SATURDAY: Greensky Bluegrass at the Magic Bag

Michigan's own Greensky Bluegrass returns to the Magic Bag in Ferndale this Saturday night with their trademark psychedelic, traditional, and original bluegrass tunes. Their unique covers of songs by Pink Floyd, Prince, Talking Heads and more are second only to some of their own original songwriting. Each time the band plays at the Magic Bag, the audiences get larger and rowdier - so bring your dancin' shoes.

Opening for Greensky is another great Michigan roots band, Northern Skies. MCB saw these guys perform together at the Wayfarer Roots & Bluegrass Festival last June and it was a helluva fun night!

MCB's Andrew Bender will be on the scene taking photos and gettin down. Buy him a drink or at least say hi!

$12 Cover
Saturday April 30, 2011
The Magic Bag
22920 Woodward Ave.,
Ferndale, MI, 48220
Phone: 248-544-1991

Greensky Bluegrass

Saturday: Thunderdrome!

Some call it a two-wheeled Woodstock. We just call it The Thunderdrome!

Mopeds, scooters, minibikes, mountain bikes, go karts, pit bikes, fixed and geared track bikes and go-karts on a war-torn velodrome all vying for the same prize: GLORY! It's hipster NASCAR meets a compound fracture.

This is the first race of three in our 2011 season. Practice and registration starts at 9AM with the racing kicking off at 12PM sharp.
...
More information, photos and all that jazz at: Thunderdrome.com

The Thunderdrome! is a Not-Just-For-Profit Company, which means we're rolling our profits directly into the repair, restoration and revival of the Dorais Park and Velodrome in Detroit, MI. Once home to many Olympic level cyclists, the National Soapbox Derby races and thousands of neighborhood children, Dorais Park has fallen to vandals, natural erosion and garbage dumpers. We've taken it upon ourselves to restore the velodrome, rebuild the children's playground and bring back the 1/2 mile Soapbox Derby Hill - but we need your help! Keep racing with and watching The Thunderdrome! and you'll be helping the cause!

Wild At Heart movie review – Heartbeats

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog

Wild At Heart

The newest film by Canadian filmmaker Xavier Dolan, who gained a lot of exposure with his award winning film “I Killed My Mother” at last year’s Cannes, is entitled “Les Amours Imaginaires” (aka “Heartbeats”). The movie follows a three way love triangle is which Dolan himself plays Francis, a gay Montrealer who becomes infatuated with a young socialite named Nicolas (Niels Schneider). Instantaneously, Francis' close friend Marie (Monia Chokri) also develops her own feelings towards Nicolas.

Both Francis and Marie, who live a sort of idealized life where they attend fabulous parties and hang out with beautiful people, are searching for the perfect mate which puts them at odds with each other. I found myself picturing a scene like the Andy Warhol scene back in the 60’s where people try to drink the right drinks, have a unique but stylish fashion sense and read the correct authors. They have a great friendship which is threatened by their dual desire to please Nicolas. The relationship starts with a threesome of sorts but then Dolan switches affections between the two in a very laissez faire way until he breaks off with both leaving them both hanging and desperate to figure out what is going on.

While the US titled makes me think of moments of love, the European translation of “Love, Imagined” is more accurate as it bring out the more narcissistic motives of both friends and questions if they are really looking for a lasting relationship or just a passionate fling as might be expected by their compatriots. There main fault is that they both become too involved and pushy which makes them looked down by their peers as they descend into this doomed relationship. Both are left reeling as Nicolas leads them on almost to see how far each will go and then slowly breaks away as things heat up for the pair like he has become tired of their affections and is ready to move on.

The way the friends react in this setting might be a bit unsettling and very remindful of Victorian era flippancy but the movie is saved by some great dialogue and a very good soundtrack though I might have done without some of the added interviews with more normal people. Still, while being slightly off, it does have its moments which are enough to let me rate it a grade of B.






This is a song by renowned French recording artist Dalida which plays heavily in the soundtrack.

This Weekend: Detroit Wig Out

It’s time for Detroiters to fluff up their wigs as the annual Detroit Wig Out gears up for a third successful year.

