dailymotion.com/video/x1jcto_bjork-its-oh-so-quiet_music).
The vodka tonics from the bar were a tad on the weak side, but it matched the talent if you're picking up what I'm putting down. The bartender's nightly rendition of Janis Joplin's “Piece of My Heart” was possibly the pinnacle of the evening, met with screams and hollers from her intoxicated patrons. After 1 the mood became overly sentimental with a chain of whiny, slow country songs, so we moved on to bigger
and better things: my bedroom...

FRIDAY
April 17 2009
Dinner with Rick & Sue Vian

To celebrate his recent successful opening at my place of employment, the Robert Kidd Gallery (robertkiddgallery.com) in Birmingham, Rick Vian (rickvian.com) and his wife Sue invited myself and a few guests to a dinner at their house located just outside of downtown Royal Oak. The food was wonderful, a diverse mix of flavors from all over Europe.
The best part was a banana and pineapple cake
which I still have a piece of in my refrigerator.

Their house exterior is painted an strange rusty purple color which is neither warm nor cool. It was inspired, like his paintings, by the Michigan UP. The yard was decorated with smooth basalt stones plucked from lake superior, wind chimes that were rigged to be silent, and elegant metal sculptures that would probably be lethal if you fell on them.
The interior of the house was beautifully decorated with pieces from several Cass Corridor artists, obtained over the years through art trades with friends and colleagues. The bedroom was the most outlandishly decorated room in the house. The walls and blinds were completely covered with green paint strokes and resembled a canopy of tree leaves, tapering around the ceiling to reveal a pale blue sky.
Rick said he did it while his wife Sue was away for a week.

I left Rick and Sue's house around 11 and planned to catch the end of the Art Battle and maybe ask how badly my boys in the Jesus Chainsaw Massacre did at the Detroit Music Awards. Ha.
On the way home I listened to a sarcastic voicemail
from Johnny Retro of JCM,
“Hey dude, we're hanging out in front because we're fucking winners,
we'll be down at the Fillmore for a minute...”
The message was left before the start of the event, eluding to the fact that JCM was hopelessly up for Outstanding Electronic Dance Band against Deastro, Love Meets Lust, and Matthew Dear.
During a brief rendezvous at my house to meet up with two girls, I received a phone call.
No shit- the Jesus Chainsaw Massacre won.

The rest of the night was mostly a bust, zig-zagging from bar to bar in Hamtramck and then arriving at the Russell just in time to see the aftermath of the wreckage that was the Art Battle.
I asked who won the DAB09
“Some kids from Grand Rapids, I don't know them”
was the best answer I could get.

SATURDAY
April 18 2009
Comet Burger, Gusoline Alley, & Woody's

After hearing about the phenomenally unlikely selection of the Jesus Chainsaw Massacre for a DMA, I made plans to hang out with them and get the low down on just what the hell happened.
We met at Comet Burger in Royal Oak for some soggy burgers and devilish waffle fries before hitting some bars. What followed was a hazy recollection of meeting with the Amboy Dukes (possibly) in a maze of corridors and rooms that is the Fillmore backstage. A dim room lined with sofas, a grey haired man sunk into a corner with a grey haired lady giving him a semi-nude lap dance.
Vomiting on the floor next to the table,
then stumbling to the bathroom and sleeping
in a stall before closing out a $100 bar tab.
Finally, their accidental theft of a backpack
filled with unidentified pills and paper work.
“You don't have any time to sort out the duds” was the rational behind sampling a handful...
After leaving the hit-or-miss Gusoline alley (too many guys in cargo shorts, not enough seating)
a text message was received from the other half of JCM who was
spending his night in a strip club with his 15 pound DMA,
trying to convince strippers he was someone important: an award winning musician.
I don't think it went well after he sent another incoherent message
about trying to convince a stripper to swallow a length of rope.

Woody's was an abomination of tiny women in jerseys, dude-bro's (://dudebro.urbanup.com/1566366), and overly dressed dancers who started moving to the beat on the walk in.
A few laughs, a few High Life's and we were out of there.

Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3
Goodnight Oslo
myspace.com/robynhitchcock

If Lou Reed and those two brothers in Oasis who fight onstage had a 40 year old child who became the vocalist for the Smiths, his band would be Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3.
Sarcastic, rainy day pop music with a British invasion flare. Other tracks have a similarity to the Kinks and MGMT, but with the same pop sensibility as the Beatles.
Goodnight Oslo is overflowing with pop hooks, tried and true verse-chorus-verse formulaic tracks that hit the mark. Competent songwriting is matched by the sparkly clean production. It harks back to the production value of the Elephant Six Collective of the nineties with their penchant for horns, sterilized acoustic guitars, and pop arrangements.

Spiral Beach
Ball
spiralbeach.com

Spiral Beach is a young band of hooligans hailing from Toronto. Primarily fronted by a female vocalist (named Maddy Wilde!) on keys/synth supported by four unshowered boys who sing in unison. They have an overall sound similar to Joydrop or Garbage from the 1990's with the dance beats of the Black Kids. They show a surprising sophistication in terms of their tones and arrangements with floating vocal melodies that intertwine over reverberating guitars.
The overall production value of the album is fantastically professional and finished, the album artwork is clearly produced by an art studio and the cleanliness of the sound could only be the work of a seasoned vet. These kids clearly have it going on.
Their website shows an impressive “Showography” (I had never heard of this term either) of tours which demonstrate that they have somehow criss-crossed the planet while making the time to write and record a very polished and mature album.

John Doe and the Sadies
Country Club
myspace.com/johndoeandthesadies

This is a country/blue grass album from LA. LA holds the Guiness World Record for shortest abbreviated word (originally titled El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de la Porciúncula by Felipe de Neve, which translates to The Village of Our Lady, the Queen of the Angels of Porziuncola). With that out of the way, Country Club is anything you could hope for in a country album: imagine trains, your momma bailing you out of jail, your dog running away, coffee & cigarettes, rainy days, getting drunk on whiskey and arrested after hitting a parked car, and the current war against Saddam or the Muslims or whoever we're supposed to hate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Power_of_Nightmares).
I am not a country music aficionado, but according to the band's myspace, Country Club consists of “classic country covers” as well as original material. A song titled Detroit City hit a sentimental note with me, it is a mopey ballad about going home to Detroit.
The album is laced with country hooks, fiddles, and steel guitar, as any good country album should be. It is a country album that goes back to the golden mid century, an authentic and uncommercial country sound that is refreshing after spending 3 years working in a metal shop where 99.5 FM was the standard.

"The Nolan Factor IS DETROIT"
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Justin Townes Earle // Great Lakes Myth Society - ALL ACOUSTIC SHOW - Majestic Cafe Detroit - Tues April 21st

Justin Townes Earle is coming to Detroit Tuesday, April 21 2009 @ The Majestic Cafe

MP3s
»
What I Mean To You
» Mama's Eyes

w/ GREAT LAKES MYTH SOCIETY
* 9PM * 18+ * $10

His new record, Midnight at the Movies, just hit stores.

Sophomore releases tread such a bumpy road,
with expectations being expectations and the fickle nature
of hype and short attention spans.

How can it live up to the excitement generated by a stellar debut?

Within the first song on Justin Townes Earle’s second album Midnight At the Movies, you just know you’re hearing something special, that you are party to the unknown and exhilarating paths being explored by an artist on the creative ascendancy.

Midnight At The Movies displays an adeptness and musical sophistication of remarkable, organic breadth and is as lyrically sharp as a lover’s tongue as she is walking out the door.If you didn’t look at the songwriting credits, you’d swear the songs were part of our collective musical DNA, penned on the stoop of a one-pump filling station in dust bowl era Oklahoma, the smoke-filled song and dream factories of Tin Pan Alley, or at the back door of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville.

