Goldslum: The Loft Sessions w/ Britney Stoney and More

We are always looking for the next big thing in Detroit so we can tell you about it before anyone else does. We get a lot of music submissions emailed to us and we try to go through all of them, although it can be hard to keep up with everything. A few weeks ago, local artist Britney Stoney emailed her music into our website and attached a video of herself singing one of my favorite Amy Whinehouse songs, "Valerie."

This immediately caught my eye and I emailed her back to learn more. Britney is 23 and hails from Detroit, Michigan; she is a singer songwriter that has recently released an EP called Birds that is available for download here.

Britney Stoney has teamed up with 2 other female singer songwriters and 3 female hip hop artists for an event this Sunday called Goldslum: The Loft Sessions: Queen Edition. This event will feature Britney along with Dej Loaf, Bevlove, Mahogany Jones, Jade Lathan and Yo Skyy. 

The show will go from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and is only $5 with dollar drink specials. The address is 1440 Gratiot in Eastern Market. We were pleasantly surprised when we heard Britney sing and we think you will be, too!

~S

Win Tickets to See Enslaved @ The Magic Stick Saturday

Finally we have a ticket giveaway for all of our metal fans, or should I say extreme metal fans. Enslaved is coming to Detroit to tear up the stage at the Magic Stick this Saturday, February 2nd at 8 p.m. They will be playing with Pallbearer, Royal Thunder and Ancient Wisdom.

Enslaved has been playing since 1991 and still has two of the original members. They are originally from Norway, and their first few albums were recorded in Norwegian. They have only been recording in English since 2001. They are currently touring for their 12th studio album released in 2012, called RIITIIR. The show is $15 in advance and $17 at the door. 

However, we are giving 3 lucky people the chance to get their name on the guest list! If you are one of the lucky winners, you and a guest will be able to dome down to the Stick have a few drinks and watch true metal at it's best. To enter, email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line Enslaved. The winners will be drawn and emailed early Saturday morning. Good Luck! 

~S

Balance & Composure Ticket Giveaway!!!

Hip in Detroit has teamed up with our favorite ladies at Black Iris Booking to give you another chance to win tickets. This time we are giving you a chance to have your name added to the list to see Balance & Composure with The Jealous Sound and Daylight this Friday, February 1st, at 8 p.m. at The Magic Stick. 

Balance & Composure is from Doylestown, PA and the median age of the band is 19 years old. They have already been signed to No Sleep Records and have released a lot of material, including their latest LP, Separation. They are self-described as loud, quiet and everything in-between. They also recently released a stripped down acoustic 7" EP where they reimagined three of the tracks from the LP. Their music is available for purchase and download here.

The Jealous Sound is an indie rock band that has been around since 2000. They have had a lot of lineup changes over the years, but have settled into their groove and are releasing a new full length the day before the show, on January 31st. Copies of that new LP will be available for purchase at the show. 

Daylight also comes from Pennsylvania and describe themselves as a mix between 90's alternative and 80's punk. They have released 5 EPs, but are about to put out their first LP in 2013.

This show is $12 in advance and $14 at the door. If you would like to go for free, all you need to do is tweet us, facebook us, or instagram us with the hashtags #blackirisbookingrules and #iwanttoseebalanceandcomposure! We will draw the winner early on Friday morning. Please make sure to include your name in the tweet so that we know who to put on the list! Good luck and as always thank you Black Iris for always bringing the best shows to Detroit! 

~S

Tonight: Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas @ The Magic Stick

Local favorite Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas have been busy lately. They have been off on tour (and posting some great pictures of it), but they will be making a quick stop in town tonight to play a show before heading back out. 

If you haven't heard them before, I highly suggest you look them up and give 'em a listen. I will admit that I am not usually a big fan of girl singers for whatever reason, but when I first listened to Jessica Hernandez belt it out, I quickly forgot those feelings. Plus, have you ever seen her outfits? Her sense of style is totally fun and awesome.

Tonight at the Magic Stick you can see The Growlers, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas and Jaill. The Growlers are a super fun, rock and pop group from California and Jaill is from Milwaukee. Listening to Jaill immediately brought me back to my days of listening to Of Montreal (pre- Outback Steakhouse commercial), which to me is a very good thing. The combination of bands should make for a really great show that is a lot of fun and dancing, so the best kind!

Like I said before, Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas will be taking off again quickly, so make sure to catch them tonight. The show is $10 at the Stick and doors are at 8 p.m. And while you're at it, go ahead and mark your calendars for the next Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas show March 22 at St. Andrews with Mexican Knives.

~B

Big Freedia w/ Tunde Olaniran & Jamaican Queens Thursday!

The Crofoot is known for booking some of the best acts that come through Michigan, but they are also known for booking the best locals to compliment the bigger players. When you go to a show there, you go to see the whole lineup instead of showing up late to just see the featured act. 

The Crofoot has two of my favorite Michigan acts scheduled to open up for Big Freedia this Thursday in the ballroom, Tunde Olaniran and Jamaican Queens. Big Freedia is known for her version of bounce music called sissy bounce which features her flamboyant style and a little cross-dressing to entertain the crowd. 

