8/30/08
PHOTOS: Scary Kids Scaring Kids - St Andrews Detroit - Scott Strelecki
SonyBMG hit us up to cover the Scary Kids Scaring Kids show at St Andrews Hall
MCB's Scott Strelecki was on the move to hook it up in no time - great shots above
You can check more from SS (his new handle) below
Photographer Scott Strelecki
http://www.badlandphotography.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosaucer
8/29/08
Chapstick Weekend - Fri/Sat/Sun Aug 29th/30th/31st
Aug 29 2008
8:00P
Yesterday’s (w/ Lo Pan & Treasure Cat)
Wheeling, West Virginia
Aug 30 2008
8:00P
Ravari Room - w/ Lo-Pan & Rebreather
Columbus, Ohio
Aug 31 2008
10:00P
Small’s (Post-Hamtramck Fest w/ Lo Pan & Wastelander)
Hamtramck, Michigan
FREE TICKETS: ICE CUBE - Emerald Theatre - Tues Sept 16th
Ice Cube is coming back to Detroit to support his new record "Raw Footage"
MCB has always been a fan of Ice Cube - We met him WAY back in the day when a friend of ours came out to LA and bought the 64 green impala in some of the Dre video's - that car was shipped back to Detroit and sold (still here in the city if I am not mistaken)
Looks like IC is scheduling In-Store Meet & Greets so check here for updates
anyway - Tuesday September 16th he is playing over in Mt Clemens at The Emerald Theatre - we are working on getting a press pass for this one but in the meantime the 1st reader to hit us up for a pair of tickets gets them - we need a full name for will call list.
New Debutantes w/ Blue Black Hours - The Belmont - Sun Aug 31st
BLUE BLACK HOURS / THE NEW DEBUTANTESSunday August 31st 2008
THE BELMONT BAR
10215 Jos Campau
Hamtown MI
$3
BLUE BLACK HOURS @ 10:00
BLUE BLACK HOURS @ 10:00
THE NEW DEBUTANTES @ 11:00
WILD AT HEART - Thursday August 28th 2008
Here is today's blog - Bill
Bill Kettelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Bill Kettelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
Labor Day Weekend Extravaganza
Not sure how excited I am about Labor Day since I have been unemployed for
almost a year, but this is a big weekend with a lot of fun stuff going on.
Labor Day is a federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September
since its start in 1882 as the Central Labor Union sought to create "a day
off for the working citizens". Now some might joke that a lot of today’s
labor force already takes enough time off but I’ll play nice (i.e. – get
back to work and read this blog during your lunch break).
Besides being a day of rest, Labor Day means different thing to different people.
For some it signals the end of summer and for others the start of the NFL and NCAA
Football seasons (I’m sure fans of the Lions, Spartans and Wolverines have
there stomachs tied in knots since all three programs have a rough start
which might show what there season might look like and it might not be
pretty).
Locally, there is the Mackinac Bridge where people may walk the length of the Mackinac Bridge. Whatever Labor Day means to you, just have a good weekend and be safe so you can get back to work on Tuesday in one piece. If you haven’t decided on what to do this weekend, let me make some suggestions.
Starting off is the 11th Annual Arts Beats & Eats in downtown Pontiac. Musically, it is a very sound festival with a lot of great local and national acts. Friday is a strong night for local artists including blues artist Harmonica Shah, Monkey Jacket,Hard Lessons, Twistin Tarantulas
and the Howling Diablos. You will also have performances by national acts Blues Traveler and Rusted Root so if you really want to rock out, this seems to be the best night for that. Also, the Crofoot will be hosting a “Metromix presents Encore” opening night after party with complimentary drinks provided until 10 p.m. courtesy of the Detroit Sports Club and live music by the Hard Lessons, Millions of Brazilians, Prussia and Our Brother the Megazord plus others. Saturday seems to be the day for country and jazz fans with artists such asThornetta Davis, Billy Currington, Boney James (a two-time Grammy nominee who is a saxophonist who popularized urban jazz - an updated version of contemporary jazz that contains elements of hip-hop). Sunday is kind of a mixed bag for me but despite 80’s rockers Loverboy, you do have a performance but funk and soul legend Chaka Khan. Local artists of note include Manna & Quail, Emily Rose, Robin Horlock Band, Broadzilla and the Muggs. There are a lot of other great local bands which
probably shows the biggest diversity of great local talent at the festival. Things wind down on Monday with national act Puddle of Mudd and local artists such as Jill Jack and the Ragbirds. Other reasons to go to Downtown Pontiac for this festival include the Guitar Hero Championships (sign up on www.artsbeatseats.com), numerous art vendors, a lot of fun things for the kids and ways to help yourself become more environmentally friendly.
This should be a great festival and I hope to see you down there. Of course, maybe you are looking to be a little more mellow atmosphere which would lead you to the Detroit Jazz Festival down at Hart Plaza and Campus Martius. This year the focus seems to be on more traditional jazz opening on Friday night with four-time Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist Dianne
Reeves.
This year’s line- up does have some uniqueness with “Mashed Potato Time” singer Dee Dee Sharp, The Derek Trucks Band (coming off a great performance at Rothbury) and jam band Stratospheerius. However, you will mostly hear just some great traditional jazz with artists like Pat Martino Quartet, Roy Hargrove Quintet, Count Basie Orchestra, DSO Civic Jazz
Orchestra and the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band. This is usually a nice
event to stroll around and take in the various stages if the weather stays
nice (only some showers on Saturday at this point look to hassle the weekend
so far).
