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5/31/12

Odd Hours/ThePhilter/Me&theGhost Berkley Front, Friday, June1

Odd Hours
There's nothing better than local shows when all three bands pack a wollap of good music that actually feeds off one another and creates an evening of ecstatic enjoyment. If that sounds appealing with you head on out to the Berkley Front tomorrow to see Odd Hours, The Philter and Me and the Ghost. The cover is just $5 and you can't beat that!

MCB’S PICK OF THE WEEK

The Great Canadian Beaverfest June 1-3, 2012

The second annual Great Canadian Beaverfest concert festival in on this weekend in Windsor, ON.  Southern Ontario’s largest festival is taking place on Windsor’s own Riverfront Festival Plaza, just minutes away from the Detroit/Windsor tunnel, and directly across from Caesar’s Casino.

This year’s lineup:
Friday June 1st - Three Days Grace wsg The Trews, Behind the Curtain

Saturday June 2nd- The Cult wsg Honeymoon Suite andPuddle of Mudd!

Sunday June 3rd- Emerson Drive and Doc Walker! The Stellas and
Chad Brownlee
 

There will be a main stage hosting headlining acts as well as a side stage featuring local acts. Last year’s event drew in approximately 13000 fans.
Beaverfest is open to all ages and this year’s lineup includes two days of Rock N Roll with the third day focusing on Country music. There is something  there for everyone.
For ticket information please visit the Beaverfest

MORE FREE VINYL / CDs - Show reminder - Black Box Revolution at Shelter St Andrews TONIGHT

Just a quick reminder about the Black Box Revolution show tonight down at the The Shelter...MCB Mick will be interviewing the band and covering the show live so stay tuned for that in a few day...in them meantime send an email to motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your shot at a copy of "My Perception" on YELLOW vinyl - we just got a phat stack of wax in house plus a handful of CDs so be sure to include your mailing address and will hook you up
 
get more detail on the show here

Black Box Revelation online: http://us.blackboxrevelation.com/


5/30/12

Poisoned Apples Art Show June 9th


"Snazzy is as Snazzy Does!"
Gwen Joy is an artist who specializes in colorful folk art paintings. 
Life experience is her subject matter which is translated in a lyrical/mythical fashion.
Follow Gwen's snazzy street reviews weekly here on Motorcityblog                        
     Reach her directly at www.GwenJoy.com




This June, 2012, in honor of the 75th anniversary of the animated film Snow White, a celebration like no other will take place at Funhouse Gallery Detroit.

More than 80 local, national and international contemporary artists will display their interpretations of the story of The Original Princess. Opening reception guests will enjoy art, theme-inspired hors d'oeuvres & and live performances by local favorites throughout the evening.

Expect everything from fine art technique oil paintings to street art-inspired works from the likes of Justin Aerni, Ryan Myers, Struggle Buggy, and Jason Rudolph Pena, as well as local favorites such as A. Owen Layne, DVS, Bridgett Davenport, Eve Noir, Marty Winters, and more.

Please visit the Poisoned Apples facebook page for a full list of participating artists:  facebook.com/PosionedApples.Detroit

Performances by Lula La Rose, Izgreyala, Meridith Lorde, Lushes LaMoan, & Emily Infinity

Curated by Diane Irby

Show runs June 9 - 23, 2012
Opening reception Saturday, June 9, 2012 7pm - midnight
Closing reception Saturday evening, June 23
Gallery Hours for this show: Thurs & Fri 5-9, Sat 2-6, and by appt.

Funhouse Gallery is located inside the Russell Industrial Center at:
1600 Clay Street, Detroit, MI 48211

You must be 18+ to attend this show.







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














Wild At Heart





As promised, here are picture featuring the country acts that played at the Rochester Lilac Festival. Now we are getting to the end of the pics, I finally have some bands that are coming through the area starting with Driftwood. I just caught the tail end of their performance of folk inspired Americana. There last record, “A Rock N Roll Heart” was mastered by Grammy winner Scott Hull (for the Steely Dan album “Two Against Nature” and the John Mayer album “Room for Squares”). Over the next few months they will be performing at a number of grassroots festivals from NY to NC and they are going to be at The Wolverine Brewing Company on June 29th in Ann Arbor.




