Maybe Whitney at Hatchy's

Alright suburbanites, you're always complaining that the city is too far of a drive and unsafe (both untrue), but now it's time to stop your complaining because this week great music is coming to your neck of the woods. We caught up with Maybe Whitney a few weeks ago at Dirtfest and had a great time at the show. I have been keeping tabs on this band ever since they started recording with my friend Matt Dalton at 37 Studios and it has been fun to watch them grow and prosper.

Maybe Whitney incorporates elements of dubsteb with raw vocals and makes for a sound that is all their own. They will be playing at Hatchy's in Downtown Utica with Dismember the Fallen and Through Our Eyes this Friday, August 30th. The show is 18+ and only $10 at the door. Hatchy's is located at 7759 Auburn Rd. in Downtown Utica. No excuses this time! It's a Friday, it's close, and it should be a good time!

 ~S

Help Back the Next Project From John Kay!

 

Many of you that are involved in the Detroit music scene know John Kay. Whether it's because of his producing skills or from PT's Revenge, Bat On Fire, or any other musical endeavor he's been involved in, you at least know of John Kay if you don't know him personally. Well, John has decided to embark on a new venture and release his first solo album.

The music on Narcissist may be a little different than what you would expect to hear from John, but it shows how amazingly talented he truly is. You can preview the 10 tracks that will make up this new album on his Soundcloud here. Keep in mind, although these songs are already pretty awesome, they are just the "rough" cuts that he recorded.

In an effort to complete this recording and have it mixed, mastered, pressed, and packaged, John has been running a Kickstarter campaign to help raise the funds needed. Those that contribute to his campaign have the opportunity to receive numerous rewards, some of which are better than any we've seen before. For just $10 you will get the standard digital download of the album once it's completed and you will also receive a download of the B-Side (which will be exclusive to Kickstarter backers). However, for some of the heftier pledges you can get awesome rewards ranging from a copy of one of John's elementary school report cards to a recording session with him for one of your songs or even 2 days worth of audio engineering training from the pro himself. There are a ton of other great options too! We can't list them all. Just head over to the Kickstarter page and check them out for yourself. While you are there make sure you also read John's statement, and essentially his autobiography, on why he got into music in the first place. Not only is he a great musician, but he's also an inspiring and overall amazing person.

So, make sure you head over NOW and check out John's Kickstarter. There are only a couple of days left to back his project. So don't drag your feet! This guy has done so much for and in the Detroit music scene, he deserves all of our support. Plus, who doesn't want to hear what John Kay has in store for us next!?!?!?

~C

Thirst Wave Thursdays at Small's

Thursdays are traditionally known as college night and I don't know about you, but I hated generic college nights even when I was in college. Back in the day, Thursday night dance parties upstairs at the Magic Stick were to be the place to be. Dancing to all sorts of Alt rock and Hip-Hop 'til the lights came on was the standard. But, that party ended years ago and I never really found another place to go on Thursday nights, unless a band I like happened to be playing.

Recently, I came across Small's Thursday night party called "Thirst Wave Thursdays" and thought to myself, "that might actually be fun." The cover is free, the drinks are always on special, and the music selection promises to be nothing but solid. Kat Paled is behind the bar and if you haven't seen her in person, she's like a sexy little anime character. Put it this way, she is not hard on the eyes. She serves up drink specials like $2.50 domestics, $4 24 oz. cans, $3 wells, and $1 off all other liquor drinks. DJs Pleasure Kitten, Elektrosonik, and Aaron Hingst will be playing New Wave, Retro Alternative, Dark 80s, and 90s Alternative. There is NO COVER and doors open at 9 p.m. This is the new way to do it up on Thursday night!

~S

Pee-wee's Big Adventure at New Center Park!

A few year's ago my friend and I decided to watch Pee-wee's Big Adventure. I remembered loving the movie as a kid, but it had been a while since I had seen it. Well, about 2 minutes in we were already laughing so hard the tears were running down our faces. Maybe it was the company I was with, and maybe it had something to do with the whiskey we were drinking, but regardless Pee-wee's Big Adventure is a great movie and pretty darn funny.

If it's been a while since you've watched the movie about a childlike man and his bicycle, now is the perfect opportunity to see it again. Tonight, New Center Park will be showing Pee-wee's Big Adventure for Wednesday Night at the Movies. All summer long the park has been hosting free movies outside under the stars and this week marks the final movie of the season.

Tonight's movie is set to start at dusk, around 9 p.m. Admission is FREE and there is a conservatory that you can buy food, drinks, and adult beverages from.  For additional details on movies at New Center Park, visit their website here.

In case you need a refresher on how great Pee-wee's Big Adventure is, here's the original trailer for the movie. Disturbingly hilarious!

~C

Are You A Counter-Elite???

"Are you a Counter-Elite?" That is the question that the band The Counter Elites is screaming in the song "Bust Em Up" featured on their website mycounterelites.com. They are releasing their first record August 31st at The Tangent Gallery in Detroit and they want to give you a free copy of their new album for coming to the show.

They have teamed up with Odd Hours, Sex Police, Double Weirdo, Dad 1000, and Richard Gumby for the release party this Saturday. The record will be released on Simple Living Ferndale Records and the first 100 people through the door will get a copy of all 26 songs that they recorded, along with a 30 page booklet that includes stickers. Not a bad deal for only having to pay $8 to get into the show. They will also have karaoke throughout the night to keep the fun going. Karaoke starts at 8 p.m. and music goes 'til 2 a.m. The Tangent Gallery is located at 715 East Milwaukee in Detroit and 21+ are welcome.

