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12/31/11

“Retox” Rock ‘N Roll New Year’s Eve Party at The Ritz - Rock Bands, Go Go Dancers, Wolfman Mac and More to Ring in 2012


"Retox" Rock 'N Roll New Year's Eve Party at The Ritz
Rock Bands, Go Go Dancers, Wolfman Mac and More to Ring in 2012
Join On the Rocks Detroit with High Liquors and White Dogg Detroit for a boisterous New Year's Eve Party on Friday December 31 at The Ritz in Warren, Michigan. "Retox" Rock 'N Roll New Year's Eve features live music by some of Metro Detroit's wildest rock bands, including 60 Second Crush, Mound Road Engine, Motown Rage, Soot and A.S.S.  Doors are at 8 p.m. and the party runs until 4 a.m.!  Admission is just $5 for ages 21 and over, and $8 for ages 18-20.

In addition to the exhilarating live performances, "Retox" partygoers will enjoy snake-charming belly dancing by Shetan Noir, hot Go Go dancers, High Liquors drink specials and Rock 'N Rummage vendors.  As Retox's master of ceremonies, Chiller Drive In TV's Wolfman Mac will ensure the entire night is a howlin' great time!

With complimentary pizza and free Jager shot New Year's Eve toast at Midnight – this party will be INTOXICATINGLY fun!

High Liquors is one bar – full brand.  High Liquors is the world's first full line of ultra- premium spirits including vodka, tequila, whiskey and rum. 

The Ritz is the Eastside's original rock club.  The Ritz is located at 24300 Hoover Rd in Warren, Michigan and features plenty of free, secure parking. 
For more information on Retox please call The Ritz at 586-756-6140.

12/29/11

NEW YEARS AT SOUL DEEP SUNDAY @ Frank's Cafe Wyandotte, MI

Don’t know what to do for New Years day?
Go to a nice quant bar called Frank’s Cafe and dance all your troubles away for the year.
It’s going to be hosted by Mike Dutkewych who likes to get the tracks flowing with some soul and R&B 45’s. If you want to dance your ass off to the classics of R&B and you want to hear that particular single. Mike will have you in for a surprise.
Don’t forget, this will be the 100th Soul Deep Sunday. It’s been going on for 2 years and it’s gonna continue with your support. 
If you want to gather a group of friends and go out, this is the place to go. 
And you can’t go wrong with dancing and throwing your hands up with a little help from the song “SHOUT” in the background. 
TWO-YEARS and a whole lotta shakin’ later: Thank you thank you thank you!
For our anniversary party we’ve got CONTESTS, SURPRISE GUEST DJs, and a commemorative SOUL DEEP 100 MIX guaranteed to knock-up your stereo and knock-out every record on your shelf.

Dance, drink and have a good time while Mike Dutkewych spins the most mandatory soul sides from his personal collection.

$2 PINTS from 6-10 PM!

NO COVER, 21+ w/ ID
*We’ll be recording and interviewing the crowd, so stay tuned for some videos of the nye bash.*
Located in Wyandotte, MI
Franks Cafe 3852 6th St, Wyandotte, MI 48192-6852

Something Like A War By John Kalogerakos


(click image to enlarge)

Enjoy this weeks edition of SLAW with your new cartoon favorites
Evans and English

Detroit Cobras on NYE 2011

NEXT WEEK:
the boys work on their tax returns over drinks and dames at the stripclub

DJ ANYTIME - TONIGHT - LJs Lounge Detroit

12/28/11

FREE CD - UPCOMING: JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound - Magic Bag Ferndale - Sun 1/15

Win the debut CD from JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your chance to win and get to this show



JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound will be supporting JJ Grey & Mofro at the Magic Bag on Sunday, January 15th 2012

Show at 8 PM / $20 / 18+

JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound recently released their Bloodshot Records debut album, Want More and just played NPR’s World CafĂ© Live in Philadelphia and blew some minds: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/16/143842504/jc-brooks-and-the-uptown-sound-in-concert 

TONIGHT: Detroit Dizzy Dames Burlesque - Lager House Detroit

                                                                                                                                    Detroit Dizzy Dames Burlesque Show $10
Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 8pm

Detroit, MI…Caution! This winter five of New York's biggest bump 'n' grind stars have highway fever! The super-star team of Anita Cookie, Clams Casino, Darlinda Just Darlinda, GiGi La Femme and Minnie Tonka are hitting the road for DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD: BURLESQUE ON THE GO-GO! With a squeal of tires and a cloud of glitter, they're leaving behind the Big Apple with the top down and their tassels twirling! And they're taking Detroit by storm! For ONE night only, five of New York's most award-winning and nationally acclaimed performers are bringing the their killer moves, sexy glam and hilarious hijinks to the Detroit's PJ Lager's House with local superstars from Detroit Dizzy DamesLushes LaMoan , Miss Anna Sassin and Polly Glamorus!
 
 

Digital Computer Go Scratch, New Work by Jackie Rines at Northend Studios

North End Studios in Detroit Present Recent Work
by Ceramic Artist Jackie Rines

Detroit artist Jackie Rines, 27, is presenting a new body of work in the third floor Gallery of North End Studios, 2937 E. Grand Boulevard, Detroit, though Jan. 1, 2012 (12 noon – 4 p.m. daily and by appointment.)

Entitled "Digital Computer Go Scratch," the show represents 15 months of new work by the artist, a Detroit native, who recently returned to Detroit after having residencies in New York City, Minneapolis and Richmond, VA.  

