With all the events going on this weekend in the Detroit area, there was one in particular that probably wasn't on your radar screen, that is unless you're a female between the ages 12 and 15. At Pike Room on Saturday night, a few of YouTube brightest stars took the stage displaying both their talent for covers as well as their originals. Now I'm not a female and I'm haven't been 15 for more than a couple dozen years, but I have a daughter who is and I've got an interest in talking to YouTube stars, finding out how they get their views and how they navigate their career. The more I hear from these YouTube Stars the more I keep making this odd comparison of what they to do as today's definition of punk rock. Seriously, hear me out on this, it's a total DIY effort, from their homemade videos, to having the audacity to put their own spin on today's most popular songs, to releasing their music on their own labels. Putting the punk rock angle aside what these kids are doing is fun and entertaining.
Local YouTube artist, Laura Jean, warmed up the show playing a few of her charming originals as well as a cover of Maroon 5's "Misery" which had the crowd clapping and singing along. Following Laura, was Luke Conard, who provided the nerdy talent of the show with songs about Harry Potter, compulsive gaming and robot love. He brought the crowd into the show by rushing off stage and dancing. Tiffany Alvord, the youngest performer on the tour, played a set of covers that ranged from "Moves Like Jagger" to B.O.B's "Magic". Her own songs also held up their own next to the covers. Alex Goot was the headliner and the most accomplished artist of the show. Playing his set with a full band and Goot, himself, on piano, he filled his set with his own songs which the crowd seemed to know and a few well placed covers. The show ended with a melody that included the YouTube hit that everybody loves but doesn't want to admit,"Friday."
Here's a video of me speaking to each of the performers before the show.
