Skaturday at Corktown!

If you're in the mood to skank this weekend, Corktown Tavern is the place to be. Saturday night a few ska bands are busting out their horns and guitars and hitting the stage along with a grunge rock band and a rockin' chick with her guitar. The lineup for the night includes The Atrocities (IL), Cbj, Phage, Trigger and Carmel Liburdi. Cover is only $5 and 18+ are welcome!

So bust out some checkers, tighten the laces on your shoes, and get ready to skank your little heart out. Doors open at 8 p.m. For more details, head to the Facebook event page here.

~C

Green Day's American Idiot - LIVE on Stage This Weekend!

Back in 2004 a little 3 piece band called Green Day released an album called American Idiot. This record transformed this pop punk trio from a band that rebellious teens listened to, to an enormously popular and highly regarded band. It even attracted so much attention that American Idiot, the rock opera that tells the story of Jesus of Suburbia, was even turned into a Broadway musical. It was kind of surprising, and still seems pretty strange to me, that the same band that offended parents around the world with their raunchy song about having some "fun alone time" was now the inspiration for a Broadway play. Yet, the reviews were overwhelmingly positive and many of my friends that have seen it said it is amazing. In fact, the show is so popular that it has had approximately a 5 year run with shows on Broadway and they have even taken it out on the road.

If you want to check out American Idiot - The Musical for yourself, it is heading to the Detroit Opera House this weekend (January 31st thru February 2nd). This is a limited engagement with shows on Friday evening at 8 p.m., Saturday evening at 8 p.m., Sunday at 7:30, and matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $89. For more information, head over to broadwayindetroit.com. 

~C

Win Tickets to Our 2nd Anniversary Show!!!

In case you haven't heard by now, we're throwing a party this weekend! Our Two Year Anniversary Show is only a couple of days away and it's time to give one lucky reader a chance to attend the show for free. Somehow we have been so busy getting ready for the show that we forgot to do a contest and we figured that it was better late than never. But, we decided that since this is a special show we want to make the giveaway a little different.

Instead of just emailing in your name or sharing a post, we want you to give us some feedback. We want to hear from our fans. Why do you read the site? What do you like about it? What would you like to see more of in the next year? This way we can improve your reading experience and do bigger and better things in the future. So, if you would like to see Tunde Olaniran, The HandGrenades, The ILL Itches, Autumn Wolf, Rebel Spies, and Christopher Jarvis for free this Saturday, send us an e-mail and let us know why you like Hip In Detroit. The person with the email that we find the most entertaining, positive, or interesting will have their name on the guest list with a plus one this Saturday at The Loving Touch. 

We are giving away some amazing prizes and we have a few tricks up our sleeve, so we know that this is one night of fun that you won't want to miss. We will email the lucky winner on Saturday morning and personally make sure that they are on the list that night. For more details on the show and the prize packs head over to the Facebook event page. Make sure you RSVP while you are there! We can't wait to see all of you this Saturday at 9 p.m. Let's hear what you have to say Detroit!

~S&C

Super Bowl Sunday at Small's!!!

This Sunday is the Super Bowl. While that doesn't mean much to me, I know that means a lot to most of you. After coming out and celebrating our Two Year Anniversary with us on Saturday night you will need a place to relax, kick back, eat and watch the Super Bowl the next day. Our favorite bar, Small's, is having a Super Bowl party with all the necessities to have a good time, including, food friends, and, of course, whiskey. The bar will feature $2 beers, $3 tall boys, and a nacho and Coney bar with various chips and dips to enjoy.

Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck and doors for this event open at 5:30 p.m. For more details head over to the Facebook event page here.

~S

Detroit SubGenius Music Thing at Small's

This Saturday Small's will feature 12 bands on three stages playing back to back 20 minute sets. They are calling this event the Detroit SubGenius Music Thing and are only charging $10 to get in. The night will feature music from:

9:20 - Brag of the SubGenius / Boron Nuzzle (side stage)
9:40 - Nameless (rear stage)
10:00 - Cockhorse (main stage)
10:20 - Caveman Woodman (side)
10:40 - All The Wild Children (rear)
11:00 - Downtown Brown (main)
11:20 - Carjack (side)
11:40 - Kalashnikovs (rear)
12:00 - Year of the Pig (main)
12:20 - Man Inc. (side)
12:40 - Disinformants (rear)
1:00 - Amino Acids (main)

Meanwhile, DJ Wigglestaff will be playing music all night in the main room while the great staff at Small’s slings drinks. This event is all ages and Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck.