Both Tunde and Freedia have dancers that know how to shake their money makers in ways that I have never seen and will never be able to replicate. Jamaican Queens may not feature dancers, but they will be able to grab your attention. Ryan Spencer has a very unique voice and their single “The Kids Get Away” has been on repeat on all my playlists for months. You can check out the music video here. You can also check out video and interviews with Tunde here:

The show is at 8 p.m. and is $13 in advance, $15 at the door. This event is open to all ages. The Crofoot staff is one of the best around; you will never wait long for a drink or a bathroom. Make sure to tip your bartenders well and wear your best dancing shoes to this one. 

~S

Beer Lovers, Get Excited!

One of the many things I've learned since I've been in Michigan is that there are a lot of good beers made here, as well as the fact that I do indeed like beer. When I first tried it, I absolutely hated beer, but then I started trying good ones and things changed. So when I heard that someone was making a documentary about the craft beer brewing industry in Michigan, my ears definitely perked up a bit. 

Now, I know absolutely nothing about brewing beer. I know there are some hops involved and fermenting maybe and I saw some people home brewing once rolling a canister back and forth to carbonate it....I think? So I'm actually looking forward to that aspect of the film as well as seeing all the different breweries all over the state. The guys at Rhino Media making the movie have been traveling all over to breweries and festivals talking to brewers, foodies, farmers, bloggers, you name it, about the craft brewing industry in Michigan and why it has become so big here. Boy would I love to be on that road trip.

The Michigan Beer Film definitely sounds like it's going to be an interesting one. If you love beer and Michigan, how could it not be? To intrigue all you music makers a bit more, they are looking for Michigan bands/musicians to feature in the movie. If you'd like to submit some music, you can visit their Facebook and tell them to check out your tunes! 

While they have already been to a lot of places and talked to a lot of people, they are also still looking for recommendations on breweries to visit, bloggers/writers to learn from and awesome restaurants to feature. If you have any ideas, let them know so we can get more Detroit in the movie! Check out their blog to see the places they have already been and some nice stills from their visits.

The goal is to release the movie in the summer of 2013. They recently put out the teaser to the movie that you can watch below, but it will also be playing at a Royal Oak Film Society Event before the viewing of Wild in the Streets on February 7 at the Main Art.

And now I want a beer....too bad it's Monday morning.

~B

Break Anchor's 7" Release Party Tonight!

This weekend south Warren is the place to be! Tonight, the P.A.N. Shop in is having a kick-ass show. The lineup includes Break Anchor, Unsinkable Molly Brown, The Gutter Ghouls and The Flaks. And this show is actually the release party for Break Anchor's 7" that we have been eagerly anticipating.

Unsinkable Molly Brown is a punk rock band from Toledo. Jay told us that we should check them out, and he's right. You should probably listen to him, too. So far they have not disappointed, plus they have a girl singer for an added bonus. They are definitely a good fit to be playing with Break Anchor and the others.

The Gutter Ghouls and The Flaks are both local punk bands that have been making a name for themselves around here. So this should be an awesome party of a show! 

If you've never been to P.A.N. shop, here is a perfect opportunity. It's located at 22641 Van Dyke in Warren and you can learn a bit more about it here in our interview with Jesse from the shop. The show tonight is $5, BYOB and doors are at 8 p.m.

~B

The Return of Frank White!

Saturday night you have a chance to see one of the greatest Detroit Punk Rock bands from our generation. They've taken a break for a few years now, but it's true... they're back. The big reunion show is at the Toepfer House and we can't think of a better place to have this. Great people, great atmosphere and BYOB. If you haven't been there yet, this is the perfect excuse to go.

Frank White played a show a couple of weeks ago to get warmed up for the big reunion show. It was awesome. They haven't missed a beat while they were away and they're dialogue during the set will crack you up... Well, hopefully. If you aren't familiar with Frank White, or if you want to brush up on the songs so you can sing along, they have a bunch of tunes up on bandcamp.

The line-up for Saturday's show is awesome. On top of Frank White, it includes The A-Gang (whom you can also see at our 1 Year Anniversary Show), Fires In Japan, Matt Wixson's Flying Circus and this is the last show for the Marshall Cardinals. A big night that you don't want to miss! 5 Bucks will get you in the door and as always it is BYOB. Toepfer House is located in Warren off Van Dyke between 8 & 9 Mile at 8741 Toepfer. See you there!

~C

An Evening with Jenny Owen Youngs

Tuesday night we had the pleasure of meeting one of the coolest, nicest chicks, with one of the best voices we've ever heard, Jenny Owen Youngs. This singer/songwriter was in town for one night at The Pike Room in Pontiac. She was kind enough to sit down and chat with us about her music, touring and a special someone from Detroit. Check out what she had to say below.