Complete schedule at www.detroitjazzfest.com
Lastly, there is the 2008 Belle Isle Grand Prix. Like last year, Friday is
FREE admission day where you can watch some of the qualifying rounds and
check out some of the Meijer Family Fun Zone events. There will be some big
name musical acts at the races with performances by Sugar Ray on Saturday
and Everclear on Sunday. There are three races happening this weekend
including the IndyCar Series, the American Le Mans Series and the SPEED
world challenge.
For more information and full racing and entertainment schedules, go to www.detroitgp.com
Also, I just heard that Paxahau is putting on a special event this weekend to promote it’s 10th year anniversary. Since 1998 Paxahau has promoted electronic music and has grown to include a web archive, booking agency, record label and an event production company which puts on numerous events in the Detroit area including the popular Movement Festival.
The events include a pre-party on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at Exodus (located in Greektown) with music from DJ’s Chuck Flask, Rich Korach and John Johr, Saturday, August 30, 2008 at Oslowith Zip and Chuck Flask, Sunday, August 31, 2008 at Z’s Villafeaturing DJ’s Richie Hawtin, Magda, Rich Korach and Dan Bain and lastly Sunday, August 31, 2008at Northern Lights Loungewith Cassy and John Johr.
Full details can be found on their updated website, www.paxahau.com
If you are looking for some movie to check out, here is one that might interest you. Hollywood loves remakes since they feel the audience will be comfortable with the product and be more likely to plunk down the cost of a ticket over some new property. In this case, we are looking at the remake Death Race (originally released as Death Race 2000 which was directed by
John Carpenter and starred Sylvester Stallone and John Carradine). The original is a cross country race where pedestrians are run down for points (creating a wonderful pastime for real drivers) and a secret group is trying to bring an end to the race. Transplant the race into a future where the race is now a pay-per-view event for a prison (the winner of 5 races gets
parole). Ex-NASCAR champion Jensen Ames (Jason Statham) gets framed for killing his wife and sent to prison where he is supposed to race in place of the newly killed Frankenstein (who wore a mask so nobody knows his true identity). The warden is totally vicious and played nicely by Joan Allen but that is all the praise I can really give for the film. As the warden is trying to make sure nobody survives this race, Jensen tries to find a way to get revenge on his wife’s killer (who is in the prison) and to find a way to escape. The film has some nice moments but none of the overall fun of the original which I think to confine it into a traditional prison movie. I would suggest renting the original and seeing this update only if you really are a Stratham fan (though this doesn’t have a lot of his trademark fighting of the Transporter films which would have helped). Grade C-.
Alice Cooper rocked the State Fair last night, effectively ending the best of their concert schedule but you can still go to check out the wonderful Miracle Of Life exhibit, the half-snake/half snake lady (you just got to love a fair with freaks), a display by the Michigan Sports Hall Of fame,
fishing on the pond, the world’s largest stove, seeing the best livestock Michigan has to offer and of course the best artery hardening food we have to offer. I spent three nights down there and enjoyed just wondering around.
I also spent some time at the Next Shot Golf Center which is a permanent fixture of the buildings down there but they were offering demos during the fair. I tried some of the holes on the Pebble Beach course which was kind of neat for those gold fans who don’t like golfing in the snow. This is a nice way to keep your game sharp. Check them out if you get down there.
I hope everyone has a great weekend and that I see you at some of these
wonderful Labor Day events. Take care and talk to you again on Tuesday since
Monday is Labor Day and I’ll be busy. Peace Out.
8/28/08
FREE MP3s etc..
Land of Talk will be playing Grand Rapids on October 8th - "Some are Lakes" MP3
East Village Opera Company!Check out the stunning rock-meets-opera audio stream “Help Me Jove,”
Audrye Sessions are a new Oakland quartet who just finished recording with Andrew Scheps (U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash) and Matt Radosevich (The Hives, Taking Back Sunday) to create their remarkable self-titled debut album for Black Seal,
available everywhere digitally September 30th.
First single "Turn Me Off" MP3
First Single “I’d Rather Be With You” from Joshua Radin
We got a few copies coming of the new release from Seabird who are playing a show in Orion MI on October 10th - more details soon - WE WILL HAVE SOME FREEBIES SOON!
Bo's Merlot Kickoff Tailgate Party - Kroger Ann Arbor - Sat Aug 30th
If your looking for something to do outside of the festivals in detroit head on out to Ann Arbor for The Bo's Merlot Kickoff Tailgate Party going on Saturday August 30th
There is also "A Toast to Bo!" on Friday over at Rick's American Cafe
BO's Wine Story
"STUDER IMPORTS of Ann Arbor is proud to present, Bo Merlot, the first in their "Heart of a Champion" series of limited edition vintages, in honor of the late University of Michigan coaching legend, Bo Schembechler.
The fiery Coach Schembechler, who was head football coach from 1969 to 1989, enjoyed wine with his wife Cathy. Coach Schembechler credited The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center for helping to prolong his life after the first of his 2 heart attacks on the eve of his first Rose Bowl appearance in 1969-70.
