Show Reviews: MICKEY AVALON in Grand Rapids,MI and Toledo,OH on his 2015 Summer tour (with photos and video).

After rapper Mickey Avalon had his opening slot with Sublime with Rome at Meadow Brook Music Festival, he stayed in the area to do a couple headlining dates. Motorcityblog was there to catch them and report back.

Mickey kicked off his second Michigan date on his 2015 Summer tour on Sunday, July 26 at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, MI. First time at this venue and I was very impressed. You can't go wrong with beer and 50 pinball machines in a venue.

Mickey played to a packed house at The Pyramid Scheme, which was very impressive for a Sunday night. Mickey had a much more stage time than his opening slot the day before. He easily filled his 70 minute set with material off his two full length albums, singles, and some new material not yet released. Songs included Romeo and Juliet, Mickey's Girl, Friends and Lovers, and Fuckin' Em All. The crowd keep their bodies close to the stage and the energy level was high for the entire show. A eager fan jumped on stage during the danceable favorite Jane Fonda to show off her moves and Mickey played along. By the end of the song, dozens of ladies from the audience were on stage and stayed for both Stroke Me and My Dick that followed.
     

 

Check out this live footage from The Pyramid Scheme show...

 

 

Next up for Mickey was a gig on Monday, July 27 at Frankie's Inner City in Toledo, OH. It was a hot Monday and even hotter inside the bar with no air conditioning running. Mickey was covered in sweat by the end of his first song of the set, but it didn't stop him from giving his all during it. Frankie's Inner City is a small and narrow venue, but the packed crowd was very polite and had a blast singing along and dancing. During Mickey's song On The Ave. a shower of dollar bills started getting thrown on stage for Mickey. Mickey's roadie Tuna took a stab at playing live guitar during Jane Fonda at the previous night's gig and at this gig he played guitar on not only that track, but also Rock Bottom and Stroke Me. It was a nice addition that got me thinking that Mickey with a entire live band would be amazing. Mickey may be a rapper, but his backing music is very rock infused.

The ladies of the crowd could not resist the stage once again during Jane Fonda. Booty shaking and even underwear waving commenced during the song before the ladies were told by the staff to vacate the stage. Disappointment of not being able to shake it any longer on stage would soon pass as Mickey invited all the ladies on stage two songs later for the song My Dick. A crowd pleaser if there ever was one, the ladies flooded the stage to dance, snap cellphone pics/video, and sing along.

         

 

Check out this live footage from the Frankie's Inner City show...

 

 

One thing is certain when it comes to a Mickey Avalon show. The crowd will be lively and have no inhibitions. Due to this, his live shows always make for a fun atmosphere 

Mickey comes out after his shows to meet fans, sign autographs, and take pictures. He greeted dozens of fans each night. Smiles and hugs were a common sight at the meet and greets and everyone left happy.

 

 

 MCB also put together this compilation video featuring live footage and hijinx from from the two shows....

Photos by: Casey Schwochow and Danielle Arsenault

Video by: Ambervillain Films

COMING UP: Monday 8/10 Punk vs New Wave at Northern Lights Lounge

Every Monday, Northern Lights Detroit hosts Punk Vs New Wave- the city's hottest rock 'n roll dance party, featuring an all-star cast of local DJs! We keep the kitchen open til 11pm and serve $1.50 PBR/Stroh's and $3 well drink specials all night! 21+, no cover.

this week's lineup:

Peter Croce

Rebecca Goldberg

NORTHERN LIGHTS LOUNGE

660 W. Baltimore

Detroit

Get there by 8:00pm to play free trivia with Geeks Who Drink!!!

TONIGHT: LOOSEN UP After-Hours

After your evening's fun... a very proper after hours party is happening at the new Doug's Body Shop. Doug's is just the right size with great sound, dark corners and even darker rooms to explore.

Midnight to 5AM

21+ / $5

*refreshments served all night

7525 Fenkell St.

Detroit

Coming Up! 8/15 Topher Horn's The Detroit Jazz Sessions Vol 1. 12" RELEASE PARTY (Rocksteady Disco #2)

Topher Horn comes in with a release of Detroit deep house future jazz heat, dropping on Rocksteady Disco in July of 2015. Milky smooth and tracks to start the night, play at peak hour, or finish the party off. 