As was the case last year, the whole family can get down and wig out with two events happening at the Majestic Theatre complex: the Detroit Wig Out party for the grownup set happens Saturday, April 30 ; the Wig Out Family Hootenanny, an afternoon event for kids and their caregivers, is the next day on Sunday, May 1.

This year’s Detroit Wig Out events will benefit the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) and a free public workshop tied to the upcoming Soul Ceramic Manufacturing Corporation exhibit by Chicago-based sculptor and performance artist Theaster Gates.

The event has partnered with a nonprofit each year to benefit the community in multiple ways, providing money for a worthy cause and an affordable, quirky event for community members during dismal times. And revelers can laud spring at the Detroit Wig Out, donning eccentric coiffures to bring in the warm weather.

The Detroit Wig Out will be held on April 30 at the Magic Stick Lounge, located on the second floor of the iconic Majestic Theatre complex on Woodward Ave. in Detroit’s Midtown. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. The event will feature southeast Michigan entertainment, with an eclectic line-up of music by local bands FAWN, The Blue Squares, The Kickstand Band and Royale. A eye-popping Glam & Spandex Wig Walk featuring Peace Love Spandex clothing, makeup by Rouge Makeup & Nail Salon, and wig fashions from Curl Up & Dye.

Everyone is welcome, with or without wigs, but to encourage the spirit of the event a $2 non-wig-wearing surcharge will be collected at the door. Tickets for the event are $10 and are available at MOCAD (hours), through Ticketmaster or at the door.

Friday: A Night with Modern Music

Friday, April 29

Doors at 8

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Mirrortwin are performing to benefit 101.9 WDET's Spring On-Air Fundraiser. 101.9 WDET's a listener-supported public radio station, so for a donation of $5 a month, or $60 over the course of a year, you can get a pair of tickets to "A Night with Modern Music"!

DEJJ was one of the buzz bands at this year's South by Southwest Festival. You definitely want to catch them before they head out on this summer's national tour/victory lap!

The night's hosted by WDET's purveyor of indie awesome, Jon Moshier. Moshier's show, which airs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., features rock and electronic sounds from new and emerging artists from the independent music scene with touchstones to classic underground tracks.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Nothing But Our Love

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. | Myspace Music Videos

Friday: Holcombe Waller at The Blind Pig

 

Holcombe Waller, with Chris Pureka, and Hana Malhas

Friday, April 29th, at The Blind Pig, 18+, Doors at 9

$10/$12

Portland via San Francisco singer, songwriter, composer and video artist Holcombe Waller is proud to announce the re-release of his latest record, Into the Dark Unknown on June 21st via Napolean Records. Released in limited quantities earlier this year, the album has been praised by the likes of NPR, Paste Magazine, and OUT as a beautiful piece of intimate chamber folk. Holcombe is also heading out on tour with Chris Pureka this spring.

The re-release follows Holcombe’s successful run at this year’s SXSW, which was praised by The New York Times and NPR as one of the festival’s best. A welcome respite from the intensity of SXSW, Holcombe played two stripped-down sets in his bedroom at the historic Driskill Hotel in Austin. Ben Sisario called the set, “the most unusual performance space at South by Southwest this year, and perhaps one of the most effective,” and Ann Powers chose the performance as one of her top three performances in Austin this year. Leading into the festival, Holcombe premiered his latest video for “Hardliners” at Paste Magazine. The beautiful, "one-shot" style music video was choreographed by legendary downtown artist Miguel Guitierrez, and follows Holcombe along a winding dream-like path from his bedroom to the stage and back.

For Holcombe Waller, Into the Dark Unknown was a labor of love that began with his theater piece, “Into the Dark Unknown: The Hope Chest.” Featuring many of the songs that ended up on Into The Dark Unknown, Holcombe staged the performance at The Public Theater in New York. It was commissioned by The Portland Institute for Contemporary Art and On the Boards Theater, Seattle, with the support of the prestigious MapFund project grant and the National Performance Network Creation Fund.