~S

PJ Fest This Thursday and Friday at PJ's Lager House

This Thursday and Friday is  PJ-Fest at PJ's Lager House. This 2 day festival features 4 bands each night for a mere $5 cover. Thursday night kicks things off with Doop Duprie, Alison Lewis, John Holk, and Six and the Sevens. Then, on Friday night you can check out Ryan Dillaha & The Miracle Men, Crooked Little Reasons, Ryan Racine, and Jay Clark Reid. 

This is a great reason to start your weekend off early and get out for a cheap night on the town. Don't forget, the Lager House has some great food available and cheap beers too! So make sure you head out early to grab a bite to eat before or between bands. 

PJ's Lager House is located at 1254 Michigan Ave. in Corktown. For more info on PJ-Fest, head to the Facebook event page here. 

~C

Tonight at Yonka House!

As you know by now we're huge fans of house shows and DIY venues. Toepfer House, P.A.N. Shop, and The Bear Cave are just a few. With all of our talk on how great it is to see bands play these low key venues, hopefully you have taken the time to head out to one.

This Tuesday night you have the chance to catch a great lineup at another great house that has opened its doors to bands and fans, Yonka House. Tonight's show features some locals as well as some out of towners from Nashville; Left of the Dial, Trotsky, Courtesy Drop and Bloom. 

Doors open at 7:30 and the music starts at 8. $5 will get you in the door. Yonka House is located at 20483 Yonka in Detroit. Remember, this is someone's home, so please be respectful. There aren't too many of these DIY venues anymore and we want to see this one stick around the scene for awhile!

~C

Passing - A One Woman Show

I have always been part of the music community of Detroit, but I am trying to expand my knowledge of the city's rich arts and culture. There are so many different places to see and experience new things.

This week The Charles H. Wright museum of African American History will celebrate the opening of a one woman show called Passing. It is the story of a light skinned African American woman who is separated from her brother and raised by different families. Their lives and their identities take a very different path as she is light skinned enough to “pass” for a white person in the segregated south.

Following the performance the floor will open for a discussion of race and identity. This is not only an interesting topic to tackle, but a way to talk about something that we usually sweep under the rug. Race does impact each of our lives, both positively and negatively, and this is a great way to start a discussion of how and why this is.

The show will open on February 1st and run through February 16th. To purchase tickets and find out show times, visit the website here. The Charles H Wright museum is located at 315 East Warren Ave. in Detroit.

PASSING [Excerpt 'Train'] from The Right Brothers on Vimeo.

~S

Leaving Lifted at The Pike Room

I'm a sucker for a good three piece. From early Nirvana to early Green Day, I have always fallen in love with great musicians that can produce good tunes with only three people. Leaving Lifted is a great three piece that has been gaining some attention around Michigan. They have that relaxed sound that reminds me of Sublime, Bob Marley, and and 311. When you listen to their tunes you just want to have a good time, no drama. You can check out some of their tunes here.

If you like what you hear you can check them out live this Friday, Febuary 7th at The Crofoot, one of our favorite venues in the Metro Detroit area. They will be playing alongside The Expendables, Stick Figure, and Seedless. Tickets for the show are $15 in advance and $17 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased here. Doors for the show open at 7 p.m. and The Crofoot is located at 1 South Saginaw in Pontiac. Keep up with Leaving Lifted by liking them on Facebook here.

~S

"Assembly Required" at Go Comedy!

Have you ever been to Go Comedy! in Ferndale? If you haven't, I highly suggest heading out to one of their many events and seeing what they are all about. They have improv groups and original shows that are performed by people that live right here in the Metro Detroit area. They have a full bar and pour some strong drinks for you to suck down while you spend your evening laughing. Go Comedy! is a good place to take a date or a fun way to enjoy a night with friends.

