This Week in Moneypenny - The Muggs, Mick Bassett and the Marthas and Chris Dean D3D art exhibit at CAID

Last Saturday was all over the map...

My assistant and I started the day early with a trip to Almar Orchards in Flushing, MI for some organic apples, unpasteurized cider and a dozen perfectly evil donuts. We then took a winding drive through the cold, bright Michigan countryside and ended up for a nice refreshing hike to burn one in the forest at the very scenic Highland Recreation Area.

It was a fuckin' storybook morning; y'all.

After a good long nap, we collected ourselves and went to visit with MCB folks and check out The Muggs wsg Mick Bassett and the Marthas at the CAID. The Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit featured artist Chris Dean's D3D exhibit, which was a mesmerizing collection of 3D images that capture the rock n roll soul of many fine Detroit musicians. My favorite Detroit bands, art made out of artists, and 3D glasses to boot!
Naturally, I was enthralled.

Mick Bassett never has a problem starting the party. He sat right down in tattered room of scattered people and started to play. His glowing red mane and clever words grabbed everyone's attention seemingly without effort, and the place transformed from creepy basement-like setting to intimate, cozy living room within seconds. Mick was soon joined by the rest of his Marthas for a show that is equally as fun to watch as it is to listen to. Allison Young is the cutest thing to ever wield a trombone. Damn thing is as big as she is! And everyone digs the upright bass.

It's just uber cool.

Ahh, The Muggs. I am always geeked to see these guys play, and they are always geeked to oblige. You can tell they love what they do because it comes through in their performance. Danny can't keep the Cheshire grin from his face as he shreds, Tony rocks out in a trance, and Matt could rival Animal with his enthusiasm for drums. He even tore the flesh from his hand during the set from pounding those skins with such fervor! Real blood from an actual overflow of skill, not some stunt for the crowd. You can't beat that. I know there were people there that wanted me to come share drinks and conversation, but I couldn't peel myself away from the stage once The Muggs got going. The CAID was one beat-up old box just brimming with brilliant talent that night and I'm glad I got to be there for such savory audible treats.
And the free PBR. Haha...

Note to Editor: Please enjoy this foot-free photo set.

Speaking of treats, we worked up quite an appetite after all that fun.

Comet Burger: to the rescue!

Indigestion: totally worth it.

In other news:

Check this shit out!

These guys open for EODM, lucky bastards.

FREE MP3: Darling Dear

When you consider the fact that JuJu, the songwriting principal behind the raw little rock duo Little Fish, didn’t pick up a guitar until she was in college, the din coming out of Oxford is downright flabbergasting. How she’s progressed from beginner to master in the span of a few years is beyond us. But when good music comes calling, we try to ask as few questions as possible. So with that in mind, we’re just thankful she borrowed an old six string, thumbed her way through a chord book and suddenly found herself overtaken with the intensity of expression and the power of a good song. Just thankful that she spent the rest of her life writing one after the other, mostly alongside percussionist Nez, who as the rhythm section in Little Fish, offers a simple, primal complement (backed by Levi French on keyboards) to the timeless vocals of JuJu. On Darling Dear, the reserved yet raucous digital EP currently climbing the iTunes charts, she routinely references the below-the-surface ache of PJ Harvey and the street bard bluster of Patti Smith. These ghosts of female rock past haunt every inch of the MP3 below. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Taking over Britain one step at a time, Little Fish averts its gaze for a moment this week when they hop the Atlantic to appear at this year’s CMJ Music Marathon in New York City. JuJu And Nez are set to warm up with a quick Mercury Lounge stop on Sunday before diving into the festivities on October 20th with a pair of festival gigs. After that, it’s back to London with Juliette Lewis and her raunchy rock machine, then a run of dates with boogie-metal maniacs Eagles of Death Metal. Jealous!? With billmates like that, we’re just disappointed we can’t swim back across that pond with this Little Fish.

http://www.myspace.com/littlefishmusic

Out from under the Helljob on a lovely Friday Jr...

about to see how well Two Hearted goes with spicy hot Thai food.

Wishing you all the best weekend possible...

Cheers!
Moneypenny