Fun Times at Keep It A Threat 5

Keep It A Threat took over Transitions Skate Park this past weekend for the fifth year in a row. With such a great lineup and having things run so smoothly, it's hard to believe that this fest is put on by just two guys. But, by talking to Jae and Dougie and seeing them on Saturday, you can tell it's a true passion of theirs and they love doing this show every year. It's an awesome event and one of the few in the area that still brings out both the young and the old. Not to mention, I haven't seen that many girls at a show in quite a while now. So maybe they factor in that they need to get some good looking bands on the lineup to attract the ladies too.

Although we arrived late in the day, we had a ton of fun. I just missed The Dewtons by about thirty seconds, which was a total bummer, but still got a chance to see The Armed, Golden Torso, and Against The Grain. I have to admit, this is the first time that I have had the chance to see The Armed perform and I can kind of see what everyone's been raving about. It's rare to see a crowd get that into a band and a singer interact with the crowd that much since the early 2000s or late 90s. Not to mention that throwing pieces of your drum set at the end of the set usually gets people's attention too.

Up next was Golden Torso who were as loud, awesome, and naked as ever. These guys always put on a hell of a show and even if you aren't that in to their music, they're fun to watch. Lucky for me, I really dig them so the entertainment factor is just an added bonus.

Last, but definitely not least, was Against the Grain. I think it's pretty obvious by now that I'm way into this band. It was great seeing these guys again after being out on the road for quite a while. Awesome set as always, although I must say I was a little disappointed in the crowd. Maybe it was that they had all been there for about 12 hours or the lack of alcohol in everyone's blood. Despite the reason, the crowd wasn't quite as revved up as at most Against the Grain shows. The band has a couple more local shows coming up in the next month or so though, so I expect their fans to redeem themselves then.

So, if you missed out on Keep It A Threat, you definitely missed out on a good show and good time. My only complaint is that I didn't get there sooner to see more of the bands and to see Jesse from Frank White skateboarding (it's been years since I've seen that). The bands I did get to see were all great and the fest as a whole seemed to be smooth sailin'. There is one more thing that I have to mention that I was amazed by. How the hell do people climb up those ramps? Maybe it's my short legs or the fact that I'm old, but I tried twice and failed miserably. Even when I stood about 2 feet up them I kept sliding down. Very impressive and I was very jealous that I didn't get to watch any bands from up high. I'll definitely practice my incline climbing skills for next year and make sure to block Keep It A Threat 6 off in my calendar way ahead of time. Too much fun to miss out on any of it again next year!

~C

Win Tickets to See Dead Ending with Hellmouth, Snakewing and From Hell!

When Jay Navarro of The Suicide Machines stepped away from his punk rock roots and up to the mic to front Hellmouth, one of the hardest and heaviest bands that Detroit had ever seen, I was more than a little shocked. What happen to the man who just wanted to sing about his New Girl? That man had seemingly grown up, gone through some shit, and wanted to scream about it. The fact that Justin from Fordirelifesake and Jeff from Left in Ruin were also in the band just sweetened the deal and made it clear that this project was going to be something to pay attention to.

It is fitting that Hellmouth will play with Dead Ending this Thursday at The Magic Stick because this band has also been formed by those with some very rich music roots. It's one of those projects that you haven't heard about yet, but once you hear the lineup of talent that has formed this band your interest will at least be peaked. Dead Ending is composed of Vic Bondi from Articles of Faith, Jeff Dean from All Eyes West, Derek Grant from The Suicide Machines and Alkaline Trio, and Joe Principe from Rise Against. They too seem to be angry about something and just need to get it out. They describe their sound as no frills 80s influenced hardcore and with one of the best drummers in the world (in my humble opinion) they seriously couldn't have went wrong. They have only released 2 EPs so far, but are in the process of recording and releasing their first full length. This band echoes the same anti-government and anti-capitalism ideals that Hellmouth has been known to scream about and does it just as heavy and as hard.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and is $10 in advance (purchase tickets at ticketweb.com) or $13 at the door on the day of the show. Joining Hellmouth and Dead Ending on the bill are Snakewing and From Hell. All ages are welcome and Black Iris Booking has given us the opportunity to get one lucky person (and a friend of their choosing) in for free. Thursday morning we will be choosing one ticket winner to have their name on the guest list +1. All you have to do to enter is email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line Dead Ending.

After the show there is a bonus performance down at the Garden Bowl featuring Dirty Kid Discount. This event will be free to all those that are 18+ so as soon as the music ends upstairs head downstairs to keep the party going!

~S

The Detroit Beer Co. - More Than Just Beer

 

I think it's safe to say that the majority of people that go down to Comerica Park for a game or Ford Field to catch the Lions either grab dinner at Cheli's, Hockeytown, or in Greektown before they ride the People Mover over. Many of them are not aware of all of the awesome restaurants there are in the area. One such place is The Detroit Beer Co. Although this restaurant is not directly across the street from the ball park, it's just a short walk away and well worth it.

Detroit Beer Co. was at one time (and possibly still is) affiliated with Rochester Mills and Royal Oak Brewery. So, if you are familiar with either of those two breweries and food joints, this is along the same lines. They have a few dozen beers with a variety of colors and flavors that they brew in house. Unfortunately on my latest visit I didn't try out any beers, which probably seems pretty outlandish since it's a brewery. Instead, Sadie and I were there for an early lunch. And despite the fact that we didn't drink any brews, we were more than happy with our trip.