Driftwood



Having seen a number of American Idol contestants over the years (including most recently Daughtry), it was only a matter of time before I saw someone from its competitor “The Voice”. So my first person is of course a country singer who goes by the name of Gwen Sebastian. While losing during the battle rounds, she must have impressed judge Blake Shelton who asked her to tour with him. She has a decent enough voice and a nice personality that fits in nicely with the basic country crowd.



Gwen Sebastian                                 Gwen Sebastian sings



Gwen Sebastian grooves                     Gwen Sebastian and friend



Gwen Sebastian of The Voice                Gwen Sebastian the look             Gwen Sebastian country



At the show, we had a few celebrities in the back stage area including Buffalo Bills player David Nelson and his beautiful girlfriend, Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, Kelsi Reich. Yep that’s the player who gave a football to his girlfriend during a game late last year when they played each other.

Buffalo Bill's David Nelson                      Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader Kelsi Reich



The headliners were Steel Magnolia, the couple who won the talent show “Can You Duet” (how many of these shows are there now) in season 2. I wasn’t as enamored with them as I thought I would be but they have a nice stage presence together which makes them somewhat enjoyable to watch and they have a great drummer (from Rochester, NY). The closest they are getting to Detroit this year would be the Burlington Country & Blues BBQ on July 14th.



Steel Magnolia                           Steel Magnolia - Joshua



Steel Magnolia - Meghan and guitarist                          Steel Magnolia - fun



Steel Magnolia - Meghan            Steel Magnolia - hand in the air           Steel Magnolia - it's you



Steel Magnolia - synchronized                Steel Magnolia - nice smile              Steel Magnolia - country



Steel Magnolia - group                                  Steel Magnolia - close



Lastly, there is the country trio, The Farm. I didn’t take many pictures this day as the front was mobbed since Krista is from Batavia which is pretty much right down the road (think Ann Arbor to Detroit). This band had a lively show though maybe a few too many covers for my taste (ranging from Johnny Cash to Queen). They do put on a rockin’ show which would feel right at home in a Honky Tonk. These guys are actually coming to Detroit this summer on June 9th for the Country Hoedown so get your dancing shows and cowboy hats out for them when they come through.





The Farm                                   The Farm @ Lilac Festival



So those are my pictures from the Lilac Festival this year. Some really good bands and I wish more were coming through the Detroit area this year, esp Cowboy Mouth who really rocked. I got some stuff I’m working on for the summer so catch you later and enjoy the pics.

TOMORROW: Comic-Con: The Movie @ Magic Bag

While I LOVE the idea of Comic-Con, the reality of being there is a bit daunting -- that's 125,000 pop culture crazies packed into one little town! But put together one of my favorite documentary-makers, Morgan Spurlock; one of today's cleverest, best-loved writer/director/nerds, and now box-office-record-breaker Joss Whedon; and straight-up legend Stan Lee, to document the madness, and what you get has got to be almost better than being there yourself. You'll get your chance to check it out TOMORROW within the comfy confines of our own Magic Bag in Ferndale. 


Some of the most brilliant people currently in any business.

Thursday Night Brew & View
 May 31 - Doors 8pm - 21+ - $2


A Brew & View debut! A killer documentary from filmmaker Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) about the behind the scenes happenings and the phenomena that is the Comic-Con convention in San Diego. Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Stan Lee and Seth Green are among the many featured Comic-Con fans interviewed.