The Center will be the recipient of $2 from every bottle sold of this vintage 2005 Merlot that will retail for $19.69 at selected locations.With support of Bo's wife, Cathy, this Merlot is the first in a series of limited edition vintages showcased by STUDER IMPORTS.
This fall, a fine 2005 vintage Merlot from Monterey, California will be offered in a limited quantity, ensuring its quality as well as collectability. STUDER IMPORTS, the Ann Arbor based distributor of Chilean wine, including SOLTERRA, was founded in 2002 by U of M Sociology Professor and jazz chanteuse, Marlena Studer.
STUDER IMPORTS has grown from distribution in Ann Arbor to regional coverage throughout the Midwest, mirroring the Chilean wine market, which has risen to fifth largest wine exporter in the world. O&W, Inc is the local Ann Arbor Distributor working to kickoff distribution for an annual, limited edition "BO Schembechler " wine.
Fri, Aug, 29th - 8 to 10pm
Rick's American Cafe 611 Church St '69 Football Reunion - A Toast to Bo!
Aug. 30: 10am - 3pm
Kroger 1919 S. Industrial
Ann Arbor
Celebrate 1969 At the Bo's Merlot Tailgate
Sat. Aug. 30 - 3:30 to 6:30 pm
The Brown Jug
1204 S University Ave
Game Time Wine Tasting
Sat. Aug. 30 - 6 to 9 pm
The Blue Leprechaun
1220 S. University
Post-Game Bo’s Merlot Celebration
MCB Photographers - Counting Crows // Aimee Mann
If you just can't make up your mind what to do on Friday night you can check out Aimee Mann @ Royal Oak Music Theatre or The Counting Crows out at DTE.
Counting Crows' Saturday Nights-- the album’s angry, electric, dissolute opening salvo -- was produced by Gil Norton (The Pixies, Foo Fighters.) The more acoustic and folk-influenced Sunday Mornings was produced by Brian Deck whose past credits include Modest Mouse and Iron &Wine.
Aimee Mann’s seventh solo release to date, @#%&! Smilers, is a return to form after the artistic detours of 2005’s concept album The Forgotten Arm and 2006’s Christmas CD One More Drifter in the Snow.
MCB gave away free tickets and early promo copies of the CDs to readers weeks ago and it doesnt stop there....we got press passes to boot so check back here for some great photos of the shows from Amy Palomar and Brett Lawrence.
Metallica / The Sword coming to JLA - January 13th
Check this footage from The Sword who we caught up with a few months ago and get your tickets now - these are going to go fast!
METALLICA IS COMING TO JOE LOUIS ARENA
WSG/ MACHINEHEAD & THE SWORD
TUESDAY, JANUARY 13
JOE LOUIS ARENA
Tickets Go On Sale at 10 AM Saturday, September 13!
Metallica, with special guests Machinehead and The Sword, will embark on their first North American tour in four years, including a stop at Joe Louis Arena at 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 13.
MUSSELL Beach Festival - Cadiuex Cafe -
MUSSELL BEACH MUSIC FESTIVALFri/Sat/Sun Aug 29th/30th/31st 2008
The Cadiuex Cafe
4300 Cadieux
Detroit MI
Aug 29 2008
The Somethings 9pm
D’Carlo 10pm
Mega Weedge 11pm
Aug 30 2008
The T-Radicals 9pm
The Potty Mouthed Sissys 10pm
The Crooks 11pm
Aug 31 2008
The Weathervane Cocks 9pm
Vox Maui 10pm
Simplicity 11pm
Storms in May - Modern Exchange - Wed Aug 27th
Wednesday August, 27 2008
The Modern Exchange
12219 Dix Toledo Rd.
Southgate MI
w/ REDISCOVER
THE HINT
E IS FOR EXPLOSION
CITY LIGHTS
TOO CLOSE TO CALL
$8
Iron Man - The Magic Bag - Wed Aug 27th
Iron Man is playing at The Magic Bag tonight at the brew and view...Worth the $2 to get in and drink a couple while catching this classic marvel story on the big screen....if your interested in supporting local artists...
Jesse Passage & The LodgePolka Floyd returns to Detroit for Hamtramck Labor Day Festival
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THE ONE & ONLY “POLKA FLOYD”RETURNS TO DETROIT TO ROCK THE HAMTRAMCK LABOR DAY FESTIVAL!
After a rousing performance at The Hamtramck Festival last year, Toledo’s own The POLKA FLOYD show, “Pink Floyd done Polka style” tribute band makes a return appearance to the stage on Sunday, September 1 at the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival.
The POLKA FLOYD show pays tribute to Pink Floyd in their own way, featuring classic material from throughout the band’s history from the early Syd Barrett period to the epic “The Wall”, including “Comfortably Numb” the first song they covered together as a band. They have also performed the seminal “Dark Side of the Moon” album in its entirety.
What started out as a fun band rehearsal has taken on a life of i ts own. Along with their many headlining performances, the Polka Floyd show has also opened for notable acts including Unknown Hinson and ? & The Mysterians. They were also invited to play music festivals: The Shamybash in Columbus, Detroit Cityfest and the Hamtramck Festival’s “Polka Palooza.”
They have since taken the show on the road to enthusiastic audiences from Cleveland to Fargo.