 On this particular visit I had the Antipasto Wrap with the housemade chips and Sadie had the Cajun Salmon & Avocado Sandwich with waffle fries. I must admit, I was pretty jealous of her waffle fries and had to steal a few, although the chip are pretty great too. I also must add that we did take pictures of our food, but it was about half way through our meal when we decided to do a review. So, needless to say, the pictures did not do the food justice and didn't look very appetizing at all for that matter. With that being said, for just being "sandwiches" both of these selection were awesome. My wrap contained pretty much everything you would get on an antipasto salad, but it all seemed extremely fresh, especially the mozzarella. And, I don't like fish at all, but even Sadie's salmon looked great. On a prior visit I tried the Tuscan Chicken Ravioli, which was pretty amazing. I know, you probably don't think about pasta when you are at a bar, but theirs is awesome and the cheesy flat bread that covers half of your dish makes it even better.

Overall, although Detroit Beer Co. is a brewery it's also a great place to grab a meal. Whether you are going for lunch or for a nice dinner, there are plenty of selections on the menu, ranging from burgers to pasta and from pizza to Shepherd's Pie. The prices are pretty decent (ranging from about $8 to $13 for bigger meals) and the portions for those prices are on par if not plentiful. This is also a great place to go if you aren't quite sure what you want to eat that day, as their menu has quite a variety.

So next time you're down at a game or want to try a new place for dinner, check out Detroit Beer Co. It's located at 1529 Broadway in Detroit, just a few minutes from all of your sporting events and from the Grand Circus Park People Mover stop. And we promise we will go back and actually try the beers very soon!

~C

Jimmy Edgar Returns to Detroit to Perform this Friday Night!

This Friday night a friend and local legend is coming back to town. Jimmy Edgar has made his rounds to pretty much every country on the globe and is finally heading back to Detroit to play a show. He will be performing at The Works in Detroit along with a whole slew of artists, including Dr. Disko Dust, Golf Clap and Dru Ruiz, just to name a few.

I won't go into the details on how I first met Jimmy, but I will tell you he is a musician that has always been before his time. He is one of the first people that I knew of from the Detroit area that was creating Electronic Music. Since his start over a decade ago, his sound has changed and evolved and he has put out numerous albums, with his latest EP, Hot Inside, released earlier this year. You can check out the music video for "Hot Inside" below.

Jimmy is set to perform at 2 a.m. Friday night with other acts starting things off around 10 p.m. Tickets are only $10 if you purchase them ahead of time here and 18 and over are welcome.  The Works is located at 1846 Michigan Ave. in Detroit.

~C

Detroit Rocks CF Thursday at Small's

Cystic fibrosis is a disease that currently affects 30,000 Americans with approximately 1,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. It is defined as a defect in the gene sequence that effects the glands that produce mucus and sweat in the body. Symptoms of this disease include dehydration, fatigue, weakness, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, and heat stroke. Most people with cystic fibrosis only live until their mid-thirties, but this is an improvement from 60 years ago when the average life span of a CF patient was 10 years or less. Gene mapping and research have improved the length and quality of life for those with CF, but they have yet to find a cure to this disease. And they need money to continue doing research to find out how to stop the mutation in the first place.

This Thursday, September 26th, Small's will be hosting a benefit for CF called Detroit Rocks CF. The Anonymous, Amateur Anthropologist, Jesse Shepherd-Bates (from The HandGrenades), and War Buddies will all be performing. The show starts at 8 p.m. and a minimum of an $8 donation is suggested at the door. Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck. Here's your chance to check out some great local acts and give money to help further CF research.

~S

Sundowner Featuring Chris McCaughan of The Lawrence Arms at Small's

I'm a sucker for anything on Fat Wreck Chords. In fact, it's pretty much all my trainer listens to while were working out and I really don't mind it. This week Sundowner, featuring Chris McCaughan of The Lawrence Arms, is coming to town to preform music from his newest album released on Fat Wreck Chords this year called Neon Fiction. I figured my fellow punk rockers might be interested in checking this out, especially because Break Anchor, Nick Ciolino, and Sean Nader are opening the show.

Doors are at 8 p.m. this Friday and tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. You can purchase tickets online at SmallsBarDetroit.com. Don't forget to check out the sandwich selection at Small's, apparently a lot of you haven't realized that Mike has been cooking up some amazing treats over there. That man knows food, drinks, and good music!

~S

Celebrating 100 Years of Everyone's Favorite Bowling Alley and Bar!

The Garden Bowl and The Majestic Complex in general is somewhere most of us have been going for years. Whether you're checking out a show, throwing back a few drinks with friends, or throwing a few balls down the lanes, it is a staple to many Detroiters. I know I always tell out-of-towners it's one of the places they have to check out during their visit. And regardless of if you are headed to The Stick, The Majestic Theatre, or The Cafe, chances are you will end your night in the Garden Bowl. It's been over a decade since I started going to the Garden Bowl and in that time I have created countless memories at this place. Although it seems like our generation is the foundation of this establishment, it's hard to believe that it has been around since far before our time.

This Saturday, September 28th, the Garden Bowl is celebrating its 100th Anniversary.  It's crazy to think about how many balls have rolled down the lanes and beers have been shared between friends over that many years. The Garden Bowl first opened its doors in August of 1913 and has hosted a variety of different classes and cultures during its run. It remains the oldest operating bowling alley in America. That's pretty astonishing. Just think about it; think of all of the people this place has seen and all of the changes that have gone on outside its doors. As cliche as it sounds, "if those walls could talk", or in this case those lanes.