As mentioned in the interview, Jenny will be joining Chuck Ragan on The Revival Tour 2013 along with Dave Hause, Tim McIlrath , Jenny O and Rocky Votolato. The tour is set to hit the stage at The Magic Stick on April 5th. Tickets for the All Ages show are only $18 in advance. If you would like to check out Jenny Owen Youngs' music, you can head over to iTunes or listen to her on bandcamp.

Here are a couple of songs from Jenny's set the other night. We'd like to thank her again for taking the time to talk with us. We hope that we get to catch up with her again when she's in town in a couple of months!

~C

Win Tickets to see James Linck, Ava Luna and More!

We have spent two weeks ranting and raving about how amazing James Linck is and it is time to stop talking about him and put some of you in front of him to see what we are talking about. We are giving away three sets of tickets to see this magical man perform with Ava Luna and Celestial Shore at the D’Orchestra album release party this Saturday, January 26th at the Magic Stick. All of these acts promise to get you out of your seat and dancing.
 
This show is all ages and is only $5 if you are not one of the lucky winners. Basically, there is no excuse to miss out on catching James live. Check out this video from last week at the New Dodge to get yourself hyped for the show. 

All you have to do to enter is email your full name with the subject JAMES LINCK to us at hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw three names on Saturday morning. If you are one of the winners, your name plus one will be put on the guest list. Good luck!

~S

Win Tickets to see Slum Village

Seeing Slum Village perform is like catching a piece of Detroit history in the making. This group has defined hip hop in this city for most of my life, or at least since the mid 90's. 

Originally started by three childhood friends Baatin, T3 and rapper and producer J Dilla from the Conant Gardens neighborhood of Detroit. This group has seen an incredible amount of lineup changes and deaths since its beginning. Despite the lineup changes and tragedy, they have kept going strong and moving forward as the industry changes and bends. Currently, members include T3, from the original lineup, working alongside Young RJ and Illa J. 

Their latest mix tape, Dirty Slums 2, is being released this Friday, January 25th at the Majestic Theatre. This performance also marks the group's 20th anniversary and they have invited Big Pooh and Clear Soul Forces along to share the stage. Doors are at 9 p.m. and tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door. 

We will be giving away three sets of tickets to the show to three lucky winners. All you have to do to enter is email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line SLUM VILLAGE. Please include your full name in the email and we will announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter this Friday morning. Enter now! You can check out a complete discography for Slum Village here.

~S

Win Tickets to See Emancipator at The Magic Stick!!!

Emancipator is coming to Detroit on 1/24/2013 right before he releases his third album “Dusk to Dawn” on 1/29/2013 on Loci Records. He is playing with Elliot Lipp at The Magic Stick located at 4120 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

Emancipator is Trip-Hop producer Douglas Appling from Portland, Oregan. He performs live with violinist Ilya Goldberg. His music is described as “agile melodies layered over hedonic, immaculately-produced beats”. His first album was release in Japan and his fans helped get his name out to the rest of the world. You can check out all of his work here. He also released a new video which you can see here:

 

Tickets to see Emancipator are only $15 in advance or $18 at the door the day of. We suggest that you buy your tickets ahead of time because Emancipator is playing the night before in Grand Rapids and that show is already Sold Out! As always we are also giving you a chance to get in for FREE! We will be giving out 3, yes 3 sets of tickets for this show! All you have to do to enter is email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject EMANCIPATOR and we will announce the winner the morning of the show! Good luck! 

~S

Catching Up With Jason Revoir

Saturday night, Revoir released their latest EP called Wondertheist and played alongside James Linck and Tunde Olaniran. A copy of the album came with entry to the event and it is now available for purchase here if you were not able to make the show. 

Jason Revoir took a few minutes to talk to us about the band, the album and the future of this project. Revoir invited quite a few guests on stage for the night including Natasha from Odd Hours, James Linck to do a remixed version of one if his songs and even and an aerialist from the Weird Sisters Circus. 

Revoir proves that new wave is alive in Detroit and still gets people dancing and having a good time. Check out our interview and a song from the set here.

~S&B

The Talented James Link @ The New Dodge This Past Weekend

In case you haven't noticed yet Christie, Becca and I have very different tastes in music and hobbies. It is rare that we all really enjoy the same artist, and when we do it's exciting because we know that it will appeal to more of our readers. 

This weekend at the New Dodge Lounge, we saw James Linck perform and all three of us couldn't have enjoyed ourselves more. James Linck is a local musician who is on the heels of releasing his first EP with his latest, self-titled project. 

You may remember James from some of his previous work including House Phone and James and the Rainbros. He is the kind of guy who comes off as kind-hearted and shy and then gets on stage and eludes such a presence that the room is immediately taken over by him. I haven't fallen so hard and so fast for an artist in a long time. 

I made sure that we got a chance to talk to him and record a song for you because once you hear and see James, I know that you will be hooked. 

All three of us here at Hip can't say enough great things about him and I cannot wait until he releases this album because I know you won't be disappointed. The hype that I am creating is justified, I promise. 

Keep checking the site for updates on shows and make sure to come out. There is a good chance that all three of us will be there because this is one album/artist that will not be taken out of daily rotation for the foreseeable future.