FREE TICKETS: The Duke Spirit & HACIDENDA - Crofoot Pontiac - Tuesday 6/12

The Duke Spirit have played the motorcity many times in recent years including opening gigs for EODM and Mercury Rev...MCB had a chance to meet up with the band on both stops for video interviews and photos and now we have a few sets of tickets to giveaway as they pull in for another show (this time headlining) out at the Crofoot Pontiac - email motorcityblog@earthlink.net to enter to win a pair for this killer show
 
 
Get tickets here
we love breaking out the vintage MCB videos and this one is fun

FREE TICKETS: Mitch Fatel - Magic Bag Ferndale - Friday 6/1 7pm & 10pm

Looking for a fun filled Friday night? 
MCB has some tickets to roll out for the hilarious Mitch Fatel who plays the Magic Bag in Ferndale this coming Friday night
email motorcityblog@earthlink.net to enter to win a pair of tix for the late 10pm show!

From Comedy Central & The Howard Stern Show

MITCH FATEL

Friday, June 1st 2012

Two Shows: Doors 7 & 10p.m. - $20

Is that a sparkle in his eye or is he just confused? With his innocence and friendly demeanor Mitch quickly engages the audience and then catches them off guard with his mixture of mischievous dialog and off color comments. While laughing at observations only Mitch can get away with we are left wondering if he truly understands what he just said. We never really know.  Since then both appreciative audiences and comedy executives have made the same observation about Mitch¹s rise to stardom, "It's just a matter of time." Well his time has come. The number one requested comedian on Satellite Radio, Mitch has appeared numerous times on both the "Late Show with David Letterman" and the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno". In 2006 he took home honors as "Best Comedian" at the prestigious HBO Aspen Comedy Festival and in April of 2007 his half hour stand up special debuted on Comedy Central and was ranked #6 all time by viewers. Mitch's' DVD "Magical" debuted in September 2009.

 

Don't miss your chance to catch Mitch live and in person as the critically acclaimed comedian drops by the Magic Bag for two shows on Friday, June 1st 2012

 

Get tickets here now

http://www.themagicbag.com/

 

 

5/29/12

MCB ROAD TRIP

Rock on the Range 2012
"Where Rock Lives"

Motor City Blog recently had the opportunity to cover the sixth annual Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio at the Columbus Crew Stadium. Rock on the Range is one of the largest music festivals in North America. The three day festival played host to 44 bands on three stages to a crowd in excess of 70,000 people. Surprisingly this event is extremely affordable.Tickets for the event range from approximately 60 bucks a day depending on whether or not you purchase field or staduim tickets (both give you access to all three stages). That is some serious bang for your buck considering most of us have spent that much on one ticket to see one or two bands. Here is this years lineup;


Friday, May 18
Friday Night 4Play
F.Y.E. Second Stage
7:00 PM Hells Bells
7:45 PM Black Tide
8:30 PM Foxy Shazam
9:30 PM Hairball
Saturday, May 19
Monster Main Stage
Noon Adelitas Way
1:10 PM Halestorm
2:20 PM Theory of a Deadman
3:40 PM Chevelle
5:00 PM Slash
6:40 PM Five Finger Death Punch
8:10 PM Shinedown
9:45 PM Incubus
F.Y.E. Second Stage
11:30 AM Emphatic
12:35 PM New Medicine
1:45 PM Falling in Reverse
3:05 PM Cavo
4:25 PM P.O.D.
5:55 PM Cypress Hill
Jägermeister Stage
11:30 AM Fox Rocks Winner
12:35 PM Otherwise
1:45 PM Rival Sons
3:05 PM Kyng
4:25 PM In This Moment
5:55 PM Bobaflex
Sunday, May 20
Monster Main Stage
12:05 PM Black Stone Cherry
1:15 PM Escape the Fate
2:30 PM The Darkness
3:50 PM Volbeat
5:10 PM Mastodon
6:45 PM Megadeth
8:15 PM Marilyn Manson
9:45 PM Rob Zombie
F.Y.E. Second Stage
11:30 AM Aranda
12:40 PM Redlight King
1:55 PM Trivium
3:15 PM Attack Attack!
4:35 PM Down
6:00 PM Anthrax
Jägermeister Stage
11:30 AM Ghosts of August
12:40 PM Eve to Adam
1:55 PM SOiL
3:15 PM James Durbin
4:35 PM 12 Stones
6:00 PM Lacuna Coil

Detroit’s own Ghosts of August opened up the Jagermeister Second Stage on Sunday May 20th at 11:30am. MCB had the opportunity to catch up with the guys to hear about their ROTR experience and to discuss their newly released album.




