4/30/14

Spring Into Belle Isle Family Day at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum Sunday, May 4

BRING FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO VISIT A DETROIT JEWEL AND THE DOSSIN GREAT LAKES MUSEUM FOR "SPRING INTO BELLE ISLE FAMILY DAY," SUNDAY, MAY 4

DETROIT -- Presented by the Detroit Historical Society in partnership with the Belle Isle Conservancy and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Spring into Belle Isle Family Day will feature free activities for the whole family at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum and other great Belle Isle attractions on Sunday, May 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Are you ready to visit a variety of interesting attractions and learn more about the past -- and present -- of Belle Isle Park? From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees can participate in a Belle Isle Road Rally, meeting in the Dossin Museum's Gothic Room as home base. Families, couples, or small groups of friends can work together to solve clues related to key locations on Belle Isle. Then, they'll travel to the locations to find answers to a few questions. Unlike a scavenger hunt, the road rally is not timed and relies on earning points. The road rally takes a minimum of one hour to complete. Groups will not be sent out after 2 p.m., but completed road rally information will be accepted until 4 p.m. All teams that participate will earn a prize. Teams with a high number of points will be entered into a raffle.

The winner of the raffle will receive an exciting package of tickets and special behind the scenes experiences for some of the fastest sports on the planet. You will have the opportunity to see the Thunderbirds, the pride and precision of the US Air Force; attend the APBA Gold Cup, where Hydroplanes race at speeds near 200 miles per hour; and experience the racing excitement of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

The prize package includes:

Four tickets to see the Air Force Thunderbirds and VIP Fighter Club access at Willow Run Airport in August;
Four tickets to view the APBA Gold Cup in July in style at the Roostertail. This VIP experience includes Gold Circle VIP Window Seating, French champagne, drink tickets, afternoon barbecue, concierge service and two parking passes;
Four Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix tickets with VIP pit access.

Prizes for the raffle were donated by the Detroit River Regatta Association, the Roostertail and the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

Programming for children at the Dossin Museum will run all day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include activities, crafts and much more! Kids will be able to decode secret messages using signal flags. Once they decode a message clue, they must find it in the museum and answer a few questions. Kids who complete the whole activity will win a prize! Kids can also learn about diving in the Great Lakes by comparing the similarities and difference between salt water and fresh water diving. They will also learn about diving to see shipwrecks in the Great Lakes. Kids will then be able to make a Cartesian diver using plastic water bottles to learn about buoyancy.

At 1 p.m., Michael P. Deren, actor, musician and storyteller, will take on the persona of an 1875 Great Lakes schooner captain delivers passengers and cargo to ports from Buffalo to Duluth. Using a button accordion and concertina, he shares the songs, history and resources of the Great Lakes region. Get ready to be a part of the fun in this hands-on presentation. Michael has been presenting interpretive history programs throughout the Midwest and East since 1985 and is supported through the Michigan Humanities Council as one of their approved touring artists.

Hot dogs, nachos, chips and pop from Metro Beverage will be available all day for purchase in a tent outside the Dossin.

The Dossin Great Lakes Museum, located at 100 Strand Drive on Belle Isle, is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free for all, all the time. Permanent exhibits include Built by the River in the John A. and Marlene L. Boll Foundation Gallery, the Miss Pepsi vintage 1950s championship hydroplane, the Gothic Room from the City of Detroit III, a bow anchor from the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, the pilothouse from the Great Lakes freighter S.S. William Clay Ford, and one of the largest known collections of scale model ships in the world.

FUTURE: Upcoming Shows for Eleanora at TrumbullPlex Detroit 5/16 and Corktown Tavern 5/24

Catch Elenora on the following dates:

May 16th: with Joy Ike (fabulous PA songwriter), Audra Kubat and Michelle Held at the TrumbullPlex in Detroit, 8 pm

May 24th: with The Whiskey Charmers and Eric Scharver at Corktown Tavern in Detroit, $7, 9pm--A Memorial Day Weekend get-together!

As you may or may not know, they just recently had two new members join the band, drummer Dave Zwolinski and guitarist Dan Clark, and they are really excited to have them on board.