This week they have a new show starting called Assembly Required. This show is about a middle school that is in trouble, so to save their school they hire a motivational group called "The Success Train". Their goal is to save their middle school from failure and to make all of us laugh while doing so. The show will run Thursdays at 10 p.m. from January 30th through March 6th. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchased in advance here. Go Comedy! is definitely one of Ferndale's hidden gems!

~S

Satori Circus' 25th Anniversary

One of Detroit’s longest lasting performance artists will be celebrating his 25th Anniversary this Friday, January 24th at The D.I.A. Satori Circus is known for his unique show which combines music, film, theatre, vaudeville, poetry, and much more into one show. It all started in 1988 when he performed his first show at The Michigan Gallery. Since then he has won DMAs and played countless shows throughout Metro Detroit.

Satori Circus will be doing 2 free one hour performances at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. alongside his friends Lushes LaMoan and Scott Dambacher. These performances will take place in the D.I.A.’s Film Theatre located at 5200 Woodward in Detroit.

~S

The Most Rock 'N' Roll Show Ever - This Friday Night at Small's!

This Friday night at Small's there is a show that you simply are not going to want to miss. That's because Scandinavian Pleather is hitting the stage with Against The Grain and Mean Mother. In case you are unaware, Scandinavian Pleather is a Turbonegro cover band. It's quite fitting that they are playing this show as it is also the first meeting of the newly formed Detroit Turbojugend Chapter, The Motor City Mad Men. All we can say is that if you are a huge Turbonegro fan, you probably want to be part of this.

Cover for Friday night's show is only $8. Doors open at 8 p.m. and all ages are welcome. That seems to be  a rarity lately, so all of you younger rock 'n' rollers better head out to this show. Small's is located in Hamtramck at 10339 Conant. For more details keep on eye on the Facebook event page here.

~C

Catch the Loudest, Heaviest Band Around at Small's this Saturday!

If you like heavy music played very loudly then you need to check out Beast in the Field at Small's this Saturday, January 25th. They are known for being one of the heaviest bands in town and every time I see them they leave my ears ringing. This is one band I won't make fun of you for wearing ear plugs during their set. Small's is known for its great sound system so the two will make a perfect pair for the listeners. Check out a sample of their music here.

They will be playing alongside Bison Machine, Axe Ripper, and Blacker Magick. Doors are at 8 p.m. and 18+ are welcome. Tickets are only $8 dollars at the door. Small's is located at 10339 Conant in Hamtramck.

~S

Beard Day Party!

This Saturday, January 25th CTHULU Entertainment and Paycheck's Lounge will be throwing a Beard Day Party featuring music by A Lot Like Birds, Sianvar, Stolas, The Venetia Fair, Narco Debut, Lemix J. Buckley, and Adventurer. The flyer for the show states that beards are recommended, but not required. To celebrate, Paycheck's will feature $2-$4 drinks specials all night. This event is being sponsored by our friends over at Ironclad Tattoo Co., so you know that no matter what it'll be a party and everyone there will have a good time. Does anyone remember the infamous gold party last year at The Loving Touch? Need I say more?

Tickets for the show range from $9-$12 and are available for advance purchase here. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and bands start promptly at 6:45. Paycheck's is located at 2932 Caniff in Hamtramck. Roshambo put together a video with samples of all the music that will be heard that night, you can check that out below.

~S

Getting to Know Your Sound Guy - Mathias Aduke

Have you ever went to see a band that you liked live and it sounded horrible and ruined the experience for you? I've had that happen more than once and it has taught me how important a good sound guy or gal can be. A good sound engineer can make or break a band's performance, which gives them a lot of power and puts a lot of pressure on them at the same time. I have quite a few friends who make a living doing sound and I have been begging them to talk to me about their job. My friend Mathias Aduke works at a few different venues in Metro Detroit and plays music himself. He finally agreed to let me ask him a few questions about his profession including how he got into doing sound in the first place. I think he gives us a little behind the scenes look at what it's like to make a living doing sound and making music.


He will also be playing with his band The Bobby Electric this Friday at The Old Miami. He is not only a behind the scenes fixture of the Detroit music community, but in his spare time he's out their playing music himself. Check out what he has to say and head out to The Old Miami this Friday, January 24th to see his band perform alongside Duende, The Oscillating Fan Club, and Mirror Moon.

