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9/30/09

Mega March for Animals - HART PLAZA Detroit - Sun Oct 4th 2009

Sunday, October 4, 2009
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Hart Plaza Detroit, MI

Every day, countless litters of helpless, unwanted puppies, kittens, and other animals are brought to MHS' doors, with nothing more than hope for a better future. Every day, MHS rescues, shelters and cares for animals in need and helps them find good homes. Scared, hungry, and alone, these animals have lived hard lives. They deserve a second chance - to eat, play, and grow old with families who love and care for them.

Join MHS for the 4th annual Mega March for Animals!
Together, we are working to transform the lives of animals from...
Homeless to Loved.

Big Bang TV - Crofoot Vernors Room - Thur Oct 8th

Hiya Motor City Blog!!
Big Bang TV is proud to announce the release of it's first full length album (second release overall). We're today for an 18-date tour that includes a stop at
The Crofoot (Vernors Room) on Thursday, 10/8!

10/1 @ Fox Common at UMASS - Lowell, MA

10/2 @ PA's Lounge - Somerville, MA

10/3 @ Genos - Portland, ME
10/4 @ Bennington University - Bennington, VT
10/6 @ WBNY (in-studio performance) - Buffalo, NY
10/7 @ Oberlin College - Oberlin, OH
10/8 @ The Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
10/9 @ WIRD (in-studio performance) - Kalamazoo, MI
10/9 @ The Hideout - Chicago, IL
10/12 @ Go Bar - Athens, GA
10/13 @ WSBF (in-studio performance) - Clemson, SC
10/14 @ The Deaf Yeti - Clemson, SC
10/15 @ The Evening Muse - Charlotte, NC
10/16 @ The Camel - Richmond, VA
10/17 @ Iota - Arlington, VA ...
(more dates TBD)
Check out BigBang TV

FREE TICKETS: Mumiy Troll @ Crofoot Pike Room Pontiac - Sunday Oct 11th 2009

Russia's Mumiy Troll Brings "Paradise" To Pontiac MI
and MCB has a few sets of tickets for the show
for your chance to win

Russian Rock Czars Mumiy Troll hit Pontiac for an all ages show on Sunday, October 11 at The Pikeroom at Crofoot Ballroom (1 South Saginaw) at 8 pm.
Tickets are $12.
http://www.thecrofoot.com
http://www.mumiytroll.com

Mumiy Troll toured North America earlier this year to sold-out venues packed with throngs of enthusastic fans. Their first US release Comrade Ambassador was hailed by critics across the country. The Cleveland Scene praised Mumiy Troll's sound as "guitar-heavy songs with a touch of electronica that sounds something like '90s U2 with a vodka-induced edge"; Seattle's The Stranger asserted "They excel at a kind of dramatic, melancholy arena rock that could endear them to fans of the TV on the Radio and DeVotchKa". Even in wild and wooly Southern California, LA Weekly called it "[A]ll very weirdly exotic.”


PHOTOS: Kelli Scarr @ St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI, 9/29/09



Kelli Scarr, a new singer songwriter with an angelic voice, opened for Moby last night at St. Andrews. With a guitar and a spotlight, she captivated the large crowd with her etheral passages. A California native that now calls New York City her home, Kelli made a connection with Moby recently by chance, and their working relationship has grown to include Moby's involvement with her forthcoming album, a North American tour together, and having her be guest vocalist during Moby's performances. I think we will see and hear much more of Kelli Scarr. Her EP is available for download at www.kelliscarrmusic.com.

PHOTOS: Jim Beam Charity Concert feat. SPONGE @ TNTs, 09.26.09




89X and TNT's Bar in Clinton Township sponsored the Home Front/Jim Beam Charity Concert featuring Lifeline, Ashes of Soma and Sponge, among other bands. Put together to help raise funds for Home Fronts efforts, as well as give away a kick ass Jim Beam acoustic guitar, the night was filled with drinks, sweat, corsets and ROCK! And, as usual, Sponge failed to disappoint. A nice surprise was Ashes of Soma's set...which simply put...kicked ASS! They are definately a new fave of mine now.

Oh yeah, I was at the Moby show last night, as shown below. (Great shots, Gene!!!) In my opinion, you could have experienced the death of your favorite dog, been laid off from your job and been kicked in the nuts prior to the show, and you STILL would have walked out of St. Andrews with a big-ass smile on your face! Moby rocks! FYI: Kelli Scarr, the opening act (which is comparable to Bjork without the psychotic tendencies and total lack of style), is awesome. Make sure to check her out here.

PHOTOS: Moby @ St. Andrews Hall, Detroit, MI 9/29/09



Moby, with special guest Kelli Scarr, performed at St. Andy's last night. MCB photographer Gene Schilling was in the photo pit, and there were several other MCB'ers enjoying the show as well.

9/29/09

Drag Kings of Rebellion w/ DJ HUMANFLY - TONIGHT @ Elbow Room Ypsilanti

SLAMMED today so here you go... new MORRISSEY- Little Dragons heading to Detroit // FREE CDs: ALL THAT REMAINS - Avedon Media Preview @ DIA

Going to mix it up a bit today as I am really busy

MCB has a handful of copies of the latest CD from ALL THAT REMAINS
who are headlining The Hardrive Live Tour
with LACUNA COIL, MAYLENE & THE SONS OF DISASTER,
FROM SWORD TO SUNRISE AND TAKING DAWN.

5th-9th emailers get the freebies
motorcityblog@earthlink.net

Get to this show over at Clutch Cargos this Friday night
Check back here for MCB photos this weekend!

MORRISSEY RELEASES B-SIDES ALBUM

SWORDS


2009 has been quite a year for Morrissey. He’s toured relentlessly, performing to sold-out audiences around the world. His 9th studio album, Years Of Refusal, saw Morrissey tie his highest US chart debut on the Billboard 200, and he’s overseen upgraded and remastered versions of his ‘90s works Southpaw Grammar andMaladjusted. Crowning what is undoubtedly his most productive year since his solo career began in 1988,SWORDS compiles 18 select songs released as b-sides of his 13 hit singles from his last four albums.