In 2008, Static Records released their self-titled debut album that gives a unique spin on seven classic Pink Floyd tracks from six different albums that span three decades
The show is Sunday, September 1 at 3:30pm on the North Stage at the annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival located on Jos Campau between Caniff and Carpenter in Hamtramck’s business district. The festival which runs all weekend is free and open to all ages.
www.polkafloyd.com
www.myspace.com/polkafloyd
For more information on this event please email info@staticrecords.com
The Crofoot Complex is the place to be this Friday
Don Caballero in the Pike Room
Prussia and Zoos of Berlin in The Vernors Room
Ann Arbor Dub Project at The Eagle Theatre
And you thought Arts Beats and Eats was the place to be - check out the line up at The Crofoot Complex (the shows above are all on Friday!!!)
Check out www.thecrofoot.com for all the details
FREE CD & FREE MP3: Last Time On Earth - Telepathique
Since they are skipping Detroit on the way to Chicago we figured to offer a copy of the latest up for grabs - 1st reader to email us - GONE
FREE MP3
"Love and Lust" Free Download
"I'm Not The Man You Think I am" Video on Pitchfork TV
Although their story is probably new to most North Americans, both Theobaldo and Pires have long been accomplished in their own rights overseas, with and outside of their work in Telepathique. Pires’ solo work as a vocalist is steeped in African and Brazilian music traditions, and Theobaldos remix of “Dadinho” on the ‘City Of God” soundtrack became a smash hit (he also produced Brazilian artists Otto and BiD, to wide acclaim.)
Vital and immediate throughout, the record’s range of influences is stunning and the integration of those elements is enthralling, urban and provocative. “Sex, Drugs And Funk & Roll” mixes raw pop guitar with the gritty carioca of their cities’ ghettos, “UR A Joke” pairs simple throbbing techno synth with Pires’ conversational vocals—she tells the listener that she belongs to them, then coldly throws dismissive insults: equal parts turn on and fuck off; a perfect alchemy for dance tension. “Love and Lust” draws on European electro-pop, delivering a groove with a mechanically German coolness.
“Telefunk” and “Wild”, clocking in at six and a half and seven and a half minutes each, respectively, show Telepathique’s expert ability to be both expansive and progressively beat-heavy. Amazingly, Last Time On Earth was intimately recorded and produced by the duo using only a laptop, a couple of microphones, synths, a guitar, Pires’ voice, and the pair’s genius beat instincts.
www.myspace.com/telepathique
http://www.controlgroupco.com/
U.S. "Knowle West Boy" Tour With Tricky
Sept. 4: New York, NY @ The Filmore at Irving Plaza
Sept. 5: Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
Sept. 6: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Sept. 8: Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues (its only 4 hr drive)
After Jazz Jam Sessions - Jazz Cafe - Fri/Sat/Sun Aug 29/30/31st 10pm
Jazz Cafe at Music Hall presents:
The After Jazz Fest Jam Session(s)
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 29, 30 & 31, at 10 PM and will be the
defacto Jazz hot spot to be, and play ,after the lights go down at The Detroit Jazz Fest. Musicians are encouraged to bop on over after the Jazz Fest closes on Friday through Saturday, and for a paltry $5, jam with fellow Jazz Fest performers as well as other local musicians for an
inspired late night of impromptu creativity.
Each night will have a designated musical ringleader:
Friday- R.J. Spangler
Saturday- Carl Cafagna
Sunday- Patrick Prouty
The After Jazz Fest Jam Sessions give jazz musicians of all genres an opportunity to play in the intimate art-deco atmosphere of Jazz Cafe at the Music Hall. All sets start at 10pm.
Non-musicians are also welcome.
Admission is $5
Phone 313 887 8532 or visit jazzcafe@musichall.org
www.myspace.com/jazzcafedetroit for more details.
After Jazz Fest Jam Session
August 29, 30, 31
10pm
$5 cover
Jazz Cafe at Music Hall
350 Madison Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
jazzcafe@musichall.org
313.887.8532
MCB-VIDEO: 1st Ever Pecha Kucha Night Detroit
MCB's Amy Palomar was the final presenter at Detroit's 1st Pecha Kucha Night held at The Atwater Brewery on JosCampau and Jefferson in Detroit
Sponsered by AIA-Detroit and Detroit Synergy - this event brings emerging professionals together for image presentations on design and form
check out www.pecha-kucha.org for more info
The next Pecha Kucha Detroit will be on November 25th 2008
8/25/08
FREE CD: DUENDE! - Corktown and New York City this weekend
MCB favorites Duende! will be playing a show this Thursday at Corktown Tavern with The Readies and Funk Brother Dennis Coffee and then heading out to the east coast to play a few NYC gigs...for all you NYC readers CHECK THIS BAND OUT!
Rumor has it the band will be hanging out at MOTOR CITY BAR on Saturday for happy hour - go say hello (did you know Camillo Pardo painted all the wall murals at MOTORCITY!)
Check out Duende! in New York this holiday weekend:
Aug 29 2008 @ @Otto’s Shrunken Head Manhattan
Aug 31 2008 @ @Trash Bar Brooklyn NY
1st one to hit us up with a mailing address gets a copy of DUENDE!'s new CD
WILD AT HEART - Monday August 24th 2008
Kirk, Here is today's blog - Bill
"Wild Bill" Kettelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
"Wild Bill" Kettelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog
He has a radio program on WXOU out of Oakland University
Wild At Heart
You know your city has a bad rap when the lead guitarist of a Christian band
(Third Day) takes a cheap shot at you during a performance. On Thursday, he
joked that he was a bit afraid of playing a USO show in Iraq for the troops
when he was reminded that they had played Detroit before.