Hip In Detroit- How did you become a sound guy and why?
Mathias- "I went to The Crofoot in Pontiac one day, with a resume held together with sticky tack, because I didn't have a stapler. I asked for ANY job they'd give me. They, being the nicest, best people EVER, took serious pity on me, because I am really good at looking big and sad, and they offered me a security position. When that didn't work, after a week of me being too nice, and getting bullied, I started making friends with Ryan Thomas and Kyle Tewell, the dudes whom I owe my live sound career to. Ryan took me under his wing, taught me 70% of all he knows, and 10 months later, I was getting paid to do it. I blossomed and expanded and got other jobs at other venues, still mostly through Ryan, from there on out.

I became a Sound Guy because recording my friends' bands in my basement doesn't pay the bills. I went to recording school, right out of high school, and then all the whole crazy digital home recording frenzy occurred, leaving me hopeless and jobless. That makes me sound old. Haha!"

Hip In Detroit- What is the most difficult part about your job and why?
Mathias- "The most difficult part of my particular job is sometimes not having any sort of clue, almost day to day, what my weekly schedule is going to look like. I try to be available most evenings, but venues can have a difficult time with scheduling, because there are changes made, daily. A show pops up, someone has to cover it. I get called in the middle of doing cool-guy stuff, and I've gotta be at work in 45 min.

However, I've just made my life work around this sort of schedule, so I can maintain some sort of sanity and freedom."

Hip In Detroit- What is your favorite part of your job and why?
Mathias- "My favorite part of my job is working at different venues every night, different bands every night, different venue staff every night, different scenery every night. I work at 4 different venues right now, so variety is truly the spice of my life."

Hip In Detroit- What is your favorite band that you ever got to do sound for?
Mathias- "I got to do Break Anchor for Black Xmas in The Garden Bowl, a year or two ago. Jay Navarro is the coolest dude I've ever known, and that band puts on a hell of a show. People in the crowd ripped apart a decorative Christmas tree, and crowd surfed it all around, making a mess that I didn't even have to clean up. It was a rock 'n' roll fantasy dream night, come true.

I should make a quick addendum that my VERY favorite band that I've ever done sound for was Reverend at The Loving Touch, last year. They are my very favorite local band. Every element of that band is near perfection. I absolutely adore them.

The Break Anchor story is a little more interesting, but the Reverend story is my official final answer."

Hip In Detroit- Who is your dream band to do sound for?
Mathias- "My dream band to do sound for would be the make believe Sonic Youth reunion tour in 2020. As long as they provided a monitor engineer. Those dudes are noise machine monsters. I imagine that dealing with monitor mixes for their vocals, would not be too much fun. BUT, I'm sure I could still be convinced do their monitors, if need be..."

Hip In Detroit- How do you keep up with the equipment that it takes to do your job? I know that it's always changing.
Mathias- "I am seriously reading all day, everyday. While at home, while at work, while at school, while on the bus, while in traffic, and while in the bathtub, or the Secret SoundGuy Sauna Steam Room, in the basement of the Alamo.

I try to learn vintage equipment as much as I learn new modern equipment. Most places that I frequent, still have older equipment. The old stuff is just as valid and important to keep fresh with, because more times than not, it's just BETTER!"

Hip In Detroit- What is the worst thing that has ever happened while you were doing sound?
Mathias- "Well, aside from having my car stolen, on my way into work, I'd say, in general, getting tricked into working a dubstep show that didn't end until 4am, and then having to drive an hour home, on the snowy icy roads.

Panic attack inducing music, followed by panic attack inducing hazardous driving conditions. Christmas Night 2013. Pinpointed the day. It was less than a month ago."

Hip In Detroit- What is the most annoying that a band can do when you're doing sound for them?
Mathias- "Have a drummer that sings. Try to place microphones, yourselves. Hit drums or play screaming guitar whilst my ears are nearby. Not know how to hold a microphone. Not know how to sing with monitors in front of you. Have exceedingly superfluous ridiculous equipment. Want to load in at like 11am. Somehow have a touring FOH engineer that has never mixed on a mixing board before. Et Cetera..."