Justin effortlessly taps the romanticism imbued in the beaten-soled travelogues and mythos of Woody Guthrie; the lounging around a campfire at a work camp and the edgy angst of a wintry Minneapolis (yeah, just try to get that mandolin line from the cover of the ‘Mats’ "Can’t Hardly Wait" out of your head.)Midnight at the Movies is held firm by Justin’s astonishing vision and conviction, yet roams o’er the vast landscape of American music without so much as a stumble.


From the deft ear for orchestration and ambient arrangement reminiscent of Randy Newman right through, somehow, the countrypolitan cool of Lambchop and hipster retro vibes of Palace Brothers or Magnetic Fields (simply look to the title track for proof), to the amber smooth swing of the Ray Price smilin’ thru the heartache school of country ("What I Mean To You," "Poor Fool"), to the immediacy and disarming simplicity of country blues ("They Killed John Henry"), to songs that tell a novel’s worth of emotion in a few lines ("Mama's Eyes"), Justin Townes Earle pulls it all off with a confidence and candor that tells the listener that the daring exhibited on his debut album The Good Life only hinted at the growth to come.

Another great artist from Bloodshot Records

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FREE CD: Fireworks - openers for New Found Glory - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Sun April 26th

MCB has a copy of the latest from FIREWORKS
3rd emailer gets the disc
FIREWORKS JOIN UP
WITH NEW FOUND GLORY
ON IN-PROGRESS TOUR;
BAMBOOZLE SHOW CONFIRMED

get tickets for the show this sunday
at The Royal Oak Music Theatre here


FIREWORKS received an offer they can’t refuse:

the chance to tour with one of their all-time favorite bands

whose guitarist happens to be their producer.
New Found Glory axeman Chad Gilbert and the rest of his band mates extended the offer to FIREWORKS this week, so they decided to pull off the tour they started just last week and join up with their mentors through May 10.
The band has also been added to Bamboozle on Friday,
May 1 in East Rutherford, NJ at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

Thee band--Brett Jones (guitars), Chris Mojan (guitars), David Mackinder (vocals), Kyle O'Neil (bass), Tymm Rengers (drums)—is currently criss-crossing the U.S. to promote their debut album, ALL I HAVE TO OFFER IS MY OWN CONFUSION, which was released March 24 on Triple Crown Records.

FIREWORKS entered an Orange, CA recording studio with Chad Gilbert for two weeks, where he helped the band turn their songs into eleven raucous, lively tracks that encompass a broad range of styles.
“Detroit,”
a fast-paced, punk rock number about growing up,
and “Show Me Your Vanishing Act One More Time,” a rollicking, punchy song, offset the slower, more pensive tones of “2923 Monroe St.” and “Come Around.”
The entire album is a refreshing collection of punk-tinged, pop-inspired rock songs that surge with the band’s passion for making music and are aided by Gilbert’s ear for a good melody.

“Chad brought a lot of awesome ideas to the table
and really pushed the best out of us,”
bassist Kyle O’Neil says.

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Silverghost // HNIA - UFO Factory New Detroit - Sat April 25th 2009

His Name is Alive
FAREWELL PARTY

w/SILVERGHOST

DION FISHER WILL SPIN RECORDS
AFTER BOTH PERFORMANCES.

MIDNIGHT DANCE PARTY!!

RAW FOOD SNACKS.

ALL AGES
$6

DOORS AT 8:30 PM


UFO FACTORY
1345 DIVISION ST. 48207
NEW DETROIT

EXPERIENCE IT!!!

www.myspace.com/silverghostmusic
http://www.italyrecordsdetroit.com/

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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BOOKSTOCK 2009 - Laurel Park Place Livonia - April 26 – May 3, 2009