~S&B

The Darkness is Coming and You Can Go for Free!!!

The Darkness were catapulted to fame in 2003 with the release of their 1st album Permission to Land, which featured a little hit called “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”. There was a time when you couldn't turn your radio dial without hearing their song. Their video was played on MTV long after they stopped playing videos because people loved to see and hear these glam rockers from across the pond. They are known for their elaborate stage performances, makeup and outrageous outfits & props. They attempted to record and release a 2nd album in 2005, but personal problems with drugs and alcohol overshadowed the process this time. The band went their separate ways in 2006. Then, in 2009 they started working together again and in 2011 the band announced that they would be reuniting to do some shows. They would also potentially release a third album with all the original members. Apparently time heals all wounds after all. 

The Darkness have spent the last few months touring across Europe with Lady Gaga, opening up the "Born This Way Ball", and are about to make their triumphant return to the U.S. Their latest album is called Hot Cakes and they have invited Hell or Highwater along to open the show. This Friday, they are playing at The Majestic Theatre at 9 p.m. and tickets are $25at the door. Their live show is something to see and is definitely worth the 25 bucks, but here at Hip In Detroit we always like to give you the chance to get in for free, because free is the best price. 

We will be adding 3 lucky readers names to the guest list with a +1 to bring a friend and show them a great time.To enter to win, all you have to do is email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line THE DARKNESS. Please include your full name in the email! We will announce the winners on Friday morning, so make sure to enter now! Special thanks to The Majestic and Black Iris Booking for helping us give our readers a chance to come out and party for free! We love you!

~S

Happy First Anniversary!!!

© Joe Gall Photography

This weekend officially marked the one year anniversary of Hip In Detroit! We have done a lot over the past year and we couldn't have done it without all of you. The good news is, the three of us are some how all still alive and still talking to to one another. The even better news is, we're having a blast.

We seriously can't thank all of you enough for your support over the past year. Whether you visit our page every day, are a supportive friend or you've worked with us on a post, it means the world to us. It is an amazing feeling to come up with an idea and make it happen. But, then to have people like it on top of that is just an incredible feeling. We are still geeked about every "Like" we get on Facebook, every band that agrees to work with us, and every time we bump into someone and they've even heard of Hip In Detroit. Then, if they say they are at something because they saw it on our site, it pretty much blows our mind. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

In honor of our one year anniversary, we decided to spruce things up a little bit around Hip In Detroit. In case you haven't noticed, Becca has changed up the design and we even added some extra features to help you navigate our site a little better and get the most out of it. We also teamed up with our good friend Camera Jesus himself, Joe Gall, for a super fun photo shoot! How does he always make everyone look so good!?!? He's Jesus. That's how.

Going into our second year, we look forward to bringing you more great coverage of all of the wonderful things Detroit has to offer. We're hoping to do more and to do it better. And, we hope all of you stick around for the ride! Thanks again to all of the lovers out there, and even to all of the haters. Your support gives us the motivation to keep going and your hatred drives us to make Hip In Detroit the best it can be. To all of our friends and family, thanks for listening to us obsess over this site night and day. (And a special note to Sadie & Becca from me; Thanks for putting up with my crazy ass and making this dream a reality. This would have NEVER happened without you.)

So, here's to another year of "the things we love, the people we love, the city we love". Here's to another year of Hip In Detroit. Cheers, bitches! We better see you all at Small's on February 1st to celebrate!!!

~C

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" at the Redford Theatre

When I was a little kid I loved to watch old movies with my mother. We would sit down and watch comedies, love stories and musicals for hours and I would dream of being one of the women in the films. I loved musicals like "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", "The Sound of Music" and anything with Marilyn Monroe in it. Miss Monroe has always been my style icon, from the way she dressed to the way she moved, to the way she carried herself. She will always be my idea of the ideal woman. When I watch her films I still find myself imitating her laugh, the way she slung her hands on her hips and of course her bleach blonde hair. I love all of her movies whether they are serious or funny, but "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is one of my favorites and the Redford Theatre is having a few special viewings of it this weekend.

"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was released in 1953 and featured the very famous Jane Russell alongside Marilyn Monroe. This movie has Marilyn playing Lorelei Lee and Jane Russell as Dorothy Shaw, two showgirls who are also best friends. Lorelei has a passion for diamonds and rich men and will stop at no end to get both. She finds a wealthy nerd named Gus Esmond, played by Tommy Noonan, who is willing to do anything she wants, but there is one problem. His father is the boss and controls all of this rich man’s finances. The movie follows the ladies through all their hijinks while Lorelei tries to marry a rich man and Dorothy tries to find true love. The most memorable or famous part of the film is when Monroe preforms “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”. The pink dress she wore is iconic and has been copied by everyone from Madonna, Geri Halliwell, Kylie Minouge, Nicole Kidman, Anna Nicole Smith, Christina Aguilera and even James Franco. My favorite line from the movie comes from Marilyn. She is trying to pursue her rich suitors father to let him marry her and she says, “I don’t want to marry him for his money, I want to marry him for your money. Don’t you know that a man being rich is like a woman being pretty? You wouldn’t marry a girl for being pretty, but doesn’t it help?” You can’t help but laugh a little when you hear that argument. Very Monroe.