The Centennial Celebration of the Garden Bowl includes a full day of events this Saturday. Starting at 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.the doors will be open to families with cartoons on the tvs, bounce houses, coloring, and bowling deals for $10 a person, which includes 2 hours of bowling, 2 slices of pizza, cookies, and shoe rental. Pretty great deal. Once the kiddies get their fill of sugar and bouncing, the adult fun begins. At 5 p.m. 'til 8 there will be Retro Bowl that is only $5 a person for an hour of bowling, pizza, cookies, and even complimentary cocktails! Then, after 8 starts the part of the party we think a lot of you will be the most excited about, the Big Lebowski & King Pin Costume Contest and Film Screenings! There will also be drink specials, appetizers, and of course, bowling. There will be live music in the bar area and DJ Jeff Richards will be playing some tunes. Regardless of what time you make it down to the Garden Bowl, it will be one hell of a party.

We are thrilled to have the chance to celebrate 100 years of this truly awesome establishment. It is a place that is near and dear to our hearts that we have celebrated at, remembered fallen friends at, made new friends, seen great bands, and had one too many drinks at one too many times. It is a place that you can always see a familiar face and always have a good time. We are thrilled to have so much of our history take place at this historical staple in Detroit. Here's to the Garden Bowl and 100 more years!

~C

Child Bite Split Release Show with We Are Hex!

Child Bite is one of the best bands in the area with some of the best beards in the business. Their music is just the right mix of crazy and bad ass. Over the past year they have not only been wowing crowds across the country, but also around the globe. They are a band that we are extremely lucky to have hail from the Detroit area and have the pleasure of seeing perform a few times a year.

This Friday night, September 27th, Child Bite is releasing a new 12" split with their pals from Indianapolis, We Are Hex. We can only imagine that the music on this album is going to be as amazing as the artwork on the vinyl. Vocalist Shawn Knight designed the album, that we're sure many will pick up for the art alone.

Speaking of which, $10 gets you in the door to the show and gets you a copy of the album. So, those of you starting your own Shawn Knight gallery at home won't feel too guilty about picking up 2 albums (one for the wall and one for your ears) since the first copy is free with admission. Joining Child Bite on the bill are the other artists on the split, We Are Hex, along with Destroy This Place and Palaces. The release show is being held at The Loving Touch in Ferndale and doors open at 8 p.m. You can preview a song from both bands off of the split here.

~C

Small Steps to Making a Big Difference at Brush Park BMX

This past Sunday, Christie and I spent the day at Brush Park doing fall cleanup. After a long summer of riding, hanging out, and relaxing at Brush Park the place needed a facelift before the winter weather hits. We cut down, picked up, and cleared as much debris as we could and filled quite a few lawn disposal bags. I was disappointed with the turnout, but was impressed with how much a few people can get done if they work together. But, a few hours in I was starting to become tired and a little discouraged, after all we were cutting down big weeds and mini trees with a few old metal clippers one by one.

All of the sudden a family pulled up and asked if this was the BMX park, I replied that it was and 4 or 5 kids all emptied out of the back with bikes. The children aged from the ages of 3 to about 10 and they tried as hard as they could to ride the course. Their parents said they had read about the park online and wanted to come down and see what it was about. They were bummed that no one else was riding because they were hoping to see how it was done, but we're happy that their kids got a chance to try the course. After about an hour some of the BMX guys took a break from working and jumped on their bikes to show the kids how it was done. I'm pretty sure that this made their day and will be something that they talk about with their friends all week.

I swear sometimes life throws things at you to help remind you why you what it's all about. My discouragement turned into joy when I remembered that this DIY park could be here a lot longer if we keep it up and treat it right. BMX still brings kids together and gets them outside doing something active, and the fact that they were coming from the burbs to the city only added to the hope that this park has given me.

Brush Park still needs a lot of help, just like the city of Detroit. If you or your friends have a few hours to spare, head up there with some lawn bags and do a little clean up. Believe me, the regulars at the park could use the help. You don't need to come to the official cleanup to work in the park and to make a difference. But, in the larger sense, this reminded me that no matter how negative everyone else is, we will continue to stay positive and keep cutting down the weeds one by one because in the end a small group of people can make a big difference if they just work together.

 ~S

Pedaling Forward: Revitalization through Cycling

Biking has really been picking up speed lately. I hear more and more people talking about it as a main form of transportation and events like Slow Roll have grown from a 100 person ride to a 1,000 person ride over this summer alone. Biking was the best way to get to DIY last week if you lived in Ferndale or Royal Oak and a lot of my friends in the city use their bikes to go everywhere from grocery shopping at Whole Foods to bar hopping on the weekends.

If you are one of the people that enjoys biking and feels that it is the future of transportation, you may be interested in a panel discussion being hosted in the city this week. Pedal Forward: Revitalization Through Cycling will be held on Thursday, September 26th at 6 p.m. at Trinosophes Gallery at 1464 Gratiot in Detroit. They will be having a discussion of the bike culture in our city and the part it can and will play in the rebuilding of this once great metropolis. Tickets for the event are available for donation and any amount is acceptable. You can buy them in advance at pedalforward.eventbrite.com. Let's pedal Detroit into a better future!

~S

Aerosol and Audio Fest in Flint Town

Saturday I made the drive out to Flint for the Aerosol and Audio fest in Flint, Michigan that I wrote about last week. I had no idea what to expect as it was the first time that they were having this event and I have never been to Flint before. My first thought was Flint is a lot closer than I thought it was and it looks a lot like Detroit.

