Midge Ure - Retro Futura Tour 2014 at the Greek Theater

You know deep down somewhere in your soul you have a love, or at least an appreciation for 80's New Wave. Don't try to deny it. Whether you lived through it, were told about it, or had a "phase", you know you like it. It's not disco, so it's not embarrassing to admit. If you enjoy bell bottoms and doing "the hustle" then some of us might laugh at you. Sorry Mom. Anyways, here's a bunch who made that music who've still got it. The Retro Futura Tour 2014 featuring Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Howard Jones, Ultravox’s Midge Ure, China Crisis and Katrina of Katrina and the Waves. If you're not fluent in New Wave, I'll quickly walk you through this and introduce who's who. Keep reading...

You've heard these songs at least once, if not, then several hundred times. It's apart of our culture. Katrina of Katrina and the Waves opened the show. The Waves are known for the hit, "Walking on Sunshine." You can't help but wiggle your fanny and conquer the day while this song is playing. You just can't. China Crisis was the second opener and they topped the UK charts in 1983 with "Wishful Thinking". Midge Ure was in Ultravox! and their hit was "Dancing With Tears in my Eyes". Howard Jones' first hit was "New Song". Thompson Twins are known for their unmistakable hit, "Hold Me Now". 

As the third opener, Midge Ure rocked right through his set, and I wish it were longer. "Hymn" was completely amazing! It was hard to shoot and try to watch at the same time. I could have taken another hour of his set, easily. Die hard New Wave fans, mostly the middle agers, were out of their seats, dancing with their friends and family. The lights and lasers during Howard Jones and Tom Bailey were cool and all, but Midge rocked it. 

THE RETURN OF FOLK BLUES NIGHT

Folk Blues Night

Saturday, August 30th

Lo & Behold! Records & Books
10022 Jos Campau, Hamtramck, Michigan 48212

Labor Day weekend is upon us and with it comes our ol' party — FOLK BLUES NIGHT. Most of you know the routine, others who are unaware we start around 8pm with live performances and those run til about Midnight whereupon we commence to clear the floor and dance into the night to the sound of all 78rpm early rock rhythm and jump rekkids.

Our live segment in no particular order this weekend will include: Rollie Tussing, David Morrison, Joey Mazzola, Benjamin Teague, Danny Kroha (official), Ben Luttermoser, Todd Albright, Rachel Pearson, Connor Dodson, and Michael Hurtt's Haunted Hearts

As well, for release we'll have cassettes of FBN 007 & 008 available for the first time!

Hamtramck Labor Day Festival 2014

Music Schedule (MCB Favorites in Bold)

Saturday, August 30th

Sterling/Franklin Stage(South)	McClure's Stage (North)
2:00 The Kielbasa Kings	1:00Big Daddy Lackowski
4:00 Del Brutto	3:30 The Bill Bondsmen
5:00 Eastside Elvis and the Motor City Mafia	4:30 The Secrets
6:00 Eric Villa and the Vista Marias	5:30 Intergalactic Bounty Hunters
7:00 The Polish Muslims	6:30 Olympus Mons
8:00 The Polish Muslims	7:30 The Witches
9:00The Polish Muslims	8:30 The Octopus

Sunday, August 31st

Sterling/Franklin Stage(South)	McClure's Stage (North)
2:00 The Codgers	1:00 DJ Richie Wohlfiel
3:00 The Codgers	2:00 The Motor City Troubadours
4:00 The Webbs	3:30 The Potions
5:00 Mike Hurtt & the Haunted Hearts	4:30Jimmy Ohio & The Ultimate Lovers
6:00 Dennis Coffey	5:30 The Volebeats
7:00 Dennis Coffey	6:30Obnox
8:00 Melvin Davis	7:30 Radio Burns
9:00 Melvin Davis	8:30 Break Anchor

Monday, September 1st

Sterling/Franklin Stage(South)	McClure's Stage (North)
2:00 Parade	1:00 Parade
2:30 The Misty Blues Orchestra	3:30 Ara Topouzian
4:00 B-Free	4:30 Awesome Jarvis and the Whales
5:00Breezee-One	5:30 Cosmic Light Shapes
6:00 Tunde Olaniran	6:30 Bad Indians
7:00Blaire Alise and the Bombshells	7:30 Mexican Knives
8:00 George Morris and the Gypsy Chorus	8:30 Iron Stag