The Redford Theatre is having a special viewing of "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" this Friday and Saturday with live organ music for a half an hour before the viewing. Friday, doors are at 7 p.m., music is at 7:30 and the movie starts at 8. Saturday, doors are at 1 p.m., music is at 1:30 p.m. and the movie starts at 2 for the first showing; doors are at 7 p.m., music at 7:30 p.m. and the movie is at 8 p.m. for the second showing. All seats at the theater for this event are only $4 a person. The movie is one hour thirty-one minutes long and you can find more information at redfordtheatre.com, including future events.

~S

Down to Business with Alive, in Standby

Alive, in Standby was the other Detroit band on the I Won't be Home for the WinTOUR. They are a 5 piece hardcore band from the Rochester and Shelby areas. We didn't get a chance to listen to them before their set and they seemed like such sweet, young boys when we interviewed them. So we were surprised how intense and tough they were once they got on stage. Don't let their age fool you, they are some of the most mature musicians we've met so far. We're sure even if you are our age or older you'll still like this band, not to emphasize their age too much!

Here is an interview with 2 of the guys from the band and a song from their set on Tuesday night.

Keep an eye on their Facebook for when their new album is released and to see when they'll be heading out on the road again.

~C&B

Talkin' Tour and Gettin' Intimate with Trees Above Mandalay

Trees Above Mandalay  is made up of 5 super nice guys from New Jersey. They were in town Tuesday night as part of the "I Won't be Home for the WinTOUR" at the Pike Room. Although they were only on that tour for a little over a week, they've been on the road for a little while now. This was their last stop before they head home.

We got a chance to catch up with them and get a song from their set. Check them out below.

For more on Trees Above Mandalay check them out on iTunes and Amazon and keep an eye out for their new album in February.

~C&B

Jenny Owen Youngs at The Pike Room

The Pike Room is hosting singer songwriter Jenny Owen Youngs along with Hampshire, The Burning Ponies and Carts Before Horses this Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. Ms. Young is on a one week tour in support of her latest release and will be making a stop in Michigan for one night. 

Jenny Owen Youngs' third studio album is called An Unwavering Band of Light and was produced by longtime collaborator Dan Romer. It was released this past February on Nettwerk Records and is 11 songs in total. You can download it here, along with her previous releases, Transmitter Failure and Batten the Hatches. Some songs on the new release are stripped down, piano only style, and other songs are loud and in your face. 

Jenny credits everyone from Nirvana to Sleater Kinney to Tom Waits as inspirations for this new album. This album is louder and more raw than her previous two releases. You can check out a bunch of videos of her and her music here. She has had music featured on "Weeds" and a musical episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". She even opened for Regina Spektor, one of my favorite solo artists. She is not only beautiful, but incredibly talented. Jenny is 31 years young and comes from Montclair, New Jersey.

Tickets for this show are $12 in advance and $14 at the door. They are available for purchase here.

~S

A Second Shot with Squid The Whale

Tuesday night we got a chance to check out some great bands from Metro-Detroit along with a few out-of-towners at The Pike Room at the last stop on the "I Won't Be Home For The WinTOUR". This tour featured Squid The Whale, Alive, In Standby, Trees Above Mandalay and Mandolyn Mae. For the last night in Pontiac, they also added Rival Summers, Yours Truly and Undesirable People to the lineup. We must say, we were pretty surprised by the turn out for a Tuesday night in January. The place was packed and everyone that made it out got to see 7 great bands and enjoy a great night of music.

We got a chance to catch up with the guys in Squid The Whale again, which we were super happy about. Sadie was also happy that she got a chance to redeem herself from the last time she chatted with the guys. They have a lot of big things coming up, including a new album on the way. See what they had to say below.

Squid The Whale put on an amazing set. They blew everyone away from the second they hit the stage with very special guest vocalists Liz Girard from Shotgun Soul along side Brittany & Bridget Chambers.

 

If you want to hear more from Squid The Whale head over to their bandcamp and keep an eye on their Facebook page for announcements on some big upcoming shows.  Remember, if you want to pre-order their new CD "Four More" or pick up the entire pre-order package, you only have until January 23rd. So head over to their online store and get at it!

Keep an eye out for interviews with Alive, In Standby and Trees Above Mandalay along with some live footage from both of their sets in the next couple of days!

~C

Revoir EP Release with Tunde and James Linck

Lately we find ourselves heading out to the New Dodge Lounge in Hamtramck more often. A few weeks ago we caught Phantasmagoria play a set at the Lounge and were pleasantly surprised when we fell in love with one of the opening acts, James Linck. He blew our minds and our ears and packed the place wall to wall with kids smiling and dancing. He has been playing around the city for years and has already made a name for himself with former projects James and the Rainbros and House Phone. Watching him on stage and seeing how far his writing and singing have come, I was completely mesmerized. 