The event was hosted in Memorial Park in Downtown Flint, a few blocks from the main downtown strip. The park was surrounded by wooden walls that were being painted and tagged as we walked into the event. There were a few vendors selling art, a few food trucks feeding the attendees, and two stages that music was being played from. I was immediately given a free caramel apple by the beautiful Emma who dances with Tunde Olaniran and walked up to a stage where James Linck had begun playing. There was a large metal installment that looked like a monster behind the stage that one of the artist had designed and a small fire pit with all sorts of monster faces carved into the metal that was burning brightly and warming the crowd. James sang his little heart out and played with a full band sans a drummer. He is currently one of my top three artists out there and each show he just keeps getting better. I enjoyed hearing two new songs and have to remember to harass him this week to make sure that I get those in my hands as soon as they are recorded.

As soon as James finished, we walked over to the other stage across the park and watched The Hounds Below play. The second stage was bigger and literally looked like a kitchen on one side and a living room on the other. The kitchen area had a large table and the living room had art, couches, and lamps. It was one of the coolest DIY designs that I have ever seen. The Hounds Below sounded epic blasting through the Fall air, crisp guitars, crisp vocals, and crisp leather jackets. After they finished playing we grabbed some barbeque sandwiches from one of the vendors and walked around and looked at the artwork.

As the sun set, the drums kicked in and Tunde Olaniran took the stage to close the show. The only thing I can say about Tunde is that he is one of a kind, there is no one like him who does what he does. He crosses genres as far as his sound, his looks, and his style. His dancers enhance an already mind blowing show and his voice is always pitch perfect.

I hope that this is only the beginning for Aerosol and Audio fest, it was one of the coolest DIY fests I have ever been to and the set design and sound were great. Thank you so much to Tunde for inviting us out and letting us see you on your home turf. Don't forget that Tunde, Miz Karona, and James Linck will be playing together this Saturday at the New Way Bar in Ferndale, most of you can walk there so no excuses.

~S

Avalon International Breads - Much More Than Just Bread

Whenever I am in the city in the morning I make a point to stop by Avalon International Breads, often called Avalon Bakery. This weekend Christie and I happened to be downtown early in the day and we made the stop in to get some treats. It occurred to me that while this is a Detroit staple to me, it may not be known to all of readers so we snapped a couple of shots while we were there so we could tell you about the place.

Avalon Bakery was established in 1997 by Ann and Jackie, two women who wanted to share the art of baking bread and pastries with the public. Their plan was to offer artisan baked goods made with 100% organic flour in the heart of Detroit, the Cass Corridor to be specific. On their website they talk of having their own families and friends give them the initial investment to get the business off the ground, offering them bread bucks to cash in once the doors were finally open.

Today they feature all sorts of items including bread, brioche, sticky buns, scones, cookies, whoopie pies, focaccia, sandwiches (including egg ones for breakfast), coffee, salads, and all sorts of local goods including jams and jellies. But, the reason I go there is the cookies. They have they most delicious cookies I have ever tasted, the sea salt and chocolate chip melts in your mouth and is one of a kind. Having a cup of coffee with a cookie is one of the best treats that I can think of. The egg and cheese sandwiches are also a delight and feature a variety of different cheeses each time I pick one up. I like to get mine heated but you can choose to also eat it cold, which some people enjoy more.

Avalon is located at 422 W. Willis in Detroit. It is open Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. I highly recommend this the next time you're in the city as both a treat and a great place to buy gourmet organic bread.

~S

Tour de Troit 2013

Two summers ago my brother invited me along to do a 30 mile ride in Detroit called Tour de Troit. I agreed to go to check it out, but didn’t really know what I was getting myself into. I mean, I love to ride bikes and it’s not uncommon for me to do 20-30 miles on any given Saturday or Sunday, so I figured this ride wouldn’t be a problem for me. What I didn’t know was that thousands of people would be riding along with me, they would be shutting down the streets where the ride was taking place, there is a police escort guiding the ride, and they take you through some of the coolest parts of the city to places that you might not normally feel comfortable riding by yourself. The ride begins at Roosevelt Park, goes around Belle Isle, and then back to the park where they have an after party celebration.

This year’s Tour de Troit will take place this Saturday, September 21st at 9 a.m. beginning at Roosevelt Park located at 2200 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI 48216. Pre-registration has already ended, but you can register to be part of the ride on the day of the event. For registering you get to be part of the ride, a tee-shirt, and a few tickets to use at the after party for things like food and beer.

Tickets for the regular 30 mile ride will be $65 the day of this year and that ride starts at 9 a.m. sharp. They will be staggering the start times this year so that everyone isn’t clumped together. You will get an exact time to start the ride when you get there and pick up your shirt and register.

There will also be a longer ride for those that are looking for more of a challenge. This ride will be about 60 miles long and will start a little earlier, at approximately 7 a.m. if you keep a pace of 15 mph, 7:15 for those at a pace of 18 mph, and 7:45 for those of pace of 20 miles or more an hour. You must be able to follow the marking on the trail on your own and this ride will not have a police escort, but the streets will be blocked off for you.

Whichever ride you chose, there will be food and drinks when you get back, including a beer tent. There's also lots of music and vendors with booths to look through. Last year I had some vegan chili when I got back and gave my tickets away to some guys who seemed to be more into the drinking then the ride. I don’t know about you, but a few beers after 30 miles didn’t sound appealing to me. But, then again I’m not really a drinker in the first place. If you can do 30-60 miles on a Saturday morning, who am I to say that you don’t deserve a nice cold one?