Ghosts of August is;
Dave Holowchak - Vocals
Steven Lee - Guitars/Vocals
Terry Freers - Bass
Kenny Lee - Drums
Paul Delmotte - Guitars

MCB: Your self-titled debut album just came out recently?
PAUL: Yes, the album came out on December 6, 2011 digitally through Itunes and Amazon. The physical copy was just released the first or second week of January 2012.
STEVE: The album is just now starting to show up in Michigan Best Buy’s and places like that.
PAUL: That’s cool I bought our own cd at Best Buy, but I’m not opening it. (laughs)
DAVE: I bought it too but I kept in the wrapper.
MCB: So you guys sold at least two copies already! Lol The album is self titled and your first single is “Disease” correct?
DAVE: Ya, it’s our first single and it did really well. We got like number 41 on the active rock charts. For being an Indie I guess it says something at least for us and we just released our second single “Scars” about a month ago and it’s the first song we played today. So we are trying to push that one and hopefully we have a couple more in the bank before we start going back the studio to work on the next cd.
MCB: This is your first Rock on the Range. How is the experience so far?
KENNY: It’s been great.
STEVE: We got to spend the day yesterday doing some media and press stuff, but got to catch a couple of the bands and that’s always fun.
MCB: Who does most of the writing in the band?
DAVE: We all kinda do it collectively. We all know what we do in the band and when we do it, it might be someone starting a riff or whatever it is and all of a sudden someone grabs it and builds on it and then someone else grabs it and builds on it. Then the lyrics hit. It really is a collective process. We all have credits on the writing. It’s never really just one person.
PAUL: Sometimes we’ll just jam at a rehearsal space and a song will just come out of it from nothing. Other times someone will come and say they have a riff idea or this melody and we just build it.
MCB: How long have you been playing together?
DAVE: This band since 2007, but outside of that we all came from the same area, but different bands. This is the most cohesive unit I’ve ever been a part of and without each one of these guys we wouldn’t be Ghosts of August.
(awwww)
DAVE: It’s true, that’s the way it is. Everybody brings their own flavour to it. That’s the basis of who we are.
MCB: Out of all the bands playing here this weekend, who are you most excited to see?
TERRY: Down.
DAVE: The Darkness.
KENNY: I’m with Dave, I want to see the Darkness.
PAUL: Yesterday was a huge day too. Slash was awesome
MCB: What’s up next for Ghosts of August?
STEVE: More of this.
PAUL: It’s gonna be a crazy summer.
DAVE: Next week we have a couple of one offs with Smile Empty Soul and Veer Union. We are playing The Machine Shop on Friday and then Sunday we are in Kentucky with those guys. After that I think we have a weekend or two off and then we are playing Rockapalooza in Jackson and Toledo, Band Camp in Wisconsin.
STEVE: A few more are being added slowly.
DAVE: We are in the process of building our summer right now. This is our biggest push of the album so far.
STEVE: This summer we kinda left open to do the summer festivals and place in some gigs along the way but the tour should hopefully come in the fall sometime.
MCB: Awesome. Thanks much for talking to us and best of luck with everything.

The Divine Sister/ Ha Ha Tonka and Langhorne Slim


"Snazzy is as Snazzy Does!"
Gwen Joy is an artist who specializes in colorful folk art paintings. 
Life experience is her subject matter which is translated in a lyrical/mythical fashion.
Follow Gwen's snazzy street reviews weekly here on Motorcityblog                        
     Reach her directly at www.GwenJoy.com


The Divine Sister is currently at the Ringwald Theatre in Ferndale, Michigan.  This is a delightful spoof on every Hollywood film involving nuns complete with a stigmata scene, cheery yet sardonic songs, a ton of sexual innuendos, an abundance of orphans, and actors dressed in drag. Highlights included a joke involving a bicycle pump, rubber cement, and Purina Cream of Wheat, a fondness for kosher pickles, bashing on the Dave Clark trio, and a tale about a trip to Crete Island involving a cuddle fish, a Bill Blass suit with a wide collar, and a airy turquoise negligee. Most of the performers had more than one role and this added to the zany off kilter charm of this production. Please visit http://www.theringwald.com/ for more info.