I had a chance to introduce myself after the show and was lucky enough to get a download of the unreleased tracks, some of which he had performed that night. I can't stop listening to the EP! It has literally been on repeat for about 5 days straight and it shows no signs of stopping at this point. When this music is released, I promise that you are going to fall in love with James Linck and his certain style of sexy. But, before he releases the album, why not come out and see what I am talking about for yourself.

James is playing alongside my favorite local artist of 2012, Tunde Olaniran. Fresh off the heels of his latest release, The Second Transgression, he will bring his dancers and amazing style and will get the room moving. Both of these men are people that ooze real talent and a vision that is unique. I would love to see a collaboration between them someday. 

Tunde and James will be opening up for Revoir who is releasing their latest EP “Wondertheist”. Revoir is an electro-pop band that we have not gotten the pleasure of checking out live yet, but we have heard good things about. You can check Revoir out on bacmpcamp, where you can also stream the new album. We'll let you know more about this artist after we catch the set. Judging by the lineup they chose for this release show, we think we're going to like them. Plus, they have even invited one of the ladies from The Weird Sisters Circus to entertain you with a performance in between acts!

This show is this Saturday and is $5 for 21+ and $10 for 18-21. You will receive a copy of Revoir's new album “Wondertheist” with paid entry to the show. Doors are at 9 p.m. and the New Dodge is located at 8850 Joseph Campau St. in Hamtramck, Numerous great acts, a cameo by Cheryl Willard from The Weird Sisters Circus and an album is a lot to get for only $5! We promise you that you will not be disappointed!

~S

Infatuations

Embarco Entertainment presents The Infatuations, Third Coast Kings, Shotgun Soul and The Mike Hopper Trio this Saturday, January 19th at Northern Lights Lounge. They have arranged this little event in celebration of Nick and Caleb from The Infatuations birthdays. This show is $7 at the door and is a 21+ event. Doors for the show are at 9 p.m. 

The Infatuations are a high energy soul band that will make you want to dance, or at least that is what they promise. Formed in 2009 the band has thus far released the 5-track January Sessions EP in 2009, the Blame it on You single in February 2012 and the Recorded Live in Front of a Studio Audience seven-track mini album. You can download their music and learn more about them here.

Third Coast Kings are a funk and soul band also from Detroit. Eight members strong, they also promise to get people on their feet and moving when they play live. They describe themselves as proper or pure funk rock, the kind of stuff that you usually only find on old 45's in your parents basement. You can check out and purchase their music here. 

Shotgun Soul features singer Liz Girard. This band is a mix of funk, pop, rock and soul and even a little reggae. You can check out their music here. Liz is a huge supporter of local Detroit music, so make sure to be there for Shotgun’s set and show her some love back. 

We have told you about The Mike Hopper Trio in the past and we do not miss a chance to see them perform if we can. They describe themselves as progressive rock and are in the process of making a recording for their fans to listen to.

The show is only $7 and should be a fun time for those that like to dance. Let’s get funky Detroit!

~S

Videos of The Swellers From Fusion Shows' 5 Year Anniversary

Fusion Shows celebrated their 5 year anniversary as a booking titan in Michigan this past Saturday at The Crofoot. Nine bands played to a sold out crowd and cake lined the walls free to all those that attended the event. 

The highlights of the night for me were The Swellers and La Dispute, both bands played to the packed house and had the entire floor of the ballroom moving around. The event ran smoothly and we had a wonderful time. 

Thanks to Fusion Shows for always booking solid shows and bring great bands through Detroit.

Here are three videos from The Swellers' set for those of you that missed the party. Huge shout out to them for playing my favorite track “Hands" and a happy 30th birthday to Ryan who plays guitar for the band. After you check out the videos, don't forget to download The Swellers latest EP “Running Out of Places to Go.”

Thanks to Matt Moy for the videos!

~S

Lost Years @ Corktown Tavern Friday

Capeside Records presents Lost Years at Corktown Tavern this Saturday January 19th at 9 p.m. They are celebrating their latest record which was released on January 8th, called Play The Guitar Drunk Until Your Fingers Begin To Bleed A Bit; Acoustic Renditions & B-Sides. 

Capeside teamed up with Backroads With Phyllis, Love Sick Tattoo Parlor and Roshambo Promo to bring you performances by Lost Years, The Scenery, Cities and Years, Last Action Hero and Mayor Mayor. This show is only $6 at the door and the first 25 people in the door will get a free clipper ship cinch sack from Capeside Records. 

Lost Years are from Gary, Indiana and this release will be their second album. The Scenery are from downriver and were one of the better bands that we saw at Dirt Fest this past summer. You can check out their EP, It's Only Weather, on iTunes. Cities and Years are from Detroit and their latest EP, Nothing to Show is also available on iTunes. Last Action Hero hails from Detroit and do not have a formal release yet, but any of the songs that they have on their facebook or bandcamp are available to download for free! Finally, Mayor Mayor is from Warren and describes themselves as “a post hardcore act that bring the energy of a main stage warped tour act to the local scene.”

Altogether this promises to be a great show with great sponsors and great music. 