5,700 people have already pre-registered for this year's Tour de Troit and I am sure that there will be many more the day of the event. For more information head over to tour-de-troit.org.

~S

Experience Eastern Market After Dark This Thursday!

It's time for the 2nd annual Eastern Market After Dark taking place tonight at 7 p.m. Part of the Detroit Design Festival 2013 that kicked off earlier this week, this once a year event is free to all so come and explore.

Eastern Market After Dark will feature displays at multiple galleries, including The Red Bull House of Art, CAN Art Handworks, Cyberoptix Tie Lab + Bethany Shorb's Design Studio, Inner State Gallery, NNII International Gallery, OmniCorp Detroit, and Trinosophes. It will also feature food from lots of vendors and local area restaurants, including Bert's Marketplace, Cost Plus Wine, Cutters, Devries & Co., Frontera, Germack, Guns + Butter, Mootown Creamery, Roma Cafe, Sala Thai, and my favorite, Supino Pizza. They will also have retail vendors, including 3 Dogs 1 Cat, Aria Urban Artifacts, Detroit Mercantile Company, Division Street Boutique, Downtown Detroit Bike Shop, Michigan Artisans, and Savvy Chic. And last, but not least, there will be public art on display too, including murals from a vast list of artist that you can find here.

This is a great chance to walk around the Eastern Market at night and check out some really cool displays for FREE!

~S

Saves The Day: Still Melting Panties and Getting the Kids Moving

Photo Credit:Cassie Whitt

I was pretty excited to see Saves the Day on Tuesday night. I know that saying that out loud may be "lame" to some of you, but 10 years ago when I was starting college they were the band to listen to when I was feeling down, in love, or hopeful. I hadn't seen them play in about ten years, until they scheduled and performed at the free Campus Martius show last fall, and I was worried that playing here for free last year would effect the turn out for this show, but it didn't. The Stick was pretty packed and kids were really into the music. There were just as many new fans as there were old which made me smile. The singer still has and amazing voice and the songs still remind me of young lust.

I planned to go up front to shoot photos, but I couldn't get through all the screaming moshing crowed surfing kids with my hooker heels on. I loved that the crowd had so much energy and was so into the show. I have to admit I'm not as in to their newer music as I am of the stuff off Stay What You Are and Through Being Cool, but it is by no means bad. It was good enough to entice me to buy their new self titled album that just came out this past Tuesday on Equal Vision Records.

Overall the show was a good dose of nostalgia for me, mixed with hope for the future. Kids are still finding good music, they are going to shows and going crazy, and I couldn't be more excited about it.

~S

Keep It A Threat 5! - Video with Dougie and Jae!!!

Coming up on Saturday, September 28th there is a festival that is so awesome that we had to tell you about it a little earlier than we normally would. Keep It A Threat 5 is an all day skating and music festival held at Transitions Ramp Park. This event that is in its fifth year (hence the 5) is put on by two great guys, Dougie and Jae. They decided to start this event because, at the time of it's fruition, there were no other fests of this kind in the area and not really any fests at all for that matter.

We met up with Dougie and Jae for a few drinks and to chat about KIAT. Check out what they had to say and we hope you enjoy the soundtrack provided by the fine folks at the Garden Bowl.

As Dougie, Jae & Sadie mentioned, this year's lineup is pretty amazing. It includes Against the Grain, Dead Church, Snakewing, Axe Ripper, The Gutter Ghouls, Golden Torso, The Armed, St. Thomas Boys Academy, Frank White, Teenage Rehab, Murder Party, Voice of Addiction, Bad Assets, The Flaks, Desiring Dead Flesh, Stale Phish, and of course, Aggro or Die! and The Dewtons. 18 stellar bands for a measly 13 bucks. Plus, you can skate while you are there and you BMXers can even ride too! All ages are welcome to Keep It A Threat and doors open at 10 a.m. with music starting at Noon. The fest goes all day 'til about 11 p.m., but you should probably just drag your ass out of bed early for a change. We're sure it will be worth it! For any other details you might want to know, head over to the Facebook event page here.

~C

Head to Flint Town for Aerosol and Audio this Saturday!

Tunde has slowly taken over the Detroit scene and become one of the key players in the area. It seems the no matter what kind of music you're normally into you, you're also into Tunde. His voice, live performance, and dancers are simply always on point.

After following him around our city, we decided it's time to head up to his home turf and see him preform in Flint. He has asked some of our favorites to join him, including The Hounds Below, James Linck, Little Animal, and Mic Phelps. They will all be performing with him this Saturday, September 21st at the Aerosol and Audio festival.

This festival has the same feel as DIY in the sense that it is two outdoor stages with food and vendors, but of course its got its own little twist. Aerosol and Audio also features a 400'X30' foot wall that graffiti artists will be live painting throughout the day. They will have public art installations, educational workshops, live tattooing buy New Generation Tattoos, glass blowing by Studio Dutro and lots of music we haven't heard, including Pseudo Slang, Call in the Calvary, Eleanor Quigley, Dirt Shirt, ToneTrezure, One Continuous Happening, Rankin, Bangtown Productions, Earl Grey, and Taurine Dream.

We're going to step outside of our box and head to a new city to see some of our favorite Detroit acts, we're urging you to come along. The festival is located in Memorial Park at 1009 South Grand Traverse Street in Flint, Michigan and it all starts at 11 a.m.