On 5/28 a Missouri band HA Ha Tonka played a delightful blend of appalachia, folk, indie, bluegrass, and country music. Biblical and literary references, intuitive and colorful storytelling about the economic and cultural realities of the south, four part harmonies, robust ever present twang, and a sprinkling of dry sharp humor made this performance rich and rewarding. The band is obviously close knit. They resembled brothers poking and joking with each other. They had a candid, pleasant and dynamic stage presence. The crowd was filled with an especially cheerful college indie crowd and some older NPR listeners. Lots of smiles and merriment.

Langhorne Slim from Pennsylvania craft songs about temptation and redemption. Slim is a blend of  Irish and English folk, bluegrass and indie rock. They sound like a gentler Pogues. At times the singer does sound a bit like a bluesier Robert Plant.  Slim toured with Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players previously and has a song that was chosen as number 5 on the Rolling Stone editor's top ten picks. A lovely cover of The Verve Pipe's The Freshman, the charming and at times spastic banjo playing, and one song with lyrics about various hair colors, a picnic, eating a peach at the seaside, and sensual thigh feeling were grand moments. The crowd was dancing, happy and appreciative of the songs and charismatic singer in the alpine hat with the dramatic buster keatonesque eyes.


Mark Sultan/ Murder Mystery Detroit Dinner


"Snazzy is as Snazzy Does!"
Gwen Joy is an artist who specializes in colorful folk art paintings. 
Life experience is her subject matter which is translated in a lyrical/mythical fashion.
Follow Gwen's snazzy street reviews weekly here on Motorcityblog                        
     Reach her directly at www.GwenJoy.com



On 5/23 local grunge influenced band The Mexican Knives opened for Mark Sultan at the Lager House. They remind me of The Breeders but breathier. The vocalist has an introverted stage presence complete with a default head tilt and hair hanging in her face.  The guitarist also played with Lee Marvin's Computer Arm and The Readies.  I enjoyed a Velvet Underground cover. The Lou Reed intonations were delivered with craft and sass. A lot of tamborine, snare, and back up singing added a melodic component. The crowd was swaying to the the beat and dancing.

Mark Sultan is a one man band currently living in Toronto, Canada who has traveled extensively worldwide and has played with The Spaceshits., Les Sexareenos, BBQ, Mind Controls, The King Khan & BBQ Show and others. John Spencer covers one of his songs. Mark has an incredible singing range and his songs are an amazing blend of psychedelia, garage rock, doo-wop, early rock n' roll, punk, and avant garde.  The orchestration of sounds,  Beach Boys fuzz, and the mixture of falsetto and low notes were marvelous.  A few gems from his BBQ days were performed. His most current album is called War on Rock n' Roll with artwork by Gary Panter.  Mark told some charming tales in between a few songs and handled a heckler hilariously and candidly. Top notch, inventive and dynamic performance.

On Friday 5/25 I enjoyed a three course meal and a two hour 1980s interactive murder mystery show. The food consisted of breaded chicken, pasta, red skin potatoes, various salads, and rainbow sherbet. Fun and flamboyant 80s clothing was abundant. The performances will be taking place in East Pointe until August 24th. Out of a few hundred attendees seventeen were chosen to be part of the show. I happened on the role of Miss June Perfect which had a Leave it to Beaver essence.  Some other roles were a shy video game champion,  an exercise tape tycoon, and an elderly delusional rock star waiting for his comeback show. Two murders took place and various clues are given out. This is a fun and creative way to meet new people.
Please click on [www.grimprov.com] for more info.




Static presents...MOTOR CITY MELTDOWN!