As an artist who has always ensured his b-sides are of as outstanding quality as his singles and album tracks,SWORDS features some of Morrissey’s finest material. 12 songs are collaborations with guitarist Alain Whyte, the rest co-written with guitarists Boz Boorer and Jesse Tobias, and former keyboardist Michael Farrell. In keeping with the three remarkable studio albums covered in his period – 2004’s You Are The Quarry, 2006’sRingleader Of The Tormentors and Years Of Refusal - the music is powerful and adventurous. The richness and expression of Morrissey’s voice has never been greater. With unmatchable style, wit and insight, truths beneath the surface are laid bare. There are moments of personal reflection; “Munich Air Disaster 1958,” for example, is a heartrending lament for the Manchester United players who died in the infamous plane crash, and for those who were left behind. The live cover version of David Bowie’s 1973 song “Drive-In Saturday” reveals a little more of Morrissey’s own teenage self, with its lyrics of amorous confusion modified to rhapsodize over The New York Dolls rather than the Rolling Stones. Chrissie Hynde makes a rare appearance, singing backing vocals on “Shame is the Name.”

The album was compiled by Morrissey who is surely in the rudest of creative health. They’re subtly assembled and sequenced –the feeling of approaching extinction in the beautiful “The Never-Played Symphonies”followed by a promise of a reunion in the afterlife on “Sweetie-Pie.” As Morrissey said of the Tour Of Refusal in March, “all of our answers will be in our songs.”

Initial quantities of SWORDS will come with a bonus disc featuring eight superb live performances recorded in Warsaw in July this year. This will include songs from Morrissey’s last two albums and 1994’s Vauxhall And I, plus The Smiths’ “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby,” first heard on the group’s 1986 b-side collection The World Won’t Listen. In October and November Morrissey and his band will also tour the UK and Europe, with new American dates scheduled for later in the year.

SWORDS will be released in the UK on October 26th and November 3rd in the US.

No Detroit Dates listed for the tour
http://www.itsmorrisseysworld.com/

Check out the new Little Dragons "Blinking Pigs"

Following the success of their 2007 self-titled record, Little Dragon return this October with the spectacular Machine Dreams, a poppy electronic epic that has already captivated Europe, and is poised to do the same here in the U.S. this fall, kicking off in Los Angeles at KCRW’s Halloween party!

Touring relentlessly since their last record, Little Dragon have earned a quite a reputation in the US. After sessions on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic,” their album became the most played on the station after Radiohead. For a band touring without a US label, that’s quite a feat. The track “Twice” proved to be a great soundtrack for sexy doctors with problems when it appeared on “Grey’s Anatomy” back in February. Eventually, the band piqued the interest of the attention of David Sitek who became an instant fan and asked the band to support TV On The Radio on their US tour this past May.

Hailing from the burgeoning electro-pop scene in Gothenburg, Sweeden, Little Dragon’s carefully crafted sophomore effort walks the line between experimental electro and giddy synth pop, with enough infectious hooks to push the band from quiet underground sensations into the mainstream. Recorded in their home city of Gothenburg, Machine Dreams is a gigantic leap on from previous material, but still maintains a distinct Little Dragon sound. Be it Yukimi’s warmly inviting vocals, Erik’s dexterous drumming, the vast array of synths and bleeps created by Hakan or Frederik’s bubbling bass lines, together they don’t sound like anything else around right now. The move towards a more electronic sound was a conscious one, as Yukimi explains: “The title Machine Dreams seems obvious. These days, humans seem more and more like machines, and as technology evolves, machines feel more human and it becomes fuzzy and beautiful and science fiction-ish. We feel dependent on our machines to create and live, and their sounds reflect us.”

With disparate influences from Depeche Mode to The Tough Alliance, LCD Soundsystem to James Holden, Dancehall to R&B, Jazz and Soul, Little Dragon take their place among artists who straddle many genres, yet somehow create their own and in doing so create, as Yukimi puts it, “sounds that make time stop.” Futuristic yet also retro, Machine Dreams sees Little Dragon achieve something timeless… that elusive pop classic.

11/17: Detroit, MI @ Cliff Bells

MCB was invited to the Media Preview Breakfast for the upcoming

AVEDON Fashion Photographs Exhibit @ The DIA

The exhibit opens to the public on October 18th 2009

DIA WEBSITE for all the info or hit our sidebar avert

9/28/09

The Niggy Tardust Experience - AFROPUNK to play Majestic Detroit 10/26

www.AFROPUNK.com

http://www.myspace.com/riseofniggytardust

Set to play a killer show at Magic Stick Detroit on Oct 26th 2009

Look for this on show on the majestic website soon

MCB will be covering this show and hopefully interviewing Saul Williams
get to this show and look for free tickets or swag soon on MCB


Afro-punk Hits The Road For First National Tour Featuring Saul Williams & Guests, Including The London Souls, Hollywood Holt, Krak Attack, Activator,The Smyrk, J*Davey, Irradio, American Fangs

After spending the last five years presenting an annual week-long arts festival at the world-renowned Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, Afro-punk is now ready to take the festival on the road in 2010. So to warm things up they will be hitting several major cities this fall. With an explosive mix of music, Xtreme sports, and visual art, audiences around the country will now be able to experience what the Afro-punk community has known for years: that this scene is one of the most electrifying and creative communities in America.

Described by the New York Times as putting “rock and rebellion squarely in the category of African-American music,” Afro-punk is ready to break nationally. The festival has a history of presenting new artists before they hit it big, such as Grammy-nominated Santogold, The Noisettes and Janelle Monae, who performed at the 2008 festival. The 2009 Afro-punk Tour Lineup will feature at select dates The London Souls, Hollywood Holt, Krak Attack, Activator,The Smyrk, J*Davey, Irradio, American Fangs, along with additional artists added in each local market.

What is Afro-punk?