Catch Elenora live as they shape thier sound and push into 2014 with the gas to the floor!

eleanoralive.com

eleanora.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/eleanoralive

twitter handle: eleanoralive

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN playing at Trumbullplex Detroit May 10 2014

YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN

are playing at Trumbullplex Detroit

on Saturday May 10th 2014

The band is playing a run of North American dates in support of their critically acclaimed album UZU, released on Suicide Squeeze last fall. A record that Pitchfork describes as "an extension of their previously coined "Noh-wave" sound, a loose combination of metal and theatrics... operatic piano ballads along with sludgy tracks... while they invoke deities and write epic stories of destruction and heartbreak, they're also creating allegories inspired by the band's real lives."

Bio /
The rock opera generally references the ambitious and occasionally bloated concept albums of seasoned big name artists. Rarely is it used to conjure a Pynchon-worthy fusion of high and low culture or a blurring of the lines between theater and music. But in the case of Toronto/Montreal art partnership YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN, rock opera carries all the latter connotations of the nexus between tradition and irreverence, performance art and unbridled noise. The duality of fusing Old World classicism with New World innovation goes to the very core of the group—their name is a melding of the Buddhist "terminator of death" deity with a song title by seminal stoner doom band Sleep. They describe themselves as "Noh-wave", a nod to both classical Japanese drama and the nihilistic art-punk scene of a pre-Giuliani New York City.

The yin-and-yang philosophy permeates every facet of YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN. The project centers around Alaska B and Ruby Kato Attwood, two art students with a mutual love of opposing forces—heavy metal's brutish assault with Japanese manga's cartoonish appeal, Boredom's experimentalism with Chinese opera, lofty schemes and low budget endeavors. The duo started out by building instruments out of found objects—once again highlighting their paradoxical nature by turning trash into art and rendering structured beauty out of detritus. Their performances veered more towards theater, with Alaska and Ruby constructing elaborate stage settings out of cardboard pasted with industrial-sized Xeroxed designs and donning elaborate Kabuki-style costumes and make-up.

Such unorthodox ventures could repel the rock crowd, but YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN's debut album YT//ST dispelled any concerns that Alaska and Ruby didn't know how to lay siege with their instruments. Anchored by Alaska's unrepentant drumming—a blend of Melvins drummer Dale Crover's signature stomp and Einsturzende Neubauten's proto-industrial thud—and Ruby's soaring soprano, YT//ST took the narrative arc and keyboard foundation of Genesis' rock opera The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and injected the psychedelic doom of Boris' Pink.

With their sophomore effort UZU, Alaska and Ruby continue their exploration of cultural dualities. While YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN has always provided an outlet for the core duo's celebration of their Asian heritage, the inclusion of auxiliary musicians and artists into the fold has reinforced one of the most crucial defining dualities of the group: the merging of diasporic and indigenous perspectives. This meeting of East and West is perhaps most visible in UZU's lead single "One".

As the first YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN song to extend the songwriting credits beyond the core duo, "One" incorporates the indigenous upbringings of the extended group by leading off with a traditional Iroquois song. The introductory chant is a social song calling all people together, and is performed by people of the Mohawk tribe. From there, the band kicks into a driving guitar line and a vocal hook as sweet as any J-pop hit. Metal riffing, free-jazz cacophony, and meditative Eastern percussion patterns accentuate the song. In the hands of lesser visionaries, this kind of cross-pollination would sound like a schizophrenic genre mash-up. But YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN's appropriations never sound forced. Rather, it sounds like a celebration of the cultural collision of Alaska and Ruby's upbringing.

The hybridization is evident throughout UZU--you can hear it in the operatic piano-and-vocal opener "Atalanta" segueing into the dynamic prog of "Whalesong", the Eastern melodies seamlessly melding into the synth arpeggio and guitar dirge of "Windflower", the musical storytelling tradition of "Seasickness Pt. 1" juxtaposing with the Heart-like classic rock gallop of "Seasickness Pt. 2", and the closing choir passage of "Saturn's Return" descending into Merzbow-esque white noise.

It is safe to say there is no other band like YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN on the planet. In a world that is increasingly homogenized, a record like UZU is all the more important for demonstrating how disparate cultural perspectives can merge into something entirely new while retaining their individual sovereign character. UZU is now available on CD/LP and digital formats in the United States via Suicide Squeeze Records. The LP version contains a free download of the album and the first 500 copies are pressed on grey vinyl.