Friday: Cains & Abel at PJ's Lager House

Cains & Abels w/ Long Whisker, Me & the Ghost, and Ian Link

Friday, April 29th at PJ's Lager House

Doors at 9

 
Cains & Abels are David Sampson, Josh Ippel, and Jonathan Dawe. Their sound is a mix of buttery guitar melodies, elemental drumming, and harmonious voices. Songwriter David Sampson’s unique vocal styling stems from the religious folk style of his rural Ohio upbringing. Sampson recounts his earliest experiences with music as being in a room of adults singing at the top of their lungs in a fashion akin to shape note singing. His vocals, combined with the harmony of his bandmates, resound in an unsettling atmosphere that combines the eerie with the beautiful.

Originally, David and guitarist Josh Ippel were members of the band Lapel, heavily influenced by the K Records scene in 2002, particularly The Microphones. Lapel recorded an EP with Fred Thomas (Saturday Looks Good to Me), toured the east coast, and later opened for and performed with Phil Elvrum (The Microphones) as his backing band during his first ever Michigan tour. Lapel's drummer moved home to Canada and Sampson set out to form a new project more centered on his own song writing.

Months later, in 2003, Cains & Abels were officially formed in Grand Rapids, MI. As Sampson recounts their name originated from material that he was writing at the time: “I was into talking about halves of things and opposing halves of the same whole in my lyrics, and that seemed to fit. I wanted it to be a 'story telling band', where all of the songs were parts of a long story.” Not realizing how autobiographical his writing had become, Sampson set out to write songs revolving around the life of a character he dubbed "the reluctant trucker". “I started writing these songs after I got married in 2002, and it's very obvious that I was feeling very pressured into growing up and taking responsibility for myself and her and things. I thought I was writing fictional songs, but they weren't at all.”

From 2003 to 2006 the band went through many transformations and many different collaborators including Adrian Orange (Thanksgiving) and Juan Garcia (Saturday Looks Good to Me, Ben and Bruno). Sampson had not set out to make "rock music", but something more stripped down and minimal. After playing a string of solo shows along the east coast and southeast, Sampson returned to Chicago to regroup and finish the songs that would later become their debut album, ‘Call Me Up’. In early 2007, Jonathan Dawe joined the band as drummer.

Sampson's deteriorated marriage culminated in divorce in 2006. The songs on ‘Call Me Up’ reflect his mood during this period and tell the story of a relationship unraveling--“Killed me another bird for everyday that you’re away / Cold grow the hands of me alone”--“I’d jump into the fire if it lit up the phone in my pocket”--The record reflects the darkness experienced through vivid imagery. His lyrics intone bleak depictions of the metaphorical significance of birds of prey, bones, lonely highway drives, and isolating landscapes--all the while yielding to an overriding sense of hope.

May 11 - Woods of Ypres at the Magic Stick Lounge

Woods of Ypres w/ Winterus

Wednesday, May 11th at the Magic Stick Lounge

$8, doors at 8, all ages

Woods of Ypres has a new album out on Earache Records, a brand new independent vinyl 7” release, and will be entering the studio in August to record their fifth full length, to be released by Earache Records worldwide in 2012.

The May 11th show in Detroit is part of a 35 date North American tour. Woods of Ypres completed a two week record release show in March, released a new music video in February, and will be doing another video in July.  They hit the road again in September, as support on a soon to be announced tour.  Woods of Ypres has completed six tours in the past three years.

Woods of Ypres comprised of two Canadians and two Americans, was formed in Windsor, Ontario in 2002.

Uh Huh Her @ The Magic Bag in Ferndale tonight

While the girls from the electro-indie duo Uh Huh Her are touring, their release 6-song EP titled BLACK AND BLUE just came out. As they prepare for their forthcoming full-length album due out late summer, they are touring with LA based rock/alternative band, Diamonds Under Fire. Be sure to check out their show today April 27 The Magic Bag - Ferndale USA as part of their U.S. headlining tour. www.uhhuhher.com www.facebook.com/uhhuhher http://twitter.com/uhhuhhermusic

The BRAND NEW 'DIAMONDS UNDER FIRE' RECORD AVAILABLE NOW!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/diamonds-under-fire/id431140637

Diamonds Under Fire
Diamondsunderfire.com
Twitter.com/dufmusic
Myspace.com/diamondsunderfire
Facebook.com/dufmusic

THE LAUNCH - This and Every Thursday Night at THE MARS BAR in Hamtramck

PHOTOS & REVIEW: Pixies - by Andrew Bender

In one of the select few U.S. shows in their latest set of dates constituting the band's Doolittle tour, the Pixies brought their highly-influential pre-grunge chops to the historic Fox Theatre. Last Friday Downtown Detroit was hopping for what was an otherwise drizzly April night. The Tigers were whomping some White Sox butt across the street and a sold out crowd of thirty-somethings and middle-aged white metro-Detroiters filled the ornate theater. A few amps, mic stands, and platform with a drum kit set the stage, stand before a giant LED screen flashing video with each of the night's songs.