Toph's been a long-kept secret here in Detroit, running a studio frequented by the likes of Jay Daniel, Mike “Agent X” Clark, Craig Huckaby, Seth “Dedikate” Carter, Alan Barnes, and more. He's a secret no-longer thanks to his first proper 12" + delayed WEB release through Rocksteady Disco for both DJ heads and record collectors/listeners alike. This record will be the line in the sand regarding the up-and-coming producers out of Detroit in 2015. Don't sleep, unless it's a disco nap.

Topher Horn moved to New York right after Rocksteady Disco put the order in at Archer Record Pressing a few months back. This is Topher's first gig back in Detroit since April 2015, when he left his residency at Temple Bar along with Peter.

The awesome guys over at ROCKSTEADY DISCO agreed to GIVE AWAY one of the RSD002 12" records BEFORE you can snag it at the party... 

Email us with ROCKSTEADY in the subject line to win!

Saturday August 15th, 2015

The Whiskey Disco - 2 John R. - DETROIT

$5 before midnight / $10 after

21+

Records, shirts, totes, and more for sale

FREE VINYL FRIDAY: Cadaver Dogs

You don't even wanna know what I had to do to get my hands on Ohio's Cadaver Dogs latest release, "Too Much", but I did it all for you.

Email me at breeehenry@gmail.com for your chance to win.

Catch the band at next week's Blackout BBQ at The Majestic.

Blackout BBQ

Saturday, August 15, 2015

The Majestic

$15/20

FRIDAY, August 7- All The Wild Children/Wizard Union/Trollhammer/Wormhole/Rock and Rummage at Crossroads in Ypsilanti

On Friday, August 7 The Crossroad's Bar & Grill in Ypsilanti is hosting a night of live Rock N' Roll music.

Live bands for the night include All The Wild Children, Wizard Union, Trollhammer, and Wormhole.

Local traveling Rock N' Roll inspired flea market Rock and Rummage will also be set up for the entire event.

 
The Crossroad's Bar & Grill  is located at 517 W Cross St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Doors at 9pm.
$5 Cover 

PHOTOS/REVIEW: Jamie xx at the Majestic Theater

After a highly acclaimed debut album In Colour released in June, Jamie Smith, better known as Jamie xx, made his way through Detroit last night to DJ at the Majestic Theater.  The ambiance was upbeat in the Majestic's big room with a small-enough feel and ample sound.  


I am big fan of the album, and was excited to hear how choice cuts like the ones featuring xx bandmate Romy Croft on vocals (Loud Places, Seesaw) would fit in or if the more eclectic sample-infused tracks would be included. 


Jamie xx is a stellar DJ with years of experience collecting, producing, perfecting and becoming the craft.  As soon as his crate of vinyl was set and the colored lights went up, I knew we'd be in for a ride.  In an otherwise pre-programmed set, it's always nice to hear a DJ show some improv skills.  The production was on point with colored lazers, lights and a giant disco ball.  There was enough fog and bodies to get you to feel like you might be in that smaller club, but not take away from what was happening on stage.   


Lifting off with Think Twice, a track from The Detroit Experiment set the tone for the evening.  It might not have clicked right away, but you can't go wrong with an opener like this.  From then on Jamie seemed to effortlessly drive through house, techno, dub and his own work.  Kerri Chandler's "Hallelujah" on wax made some of us go bananas and teasers of Loud Places eventually led us where we wanted to go.  Jamie really knows his stuff and it showed.  A real "DJ's DJ" is harder to come by in the current EDM world, but when someone like Jamie xx rolls through town,  you should't miss it.

Created with flickr slideshow.

TONIGHT - Jamie xx at the Majestic Theater

On the heels of releasing his solo album debut, In Colour, earlier this summer, Jamie xx makes his way to Detroit tonight to DJ at the Majestic Theater. Expect to hear the latest depth and texture filled cuts as well as some xx favorites mixed in.  

The last time I got to hear Jamie spin was in a ~150 person sweaty room in Pittsburgh and he shook that place for hours. 

Pick up tickets online or at the box office (no fee!) 

Doors at 8 - all ages

Majestic Theater
4120 Woodward Ave
Detroit, Michigan 48201

WIN WIN WIN A VIP DIRTFEST PACKAGE

Dirt Fest is another must attend festival. Here's you chance to go as a VIP. Share, tag @DIRTFEST, hashtag #DIRTFEST2015 this photo. Winner will be announced Wednesday August 5.