We asked Lost Years a few questions about this event to see what they had to say about their new album, the city of Detroit and the ever important decision, ass or titties?

hipindetroit- Why should someone come see you play live? 

Lost Years- We're all about a good time. No bullshit or anything like that. Hopefully you'll come out and enjoy what you hear, but regardless we make sure everyone is getting sauced up and having fun.

hipindetroit- Have you ever played in Detroit before? If so what was your favorite part about Detroit? If not, what are you expecting? I love to see how newcomers perceive our city. 

Lost Years- We were scheduled to play in Detroit back in August for a 10 day tour but our van broke down in New Buffalo, MI and we had to cancel the whole trip. So, no we haven't but we are excited about it. We've been to Detroit though. Parkes and I are Wings fans so we are waiting to see if the wings will be playing a home game the 20th and if so we are definitely catching that before we head home!

hipindetroit- If you had to describe your sound to someone that has never heard you
before, what would you say?

Lost Years- Indie/Punk but since we are playing a couple shows to support an acoustic album we released I'd say gritty, folk, rock.

hipindetroit- What is your ideal pizza order?

Lost Years- Supreme pizza Chicago style

hipindetroit- Most important question- is it all about the ass or tits?

Lost Years- We'd prefer both but not everyone is that blessed. That ass doh.

The Corktown Tavern is located at 1716 Michigan Ave., Detroit. Hope to see you there!  

~S

Win Tickets to See Squid The Whale on the "I Won't Be Home For The WinTOUR"!!!

Monday we told you about the “I Won’t Be Home For The WinTOUR” tour that is coming to The Pike Room on Tuesday, January 15th at 6 p.m. This tour features Alive, In Standby, Trees Above Mandalay, Mandolyn Mae, Squid The Whale, Undesirable People, Rival Summers and Yours Truly. What I didn’t tell you Monday is that we are giving you a chance to have your name added to the guest list with a +1. That’s right kids, you and a friend could be attending this show filled with some of the best bands that the midwest has to offer. 

Squid The Whale, Rival Summers, Alive in Standby, Your Truly, and Undesirable People are all Michigan born talent that have been representing our state well. They have joined up with solo artist Mandoyln Mae and New Jersey natives/headliner Alive, In Standby to close out this tour here in Michigan. The show is $12 at the door or $10 in advance. Your best bet is to buy tickets in advance from UHF in Royal Oak to avoid surcharges. You can also purchase tickets through Ticketweb here.

I am excited about all of the bands playing on Tuesday, but most excited for Squid The Whale, my new obsession for 2013. I suggest picking up their EP here. Then, after you decide you love it, you can pre-order their newest album here along with bonus extras like a Stheart shirt, stickers and a note from the band. I haven’t gotten hooked to a band this fast and this intense in a long time. The vocals are killer and the music is well written and has “weird” rhythms that make me want to either dance or have sex, both enjoyable activities.

So how do you win tickets? Tweet us on twitter @hipindetroit or tag us on instagram with the hashtag #IWantToSeeSquidTheWhale. We will announce the winner on the morning of the 15th before the show. Good luck! We hope to see you at the show either way; all three ladies from Hip In Detoit will be there for this one!

~S

Don't Miss The International FAFDET Event This Friday

Boy, Free Art Friday Detroit is really getting big! So big that it is going global! In the past year, FAFDET has had artists and collectors from all over the world participate and this Friday, they are having a special international edition of the scavenger hunt.

Throughout the past month, FAFDET has been collecting pieces from artists from places as far away as Brazil and the United Kingdom. There will be more than 25 pieces of artwork from all over the world hidden around Detroit by 6 p.m. this Friday. As always, clues to where the pieces are hidden will be on their Facebook page and their Twitter with the hashtag #FAFDET.

Sara Frey, the organizer of FAFDET, has a goal to unite the art community here at home as well as abroad. I can't wait to see all the pieces from abroad this Friday. It will be interesting to see how they differ from things at home. If you like the idea of the International Free Art Friday event, next month FAFDET will be contributing art to a similar event in London. Detroit organizers have been working with London organizers to develop a sustainable Free Art Friday community internationally. Pretty cool!

If you want to learn more about FAFDET, you can read our interview with Sara Frey from Skidmore Studio here. It really is a great event going on in Detroit. Who doesn't love free art with the added bonus of a scavenger hunt? Make sure to keep an eye on their Facebook and Twitter for other events, to find clues and see some of the past finds! Detroit artists are pretty talented.

~B

Celebrate Five Years of Fusion Shows

This Saturday at The Crofoot, Fusion Shows will be celebrating their 5th Birthday with a huge show. The line-up includes La Dispute, The Swellers, Into It. Over It., Cheap Girls, Mixtapes, Pentimento, Pity Sex, Koji and Tiger! Tiger! All of these great bands will be playing 2 stages within The Crofoot Complex and it's only $13. 