~S

FREE No Wave Detroit Show at The Loving Touch!!!

This week The Loving Touch is bringing another set of bands to the stage for your enjoyment and is forgoing the usual door fee yet again. No Wave Detroit is bringing Revoir, Electric Corpse, Double Weirdo, 800 Beloved and Something Cold to the stage this Friday, August 30th at 9 p.m.

We recommend going to check out Revoir and staying to see the other bands. Check out our interview with Jason of Revoir and head out this Friday. The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.

~S

Meet Little Animal (VIDEO)

Here at Hip In Detroit we are always trying to find you the newest hippest things to do, see, and hear. We go out of our way to check out anything and everyone to help turn you onto what's worth your time in this city. Music will always be the heart of Detroit and there will never be a shortage of up and coming artists.

A few weeks ago Phantasmagoria called it quits and a void was left in that genre. Thankfully a new group called Little Animal has stepped up to fill that void. New to the scene, Little Animal is a two person team featuring Rachelle Baker on vocals and Nicholas Morrow as producer and sound wizard. Their goal is to play good music and get the crowd moving with them. Rachelle isn't too shy to interact with the crowd and make sure that you dance and have a good time.

Check out our interview from after their show at The Loving Touch this past Friday and follow them on Facebook to see where their playing next.

~S

Keeping it Vile with Aren Willingham

I recently realized that I am the kind of girl that identifies with the wrong characters in movies. For instance in Snow White I love the evil queen,she's way prettier and her wardrobe is much cooler than Snow White's puffy dresses. I also never understood why Julia Roberts changed her wardrobe in  Pretty Woman, I liked her way more in the hooker skirt and thigh highs than the flowery dresses they made her wear once she turned into a fancy socialite. I never understood why people made fun of Peg Bundy on Married With Children, I wanted to wear every tacky piece of leopard that she rocked and first learned the art of the hair tease from her character. During Grease I wanted to be and rooted for Rizzo, not lame ass Sandy. Basically,  I am the kind of lady who likes the bad girl , who has a style of her own, and doesn't necessarily fit in with the crowd.

I think that's why I was initially so attracted to Vile Clothing. Vile Company is the clothing brand for the rebel, the outsider, the other. In fact, when I asked the creator and owner Aren Willingham who his style icons were, he immediately sighted the style from the movie/book The Outsiders. I asked him to sit down and tell how Vile got started and what the idea was behind the brand.

He is about to launch a new website and will be releasing all sorts of new merchandise including a women's line, hats, and new shirt designs. So we figured it was the perfect time for Hip In Detroit to learn more about who Vile is and what they do.


We learned that they are the perfect clothing line to be sponsoring our friends in Wilson and We Came as Romans and that we would be proud to rock one of their new women's crop tops or go on date with any of the sexy models in their lookbook pictures. Check out the interview we did with Aren and learn more about Vile from the man behind the brand.

~S

Our Picks for the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival!!!

The trees are starting to change colors and the air is getting cooler. It's almost time for school to start and boot season to begin, but not until after Labor Day. Labor Day has always marked the end of Summer in Michigan and what better way to celebrate then with a free three day festival in the heart of Hamtown.

This year's Hamtramck Labor Day Festival will start Saturday, August 31st and go through Labor Day, Monday, September 2nd. It will feature music, food, rides, a parade,drinks and fun for the whole family. The event takes place outside in the heart of the city on Joseph Campau. Two stages will be playing music from approximately 1 p.m. 'til 9 p.m. all three days.

We wanted to give you our list of don't miss acts for the weekend so you can plan ahead.

Saturday, August 31
North Stage:

 4:30 p.m. - The ILL Itches
South Stage:
7 p.m. - Tunde

Sunday, September 1st
North Stage:
 5:30 p.m. - Radio Burns 

(Ex-Members of Millions of Brazilians and The Suicide Machines)

7:30 p.m. - Golden Torso
8:30 p.m. - Break Anchor

South Stage:

7 p.m. - Polish Muslims

Monday, September 2nd
North Stage:
7:30 p.m. - Bill Bondsmen
8:30 p.m. - The Infatuations

South Stage:
2:30 p.m. - Kielbasa Kings (Yes, I love polka!)
5 p.m. - Pink Lightning
6 p.m. - George Morris

For more information check out Hamtramck Labor Day Festival's Facebook page and enjoy the last days of Summer because before you know it, it will be time for another Michigan winter.

~S&C

FREE Show with Flashclash, Autumn Wolf and Little Animal TONIGHT!!!

 

The Loving Touch has been crushing it with FREE shows lately. It seems like every week they announce another lineup of bands that we usually pay to see. Of course we will take them up on the opportunity to see a good show sans charge!

This Friday they are bringing Flashclash, Autumn Wolf, and Little Animal to the stage for the perfect price, FREE. We are already fans of Flashclash and Autumn Wolf, but we have been hearing all about Little Animal from other respected artists in the area and look forward to seeing their show live. Doors are at 8 p.m. and 21+ are welcome. The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.