Rines, known for her humorous, over life-size work based in ceramic, has filled the gallery with work ranging in scale from 10' to 3".  Found ceramics have been  repurposed, and designer handbags have been knocked off in rhinestones and ceramic.

For those who want to know their fortune as New Year's approaches, a repurposed vintage 8-Ball, covered in gems, is present to give visitors a "Yes, Definitely" or a "My Sources Say No." A ceramic windmill stands motionless in the corner; massive ceramic strawberries litter the floor.

In viewing the work, the artist said, "The work is full of joy and outrageousness and all deals with contemporary aspects of materialism." 

"Although I have lived away from Detroit for 10 years, I decided to return to the city because it is a vibrant place for emerging artists.  Here at Northend Studios, I get to be part of a communal, creative environment, bustling with energy, events and a 'do it yourself attitude."

North End Studios is an artist-run studio project, founded in 2009. It became a Detroit landmark with the creation of Katherine Craig's seven-story blue mural on the side of the former storage facility. Northend Studios is dedicated to supporting artists through offering affordable studio spaces and exhibition opportunities. 

 www.JackieRines.com 

www.northendstudiosdetroit.com/

UPCOMING: “Wonderland” DVD Red Carpet Release Party - Historic Redford Theatre - Friday Jan 13th 2012

Looking beyond the weekend...


“Wonderland” DVD Red Carpet Release Party

On Friday, January 13, The Producers of Detroit’s Burlesque/Variety answer to the classic tale by Lewis Carroll, will debut the new Wonderland DVD at the historic Redford Theatre. In addition to the new DVD being presented in High Definition, this Red Carpet Wonderland party will feature live performances, including a number by Miss Exotic World 2010, Roxi Dlite.

For those who missed it, Wonderland takes the basic concept of an act-by-act variety show, combines it with the narrative story line adapted from Lewis Caroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and features a live score performed by our Wonderland band, The Glass Orphans. With everything from break-dancing playing cards to a mad tea party who’s sanity is literally hanging by the skin of it’s back, Wonderland is a modern retelling of a classic tale through music and burlesque.

The new DVD captures the live performance “Wonderfully”. The DVD along with the soundtrack will be available for purchase at the party, as well as other Wonderland art featuring Photography by Trever Long.

for more info, tickets and donations.

Check back on MCB for free tickets soon

Great Lakes Invitational - Joe Louis Arena - Thursday/Friday 12/29 12/30

Great Lakes Invitational
Joe Louis Arena

Thu. Dec. 29th 2011
4:00 p.m. - MSU vs. Michigan Tech
 7:30 p.m. - Michigan vs. Boston College

Fri. Dec. 30th 2011
4:00 p.m. - Consolation Game
 7:30 p.m. - Championship Game


The 47th Annual Great Lakes Invitational is fast approaching, with four high-profile NCAA squads set to descend upon Joe Louis Arena on December 29 and 30 for a single-elimination-style tournament that has become a holiday tradition for hockey fans. In addition to four action-packed college hockey games, attendees of this year's GLI are also in store for a wide variety of unique contests and promotions as Olympia Entertainment's 2011-12 'College Hockey in the D' schedule kicks off with a bang.

"Science of Hockey" coming to The Joe

Host school Michigan Tech University will be setting up an interactive exhibition entitled 'The Science of Hockey' on the main concourse at JLA for fans to visit throughout the duration of the 2011 GLI. Presented by MTU's Mind Trekkers Student Outreach Program, 'The Science of Hockey' will open at 2:00 p.m. on both December 29 and 30 and will remain open until the end of the first period of both of the tournament's afternoon (4:00 p.m.) games. Admission to 'The Science of Hockey' is free with the purchase of any GLI ticket.

The Rue Moor Counts - Friday Dec. 30th Lager House


The Rue Moor Counts
Boogaloosa Prayer (Toledo OH)
The Questions
Gold Rush
 
Friday December 30th 2011
 
PJ's Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave
Detroit USA

9pm
$5

12/27/11

This Friday - Motor City Movement: A Collection of Choreographers at the Crofoot


Launching in 2010, MOTOR CITY MOVEMENT took the Michigan dance community by storm with the biggest collaboration of choreographers the area had never seen. After overwhelming success Motor City Movement: A Collaboration of Choreographers is back for its fourth showcase that promises to be the biggest and best yet.
Over 20 locally and nationally recognized choreographers and dance crews come together to showcase the entertaining, exciting and beautiful art of dance through a live performance open to the public. Several different styles of dance represented throughout the show including hip-hop, funk, jazz, tap, contemporary, Tahitian and more. Motor City Movement will feature the hottest local dancers performing the most innovative choreography the area has to offer. Motor City Movement is on the rise and is a night not to be missed.
Featured artists will include the brand new Detroit Pistons Dancers making their debut performance, nationally recognized hip-hop crew The Stereojunkies, Detroit's favorite sexy ladies The Detroit Dolls, sought-after professional choreographer & MCM co-founder Jill Zmijewski, and Fynul Destination who were recently featured on BET's 106 & Park. Hosted by local news personality Heather Zara. DJ Dustin Alexander will be keeping the dance floor moving before and after the show till 2AM. Come to watch, come to socialize and come to dance the night away. Show starts at 7:30pm, tickets are $12 in advance and $15 day of show.