Inspired by the the seminal film Afro-punk (2003), spotlighting Black Punks in America, Afro-punk is a growing cultural movement giving a voice to thousands of multi-cultural kids fiercely identifying with a lifestyle path-less-traveled. Not unlike the early days of Hip-Hop, the scene is a touchstone for tens of thousands of urban progressive kids across the nation (and the globe) who, tired of feeling like outsiders, have sought out Afropunk.com, where thousands of users, bands, bloggers, and activists gather to and connect with the Afro-punk community.

Ground Zero for this movement is the annual Afro-punk Film, Skate, BMX and Art Festival, launched in Brooklyn in 2005. The festival celebrates and unified the cultural cornerstones of Afro-punk: music, film, skate, and most importantly, the fiercely independent and influential individuals that are the lifeblood of the AP community. Afro-punk has featured an intensely diverse group of artists over the years, including The Noisettes (London), The Dirtbombs (Detroit), Saul Williams (Los Angeles), Ebony Bones (London), Pure Hell (Philadelphia), Earl Greyhound (Brooklyn), The Apes (Washington DC), as well as trend-spotting recent Grammy nominees Janelle Monae and Little Jackie at last year’s festival. AP has also garnered praise from a wide range of media outlets ranging from Pitchfork, URB, Vibe, andNylon to Variety, Entertainment Weekly, and The Los Angeles Times, and was the subject of an “Urban Eye” video feature by Melena Ryzik in the New York Times last year.

Like every powerful music-based movement, Afro-punk is deeper, broader, and more complex than a simple genre designation. AP is a provocative social statement -- a remixed global aesthetic that influences youth fashion and personal style, and inspires a multitude of artists in a variety of disciplines as they come together to embrace and celebrate the AP culture. We invite you to join us in this celebration!

2nd Annual WHFR Record Show - Sat Oct 3rd

Were you at the WHFR Record Show last year?
Score some great finds?
We had such a great turn out in 2008 that we’ve decided to do it again! This year’s show will take place Saturday, October 3rd, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (early admission starts at 9:00 AM) in the Student Center at HFCC. There is a sliding scale admission of $1 - $5 to get in (early admission is $5). This admission fee is a donation to WHFR (we are an independent, non-profit/non-commercial, volunteer-run radio station).

Many of last year’s favorite vendors will be returning, as well as new vendors, one of which could be you! That’s right – if you want to set up shop for one afternoon to sell all that music you have laying around (records, CDs, cassettes, videos, etc etc…), we’re currently accepting applications for vendors. We can mail you a Vendor Packet, which includes all the info about renting tables (plus a pre-paid return envelope for sending the contract and payment back to us). Or, if you'd prefer, you can download the vendor packet.

UPCOMING EVENT: "Mystique" Masquerade Ball | October 30, 7:00pm

"Mystique" Masquerade Ball October 30, 7:00pm

It’s a Masquerade Ball. The masquerade will be filled with surprised and delight as you enter a mysterious underworld. Inspired by Phantom of the Opera, Casanova’s Venice and the historical figure of Marie Antoinette, Music Hall will be transformed into a sexy, decadent, and luxurious evening for all.
Throughout the night there will be unique performances by local aerial artists, bands, and DJs, as well as, tarot card/palm readers, while you sample Detroit’s finest cuisine from top restaurants and bars.
And best of all… private on stage VIP Cabanas
that see all the decadence of delight.
The sexiest and most exclusive level, for VIP guests only,
is keeping one’s “eyes WIDE shut,”
with a special burlesque performance by Lily La Rue.

Tickets: $85.00 and VIP tix $200.00

REMINDER: Butthole Surfers and Built to Spill this weekend at ROMT

MCB gave away a few pairs of passes to this show
its going to knock you out of your seat


AEG Live presents Built To Spill and Butthole Surfers,
live at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on October 3rd, 2009 at 8pm.

Built To Spill is one of the most diverse and influential indie rock bands of the 1990’s. Their sound can be sweeping and atmospheric, and at the same time natural. They have perfected the art of creating haunting and beautiful songs that are not meant to be catchy, but are still somehow addictive. Built To Spill was formed in 1992 by Doug Martsch. His intention was to procure a rotating cast of musicians to record albums and tour. He created perfectly intertwined guitar solos that captivated live audiences and crafted Built To Spill into an exciting live act.

For more information visit
http://www.myspace.com/builttospill

Butthole Surfers are best known for their chaotic and disturbing live shows, a sound that blends together elements of punk rock, heavy metal, electronica, noise rock, and psychedelic sound. For years, radio found their band name unspeakable and the press deemed it unprintable. The early dawning of their career began in 1977, when future front man Gibby Haynes met guitarist Paul Leary while attending college in San Antonia. Four years later, Haynes and Leary formed the Ashtray Baby Heads, which was later dubbed Nine Foot Worm Makes Home Food. They became Butthole Surfers only after a radio announcer mistakenly took the title of an early song to be the group’s name. After a number of bassists and drummers, the Surfers’ lineup fell into place in 1983 with the addition of drummers King Coffey and Theresa Nervosa. In 1986 bass player Jeff Pinkus was also added to the wild musical style of the Butthole Surfers.

For more info visit
Tickets are $25 and are available at the Royal Oak Music Theatre Box Office, www.romtlive.com , all tickets.com outlets, or charge by phone at 800-919-6272.

For more info visit http://www.romtlive.com
For live updates http://www.twitter.com/royaloakmusic

FREE TICKETS TO ZOMBIELAND thansk to Zombie Walk Detroit

MCB has a few pairs of passes to see the new Zombieland Movie Premiere
email us if you want to get your brains eaten
motorcityblog@earthlink.net



Tickets provided to MCB by Zombie Walk Detroit (thanks guys!)

Hey you hungry-for-brains horde of hooligans!

ZOMBIELAND PASSES!
No, no.... Zombieland isn't a zombie theme park (shuh... we WISH!) but it's
almost as good! It's a zombie movie, full of mischievousness and mayhem,
carnage and comedy, slaughter and silliness.