~S

12 Band Blender this Friday at Small's!

This Friday, August 23rd you have the chance to see 12 bands under one roof. Small's will be playing host to the 12 Band Blender. This recurring event brings together a variety of musicians to play 20 minute sets spread across 3 stages. This Blender's lineup includes Songs From The Moon, Anastasia Gold, Tell All Your Friends, Dick Hickey, Crochetcatpause, Nameless, Johnny Roastbeef, Girth, Crime Scene, Searching the Clouds, Chris Johnston, and John Deer-Tractor Beam. 

Admission to the 12 Band Blender is $8. All ages are welcome and the bands begin at 9:20 p.m. For all of the details and a list of set times head to the Facebook event page here. Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck. 

~C

Mitten Crate - The New Way to Eat Michigan Made

 

It seems these days that everyone is talking about shopping locally and buying Michigan Made products. It's a great concept and we all know too well that our local economy could really use the boost. Sometimes though, it isn't that easy to find products made in our great state. You can try your local farmers market and some stores, such as Whole Foods, are starting to sell products from your area. However, that just gives you a small sampling of what is out there. This is exactly the issue that the newly formed company Mitten Crate is here to solve.

Mitten Crate is a web based company that's goal is to deliver a variety of Michigan Made products to your doorstep monthly. This ingenious idea is the brainchild of Cory Wright and Andrew Chmielewski. These two guys have been involved in the food industry for quite a while now, with Cory most recently managing a NYC farm to table restaurant and artisan market and Andrew running Dave's Sweet Tooth, who's toffee you may have tried a time or two or you might even be addicted to. With their experience coming from two opposite sides of the food industry spectrum and their interest in great Michigan made food, this company is bound to be successful.

We caught up with Cory and Andrew to find out more about Mitten Crate before they got ready to launch the official website. Here's what they had to say.

Hip In Detroit- What is Mitten Crate?
Mitten Crate- "Mitten Crate is a subscription box service for Michigan foodies. We deliver the best Michigan made food related products right to your door every month."

Hip In Detroit- What inspired you guys to do this? How did you guys come up with the idea?
Cory- "Both Andrew and I have backgrounds in the food business, but from different sides. We were talking about how artisan and craft producers struggle to make it and how end users are always vying for new and exciting products. That misalignment, coupled with the demand for locally made products, brought about the idea of connecting small companies with people that are eager to explore and support Michigan producers. Mitten Crate makes it easy for consumers to get carefully curated items sent right to their doors and gives smaller companies without advertising budgets or spare time the ability to reach a large segment of their designated target market."

Hip In Detroit- Tell us about your partnership with Gleaners.
Mitten Crate- "Being that our business is about food, we recognized that there is a social issue involving many Michigan families and the struggle to put food on the table. Gleaners Food Bank is on the forefront of fighting the problem. Therefore, every Mitten Crate shipped will put food on the table of three people in need."

Hip In Detroit- What is your favorite Michigan made product that you've come across so far?
Mitten Crate- "The thrill for us is in the journey, finding unique and delicious products that put smiles on taste buds is the goal. So our favorite Michigan made product is the one that you end up discovering that turns into your favorite."

Hip In Detroit-Is there anything you've seen a ton of Michigan companies making? Likewise, are there any products that Michigan is lacking?
Mitten Crate- "There is actually a large amount of diversity in Michigan made products. The local specialty food scene is still in it's infancy here, which is great for foodies, compared to other parts of the nation. It seems everyone is making something different, or has their own niche when it comes to creating interesting flavors. For example, there are a lot of jams, jellies and preserves being made, but no two are even close to tasting alike.
As far as products that we would love to see;
Andrew- "Marshmallows, I have an affinity for quirky flavored marshmallows, there's a company outside of Michigan that makes marshmallows flavored with crazy ingredients like ghost pepper, blood orange and coffee."
Cory- "Beef jerky, I'm literally addicted to beef jerky and no Michigan companies are making the salty treat with flavors that inspire, everyone seems to be making peppered, teriyaki or one of those types of flavors.

***Disclaimer - if you know of anyone making these products or other cool products drop us a line and let us know!!!!!***

Hip In Detroit- Cory, you recently moved back from NYC. In your opinion what is so appealing about Detroit and Michigan in general? What improvements can we make?
Cory- "Michigan is really stepping up to the plate in terms of artisan food production, it's kind of like the wild west in regards to small producers. I grew up in metro Detroit so I have my roots are here. The reason NY state is successful is because they all support NY state, Manhattan and Brooklyn support the whole state and not just segments. In Michigan we have to realize that we are all in the same state and work together instead of Detroit vs. Grand Rapids, Traverse City vs. Ann Arbor, North vs. South, etc. If we all team up and support Michigan as our designation everyone prospers."

Hip In Detroit- Andrew, you know how hard it is to be a small producer all too well, you are the owner/operator of the popular toffee company Dave's Sweet Tooth, what does Mitten Crate offer to smaller companies that need an advantage?
Andrew- "Mitten Crate really offers a win/win solution for companies and their potential customers alike. Most small companies are limited in distribution by their local area, they just don't have the wholesale network the larger companies have. However, almost all of these companies sell direct to consumers online, and Mitten Crate helps them reach people that could continue buying their products. Consumers receive unique items that they might not be exposed to at their local grocery store or farmers market. In my experience with Dave's Sweet Tooth, I've found that tasting new products is paramount in helping consumers make the decision to buy something they have never tried before. This discovery process, in turn, has obvious benefits for the small companies. These new potential customers have now been exposed to a product they think is delicious, and hopefully they want more."