I got to hear the opening B-side Dance The Manta Ray from the security office, waiting to be escorted in to shoot from one side of the stage. Another short b-side, Weird At My School sounded a lot better as I actually got to see some of that from inside the theater, although my own appreciation and enthusiasm for the b-sides was somewhat admittedly more limited than other songs performed that night. But, as bassist and vocalist Kim Deal jokingly commented they were still learning some of the b-sides themselves before launching into another two - Baileys Walk and Manta Ray. I barely took note of these songs that weren't as permanently etched into my brain as every song in the whole Doolittle set that followed. I have to thank my old dear friend Jannette for truly getting me hooked on that album in the Summer of 1998. I'd always appreciated various Pixies songs, from the b-side slow UK version of Wave of Mutilation featured in the movie Pump Up the Volume to Where Is My Mind, later featured in Fight Club to numerous other random songs I'd heard. But I was never a real fan until I repeatedly listened to that cassette tape (kids, ask somebody born before 1990) while driving across the country from Tucson to Providence. In the years that followed, I lamented the band's break up, not being satisfied with Frank Black & the Catholics or Breeders side projects. I was fortunate to see their 'Pixies Sell Out' tour in 2004, which was amazing, despite crappy seats, it was just phenomenal to see them play.

And so, as the first high-pitched, distortion-laden notes and bass line for the opening Doolittle song Debaser rang out, I was focusing on looking over heads and trying to get a decent shot or two. I barely noticed frontman Black Francis and Deal trade off on vocals. The audience didn't leave its collective feet all night, and the all-too grey haired crowd was transported back to their respective college days as Black Francis screamed Tame. Or more accurately, "TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME." The normal/fast version of Wave of Mutilation followed and even through my Nikon-focused eye, I could hear some interesting fills by guitarist Joey Santiago from time to time. As the Pixies started I Bleed, the screen behind bathed them in red light. And then, with their short songs, I was being ushered back out while one of my favorite songs from the album Here Comes Your Man chased me out of the building. I jogged the 6 flights of stairs in the parking garage to stow my gear in my car before getting back in the theater in time to hear Mr. Grieves and the remaining second half of the album.

Some noteworthy thoughts and highlights without a complete song-by-song rundown: La La was great being close enough to actually see all four members of the band rotate vocals while singing, "I love you. I love you. I do. I - Love - You," while flaming hearts danced across the screen behind them. Throughout the show I was constantly impressed with the quality of the performance. Although they were playing an album over 20 years old, this was no attempt by aging rockers to relive their glory days. Even Black Francis' whistling during La La was spot-on. The Song #13 features Santiago's surf-tinged guitar line and I was impressed to see them extend the guitar jam in the middle of the song a bit in comparison to the studio version. Following Gun which featured Deal's reverb-heavy vocals, Hey presented some fun opportunities for fan interaction (Black Francis is yelling 'Hey' at the audience after all) as the song lyrics appeared in scribbled handwriting on the screen behind. And paying homage to Black Francis' love for the American Southwest, the vaguely spaghetti-Western themed Silver featured the band's slow, high-pitched vocals set in front of joshua trees. As Santiago's guitar screeched in contrast with Deal's soft, sweet, throaty vocals where you could almost see the portly front man at high noon in an old west ghost town. Gouge Away is one of my favorite songs on the album, possibly based on the biblical old testament tale of Sampson and Delilah. In between Santiago's guitar leads, Black Francis' discordant plucking of high notes added the perfect element to the closing song.