1st Annual Detroit Rummage Sales Event this Sunday May 4th 2014 at Tangent Gallery Detroit

On Sunday May 4th 2014 at Detroit's Tangent Gallery,
everyone is invited to browse the 1st annual Detroit Rummage sales
event. All sorts of used items, from vintage collectibles to everyday
needs, will be for sale, trade and possibly gifting from artists,
friends and neighbors across the metro Detroit area.

Open from 12 noon until 7pm, the gallery bar will also be open for soft
drink and beer purchases and hot food will also be available on site.
It is free to attend and all ages are welcome. For those interested in
selling or trading, a few tables are still available for only $25 each.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.detroitrummage.com

1st Annual Detroit Rummage Sale
Sunday May 4th 2014 - 12 noon until 7pm
Tangent Gallery, 715 E Milwaukee St, Detroit, MI
http://www.facebook.com/groups/detroitrummage

MCB PICK OF THE WEEK: Grupo Escobar / Mariachi COMPASS Concert marks Cinco de Mayo, Arab American National Museum's 9th birthday Friday May 2nd 2014

The AANM has always observed Cinco de Mayo, because it's such a rich cultural holiday and because May 5 marks the day the AANM opened to the public in 2005 - we are nine this year! Come celebrate a few days early at the 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2 Global Fridays concert featuring the Cuban/fusion musical stylings of Grupo Escobar and opening act Mariachi COMPAS, the sizzling youth ensemble from Southwest Detroit.

Cuba has long been a hotbed of cross-pollinating musical styles, especially when it comes to dance music. Grupo Escobar, an 11-piece ensemble specializing in Cuban salsa and timba, seizes the spirit and energy of those forms, but allows them to evolve by fusing them with cumbia, jazz, Arabic traditional and modern tropical rhythms. It's a process similar to the fusion that originally developed these styles from African and Caribbean sources.

Formed in Detroit by musicians of diverse nationalities and backgrounds, Grupo Escobar delivers a rich, high-energy dance music that brings all of these influences to bear. It is among the largest ensembles ever to grace the Global Fridays stage!

Tickets are $10/$9 Museum Members, available at the door and in advance online at www.arabamericanmuseum.org.

FUTURE: No More Heroes - The Artwork of Luke MacGilvray - Scarab Club Detroit - Thursday, May 15th - 6:00pm - 10:00 pm

The Scarab Club's Emerging Artist Series presents:

No More Heroes - The Artwork of Luke MacGilvray
Thursday, May 15th - 6:00pm - 10:00 pm

"No More Heroes" is a multimedia exhibition of artwork created by Luke MacGilvray. His extensive portfolio is inspired by living abroad; juxtaposing the ancient Japanese paper cut art (kiri-e) with a retro style rooted in comic fandom. All this pinned on a painterly expanse with a wink and a nod to old school punk rock. His work will give you flashbacks of late nights listening to angry music shrieking from your speakers while submerged in a pile of graphic novels. (Black nail polish and Bazooka Joe gum not included.)

All ages welcome. FREE ADMISSION.

This one night show runs in conjunction each third Thursday with the Dr. Sketchy Art
Class on the first floor of the Scarab Club, and the lower level art nude Sketch Sessions.

Scarab Club
217 Farnsworth St, Detroit, MI 48202 (313) 831-1250
www.scarabclub.org

Facebook page for the event:
No More Heroes - Luke MacGilvray

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About the Emerging Artist Program: The Emerging Artist program started in January of 2012. Curated by veteran artists and Scarab members, VATO and Adam Owen Layne, the program was created to spotlight metro Detroit artists of all mediums who are up-and-coming or considered the Who's Who of their inner subculture, but may lack the necessary exposure they need to get in front of the mainstream public.

The Scarab Club is using this program to help the community see and appreciate art that they may not have the opportunity to see or know about. Budding artists need exposure, need to be cultivated and supported, and this program hopes to do so. It also helps entice new membership to the Scarab Club, since the century-old non-profit has opened doors for many artisans over the years, and being a part of their regular showcases can be win-win since it also adds new blood to the mix, and a fresh perspective on today's art.

Although Scarab Club has had decades of events and exhibitions that cater to all ages, this Emerging Artist Series is the first of it's kind. The spotlighted artists are hand picked and given the freedom to display and represent their work in their own solo show, with NO COMMISSION taken by the Scarab. There are so many stories to be told in metro Detroit, and this showcase allows the artist sole freedom to show their vision and perspective of life, without a jury deciding what the public wants to see. It's fresh and it's raw. This 2014 Series will be hosted and curated by VATO and Adam Owen Layne.