Hip In Detroit- What sort of products can someone expect to get in a Mitten Crate? Can you give us any examples?
Mitten Crate- Everyone knows about Faygo, Sanders' and Better Made, and while these are great Michigan companies that people know and love, we will typically focus on the lesser known gems of the mitten state. This will include everything from funky jams and jellies to kicked up BBQ sauces, hand made pastas to gourmet cupcakes, boldly roasted coffee to soothing herbal tea, savory granola to sweet and salty popcorn. The list really goes on and on, basically if it's made in Michigan and it tastes great then it has a chance of arriving at your doorstep.

Hip In Detroit- How does someone buy a Mitten Crate?
Mitten Crate- www.mittencrate.com

This sounds like a super fun way to try out some new treats and a great gift to send to that foodie on your list too! To order your Mitten Crate, head over to www.mittencrate.com. While you are there make sure to check out the Mitten Crate Blog too! You should also head over and "like" Mitten Crate on Facebook to keep up with this up and coming company that, we have a feeling, will explode overnight. We wish Cory and Andrew the best of luck with this venture and we hope to see Mitten Crates on tons of doorsteps soon!

~C

It's Tesco Fest II And You Can Win Tickets!!!

Last year's Tesco Fest was one of the funnest events of the summer. The Magic Stick was literally packed wall to wall and people went crazy. To me, it proved that punk rock is still alive and well in Detroit. It's no surprise to me that Tesco and The Meatmen are coming back for another round this year with a whole new lineup of bands to join them. This year's Tesco Fest will feature Negative Approach, The Dwarves, The Queers, Black Fag, The Hookers, Break Anchor, Nice Hooves and Giuda (from Rome).

As you can tell the lineup is bigger and better this year. So I expect the show to not only sell out, but to be bigger, better, and crazier than ever! Thanks to Black Iris Booking we have one set of tickets to offer to one lucky winner! To be considered for the tickets you must post about the show on some form of social media and tag us in the post. Please use the hashtag #TescoFest2. You can post to any form of social media including Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Don't send us any direct messages because we will not count those as entries. We want your help to get the word out! We will draw and announce a winner the morning of the show.

We know that this is going to be a great time, but if you don't believe us just check out the video that Tesco Vee from The Meatmen made and hear why he thinks you don't want to miss this show.

Doors on Saturday open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at ticketweb.com. The Magic Stick is located at 4100 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. For more details on Tesco Fest II and to keep up with all of the shenanigans leading up to the date of the show, make sure to RSVP to the Facebook event here.

~S

Scrummage Fest!

 

The first time I ever heard of the now legendary "Scrummage" crew was quite a few years back when I started going to shows at Scrummage University. Their brightly colored chandeliers would have overpowered any normal size apartment, but in their huge loft in Eastern Market they fit just right. Scrummage University was one of the coolest places in Detroit that I have ever been to a show. There was a wide range of bands that came through that space and one that I saw there for the first time is still at the top of my list of favorite bands, The Death Set.

After my days of going to Scrummage University it was a few years before I heard the name again, but this time around it was Lord Scrummage. Then, it was a two piece (from what I remember) and now it has morphed into a full band with a very stylish female vocalist. Despite the name, and whether it was during the loft period ,the band era, or somewhere in between, one thing is for sure. Whenever you hear the word "Scrummage" in Detroit there is a whole culture, idea, and crew that goes along with it.

This weekend is your chance to party with the Scrummage gang as they are putting on a four day event called Scrummage Fest. The weekend starts on Thursday night with Scrummage Karaoke at the New Dodge in Hamtramck. This free event is put on weekly and brings out more people than any karaoke night I have ever been to. I stopped by a few weeks ago for the first time and was pretty impressed by how packed New Dodge was and surprised by the wide range of people in attendance. It was a really fun time and this week should be even better as there are going to be "special surprises". Who doesn't love a surprise???

Scrummage Fest continues on Friday night at PuppetART in Detroit. This venue will have live music from Horatio Clam, Lenny Stoofy, Ben 'Jamin' Filler, and Dan Demaggio. The event, being called Club Paradise, will also feature a "virtual canoe trip" and will be hosted by the King of Rock 'N' Roll. After this show there is an after party at the Adult Contemporary with Siobhan, Bad User Experience, Rawaat and Solid Liquid.

Saturday's activities will go on most of the day and will be spread across two different venues. First, starting around 2 in the afternoon, head over to Clyde Moop (1360 W. Elizabeth in Detroit) for Phantom Cats, Doc Waffles, Breezee One, Brian Burke, Blood and Honey, Lobotomys, Radio Brovold, Manx aka MC, Get Money Crue, Lord Scrummage, Public Urination, and more. Surprisingly, even with all of these amazing acts, this is another free show. Later in the night you can head over to the Mexicantown Fiesta Center (4114 W Vernor Hwy. in Detroit) for more music, including sets by Ancient Language, Coyote Clean Up, Steve Young, North Lake, and Conor Mendenhall. This event is $3 and starts at 10 p.m.

