The night started for me with a smattering of downtown Ferndale stereotypes. After I parked my car a nervous cougar (for real) asked me to walk her to Boogie Fever (for real), where her sister was having her bachelorette party (for real).
The first performance I saw was the last few songs of Almost Free's set at Rustbelt Market. Is that Love Meets Lusts' old lighting set up?
On that same block Michael Mars and the God Particle was playing at Found Sound. This band is comprised of one of the guys from Marco Polio and the New Vaccines. They don't quite meet the bar that's set by Marco Polio, by I was still in to it.
Pewter Cub of course had to be fashionably late at the Ferndale Library. I didn't stick around long enough to see if they would play their "radio" song, but they did do a great Pixies cover.
After circling around and sampling sounds that didn't impress me, it was back to the Ferndale Library for Pupils. The lead singer is the other guy from Marco Polio. This band just didn't do it for me, so it was time to look for something else.
Crane Wives have been getting some hype lately in anticipation of the Blowout performance at the Loving Touch, and they've also been cited as an example of too much "nu-country folk" bands on the lineup. I liked these guys, but I didn't love it.
Lightshow Bob has given his endorsement of the Ferndale expansion. He was running the lights from his self-made "lightar" at the Loving Touch. I never made it over to Kelly's Bar last weekend, but he was probably there too.
The last act of the night at Rustbelt Market was Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas. A great show from a band that I've been able to catch sporadically over the last few years. The Rustbelt was packed by this time. It was nice to some place other than the Loving Touch get a big crowd.
Back to the Loving Touch to see the Ragbirds. When I came into the room the fiddle player was doing an impressive sort of "Devil Went Down to Georgia" type thing, so I . In comparison to the Crane Wives, they can do the whole indie-folk thing better (or whatever you call folksy music that isn't being made for the country music crowd).
Bands I saw last night that I'm putting in the "whatever" category: White Shag, Joshua Davis Trio, Chris Degnore and the Black Drops, Palaces, and Pupils.
Downtown Ferndale doesn't have anything like Campau Tower, but it does have this food cart behind the WAB.
For those who might be worried that downtown Ferndale might be losing too much of its character this weekend, the cheesey night clubs were still open. I spotted the shiny shirt and garish jewelry crowd at John D. American Bistro, among other places.
Recommendations for Saturday night:
Fur, 10:50-11:20, at the Loving Touch
Electric Fire Babies, 11:50-12:30, at Como's
This post by:
I'm a dork, I live in the Detroit area, and sometimes I take blurry photos on an outdated camera
My first stop was Over Macho Grande at Kelly's. The music didn't impress me, but I was overjoyed to see Light Show Bob with the band.
For those of you who are too unfortunate to know Light Show Bob, he worked over at The Attic before it became Celina's. He had his own light rigging attached to the ceiling, which he can control from his Lightar, a device he crafted all on his own. He goes up on stage with the band (he's on the far left in the picture), and does his thing. The only other time I see him out any more is at Dally in Alley, rocking his Lightar at the Garden Stage.
In order to leave Kelly's while the music is going, you have to walk right in front of the band in order to get to the door. Awkward!
I then went to Atlas, where Cheat Sheet was supposed to start at 9:00. They were the first band to go on, so there's really no excuse to be late. They started at 9:25. I listened for a minute, then decided they weren't worth the wait and left. If no one has ever heard of your band, you really haven't earned the right to fuck up the start times for the 3 other bands that play after you.
Prussia was scheduled to start at the New Dodge Lounge at 9:20, but in another effort to be fashionably (and unjustifiably) late, they started at 9:35.
Charlie Slick managed to start on time over at the Belmont. He's changed up his routine a bit. He's playing a guitar during his performance now, instead of relying solely on prerecorded music. I thought to myself "Where the fuck is the bubble machine and the glitter?". Slick explained before his last song, that he feels trapped by the expectation of always including glitter and a bubble machine. He goes on to say, that once a blog takes note of these thing. the record of it happening is out there forever, no matter how long ago it happened, and that the internet doesn't allow us to be free even from ourselves. So if you ever run into Charlie Slick, don't mention glitter or bubble machines. Otherwise it might make him sad.
Tried to see Brian Rottar at Baker's at 10:20, and they were nowhere near being ready. Went around the corner to Whiskey in the Jar and saw Patrick Davy & The Ghosts (not to be confused with Patrick Elkins & The Rainbow Vomit Family Band who preceded them). Went back to Baker's and saw this:
Two guys sitting on the floor. I'm glad all that preparation didn't go to waste.
On to Mars Bar at 11 to see Banxx. Mars is still trying for the upscale theme. Reserved tables at the Blowout, really?