BEYOND THE WEEKEND: Free Tickets - The Picturebooks - The Shelter Detroit - September 12th

With school about to kick in and only a hint if summer left in the tank we plan to exploit our holiday weekend starting tonight but not without thinking ahead to an upcoming show down the dusty road

 

Check out a new band called The Picturebooks,

who play a show on Sept. 12 over @ Shelter Detroit

 

 The blues-rock duo are coming over for Riot Fest on a mini-tour which includes this Detroit showing. The pair, Fynn & Philipp, are already well known custom motorcycle builders and featured regularly in underground chopper mags like Dice and Kustom.

 

Noisey recently debuted the band’s video for Your Kisses Burn Like Fire and said it makes you want to buy a motorcycle and disappear into the desert.

 

email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for your chance to win a pair

Ticket Giveaway & Show Preview: Queensryche, Great White, Dio Disciples and Bang Tango at Pinke Knob (aka DTE Energy Music Theatre) Aug 28, 2014

Get ready to kick off the holiday weekend with a killer line up of rock and metal! Queensryche returns to DTE Energy Music Theatre Thursday Aug 28th with Great White, Dio Disciples and Bang Tango. $20 pavilion tickets are still on sale, and only $10 for the lawn.

MCB Ticket Giveaway- The New Pornographers

email motorcityblog@earthlink.net for-
Saturday September 6th at The Majestic Theatre

The 
New Pornographers
featuring A.C. Newman and Dan Bejar (of Destroyer)
Perfect Pussy
Pity Sex

http://www.thenewpornographers.com

Tickets & info

GET TICKETS NOW: Sneak Peek/Fundraiser - Heaven Adores You (The Elliott Smith Documentary) Friday 10/3/14

 

 

Sneak Peek/Fundraiser

HEAVEN ADORES YOU

(The Elliott Smith Documentary)

Friday, October 3 – Doors 8 pm – Film 9 pm - $7

 

Heaven Adores You is an intimate, meditative inquiry into the life and music of Elliott Smith. In this documentary portrait, we journey through the life of American singer and songwriter Steven Paul “Elliott” Smith, a musician whose rise to prominence in the 1990s and early 2000s was cut short by his untimely death at the age of 34 in 2003.

The film opens in 1998 — a year in which Elliott receives an Oscar nomination for his song “Miss Misery” for the Gus Van Sant film “Good Will Hunting,” and his album “XO” receives mainstream airplay — an interviewer from Dutch TV inquires about his recent declaration that he’d never be a rock star. Elliott thoughtfully replies, “I’m the wrong kind of person to be really big and famous…”

What kind of person was Elliott Smith? Since his death in 2003, many media-makers have attempted to tell the story of his creative “sad-sack” genius, often through the lens of struggle, heartache and addiction. Director Nickolas Rossi employs a different lens, placing music center-stage, creating a framework for Elliott to narrate the story of his life himself, through the filter of recorded conversations and interviews, with support from friends along the way. With great care, Rossi expertly weaves together 30+ interviews to create an intimate and personal history like never seen before.

Beginning in Portland, we’re treated to Rossi’s stunning cinematography with a gorgeous aerial view of the lush landscape. Photographer and friend Autumn de Wilde and official archivist Larry Crane discuss how the Oscar nomination affected Elliott, with Autumn noting, “I wanted more people to hear his music … but it changed a lot of things for him.”

The film moves to a somber day — Elliott’s death on October 21, 2003 — and we see shots of the Elliott Smith Memorial Wall in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. Music video director Ross Harris discusses his reaction to the news of his friend and collaborator’s death.

Rewind. The year is 1997 and Elliott is in Santa Monica, CA being interviewed by KCRW’s Chris Douridas. Douridas inquires about Elliott’s childhood and is surprised to discover he grew up in Dallas. Smith’s sister Ashley Welch discusses her experiences with Smith when they were children, set against a montage of photographs from their childhoods. Smith’s childhood friend Steve Pickering also shares stories from their school days.