Finally, on Sunday morning you can nurse your hangover and cheers to an amazing weekend of partying with a mimosa at Scrummage Fest's Noise Brunch at Jam Handy (2900 E. Grand Blvd.) $10 will get you in the door to this show and will get you brunch. The event starts at Noon and the tunes while you are eating will be provided by Space Band, Unholy Water, Shades, Yogurt Culture, Fred Thomas and Haunted. 

Sounds like Scrummage Fest is going to be a blast and not your typical weekend, or fest for that matter. Whether you make it out to one or all four of the dates, we're sure you will have a great time! So get ready to sing, dance, and even eat some magic berries this weekend at Scrummage Fest 2013!!!

~C

Win Tickets to Big Sean!!!

Is anyone interested in seeing some G.O.O.D. music at D.T.E. on Saturday, August 31st? Def Jam recording artist and Detroit local Big Sean is coming back to Detroit to play his home state and Embarco Entertainment has given us two sets of tickets to giveaway to two lucky fans.

Big Sean, also known as Sean Michael Anderson, got his footings with rapper and producer Kanye West and was signed to his G.O.O.D. music label in 2007 before moving on to Def Jam records. His first album was called Finally Famous and was released in 2011. His second album, Hall of Fame, will be released August 27th, right before the show.

To enter to win tickets please e-mail your name and full address to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will be mailing the tickets out early next week so get your entries in fast! DTE is located at 7774 Sashabaw Rd. in Clarkston. You can purchase tickets to the show now at ticketmaster.com. They range from $22-$88 and as always, parking at DTE is FREE.

~S

Getting to Know George Morris

Last Saturday night Christie and I braved the Woodward Dream Cruise crowds to head up to The Loving Touch in Ferndale to see George Morris.  The first time I saw him play was at the W.A.B. during the Ferndale Blowout. I liked what I heard and saw, but at that time it was only George and a keyboard. So I was surprised to see that he was set up to play with a full band this time around.

I Later learned that George has permanently started playing with a full band and it has really added to his live show. He himself admits that the songs on his album are a little slower than he prefers to play them live and he thought adding in the live keyboard, drummer, bass, and guitar would bring a much needed element to the stage when he played the music live. I argue that his voice and stage presence could sell the songs alone, but loved the full band sound so much that I am not going to complain. George is excellent at connecting with the crowd, so it was no surprise that he got the crowd dancing and moving while he performed.

I foresee all you falling in love with George in the near future so I wanted to sit down with him and learn a little bit more about the man behind the music, meet George Morris.

To learn more about George and hear some of his music check him out on Facebook and bandcamp.

~S

Ironclad Tattoo Co.'s First Anniversary PARTY!!!

It's hard to believe that it's already been a year since we sat down with Mike Moore and talked about the opening of Ironclad Tattoo Co. in Troy. I braved through my first tattoo from Bagz the week the shop opened and I have been going back as often as possible to buy all sorts of new jewelry from Mike. No one sells stuff as cool or unique as he does. Everytime I walk in the door I'm greeted with a smile and I always end up spending an hour or two chatting with the staff, the space is very welcoming and casual. I even took one of my best friends to get her ears pierced there this year on her birthday.

The people who work at Ironclad are not only good at what they do, but they are also kind, friendly, and fun to party with. They were cool enough to sponsor our One Year Anniversary show in February, so we wanted to return the favor and sponsor their One Year Anniversary Party this Wednesday at The Loving Touch. Being the bad asses that they are, the guys are Ironclad came up with one of our favorite themes for this party, all gold everything. Let's just say that I took this theme and may have went a little crazy, but I can't wait for everyone to see my "costume". Come hang out at The Loving Touch this Wednesday and see what I have cooked up.

Ironclad will be selling new men's and women's t-shirts at the party and they will have tons of raffles, including gift certificates, clothing, art prints, and more. We will be there handing out HipInDetroit.com pins and stickers and doing shots by the bar.

Admission is free and the party starts at 8 p.m. and goes until the bar closes. The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward in Ferndale.

Check out our 2 videos and stop in the store to see all that the shop has added in the last year. They have double the jewelry, double the merch, and more artists then they had when they first opened. Congrats on your first year in business! We expect you'll stay golden for years to come.

~S

Common Enemy 7" Release Show with Snakewing, Aggro or Die! and Enemy Insects!!!

One of my favorite places to party in the Metro-Detroit area is by far the Toepfer House. Honestly, P.A.N. Shop is probably tied. Anytime that I see that a show is going on at one of these 2 venues, I'm pretty much sold as long as there's at least 1 band on the bill that I want to see. Toepfer's a great place to see a show and an even better place to have a beer with a couple of friends and meet some new ones too. Whether there are huge bands on the bill that you are shocked to see in a basement or it's just a lineup of great locals, these shows are always an amazing time.

This Sunday night Toepfer is having one of their craziest shows yet. Common Enemy is having their 7" Release Show with Snakewing, Aggro or Die! and Enemy Insects. This is one of 3 shows that Common Enemy is playing to release this album, with the others in Ohio and Indiana. It's only 8 bucks to get in the door and 21+ are welcome. Toepfer House is located in South Warren at 8741 Toepfer. Doors to the show open at 8 p.m. And remember, this is someone's house! So bring your own booze and party it up, but don't be a dick! For all of the rest of the details go to the Facebook event page.