Culture Lab - Can Art and Collaboration Help Rebuid a City? - In Cahoots – A Mashup and Collaboration between My Brightest Diamond and Migguel Anggelo

By BritChic in Detroit

On Saturday night Culture Labs last event for 2014 was held at Trinosophes in Eastern Market, a huge space, coffee shop and music venue. The barristers served a host of soft drink cocktails and coffee and the large crowd gathered in their seats and standing room only, to listen to My Brightest Diamond and Migguel Anggelo.

Shara Worden, My Brightest Diamond originally from New York but now a Detroit transplant, was classical trained but highly influenced by rock and grew up listening to the songs of Motown. She is a singer songwriter and plays multiple instruments and formed My Brightest Diamond as a project and has ended up making 3 studio albums.

My Brightest Diamond and Detroit Party Marching Band

I interviewed Shara and asked about her thoughts on Detroit and collaboration.

Shara’s view on the restoration of Detroit was that everyone could be a part of the creative process and that it was very dependent on the lines of communication between all parties.

“I think it is crucial to talk about the prejudice and racial inequality that still so much exists here and everywhere, and that is something that is hard for people to talk about and hard to face, but it is necessary and also needs to be a part of any conversation, how to heal, how to lift up, how to facilitate, how to bring everyone to a more equal footing”.

As far as collaboration goes with outside designers Shara believes that “art is categorically of benefit to human existence. Period. Wherever it happens. The motivation is important, but ultimately the art can even supersede the creators motivations or intentions. I can't defend or truly know anyone's motives, but bottom line, I think what is of value is that creation happens. Art is energy put into creation, to making things, to building and questioning and challenging and bringing joy and love and tears and putting all of those ideas and emotions into a form or an experience."

Shara Worden - My Brightest Diamond

The second artist in the mash up was Migguel Anggelo a singer, dancer, actor and all round creative individual from Venezuela, who also came from a classically trained background but was strongly influenced by the rock artist Freddie Mercury. He also had some interesting things to say about reviving the city of Detroit through artistic collaboration.

“Everything is possible in life. I am from Venezuela where my country is experiencing one hardship after another led by dictators. Detroit could be an example of the American dream. If the people of Detroit pull together and work really hard as a united front, they can restore Detroit to one of the most important cities of culture and innovation in America. That can happen here”.

“Artistic collaborations inspire growth and rejuvenation. I am thrilled to be part of the creative energy that is Detroit, and in my tiny way, hope that our artistic “conversation” contributes to Detroit’s world class culture”.

So both these positive individuals have definitely joined the ranks of growing artists that believe that collaboration and art can come together to make Detroit a better place.

Migguel Anggelo

They showed off their artistic talents in the show that followed.

Shara appearing in a band leaders’ outfit and performed the first number which was both bold and dramatic and included the percussion talents of the Detroit Party Marching band and a brass section complete with a piccolo.

Shara moved effortlessly between instruments and her vocals are both beautiful and haunting. At times she seems possessed as she erratically moves around the stage. You wonder what she will do next.

The collaboration came in the form of two duets with Migguel Anggelo; The Very Thought of You, performed very theatrically and ending with the two waltzing together and the Motown Classic, You’re All I Need to Get By.

Migguel performed a few solo numbers in Spanish and showed off his talents in acting, singing and dancing.

For me though the show was all about My Brightest Diamond. Shara is mesmerizing and captivating as she creatively takes you through her songs.

The song that stood out the most was High Low Middle which she has written about Detroit and the inequalities that exist. For me, the lyrics summed up the whole 3 Day Celebration Event. Can Art and Collaboration help rebuild a city? If the “High” and the “Low” can talk to each other and collaborate through art and other creative pursuits then it is possible that they can meet somewhere in the “Middle” and make Detroit a great place to live work and grow.

My Brightest Diamond

Culture Lab Detroit - Can Art and Collaboration Help Rebuild a City?

by Brit Chic in Detroit

Last week, April 24th-26th, saw the second annual event to promote Culture Lab Detroit. The idea was conceived by Jan Schulak who has partnered with Detroit Creative Corridor Center and the College for Creative Studies to facilitate a place where renowned artists and entrepreneurs can come together to make connections, have conversations and collaborate with each other in order to make the world aware of Detroit’s potential to be a leading hub for creativity.