We meet Tony Lash, friend and bandmate, who discusses meeting Elliott at Lincoln High School in downtown Portland. It’s here, in high school, that Lash and Smith began collaborating in music. Post-university, Lash and Smith form the band Heatmiser which becomes a major part of the Portland music scene in the 1990s. Musicians Pete Krebs, Sean Croghan, and others involved with the Portland scene at the time, discuss the era and the subsequent discovery of Smith’s solo work, which was quietly recorded on a 4-track and would become the basis for “Roman Candle.” Slim Moon, from the record label Kill Rock Stars, and Margaret Mittleman, soon to be Smith’s manager, discuss seeing him perform solo, especially significant given the period, which favored loud and often-times political rock; acoustic sets were considered “nerdy” and “uncool.”

We move into 1995 and Ross Harris discusses his experience directing Elliott in the video, “Coming Up Roses,” a single from Elliott’s second self-titled release. It’s a busy period for Smith as he balances duties with his band Heatmiser and his emerging success as a solo artist. Lash and recording engineer Rob Schnapf discuss tensions that surfaced with Heatmiser members as they recorded what would ultimately be their last album together, “Mic City Sons.” Of Smith’s solo career at the time, Sean Croghan notes, it went to “big all of a sudden.”

1997 sees the release of Smith’s third album “either/or” and James Clark, a guitar tech who would work on a future tour, remarks, “if you didn’t know you were standing next to genius, then you just aren’t paying attention.” Larry Crane and Elliott open Jackpot! Recording Studio and we see images of the two of them painting and setting up the space. Crane and Elliott’s former girlfriend Joanna Bolme and collaborator discuss the era.

Elliott moves to Brooklyn, NY. Friends such as Autumn de Wilde discuss having him in New York and the impact it had on them. Elliott’s fourth album is released in 1998, “XO.” Jon Brion and Larry Crane discuss the song “Waltz #1” with Brion noting, “there were a couple of times he full-on freaked me out as a musician.” Friend and publicist Dorien Garry suggests that he was not well during this period, drinking heavily and calling in the middle of the night. Friends discuss their “intervention.” We re-visit Elliott’s Oscar nomination for “Miss Misery.” Bolme, Crane and Smith himself talk about the nomination and subsequent ceremony.

Next we go on the XO tour with Elliott and his crew and are treated to several stories and anecdotes that paint a picture of an Elliott Smith who’s funny and silly – not a common understanding of the man. Elliott moves to Los Angeles post-tour.

Jon Brion, Largo club-owner Mark Flanagan and Elliott’s manager Margaret Mittleman discuss the era candidly and describe it as a “golden period.” His fifth release, “Figure 8” comes out and the world is introduced to the now-infamous Elliott Smith wall at Solutions! in the Silver Lake area of the city by “Son of Sam” video director, Autumn de Wilde. Mittleman, Brion, Flanagan, Garry, Lash and others discuss their experiences with Elliott’s substance abuse and attempted recovery in the time leading up to his death from two stab-wounds to the chest.

The posthumous release, “From a Basement on the Hill,” Elliott’s sixth album completed by Joanna Bolme and Rob Schnapf after his death, is discussed. The documentary wraps with footage from “No Name #1” – a series of benefit shows that took place over four cities in 2013 and was put together by Elliott’s sister Ashley Welsh. The track “Happiness” is featured, sung by both musicians on-stage, and folks in the crowd – it’s a magical moment for all involved.

At the conclusion of Heaven Adores You, we have a rich view of an incredible and accomplished talent, a view that places music at the center of Elliott Smith’s legacy.

Elliott said it best himself, “the less I think about it, the happier I am. I don’t really care where I fit into anything, or if there’s anything to fit into to. It’s just, I like music, you know? That’s the thing. It’s really uncomplicated.”

The Magic Bag is proud to present a sneak peek/fundraising screening of Heaven Adores You on Friday, October 3.

 

Magic Bag Publicity

22920 Woodward Ave.

Ferndale, MI 48220

Event Hotline: 248-544-3030

 

www.themagicbag.com

NEXT MONTH: "Lines", An All Media Exhibit at Northville Art House - September 5-27, 2014

          

"Lines" An All-Media, Juried Exhibition

September  5-27, 2014

 

What's  Your "Line"? This was the question posed to artists who entered the September 2104 juried, all-media exhibit.  Is it a smear of paint from one dot to another? A quick note penned on a card? A group of people standing in a row? The words that start a lifelong conversation?