Yeah it’s funny, but you wish it wasn’t so.
The Olympics is finally over and I must admit that I enjoyed watching them
this year, esp beach volleyball, team volleyball, BMX (did you see some of
the wipe outs – Ouch!), women’s basketball and events with Phelps and Bolt.
For most track, gymnastics and swimming events, I hate watching the
qualifiers but I like to see the final events. I still can’t get into Equestrian or floor exercises (maybe because looking at cute girls in those form fitting outfits whom you know are underage makes me feel creepy). I missed the closing ceremony but I thought the opening was spectacular (and I don’t care about what might have been faked with regards to the fireworks)
proving that there are some talented film people in China such as Zhang Yimou, the director of such wonderful films as Raise the Red Lantern, Hero and House Of Flying Daggers.
While his work on the Olympics is amazing, I can’t help but think about some of the hardships he encounters in his youth due to his parents involvement with the Nationalist
party when he was forced to give up his studies and spent time as a farm laborer and as a cotton textile mill. At the age of 27, he had to write a personal appeal to the Ministry of Culture.
Luckily for us and the Chinese government, the authorities relented and admitted him into the Department of Cinematography.
Speaking of politics, I had the opportunity to talk with James Brown last week.
This is not the Godfather of Soul, but the drummer of UB40 who was in town last Friday. UB40 is one of the biggest recording acts in England having around 50 top 40 hits and they put on a wonderful show. They got their start by claiming unemployment (using the UB40 form or Unemployment Benefit, Form 40) and they used their first check to help promote their
first gigs.
There current album, "TwentyFourSeven", is the last to feature Ali Campbell who left for solo work after 30 years with the band and replaced by his brother Duncan. Brown said the album is their most political in a long time and a lot of their early work touched on themes of
unemployment and racism, though when I asked about the politics of Briton, he was more interested in the US. He said that the British are very interested in our election (probably more so that most Americans) and said that most are hoping that Obama gets elected and brings a change to our policies. He feels Obama represents something which is hard to pin down but
similar to past presidents like Kennedy and Reagan. I had to miss their show for the Commodores, though I had seen them last year and hope they come back
around again.
Speaking of drummers, I went to see Def Leppard and enjoyed watching Rick Allen, the drummer who lost his arm but has managed to retool his drum kit to allow him to play using his one good arm and both his feet using an electronic kit.
Incredible! The guy rocks and the rest of the band aren’t that bad either. Also, the movie The Rocker is officially out. This is the story of a failed drummer (must be a theme this week) who is given a second chance at fame. Robert "Fish" Fishman (the Office's Rainn Wilson) is an extremely passionate drummer for the eighties hair band Vesuvius, who is living the rock n' roll
dream in Cleveland until he is kicked out of the band.
Twenty years later with crushed dreams and working in an office, he hears that his nephew's
high school rock band A.D.D. is looking for a new drummer.
They reluctantly make him the newest member of the band to play for the prom. After an
embarrassing finish to the set, he gets kicked out. He feels awful and tries to make good by getting them a real gig. A viral video of a nude "Fishman" drumming catapults them to success and the band goes on tour, culminating at a gig where they open for Vesuvius with hilarious results. I thought this was a very funny movie showing Wilson can carry a
movie and he is supported very nicely by Teddy Geiger (from my hometown of
Rochester, NY), Emma Stone and Josh Gad, who could actually play a real gig.
Christina Applegate plays the love interest in the movie and William Arnett
as Vesuvius’ lead singer. There are a few head-shaking moments but overall,
it is enjoyable to watch esp for the Beatles parallels (look for a cameo by
Pete Best). Grade: B.
Yesterday was a very 80’s day for me at the Regeneration tour. Naked Eyes
started the show with a nice set including "Always Something There To Remind
Me" and "Promises, Promises". A Flock Of Seagulls are hard for me to watch
nowadays but most of the audience enjoyed such hits as "I Ran" and "Space
Age Love Song". ABC came out and rocked the place with some new songs as
well as hits like "Poison Arrow" and "Be Near Me". Belinda Carlisle put on a
set of her solo hits and some Go-Go’s favorites. She is looking really good
these days. The stars of the night were Human League who I wished could have
played a longer set, but this was one of my favorite shows of the year.
This also sets up Friday’s show at the Royal Oak Music Theatre up nicely when
Squeeze and Aimee Mann take the stage. Tune in to Wild At Heart on WXOU
88.3FM (or online at http://www.blogger.com/www.wxou.org) between 8-10AM Thursday morning to win tickets to the show.
There is a lot going on this week starting with the Michigan State Fair, first held in 1849. From a music point of view, there is not much action this year with only a few name acts on the line up and most of them generic or aimed at kids such as Corbin Bleu of High School The Musical fame tonight and ex-Cheetah Girl Raven Symone on Tues.
We can purge ourselves on Wed when Alice Cooper returns for a rocking show. Despite the anemic lineup, I always enjoy hanging out at the fishing pond and trying out the bow target
shooting. I will hopefully run into some of you there and will post a special blog on Thursday talking more about the fair along with movie reviews of ‘Lakeview Terrace’ and ‘Death Race’. Also, I’ll look at line-up at Arts Beats and Eats and the Belle Isle Grand Prix.