MIttenfest VI: December 28 – January 1, Ypsilanti, MI


After raising a record $15,000 for youth literacy non-profit organization 826michigan (http://www.826michigan.org) last year, Mittenfest (http://www.mittenfest.org) will return with 5 days of music in its sixth consecutive year. Mittenfest VI will be held over New Year's weekend, December 28 through January 1 at Woodruff's in Ypsilanti, showcasing a range of independent musical talent from across the state and beyond.

To date, Mittenfest has raised over $35,000 for 826michigan, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students aged 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. 100% of door revenue and sponsorship proceeds go directly to 826michigan. In addition to aiding a great cause, Mittenfest is always a great time for both bands and attendees alike; hundreds of performers and revelers coming together over a long holiday weekend to celebrate the turning of the calendar, friends, music, and of course our great hand-shaped State of Michigan.

This year's lineup features sixty acts, performing a variety of musical genres including rock, pop, folk, electronic, hip-hop, and more. Featuring local favorites, new faces, and several out-of-state bands with Michigan ties, Mittenfest is one of the largest single-venue independent music festivals in the state. An extra day has been added to the schedule this year, making Mittenfest VI bigger than ever before.

The entire five-day schedule may be viewed at http://mittenfest.org/

All performances will be held at Woodruff's, (http://woodruffsbar.com/) at 36 E. Cross Street in Ypsilanti, MI, with live music each day running from 4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. On New Year's Eve, the bar will stay open until 4:00 a.m., featuring a late-night DJ set by Absolute Beginners. Tickets are $10 per day, and may be purchased at the door. A limited number of VIP passes are available through the Mittenfest website for an $82.60 donation. A VIP pass guarantees entry all five days of the festival.

THIS WEEKEND: Greensky Bluegrass @ Majestic

One of Michigan's hottest bands, Greensky Bluegrass is playing 12/30 and 12/31 at the Majestic Theater in Detroit. Come ring in the New Year all weekend long as these masters of melding psychedelic rock and bluegrass instrumentation melt faces and blow minds. Not your typical bluegrass outfit, Greensky's musicians play with an ever-growing array of effects pedals as they cover songs by Prince, Talking Heads, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and many more. Not just a phenomenal cover band, Greensky Bluegrass' features exquisitely written and arranged original numbers that could only come from those who call Michigan home.

Opening for Greensky on both nights is Ann Arbor's premier insanity band The Macpodz who are sure to get the party rolling early on with their funked out instrumentation that combines skillful musicianship and soulful chops. These are two shows that you should plan on staying the whole damn night! MCB's Andrew Bender will be there getting down and taking some photos - tell him you read this announcement and he might buy you a beer (particularly if you're a flirtatious woman).

New Years Eve with Greensky Bluegrass
with special guests The Macpodz
8pm (both nights) - all ages
December 30th - $15
December 31st - $25

Buy your tickets at the Majestic Box office and save!
Majestic Theatre
4120 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 833-9700


12/26/11

Wild At Heart

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog




Wild At Heart


The year is winding down and I feel like I should be doing some kind of grand list of the best of 2011 but I cannot think of anything to really put together. Besides, there are way too many lists out there as it is. I prefer to look ahead to stuff that is coming up or maybe a bucket list for 2012 which would include concerts by Tommy Roe, Marillion, Chubby Checker and the Rochester International Jazz Fest line up. I also hope to go to Syracuse to catch a home game by the Syracuse Orangemen and a trip to Toronto for the Mayan exhibit at ROM and the Otherworldly exhibit at the TIFF. I am sure that the year will have many exciting opportunities and I hope I am able to cash in on them. Until then, I will just wish everyone a Happy New Year and here are a few concert options for the week.



Tuesday (12/27) - Fireworks @ Small's


Wednesday (12/28) - Sights @ Magic Stick


Thursday (12/29) - Suicide Machines w/ Mustard Plug and Flatfoot 56 @ Majestic Theatre, Prussia @ Woodruff's (Ypsilanti)


Friday (12/30) - the Macpodz open for Greensky Bluegrass @ Majestic Theatre


Saturday (12/31) - Detroit Cobras and Amy Gore @ Magic Stick, Mark Pasman & Super Session @ Callahans, Whitney Morgan & the 78's @ Magic Bag, 60 Second Crush @ Ritz (Warren), Maze featuring Frankie Beverly @ Masonic Temple


Also don't forget the deadline for the Hometown Sound contest is approaching quick. Later and see you in 2012.

12/25/11

Wild At Heart wishes you a Merry CHristmas

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog




Wild At Heart


Hi everyone, just got home from work and had my Christmas meal and opened my presents. Didn't get much but the new Marvin The Martian Hallmark ornament and a Boba Fett M&M dispenser. I just wanted to say to all the wonderful viewers of this blog, that I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.

As you know I am a huge music buff so I thought since I didn't have my radio show anymore, I would share some holiday joy with a three pack of holiday cheer. I don't like to pick easily heard songs, so here is some fun starting with Pink Floyd doing the "Merry Xmas Song". It was a demo performed on BBC radio in 1975 and sung by Nick Mason.


Next is the British glam band Wizzard doing "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday". They were a fun band of 2 albums from the mid-70's and founded by Roy Wood (of Move and ELO fame)


I leave the holiday season with one of my favorite bands with the Ramones and "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)"


Enjoy the day and see you tomorrow with my usual blog time.


