944 Detroit is sponsoring an event named "ONE" that will be held January 14, 2011 at Motorcity Casino's Sound Board. The event is to help kick off auto show week with the reveal of the New Lexus CT 200H as well as a celebration for 944 Magazine One Year Anniversary here in the motorcity.
MCB has a pair of tickets up for grabs to the 1st emailer who asks for them
Y Arts, the arts education outreach and artist development branch of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, is hosting a free concert featuring musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Saturday January 8, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.
The concert will take place in the Marlene Boll Theatre housed in the Boll Family YMCA at 1401 Broadway in downtown Detroit. The string quartet performing includes Beatrice and Greg Staples on violin, Caroline Coade on viola and Una O’Riordan on cello. This is a rare opportunity for community members to enjoy classical music performed by Detroit’s elite musical talent in the heart of the city - for FREE!
more info here
In concert with the mission and purpose of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, Y Arts is a catalyst for artistic expression and education throughout metro Detroit. We nurture, develop and support traditional, contemporary and emerging art forms by providing teaching opportunities for artists and presenting relevant, high-quality cultural programs and events that showcase their talents. http://site.y-artsdetroit.org/
The Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra are dedicated to sharing and nurturing classical music for the people of Detroit.
The misanthrope is a man who seems passionate in his comic detestation of humankind - its foibles and hypocrisy. Yet the woman he desperately loves stokes his flames of ire and desire as she courts him while simultaneously promising her love to many other suitors. Life unravels beautifully in this comic masterpiece about men, women, passions and protestations.
when you should really be asking yourself "Where do I know her from?"...
Christel Wagner has been a permanent fixture in the Detroit rock scene since 1977. An honorary member of Detroit's Blues Society for over 15 years, she has been many things to many people. Some remember her in her earlier, wilder days as "Christel the Pistol"; that whirling dervish of long, red hair rocking out on the dance floor, commanding a space of her own in front of live bands. Those who don't know her so well may find themselves intimidated by her deep, husky voice, thick German accent and brash honesty. She may even have been the one who once told you that your band sucked! But those of us close to her know her as loyal supporter of Detroit music and art, a rescuer of abused, abandoned and injured animals, and a thoughtful friend who never forgets a birthday! Did I mention she can bake a mean batch of cookies? She is an honest soul with an independent spirit and a heart of gold! And judging by the magnitude of well-known talent involved in the "Rock for Christel" fundraiser, it is evident how many lives she has touched.
More recently, she was a dear friend to Julie Hecker who passed away, tragically in Christel's home, and shortly before her cancer diagnosis.
Born on Christmas Day 1956, in the city of Babenhausen, Germany, her strict, Catholic upbringing and tumultuous childhood set the course for her rebellious love for rock'n'roll.
A wild child raised on Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and the Who, her next plan of action was to escape.
At the age of 19, Christel moved to the United States.
Searching for stability, she settled at a farm in Wisconsin where she raised pigs for 3 years. In 1977, she succumbed to her passion for rock'n'roll and moved to Detroit where the rock scene was "happening". The rest is history and survival.
As of September 2010, Christel was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Without insurance or the support of a spouse, she's had to apply for Medicaid and food stamps, and has had to give up her job. Unable to keep any of the money she's had in savings, neither is she able to accept Paypal donations, as it would interfere with the Medicaid. Thus, the need to raise as much cash as possible with this benefit!
Despite all the complications and allergic reactions of a colostomy, chemo therapy and radiation, Christel has maintained not only strict supervision over her own hospital care, but also a stubborn and courageous will to live, with yet a loving heart toward God and the faith that this time next year, she will be cancer-free!
We will be promoting the benefit on WHFR's Motor Live Drive program, on Thursday, January 13th from 4-5pm where some of the bands' music will be featured. Donations for auction and/or raffle are still being accepted. We are still seeking someone willing to video tape the show!!! Donations in the form of a check can be made out to Karen Neal, and will be cashed on Christel's behalf!