Have a good week and see you all later and look at www.myspace.com/wildatheart_13 for more info about what’s happening.
PHOTOS: Help for the Hopeless Tour by Cherie Stangis
August 19, 2008 - Innerpartysystem brought their unique blend of pop, electronic and punk to the Crofoot in Pontiac MI as a part of the Hope for the Hopeless Tour w/ Kill Hannah, Medic Droid and The White Tie Affair.
Cherie Stangis scored an exclusive interview with Jared Piccone, drummer and vocalist for the group plus nailed a nice set of photos for MCB
"With guitarist and synthesist Kris Barman supplying the concert goers with a rampant beat of pop and electronic mixes in the background, drummer Jared Piccone took a few minutes before their show talk the group. Hailing from Mohnton, PA (population approx. 2,000), innerpartysystem is comprised of Patrick Nissley (vocals), Jared Piccone (drums and vocals), Kris Barman (Guitar, Synth and Vocals) and Jesse Cronnan (Synth, Samples and Vocals).
According to Jared, he and Kris and Patrick and Jesse have friendships dating back to public school. They jammed with a variety of bands in the Mohton area before coming together and forming innerpartysystem. Down to earth and imminently likable, Jared shared what he believes to be the secret of innerpartysystem’s success, making music that inspires and excites their audience, while staying true to themselves.
The recording of their first EP, The Download EP took nearly two years. During most of that time, the group members lived in Jared’s home, a dwelling about the size of a one bedroom apartment. The Download EP was released in November of 2007 and the band began touring in early 2008, with a lengthy stint in the UK.
When asked about inspiration, Jared noted that lead singer Patrick Nissley writes most of lyrics for their songs and reported that they are “stories about things in his (Patrick’s) life.” Stories, said Jared, familiar to all the members of the group, due to their long standing relationships, “I’ll hear them and remember the event because I was there or heard about it.”
While admitting to laying down a “pop” sound in the studio, Jared revealed that their live performances tend to be edgy, aggressive and raw. After hearing them live, it’s easy to spot the “verse, chorus, verse” ode to pop and rock with a big nod to punk and electronica.
Awaiting the drop of their full length recording in September of 2008, Jared doesn’t see an end in sight to touring, at least until 2009 “I was told that most groups, after they drop their first album, are on the road for two years.” He looks forward to heading back to the UK because “we really took off there” to the point that they will be headlining their shows."
Check out their music, videos, tour dates and more:
http://www.innerpartysystem.com
http://www.myspace.com/innerpartysystem
See more photos from MCB's Cherie Stangis
http://flickr.com/cstangis
FREE CD: Don't Tell Columbus from Graham Parker - ALSO LIVE AT CALLHANS in AUBURN HILLS on Friday Sept 5th
If you are a new reader of MCB you are probably wondering how we get all this stuff to give away to on the website...well its complicated - we buy somestuff (usually local bands or artists at a show we hit up) or the bands themselves contact us to offer freebies and then the PR companies and record labels are all over us to provide "coverage" for their artist while in detroitWe all always ask for freebies for the readers and then hook you up!
Here is a good one from our good friends over at Bloodshot Records
FREE CD: DON'T TELL COLUMBUS from Graham Parker
to the 1st reader to email us GONE
Graham Parker Live
Friday September 5th 2008 at Callahan's in Auburn Hills
"You can tell he was inspired in writing these 12 new songs, because they serve up verse after verse, each one sharper than the last, and the bare-bones pub-rock arrangements provide plenty of room for Parker to unleash some of the finest rock and soul singing of his career."
Sometimes an artist is anointed a “legend.” Sometimes this artist’s body of work is so consistently lauded, of such ongoing interest and creativity, the audience might be tempted to take the level of craft for granted. Sometimes such an artist, after a time of flying beneath the radar, emerges with a run of stunning material ascending beyond time and genre. Sometimes this artist casts a shadow large enough they are known by just their initials.
Graham Parker is such an artist and this is his time. Thirty years into a storied career in rock ‘n’ roll that began with his band The Rumour (pre-saging new wave, pub rock and punk) Graham Parker finds himself at the absolute top of his game and in the midst of a extended creative hot streak. Hot on the heels of the Bloodshot releases Your Country (2004), Songs of No Consequence (2005), the seething digital-only single about Iraq—the now sadly outdated "2000 Funerals" - and the blistering live album 103 Degrees in June (2006), Don’t Tell Columbus crackles with desperation and redemption sung with rich, passionate power. And hooks. Lots and lots of effortless hooks. Yes, the new millennium has thus far been very good to GP and music fans reap the rewards. Suffused with the heft of the epic, Don’t Tell Columbus’s lyrical and emotional resonance straddles the Atlantic and evinces GP’s stature as one of the most gifted writers in rock ‘n’ roll.
From the personal and metaphorically grand “The Other Side of the Reservoir” to the overtly political and swinging “Stick to the Plan,” this album ripples with tension between the melancholic, the urgent and the hopeful. Parker’s biting social commentary is in full force here; only GP can have you happily humming along to songs swaddled in desperate loneliness and internal mayhem. It is unhealthy, perhaps even obscene, that someone should be able to come up with an album this good this far into their career."