TONIGHT/SAT: Musician/Storyteller Jill Tracy to appear at the 5th annual Corpus Illuminata Exposition of Anatomic Interpretation

DETROIT, MI - The Corpus Illuminata Exposition of Anatomic Interpretation is proud to announce and welcome a special honored guest to it's 5th annual event...composer, musician, storyteller, and sonic archaeologist JILL TRACY (San Francisco).  Since 1995, Jill Tracy has garnered multiple awards and a passionate following for her eerie and beautiful cinematic music, sophisticated lyrics, old-world glamour, and curious passion for strange tales.  She has been hailed by the LA Weekly as the "cult darling of the Underworld," and San Francisco Chronicle has named her the "femme fatale for the thinking man."  With six albums to her credit, her dark seductive music has appeared on CBS, NBC, PBS, and numerous independent and feature films. Within Corpus Illuminata on 14-15 August, Jill Tracy will share her intimate experiences with the renowned Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, the nation's foremost collection of medical oddities, to which she became the first musician in history to receive a grant to compose within the museum itself.  Then she will close the exposition with a rare solo performance within the gallery amidst the anatomic/medical-inspired artwork. This will mark Jill Tracy's second visit to Detroit since her well-received performance at the DAMNED Exhibition's Masquerade Ball in 2009. Visit Jill Tracy's official website: www.jilltracy.com. Corpus Illuminata is held on 14-15 August at Tangent Gallery/Hastings Ballroom  in Detroit and consists of one part exhibition of anatomic-inspired artwork, one part academia of accredited presentations and one part bazaar of medical antiquities and oddities. For further information and updates, please visit any of the links below to the Corpus Website, Facebook newsgroup or Facebook event page. We look forward to your attendance. Corpus Illuminata V ~ An Anatomic Interpretation Artwork / Antiquities / Lectures / Bazaar August 14 & 15 2015 - Tangent Gallery/Hastings Ballroom 715 E Milwaukee St, Detroit, MI 48202 www.corpusilluminata.org www.facebook.com/groups/CorpusNewsgroup www.facebook.com/events/1445888722380327/ Jill Tracy - YouTube "the elegant side of the netherworld."-- composer, pianist, singer, storyteller, musical evocateur, woman of mystery... Jill Tracy will transport you into a seductive and magical realm far beyond the Everyday. The place where we wished we lived. A dark, elegant netherworld full of hidden passageways, wonder cabinets, and opium dens. continue »

Mailing address: Corpus Media, 2679 E Grand Blvd‎, Suite 304, Detroit, MI, 48211, USA

Call For Art - The 8th Annual DAMNED Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness

+ CALL FOR DAMNED ART + damned -adj. 1. condemned to eternal punishment. 2. detestable; loathsome. 3. complete; absolute Within the word, it is easy to envision devils and hellfire. However, it also reflects the eternal condemnation of self and the subtle mind against itself. It may reflect the emotional trappings within the haunting ghosts of the past. Perhaps the binding tendrils of our deepest longings or deprivations. DAMNED is an exhibition of those extraordinary artists who know that without darkness, there is no light, that beauty does reside within the repulsive and enlightenment within our darkest hours. This art may be the one true reflection of self that make us balanced within our personal damnations...or possibly it is an expressive visual therapy...or simply a sign that there is amazingly inexplicable inside without comparison. Artists of all mediums from anywhere in the world are welcome to submit their work for DAMNED. There are no restrictions on genre or content but the more deeply personal and powerfully introspective, the better. There are no fees to submit and the deadline is September 13 2015. For further information and to submit, please visit:  www.thatdamnedshow.com/call For further details on the DAMNED Exhibition, please visit "www.thatdamnedshow.com" or email us at "damned@thatdamnedshow.com". # # #  DAMNED VIII - An Exhibition of Enlightened Darkness Fine Art + Performance + Fine Dining + Masquerade Ball October 29/30/31 2015 - Tangent Gallery - Detroit www.thatdamnedshow.com @thatdamnedshow > Fb/G+/Tw

MCB INTERVIEW with MICKEY AVALON on his 2015 summer tour

MOTORCITYBLOG had the opportunity to interview rapper Mickey Avalon this past Sunday after his performance at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

 

 
We shot questions through the smoke and libations backstage to discuss his brand new EP, his most recent collaboration with Dirty Nasty, the story behind his infamous I Get Even album cover, and what he enjoys in Detroit Music.