The Juliets are a five piece pop band hailing from Ypsilanti, Michigan. Their dedication to classically-influenced pop songs is showcased heavily on their self-titled 2010 debut album, The Juliets. The band features a soaring string sound that is not just ornamental but essential to the band's sound. This is baroque with backbone.
Every Sunday PJ becomes house chef, serving his specialty creole gumbo, Texas shrimp BBQ or whatever else his fancy. For three Sundays in January, Americana duo Lac La Belle play musical hosts, along with some of their favorite local acoustic performers. Come down for some home made grub and home town music!
Lac La Belle performs: Sunday, January 9th with guest Stever McFever (of Scarlet Oaks) Sunday, 16th with guest Loretta Lucas (of Sisters Lucas) and Sunday, 23rd with guest Tim Pak.
Dinner menu: Shrimp Dish with Salad; $14.95 Steak Dish with Salad; $16.95 Gumbo $7.95 Regular Menu Available, ranging $5- $10
Lac La Belle is an intriguing acoustic group that juxtaposes the early decades of recorded rural American music with decaying Rustbelt aesthetic. A tradition is re-imagined- or maybe just resumed- in the ‘future-rustic’ swirl of accordion,ukulele, mandolin, banjo, and resonator guitar. The instrumentation echos another era, but is employed for a music of now.
Gives Local Riders Chance to Put Style on Display -
WHAT:
Red Bull Butter Cup is a snowboard contest series that showcases creativity in technical flatland trickery. Born in the northeast in 2009 and expanded across the country in 2010, it's all about going back to the basics of what made us all fall in love with snowboarding in the first place: FUN! The series invites riders of all types to cut loose, and spread it on.
The Red Bull Butter Cup series, which lets snowboarders spread their smooth style onto custom-made features, is sliding into the Mt. Holly resort as part of a 22 stop national series. In its 3rd year the series is hitting resorts from Tahoe, CA to Mount Snow, VT, hosting local athletes hoping to butter up the judges to earn bragging rights – and a little cheddar.
So what exactly makes one buttery?
It’s all about how much style each rider can spread on the custom-built features also known as “butterpads.” Riders “jib, bonk, tap and slide” their way across a multi-featured pad, showcasing their skills and not skimping on the flair. The multiple resort stop will feature local riders in a Pro/Am format, where they will battle it out in a jam for cash and prizes, where overall style and creativity will help the cream rise to the top. Only trick sequences that include buttering will count.
WHO:
100 competitors aged 12 to 25
WHERE:
Mt. Holly Ski Resort 13536 S. Dixie Highway Holly, MI
WHEN:
January 29th, 2011 Registration – 10am Open Practice - noon Competition start – 1pm Awards – 3:30pm
There are really only two types of rappers: those who battle and those who don't. This month, those who find themselves in Detroit have the chance to marvel at the skillful stylings of the former (known to some as "the thinkin' man's rappers").
On January 15, Grind Time Now--the largest rap battle league in the whole wide world--is holding a battle at the Shelter in Detroit. The line-up includes Al Jones, Cliffnote, X Factor, H.I., Hatch, Times, Mahdie, Mic Phelps, Celph Centered, Rave, and Doc Waffles, who has been on the battle scene since the late 1900s.
Participating rappers will be judged by (or maybe just graced by the presence of) the likes of Royce da 5'9", some dudes from D-12, Slum Village, WJLB and more.
Happy New Year! I’m hoping everyone made it safely to 2011. I had a decent New Year as the weather stayed nice and I had free tickets to a couple of area events. I started the night watching the Rochester Razorbacks get defeated in OT by Dayton. The Razorbacks are the semi-pro basketball team in my area and winners of three titles in the past 5 years. Not quite as fun as a Shock game and almost as interesting as the current Pistons. Afterwards, there were fireworks outside the stadium and then it was over to the Main Street Armory for the Playboy Erotic Ball and Casino Night. The Erotic part of the show was pretty lame despite having a local playmate in attendance. I got my free drink and spent the remainder of the night playing poker (not strip) for prize tickets. Won about 16 tickets for various raffles and called it a night. The best part of the night was the armory itself which my dad served in when he was in the military. It has been revamped and is mostly a concert hall (think St Andrews) now but it was nice seeing part of my father’s history. I hope to see a concert there sometime in the future.