Following an extended bow by the band, they quickly returned to the stage for the more b-sides, including the slow, almost wistful UK Surf version of Wave of Mutilation, an intense, almost hyperactive White. And the audience just couldn't get enough. We can only hope that any new numbers that the band puts out (as they've been hinting at for a while) on their rumored forthcoming album will come close to Doolittle.

FREE Signed Bettie Page Prints - A Birthday Tribute to Bettie Page presented by Noir Leather - Northern Lights Lounge - Sat 4/30

Be the 13th emailer to motorcityblog@earthlink.net to win this signed rare print ran from original negatives of Bettie Page shot by then boyfriend/photographer Charles West

Get on over to this fun filled event thrown by our pals at Noir Leather for your chance to win 3 other signed prints (each is different) all signed and numbered ....and ready to raffle !!!

Saturday April 30th over at Northern Lights Lounge 660 W Baltimore Detroit

Visit http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=24658970430#!/photo.php?fbid=10150152760877978&set=o.24658970430&type=1&theater for more info and be sure to check out more killer Bettie Page goodies from the fine folks who donated the prints

http://bettiemaepage.com

Martha’s Vineyard Ferries/Cactus Club/Milwaukee, WI by Scott Sabatke

 

 

Martha's Vineyard Ferries/Cactus Club/Milwaukee, WI

It is rare to have a good concert on a Monday night in Milwaukee.  On Monday there were two shows to choose from; indie super group Martha's Vineyard Ferries or the Foals.  I choose Martha's Vineyard Ferries because of: a). the band features members from Shellac, Volcano Suns, Come, and Codeine and b) I'm not sure who the Foals are.  Apparently the young Milwaukee hipster crowd picked the Foals.  The twenty people who made it to the Cactus Club witnessed one of the best shows to come to Milwaukee this year (so far).  Martha's Vineyard Ferries band members are Elisha Wiesner, Bob Weston, and Chris Brokaw.  This performance was classic college 80's rock. Songs of two to three minute power-punk pop with big hooks, angular guitar and cranked up bass.  The bass was dominant, filling the entire room, giving it a much bigger sound.  You can definitely hear each individual's past band influences in the music. The trio shared lead vocals, which gave a nice variety of musical influences. Mr. Wiesner's songs were more power pop and quirky, reminding me of Big Dipper, if they played heavier.  Mr. Weston displayed more of a harder garage influence during his selections. Mr. Brokaw sung only one song of the night, but it complemented the collection.  I asked Chris Brokaw about the set and the future of the band.  He said they played four older songs, the four from the ep (In The Pond – Sickroom Records) and some new songs. He added they were going to record some new songs soon and possibly release a full length album in the future.  I look forward in hearing more from this band and hope they return to Milwaukee soon.

 

Reporting for MOTORCITYBLOG on all things Milwaukee - Scott Sabatke

Your Skull My Closet - Isosceles Mountain, Replicas, Golden Torso -Saturday 4/30 - The Shelter

Your Skull My Closet
Isosceles Mountain, Replicas, Golden Torso

Saturday, April 30, 2011
at the Shelter

8pm * $8 * AA
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/08004631FF065543

PIXIES PHOTOS & Review by Sue Static

Photos by Peter Schorn/Rock Out Shots

The Pixies at the Fox Theatre 4/22/2011 by Sue Static

Seminal alternative rock band The Pixies made a triumphant return to Detroit at the historic Fox Theatre on Friday, April 22. The influential Boston quartet blasted out a set of classic material that focused on their 1989 album "Doolittle" played in its entirety. The album is ranked Number 226 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "500 Greatest Albums of All-Time."

They started with four rare B-sides before launching into the album proper, kicking off with a roaring "Debaser" and continuing the "Doolittle" set for a sold-out Detroit audience. At one point, bassist Kim Deal asked the enthusiastic crowd, "Wow! Are you all from Detroit?", and the crowd response made it clear that they were.

The Pixies put on a powerhouse show, backed by an enormous video screen projecting various image montages from eyeballs to monkeys to the band members hamming it up onscreen. Having attended the band's original “Doolittle” tour, it was great to see that time hasn't slowed them down as they performed with gusto, clearly enjoying performing their old material.

The show concluded with two encores of more old hits such as "Gigantic," the “UK Surf” version of "Wave of Mutilation" and "Where is My Mind?" which was recently re-imagined for the soundtrack of “Sucker Punch.” We hope that the band continues this comeback with new material that they've been rumored to be working on when they return.