~C 

FREE Show with The HandGrenades, George Morris and The Future Laureates!!!

So, a few people have been teasing us about our "obsession" with The HandGrenades. Well, guess what? We're still not over it. Maybe if your band was as good as them we'd give you as much attention too.

This Saturday night you have a chance to come out and see The HandGrenades and find out why we rave about them so much. They are playing a FREE show at The Loving Touch in Ferndale. Chances are, since it's a Saturday night and it's The Loving Touch, you probably were going to be there anyways. Lucky for you, there's a great show going on too! Joining The HandGrenades for the night will be their friends The Future Laureates (Chicago) and George Morris.

George is quickly becoming another "obsession" of ours. His tunes are amazing and catchy as hell. He was already incredible as a solo act. Now that he has added a full band, his songs are just as great, but with a fuller sound.

Doors open at 9 p.m. on Saturday and, as we said, there's no cover charge. There will also be guest DJs throughout the night, so get ready to get your groove on. To prep you for the show, here's a song from The HandGrenades set all the way back at The Blowout.

~C

Gaming for the Greater Good - Help Britany Gibbs Help Beaumont Children's Hospital

Lately we have come across lots of new charity ideas that people have created to help raise money for those in need. From old school bake sales to throwing shows for a cause, I have always been behind lending a little extra PR to help someone trying to make a difference in the world. When we found out that local gamer Britany Gibbs was committing herself to playing video games for 25 hours to raise money for Beaumont Children's Hospital, we knew that we had to share her story to help her reach her goal.

She is attempting to raise $500 to donate to kids suffering from all sorts of diseases, from cancer to cystic fibrosis. In turn, for reaching her goal, she will sit down on November 2nd and play video games for 25 hours, into November 3rd. This is a way for gamers to show that their gaming is more than a good way to learn how to hide from snipers.

Britany belongs to a female gaming group called Pandora's Mighty Soldiers also known as PMS because they are all ladies (very clever name, girls). You can donate any amount that you would like and 100% of the donations will go to her charity of choice. Last year they were able to raise over $2 million, but they are hoping to beat that goal this year. All donations are tax deductible, so everyone comes out a winner. To learn more about Britany or to donate to her cause please click on the link here .

Good luck Britany and have fun playing Black Ops for charity! We have to admit, we would rather run a marathon then play games to raise money. So we actually think that this is quite a challenge!

~S

Ma Jolie and Cayetana at P.A.N. Shop!

P.A.N. Shop and Toepfer House are the closest things to house parties/hall shows that I have seen in years. I miss the days of filling a VFW or a friends house and having bands shake the walls, but P.A.N. and Toepfer are bringing it back and doing it better. They seem to get great bands to agree to play and are able to charge low prices and let you bring your own beer. The money you save going to a one of these shows instead of a bar is motivation enough for us. You get the experience of a show without the high bar tab at the end of the night.

This Friday they are having Ma Jolie and Cayetana come into town from Philly to play with Flaks, Cheapshow, and Fires in Japan from Michigan. The show is only $5 at the door and, as always, it's BYOB. Bring a 6 pack, relax, and enjoy the night. P.A.N. Shop is located at 22641 Van Dyke in Warren and all ages are welcome.

~S

Saving Samson - A Benefit to Save a Girl's Best Friend

Sometimes I like dogs more than I like people, but I wasn't always this way. I never had any pets when I was growing up and I was scared of all dogs until my best friend adopted a Bull Mastiff a few years ago and I realized she wasn't big and scary, she was big and cuddly. Big dogs have gotten an undeserved bad reputation because of a few bad apples. Pit Bulls have taken the brunt of this bad stereotype and I have seen some serious mistreatment of these animals in the name of the potential violence they could, but often times have not caused.

A few local musicians have come together to help one such Pit Bull. He was recently taken away from his owner for "unjust reasons" according to the people behind this cause. I do not know the details, but I know that the dog's owner is doing everything she can to get her dog back and the legal bills are starting to stack up. To help curb these costs Marc Winter, Dan Kennedy, Emily Rose, The Gator, and Mark Dawson are playing acoustic sets and asking for donations to help with the bills. The show will be 100% free, so every dollar earned will go directly to the cause.

The benefit will be held at Sterling Lanes located ay 33200 Schoenherr Rd. in Sterling Heights. Let's pack the place with dog owners and use music to save this little guy. Kudos to all of the artists donating their time and music to the cause.

To read more on Samson's story, click here. For all of the details on this benefit show, visit the Facebook event page here. If you can't make it out to the show, but would still like to help, you can make a donation through go fund me.  

~S

Mo Pop Festival at Freedom Hill

I was very happy to see that Freedom Hill has started hosting events again. I have seen some legendary bands and classic movies on the hill and was bummed that it laid mostly dormant for the last few summers. This year it has had a steady flow of events and I've been hearing good feedback from those that have attended.

This weekend Freedom Hill is hosting a concert called the Mo Pop Festival that will feature some great acts including two great locals, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Jamaican Queens. For a full list of performers please go to MoPopFest.com.

Mo Pop will also have a Biergarten, a food truck rally, a Vaudeville revival sideshow, and an artist village featuring different pieces from all different types of artists.

Tickets for this event are $39.50 for general admission and $99 for VIP tickets. The show starts at Noon and Freedom Hill is located at 14900 Metro Parkway in Sterling Heights.