Speaking of concerts, here are some upcoming shows you might want to check out:
Friday (1/07) - Sarah McLachlan @ Caesar’s Windsor, Anti-Freeze Blues Festival w/Alberta Adams @ Magic Stick
Saturday (1/08) – Anti-Freeze Blues Festival w/Blasters and Laith Al-Saadi @ Magic Bag, Jill Jack Birthday Bash @ the Ark, Ashes Of Soma @ Hayloft
Sunday (1/09) - Flatfoot 56 opens for Authority Zero @ Magic Stick
The Blasters are definitely a great band to see live with a nice mix of blues, punk and rockabilly. I saw them at the Magic Stick a few years back and they really rocked the joint so if you get the chance, check them out. Here is one of favorites by them, “I’m Shakin’” (an old Little Willie John hit).
I am a big comic book fan and recently stumbled across a collection of the Windsor McCay (famed for early animated feature Gertie The Dinosaur) of “Little Nemo In Slumberland” which ran in the New York Herald from 1905-1911. The strip was basically the dreams of a young boy which ended each strip with him waking up in bed. The strip featured Nemo and friends on many adventures including a trip of the biggest cities in the US and Canada. The March 26th, 1911 strip was interesting as it was the date where Nemo and friends landed their airship in Detroit in front of the Wayne County Court House and later paraded down Woodward Ave and went to Belle Isle for a picnic (there was mention of Grand Circus and Windsor across the river). At the time, Nemo’s character said Detroit is the “prettiest city in the US” which is hard for us to envision today but thinking back at the cities roots, this city must have been something special to be nicknamed the Paris of the West. That was its nickname back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when many of the city's Gilded Age mansions and buildings arose and when Washington Boulevard was electrified by Thomas Edison. I wonder if Detroit can ever establish itself back to that glory. In my five years in the city, I saw some work in that direction but there seems to be a lot going against those efforts also. I wonder what sights Nemo would visit today if going to Detroit (one guess would be the Henry Ford Museum)?
Being here on the East Coast, there was a lot of talk on the news concerning the big airport delays in NYC after the big storm. I was surprised that the little amount of snow was able to cause so much havoc. With over 9,000 flights cancelled, a lot of people were left wondering how they were going to get home which got me thinking of a few things.
As a society we are getting used to getting things quicker due to cell phones and computers. Then again, if you ever tried to get through a companies automated system, one might question that since it can get hard to reach a live person. I was amazed at the number of people on TV screaming into their cell phones to reservation agents trying to get their issues fixed. Of course, technology affected that by the number of people who prefer to book online. Yes, you can get some great deals, but the downside is a reduced number of agents on the phones to help out in a situation like this. American Airlines, for example, United Airlines has gone from 17 reservation offices (15,000 jobs) in 2000 to 3 reservation offices (10,000 jobs) in 2009 which is a lot fewer people handling the incoming calls for all these stranded people. Continental and American Airlines also recently reduced staff and closed centers as well as eliminated flights and grounded planes to help boost their profits during a tough time.
So when people wait on line for 4 hours and can’t get anywhere, frustration gets the better of them. People were upset when they finally got through and were told they had to wait a few more days. Most argued they should have some sort of back-up plan, but what more could the airline have done? You can’t hire new people and put them on the phones with no training. It does take a bit of training to answer phones no matter how easy it sounds. You want the people taking calls to know how the computer system works or you will have more issues. A number of people ended up booking themselves onto a bus or train and in some cases having people drive to NY to pick them up and take them back home.