 ~S

Ann Delisi's Essential Music Listening Party with Blaire Alise & The Bombshells

 

A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Ann Delisi on WDET. She is an amazing person and pretty much a legend in the area. This Tuesday night Ann is hosting a listening party in the Majestic Cafe featuring Blaire Alise & The Bombshells.

You may have seen Blaire Alise & The Bombshells at DIY this weekend or Dally last weekend. If not, they are a super fun 4 piece fronted by Blaire herself. They band is a little on the younger side than some others in the area, but that doesn't stop them and they are definitely getting recognized for both their hard work and their energetic sound. Bands like The Sights have been teaming up with these guys for a while now and the media is quickly catching on to the rage with a mentions in the MetroTimes and the huge honor of playing Ann Delisi's Essential Music Listening Party!

Ann's Listening Party is free to get into and it starts at 7 p.m. The band is set to hit the stage around 8. If you are heading to the Saves the Day show in the Stick, be sure to stop in the Cafe first. Or, if you are just looking for a fun reason to go out this Tuesday night, this is the perfect excuse!

~C

Our DIY 2013 Recap

This weekend DIY brought together some great bands and artists and it seems as though it also brought fall with it. The three day festival is usually one of the marks of the end of summer in the area. From what I remember, last year's fest was pretty hot. But, as Detroiters do every fall, we all layered on the clothes and shivered in the 50 degree weather that felt more like 30.

Despite the low temperatures and rainy skies, the spirits were high at this year's DIY and it was a blast. This installment of the event featured one of the best lineups I can remember to date, with bigger acts like The Suicide Machines and Death, paired up with first timers like Ojala.

Friday night kicked off DIY with what Sadie and I agreed from the beginning was the best bill of the weekend, and now that it has passed we still maintain that statement. Things may have gotten off to a rocky start with George Morris getting pushed back, moved to another day, then moved again, along with some malfunctions during the Flint Eastwood set, but after that the stages and bands were all smooth sailing. At least from what the crowd could tell. On the WAB Stage, Alexis got things started off great and got the crowd moving, as always. Tunde, The Suicide Machines and Child Bite were just a few of the other acts that played outside, while The ILL Itches and Electric Corpse played inside The Loving Touch.

We were really shocked to see that The Suicide Machines were playing this event and curious as to what it would be like. Tons of people crawled out of the woodwork to see them, the jokes about playing an art fair in Ferndale were limited, and their set was as awesome as ever. The band even gave a shout out to Sadie for her birthday mid-set, which was pretty awesome and our 15 year old selves probably would have died.

With that being said, our coverage and pictures are lacking a bit from Friday and Saturday due to the mass amounts of partying going on. Regardless we can tell you these few things. The Suicide Machines were awesome. Tunde played at the same time, so although we were unable to catch him this night, we heard people talking about him and witnessed people coming up to him all night raving about his performance. Child Bite was excellent as always and The ILL Itches killed it. If you missed out on their set, you really need to make a point to catch these guys soon.

Saturday night's highlight was the reunion of Thunderbirds Are Now. Lucky for us and everyone else that missed this once in a lifetime reunion, the band filmed their set and will be releasing a video soon. If you also didn't get a chance to check out our interview with Ryan Allen about this reunion show, make sure you take a minute to read that here. We hear we really missed out on a hell of a show and a great time.

Sunday we were dead set on getting our absolute fill of the DIY Street Fair. This was the first chance we had to actually check out all of the amazing artists and of course some more great bands. Alongside the numerous Detroit t-shirt stands, there were truly some spectacular artists that come up with the craziest ideas utilizing cassette tapes, records, wood, paint fabric, and pretty much anything you can think of in the most creative ways. Most booths were reasonably priced, so it makes it difficult to not run around and buy a ton of stuff. Although there were MANY great tents, my favorite by far was the 18X24 Detroit Tent featuring some amazing show posters and other prints. Make sure you head over and check out 18X24 and all of their artists here.

Sunday was the rainiest of the 3 days, but the music still killed it. James Linck sounded bigger and more amazing than ever with a full band on stage with him. Then Destroy This Place played a great set, that was slightly overshadowed by the cute kids in the crowd, but still pretty sweet. Later in the night Bars of Gold played an incredibly energetic set. And then the crowd got to end the night with the highly anticipated debut of Ojala. This band was completely different than any of Chris Jarvis' other projects, but just as amazing. Make sure you check out our interview with Chris about Ojala and check them out online here. 

Overall this year's DIY was better than ever. There were some bands we were surprised to see on the schedule, some great new food trucks, and artists that were both new and old, but unlike those at your mom's art fair. One band joked about playing an art fair saying their career must be over, while others took it as a huge honor to start off at this highly regarded festival. Despite the jokes, we're sure everyone that was a part of DIY, whether in a tent or on the stage, was honored to be included in it and we know we are honored to have such great people in Detroit that are willing to work their butts off to put this event together every year. Definitely one of the best ways to close out the summer or kick off the fall, whichever way you want to look at it.

~C

Brush Park BMX Fall Clean Up!!! (Come Help!)

Photo Courtesy of Brush Park BMX's Facebook

At the beginning of the summer we told you about a DIY BMX park that local riders had dug out from the overgrown hell hole that the piece of land had become. This park is located on Adelaide and Brush and was informally renamed Brush Park BMX by those involved with the project. For a few weeks straight people worked tirelessly to clean out the space and build ramps and jumps. We even collected a few picnic tables, planted flowers and turned the space into someplace you would want to be. Some of us have used it as a BMX park over the summer and some of us have used it to have coffee, eat lunch, or just hangout in the city on a nice day. But, the summer is coming to an end and that little park needs a little love before the ground freezes over.