It opens October 2nd, but just for being special friends of Zombie Walk Detroit,
and for being generally awesome, you get in EARLY and FREE!
That's right, you're invited to a special advance screening!
Let us know which viewing you would like to attend:

Tuesday September 29th in NOVI @ 7:30 PM
Emagine Novi
44425 West 12 Mile
Novi, MI

OR

Thursday, October 1st in BIRMINGHAM @ 7:30 PM
Uptown Palladium 12
250 Old North Woodward Ave.
Birmingham, MI


ZWD will be there to greet you until just before the film starts.
After that, we'll be in OUR seats!

"A cowardly shut-in named Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) is forced to join up with a seasoned zombie slayer named Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) in order to survive the zombie apocalypse. As Tallahassee sets out on a mission to find the last Twinkie on Earth, the duo meets up with Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), two young girls who have resorted to some rather unorthodox methods to survive amidst the chaos. Reluctant partners in the battle against the undead, all four soon begin to wonder if it might be better to simply take their chances alone." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Sat 10/10 SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN SALE @ Cinderella's Attic

SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN SALE
AT CINDERELLA’S ATTIC!

Get ready for Halloween at the Spooktacular Halloween Sale the entire month of October and a special sale on Saturday, October 10 from 12pm-6pm at Cinderella’s Attic located at 420 E. Frank St. in downtown Birmingham. (248-593-6678)

The store is the perfect place to shop for your Halloween costume! The store is stocked with vintage fashions from the ‘50s to the ‘80s, and also carries accessories to match. Stop in to explore and discover a unique costume for this years’ party.

Cinderella’s Attic has teamed up with local promotion company Static Network to host this Spook tacular sale event. You can check out the various merchandise featuring locally made handmade jewelry and decorative goods and Halloween decorations for sale.

One of the longest running vintage clothing shops, Cinderella’s Attic has been dressing people up fabulous since 1979! The shop was one of the first “alternative” retailers to carry retro and punk fashions in its first location in Dearborn and then moving on up to Royal Oak and now Birmingham. Proprietor Heidi Lichtenstein has played hostess to local fashion mavens and movie costumers to rockstars in town looking for a new style.
Many rockers have visited and shopped at the store over the years including B-52’s, The Go Gos, Blondie and even Motown diva Diana Ross. The store has also been featured in many magazines such as Seventeen and People, and in the movies “Hoffa” and “Zebrahead” just to name a few.

Halloween ’09 is just around the corner so get your costumes
and other wares at Spooktacular Halloween sale!

For more info on the sale

4500 posts on MCB!! - FREE TICKETS: Manic Street Preachers @ Majestic Theatre - Friday Oct 2nd

Manic Street Preachers are playing a show in Detroit on Friday October 2nd
This is their 1st tour in 10 yrs and MCB has a pair of tickets for you ready to roll
be the 5th emailer - motorcityblog@earthlink.net
Get tickets here - this is going to be a great show!
MCB will be shooting this show...

Port Obrien play Vernors Room @ The Crofoot Pontiac - Thurs Oct 8th

Photo cred
Port O'Brien's introspective foot-stomper "My Will is Good" from their forthcoming album threadbare (out October 6th on tbd records) just got the remix treatment by Boston's heathens of sweaty dance the BodegaGirls.

Download it here!
Read about its debut on The Tripwire:

threadbare is the follow-up to 2008's acclaimed All We Could Do Was Sing. Parts of the album were recorded by Jason Quever of Papercuts' living room studio in San Francisco, while the rest were recorded with Aaron Espinoza of Earlimart at the Ship recording studio. It became somewhat of a two sided record with dark, haunting, and at times meditative songs paired up with the untiring, somewhat aggressive and punchy anthems that Port O'Brien is becoming known for. The last few years have seen many adventures for the band. The creation of this record came with continuing changes both within the band personally, and sonically. Port O'Brien will continue to evolve. In the meantime, Threadbare stands as another mark this young band is leaving.

The band is about to kick off an extensive tour with Sea Wolf
followed by headlining dates in November.
See all tour dates below!

Port O'Brien on tour:
September 23 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern*
September 25 Salt Lake City, UT - In The Venue*
September 26 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive*
September 28 Omaha, NE - The Slowdown*
September 29 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry*
September 30 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet*
October 1 Chicago, IL - Schubas Tavern*
October 2 St. Louis, MO - The Billiken Club*
October 3 Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio*
October 4 Cincinnati, OH - Southgate House*
October 5 Rock Island, IL - Barn Show "Daytrotter Presents" +
October 7 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center for the Arts*
October 8 Pontiac, MI - Verner's Room at the Crofoot+
October 9 Toronto, ON - Sneaky Dee's*
October 10 Montreal, PQ - Il Motore*
October 12 Northampton, MA -- Ironhorse^
October 13 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club*
October 14 New York, NY - The Mercury Lounge*
October 16 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall*
October 17 Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar*
October 18 Baltimore, MD - The Talking Head Club*
October 19 Washington, DC - DC 9*
October 21 Chapel Hill, NC - Nightlight Bar & Club*
October 22 Knoxville, TN - Pilot Light+
October 23 Atlanta, GA - Criminal Record Instore
October 23 Atlanta, GA - The Earl*
October 24 Nashville, TN - Exit In*
October 26 Houston, TX - Rudyards+
October 27 Dallas, TX - The Cavern*
October 28 Austin, TX - Emo's Jr. *
October 30 Phoenix, AZ - Modified Arts*
November 2 La Jolla, CA - The Loft @ UCSD+
November 4 Santa Barbara, CA - Muddy Waters+
November 5 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill+
November 6 Sacramento, CA - Luigi's+
November 7 Santa Cruz Mountains, CA - Folk Yeah Presents @ Brookdale Lodge+
November 24 London, ENG - Scala+
* with Sea Wolf
+ Port O'Brien headlining date
^ with Grand Archives




Darling Imperial & Jesus Chainsaw Massacre @ Lager House Detroit

Darling Imperial
The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre
Michael Mars
Blase' Splee
Friday October 2nd 2009
LAger House Detroit
1254 Michigan Ave.