Friday, September 5th at Callahan's
2105 South Blvd. – Auburn Hills, MI
Tickets $20 ADV - $25 DOS
Showtime 8:30pm
FREE CD: Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts - Hamtramck Labor Day Festival & PJ's Lager House -
We got a copy of the DEBUT ALBUM "COME BACK TO LOUISIANA" OUT NOW ON ALLONS RECORDS for the 1st reader who hits up up with a mailing address -
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Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts Play Inaugural Dates in Detroit
w/Bones Maki, Jennie Knaggs & the Sure Shots, The Homeville Circle
Two Shows = Two Chances:
Saturday August 30th See The Hearts at Hamtramck Labor Day Festival at 4pm
and then later that evening @ PJ's Lager House at 11pm
Formed in 2004 with the singular goal of resurrecting New Orleans' once-rich, now nearly invisible hillbilly music heritage, in Come Back To Louisiana, Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts remind listeners once again that soul singer Ernie K-Doe hit the nail squarely on the head when he memorably stated, "I'm not sure, but I think, all music came from New Orleans.
"That would include music of the rarified and rural string band variety. Whether you call it hillbilly, country, honky-tonk or rockabilly; its place in Crescent City history can't be denied: from western swing forerunners Al Bernard and Clarence Williams to Jody Leavins—whose original 1952 country rendition of "Mardi Gras Mambo" paved the way for the Hawkettes' perennial favorite—it was a strain that seemed to disappear into the Confederate mist around the time WWL's pioneering all-night trucker radio broadcast The Road Gang pulled up stakes, hauling its once-proud proclamation of "Originating From New Orleans" with it.
Exploding onto the Crescent City scene with R&B iconoclasts the Royal Pendletons in the early '90s, Michael Hurtt had long dreamed of a versatile string band that conjured the country music's hidden history; one rooted in the swamplands of the Gulf Coast that sidestepped the all-too-common curse of New Orleans provincialism to salute long-disregarded hillbilly strongholds like Detroit, Cincinnati, Memphis and all points--rural and urban--in between.Armed with a box of scratchy 45s, an acoustic guitar, and a clutch of backwoods numbers that he'd penned during a barnstorming European tour with Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Hurtt hooked up with like-minded guitarist J.D. Mark, multi-instrumentalist Mitch "Wichita Falls" Palmer—a triple threat on banjo, steel and take-off electric guitar—and upright bass master John "Bacon Grease" Trahey. Shifting gears effortlessly from Deep South rockers to Bayou ballads to true-blue hillbilly swing, the Haunted Hearts' first show forecast a star-crossed future.
Debuting in September 2004 as a hurricane roared towards New Orleans, the band plied their Dixie-fried trade throughout the Gulf Coast and Mid-South, making fans as varied as gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Black Oak Arkansas singer Jim Dandy and renegade record producer Kim Fowley, who envisioned a documentary about the band's exploits entitled Gumbo Confidential.But no one could envision the outcome of the docudrama brought about by the federal levee failures in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a short year later.
Scattered to the winds while their homes lay in peril; not allowed back into the city to even assess the damage, the Hearts gathered at Memphis's Electraphonic Studio to record what would become as much an aural snapshot of this strange twilight period of suspended animation as it would their contribution to country music's deep catalog legacy.
Engineered live-in-the-studio by Bo-Keys bassist Scott Bomar (musical director for the recent films Hustle and Flow and Black Snake Moan) the session kicked off with Jay Chevalier's 1963 "Come Back to Louisiana," recently named the state's official recovery song, but the Hearts' opening theme since day one. Fittingly, it came to an end with the haunting "Trouble on the Road," a tale of hurricane exile sparked by Chevalier and Trahey in those first dark days of uncertainty.In between, the band dusted off timelessly relevant ancientry like Whitey Knight's "Another Brew, Bartender," Tommy Scott's "Juke Joint Girl" and Ford Nix's "Ain't No Sign I Wouldn't If I Could." They lived up to their name with foreboding, minor-keyed obscurities like Devora Brown's "You Can't Stop Me From Loving You" and the Country Dudes' "Have A Ball." They even threw in a little double-entendre auto-erotica in the form of Tommy Odom's "She Won't Turn Over For Me," since featured in the opening sequences of NPR's Car Talk.
Cherry-picking from their own discography, they mined half a dozen originals that range from the straight-ahead ("I Can't Say I'm Sorry For Being Myself") to the swinging ("I'm On My Last Go 'Round," "I'm Not Going Down With The Ship"); the sinister ("Mean, Mean Moon," "Hey Little Tornado") to the ethereal ("I Dreamed By Starlight").
The result is a rock-a-bayou testament that transcends mere genres and shatters much revisionist history, echoing the rough-and-ready sounds of white-hot hillbilly jazz erupting into rock 'n' roll.Self-released in 2006 to limited distribution, Come Back to Louisiana recently received the promotion it's long deserved courtesy of New Orleans' Allons Records, who have expanded the release to include not-to-be-missed liner notes courtesy of local historian and Hearts aficionado Patrick "The Lakeview Kid" Davis.
A long-awaited vinyl edition is set for release later this year.