Hip In Detroit- What is your favorite venue to do sound at in Detroit?
Mathias- "In Detroit? The Old Miami. In the whole Metro Area? The Pike Room in The Crofoot, in Pontiac."

Hip In Detroit- Do you have to load in the bands too?
Mathias- "It depends on the day, and the venue. More than likely, no. Venues have their own loaders. They would have to pay Sound Guys WAY too much money for one day of work, to load too. Plus, we have important Sound Guy stuff to do. Always. Haha! So, they normally don't even ask us."

Hip In Detroit- Do you also record music or own your own studio?
Mathias- "I actually do. Red Wiggler Recording is my lousily named basement Lo-Fi to Mid-Fi dungeon studio of rock n roll heavenly tasty treats. I have lot of cool stuff. And, do records for way cheap. http://redwigglerstudio.bandcamp.com

Hip In Detroit- You also play music, how do you think being a sound engineer influences your personal music?
Mathias- "Well, how many Sound Guy bands do you have on your playlists....? One? The Bobby Electric. That's what I thought. Ha! Jk.

Most Sound Guys are too serious, picky, and finicky to play in real bands, or they've quit, years prior to doing this job. It is a challenge. Not gonna lie. We all have control issues, I'm sure. So, it's difficult to enjoy yourself on stage, at a club with a lousy PA, monitors, or engineer. I try really hard to separate my thoughts away from Sound Guy stuff, when my bands are playing shows.

However, I also have been known to run sound for shows that my bands are playing. I don't care. I'll work extra hard, anytime, to make sure that everyone is happy."

 ~S

Drink Good Beer and Help a Great Cause!

If you like Craft Beer, then the Royal Oak Music Theatre is the place to be this weekend. Saturday starting at 7 p.m. this venue will be hosting the Annual Royal Oak Craft Beer Fest. This event features beer from dozens of brewers as well as music and food. Yorg & Sheehan will be providing the tunes for the evening (yes, Yorg from Flashclash) while some of your favorite food trucks, like the Mac Shack, El Guapo, and Tuk Tuk, will be supplying delicious treats.

Tickets for the Craft Beer Fest are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. This price will get you in the door and will get you 20 beer sample tickets. If you really want to go all out, there are also VIP tickets available. For $60 or $65 at the door, these tickets will get you in an hour earlier, allot you 20 sample tickets, and gives you access to a VIP balcony featuring rare and special brews. If you want to join in on the fun, but aren't a drinker, you can get a Designated Driver ticket for a mere $5. The best part about his whole event is that proceeds go to Camp Casey, a great program helping kids with cancer. So, head out to Royal Oak Music Theatre and have some delicious Craft Beers while helping out a wonderful cause!

~C

5th Annual Punk Rock Formal

Prom can be a big deal for a lot of teenagers, but if you were into punk rock you probably didn't think twice about events at your school. You were too busy going to shows and rocking out to attend that shit. I guess in retrospect, if prom would have had some live music instead of a crappy DJ, I may have wanted to go.

Once a year the Magic Stick and Bill Bondsmen hold an event called Punk Rock Formal. I have attended this event in the past and had an excellent time. One year I even bought one of those ugly gowns that you see at the Salvation Army and had a great time pretending it was 1982. I think this is a great excuse to wear that old bridesmaid dress that your friend said you were totally going to wear again paired with that fur you inherited from grandma and the clutch that you got at the thrift store. All of those things are just sitting in your closet begging for an opportunity to get out and have fun, this Saturday the 25th is your chance. To top off the night, this year's formal features a killer musical lineup including Bill Bondsmen, Nice Hooves, Rebel Spies, Fuck You Pay Me, and Nervosa.

Tickets are only $7 a piece or $10 for a couple. Doors for the event open at 7 p.m. and The Magic Stick is located at 4140 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. This is one formal where it is okay to get drunk in fact it's encouraged.

~S

Pick Your Prize Pack at our 2 Year Anniversary Celebration February 1st at The Loving Touch

We're getting really close to our 2nd Anniversary and we're getting more and more excited by the day. We wanted to make sure this is a great party and that the people who come out on the 1st not only have a great time, but some walk away with free stuff as well. We reached out to several companies and musicians and the response was huge.