FREE TICKETS: The Dustys w/The Bravery @ St Andrews Hall Detroit - Mon Oct 5th 2009

MCB has a pair of passes to see The Dustys
who open up for The Bravery on tour
5th emailer gets em
How did they score this gig?
They’re music was passed among friends until it falls into the hands of the “right” person, and the snowball affect ensues. Next thing you know they’re on a nationwide tour in support of a major label band. This is the story of the Virginia based rock band, The Dustys.
They’re packing their bags in preparation
for the nationwide tour with The Bravery,
and will be playing St. Andrews Hall in Detroit
on Monday October 5th 2009
The Dustys are a self-described, garage, psych and stoner rock band that possess a sound that could fill an arena while remaining intimate enough to play the local pub.
Check out their music

FREE TICKETSS: THE BLOB / KRONOS @ The Redford Theatre this weekend!

check out these killer classic movies on MCB
5th emailer gets the tix
The Blob (1958)/Kronos (1957)
lead off monster double features at Redford Theatre
this Friday Oct. 2 @ 8pm and Sat., Oct. 3 @ 2 & 8 pm.
$5 tickets.

Halloween month at the Redford Theatre is a special time
for the volunteers and the audience with
classic films, decorations and costume fun.
This weekend the classic Drive-In monster classic The Blob
starring a young Steve McQueen is paired up
with another classic monster flick, Kronos.

Harkening back to an era when a good cheesy scare at the movies didn’t have to include blatant
gore and gratuitous nudity, these two films perfectly echo 1950’s Americans’ penchant for Cold
War doom thrills and the need for heroes to save the day.

Jack Harris, the original producer and owner of The Blob, has lent us this 35mm film print fromthe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences film archives (the Oscar people).
Another film collector has provided us with Kronos.
From the original theatre organ to the restored splendorof the 1928 interior appearance, the dedicated volunteer staff keeps things authentic by screening real film on vintage quality projection equipment.

Helping to wake the spirits of Halloween, our “Ghost Hosts” for the weekend are Metro
Paranormal Investigations. MPI visited the Redford at Halloween last year and have spent several nights since then carefully inspecting and recording every square inch of the theatre, searching for signs and clues of paranormal activity.

Coming on Oct. 16 @ 8pm and Oct. 17 @ 2 & 8pm, we bring another classic double feature
presentation: Werewolf of London (1935) starring Warner Oland of Charlie Chan fame and House of Dracula (1957) with an assortment of classic monsters.
Everyone who comes in costume
willwin a prize.

Oct. 23 & 24 will scare you silent with the 1920 silent John Barrymore classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Hyde and the Stan Laurel parody short subject Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pryde from 1925. The shows
start at 8pm and will be accompanied by Tony O’Brien on the theatre organ. O’Brien’s show will
also include a Halloween Overture beginning each night at 8pm.

On Oct. 30 & 31, in a Grande Finale of Comedy and Horror, we celebrate Halloween weekend
with a special Three Stooges Festival featuring six “spooky” 2 reelers

Motor City Theatre Organ Society
17360 Lahser Rd.
Detroit, MI 48219-2348
www.redfordtheatre.com
Facebook: Old Redford

Wild At Heart


Wild At Heart


It was a mixed weekend in Detroit for sports fans like myself. The Detroit Shock were defeated by Indiana twice to end their bumpy ride to get back into the WNBA Finals. However, next year things are looking good since both Katie Smith (went out at end of season with back injury) and Plenette Pierson (went out in the first game of the season with shoulder injury) should be healthy again and Shavonte Zellous and Alexis Hornbuckle showed a lot of potential filling in. It looks like next year the Shock could be favorites again to win it all. The Tigers are still frustrating as ever as we lost another game to the White Sox who seemed to roll over to Minnesota last week. Luckily Minnesota lost but with only 7 games left in the season, Detroit needs to win 6 to clinch and we face Minnesota 4x and Chicago 3x so I am not resting easy here. College football is 50/50 as Michigan State lost it's third in a row making next weeks match-up with Michigan a must win if they want to seriously make the post season. Michigan is ahead of schedule with their 4th victory of the year thus beating their win record of all last season. A lot of maize and blue fans are breathing sighs of relief. And lastly the best sports news in the area is the Lions victory over Washington 19-14. I though Schwartz showed a lot of class when he told his team “We’re going to go back out the tunnel and celebrate a little with the people of the stadium”. That should allow the team to hold the victory longer in their memory and hopefully be the first step to changing the culture of the team. Oh yeah, no picks for Stafford. They still don't look pretty but you have to start somewhere. Thanks Washington for provided some celebration to the fans here.

When I was in high school, I went on a school trip in 1984 to the Rochester War Memorial where our class went to hear Ronald Reagan speak and while I don't remember everything he said, I do remember being impressed by his ability to speak in a way to inspire confidence. In 1988, he was the first president I voted for and at the time it seemed like a good idea though in retrospect it might not have been. Carter was seen as a week President because he understood the problems of our times. He warned against reliance to foreign oil, the need for environmental reform and talked about the problems of capitalism. These negative messages were replaced by Reagan's optimism as he pretty much reversed much of our economic and environmental progress that Carter and Ford and Nixon before him put in place and while at the time it didn't seem so bad, one can see the seeds of the gas crisis ($3-4 a gallon last year) and the collapse of Wall Street in his administation. The new Michael Moore film does a good job of glancing over this but I am writing about another documentary which also looks at his administration with sad eyes. That documentary is called "Earth Days" by Robert Stone which takes a look at a number of people who have been important in various areas of the environmental movement which started with the publication of the book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson. Among these pioneers are Former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall (includes the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966 as some of the many he has helped pass during the Johnson administration), biologist/Population Bomb author Paul Ehrlich (predicted that mass starvation would occur during the 1970s and 1980s if we didn't act now), Whole Earth Catalog founder Stewart Brand, Apollo Nine astronaut Rusty Schweickart (cofounder of the B612 Foundation which aims to defend Earth from asteroid impacts and renewable energy pioneer Hunter Lovins. The movie inself is a collection of interviews and
rare archival media that takes a look at both our achievements and missed opportunities in dealing with environmental issues. Not as expansive as I would have liked but it also strays from being overly preachy as documentaries like "Food, Inc" sometimes fall into. This is a good primer for getting kids into environmentalism and giving a starting point for future research. I give the documentary a nice B+ and recommend reading "Silent Spring" if youget the opportunity.