During the series of events last week, a panel discussion entitled “Art Interventions” was held at the Alfred Tubman Center for Design Education at the College for Creative Studies on Thursday evening.

The moderator David Stark a New York premier event designer lead the other panelists in discussion; Theaster Gates, Chicago- based artist and innovator in the field of social practice, and space development, David Adjaye, London and New York based international architect, known for his sculptural ability and artists sensibility and Humberto and Fernando Campana, Brazil-based designers, who work primarily in furniture, interior design, architecture, and landscaping.

I had the opportunity to ask David Stark some questions beforehand.

How did you get involved with Culture Lab Detroit?

“I first met Jane Schulak, Culture Lab’s founder when collaborating with her on a private event. Through that experience, I fell in love with Detroit, its percolating creative community, the incredible history of the city, and the community that is redefining what Detroit stands for NOW and in the future. When Jane asked me to be part of the panel discussion last year, of course, I was thrilled. I am honored to be asked back to now moderate this year’s talk with David Adjaye, the Campana brothers, and Theaster Gates, all artists and creative thinkers that I greatly admire”.

Do you think it is possible to restore Detroit and revive it as a city of creative innovators?

“Of course! It’s happening as we speak! Creativity comes out of necessity. Thus, while there are truly grave challenges to be overcome, and I don’t want to minimize them, there are so many awesome people, artists, and companies that are seizing the day of opportunity. Look at a company like Shinola. They are a prime example of a group that are moving the needle from Detroit, making Detroit sexy”.

So with David and his strong support for Detroit at the helm, his questions to the panel began. The group was very focused on how design and architecture can benefit a recovering city like Detroit. Their main points focused on listening to the community and looking at their relationship to the environment, recycling and restoring and the Campana brothers’ example of their work in San Paulo Brazil, where social responsibility can resurrect old traditions and give stimulation and self esteem back to the people.

This all makes good sense and why shouldn't art have a positive effect on rebuilding a city? As we have seen recently with the fires at the Heidelberg project, not everyone shares this view.

This was highlighted when a fantastic question came from the floor from a teacher in Detroit. She explained that her students walk home every day among the burnt out abandoned buildings and that it is their psyche that needs restoring before any art and architecture could improve their lives.

The designers all agreed that this was a really big problem and did not know if they could take this on the way it stands right now. “Design can give us the tools to deal with stuff but cannot deal with spiritual problems”. They felt that what is needed is to figure out what other disciplines (perhaps positive psychology?) could sit alongside architecture and design and suggested that it could be taught in schools and collages.

So it seems that there is a lot more to it than just listening and rebuilding the city with creative design. However, it was clear that the high level of talent on the panel and their presence in Detroit engaging in these types of conversations was important for the outside world to see.

Can Art and Collaboration help rebuild a city? I am not sure the answer is that simple. Maybe a first step will be to restore balance and alleviate the inequalities that are still so prevalent in Detroit.

This will be a huge undertaking and needs everyone to be on board, whether they are an artist or not. If everyone comes together for the common goal of rebuilding the city and each individual does his or her part, I think it could be possible. By starting to work and heal together the community can start to restore its faith in the possibility of rebirth.

4/29/14

The HandGrenades: New Video for Wrapped in Plastic

Directed by Jesse Shepherd-Bates
Cinematography and Editorial by The Work, Inc.

From the new EP 52 set for release 5/13/2014

http://TheHandGrenades.bandcamp.com/

http://www.youtube.com/TheHandGrenadesMusic

One Month Away from the 2014 Detroit Grand Prix on Belle Isle

2014 Tentative Schedule of Events

Subject to Change - Times are Approximate

A more detailed and time specific schedule will be posted closer to the event

Friday, May 30, 2014 (Gates open 7:30 a.m.)- Comerica Bank FREE Prix Day
- Access to the venue and the Fifth Third Bank Paddock is FREE of charge
- SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Truck Series: Practice/Qualifying – Race #1
- Pirelli World Challenge Series (GT/GTA/GTS): Practice
- TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Practice & Qualifying (Prototype and GT Daytona)
- IndyCar Series: Practice (2 sessions)– Dual 1
- SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Truck Series: Race 1 (4:35 p.m. – 5:05 p.m.)
- Meijer Fan Zone activities throughout the day
- Musical acts on MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage throughout the afternoon (12 noon – 5 p.m.)