FREE TICKETS: Surfer Blood - Magic Stick Detroit - May 4th

Surfer Blood is coming to Detwat - email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your shot at a pair of passes to the show

Surfer Blood will be hitting Detroit May 4th at the Magic Stick.

Though South Florida doesn't have the tides to shoot the curl, West Palm Beach's Surfer Blood fuse sunny surf rock charm with indie rock cool. Guitarist/vocalist John Paul Pitts and drummer Tyler Schwarz had known each other since high school; they started playing together and connected with guitarist Thomas Fekete, bassist Brian Black, and percussionist Marcos Marchesani at an Ultra Music Festival after-party, officially becoming Surfer Blood in spring 2009. They began recording and touring almost immediately, laying down tracks in Pitts' apartment and embarking on four tours in their first five months together. The buzz around the band began in late August after Surfer Blood played a show at the Brooklyn venue Bruar Falls; when they returned to New York that fall for the CMJ Music Marathon, they played ten shows. Tours with Art Brut andJapandroids kept Surfer Blood busy for the rest of 2009, and their debut album, Astro Coast, was released in early 2010.



get to this show!
http://www.majesticdetroit.com/

Meet the Artist Reception @ Robert Kidd Gallery - Fri 4/29

 

DAM Northern Lights Exhibition

 

The Detroit Artists Market announces NORTHERN LIGHTS, an exhibition of 20 northern Michigan artists. 

The exhibition was co-curated by John F. Korachis and Rebecca Glotfelty.

Opening Friday, April 29, 2011 with a public reception running 6pm – 9pm.

Musical entertainment by Kresge Fellow, Joel Peterson and Friends.

Food generously donated by Northern Lights Lounge.

Join us for the afterglow at Northern Lights Lounge located at 660 W. Baltimore, Detroit 48202.

The exhibit will close Friday, May 27^th.

Gallery Talk with exhibiting artists will take place Saturday, April 30^th from noon – 2pm. 

 

Detroit Artists Market

4719 Woodward Ave.

Detroit, MI 48201

313.832.8540

www.detroitartistsmarket.org

 

 

The Appleseed Cast - Poseidon @ The Pike Room, Pontiac MI 4-24-2011

I enjoyed my Easter by going to this show last night at the Pike Room. We had Empire! Empire! who are from Fenton,MI, A Great Big Pile of Leaves, and The Appleseed Cast.

You can upscale the video from 720 to 1080 for higher quality and a better view.

Check out The Appleseed Cast photos on White Shroud Picture's tumblr

Wild At Heart

Wild Bill Ketelhut provides the "blog" to this anti-blog

Wild At Heart

Here we are nearing the end of April and I'm still waiting for some truly warm weather to come along. You are catching me in the middle of some things so not much to write about. Tune in midweek for the hopeful movie review of Heartbeats (this has been delayed a few weeks as is so hopefully it will be opening in Detroit this weekend). Check back to find out. I am working on getting an interview with the Funeral Party who will be in town shortly opening for the Deftones. More on that later!

There is not much on the concert scene for me to recommend this week so here are a few options for you:


Wednesday (4/26) - Uh Huh Her @ Magic Bag

Thursday (4/27) - Sondre Lerche @ Lakeview Farm Barn (Dexter)

Friday (4/28) - Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials @ Callahans

Saturday (4/29) - Muggs (CD release party) w/Hentchmen @ Magic Bag


I do recommend the Uh Huh Her show. I interviewed Leisha Hailey (of the Murmurs and a cast member of “The L Word”) the last time they were in town and the band put on a great performance. Here is a song to get you motivated.