This week lawmakers in Lansing once again made efforts to put a 6% tax on all tickets to professional, college, minor league, theatre and entertainment tickets. The effort is to get an extra $100 million dollar a year from this tax. Seeing how various tickets have become more expensive, it is hard to buy that many tickets as it is on a fixed income (or lack of income). Seeing smaller crowds at various events as it is can only wonder if the tax would even further diminish these crowds. I for one prefer buying tickets at the door over ticketmaster which can add as much as $15 per ticket for various fees so I refuse to use it whenever possible. If this issue is of interest to you, you can help prevent future attempts of the tax by contacting you local officials or esp call or email Senate Majority Leader Bishop and thank him for his vocal opposition to the Ticket Tax. Tell him you appreciate his leadership in vowing not to allow the Ticket Tax to become law and will support him in his effort to fulfill his promise to Michigan. You can contact Sen. Bishop by phone at 517-373-2417 or e-mail him at senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov.


Right now, I would like to give out my concert picks of the week. I am going to see Brandi Carlile @ the Michigan Theatre tonight but the week has some other good shows. On Tuesday (8/29) there is the Moby show @ St Andrews Hall, the Orbitsons play @ the Hard Rock Cafe, Os Mutantes @ Magic Stick and Good Old War opens for the Honorary Title @ the Pike Room. I didn't really find anthing for Wednesday (9/30) or Thursday (10/01). However, Friday (10/02) is a big day with the eccletic Carolina Chocolate Drops @ the Ark (also playing Sat), the jam band Umphrey's McGee w/Macpodz @ Michigan Theatre, Cheech & Chong still getting stoned @ Caesar's Windsor Casino, alt rockers Manic Street Preachers @ the Magestic, local favs Macrame Tiger @ Vernor's Lounge, the wonderful Darling Imperial @ PJ's lager House, Bret Michaels @ Motorcity Casino, Uncle Kracker @ Machine Shop (Flint) and Mat Kearney @ St Andrews Hall. This Saturday (10/03) we have the Butthole Surfers and Built To Spill @ Royal Oak Music Theatre, local boy and Verve Pipe lead singer Brian Vander Ark @ Emerald Theatre and rockers Screaming Females (fresh off their tour with the Dead Weather) @ Majestic Cafe. Sunday (10/04) has the crazy Japanese pop band Peelander Z (a really fun show that features costumes and things like human bowling) @ Magic Stick or you can get tickets for the Marine Forces Reserve Band @ Dearborn’s Ford Community & Performing Arts Center (free show but need to get tickets ahead of time). Monday (10/05) starts the week off right with the fabulous Cowboy Junkies @ the Ark or Gaslight Anthem @ Intersection (Grand Rapids). October 2nd and 3rd are also the dates for the Motor City Blues and Boogie Woogie Festival which will be held at Callahan's this year and includes performances by Jason D. Williams and Kelley Hunt.


Have a good and safe week. I went to a taste testing at Ruth Chris's Steak House last week and will be writing a review of it next week so stay tuned for that and I'll have a movie review for the new Michael Moore documentary "Capitalism: A Love Story".

EP Release: Farewell Republic @ The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, 10/3

These cool cats are 'putting out' for MCB readers! Download their MP3's for free ("Heat", "Crimes", "Trenchman") and check out their press release below:

FAREWELL REPUBLIC TO RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SECOND EP OCTOBER 3rd AT THE BLIND PIG IN ANN ARBOR, MI

Fresh out of the studio, Farewell Republic will bring their "Intense, theatrical, guitar shredding, visceral indie-rock” (Real Detroit Weekly) to new ears as they release their "HEAT/CRIMES/TRENCH MAN EP" on Saturday October 3, 2009 at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, MI. Having already recorded their well received Debut EP, "Bridges," with Grammy winning producer/engineer Gus Oberg (The Strokes, Willie Nelson), this will be the band's second release.

"HEAT/CRIMES/TRENCH MAN EP" was recorded in late spring in Ann Arbor,during four all night sessions and was mixed in June 2009 in New York City. The recording captures three of Farewell Republic's live staples: “Heat,” “Crimes,” and “Trench Man.” The band assembled an ensemble of string and horn players to add lush orchestration to the project. The EP was recorded and mixed by Michael Coffman, produced by Farewell Republic members Sivan Jacobovitz and Brian Trahan, and was mastered by Fred Kevorkian (White Stripes, The National) at Avatar Studios in NYC. The EP captures the sound that The Current describes as “Slightly psychedelic, slightly world-music leaning, slightly NY-77-art-punk leaning, slightly Eno leaning...and yet never really sounding like any of that – blending all these grand influences into hook-heavy gut-punch indie-pop, filled with glorious guitar feats, sweet solos or feedback storms."

Since beginning to play concerts in September of 2007, Farewell Republic has toured the East Coast four times, including shows at The Knitting Factory and Pianos in New York City, 3 shows at Black Cat in Washington, DC, and the Living Room in Providence. They have also played around Michigan and the Midwest including high profile local support slots with bands such as HEALTH and Ponytail. Having received favorable press from Real Detroit Weekly, Detroit News, Washington City Paper, BrightestYoungThings.com (DC), The Michigan Daily, Ann Arbor News and various college newspapers/radio stations in the East Coast and Midwest, the band is said to be "musically and logistically coming into 2009 like a tidal wave." (The Current 3/09)

This EP represents a new generation of musicians and engineers coming together to assert their voice. Until the mastering stage, no one involved in the project was over the age of 21. The EP combines musicians well versed in all genres of music. “While we like what is currently going on in music and the indie rock scene, our goal has never been to be a part of that. We always wanted to combine all of our diverse influences into creating a unique and fresh sound,” says guitarist/producer Sivan Jacobovitz. “We’ve never felt a need to hide the fact that we can actually play our instruments, but at the same time we’ve never wanted to overindulge.”