SICK - The Holiday Stunner 12/26 at TV Bar



12/23/11

Detroit Derby Girls: The Grand Prix Madonnas vs. The Pistolwhippers

On December 17th, in the 2nd game of the Detroit Derby Girls' 2011-12 season, The Grand Prix Madonnas took on The Pistolwhippers at the Masonic Temple


The Grand Prix Madonnas beat out The Pistolwhippers last year in the bout for 3rd place, 112-77. It was their first season, as the league finally added another team to the original regular season four. Coming in third out of five isn't bad for their first season ever. The Pistolswhippers, while having two championships in the league history, was hard to size up coming into this bout. Half their team is made up of rookies, and transfers from other leagues.


The Pistolwhippers would take the lead in the first jam 10-5, with Lazer Beam outscoring Racer McChaseher, who was sent to the penalty box. The Pisolwhippers would extend that lead to 19-5, as rookie Meli Ali made her derby jamming debut. The Madonnas would hold the Whippers scoreless over the next two jams, as Yoko Crazy had a 12 point jame, and aNOMaly added another 4, to give the Madonnas a 21-19 lead. The Pistolwhippers immediatly took that lead back, with the score at 27-26 at the end of the 6th jam.


The seventh jam was a Pistolwhipper blowout. Yoko Razy, jamming for the Madonnas went to the penalty box early, and Meli Ali put 25 unanswered points on the board for her team. She had almost no resistance from the opposing blockers every time she made a pass. The Madonna's defense was almost non-existent, and Meli Ali had only to race the clock to score as much as possible. The Pistolwhippers' score was nearly doubled, increasing their lead to 52-26.

I don't know what was said on the Madonna's sideline to get them to snap out of their daze, but it worked and they started playing defense again.  At the end of the 10th jam, the score was at 57-33.

Over the next 7 bouts, the Madonna's defense not only woke up, they dominated, and stopped the Pistolwhippers from scoring a single point. By the 15th jam, they took the lead back, 59-57, and their shut-out continued for two more jams, making the score 66-57. Now forgive me for this disregard of chronological order, but the 13th jam saw the use a tactic I've never seen before. The blockers' startling line is about 10-15 feet ahead of the jammers, and they're allowed to start rolling a few seconds before the jammers can. This time they all decided to plant themselves right in front of the jammers' starting line. The jam starting as a big cluster of small movements, and stayed that way until both jammers finally broke through.

The Pistolwhipper's offense revived themselves, and over the last 2 jams of the first half, was able to take the lead back, 74-68 before heading off to the locker rooms. The last jam saw another big play from Meli Ali. After the opposing jammer Lily I. Monster went to the penalty box, Meli Ali scored an unanswered 14 points. Is it too early to predict that Meli Ali will be the rookie of the year?


Halftime entertainment was by Michael Cole, a Michael Jackson impersonator. He nailed the look Jackson had from his Dangerous (1991) album. The first two songs he danced (and lip-synched to), were Jam, and Black or White, from that album. The last was Beat It (from the 1987's Bad). My preference would have been for Billie Jean, or just about anything from Thriller, or even Off the Wall, but that would be like asking the mutton-chops in Vegas Elvis impersonator to do some Sun Records material.


The first two jams of the second half saw the Madonna's scoreless, while the Whippers increased their lead to 80-68. In the third jam, the Whippers' jammer Tara To Pieces went to the penalty box for making her fourth minor penalty, as Yoko Razy chipped away at the point deficit, giving her team another 5 points. This would be the beginning of the Pistolwhippers' big penalty problems. Going into the 5th jam, with the Whippers barely ahead 87-83, their jammer Meli Ali got sent to the penalty box, and she would be joined by 3 blockers from her team. Pistolwhipper blockers Cool Whip, and Vera Toss tried their best against larger numbers, but they couldn't fight the inevitable. Even with Cool Whip laying a huge knockdown on the Madonna's jammer aNOMaly, she would skate for a 19 point jam, and give the Madonnas' a 102-87 lead. Will aNOMaly still be contender for rookie of the year if she transferred from another league?

The crowd got to see a hypothetical question answered in the seventh jam. Jammer Meli Ali went to the penalty box, and soon after the Madonnas jammer Yoko Razy would go there herself. When both jammers go to the penalty box, the first jammer to go there gets to come out early instead of serving the full 2 minute sentence. The second jammer to enter the penalty box then only has to stay there for as long as the first jammer was imprisoned. The penalty box swapping allowed both teams to score, making it 107-98 Madonnas.

The Pistolwhippers again hurt themselves with penalties in the eigth jam, losing a jammer and 3 blockers to the box, and aNOMaly would make the score 117-98 before she committed a penalty herself.

Jam number ten would see another offensive domination by the Pistolwhippers. Yoko Razy went to the box, and Tara To Pieces, aided by some great counter-blocking by Cool Whip, would give her team 19 points, and a 122-117 lead.


 The twelth jam was a tradgedy. A big hit was taken by aNOMaly, and a second later she fell straight forward. She wasn't able to get up on her own, and paramedics had to take her out on a stretcher (word is, she made a full recovery). It's league policy to always have two paramedics on standby, and when they have to leave to take a skater to the hospital, the bout is put on hold until those paramedics can return. It wasn't all boredeom, malaise, and anxoius anticipation of the prognosis. The kids were given hula-hoops, and the skaters kept themselves in motion. A bunch of people even did the Cupid Shuffle in the center of the floor. (Video link)


When the bout finally got back under way again, the Pistolwhippers were leading 124-119, but they had still had a jammer that had to serve out the remainder of her penalty time. Several Pistolwhipper blockers would join her, and Racer McChaser capitalized on the vacancies, and score 20 points, giving the Madonnas the lead again, 139-124.