Saturday, May 31, 2014 (Gates open 7:15 a.m.)- Pirelli World Challenge Series (GT/GTA/GTS): Final Practice – Race 1
- TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (Prototype and GT Daytona) Final Practice
- IndyCar Series: Qualifying – Dual 1
- Pirelli World Challenge Series Pre-race ceremonies
- Cadillac V-Series Challenge presented by Metro Detroit Cadillac Dealers Race #1 (10:05 a.m. - 11:05 a.m.)
- TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Fan Walk (11:325 a.m. – 12:00 noon)
- TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Reconnaissance and Pace Car Laps
- Chevrolet Sports Car Classic presented by Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Race (12:10 p.m. – 1:55 p.m.)
- SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Truck Series: Practice – Race #2
- IndyCar Series pre-race
- Chevrolet Indy Dual In Detroit Presented by Quicken Loans Dual 1 (3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
- Meijer Fan Zone activities throughout the day
- Lifehouse Concert on MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage (6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.)

Individual race series driver autograph sessions will be featured during the weekend

Sunday, June 1, 2014 (Gates open 7:30 a.m.)- SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Truck Series: Qualifying – Race 2
- Pirelli World Challenge Series (GT/GTA/GTS): Qualifying – Race 2
- IndyCar Experience and Pace Car Rides
- IndyCar Series: Qualifying – Dual 2
- Pirelli World Challenge Series Pre-Race
- Cadillac V-Series Challenge presented by Metro Detroit Cadillac Dealers Race #2 (11:00 a.m. – 12 noon)
- Shaggy (with Ravon) Concert on MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage (12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
- SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Truck Series: Pre-race and Race #2 (1:55 p.m. – 2:25 p.m.)
- IndyCar Series: Dual 2 pre-race
- Chevrolet Indy Dual in Detroit presented by Quicken Loans Dual 2 (3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
- Meijer Fan Zone activities throughout the day

Individual race series driver autograph sessions will be featured during the weekend.

Additional Daily Activities
- Extreme Sports Demonstrations
- Monster Truck Rides (fee may apply)
- Live Music on MotorCity Casino Hotel Entertainment Stage
- Detroit Sports Teams Displays
- Family Activities in the Meijer Fan Zone
- Delicious Food & Beverage Options with a Motor City Flair (fees will apply)

PURCHASE TICKETS

Meet & Greet with DEATH at United Sound Systems Studio- Saturday May 3rd

If you haven't taken the tour at United Sound Systems Studios yet, this is the day you might want to.

Meet & Greet with the Iconic Band “DEATH” where it all began.

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Includes a tour of the Historical United Sound Studios

and an opportunity to meet DEATH.

Photographs and autographs are allowed

Times available: 12:30p.m., 1:00p.m., 1:30p.m.

Advance ticket purchases are strongly suggested $10.00 (with a Free 11x17 Limited Edition Poster Designed by Slasher Dave)

contact United Sound for ticket information.

United Sound Systems Recording Studios

5840 Second Ave

Detroit, Michigan 48202

313.833.1833

www.unitedsounddetroit.com

www.deathfromdetroit.com

www.navdo.net

Before Bad Brains, the Sex Pistols or even the Ramones, there was Death. Formed in the early '70s by three teenage brothers from Detroit, Death is credited as being the first black punk band, and the Hackney brothers, David, Bobby, and Dannis, are now considered pioneers in their field. But it wasn’t until recently — when a dusty 1974 demo tape made its way out of Bobby’s attic nearly 30 years after Death’s heyday — that anyone outside a small group of punk enthusiasts had even heard of them.

United Sound System Recording Studios was the first independent recording studio in the World. Many music legends, such as George Clinton, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin have recorded music in this studio.

4/28/14

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

Wild At Heart

It has been a tough year for Detroit and the arts Detroit's bankruptcy and rumors of selling it's art collection was one story that I hoped wouldn't happen and that might get tougher as the Diego Rivera murals at the DIA have been designated along with Adlai E Stephenson II farm (Mettawa, IL), George Nakashima Woodworker complex (Bucks County, PA) and 1956 Grand Canyon TWA-United Airlines crash site (Grand Canyon National Park, AZ) as National Landmarks. It is definitely an amazing work and always provided a nice back drop to the various concerts in that hall. That got me thinking to other National Landmarks in the Detroit area.