In January of 2008, The Michigan Daily proclaimed, “It’s bandwagon time, kids.” Four students at the University of Michigan formed Farewell Republic about half a year earlier. Their sound is a combination of both modern and classical influences, interpreted through the lens of their generation.

9/27/09

MCB Events of the Week: Juliette Lewis w/The Ettes - MONEYPENNY - Rock n Rummage - Dirty Show Detroit


MCB is heading to Chicago this coming weekend to cover
the Juliette Lewis / The Ettes (who open the show) on Friday night
hit us up - 5th emailer get the new ettes CD - its good

Saturday we are hitting up the TRAX RECORDS 25 yr party
and VI with MONEYPENNY

If you missed the Dirty Show this weekend
you can catch a glimpse on our sidebar
with a shortie video of the Midget Strip Show

and then of course we will be giving away some tickets at

Rock and Rummage's
2nd Annual Treats & Treasures Show
over at The New Dodge Lounge
(you probably have never been there so go)

get all the info here

FREE CD: Darrin James Reveals The Lovely Ugly Truth in Ann Arbor on Oct 15th

MCB has a copy of this great record
Detroit Native Darrin James Reveals
The Lovely Ugly Truth October 6th

CD Release Party at Blind Pig in Ann Arbor
Thursday, October 15th

Much is known about the way music impacts the brain;
very little is known about its effect on the heart.
That instant, visceral sensation when a song connects is universal; while sincerity and authenticity are intangible qualities, they are always present in the positive listening experience. Darrin James has been a guitarist for 15 years and a songwriter for just under a decade, drawing on his love for blues, soul, country and other roots genres to create songs with a timeless quality. “As a songwriter, I have wanted to combine honest, dark lyrics with old school blues and a fusion of styles, to express the emotions and stories of tragic or flawed characters.” Darrin has succeeded mightily at this aim. His debut album; Thrones of Gold earned a wealth of kudos in the music press. The Deli Magazine had this to say, “The man’s got Joe Henry versatility, a crackerjack studio band and a great sense of craft…from a Lovett/Waits blues into a John Prine diatribe then rocketing off with an Elvis Costello pop gem.” The title track placed in American Songwriter’s Lyric Writing Contest with the lyrics appearing in the Nov/Dec 2006 issue. “Crazy World” was used in the segment of Emmy-nominated reality TV fave The Deadliest Catch in which the crew demonstrate advanced cases of “Bering Sea Dementia”.

The Lovely Ugly Truth is the follow up album, and it's filled with parables that illustrate moral dilemmas and regret, outlaw stories, murder ballads and even a contemporary protest song that confronts the immigration debate. “I have always loved the saddest songs the best, so that is what I write most often,” explained James, who produced the album and assembled an ensemble of New York’s finest players, including staff from Antibalas, TV on the Radio, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Beirut and Arcade Fire. The tracks were recorded between 2007 and 2009 in numerous studios in New York by Matt Gill, who has worked with bands like Fischerspooner, Aimee Mann, The Raveonettes and Aqualung.

The album contains no filler, but standout tracks include “Baby Don’t Bitch”, a swampy Tony Joe White-esque burner that tells an outlaw tale with a Bonnie and Clyde theme. Viola was utilized instead of the predictable fiddle, lending dark richness while complimenting blues guitars and soulful backing vocals. “Lovely Ugly Truth” attacks divorce, a classic breakup song that evokes The Band, brilliantly summing up the strife everyone experiences in bad relationships. James chose the name for the album after realizing that great songwriting always illustrates both lovely and ugly truths. Scorching bluesy guitar, percussive piano and a mid-song rave up reflect the incendiary nature of every break up.

“Green Card Rag” rejuvenates a time-honored tradition, the protest song. James addresses the injustices of immigration policy through the story of a struggling migrant worker. With a finger-picked electric guitar and a New Orleans-style horn section, it steps far from the traditional folky presentation, bringing real spirit to the form. “Easier” is a regret-soaked acoustic song that powerfully evokes exhaustion, sadness and helplessness. Written to express man’s struggle with the world, it will resonate with anyone who has suffered in the current economy.

Darrin James Band achieves that resonance we all recognize, when lyrics and music touch our hearts. Sheer talent helps, but a genuine reverence for the art form is the key to transcending the mundane. The Cowboy Trance blogger Flash said it best, “The DJB sound so completely authentic and true to its voice that it feels almost cleansing, and makes you wonder why in the hell great songs like these aren’t everywhere, drowning out the vapid clowns that pollute the genre.”

For more information on Darrin James Band visit www.darrinjamesband.com or http://www.myspace.com/darrinjamesband

Supersuckers - Corktown Tavern - Sun Oct 4th

UPCOMING EVENT: Detroit Zombie Walk - 10/11

Zombie Walk Detroit

http://www.zombiewalkdetroit.com

We have a walk coming up on October 11th 2009
for the second annual WORLD ZOMBIE DAY.
Get your ghoul on and help them raise $$$ and food for
Gleaners Food Bank
Last year they killed it by raising over $2100
and whole bunch of food
Remember - zombies eat brains not canned goods
so stock up and donate heavy

UPCOMING EVENT: Bunderland @ Five15 Sat Oct 11th 8-11pm

Bunderland:

A solo art exhibition

by Heather Hansma

Five15
515 S Washington
Royal Oak, MI 48067
248-515-2551
www.five15.net


Bunderland
October 10, 2009

Icons and pop culture archetypes are pressed into the form of brightly colored amorphous bunny rabbits. The beady, lifeless eyes of the cuddly creatures follow the viewer around Royal Oak's Five15, silently stealing your attention. These quirky characters are devised by Heather Hansma, a Detroit area illustrator, graphic designer, teacher, and CCS graduate who spends her extra-curricular time absorbing the odds and ends of pop culture. Bunderland will be Ms. Hansma's first solo show after several group exhibitions including a recent collaboration with Detroit lowbrow artist Kill Taupe and the Dirty Show.