The Grand Prix Madonnas' jammer Hooligal went to the penalty box early in the fourteenth jam, but their defensive blocking preventing the Pistolwhippers from advantage of it, and kept the lead at 144-128. For the last 2:30 of the game, Racer was lead jammer for the last two jams (they usually don't jam back to back like that), and met little resistance as she added a combined 18 points to the board, while her team's defense shut out the opposition. The lead through-out the whole bout changed hands several times, but the Grand Prix Madonnas came out victorious, 162-128. aNOMaly was named the official MVP of the bout.

Postbout analysis from the Captains: 
Detroit Area Dork: What's your initial reaction to the bout?
The Pistolwhippers' Captain, Lazer Beam: Well...I want to be politically correct about it. I felt that some of the calls...you know...I don't think all of the calls were made. You've got to overcome that. I think overall we did well as a team. We have a lot of rookies, and we tried to skate them. My own reaction, I'm bummed that we didn't win. Other than that, we just have to work harder, and skate harder.
Detroit Area Dork: How do you think the other team was able to pull ahead?
Lazer Beam: Well, they had great defense. A lot of their skaters have skated together longer than ours have, just because we have a lot of new girls on our team, we lost a lot of skaters, so we don't have as much time commited to each other as they have. Last season they were in the same boat that we're in this year. They had really good defense and their jammers pulled through.
Detroit Area Dork: Based on this bout, what do you think your team has to work on?
Lazer Beam: We definitely have to work on the walls and holding the inside lines. We got a lot of penalties. We need to work on that. It's no secret that last season the Whippers were the most penalized team in the league, so we have to work on not going to the box.
Detroit Area Dork: Do you mean playing cleaner, or playing sneakier?
Lazer Beam: Playing cleaner for sure, and playing better defense.
Detroit Area Dork: What did you think of the halftime show?
Lazer Beam: I didn't get to see it because I was in the locker room, but I heard it was phenomenal. I wish I could have seen Michael Jackson.
Detroit Area Dork: I don't know if it was as good as the wrestling clowns
Lazer Beam: I've seen the wrestling clowns as a fan. They were pretty good.

Detroit Area Dork: What's your first reaction to the bout?
The Grand Prix Madonnas' Captain, Spanish Ass'assin: We were hoping that it would be really good for the fans, and we absolutely gave them that. We weren't really sure what we were coming into because the Pistolwhippers are so new. I would say that half their team is transfers, new girls, people we knew nothing about, so it's kind of hard to strategize when you don't know what's coming. We kind of prepared for everything, made our own plan, and did what we wanted to do. We threw it out there, hoped it would work, and it worked really well. I'm really pleased with the team.
Detroit Area Dork: What do you think put you ahead?
Spanish Ass'assin: Penalties, keeping our cool, keeping our walls together, and playing our game. Instead of letting them break up what we wanted to do, break up our walls, and what we're used to doing out there. It takes a lot when it gets so energized, and the frustration that they're applying, and people are complaining. I think usually the team that can compose themselves and not lose their cool and lose their focus can come out on top, and the other team goes to the penalty box more. So we had some penalty trouble in the beginning, and we adjusted, we got it out of our system. In the second half we really pulled back, and the other team seemed to go the box more, so I think that helped a lot.
Detroit Area Dork: What do you think you team has to work on the most in the next practice based on tonight's performance?
Spanish Ass'assin: We're going to have to work on offense. We really focused on our defense coming into this bout, and getting all the new girls up to speed, and working on our 3-man walls. I think we saw how well that worked today, and we got it down. Now we've got to focus on our jammers, getting them through, as well as stopping the other jammer like we're used to. Doing a little more transitioning. It's hard. I think it's the only sport where you have to play offense and defense at the same time. Sometimes it's hard to stop one to do the other, and knowing when the right time is.
Detroit Area Dork: Do you think the Michael Jackson impersonator was more or less entertaining than wrestling clowns who throw trash cans?
Spanish Ass'assin: I'm so upset because I missed him. We came out from halftime, and I came up the ramp and saw him out there, and it was done. I was down in the locker room, doing the captain thing, and with the refs, I really didn't get to see him much, but I heard good things about him. I heard good things about the other guys too. I'm thinking Michael Jackson probably won this one.

All photos by Lawrence Creative

This post written by:
I'm a dork, I live in the Detroit area, and sometimes I take blurry photos on an outdated camera

Wild At Heart - Hometown Sound update

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog







Wild At Heart


A couple of days ago on my Monday blog I brought up the new maurice's Hometown Sound contest which is open to local musicians looking to make a big splash on the national music scene. I sent some question to one of their representatives and got some answers to some relevant questions for entering the contest. So remember, if you are in a band and are looking for a chance to make a video or appear at SXSW, this is for you to look into. If you are not in a band, this is a good opportunity to find some cool acts and maybe get in on the ground floor for the next big sensation. So without further ado, here are my questions and their answers.


1) For those not familiar, what exactly is maurices?

maurices is a leading hometown specialty store women's retailer. We offer the latest fashion at a great value in sizes 1-24. We have everything a girl needs, from workwear to the hottest styles for a night out on the town, or even just a great pair of denim and a cozy sweater for hanging out with girlfriends on the weekend. We have over 800 stores in 44 states, and you can shop anytime at maurices.com.