The list includes the Columbia steamer, Cranbrook, Edison Institute (Greenfield Village), Fair Lane (Henry Ford Estate), Fisher Building, Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, Ford River Rouge Complex, Fox Theatre, General Motors Building, Guardian Building (one of my favorite interiors), Highland Park Ford Plant, Meadow Brook Hall, Park-Davis Research Laboratory and Pewabic Pottery. I have been to almost all of these places but I was surprised it wasn't more. There is a lot of cool history in the area as the list shows. I was mainly surprised not to find the Motown Museum not on the list but give it time.

This weekend is the annual Metrotimes Blowout which seems bigger than ever. I picked out a few of my favorite local bands and the venues they are playing. It is nice to see all the venues but having three distinct areas with Detroit, Ferndale and Hamtramck allows more music but makes it harder to walk between shows if you want to. It is hard to catch a band playing at 8PM in Ferndale and then 10PM in Hamtramck but with the schedule on the website you can try to plan the best places to be per day. It's good to get out and support some great local talent. Face it, Detroit's local scene produces some great music which can rival many national acts. Check out the website here: http://www.mtblowout.com/

Wednesday (4/30) - MIA @ Masonic Temple, Blowout w/Dutch Pink and Oscillating Fanclub @ Magic Stick

Thursday (5/01) - Silverstein @ St Andrews Hall, Blowout w/Detroit Cobras @ Smalls, Blowout w/Amy Gore and Her Valentines and Doop and the Inside Outlaws, Blowout w/The Octopus @ New Dodge, Blowout w/St Thomas Boys Academy @ Jumbos Bar, Blowout w/The Ragbirds @ Rustbelt Market

Friday (5/02) - Peelander-Z @ Pike Room, Blowout w/The Hentchmen @ Paychecks Lounge, Blowout w/the Blueflowers and Duende! @ WAB Outdoors, Blowout w/Audra Kubat @ Traffic Jam And Snug

Saturday (5/03) - Joanne ShawTaylor @ Callahans, Blowout w/Broadzilla @ Smalls, Blowout w/Frustrations and Terrible Twos @ Paychecks Lounge, Blowout w/Citizen Smile @ Kellys Bar , Blowout w/Jet Rodriquez @ Capo Lounge, Blowout w/Howling Diablos @ New Dodge, Blowout w/Rogue Satellites @ Whiskey In The Jar, Blowout w/Emily Rose @ Seven Brothers, Blowout w/Hard lessons and Motion City Soundtrack @ the Loving Touch, Blowout w/Lightning Bugs @ WAB Outdoors, Blowout w/Lee Marvin Computer Arm, Blowout w/High Strung @ Old Miami, Blowout w/Javelins @ Traffic Jam and Snug

WIN FREE TICKETS: Ooh La La Lucha at Imperial - Cinco de Mayo Event on Saturday May 3rd 2014

MCB has a free pair of tickets to this year's kickass cinco de mayo event

MOTORCITYBLOG@EARTHLINK.NET

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN

Ooh La La Lucha at IMPERIAL

Saturday May 3 at 231 W. Nine Mile Rd Ferndale.

Lucha Libre masked Mexican wrestling, Burlesque by Lushes LaMoan, Holly Hock, Bella Sin, and Miss Pussykatt.

Exotic (and FUCKING AMAZING) pole dancing by the Benson Twins.

Music by the Reefermen Duo.

Fireaters, stilt walkers, fortune tellers and of course some great food provided by Chef Brennan Calnin at Imperial.

We hear he will be doing Barbacoa, carnitas and vegetarian burritos, Sonoran hot dogs,

and they will have a tequila bar with over 40 top shelf tequilas and a margarita station.

Also there's the custom skate deck thing at Imperial.

The artist reception is Sunday May 4 at Imperial, 7PM.

They will have 21 custom-designed longboards that will be auctioned off for charity

this year the money is split between the Ferndale Football Boosters and Brush Park BMX.

The decks will be up on Ebay starting 4/27 and displayed at Imperial next week.

They are all pretty incredible.

MCB PICKS:

Check out the guitar is by Jeff Shea (and we hear it plays) and the devil face is Justin Tyler.