"My goal as an artist is to entertain people, plain and simple," says Heather, "I feel my role as an artist is to bring light-heartedness to the world. We are all stressed by so many aspects of our lives. All I want is to bring one small avenue of release to people."

The iconic personalities appropriated range from a stern and politicized Citizen Kane to a candy coated depiction of Iron Man. Some works reference broader ideas, such as one piece that uses a mid-century housewife with a martini to communicate a “Mother's Little Helper”-type narrative. Rosy imagery and an off-beat dark sense of humor pervade Ms. Hansma's new body of work.
­
The opening reception will be held at Five15 in downtown Royal Oak on Saturday, October 10, 2009, from 8 until 11pm. The party will feature a live performance by Detroit band Macrame Tiger as well as DJ Pone and the Boy. For the duration of the opening there will be wine and snacks available free of charge to guests.

You can find out more about Heather and her work

at www.hansmaillustration.com

The Mydols with Gene Simmons tonight @ Majestic Cafe Detroit??

no way to really confirm this but thats the heavy rumor in the mill

9/26/09

PHOTOS: Buckcherry @ Cobo Arena, Detroit, 9/25

Buckcherry, opening for KISS on their Alive 35 Tour, performs at Cobo Arena last night. Josh Todd is quite the front man, never standing still, and the whole band was electric during their 45 minute set. MCB photographer was their to capture the first three songs.


Something Like A War by John Kalogerakos (SLAW)

Enjoy this weeks edition of SLAW with you new cartoon favorites

The Dan Band - This Week In Moneypenny

The Genie is out of the Bottle...



Hectic week! Barely had time to squeeze in some fun. You know I'd never fully let that happen, right?

When I found out I was set to cover The Dan Band at the Royal Oak Music Theater, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I hadn't heard much about Dan or his Band, but I knew they got their rise from their cover of Bonnie Tyler's 1983 classic "Total Eclipse of the Heart" as seen in the movie Old School - one of my favorite movies. They have also been featured in The Hangover, other movies and several TV shows. Besides that, I didn't know what we were in store for or what this would look like. My assistant and I got to ROMT and found it very well attended with a college humor crowd, proving that Dan has an established following. There was plenty of time to down a few beers while waiting for the band, which is a necessary ingredient for this kind of show.

To clarify, The Dan Band isn't a band at all, it's a flurry of high-energy, top-shelf karaoke. The act consists of two deadpan dudes crisply dressed in suits and Dan, an enthusiastic jukebox hero who resembles a gas station attendant, complete with name tag, backwards hat and chain wallet. Dan was generous with the audience participation and the crowd response was fun to watch as it seems that dudes get as giddy as their girlfriends when other men get onstage and shake their asses. The songs they bring to life are a medley of girly pop classics from today and yesteryear that they fortify with plenty of well-timed swearing. Just when you're wondering if Dan has lost his nuts in a fruity cocktail, he drops an F-bomb and grabs his crotch. Dancing with reckless abandon, they shoop, shuffle and put their back into choreography that any 13 year old girl would be proud of. In lieu of playing instruments, they use props to create a very physical kind comedy, including back-flips, leaps through hoops and healthy dose of nipple flicking. It's like an irreverent, three-man Broadway show for the bar-scene. Dan does his job and he does it well, because even though he gets up there looking like a hard-working everyman, I guarantee that no one in that theater was thinking about their damn day job while those guys were on. They seem like the kind of average guys that one might drink with all the time, only amplified and stripped of all shame.



Pop music is never in short supply and neither are work-weary people who need an easy laugh after a long week. I have a feeling that there will be plenty of The Dan Band around in the future. They embrace our guilty pleasures so that we don't have to, and then exploit themselves for our amusement. I think there's a strong market for that.

Everyone likes to point and laugh sometimes. Thanks, Dan!

It's already the weekend! Bottoms up...

Cheers,
Moneypenny

PHOTOS: KISS @ Cobo Arena, Detroit, 9/25

KISS kicked off their Alive 35 Tour last night at Cobo Arena, the last gig at this venue before they tear it down. The site of the original KISS Alive! album from 1975, the house was packed and there will be a second performance tonight. MCB photographer Gene Schilling was in the crowded pit, here are some photos taken during the first two songs, Deuce and Strutter...


PHOTOS by Riaz K : Joshua Radin / Amber Rubarth / Gary Jules @ St Andrew's, Detroit - 23/09

9/25/09

Kenneth Thomas TONIGHT @ Nove Lounge - Ferndale



Make your way over to Nove Lounge tonight to check out the greatest trance DJ/producer to ever come out of Detroit, Kenneth Thomas. Featuring an opening set by up and coming SAXTAXI.

Doors at 10, 21+
$3 beers ALL NIGHT LONG

Nove is @ 344 West Nine Mile in Ferndale

Bar Brady's Friday Drink Recipes - Cafe' Habana Royal Oak

MCB was chill at Cafe' Habana last night to sample
a 3 deep stack of the drinks and eats
with local spinstriss and badassss
Our drink recipe of the week is
Cafe Habana's Volcanic Mojito

1- Give a hard pour of your fav 10 cane rum
2-Muddle in a leaf of fresh mint for each jig
3- Deep 6 a good size mango slice to the bottom of the tall glass
4- Toss in a few fresh cut limes with grated rinds
5-Finalize with a double dash of pomegranate liquor
Stir often for great mango flavor
drink fast to keep up with Blon D. Troit

MCB's guest Blon D. Troit takes in the decor

and a whole lot more of the mojitos

before heading to the Electric Fire Babies show last night

"These Volcanic Mojitos are DeeLish!"
"Ladies favorite and so not chachi..."

Cafe' Habana
419 South Main Street
Royal Oak, Mi. 48067
248-544-6250


More with Blon D. Troit next week

as she double downs on the

BLACK MARGARITA