2) What is and how did the Hometown Sound and the idea of promoting local music come into being? What is the tie-in they are working towards between their clothing and the music scene?

As part of a photo shoot where we went to small towns all across America and celebrated what made them unique, we realized that a lot of great music comes out of small towns. These local artists may not have the chance to "get their break" in the industry, so we partnered with our in-store music provider, PlayNetwork, and industry-leading gig booking site, Sonicbids, and developed this platform where anyone has the chance to make it big. We decided to focus on music, as we know from customer research that music is a big part of our girls’ lives. It just felt like a natural fit to make the connection between fashion and music.



3) What was the most exciting part of being involved in last year’s contest to inspire a follow up this year?

We were amazed and in awe of the caliber of musicians that entered the contest. It solidified that there is a large audience for these types of contests, and our associates and customers really got excited and behind this program. The opportunity to change our customers’ lives is an exciting experience for both maurices and our customers.



4) What kind of response did you get from your customers about the contest?

They were really excited! If they knew about a local band that was in the running, they would help support the band by promoting it socially, and even the store associates would say "don't forget to vote for x band—they are from right here in x town". It was a very cool grassroots effort.



5) How do local bands get eligible to compete in the Hometown Sound contest?

They need to visit mauricesmusic.sonicbids.com and enter—easy as that.



6) Are there any restrictions that bands need to know before applying?

There are complete contest rules on mauricesmusic.sonicbids.com, but the biggest restriction is that you must to be 18+ and a US citizen.



7) Can a band/artist have recorded an album before or have received press in the major music magazines (Spin, Rolling Stone, etc)?

We are looking for new and up-and-coming bands, so as long as the band is not currently signed with a label, then they can enter the contest.



8) How can music fans get involved voting for their favorite bands and what is in it for them?

Starting January 9 music fans can either "like" maurices’ facebook page http://www.facebook.com/maurices) or visit mauricesmusic.sonicbids.com to cast their vote and help us narrow down all the submissions to the top 50. Each vote will give you a coupon for maurices. And during round two of voting, starting February 6, fans will not only get a coupon, but also a free music download!



I'm still waiting for my answers from last year's winner Audri and Aaron but in the meantime here is a video of them from maurice's website.


12/22/11

Tommorow: 10th Annual Detroit Sounds and Spirits Old-Fashioned Holiday Spectacular

December 23rd, at The Magic Stick
$15, 9 PM, all ages

Metro-area Thom McCan Shoe Stores and Town Club Soda Distributors are thrilled to announce the tenth anniversary show of the Detroit Sounds and Spirits Olde-Fashioned Holiday Spectacular on Friday, December 23 at Detroit’s Magic Stick.

The Sounds and Spirits Spectacular is the Detroit indie-rock community’s biggest holiday event. In homage to Christmas variety shows of yesteryear, the Spectacular features 22 bands performing just one yuletide ditty.  It’s a lightning paced whirligig of cheer on 2 stages and if you’re not a fan of the act playing, don’t worry, there’ll be another in 5 minutes!  If you don’t feel a warm glow at this joyous gala, then your heart really is two sizes too small!

The Spectacular first came together in the fall of 2002, intended to be a mock taping of a boozy, sweater and scarf variety show from years past.  Equal parts Rankin-Bass, Andy Williams, and MC5.  This years show promises to be just as entertaining featuring some top-secret, spirited collaborations from former and current members of the Detroit Cobras, The Von Bondies & Karen Elson’s band.

All proceeds from the Spectacular benefit Detroit’s Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS). Since 2002, the Spectacular has raised over $23,000 for the Detroit-based organization, which provides emergency shelter and transitional housing for single men, women, and families with children who need assistance in becoming economically self-sufficient.

This years lineup includes:
His Name is Alive   – The Barrettes  - Destroy This Place – Outrageous Cherry  - American Mars  - Johnny Headband – Satori Circus  - The Blueflowers – Alex Winston  -  The Pop Project  - Patrick Davy and the Ghosts  - The Thornbills – Amy Gore and Her Valentines  -  Duende!  - Old Empire  - Woodman – TVXMAS – Marco Polio and the New Vaccines  -  I Love Lightning Bugs – Jeecy and the Jungle  - Rabinowitz Family Christmas Special

12/21/11

Tomorrow: Few and Far Between at The Magic Stick


Few and Far Between
w/ K.I.D.S. and Lawless Carver
Thursday, December 21st, at The Magic Stick
$8, 8 PM, all ages

Detroit's own Few And Far Between are returning once again to The Magic Stick for their 5th annual indie rock holiday show.

After releasing a split 7" this August on Elkion Records (as well as a remix album of 2010's "We're All Safe") the band entered the studio to begin working on a new album. For the first time in their career, FAFB has found themselves at the helm of the mixing board, tracking all 11 songs by themselves in a New York studio. Bassist Darrin Hunt reveals, "We're really happy with this new batch of tunes. They're feeling a bit more raw than our past work, but I think they really showcase a nice forward progression for the band."

While influenced by groups like Dinosaur Jr., Foo Fighters and countless others, the band has been honing their own brand of rock and roll since the late 90's. Combining intricate guitar work with a pounding rhythm section and mixing them with melodic, impassioned vocals, they create a fairly unique and dynamic sound. The band's last release continues to gain support from members of the often- reluctant music industry, including Steve Lillywhite (via his March 15, 2011 NYC radio show), "I rather like that...well done." Still making music on their own terms, FAFB continues to stand the test of time.