Fusion Shows was started back in 2008 by co-owners Nate Dorough and Irving Ronk. They are based in the Lansing area, but they promote and book shows throughout the state. Fusion Shows has grown over the past 5 years and now they have a whole slew of people working for them. You can check out all of their fun bios here. We've gone to quite a few Fusion Shows in the past and talked with the guys a couple of times, but I wanted to find out a little more about the company and their big bash coming up this weekend. So, I caught up with their own Scotty Bell.

Hip In Detroit - Tell us about Fusion Shows. What are you guys all about? How did you get your start?
Scott - "Fusion Shows was started by Nate Dorough and Irving Ronk and it has turned into one of the top DIY concert promoters in Michigan. Our first calling is going above and beyond for our state when it comes to booking as many quality musical acts. Our existence is that direct response you get from some misinformed people that 'Nothing fun happens in Michigan'. 
The main thing that separates us from the huge corporate promotions companies out there is we don't charge you any extra fees when you buy pre-sale concert tickets from us. When you buy a $10 ticket to see a band, then $10 is all you're going to pay. Period. We've put a stake in Michigan as our home state, so don't expect us to be going anywhere any time soon."

Hip In Detroit - Tell us about your Birthday Bash! How did you pick the bands? Can you tell us a little bit about the bands and what you have planned for the night?
Scott - "Everyone involved with Fusion Shows has been ingrained in our respective scenes for a lot longer then 5 years. So I guess you'd have to just say the birthday show is like our 5th wedding anniversary to Michigan music. Not sure if anyone other then Nate received wedding bands yet though?
When you hit the milestone we have you want to celebrate it with close friends. So naturally we'd call in some of the hardest working and touring bands in our state. La Dispute, The Swellers and Cheap Girls were all no brainers. Aside from bands, we've kicked around the idea of having some balloon animals or maybe a pony that kids can ride around the pit once or twice. You know real 5th birthday kind of stuff! Maybe a bouncy castle?"

Hip In Detroit - Do you guys have any big shows coming up that you're excited about? Other than your Birthday Show of course.
Scott - "All I can say is that 2013 promises to be even wilder then we even expected. You'll have to stay tuned!"

We can't wait for the show this weekend. Awesome line-up at a great venue. Tickets are available through fusionshows.com and are only $13. Not a penny more! Head over to their website to check out what other shows they have coming to town. And if you're up for the drive, head out to Mac's Bar or The Loft in Lansing, two great venues! While you're on their website, make sure to take a second to check out their music player too. All of us at Hip In Detroit would like to wish Fusion Shows a Happy 5th Birthday! Thanks for everything you do for the Michigan music scene! 

~C

Alive In Standby @ The Pike Room with Squid The Whale and Many More!

 
The Crofoot will be featuring Alive in Standby, Squid The Whale, Trees Above Mandalay, Rival Summers, Undesirable People, Yours Truly and Mandolyn Mae together in The Pike room this Tuesday, January 15th at 6 p.m. 

Alive in Standby are out on their “I Won’t Be Home For The Wintour” with Trees Above Mandalay and Madolyn Mae. They have made their way across the East Coast and are ending this tour at The Crofoot. Alive in Standby describes themselves as hardcore/progressive/pop punk from Shelby/Rochester, Michigan. These hometown boys have a few songs that you can check online here.

Trees Above Mandalay are from New Jersey and describe themselves as pop rock. They participated in last year's Warped Tour battle of the bands and have shared the stage with some pretty big acts including Forever the Sickest Kids and Marilyn is Dead. They have 5 tracks available for download here.
Madolyn Mae is a singer songwriter from St. Louis, Missouri. She just released her EP and is in the process of recording a full length at this time. You can check out her music and download her EP on SoundCloud.

Squid The Whale has quickly become one of my local obsessions, ever since I purchased their EP. Becca from Hip In Detroit kept telling me to listen to it, but it kept getting put onto the back burner for cd reviews. When I finally downloaded it on Bandcamp, I proceeded to listen to the four songs over and over again for no less and 48 hours. This EP is as solid as they come and was stuck in my head for days. It makes me very eager to see them play live again and for the release of their full length album, which you can pre-order now along with other swag including clothing from Stheart. We can't wait to get our hands on this album! It will no doubt be a 2013 favorite.

Yours Truly is a 4 piece pop-punk band from the Detroit area that has opened for acts like Craig Owens and Go Radio. They just recently release a 6 song EP called Scouts Honor. You can download it through Bandcamp or iTunes.
 
Rival Summers is acoustic pop music from my home town of Sterling Heights. They formed in 2008 and have released 4 albums independently so far. They have toured for much of the last year and plan to stay out on the road as much as possible in 2013. Their music is available for download here.

Undesirable People is a local band that we discovered when they opened up for Wilson last year at the Pike Room. Since that initial meeting we have seen them play all over town and they have gained more and more of a following. They are very charming boys and were fun to interview last year. They have recently released a self-titled full length that is available here.

This show is only $10 in advance and $12at the door. Tickets available online through Ticketweb or you can purchase them at UHF in Royal Oak with no service charges (cash only). The Crofoot is located at 1 South Saginaw in Pontiac.

~S