BOOKSTOCKʼS BACK!
Metro Detroitʼs Biggest & Best Used Book Sale
Supports the Need to Read
April 26 – May 3, 2009
Laurel Park Place - Livonia
Get ready to read, because Bookstock is back!
Metro Detroitʼs largest used book and media sale where all proceeds benefit literacy and education projects in metropolitan Detroit, will be held Sunday, April26 through Sunday, May 3 at Livoniaʼs Laurel Park Place.
The Detroit News Columnist Neal Rubin and Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley are Honorary Co-Chairs of Bookstock.
A true book loverʼs paradise, Bookstock has tens of thousands ofdonated used books, DVDs, CDs, books on tape, magazines and recordsfor sale at bargain basement prices. Savvy shoppers and collectors canget first crack at the Bookstock Pre-Sale on Sunday, April 26 from8:45 – 11:45 a.m.
The sale will continue through Sunday May 3, runningSundays, noon- 6:00 p.m. and Monday - Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
There is a $10.00 admission charge for the Bookstock Pre-Sale only.
Books will be sold for half-price on Sunday, May 3, the last day of the sale.
Bookstock has generated more than $350,000 for literacy and education programs throughout Oakland County and Detroit in its first six yearsalone. All books and media items sold at Bookstock are donated atcollection sites throughout the year. More than 700 volunteers work together throughout the year to collect and sort donations andorganize and staff the weeklong Bookstock sale.
Bookstock is sponsored by the Detroit Jewish Coalition for Literacy,the Oakland Literacy Council, the Jewish Community Relations Council,Detroit Jewish News, and a consortium of Jewish communal non-profitorganizations which support education and literacy projects throughout metro Detroit.
For more information about Bookstook, call theBookstock hotline (248) 645-7840, ext. 365 or visit www.bookstock.info.
Laurel Park Place is located on 6 Mile Road, east of I-275 in Livonia.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Bloodbird - Lager House - Wed April 22nd



Wednesday, April 22
Paste Magazine/WOXY/IMEEM Present:
The Deep Vibration w/Roman Candle, Much Too Much, Bloodbird
10pm
$5

Nashville's The Deep Vibration is a rock and roll band playing American music. In a time when it might be more popular to play pitch perfected, pop or distanced, ‘hipper than thou’ indie rock, their sound calls a listener back to a stark simplicity and authenticity. A lean and gritty four-piece, The Deep Vibration has surprised Nashville with their heartfelt explorations and maturity, earned from years of listening and learning from the classics.

Roman Candle is one of the best, most complete American rock bands to surface in a decade ... After all, (they are) better at what they do--writing imaginative pop songs and building them into captivating four-minute Southern-air epics with the unleashed spirit of The Replacements and unorthodox intuition of Wilco--than any other "band on the verge" in memory.

Much Too Much are five guys from Detroit who came together via Craigslist. It's pretty straightforward: they try to make some good music with simple structures, some catchy hooks, good beats, lot's of layering and dynamics and a slight element of the unorthodox. They do not wear eyeliner, give ourselves ridiculous haircuts, or dress in outfits that would make us look like a bunch of goons. Just play music!

Opening up the night are Bloodbird who are sure to steal the show

Doors: 8 p.m.
Show Time: 9 p.m.


"MCB IS DETROIT"
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Spring into Nature ~ 5k Fun Run & Walk for the Belle Isle Nature Zoo by Detroit Synergy - Saturday, April 25th, 10:00 AM

Attention all runners, walkers and four-legged friends!
Join us for the 4th Annual Spring Into Nature 5K Run/Walk on Belle Isle!

This 5K fun run/walk is for everyone...from the casual walker to the serious runner.
Bring the kids and for those of you with furry friends, dogs are welcome to participate as well—we'll have dog treats and a dog water stop on the course!
Join us for all the festivities:
prizes, post-run refreshments and music—
and visit the Zoo free that day!

Saturday, April 25th, 10:00 AM
Belle Isle Nature Zoo Belle Isle Detroit

Cost is $20 pre-registered and $25 on event day. -Pre-register: online at: www.greatlakeschampionchip.com (click on Events link)
Please note!
Online registration closes on Thursday, April 23rd.-
Mail-in pre-registration:
Mail form (download)
and checks to:
Detroit Synergy
3430 East Jefferson Ave
Suite 725
Detroit, MI 48207
Event-day registration:
begins at 8:00am and ends at 9:30am

Questions?