Joining Few And Far Between on December 22nd will be K.I.D.S. and Lawless Carver.

FREE GIFTS: Guitar Grip gives away a few freebies to MCB readers!

We do our very best to shop locally on every occasion and we wanted to tell you about a company who are making some pretty cool products right here in in the motorcity

If you have a musician on your list this year be sure to check out Guitar Grip and shop local.

Guitar Grip heard that MCB likes to give away free swag and sure enough they hit us up to giveaway a couple these kickass wall mounted guitar grips

Email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your shot to win
Full name and address required for shipping

Michigan-Made “Guitar Grips” Make Great Gifts for Musicians

Plymouth-based Grip Studios’ Custom Guitar Hangers Available Nationally



Searching for a sensational holiday gift for the discerning musician in your life?
Look no further than Grip Studios’ custom guitar hangers.

The Plymouth, Michigan based company produces eye-catching, wall mountable grips shaped like human hands, crafted to hold a guitar, bass, banjo or mandolin. Each Guitar Grip is made of durable resin and hand painted. With designs that include the “Grip Reaper” (skeleton hand), “Lumpy Stump” (a hand resembling a tree stump), “Torch Tip” (flamed fingers), “Undead Fred” (Zombie hand) and more – there’s a guitar hanger to please all tastes!

Grip Studios’ custom guitar hangars retail for around $39 and were recently spotlighted nationally in Musician’s Friend catalog. These popular guitar accessories are also available through Amazon.com and in hundreds of retail outlets in the U.S. Custom painted guitar hangars, including hand-carved and one-of-a-kind artist series are also available for $39-$90 on the Grip Studios’ web site at www.guitargrip.com

Grip Studios had a modest beginning in 2007. Company founder Mike Ryan along with his parents Dale and Sylvia hatched the first guitar grip from the kitchen table in a small apartment in Plymouth, Michigan. Since then (and with the help of his family – Mike’s sister and grandmother all have roles in the company) - Grip Studios’ custom guitar hangers have secured international distribution, and they now regularly ship product to 13 countries.

In 2011 the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) named Grip Studios’ Custom Guitar Hangars “Hottest New Product to Stock in LA!” Counting Velvet Revolver (and former Guns N Roses) bassist Duff McKagan among fans of Grip Studios’ custom guitar hangers, this homegrown company may soon be a household name among musicians worldwide.

Shop local and buy products
from Guitar Grip today

12/19/11

UPCOMING EVENT: Rock And Rummage Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Show on Friday,Dec.23 at PJ'S Lager House



Time is running out to get all that Holiday Shopping done!

Feel free to skip the mall this year and find something truly special as PJ's Lager House in Detroit hosts the "Rock and Rummage Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Show" on Friday, December 23

Rock and Rummage, Detroit's long standing Rock and Roll inspired traveling flea market, promises to deliver the coolest one of a kind items your liable to run across this holiday season. .

This event will include numerous Detroit area Rock and Rummage vendors selling a vast array of items including records, vintage items, jewelry, clothing, books, retro collectibles, handmade goods, posters, DVD's, Art, and many one of a kind treasures.

At the "Rock and Rummage Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Show" you most likely will find something that you didn't know you couldn't live without. You'll witness vendors tables chock full of all those goodies that you enjoyed as a kid. You'll be transported in a nostalgic time machine back to your childhood. You will also witness tables offering a showcase of local talented makers and the materials they bring to life.
Skip the over crowded big box middle man stores this holiday season and help support the local creative's. Chances are you'll come shopping and leave smiling.


PJ's Lager House is located at 1254 Michigan Avenue Detroit, MI 48226

Shopping commences at 9 PM.

The event is free and is for persons 18 and over.

http://www.facebook.com/rockandrummage


Review: Morrissey, Kristeen Young Royal Oak Music Theatre Sunday Dec. 19, 2011


I can always measure how good a concert was by the size of my headache the next day. Today my head is pounding, but, I’m still bearing a grin from my thoughts of the sold out Morrissey show last night at Royal Oak Music Theatre. I use the word “sold out” haphazardly in the sentence above. Last night was packed to the gills with a bulging, standing room only crowd. However, it was a Morrissey show, so rather than the “shove you aside” and “push you around” bunch, this was a nicer, “I can move over so you can see better” experience, which was fortunate because most of Morrissey’s show was a stellar performance which proves he is still at the top of his game.
The opener for the tour was Kristeen Young whom Morrissey has brought out on his past couple of tours. Tonight she played alone at her keyboard, belting out tracks from her most recent release, V the Volcanic. Kristeen reminds me of a cross between Kate Bush and Bjork. While her vocal can get a little piercing at times, her melodies are quite good and her performance packs quite a punch.
This was the final show of the tour for Morrissey so I think his intention was giving the crowd his all. By giving his all, I’m saying we saw the good, the bad, and the ugly from Morrissey and to be honest I wouldn’t have expected anything less. The good were all the great Smiths tunes he sprinkled throughout his set, such as opening with “I Want the One I Can’t Have” and an achingly beautiful rendition of “I Know it’s Over.” The bad were a couple of songs that I think he performs just to mystify the crowd. Why else would he perform “All the Lazy Dykes”? And the ugly would be the intensely noise driven, “Meat Is Murder” which ended like a sharp needle being driven through the skull. 
By the end of the show the good far outweighed the bad, as Morrissey's vocal was fine as ever and his backing band played with a lot of flare without fully taking your attention from Morrissey. Morrissey was also full of quips throughout the night saying something nice to the crowd then following it up with a jibe. His encore, which started with a brilliant version of “Still Ill” ended the show abruptly three minutes later with Morrissey exclaiming his dissatisfaction with the brutish security (not quite sure what exactly happened) and promptly exited the stage. If a Morrissey show didn’t end out in a bit of drama, would it really have a been a Morrissey show?
This Post by Mikel O.D. of