I have always had a great time whenever I visited " The Hill" and I am looking forward to finally going back and seeing what is new this weekend.

~S

Watch Grease Under the Stars!!!

Attention Ferndale residents! You have a chance to have a free, fun time this Thursday, August 15th in your hometown. The Detroit Actor's Theatre Company will be giving hand jive lessons and holding a hulu hoop contest at 8 p.m. and Grease will be playing on a big screen outdoors at 9 p.m. All you need to bring is yourself, a chair, and maybe a friend or two to enjoy the night with. Watching Grease under the stars will make you feel like you've been taken back in time to the days of the drive-in movie! To learn more about this event please visit the Facebook event here.

~S

Win Tickets to See Touch the Clouds and More!!!

Last month we had the pleasure of watching Touch the Clouds open up for Destroy This Place at their record release show. We really enjoyed watching this band play live and were excited to get a copy of their latest 4 song EP called Ara a few weeks after the show.

I have re-listened to the record many times so that I could tell you why you should like it, but I remembered that I am not a musician and I can't get into the technical aspects of why I like it. What I can tell you is it has a solid 90's feel to it, but incorporates more of an idie rock vibe as opposed to a grunge one. Joe's vocals were recorded well and he sounds beautiful. Darrin's guitar, Nikkie's bass, and Brian's drums all follow suit. I think this project shows the growth that they have all gone through since The Few and Far Between years.

I wanted to invite all of you to come out and see Touch the Clouds play live so you can understand what I am talking about. They are playing August 16th alongside Adam Rubenstein, The Thornbills, and Cameron McGill at the Magic Stick. Thanks to Black Iris Booking we have a set of tickets to give away to one lucky fan. To enter, please e-mail us your full name with the subject line "I Want to See Touch the Clouds". We will draw a winner the day of the show and that winner will be on the guest list with a +1. This show starts at 8 p.m. and is part of a short tour that includes playing August 15th in Chicago and August 17th in Indiana. Tickets are $8 at the door. Please take a second and stream the new EP Ara on Touch the Cloud's Bandcamp and then head out to the show after you realize how good this new music really is.

~S

Birch Run or Bust! Dirt Fest 2013!

This Saturday fans traveled from near and far to Birch Run, Michigan for Dirt Fest 2013. This independently organized festival has been going on since 1999 and is growing in popularity and size every year. Even since our visit last year, the crowds were bigger and so was the hype. The Dalton Brothers pulled through again and presented a festival that didn't disappoint. Whether you were there for the headliners or you came for the local rockers, there were plenty of amazing bands to check out and lots of fun to be had between the sets you came to see.
 



At the top of our list of bands to see at Dirt Fest this year, was Wilson. What can we say? The guys always put on an amazing show and they're hittin' the road for awhile.  We need to get our fill while we can. They put on a great show, full of their own brand of fuckery and rock 'n roll. Kyle awed the crowd while playing upside down from high above the stage, Chad screamed his lungs out, and the real deal "College Gangbang" Super Hero even made an appearance. We say it all the time, but this band is seriously fucking awesome!


We managed to catch a video of the single "College Gangbang" off Wilson's new album Full Blast Fuckery. Check it out!
 

Throughout the rest of the day we roamed from stage to stage and checked out all that Dirt Fest had to offer. As with any festival, one of the best things about Dirt Fest is that you get a chance to see all sorts of bands, many of which you wouldn't normally check out. However, unlike most other festivals, pretty much every band you come across at Dirt Fest will end up being awesome. Some of the highlights of our day included Hollywood Vampires, Asking Alexandria, Maybe Whitney, and of course we had to check out the headliners, Sevendust. All of these guys put on amazing shows.

Asking Alexandria has a crazy energy and swagger about them that makes 15 year old girls and 30 year old men both swoon over them and their music. Most everyone we came across throughout the day was looking forward to checking these guys out. Even if you just happened to stumble across this band during their set, you knew who they were by the overwhelming number of people in the crowd and also by the branding that the band wore so proudly. All joking aside, Asking Alexandria were definitely a crowd favorite for the day as well as one of ours. 

Maybe Whitney played to a smaller crowd, but nonetheless these fans were just as enthusiastic. The first time we saw this band was at Dirt Fest last year. This year things were a little different. Rather than just having vocalist Steven Kasapis along with some sweet tracks, there were 2 additional vocalists; a female singing and another guy with deep growl-ish vocals.

Different, yes. But, still pretty rad. Maybe Whitney has a new album coming out soon, featuring Mr. Matt Dalton. So make sure to keep an eye out for that.

Ending the night was Dirt Fest headliners Sevendust. It had been a while since we saw this band... quite a while. Although it may have been a while for us, there were plenty of people in the crowd that are obviously still HUGE fans of this band. Plus, there is something about seeing these bigger metal bands live that will never get old.

Dirt Fest 2013 was a ton of fun and a huge success. We commend Matt Dalton, his family, friends, and everyone else that helps put this festival together every year. Whether people are there for the bands, to see friends, or to check out the festival as a whole, everyone has a blast. This event is definitely becoming a summer staple in our books. We hope it continues and gets bigger and better every year.