We are calling all of our readers to action and asking you to join us at Brush Park this Sunday, September 22nd at 11 a.m. to get the park in order. We need people to cut the grass and get rid of the weeds, but there's a catch. We need tools to use to do this. Do you own a gas powered lawnmower or weed cutter? If so, we would really appreciate the use of that device for a day! The people that generally work on the park would try to purchase these items, but have no way to store them and keep them safe. So we need to come together for one day and get it done. That is unless anyone has a locked shed laying around that they can donate to the cause, that would be a game changer!

Even if you do not have electric tools, you have two arms and that, my friend, is just as good (one arm people also welcome to be clear). Throw on some work clothes and bring some trash bags and we can dig up the weeds with our hands if we have to. This way we can clean up the park before the cold weather hits and be ahead of the game to reopen it when the summer of 2014 hits. Please join us and let's work together to keep this DIY BMX park for years to come. Plus, the weather hasn't changed yet, we still have a few more weeks to enjoy the park! Brush park is located at 256 Adelaide, Detroit, Michigan 48201. See you Sunday!

~S

Win Tickets to Saves the Day at the Magic Stick!!!

Have you ever played an album and been immediately transported back to the first time you heard the music or to the period in your life when that music was in heavy rotation? Music has the power to bring back moments, people, and places that we have since forgotten. I swear sometimes the right songs can even make me remember a smell. Saves the Day - Stay What You Are is one of those albums that transports me to a different time and place. I played that record over and over again in my college dorm room. I was maybe 18 at the time and I could relate to every word in every song. I wanted adventure, I wanted to fall In love, and I wanted to be loved, and that album perfectly encompassed those feelings into music. The funny thing is, 10 years later those songs still reflect my life, but in different ways.

Saves the Day is one of my favorite post punk emo bands from that era, but they have continued to write and put out good music over the last ten years. They will be releasing their new self titled album the day of the show. Did you know that their current guitarist Arun Bali is from Michigan or that their latest album was recorded just a few months ago here at Rancho Recordo located in the woods of Michigan? This band knows how to write good music and the singer, Chris Conley, knows how to write lyrics that you can relate to. "Through Being Cool" is my anthem to all the haters out there and I'm Sorry I'm Leaving is one of my favorite things to listen to on a long drive in the summer.

If you can't tell, I am a pretty big fan of this band. That's why I am so excited to announce they are playing this Tuesday, September 17th at the Magic Stick and we have one set of tickets to giveaway for the show. Our friends over at Black Iris Booking have given us one pair to give to one lucky fan. That person can bring a friend and join me in awe of the greatness that is Saves the Day. To enter, email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Saves the Day as the subject line. We will draw and email the winner on Monday. Doors open at 7 p.m. and Into It. Over It. and Hostage Calm will be opening the show. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 the day of the show. You can purchase advance tickets here, all ages are welcome! I'll be the crazy girl standing up front screaming and singing along with the band. I do hope you'll join me!

~S

Win Tickets to Supersuckers at Small's

The self proclaimed "greatest rock band in the world" Supersuckers have once again joined forces and are out touring the U.S. This Sunday they will be making a stop at my favorite bar/venue, Small's. They shot to fame in 1997 with their country-esque album called Must've Been High put out by Sub Pop Records. They spent quite a few years touring before parting ways and taking a break in the mid to late 2000's. The band has come back to reclaim their title and put out a new album.

Supersuckers are know for having a crazy and entertaining live show which will sound excellent blasting through Small's killer sound system. They are bringing along Hellbound Glory, The Whiskey Clan, and Jeremy Porter & The Tucos to open up the show and tickets are reasonably priced at $13 in advance and $15 at the door. This show is also all ages so no one needs to be left out! You can purchase advance tickets at smallsbardetroit.com or win one of the two sets that we are giving away by entering our contest and being picked. To enter, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject the line Supersuckers. We will email 2 lucky winners on Saturday and their names will be on the guest list plus one. The show starts at 8 p.m. and Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck. Good Luck!

~S

Two Ways to Celebrate 20 Years of In Utero

In Utero was released September 13, 1993. It was the third and final album to be recorded by the most influential band of the 90's, Nirvana. The purpose of this album was to step away from the clean sound achieved In the previous release Smells Like Teen Spirirt, the album that had originally shot the band into superstardom. The themes of medical imagery and the harsher sound showed a new side of the band and the changes they had went through since breaking out. It would be the last album Kurt Cobain would release before taking his own life the next year. Songs like "Heart Shaped Box" (which is about Courtney Love for those of you that do not know) and "All Apologies" were over played on the radio for years to come. This album was the beginning of the end of grunge and, in my opinion, one of the best albums of that decade.

Twenty years later the music still holds up and new fans discover this record and its greatness everyday. To celebrate the 20 year anniversary, the record label is re-releasing the album with new added features, including a DVD, a disc of live recordings, unreleased demos, new unreleased photos, and new liner notes. The songs have also been remixed and remastered to give you the best quality sound possible and there are two ways to celebrate this reissue this week in Detroit

This Friday, September 13th, on the actual anniversary you can he ad up to The Old Miami located at 3930 Cass Ave. in Detroit and see bands like the Hit Society, My Pal Val, Fucking Swords and Fire, Me & the Ghost, Casual Sweetheart, and Mike Krupinski covering music from Nirvana. For more details about this show, check out the Facebook event here.