So, after sorting through all of the amazing contributions, we came up with some great prize packs that we think you will all love. Each pack includes a copy of The Pathetic Sounds of Detroit along with an assortment of merch and music from Detroit Area Musicians. Some of the bands included are Ryan Dillaha & The Miracle Men, Dryvel, The ILL Itches, The HandGrenades, Cold English, Maria Rose & The Swiss Kicks, Hit Society, Cheapshow and Citizen Smile. In addition to the music, each prize pack features some "bigger" gifts as well. Here's a list of what you can win:

#1- 2 Tickets to Nicole Atkins @ The Magic Stick Lounge on 2/19 - Courtesy of Black Iris Booking, 2 Passes to The Henry Ford - Courtesy of Motor City Blog and Detroitville Shirt

#2- 6 Hour Recording Session at Rustbelt Studios and Detroitville Shirt

#3- Gift Card to Ironclad Tattoo Co. and 2 Tickets to Dave Hause @ The Magic Stick on 2/12 - Courtesy of Black Iris Booking

#4- Gift Card to Ironclad Tattoo Co., 2 Tickets to Skinny Puppy @ The Majestic Theatre on 2/19 - Courtesy of Black Iris Booking, InkAddict Shirt and Cheapshow Shirt

#5- Gift Card to Ironclad Tattoo Co., Ryan Dillaha & The Miracle Men Shirt and Maria Rose & The Swiss Kicks Shirt

#6- The Mark Culpepper Package including 4 Personal Training Sessions & 2 Shirts

#7- Gift Card to Ironclad Tattoo Co., Ryan Dillaha & The Miracle Men Shirt and Maria Rose & The Swiss Kicks Shirt

#8- Sparked Gift Card, 2 Free Passes to any 2 shows at Small's, InkAddict Shirt, Detroitville Shirt and Ironclad Tattoo Co. Hat

#9- 2 Tix to Asking Alexandria at Royal Oak Music Theatre on 3/29 Courtesy of The Crofoot, InkAddict Shirt and Ironclad Tattoo Co. Hat

#10- Gift Card to Salon Noir, Maria Rose & The Swiss Kicks Girl Shirt, Ironclad Tattoo Co. Panties

#11 - Gift Card to Rouge MakeUp & Nail Studio, Maria Rose & The Swiss Kicks Shirt, Ironclad Tattoo Co. Panties

#12- Photo Session with Zachary Hooligan Photography, 2 Passes to How to Cope Fest and Cheapshow Shirt

#13- Gift Card to Rouge MakeUp & Nail Studio, InkAddict Girl Shirt

#14- Saks Fifth Avenue Salon & Spa Gift Basket and a Day at the Spa (Over $250 Value)

#15- Saks Fifth Avenue Salon & Spa Gift Basket and a Day at the Spa (Over $250 Value)

So, how can you get your hands on some of these goods? Every one that comes through the door on February 1st will be given a raffle ticket. Head over to the Hip In Detroit prize table, write your name on the ticket, and throw it in the bucket. Between all of the band's sets we will be drawing a few lucky people's names. If your name is called, head over to the table and choose your prize. Yep, you get to pick what pack you walk away with! This means that you have to be present to win though and all gifts are on a first come, first serve basis! So if there's something you really want, make sure you get there early for a better chance of snatching it up before someone else does.

We cannot thank everyone that contributed to the prize packs enough! We've said it a million times now, but we can't wait to party with all of you at The Loving Touch on February 1st. If you haven't yet, make sure to head over to the Facebook event page here and RSVP so you can stay in the loop!

~C

New Music Video From Cold English & Groovebox Studios

The Russel Industrial Center is one of the coolest spaces in Detroit. It houses some of the hippest new projects and ideas coming out of the city as well as being the practice space for a lot of cool bands, the venue for a lot of cool parties, and a studio for all sorts of different kinds of artists. It is also the home of Groovebox Studios, a space where bands can play to a live audience and record a video to share with their listeners.