Hate to end with nothing else to talk about so quickly here are a couple of things bothering me this week. First, I can’t believe gas prices are back to hovering around $4 a gallon. When I was living in Detroit it wasn’t so bad because I was going to most concerts for free, but here I not only have to buy my concert tickets (for the most part), but I have to drive a good distance for some of the best shows (Buffalo, Geneva, Toronto) so that really puts a damper on my concert goings. The worst thing is that every is getting into the talks about how the government and companies will try to wean us off the dependence of foreign oil but as soon as the prices start to dip, all that talk and any efforts to make it happen are going to disappear as they do every time. I think government officials and corporate owners should make around the same price as the workers so they know exactly how the little guy feels when stuff like this happens so they might go that extra mile. After the wars in the Middle East, Katrina, BP oil spill, Japan’s earthquake and the growth of third world nations, if we don’t do something soon nothing will ever happen and we’ll just gripe as the politicians rape us of everything we own. Makes one wonder what the point is when the American people will rally like what’s been happening in Libya and Egypt. It may seem far fetched, but I can really see something like this happening. Would other countries support the government or the people if it ever does happen?

Lastly, can someone put a muzzle on Donald Trump. This guy is really irritating, more so that usual. I know he must hate Obama as he is now questioning his love of the game of golf saying that if he (Trump) was president, he wouldn’t be playing golf in time of war. I know the presidency is stressful and if a round of golf relaxes him, go for it. At least he hasn’t yet backed a call to action against terrorism during a press conference with "now watch this drive" like George Bush did. I also believe Trump must be smart when you look at his vast empire, so how can he be questioning the fact that Obama was born in Hawaii. This whole “birther” thing is downright embarrassing to smart Republicans as myself. Trump is rich enough to charter a plane and go look at the public file located in the state Department of Health building in Hawaii and see the record showing he was born in Hawaii. The best part is Trump recently held a press conference to prove anyone could show proof of being born in the US. Unfortunately for Trump, the documentation he brought to show he was born in the US was not an official form of ID that could be used. Good fact-checking there Donald. This is for you: Newspaper birth announcements appeared in the Honolulu Advertiser and the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in the weeks after he was born. The Aug 13, 1961 announcement in the Advertiser appears on page B-6 (got that Trump and everyone else) of the Sunday edition right next to classified ads for carpentry work and house repair. It says, “Mr. and Mrs. Barack H. Obama, 6085 Kalanianaole Hwy, son, Aug 4” (the address belonged to the parents of Ann Dunham, Obama’s mother). How can this guy be so high on the list of Republican hopefuls for the next election? Can’t my party find someone better? Where is the next Ford or Eisenhower? Heck, I would love to have another Nixon, but only if he doesn’t get caught.


Of course I also read that 45% percent of Republicans believe that Obama wasn’t born in the states. I’m sure that same 45% believe Elvis is still alive, Bigfoot still exists, there really is an Easter Bunny, Sarah Palin was a good choice for VP and that the Titanic actually deserved that Academy Award for best picture (we all know LA Confidential should have won). There are always some nut cases that will believe anything, but 46% of Republicans??? I still believe in my party, but recent years have shown that it doesn’t really matter which party gets in since they have so many special interests, that nothing really great seems to get done. Of course, not much has changed. I just watched the TV show “John Adams” and he seemed to go through the same issues as today’s politicians. I just hope whoever the next president is, he can do what is right for this country and the rest of the government will support him. I won’t hold my breath.

So much for that rant and catch you later in the week and leave you with this all my youthful, naïve readers.

Scotch & Cigars featuring the art of Tony Roko - Thursday April 28th 7pm

NEXT WEEK: “Glass Gardens- A celebration of Spring”

"Glass Gardens- A celebration of Spring"- The Glass Academy offers a unique
opportunity this Mother's day for creativity in the garden.
This May 6th and 7th weekend sale will feature Michigan made glass products
and live glassblowing demonstrations.

During Mother's Day weekend, the Glass Academy will open it's studio doors
to welcome in visitors with the release of a new line of spring glass
accents called "Percolla Reeds". Live glassblowing demos take place where
customers will be able to view the glassblowers creating custom orders with
molten glass. Show hours are Friday, May 6th, from 11-7pm and Saturday May
7th, from 10-6pm. Smaller glass items start at $10 with the opportunity to
commission custom work during the show. Admission is free for this all ages
show and takes place at the Glass Academy 25331 Trowbridge, located in West
Dearborn near the crossroads of Gully and Michigan Ave.
www.GlassAcademy.com

Unique to this spring show, the Glass Academy will unveil a new line of work
called the 'Percolla Reed' series. "We created a line of glass items that
could become interactive with the consumer. We are so excited to unveil
this work as it allows people to create their own custom environment with
multiple glass pieces and plants. We'll be on hand to demonstrate and
explain how easy it is for them to have these exciting garden features."
Explains Michelle Plucinsky, one of the main designers at the Glass Academy.
"These new glass accents, called 'Percolla Reeds', are solid glass rods with
a steel stick attached to the base that inserts into the dirt level of
plants. They come in a multiple of colors and shapes allowing people to be
creative and inspired to mix and match them into existing plant arrangements
both indoors and outdoors."