Ooh La La Lucha - Saturday May 3

Cinco de Mayo blowout featuring

Lucha Libre Wrestling, Burlesque

and more!

https://www.facebook.com/oohlalalucha

Northville Art House presents 15th annual student show

NORTHVILLE ART HOUSE

15th Annual Northville Student Art Exhibition

May 2 through May 17, 2014

Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady Street, Northville, MI 48167

Be a pART of it! The Northville Art House is proud to present the 15th Annual Northville Student Art Exhibition, featuring the work of students in 6th through 12th grades. The art showcases a variety of disciplines – from photography and metals to painting and ceramics. Please join us in celebrating the achievements and creativity of these young artists.

The show will open with a reception on First Friday, May 2 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The show will continue through May 17 during Art House Gallery hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. For additional information, call 248-344-0497 or visit www.northvillearthouse.org.

CALENDAR ITEMS:

Northville Art House: 15th Annual Northville Student Art Exhibition

May 2-17, 2014

Opening Reception: May 2, 6-9 p.m. (sponsored by Busch's)

Northville Art House, 215 W. Cady Street. 248-344-0497. Free

Photos:

"Fire Scales" by Kristina Smith

"Tiny Teapot" by Aurora Gross

"Boards" by Scarlett Lee

"Untitled" by Julia Miyahara

Historic Fort Wayne opens for the season with a World War II and Vietnam Era Re-Enactment Weekend May 3-4

HISTORIC FORT WAYNE OPENS FOR THE SEASON WITH A WORLD WAR II AND VIETNAM ERA RE-ENACTMENT WEEKEND MAY3-4

DETROIT -- Historic Fort Wayne opens for the season Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4 at 6325 W. Jefferson (at the foot of Livernois) with a World War II and Vietnam Era re-enactment weekend. The hours for the event are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The re-enactment weekend is presented by the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition.

Historic Fort Wayne supported "the Greatest Generation" during World War II as part of the "Arsenal of Democracy" The Fort complex served as an induction center for troops fighting in World War II between 1941 and 1945 and Vietnam between 1961 and 1971.

During the weekend, visitors can meet veterans of both conflicts and hear them recount stories from their military service. You can also see equipment and vehicles that were so important to the war effort, visit World War II-era camps of both Allied and German soldiers and stop by a USO Cantina. In addition, there will be re-enactments of both World War II and Vietnam battles. Finally, you can view a "Home Front Exhibit," featuring historic collections from both the Detroit Historical Society and private collectors.

Secured parking is $5 per vehicle. Admission is $3 for adults and free for children under 14. Guided tours of the Historic Fort Wayne complex will also be offered each day priced at $5 for adults and free for children under 12. The guided tours will include the Star Fort and barracks built in the 1840s, as well as the Spanish-American War Guard House.

The Fort's regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday each weekend now through Sunday, October 26. For more information on special events and activities at Historic Fort Wayne during 2014, visit www.historicfortwaynecoalition.com.

The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition is dedicated to preserving the history of Michigan men and women who served their country between 1845 and 1973 who either sent material to or personally passed through Historic Fort Wayne as a place of induction to United States military service. We are busy helping the Fort's caretakers, the City of Detroit Recreation Department with this effort in two major ways. First, we present high quality events that provide ways for the public to enjoy Historic Fort Wayne and see glimpses of how it would have looked when it was garrisoned. We are also very busy preserving and restoring as much of the structures and facilities as possible on the Fort grounds.

Woodruff’s, It’s Been Great Knowing You

Over the last few days. a couple of items were posted on this blog regarding shows at Woodruff’s Bar in Ypsilanti. Tonight and tomorrow are the final nights for music and revelry at this favorite venue, so come out and pay your respects, or just satisfy your curiosity before Woodruff’s in it’s current incarnation closes for good.

Tonight, Monday 4/28:

Last Act of Defiance Presents: The Last Call

Performances by:

B. Nutty//Cooperachy//CT Reid//@AHawkBaybe//Leb The Don

Drink Specials: $4 Long Islands/$2 Well Drinks

Doors open @ 7pm

Music starts @ 10pm

Cover: FREE

Tomorrow, Tuesday 4/29:

Final Final Show: Elbow Deep meets Boylesque

Come & celebrate for one last hoorah!

Doors open @ 9pm