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ALA @ The Belmont - 'dAP Artshow - Wed April 22nd




WHAT: A.K.A. SHOW
featuring the aliases of three established artists.
604, Scott Skiles and Alexandr X.

Each artist featured has work in a prominent metro-Detroit art gallery or two under their real names but are trying out a new style and don't want people to believe they are doing what they normally do so they are going under their art alias's.

Alexandr X paints the macbre in mixed medium.
Scott Skiles paints colorful abstracts with acrylics
604 paints abstracts with whatever is lying around the house.

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Digital Buddha // FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE - Detroit Institute of Arts

Jin Hi Kim's
Digital Buddha

Jin Hi Kim's Digital Buddha featuring Gerry Hemingway is a multi-media collaboration with komungo (a 4th-century Korean fretted board zither), electric komungo, percussion and video. Ms. Kim is acclaimed for her virtuosity on the komungo, and was the first instrumentalist to introduce it into Western contemporary music.

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The Zone Radio w/Origix & DC 7 year Anniversary - PJs Lager House Detroit - Friday April 24th

The Zone Radio w/Origix
& DC 7 year Anniversary
Detroit’s Origix & DC have dominated the Michigan Hip Hop scene since April 20th of 2002 on the air waves of Henry Ford Community Colleges Non-Commercial Radio station, 89.3 WHFR.FM. The Zone Radio Show has made it possible for independent and signed artist to expose their music to listeners who have no means to hear Detroit Hip Hop on the FM dial.
With the expansion of the internet in homes and on mobile devices, The Zone Radio has been ahead of the curve in broadcasting online, making it possible for people out of normal listening range to stream audio live with dedicated listeners around the world. Origix & DC have been involved in the music scene in many different ways over the last 15 years from being fans and artists to booking and promoting shows.
With great pride; The Zone Radio celebrates its 7 year anniversary, a platform they have built and networked from the ground up! This has been recognized by many fans of Hip Hop and media sources, winning them a 2007 MAEB (Michigan Association of Educational Broadcasters) award for Gold Microphone Air Check, Interview and Production Category’s as well as 2002 and 2003 Outstanding Support Awards by www.Detroitrap.com .
The Quest to spread music from the Midwest region is far from over. In December of 2007 Origix & DC launched www.2raw4fm.com, an outlet to broadcast online-pod cast’s and promote music from the region to expose music that can’t and will not be aired on the FM Airwaves. Origix says “We are doing everything in our power to take The Zone to the highest level, so we can play the music we believe in so much. If there are any stations willing to put us on larger airwaves they will not be disappointed with The Zone’s movement.”
Mark your calendars now: www.2RAW4FM.com
Presents The Zone Radio 7 Year Anniversary Party
Friday April 24th
PJ’s Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave.
Detroit, MI, 48226
313-961-4668
18+W/ID
$5 Cover
Doors 9:30pm
Hosted by Origix & DC With Live Hip-Hop Performances by Quest M.C.O.D.Y.Asylum 7LazarusRENCENBash BrosOn the one’s and twos, DJ Gruv

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My Best Girl showing at Redford Theatre - Friday April 25th

MY BEST GIRL
at the
April 25
8 pm

*The Redford Theatre has a surprising range
of cultural significance unparalleled in our region.

From Classic Movie Film Noir (Sunset Boulevard), to the first Romantic
Comedy (My Best Girl), to the most successful 3 Stooges Festival in the
world, the Redford lays out the red carpet for all ages and all tastes in
American Cinema spanning 100 years.

Who would have thought that the Redford Theatre would be hosting one
of the most significant cultural events of the year with their upcoming Silent
Film presentation?
Highlights include:
- Detroit Public Library 16mm archive newsreel footage
of 1920’s - 30’s era vintage Detroit.