~C

Slow Roll - Aptemal Block Party

 

Summer is slowly rolling along just like you should be tonight at this week's Slow Roll. Tonight the take off and endpoint is Aptemal Detroit's boutique located at 1353 Division Street in Eastern Market.

In case you don't know, Aptemal is the brains behind the popular clothing line Detroit Hustlers Harder. They are calling this the block party because they will literally be blocking of the street to have a party. They will be selling a special edition Slow Roll shirt, have food and snacks made by Jesse Knott of Urban Pheasant, and the Red Bull truck will be making a stop to share the sounds of DJ Dante LaSalle with special guests Eddie Logix and Doc Waffles. Red Bull will also be handing out drinks and doing some special giveaways throughout the evening.

Everyone should meet at the boutique at 7 p.m. and the ride will start at 7:30. As always we encourage all of you to wear a helmets. The party will start as soon as the riders get back. This event is free, but you must register at www.theslowroll.eventbrite.com to be included in the nights giveaways. Only a few more rolls left so don't miss out!

~S

Autumn Wolf and Friends at PJ's Lager House!

Since Autumn Wolf's album release show back in May there haven't been many chances to see the electronic mastermind play. Lucky for you this Saturday at PJ's Lager House you have a chance to catch Autumn Wolf like you've never seen him before. He's switching things up a bit for this show and won't be playing as a lone wolf, but will be joined by a bass player and drummer. It will definitely make for a different experience and sound, but we're sure it will be awesome. If you've never heard Autumn Wolf before, you can find out more about him in this interview we did with Alex back in the spring. You can also check out the music video for "Stray Animals" below.

Joining Autumn Wolf on Saturday's bill is Casio Choir, Ronny Tibbs and The 305's and Radio Burns. Doors to PJ's Lager House open at 9 p.m. and the show will start at 9:45. (If you get there early, we suggest getting the nachos by the way. Pretty awesome!) It's only $5 to get in the door, which we think is quite a steal. For all of the details on this show, head over to the Facebook event. 

~C

The Mike Dillon Band at The Loving Touch

Lately The Loving Touch in Ferndale has really been stepping up its game. Not only did they make some vital remodeling changes that included moving the stage, but they also started booking some pretty big shows. They have turned this space into a great place to see a a great show and this Thursday, August 8th is no exception. They have scheduled The Mike Dillon Band to play with Passalacqua and Downtown Brown.

If you don't already know Mike Dillon is from the Dead Kenny G's and is Les Claypool's go to percussionist. He has performed with pretty much everyone, including Ani Difranco, one of my favorite female artists. This will be an amazing and intimate setting to see him perform in.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and it's $8 for 21+ at the door. We would pay the $8 to see Passalacqua alone, so this really is worth the time and money.

~S

Keeping up the Free Show Thursday Trend with The Hounds Below

 

Last Thursday night The Shelter hosted an amazing free show featuring The ILL Itches and George Morris. These free, weekly, Fueled By Detroit shows have been happening on Thursdays throughout the summer. The bands involved up 'til this point have been great and this week might be one of the best line ups so far. The Hounds Below will be headlining with Lord Scrummage and Haunted House (whom we LOVE) also on the bill.

On top of entry being completely free, The Shelter has also been offering great drink specials in conjunction with these events. They have $2 "grab bag beers", which I expected to just be PBR, Stroh's, etc., your normal cheap choices. Instead, they have a cooler full of kind of rare beers and microbrews, and whatever the bartender blindly reaches in and grabs is what you get. Pretty fun way to drink for the night and try out some new brews. Plus, it sparked quite a bit of small talk throughout the bar, with people asking others what beer they got and sometimes even making trades.

So, free show with amazing bands and cheap drinks. What more could you want? We hope to see as many friends out at The Shelter this week as we did last week and hopefully a few more too. For all of the details on this event, visit the Facebook event page here.

~S

Dirt Fest 2013!!!

August has finally rolled around and  that can only mean one thing, it's time for Dirt Fest.  Last year we were Dirt Fest virgins and we couldn't believe how much fun we had, we didn't want the day to end.  This year we plan to get there earlier, party harder, and have even more fun. We hope that all of you will join us and know that you will not be disappointed.

This year's lineup includes major acts like Sevendust, Asking Alexandria, Maybe Whitney, Blue Phoenix, Crackjaw, Art of Dying, Pop Evil, Trapt, Red, Devour the Day, Escape the Fate, Psychostick, and our personal favorite, fucking Wilson. We're actually going to show up at Noon this year so that we can get the most out of the day.

There is food to eat, drinks to be drank, and lots of merch to be purchased.  All of the bands have merch booths, but a lot of our favorite local sponsors of the event, like InkAddict, set up shop too.  The best part about this festival is that all ages are welcome, this would be a really cool first festival for  younger fans.  It's only one day so its not too intimidating, but it's clean, well run, and reasonably priced.  Tickets are $22 in advance or 2 for $40. If you buy them at the door they will be $35, so there's no reason not to buy ahead of time. Tickets can be purchased at DirtFest.com. This festival is held  rain or shine and the Birch Run Expo Center is located at 11600 North Beyer Rd.  InkAddict apparel is also helping fans get to the front of the meet and greet line and word on the steet is they may have some special suprises for fans caught wearing their gear at the fest.  So slap on your fav InkAddict shirt or hat and come out and party with us this Saturday, August 10th at Noon. Let's get dirty! 

~S