One story that stood out for me was that of a mother in NY that was happy to have her kid (yes all adults are kids to their moms no matter what their age) home for a few more precious days. She was telling the reporter that she doesn’t see her daughter as much anymore and you could see the joy in her face when talking about her extended stay. The child however wasn’t looking too happy and declined to comment which almost really sums up life. We have an older generation that has learned that you need to take things in stride sometimes and make the most of a situation and a younger generation that wants things right away and looks annoyed when they don’t get it. I fall right in the middle of that shift. I have tried to avoid the annoyance of having a cell phone. I had one for work for 2 months and hated it. All of a sudden people get angry when you don’t answer right away and having to remember to turn it off when at a concert or play. I like to buy things at a store and not online. I just like to hold the item in my hand I’m going to purchase because I know that not everything online is perfect. Heck, I don’t even like ATM’s or using my credit card at the pump. I like dealing with people face to face whenever I can. I even like doing my interviews live that over the phone if possible.
The other thing I don’t like about technology, is how easy it can be to corrupt. This New Year, I was at the gas station when I found out my credit card company cancelled my card and was sending me a new one because one of the places I shopped at before Christmas had gotten hacked. This meant going out for New Years without a credit card handy which was a first. Luckily, I got my new card today and I didn’t have any issues that required having lots of cash on hand, but it was still annoying that it happened. Also, glad I had enough cash to pay for my gas.
Well that is enough waking poetic here in the New Year. I am looking forward to getting some good interviews lined up. Waiting to get some questions back from the Concretes and working on Betty Poison and the Supervillians. Here’s to a great 2011!
In addition to their poppy, very radio-friendly singles, Cake has recorded some really nicely-textured story-telling tunes. This is a good example of one of my favorites:
As a bonus, from the same album, a song I've wanted to dedicated to countless silly boys:
Cake
Wednesday, 5/18/11 7:00PM
Royal Oak Music Theatre
318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, MI TIX
As sad as I am (still, to this day, constantly) at the demise of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the one good thing to come of it is the later-formation of Cinematic Titanic which – and this is the best part! – tours regularly! I've featured their shows here a couple of times already so you can go there to see me be a full-on dork about it. Meanwhile...
CINEMATIC TITANIC
performs
"Legacy of Blood" (and a second film TBD)
February 26, 2011 Two Shows! 6pm and 9:30pm
Royal Oak Music Theater
318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, MI
Cinematic Titanic Live is the theatrical version of movie riffing, the comedic art form we created over twenty years ago in the form of Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Performed in a theater, the five cast members take the stage and riff on a feature film in front of a live audience. Lately Cinematic Titanic has taken over some of the most beautiful theaters in the country with some of the cheesiest movies ever made, making for a hilarious evening of entertainment.
After each show, we’re fortunate enough to meet Mysties as well as new devotees of Cinematic Titanic. Just a note: We will sign pretty much anything with a smooth surface.
Our tours have already taken us to San Francisco, Dallas, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston, Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, and Philadelphia! Check here for current shows, and we hope to come soon to a theater near you!
The band of men that is neither a band nor, possibly, men...
Jay, Randy, Bob, Carlos, John, Homer, Chuck, Hardy, and Palmer did not want to form a band. The fact that none of them played musical instruments was one of the reasons. The idea that they should all become singers didn't really fly either. However, they did want to do something that was fantastic. The best job for people with no particular abilities but wish to be fantastic is to be an artist. They realized that they could be the "artist" version of a "band."
For an old-skooler like myself, this sort of announcement is always exciting. The Adicts are yet another band from my childhood that I've never managed to see. But after more than 30 years of performing, it was inevitable that we'd cross paths at some time.
Not only is their music as energetic and catchy as it is infused with classic punk attitude, I will always and forever be besotted by anyone who rocks a violin AND a bowler hat.
I was thinking about which of my favorites to share with y'all ("Viva la Revolution" and "Joker in the Pack" being their most well-known) and was glad to find this recent live recording of "How Sad." It doesn't sound great, but you get an idea of how nutzoid their shows are.
THE ADICTS
Saturday
March 12
Harpos
14238 Harper, Detroit, MI 48213
"Our concerts are a celebration. There's enough misery in the world. We just wanna have a good laugh."
944 Detroit is sponsoring an event named "ONE" that will be held January 14, 2011 at Motorcity Casino's Sound Board. The event is to help kick off auto show week with the reveal of the New Lexus CT 200H as well as a celebration for 944 Magazine One Year Anniversary here in the motorcity.