 

With no specific definition in mind, the Northville Art House is excited to present the personal interpretations of the word "lines" in this eclectic show. Artists include: Sandra Ackerman, Clarine Boles, Danna Wolke Bowersox, Peggy N. Brewer, Nancy Cassel, Daria Fileta, Jack Glaab, Judy Gilmer, Jennifer Helner, Claudia Hershman, Rosemary Lee, Ellen Leigh, Jan Lucking, Michael McNamara, Aileen Mozug, Barbara Eko Murphy, DeAndre Norman, Sarah Olson, Kate Paul, Janice Polzin, Patricia Riascos, Joanne Rochon, Ellen Sherman, Lori Zurvalec.

 

In addition, the Art House is pleased to announce a new exhibit on its "Emerging Artist" wall. Brittany Kihl, a student at Marygrove College, will display her work during the month of September.

 

The show will open with a reception on Friday, September 5, from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit will continue through Saturday, September 27 during regular Art House Gallery hours (Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m.).

For additional information, call 248-344-0497 or visit www.northvillearthouse.org

Art House exhibits are free and open to the public.

 

CALENDAR ITEMS:

"Lines" An All-Media, Juried Exhibition

Opening Reception:  Friday, September 5, 2014, 6-9 p.m.

Exhibit runs through Saturday, September 27, 2014

Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. (First Fridays only, 1-9 p.m.)

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

Admission:  Free

More Information:  (248) 344-0497

 

Images:

#4  Golden Columns, Photo, Jack Glaab

#45 Re-Districting, Mixed Print Media, Rosemary Lee

 

"Stretch Those Bills" at Forman Mills - Clothing retailer helps local youths Dress for Success in 2014! Photos by United Photo Work's Paul Hitz

Happy Monday! 

With Summer coming to a quick close we got word about a great promotion from a local retailer who was helping local families "Stretch Those Bills" so we sent MCB alumni Paul Hitz to check it out

 

 

MORE THAN 100 DETROIT-AREA STUDENTS TO RECEIVE SCHOOL UNIFORM CLOTHING VOUCHERS FROM FORMAN MILLS

 

DETROIT­– With three Detroit-area stores, Forman Mills, a value-based discount department retailer committed to providing consumers in underserved markets with significant discounts on high-profile brand fashions, will be helping more than 100 Detroit-area students dress for success this school year.

This past Thursday, August 21, more than 100 pre-identified youth, who are consumers of Neighborhood Service Organization visited the Forman Mills Warren and Conner store (11950 East Warren Avenue, Detroit) to redeem $15 vouchers to be used on school uniforms.

 

In addition to the pre-selected youth, the first 50 youth, ages 18 and under, on-site who perform the Forman’s Mills “Stretch Those Bills” dance or give a “Forman Mills” shout also will receive one voucher each. 

 

MCB's Paul Hitz was there to catch all the action!

Check out www.unitedphotoworks.com 

“We wanted to ensure that students in the community have the opportunity to walk into school on the first day feeling confident and ready for a year of learning,” said Rick Forman, president and CEO of Forman Mills. “Being able to take the burden of being able to afford clothes for school off of the students and their families is of great importance to all of us at Forman Mills.”

Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) is a human services agency serving metropolitan Detroit’s most vulnerable.  The nonprofit runs several programs serving youth including Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngers (HIPPY), Youth Initiatives Project, YouthLink and Life Choices Youth Program.

“We are honored that Forman Mills selected our young consumers as recipients of these generous vouchers,” said NSO President and CEO Sheilah P. Clay.  “It sends a positive message to families that businesses in our community are invested in the future success of children and youth.”

 

 

Offering the latest in fashion for youth, juniors and young men and women, Forman Mills is currently offering numerous deals on back-to-school apparel.  School uniforms are available in a variety of colors with polo shirts ranging from two for $9 for kids to two for $12 for young men, and shoes for $10.  Other fall fashion deals include denim jeans, two for $10; three t-shirts for $5; and boys pants for $6.