- “They Would Elope”, a 1909 early silent short featuring America’s
Sweetheart Mary Pickford on loan from the Library of Congress in
restored 35mm.

- “My Best Girl” from 1927 starring Pickford. This film marks the
emergence of a sub-genre of American Cinema commonly referred to
as Romantic Comedy.

- John Lauter, nationally known for his fine period accompaniment of
silent films, provides the soundtrack on the Redford’s amazing Silent
Era Theatre Organ for all the film presentations.

- Christel Schmidt, editor at the Library of Congress and noted
Pickford scholar will fly in from Washington, D.C. to host the
proceedings in conjunction with the Library of Congress
commemoration of 100 years of Mary Pickford on film.

"MCB IS DETROIT"
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PURE DETROIT's Pure Acoustic Night with Chris Bathgate / Frontier Ruckes / Sisters Lucas - Guardian Bldg Detroit -


CHRIS BATHGATE W/ FRONTIER RUCKUS • SISTERS LUCAS
@ ROWLAND CAFÉ / GUARDIAN BUILDING PROMENADE
• $10 • THURSDAY, APRIL 23rd 2009
On Thursday, April 23, join Pure Detroit for their first ever “Pure Acoustic” concert, to be held in the “art deco decadence” of the Guardian Building Promenade. The folk-drenched and soul-soaked sounds of Chris Bathgate and Frontier Ruckus are headlining, performing a rare, hour-long dueling set. Psychedelic lady pop pioneers Sisters Lucas open.Doors @ 7:30PMShow begins @ 8:00PMThis is an all ages show.
Tickets are $10.
Each ticket includes...
Full service, complimentary illy espresso bar (courtesy of the Rowland Café)
Gourmet dessert (courtesy of the Rowland Café)
There are two ways to purchase tickets, including...
Placing a reservation by sending an e-mail to ryan@puredetroit.com
(please include full name and number of guests attending).
You'll receive a confirmation e-mail, and your name (plus number of guests attending) will be added to the list and your tickets will be waiting for you at the door.
***SEATING IS LIMITED & RESERVATIONS ARE SUGGESTED***
Purchase your tickets night of the show at the door
Not familiar with the fantastic musical talent booked for this evening?
Check out the sounds here...
FRONTIER RUCKUS • www.myspace.com/frontierruckus

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Amy Sacksteder: Still - Paint Creek Center for the Arts - Friday April 24th 6-9pm

Amy Sacksteder: Still
April 24 – June 13, 2009
Opening Reception Friday, April 24, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Gallery Talk Saturday, April 25, 2:00 pm

Paint Creek Center for the Arts is pleased to present Still, a solo show of works by Amy Sacksteder. In her work, Amy explores the juncture between Design and Nature, specifically design that is meant to be consumed in the form of fashion, decoration, art, and music. She examines what makes these images attractive to people such that again and again, they are appropriated, taken a very far distance from their original embodiment in the wild and presented as Design. Possibly this proliferation of slick, stylized natural imagery is our culture’s way of connecting to nature when many people don’t interact with the natural world on a regular basis. The desire to surround oneself with representations of nature is certainly not a new phenomenon, but perhaps the present trend bears an urgency that makes such images as unsettling as they are attractive.

Sacksteder exhibits regularly in national and international solo, group and juried exhibitions. Her work has been sited on contemporary art blogs such as my love for you is a stampede of horses, and has been published in New American Paintings, Juxtapoz Online, and on the cover of The Florida Review. She has attended residencies through the Ragdale Foundation in Illinois, the Pouch Cove Foundation in Newfoundland, the Residential Art Centre of Cantagal in France.

Amy Sacksteder was recently awarded a Faculty Research Fellowship SSM Award from Eastern Michigan University to pursue her current body of work at the Hungarian Multicultural Center during the summer of 2009. The residency includes a public lecture and exhibition. She received her MFA from Northern Illinois University in 2004. She lives and works in Ypsilanti, Michigan, where she is an Assistant Professor of Art at Eastern Michigan University.

PCCA will host an opening recept