I was expecting Banxx to be Allan James and Leann Banks. The music I heard from them online had some interesting joint vocals going, Instead it was just James with his guitar, and it didn't quite meet my expectations. It's also hard to pay attention to a mellow song when Superman IV is playing on a large projection screen ten feet away. Since I'm on the subject of Mars Bar, did you know they had 2 go-go dancers near the windows? The windows are so heavily tinted that you can't see into them from outside, so their exact placement might me be somewhat wasted. Nevertheless, those dancers were stripperific.
(Not actual strippers, but you get the point)
Baker's for Sheefy McFly and the Deloreans. Despite following a late act, they managed to start pretty close to when they were supposed to. I'm not really sold on the whole noise-rock-rap fusion thing, but they turned out a pretty decent cover of I Wanna Be Your Dog. Highlight was J.R. saying "fuck that writer who called us a diverse act just for having 1 black guy.
At long last, the event I had been waiting for all night, Marco Polio and the New Vaccines at Mars Bar. As the band was setting up, Steve the vocalist was creating several stacks of black boxes with colorful paint. The same paint that Steve was covered with.
People started throwing around the boxes like they were beach balls. They kept hitting the light fixtures, and the bar staff wasn't too happy about it.
Steve started passing out umbrellas, and I knew better this time than to take one. They're filled with glitter and confetti that come raining down once they're opened. Another move that probably made the band unpopular with the bar staff.
Steve took a human caterpillar cape, and draped it over several people. At the end of the last song took his human caterpillar and anyone else willing to join in, and formed an impromptu parade a couple blocks up Joseph Campau and back, stopping momentarily at Amicci's Pizza. The parade's return to the Mars Bar coincided with the arrival of the Night Moves bus, and they just couldn't refuse to take their human caterpillar onto the bus.
What did I miss by not getting on that bus? Maybe I'll never know.
I then drove over to Gates of Columbus, hoping to catch the end of JSB Squad, who started after Marco Polio did, but they were already done. Missing them to see the Marco Polio parade was probably worth it.
Going over to Columbus Hall wasn't a complete waste. I managed to run into one of the guys from Five Three Dial Tones while he had his Hello Operator tapes on him. I now own copy 71 out of 333.
Marco Polio and the New Vaccines Sunday June 1st 2008
Belmont Bar Hamtramck MI
Doors @ 8pm $6 cover
Help raise some cash for the guys who have had a few things stolen on the past month At least their car wasnt stolen by the Detroit Police last night like many others
Here is a short clip of Marco Polio and the New Vaccines on the Pure Detroit stage at Cityfest. These dudes put on an one-two punch, energy rich show...
Well - its Halloween just around the corner and here at MCB we think the best place is the Crofoot Pontiac
nothing but pure terror awaits you at this party and plus because the folks over theCrofoot know times are tough for a lot of folks out there they made this years party on the cheap for you without scrimping on the party
They appreciate thier customers and we highly suggest you take the short drive up woodward for this one
MCB approved!
Creepy Cheapy Halloween Treat II:
PRUSSIA, CHILDBITE, ALLAN JAMES AND THE COLDWAVE, SILVERGHOST, MARCO POLIO AND THE NEW VACCINES, WILDCATTING AND MORE
The Crofoot's Creepy Cheapy Halloween treat is back from beyond the grave!
Prepare for a night of costumed covers, free candy, cheap booze, and endless dancing!
Some of Detroit's most innovative musicians will pay homage to their heroes, prepare for: Prussia as the Velvet Underground, Childbite as Rage Against the Machine, Allan James and the Cold Wave as Weezer, Silverghost as Devo, Marco Polio and The New Vaccines as the The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and more!
Vintage MCB Video of Orbitsuns at New Way Bar in 2008
We wanted to post a quick reminder of a few shows you may want to try to catch tonight around town - as usual we plan to make the rounds ...Over at the New Way Bar in Ferndale tonight will be another kick in the ass evening of The Orbitsuns - check the video we shot from the last time they played the new way up top....Get to this show!
Karen from PJ's Lager House - Photo by Shane Glenn
Planning on stopping in for the physcobilly twisting tarantula birthday party for Karen & Dana over at PJs Lager House....stop in for a shot with the girls from Lager who will be sitting on OUR side of the bar instead of serving up the drinks - HAPPY BDAY K&D from MCB!
Marco Polio & The New Vaccines are playing a show tonight over at Trowbridge Coffee w/Rogue Satelittes & Cloak and Dagger - check these guys out if you have the chance and order some coffee damn it! MCB shot some video of MP&TNVw/I a while back over at the now defunct 313.JAC - Get on out and support local detroit music! If you miss them tonight you can catch them next week when they play a show with another MCB fav - Electric Fire Babies!
and dont forget the Ron Asheton Tribute over at Music Hall Detroit tonight - The event has moved from the Jazz Cafe to the main hall - doors @ 7:30pm - donations for entry go to Humane Society
The Night Kwame Stole XMAS is a Detroit tale about a young seedy lurker who pimped his way into power with smooth moves - classic beats and beatdowns for all check out this slightly modern upscale take on this motorcity classic that shook the world
MCB's newest recruit JW was down for an evening of great detroit music from the likes of Macrame Tiger and Marco Polio & The New Vaccines and Trash Camera last night over at PJ's Lager House in Detroit and snapped these great shots for his assignment - good work JW!