Adds Valerie Fiordaliso, Forman Mills’ Marketing Director, “Whether the student is required to wear a uniform or just needs a few new items for the school year, we have what they need.”

In addition to the Warren and Conner location, Forman Mills also can be found in Highland Park at the Model T Plaza, Bel-Air Centre on East Eight Mile Road in Detroit and on Miller Road in Flint.  The company will be opening a fifth Michigan location in Southfield later this year.

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT MONTH: Geek Fan Expo, 5-6-7 Sept in Dearborn

Geek Fan Expo 2014

September 5th, 6th and 7th, 2014

DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Detroit

5801 Southfield Service Drive @ Ford Rd, Dearborn Michigan

Anime • Books • Comics • Cosplay • Fantasy • Horror • Scifi • Tabletop Gaming • Video Gaming

What is Geek Fan Expo?
Geek Fan Expo is an all-inclusive Geek-Fandom Experience. We include programming from all walks of Geekdom, and have designed the experience around you. Together with you, we are building the next generation of convention by bringing geeks of every type together to share a truly social geek fan experience.

Our interactive forum focuses on quality entertainment and production to bring you a both modern and nostalgic fan experience. Featuring destination events, topical discussion panels, workshops, vendor and artist exhibitions, contests and more!

This looks like a con for every flavor of geek — check out the whole schedule here!

Gentle Reminder: The Polyphonic Spree

The Polyphonic Spree

@the Magic Bag

Friday, August 22
doors 8pm $23 adv

Free tickets! Queensryche, Great White (Mark Kendall Interview), Dio Disciples and Bang Tango Aug 28th @ DTE

Our friends at National Rock Review recently spent some time interviewing Mark Kendall of Great White about their upcoming show at DTE Energy Music Theatre with Queensryche, Dio Disciples and Bang Tango. Head over to their site and enter to win a pair of tickets to the show!

Third Wave Music

Some very cool folks are looking to open a full service musical instrument shop servicing Detroit. 

Watch this video and support the indiegogo campaign

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-jen-jeffrey-open-third-wave-music

Detroit Derby Girls All-Star Spaghetti FUN-raiser

Before seeing the The Polyphonic Spree at The Magic Bag, get yourself something to eat.

Our Detroit Derby Girls All-Star team has made it to Division 2 playoffs and need your help to get them there!

The girls have teamed up with the Frank Wendland Post 253 The American Legion on Friday, August 22, 2014 in Royal Oak to hold our very first spaghetti dinner fundraiser.

The night will include:
Dinner and Drinks with your favorite Derby Girls
50/50 Raffle
Silent Auction
Merchandise for purchase

Suggested donation of $9.00 will get you a plate of spaghetti, a salad, and a dinner roll. The plates start slinging at 5:00 pm and ends when food runs out.

Our fundraiser will take place at:
Frank Wendland Post 253 The American Legion
1505 N. Main Royal Oak Mi 48067

Theatre Bizarre Tickets Go On Sale Friday

Before seeing the The Polyphonic Spree at The Magic Bag, get your Theatre Bizarre tickets across the street.

Pre-Sale Ticket Event will be held on Friday, August 22nd & Saturday, August 23rd from 7pm until 2am

Both nights brimming with live music, circus freaks, & burlesque along with a cash bar in The Rust Belt Market event space in Ferndale, Michigan.

The Preview Gala ~ Friday, October 17th at the Masonic Temple [Limited to 450 tickets] ~ A semi-formal masquerade including special guests, strolling dinner, open bar, & valet

Tier 1: $150 -first 100 [available at The Rust Belt ONLY - limit 2 per purchaser]
Tier 2: $200 -only 150 available
Tier 3: $250 -only 200 available

Theatre Bizarre ~ The Greatest Masquerade on Earth ~ Saturday, October 18th at the Masonic Temple

Tier 1: $65 -first 500 [available at The Rust Belt ONLY - limit 2 per purchaser]
Tier 2: $75 -now until October 1st
Tier 3: $85 -after October 1st

Both nights of this Pre-Sale Event will be 21 and OVER only with a $5 COVER which is refunded with any purchase of a ticket or merchandise.

Tickets will also be available during normal Rust Belt Market hours in the Event Space from 11am-7pm Saturday & 11am-6pm on Sunday the 24th.

