Those who know me are aware of my passion for music and neuroscience. As a PhD student in psychology (no, I won’t ask you to tell me about your mother) studying cognitive neuroscience, I’ve always been fascinated with music-brain phenomena like earworms - where you get a song stuck in your head, playing on a seemingly endless loop. But more than anything else, it seems that music holds a special place in human culture and evolution. The power of music to evoke emotion, memory, and even states of altered consciousness and ecstasy is evident across the world. A lot of the music that I have loved over the years and that I cover in MCB continues to impress me both with the social element of how it can create communities and bring people together and in how it can transform people’s mental states.
Music is a powerful drug – even without any other drugs in one’s body. Of course, if a little booze, some weed, or something more powerful is added to the mix, the result can be synergistic – where the two elements combine to be more than the sum of the parts. Over the past twenty years, this has been abundantly evident in the rave scene as designer drugs, MDMA, liquor, smart drugs and more are used as fuel for all-night dancing and party-making. Not that we condone that of course, and the jury is still out on the damage that MDMA (ecstasy), ketamine, or even marijuana might do to one’s brain or cognitive abilities. But it damn sure makes for some great music and parties. Which brings us to a few different things going on around town this weekend.
Tonight , jazz/jam/funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood (or MMW for those in the know) are playing at the Motor City Casino’s swanky SoundBoard venue. I’ll be there with bells on (or more accurately, with Bell’s in [me] if they happen to be serving Oberon at the SoundBoard). MMW is one of those acts that truly defies simple description – they pull from jazz, funk, rock, soul, noise, and electronica. Mostly though, they’re explorers, plumbing the musical depths with abandon. They’ve played with master jazz guitarist John Scofield, including a great performance at the Detroit International Jazz Festival two years ago. I remember seeing MMW at the 2005 Detroit Jazz Festival shortly after I first moved to Detroit from Southern California. Standing in the middle of downtown, with the Compuware building looming on one side and the Ren-Cen in the background as we got our groove on to their funked out sounds, my wife (a metro-Detroit native who lived in SoCal for almost 10 years) and I couldn’t believe that this was Detroit. Before I left San Diego, a lot of people asked me, rather incredulously, ‘You’re moving WHERE?!??’ And of course, a lot of people in the D upon learning of my previous residence would ask, ‘Why would you want to move HERE from San Diego??!?’ The answer of course – to slough off the soft and mushy exterior that LA and San Diego had deposited on my skin and exchange it with the tough, leathery, soulful carapace that only the D can instill. That, and to work on my PhD.
On a different note altogether, did I hear somebody scream the word ‘FESTIVALLL’?
Yes, that’s right boys and girls - that time of year has once again returned to the Motor City as music, art, food, and cultural festivals seem to be popping up across our corner of the mitten and beyond. Some of the bigger Spring and Summer festivals include Arts Beats & Eats, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, City Fest (formerly Taste Fest), the Detroit Festival of the Arts, Ann Arbor Art Fair, and so many more that I’m loath to even try to name them all. If you’ve got a favorite festival and want us to feature it here on MCB, give us a shout out mcbmotb@gmail.com.
Festival of the Week: DEMF/Movement –
GET YOUR FIX OF THE UNTZ-UNTZ
The Detroit Electronic Music Festival (yes, we all realize that you were there back when it was a free event) goes from Friday through Monday all across the Mid-town and Downtown Detroit areas with 4 stages down by Hart Plaza and countless ‘After Parties – although I’ve yet to figure out how a show going on at the same time as the main event qualifies as an ‘after party’ but I’ve never been too bright in that way. Stupid semantics always discombobulate my brain. Even thought it’s supposed to be a bit cooler over the weekend than over the past couple of days (Saturday is supposed to be warm, according to the weather channel)
I implore you – if you’re gonna freak out on ecstasy at Movement – PLEASE drink a lot of water. While rave kids convulsing on the floor might make for an interesting photo series, I’d rather see everyone enjoying themselves and staying healthy (wasted and having a great time but healthy).
I’m going to be all over the place, what with the 4 stages, and too many after parties to mention.
Some great acts will be performing at the DEMF/Movement this weekend, and I’m particularly stoked to see Z-Trip, who I first saw at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival in 2002. RJD2 is another more hip-hop oriented DJ that I’m looking forward to seeing, having not seen him live since Coachella in California a few years back. There are so many great acts, it’s hard not to name them all – just check out the Movement web site here http://www.myspace.com/detroitmusicfest , or I’ll see you running around Hart Plaza.
On Sunday night I’ll be at Bookies Bar for the Face the Music afterparty to see my good friend Marissa Guzman sing and Keith Worthy workin some serious grooves. Some info on that party:
Sunday 5/24/09 Deep Heat Detroit + Juicy Lucy Records(San Francisco) bring you: "Face the Music" - a party not only bring people together to Face the Music and Dance, but also to support NextAid (http://www.nextaid.org" ). NextAid is a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization committed to developing and implementing innovative solutions to the challenges facing African children. NextAid's mission is to promote community-driven, environmentally sustainable, economically and socially empowering responses to the AIDS orphan pandemic. NextAid collaborates with individuals, businesses and nonprofits to produce creative, culturally-rich, awareness-raising projects and music events involving technology, the arts, public education projects,and volunteer opportunities. They'll have 2 stages, including a rooftop stage, and things will get started at 7pm and go til they're kickin people out.
Location: Bookies Tavern - 2208 Cass Ave. - Detroit, MI - http://www.bookiesbar.com
Doors open at 7pm - $15 cover before 11pm (25% goes to NextAid) - 21 and up - Free shuttle service from Hart Plaza from 7pm to midnight
Another DEMF satellite event that promises to be goin off all weekend. is the 3 days of House at the Big City Bar & Grill
Their EP is currently selling online, (Champagne Taste with a Koolade Wallet)
Have a great Memorial Day weekend y’all!!
WERD!!!
-drew
Check out more MCB-VIDEOs here