The Luckouts @ "Motor City "May-hem"

On Grand Prix weekend, Saturday June 2 at 9 pm, speed on down to the Corktown Tavern for a night of Detroit Rock & Roll featuring The Farleys, The Luckouts and White Shag!

The Farleys will be celebrating the release of their new CD "Crooked Bitch" available at the show. The Luckouts will open the night with their power-fueled rock followed by the music of White Shag.

Come on down to the Corktown Tavern located at 1716 Michigan Avenue (next to the vacant lot that was Tiger Stadium). 21 & over welcome, $5 cover. www.corktowntavern.com

FREE DIRTY BLACK SUMMER: Free Tickets for DANZIG at Fillmore Detroit Sat 6/2

hi - happy monday...I mean Tuesday...did your long weekend almost take you out? well mine did. Did you welcome with open arms our good old dirty black summer? well thanks to that I am throwing a couple sets of free tickets out there for this Saturday nights DANZIG show at the Fillmore Detroit - dont wait just email motorcityblog@earthlink.net  for your chance to win



get tickets here
http://thefillmoredetroit.com/event/0800486DB0C641A9

5/28/12

Wild at Heart


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






Wild At Heart





OK, I got a little behind on my posting this past week so I will try to make up for it. Had a busy week getting the yard and garden in shape.

  My Garden 2012

 I am also trying to get involved again with the Sound Of Music Festival (with artists Basia Bulat, Big Sugar, Mother Mother, etc) as well as plans for Radiohead in Toronto. Also getting ready for a garage sale and the upcoming Rochester Jazz Fest which had a preview last night starring the wonderful Marc Cohn and Bonnie Raitt in a rockin' concert. After working all day trimming bushes, washing the kitchen floors and hanging some new curtains, I have about 1/2 hour left to link as many pictures as I can because I have to be at work at 5:30AM. What I don't get posted will wait til Wednesday (I promise).

   So here we are with a local Rochester reggae group called Nevergreen who opened for the legendary Wailers at the Lilac Festival. They are a fun little band with a vibrant lead singer, a good drummer and some nice horns.
  Nevergreen      Nevergreen lead and drums          Nevergreen in your face Nevergreen smooth         Nevergreen guitar jam         Nevergreen reaching out

   The Wailers are of course a continuation of Bob Marley backing band and they are still going strong after all these years. I saw them for the first time about 15 years ago when living in Toledo and then again at Rothbury before seeing them last week. Most recently, they just missing the Top 40 charts with the song they did with Kenny Chesney which stalled at number 41. As a unit, they might not carry the same weight as bands like Steel Pulse but they are a pleasure to listen too as they go into songs that most people think of when they think of Reggae like "Jammin", "One Love", "No Woman No Cry" and "Redemption Song".

  The Wailers hands in the air        The Wailers bass         The Wailers close up The Wailers sexy singer                    The Wailers colorful           The Wailers mean guitar    The Wailers groovin          The Wailers guitar          The Wailers soulful         The Wailers are awesome

I will post the country stars on Wednesday but in the meantime here are some recommended shows for the week with some nice stuff going on. Especially exciting in the Patti Smith show at the DIA. They are putting on the first exhibition of her photography and that in and of itself should be on interest for real music fans. The concert will feature her son Jackson on guitar and daughter Jesse on piano making it a real family affair. Stephane is a great guitarist in the Django school of playing and it a nice diversion.

Wednesday (5/30) - Drake @ Pine Knob, Stephane Wrembel @ the Ark

Friday (6/1) - Patti Smith @ Detroit Institute of the Arts, Bobby Vinton @ Caesar's Windsor, Thrice @ St Andrews Hall, Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels @ Belle Isle Grand Prix

Saturday (6/2) - The Cult and Puddle Of Mudd @ Beaverfest (Windsor Riverfront)

Sunday (6/3) - Rockin For A Match Bone Marrow fundraiser featuring Jill Jack and Stewart Francke (plus a lot more) @ St Andrews Hall, Third Day & Jars Of Clay @ Pine Knob

Monday (6/4) - Punch Brothers @ Magic Stick