All remaining TICKETS will become available from our local retailers and from the website www.theatrebizarre.com as WILL CALL ONLY beginning on August 25th.

YOUNG SINGER LEAH GIESEY TO PERFORM AT THE SUPERSTAR COMPETITION AT THE MICHIGAN STATE FAIR!

Up and coming singer Leah Giesey is one of the 14 finalists in the Fifth Third Band Superstar Competition at the Michigan State Fair. The annual Fair is this labor day weekend at the Suburban Collection Showplace located at 46100 Grand River in Novi.

 

The Superstar finalists will compete Friday, August 29^th from 2-6 p.m. and Saturday, August 30^th from 2-6 p.m. on the main stage. Leah’s performance time slot is 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Each competitor will perform three original or cover songs for the judges and crowd.

Contestants will be scored in five areas including vocal technique, entertainment value, stage presence, appropriateness of music and appearance. Bonus points will also be awarded for performing original music and for receiving the loudest audience applause of the day.

She asked four fellow students from the School of Rock Farmington to make up her band The Troublemakers; Michael Tjilos (drums & keys), Scott Thayer (bass), Chris Coburn (guitar), David Moening (guitar).

 

The Grand Prize Winner will be the headlining performer (two 45-minute sets) the evening of Sunday, August 31^st and will receive a prize package valued at approximately $25,000, including; a $2,000 cash prize, songwriting coaching, artist and repertoire song selection and publishing consultation and vocal performance instruction from Nadair Omowale and the Masters of Music Conservatory in Royal Oak, studio production consultation and direction from Chuck Alkazian, recording and mastering of a three song EP at Pearl Sound Studios in Canton and booking consultation with 2 Stones Events.

 

Leah Giesey is a 15 year old singer who hails from Commerce, Michigan where she is a sophomore at Walled Lake Northern High School. She is also a student at the School of Rock Farmington where she has been a member of the School of Rock’s House Band since August 2012 performing at festivals, schools, fundraisers and other events.

The teen's love of music started at the age of two and she later found her voice singing in the school choir. She took voice lessons at the age of nine and her first performances were at school talent shows singing pop songs and performed Broadway showtunes at B’nai Moshe & Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. She discovered not only a talent for singing but for playing as well and joined the school orchestra. In the sixth grade she participated in Huron Valley’s Got Talent Competition and won 2^nd place. By the eighth grade she decided to pursue a career in music.

She has been a student at the School of Rock since 2012 studying voice, guitar, keyboards and bass. She was taught by her mentor Laura Mendoza of the hard rock band White Shag. Mendoza has been instrumental in her career, not only teaching her the basics but steering her in the right direction for her budding musical career. "Leah's voice is really amazing and the band is also very talented. It's really great to see them taking off on their own and taking things to the next level," Mendoza said of her protege.

For more information on Leah Giesey check out her page at www.reverbnation.com/leahgiesey

For more information on the Michigan State Fair visit their website at www.michiganstatefairllc.com

NEW MUSIC: Johnny Marr Debuts New Single "Easy Money"

Legendary guitarist Johnny Marr has released "Easy Money" - the first single from his upcoming album Playland due out October 7 via Warner Music Group.  Rolling Stone explains the song has, "...throbbing bass, funky guitar and a catchy melody to mask lyrics about the downfalls of greed."

Johnny describes the video as, "A 'high times in low rent England' kind of thing whereas the song 'Easy Money' is more of a 'low times in high rent England' kind of thing." Marr adds: "I like the idea of sneaking a serious concern into the mainstream, disguised as a big pop tune. The riff was so catchy and infectious that I wanted it to be about something that appeared to be trite but was actually quite universal. Money is a preoccupation of everybody, and it took me quite a long time to write something that appeared to be simple. If you were to ask anybody in the City what they're after, essentially the root of it is money. It's the age-old thing of people thinking that it will make us happy."

 

'Playland' is Marr's second solo effort and the follow up to last year's critically acclaimed (included the honor of being named as NME's Godlike Genius) Top 10 debut album 'The Messenger.' Work on the album commenced in London in spring 2014 as soon as the year of touring in support of 'The Messenger' came to a close. It finds Marr continuing the creative connection that was forged on 'The Messenger' with collaborator and co-producer Doviak, as well as the other musicians who performed on the album and accompanying tour.