"It's the ultimate way to add some excitement to your plants and gardens,"
exclaims Cathy Rankin, "I love how I can rotate and move them around with
little effort and constantly create new looks.
In my backyard garden they lend color and interest to my beds while needed
no weeding or extra work!"

Trained staff will be on hand to show how to use the glass 'Percolla Reeds'
and lend expertise, while in the hot shop, live glassblowing demonstrations
will be entertaining visitors with custom orders of Percolla Reeds for
clients and visitors.

"The live glassblowing demonstrations are always show stopping", say Daedra
Surowiec, and I tend to stay for hours watching!!
It's amazing what they can make with glass here at the Glass Academy.
There is no one else in Metro Detroit doing work like this and I always come
early so I can get my order in."

Demonstrations will take place from 11-5pm both days of the show.
visit www.GlassAcademy.com

TONIGHT: Soul Clap and Dance-Off Party by Jonathan Toubin - Lager House

DJ Jonathan Toubin’s Soul Clap and Dance-off Party happening Monday, April 25 at Lager House.

Basically Soul Clap is a dance party with a contest in the middle –
for $100 cash prize – with Jonathan spinning only vinyl 45s of rare
soul & garage rock. He's been doing the Soul Clap & Dance Off in New
York for 4 years now and has toured it around the world. The Wall
Street Journal recently did a feature on Jonathan

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704657704576150283072021712.html

Check out this mixtape of rare soul & garage rock (the
same music he spins at Soul Clap) for download.
http://soundcloud.com/nynt/01-soul-clap-classics-1-wav


Soul Clap and Dance-Off w/DJ Jonathan Toubin
Monday, April 25: PJ's Lager House
1254 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI)
http://www.pjslagerhouse.com/calendar.aspx
10pm - 2am PLUS Dance-off @ Midnight ($100 cash prize)

The most popular soul party in North America for four years now, New
York Night Train's Soul Clap and Dance-Off, has brought its excitement
to domestic markets all the way from Portland, Oregon to Portland,
Maine and internationally from Tel Aviv to Mexico City - including
residencies all over the US! Not only does the party feature the
exciting exquisite 45rpm rarities of DJ Jonathan Toubin, but a
Dance-Off portion for a $100 grand prize and judges from every edge of
music and culture - from classic subcultural icons like Mike Watt and
Jello Biafra, to rock stars like Andrew VanWyngarden of MGMT and Nick
ZInner of Yeah Yeah Yeas, to interesting cultural figures like Satanic
Priestess Karla LaVey and Green Party Vice Presidential Candidate Matt
Gonzalez.

The SOUL CLAP!
CATCH IT!

FREE TICKETS: Funeral Party opening for DEFTONES

Happy Monday! MCB has a pair of premium tickets to give away for Funeral Party
email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your chance to win
winner will be chosen tomorrow before we close the MCB office for west coast vacation



Sure you know the DEFTONES are coming to Detroit at the Fillmore in Detroit on 5/1but we wanted to make sure you knew about the tour openers Funeral Party

The band's debut album The Golden Age of Knowhere came out on 3/29. It was produced by Lars Stalfors (Matt & Kim, The Mars Volta) and mixed by Dave Sardy (Band of Horses, LCD Soundsystem, Oasis). They've already performed on Letterman and Kimmel, and have supported the likes of The Faint, Cut Copy,The Mars Volta, and Crystal Castles.

They’ll be opening for The Deftones for the next month or so, and then they hit the road opening for Panic! At the Disco. This band is not to missed

PHOTOS: Detroit RAWK! at Hard Rock Cafe Detroit featuring The Handgrenades and Carolyn Striho Band