 

You can also head over to Small's on September 20th and hear In Utero played from start to finish by a cover band consisting of Greg Aubrey of Superbomb, Brandon Frye of Superbomb, Jeremy Otto of DandyLyon Whine, and Marlon Morton of Remnose. A Mudhoney coverband will be opening the show for Nirvana. Lance T. Sanders will be playing in this cover band alongside members of Pupils and Red China. Doors for this show are at 9 p.m. and the music starts at 10 p.m. Admission is only $6 at the door and Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck.

Both shows are a great way to celebrate the anniversary of a epic record. Rest in peace Kurt, you are sincerely missed.

~S

Check Out The Sound Logic at The Shelter and Listen to Their New Song!

Recently we featured a song by The Sound Logic as the soundtrack for our video at The Chop Shop. This is another band that has somehow pulled off a great sound with only two members. Featuring Jeff Knol on vocals & guitar and Yuri Pavlov on drums, this duo has been going at it nonstop playing shows and writing music since they formed the band just about a year ago.

The guys just released a new track a couple of weeks ago, entitled "City Lights". You can check it out below.

The Sound Logic will be playing this Saturday, September 14th at The Shelter. They are opening up for another duet, IAmDynamite. Tickets for this show are only $12 and all ages are welcome. Doors to The Shelter will open at 7 p.m. on Saturday and, in case you don't know already, The Shelter is located below St. Andrew's Hall at 431 East Congress in Detroit (enter around the back). For all of the details on this show check out the Facebook event page here.

~C

Introducing Ojala: Debuting and Headlining at D.I.Y Fest on Sunday

Last year we introduced you to Phantasmagoria, a two person team that opened up my eyes to a type of music that I had not traditionally been accustomed to listening to. That project made me realize that I could like electronically created music, if it was done well. I became a fan of Chris Jarvis and also started listening to the music put out by his solo act Ancient Language. I quickly learned that Chris was a talented and creative person who is constantly attempting to challenge himself musically and personally. It's actually quite inspiring to have a conversation with this guy, he is always looking for the good in the world, something I can't say about most people.

Photo Credit: Ron Brown

Chris has decided to challenge himself again and started a new project called Ojala that will literally perform for the first time on the main stage at DIY this Sunday. Talk about putting it all out there! This is a pretty big place to debut a new project, but I have no doubt that when they finish we will all be fans of this new endeavor. This time he has enlisted a full band to join him on stage and promises that this new music will be a little different that what he has done in the past. As he grows so does his music.

I asked Chris to talk to us before the show and tell us a little more about the creation of Ojala leading up to their first performance. Read what he has to say and make sure to check them out as they close out the show on the WAB Stage this Sunday, September 15th at DIY.

Hip In Detroit- What made the two of you (yourself and Adam Fitzgerald) decide that you wanted to write music together?
Chris- "Everything about this project has been based on synchronicities or fate or whatever you wanna call it. We didn't exactly decide, the universe brought us together. We've been good friends for years so when we both suddenly found ourselves without anywhere to live we decided to move in together and making music together just made sense. We've both been fans of each others music for a long time."

Hip In Detroit- Why did you choose the name Ojala?
Chris- "Again, we didn't chose it, the name chose us. Ojala means hopeful or for the religiously or spiritually inclined "god willing" which has deep personal meaning for both of us where we are in our lives. The word became a sort of mantra that we use in daily conversation."

Hip In Detroit- I know that you work off a laptop, what is your current software/ hardware setup? Do you think this factor matters when writing and performing your music?
Chris- "The laptop has been an important factor in my solo and past music projects but it takes the backseat in Ojala. I'm only using the laptop for samples and interludes in between songs. Ojala is an entirely live experience with Adam on vocals and guitar, me on keys and synth, Jeff Cuny from James Linck and House Phone on bass, and Zach Pliska from FUR on drums."

Hip In Detroit- Your first live performance will be at DIY, why did you choose this as your first appearance?
Chris- "Once again we didn't really seek out playing at the DIY street fair, the festival chose us. But we love the festival and all the people and artists involved so we're honored to play our first show there."

Hip In Detroit- What artists are you currently listening to and how do they influence the music that you write?
Chris- "We've been listening to Paul McCartney's Ram a lot which is one of my favorite albums of all time. The Beatles - Revolver, Paul Simon, Joy Division, Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights, Broken Social Scene, Arcade Fire - Funeral. It might inspire our music indirectly but we never talk about it. I think the influence is more apparent in our recording process and techniques."

Hip In Detroit- In your own words, what is the meaning of life ?
Chris- "Nobody knows for certain but I think the meaning of life is to make the world a better place in your own way. To awaken to your life's true purpose and rise above materialism and the debt based consumer culture that were born into with no choice. Art is the only thing that will save us. Only through beauty will people be awakened to their true potential. We're all hurtling towards the end of time, only we can decide what that means for us as a species."

Hip In Detroit- Do you think were alone in the universe?
Chris- "No, I don't believe we are alone in the universe, but I don't necessarily mean extra terrestrials in the physical sense that most people think of. I believe there are those too, but I think were more influenced by interdimensional beings or entities that exist on different planes of vibration."

Hip In Detroit- When will you release your first album?
Chris- "We haven't discussed a release date yet, but we're working on it. You'll hear it as soon as we finish it."

Hip In Detroit- Ferndale, Royal Oak, Ham Town or Detroit, which is your fav place to party? Which is the best for picking up girls?
Chris- "I'm biased because I live in Ham Town, but I love Detroit too. I seem to meet a lot of intriguingly beautiful girls in both cities."

~S