 

 

 

This Friday Inner State Presents Ales “Bask” Hostomsky's "Location Location Location" August 22nd from 7-10pm

 

Czech-Born Artist Bask Returns To Detroit For Solo Exhibition "Location, Location, Location" Features An Entirely New Body Of Work & Massive Installation   Opening Friday August 22nd at 7pm, Inner State Gallery welcomes Czech-born artistAles "Bask" Hostomsky as he returns to Detroit for his first solo exhibition in over 2 years. An entirely new body of work "Location, Location, Location" showcases Bask's blend of graffiti, punk and DIY styles into his latest exploration of Detroit's unique textures and vast urban landscape. "The inspiration for this show was to showcase Detroit's strengths, struggles, and landscape. Overall the esthetic of my work is very similar to the city of Detroit. The repurposed nature of my art plays off of panels, wood and signs that once were proudly displayed, but over the years stopped serving their intended purpose and were thrown out. That is until I come across it and drag it back to my studio, where hopefully I'll be able breath a second life into the object.  This is how I see Detroit and all the people that are fighting tooth and nail to pull the city back to the greatness it once represented." Bask said putting the finishing touches on his latest body of work in Detroit's historic Eastern Market.   Known for his massive murals across the globe, over the top gallery installations and tireless work ethic, Bask's latest solo exhibition is his most ambitious to date. Created over countless late nights and early mornings over the summer Bask has assembled nearly 300 pieces of original artwork for Location, Location, Location. With his latest hand-painted multiple series "Face Invaders" Bask provides his die-hard fans with a collection of 200 - 12x12 inch original works of art that embrace the iconic language he has developed over his 15-year career.   "I wanted to do something special to coincide with the show. So the idea came to mind to to make a series of pieces in sets that were all hand painted. No stencils or silkscreens. I just wanted to offer actual painted pieces that are affordable to anyone who wants it. From there I had the idea of bringing back some of the faces that have appeared in my past works along with characters that Detroit inspired me to create. There are over 500 hours in these between myself and my assistant. Each panel was painstaking worked over and my focus to was to make sure that each piece is a one of a kind." Bask said. Along with these hand-painted multiples, the solo exhibition will feature a massive installation as well as new large scale work from the Florida based artist who himself once called Detroit home. "I took the opportunity to move to Detroit fourteen years ago, but my stay lasted only 4 years. However, during that time the city had a profound impact on my work, as well as my consciousness towards social and political issues. It was this appreciation for the influence that Detroit has had on me that inspired the work I made for the show," Bask said. Recently, Bask's work was personally selected by Robert Downey Jr. and was featured in the blockbuster Iron Man 3 with Bask's artwork featured throughout the movie and lining the lair of the movie's villain Mandarin. In addition Bask has been commissioned Evan Longoria, Death Cab For Cutie, Primus, the estates of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG, Art Basel Miami, MTV, Vans and Red Bull among many others.   "Bask's dedication and work ethic is second to none and we've been honored to watch his work evolve into an internationally recognized talent. We couldn't be more excited to present his most ambitious show to date," Inner State gallery co-owner Jesse Cory said. Please join us at from 7-10pm for an artist welcoming reception and opening night. Inner State Gallery 1410 Gratiot Avenue Detroit, MI. 48207 313-744-6505  About Bask: Bask has been working as a professional artist for 15 years. His work has been featured in countless books and publications. His work has also been personally selected by Robert Downey Jr. to be featured in Iron Man 3 and commissioned by the likes of, Evan Longoria, Pow Wow Hawaii, Tampa Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, Death Cab For Cutie, Primus, the estates of Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG, Ride Snowboards, Art Basel Miami, MTV, Vans and Red Bull. Bask's work has also been viewed around the world in solo exhibitions and group exhibits. About Inner State: Inner State Gallery is Detroit's premier art gallery for both established and emerging artists, both locally and internationally. Located in Eastern Market, the 1800 square foot gallery is home to two exhibition spaces, an artist live/work space and the gallery's publishing company 1xRUN. More information can be found at: http://innerstategallery.com http://1xrun.com http://www.knownasbask.com/bask/ http://instagram.com/knownasbask