The bands that Groovebox works with use kickstarter campaigns to raise the funds needed to use the space and make the video. Recently, Cold English did just that and recorded a live version of their song "Haley Jane" a.k.a. "That Night I Met Jude Law". The band raised over $1,800 to make this video and it turned out great. Cold English reminds me of an updated and sexier version of Sublime with a little more of a hip hop feel to the music. This recording was made with no overdubs, no auto-tune, and no studio tracks, which makes me appreciate how good it is even more.

Head over to the Groovebox Studios here  to check out Cold English's video and many more from artists like YUM, Cold Men Young, Carts Before Horses, The Beggars, and many more great local artists that we love. Very cool idea and a very cool video indeed.

 ~S

Join C.H.A.I.N.E.D. Inc. In The Effort To Free Dogs From The Chain

Dogs are a great addition to everyone's lives. If you have a dog, you know what I mean. They bring joy and love into your life and ask for little in return. Anyone that knows me knows that I absolutely love my dog, Lucy. Some (probably most) would even say that I am a bit obsessed. But, she is truly the best friend I could ask for, so in turn I spoil her like crazy.

Not every pup is lucky enough to have free reign of their home and a couch to themselves. Some would argue that they are dogs and that the don't need these luxuries, which may be true. Yet it is our job as pet owners to provide our four legged friends with safety, shelter and food, amongst other things.

A group known as C.H.A.I.N.E.D. Inc. has stepped up to help ensure that dogs throughout our area are safe and living enhanced lives. As you can tell by the name, C.H.A.I.N.E.D. Inc. mainly deals with dogs that live outside on a chain. They provide free treats, toys, straw, lighter tie outs, nylon collars, dog houses, medicine, food assistance and more to dogs that live on a leash 24 hours a day 7 days a week. They also provide other services such as fence repair, extensions and kennels to help free dogs from their leashes. They even have rescued some dogs too. In fact, they have helped over 500 dogs in one way or another in the few years that they have been in existence.

This great non-profit is having a fundraising event this Thursday night so you can help them help chained dogs throughout Detroit. The event is taking place at The Loving Touch and the suggested donation for admission is only $5. The night will be full of drink specials, raffles, and silent auctions, with prizes ranging from Red Wings tickets to free yoga classes. Music for the evening will be provided by DJ Eugene Strobe. Doors open up at 7 p.m. and the event runs until 10 p.m. If you are unable to head out, but would still like to help out, you can always head over to C.H.A.I.N.E.D.'s website to make a monetary donation. You can even use PayPal, so it's super easy.

This is a great organization that is saving tons of dogs and making their lives better. After all, they make our lives better every day. Why shouldn't we return the favor? If you aren't convinced that you should help out yet, check out this video of the C.H.A.I.N.E.D. gang at work and some of the happy faces of the pups that they have helped.

~C

Head Out to the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Hall!

There are a lot of landmarks and events in the Detroit area that we have all grown accustom to and don't even recognize their significance and how big of a deal they really are. One of these things is the North American International Auto Show held at Cobo. In its 25th year, this is one of the largest and highest regarded auto shows in the world. It features over 200 exhibitors and brings in visitors from all over the world every year, from auto industry executives to car enthusiasts.

Public admission to the NAIAS begins this Saturday, January 18th and runs through the 26th. It is open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m., with shortened hours of 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. on the final date. This year there are some new features to the event that will up the entertainment value a bit too. Every day at 3:30 and 7 p.m. there will be a parade inside the Auto Show on the main floor. This parade will feature local celebrities as well as floats and props from the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Parade Company. And, of course, there will be cars included in the parade as well. On Friday, January 24th some of your favorite Detroit Tigers will even be at Cobo and will join in on a special parade as well. In addition to this added entertainment, there is also a new food court at Cobo called the "Detroit Made Kitchen" that features Detroit favorites like pierogies and kielbasa from Hamtramck and Coney Dogs.

Admission to the Auto Show is $13 for adults and $7 for seniors and children. Kids 6 and under are free. You can pick up your tickets ahead of time online here or just grab them at the door. If you've never been to this event before, it's definitely worth checking out. The displays are pretty cool, it's fun to look at some different cars and see what we might be driving in the future, and there are gorgeous models everywhere too. So, if you get sick of eyeing the cars, there are plenty of other things to look at. So head down to Cobo Hall this weekend and have some fun at this huge event that we are lucky enough to have in Detroit every year.