PJ's Lager House. Show starts at 9:30, $5 or 5 Dino Bones 18+w/Id
Marco Polio & The New Vaccines
When you go to a Vaccine show it's kind of like going to the zoo, you
can't really expect the animals to cooperate, it's probably going to
smell bad,They won't acknowledge the fact that they're on display,
actually sometimes the dudes kind of sound like elephants getting it on,
but dammit you payed your five bucks so you're probably going to stay
for a while. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1678354509
Tunde Olaniran Born in Flint, Michigan, one of America’s most dangerous cities, Tunde
Olaniran is a cultural warrior with a 4-octave range and a penchant for
dirty synths. Combining a magnetic presence, lyrical dexterity,
genre-devouring hypermodern style, and a glam-rock, DIY performance
aesthetic, he’s toured the world, making believers out of Detroit
metal-heads and Croatian ravers alike with a sound that defies
convention. https://www.facebook.com/tundeolaniran
Arlow Xan Arlow Xan is an ethereal folktronica duo that weaves together plaintive
Appalachian melodies and bouncing 808s, slinging banjos, guitars,
synths, concertinas, dulcimers and drum machines in their mission to
transport listeners to their unique and beautiful world. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000219076326
JOHN SINCLAIR & THE PINKEYE ORCHESTRA MARCO POLIO & THE NEW VACCINES * BARS OF GOLD FRIDAY, APRIL 16 – CAFÉ $6 * 18+ * 10:00 PM
It's fair to say Pinkeye, much like the physical condition after which this musical collective is named, may well be considered more pain than a pleasure by many music lovers. The jazz-rock ensemble has about twice as many members as Slipknot, and its albums usually include only one or two songs. The group is the very definition of self-indulgent — both proudly and gloriously. Consisting of members of other experimental bands from around town (including Red China, the Oscillating Fan Club, Duende!, Sea Turtle Restoration Project, Wildcatting, etc.), this improvisational project was born when the various musicians discovered they were all like-minded souls, at least aesthetically. Pinkeye is, perhaps, getting more attention than the band normally would because, on its latest and third album — the bravely titled Tearing Down the Shrine of Truth and Beauty (a tribute to the old Tiger Stadium) — it involved the considerable presence of former MC5 manager, poet, beatnik, D-Town icon and revolutionary John Sinclair.
There is going to be an awesometastic Motor City Rocks Benefit Concert happening FEBRUARY 25th at the Lager House. The cost is only $5, feel free to donate more. If you can’t make it and still want to donate consider donating at our kickstarter.
We’re hoping to raise enough money so we can get some portable lights so we can record interviews that don’t come out in accidental sepia tone!
Marco Polio & The New Vaccines – Traversing the dimensional vortex through the use of imbrellas, Marco Polio makes Picasso look dull and limes taste sweet. Recently described as creating a “happening” (780’s), if you haven’t seen this band, you’re life might be meaningless.
The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre – Psychedelic garage rock with punk undertones and theatrics rivaling Hedwig and the Angry Inch. The most hated and, somehow, also at the same time, the most loved band in Detroit. Winner of “Outstanding Electronic Artist” at Detroit Music Awards (2009) and recently described as “devoid of any miniscule crumb of fashion sense” (Computer Perfection). If you haven’t seen this band, you may have an undiagnosed personality disorder.
Sheefy McFly – Only one man has the ability to bridge the gap between rock and hip hop, to heal a city tearing itself apart, to make everything he touches get in the groove. Sheefy has been recently described as “one of the dopest artist/producer/emcee to ever walk the Earth ….at least I think so lol” (Sheefy McFly). If you haven’t seen him, you’re not cool
The Thornbills – The sweet catchy acoustic melodies of The Thornbills will melt your heart. They’ve been recently described as “a magical blend of Appalachian folk with a knack for intelligent and truthful songwriting” (Steve Barman). If you haven’t seen this band, here is your chance! Rule of indie rock: if you see them first you are the best!
-jr Twitter Email -jr is a musician/dj/blogger/writer from Detroit, MI. He performs in the band The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre and writes a cultural blog under the same moniker. When Dj'ing he uses the handle DJ JCM. He has been an integral part of the Detroit Music mechanation for the past 10 years. He knows just about everything about music on both a local and national level. His opinon is gold and is infallible.
Marco Polio and the New Vaccines
The Night Kwame Stole XMAS is a Detroit tale about a young seedy lurker who pimped his way into power with smooth moves - classic beats and beatdowns for all
JOHN SINCLAIR & THE PINKEYE ORCHESTRA