Wild At Heart

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog











Wild At Heart


Having experienced the local music scene of Detroit for a good decade, I have always been impressed by the quality of the artists in the area. Coming up is a chance for one of those bands to get an opportunity to play at SXSW in a prime spot, to make a video in LA as well as other prizes. Take a few minutes and check out http://www.facebook.com/maurices for a chance to enter. Last year’s winners Audri & Aaron got this opportunity and opened for the Bangles at SXSW. There is also opportunities to get yours fans involved in the voting. I will have more information throughout the week as I’m working on talking to someone from Maurice’s as well as last years winners. So if you are an up and coming band in the Detroit area and want to join, go to the website to check out their Hometown Sound contest.


Come the holidays, I'm not really seeing a whole bunch to recommend but here are a few worthwhile shows:



Wednesday (12/21) - Gloriana @ Royal Oak Music Theatre


Friday (12/23) - Orbitsons @ the Ritz (Warren)


Monday (12/26) - Hard Lessons @ St Andrews Hall



As we hit the end of the year, there have been a few passings this December that I want to bring up. Starting off, the great Chicago bluesman Hubert Sumlin passed away at the age of 80. I saw him last year in Chicago with my buddies Saad and Mike when we went to Eric Clapton's Crossroads festival. Hubert came out with an oxygen tank and despite that, put down a smooth groove that gave me a feeling what real blues music should sound like. He was one of the best bluesmen I have ever had the honor of seeing and it is sad to lose another blues great.







Dobie Gray was known mainly for the songs "Drift Away" and "The In Crowd" though the music industry didn't know how to market a black country star at the time. He moved on to songwriting hits for Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis and others. He was also a member of the soul inspired psychedelic band Pollution which is worth checking out.










Lastly, one of comic book's greatest players, Joe Simon, passed away. He was a frequent collaborator with Jack Kirby and helped create DC's Golden Age Sandman, Manhunter and the Newsboy Legion along with Marvel's Captain America. With Kirby, they pioneered all types of genres including romance, horror and satire like no other team. He was even born in my hometown of Rochester which is cool.




Have a good week and check back for more about the Hometown Sound contest sponsored by maurices and get you band noticed on the national scene.

UPCOMING: Topher Crowder - Northville Art House - Jan 6th - 28th 2012

Etch, Sketch and Stilettos: The Work of Topher Crowder

 

January 6-28, 2012

Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady Street

 

Be a pART of it! Topher Crowder burst upon the art scene eight years ago after a journey of fixing computers, merchandising beer, designing Christmas ornaments in a plastics factory and packing boxes in an audio/video supply warehouse. "I always wanted to be an artist. I would take apart laser printers, put them back together and make art out of them. I couldn't suppress it anymore!"  Inspired by animated Saturday morning cartoons, vintage postcards, comic books of the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Crowder's early works were, in effect, detailed stream-of-consciousness line drawings.

 

Things have changed.  After earning an MFA at Wayne State University, Mr. Crowder says, "I have a lot of time to make up for. It's not about being successful. I want to try everything and anything." The Northville Art House is delighted to present a show that reflects Mr. Crowder's diversity yet ultimately spotlights his unique vision.

 

The show will include:  

Mr. Crowder's shoe paintings -- pop cultural streams of consciousness capturing the dichotomy and conflict inherent in male and female stereotypes in today's world. 

Mr. Crowder's Day-Glow plexiglass creations -- intricately detailed biomorphic, mechanical shadow images of the human form that have morphed out of his early ink line drawings. 

Mr. Crowder's sculptural "studio weavings" -- art constructed from the tattered remnants found anywhere and everywhere. 

Mr. Crowder's reverse vandalism signs -- unfinished boards branded with messages, left intentionally in forgotten public spaces as unspoken invitations for public interaction, the art itself "finished" only when the anonymous person chooses to engage (most often through spray-painted graffiti). 

 

Mr. Crowder is an adjunct professor at Schoolcraft College. 

The show is organized by Jeff Cancelosi.

 

The show will open in the Art House's upper gallery with a reception and artist's talk on Friday, January 6, from 6-9 p.m. The show will continue through January 28 during the Art House Gallery hours (Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m.). For additional information, call 248-344-0497 or visit www.northvillearts.org.  The Art House is located at 215 W. Cady Street and is a facility of the Northville Arts Commission. Admission to Art House exhibits is free and open to the public.

 

CALENDAR ITEMS:

Etch, Sketch and Stilettos, The Work of Topher Crowder

Opening Reception: January 6, 6-9 p.m. with artist's talk at 8 p.m.; exhibit continues through January 28.

Hours: Wednesdays-Saturdays, 1-5 p.m. (First Fridays only, 1-9 p.m.)

Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady Street

Free

 

Photos: 

"Yves Saint Laurent Patent Leather "Tribute" Peep Toe Platform"

Acrylic on Canvas by Topher Crowder

 

"Vox" (detail)

Etching on Plexiglass by Topher Crowder