Check them out - http://www.myspace.com/hauntedhearts
8/24/08
PHOTOS: Summer Smash from Jessica Smith
MCB's newest contributor Jessica Smith was over at The Summer Smash on Friday night and produced these eye poppers of Sons of the Gun, Hotness, Beggars and Oblisk.
Check out more of her stuff at http://www.flickr.com/gemjess/
Swamp Sisters to play Hamtramck Labor Day Festival - North Stage - Sun Aug 31st
This coming weekend is The 28th Annual Hamtramck Labor Day Festival and on Sunday just after the infamous perogi eating contest - Swamp Sisters will be playing a short set of about 20-30 minutes. The girls don't really get out and play shows to often but recorded a song for The Ghouls Delight Record from Bellyache Records and most recently contributed their talents to Nightmare Sinema and Wolfman Mac.
MCB will be onsite to get a video interview and footage for you but don't use that as an excuse for not getting to the show to check them out - Swamp Sisters are truly a detroit original that should not be missed when you have the chance.
As for Nightmare Sinema - in case you didn't hear the kids from The School of Rock in Royal Oak have teamed up with Wolfman Mac himself and will be providing the music to the shows and performing in costume as well. MCB has an video interview lined up for Sept 11 on the set so stay tuned for that one real soon - it should be fun.
Check this video out when we caught up with Mac Kelly over at Detroit Comics
8/23/08
The Boogie Bang - The Blind Pig A2 - Sat Aug 23rd
The Boogie Bang
Saturday August 23rd 2008
The Blind Pig
Ann Arbor MI
Hamtramck Bazaar - Across from Paychecks - Sat 10am-3pm
"Where else in town, on a hot, sunny July Saturday, could you find affordable appliances, clothes, CDs and DVDs and collectible jazz rock 'n' roll memorabilia (like a Paul Stanley of Kiss toy racing car)?
Not to mention a place to take your bottles, plastic containers, mixed paper and cardboard to be recycled?
At the Hamtramck Bazaar, of course, which sets up in the Hamtramck city parking lot on Caniff at McDougall every forth Saturday of the month.
The next bazaars will be held Aug. 23 and Sept. 27 at the same location.
Angel Proffitt organized the recycling portion of the event and said she is working toward getting a regular schedule for residents to dispense with recyclables.
"We hope we can do it every month eventually," Proffitt said.
"Or every two weeks is even better. It's a goal that I think we can reach."
8/22/08
FREE TICKETS: 50 BUCKS! - CCS Anniversary Benefit Celebration
MOTORCITYBLOG provided 2 pieces of local artwork as a donation to this event and we are also offering a pair of passes (worth $50) to this event to celebrate CCS Galleries
(we provided coverage of an local artshow a few months ago on MCB - we bought some of the detroit made local artwork from the show - we donated it to this CCS show providing the local artist even more exposure - we gave away the tickets we got from the donation of artwork to the readers of MCB /// WE ROCK!)
email us at tickets are gone if you would like to attend
50 Bucks! @ Center Galleries
Friday September 12th 2008
6pm - 10pm
301 Frederick Douglass
Detroit, MI 48202
Friday September 12th 2008
6pm - 10pm
301 Frederick Douglass
Detroit, MI 48202
"On Friday, September 12, Center Galleries will present a benefit event entitled 50 Bucks! honoring CenterGalleries’ 20th anniversary over-all, and the 10th in its currentspace, the Woodward Lecture Series’ 10th, and my 10th running both programs.
Add up all these anniversaries and you get 50 years!
50 Bucks! is a one-night-only event featuring donated works of art,all for sale for $50 each.
Tickets to the event will be $50 for two guests, and donors of artworks will receive a free ticket for two ($50value) to the event.
The evening will include festive food, cocktails and music by the Big Shorty Band.
It’s sure to be a fun and lively event.
Friday September 12th 2008
6pm - 10pm
301 Frederick Douglass
Detroit, MI 48202
The Scarlet Claw - Redford Theatre - Fri/Sat Aug 22nd /23rd
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the case of The Scarlet Claw
August 22, 2008 - 8:00 p.m.
August 22, 2008 - 8:00 p.m.
August 23, 2008 - 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Tickets - $4
Starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce
Plus the Warner Bros. cartoon "Rabbit Transit"Universal/1944/1:14/Black and White/Mono
Tickets - $4
Starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce
Plus the Warner Bros. cartoon "Rabbit Transit"Universal/1944/1:14/Black and White/Mono
17360 Lahser Road
Detroit, MI 48219
The theatre is on the east side of Lahser, just north of Grand River.
Free lighted and supervised parking is available on parking lots on the north side of the theatre.
The 24-hour information phone number is 313-537-2560.
Free lighted and supervised parking is available on parking lots on the north side of the theatre.
The 24-hour information phone number is 313-537-2560.
FREE TICKETS: Cheech & Chong Light Up America
yep - you read it right - we got a free pair of passes to this kick-ass show
1st emailer at GONE - way GONE gets added to the will-call list for the detroit show
ADDED BONUS: I am offering up my personal Cheech-y-Chong Los Conchinos mint condition LP as shown above to anyone that can tell me what will be the 1st song played at this concert at The Fillmore Detroit - its a stretch but I don't want to really give up this record.
Cheech & Chong Light Up America
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Fillmore Detroit (formerly State Theatre)
Doors: 6:00 pm Show: 7:30 pm
2115 Woodward
Detroit, MI 48201