~C 

Mountain Babies - "Shouts" - New Music Worth Checking Out

We receive a lot of music at Hip In Detroit that people ask us to check out or do a review on. It's really hard to follow up on it all, but sometimes we get something that sticks out from the rest for one reason or another. That's exactly what happened last week when we were sent a link to the new Mountain Babies album Shouts.

Mountain Babies is a folk band/musician from the Port Huron area. I phrase it as "band/musician" because it's actually one guy, Dave Peters, who sometimes has other musicians play or sing with him, but it is mainly just him. He has a great voice and an amazing sound. Shouts is by no means his first release, but this is the album that put him on our radar.

The album consists of 7 songs, each with a slightly different sound. Some are upbeat while others are a bit more off kilter with a somewhat eerie feeling. The topics this singer/songwriter covers in his lyrics range from love to anger to nature, and some even have a storytelling element. Even if you aren't a person that gets into lyrics, the music end of it is great. Plus, Dave's voice has quite the range, he even reminded me of Johnny Cash at a couple of points. Perfect album to check out if you are feeling a little more chill or looking for something out of the ordinary. Definitely worth a listen and we think quite a few of you are going to like what you hear.

Shouts is available now as a "Name Your Price" download on Mountain Babies' bandcamp here. It is also being released on cassette today by ZZZTapes. This is the same label that has released albums from Touch (of North America) and SNAFU, amongst others. If you are interested in picking up a tape, head over to zzztapes.com or you can grab one at Found Sound in Ferndale.

~C

The Wait is Over! Shop the InkAddict Pop Up Shop This Weekend!

 

If you are anything like me you have no patience. You could say that I have Veruca Salt syndrome, meaning I want everything and I want it now. After visiting the new InkAddict location in Ferndale last weekend, I got overly excited for the brand and the retail location that will some day open in their new space. Check out my article from earlier this week to see what I mean.

Apparently a few other people have visited the location and and had the same reaction. The owners of InkAddict took note and instead of making us wait until the space is done, they decided to open up shop this weekend for a little specialty pop up sale. They have selected a few of their items and they will be featuring them at super low prices this Friday and Saturday only. You can get a preview of these items here.

$10 tanks and tees and $20 hoodies and thermals are the perfect way to spruce up your winter wardrobe and add a touch of color into these dreary days. Plus, you'll get to see the future location of InkAddict apparel before its actually open for business.

InkAddict is located at 22007 Woodward in Ferndale and the sale will go from 11 - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They have a limited amount of stock, so if it sells out before you get there you're going to miss out on this one time deal.

We love InkAddict and we're proud to have them as part of our 2 Year Anniversary Show that is only a few weeks away. We think this is a really cool way for them to say hello to their new Ferndale neighbors and get their name out there. The online store is always open if you cant make it out this weekend.

~S

Win Tickets to Reverend Horton Heat with The Creepshow and Necromantix!

This Saturday The Reverend is coming to town, The Reverend Horton Heat that is. This band has been playing since the Mid Eighties and their fan base has grown with them over the years. They are known as one of the hardest touring bands in music and their live show never disappoints. They were signed to Victory Records in 2012 and are getting ready to put out their first record under that label later this year. They released a single called "Let Me Teach You How to Eat" and made a video that you can see and hear below.

 

They're still rocking that rockabilly look and playing their little hearts out.

Reverend Horton Heat will be playing at the Majestic Theatre alongside The Creepshow and Necromantix. I looked up both of these bands and really got into The Creepshow. They write most of their music about horror films and have one of the most beautiful and badass female singers I have seen in a long time. I think that it's worth getting there early to make sure that you see the whole show. Check out this video of The Creepshow that I found and I think that you will see what I mean. This band is heavy but also rocks a stand up bass. I really like it.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $23 in advance and $25 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased here.

We have one set of tickets to give away, thanks to the ladies over at Black Iris Booking, and we couldn't be happier to do so. Reverend Horton Heat is one of those bad ass bands that every music lover should get to see once. To enter to win tickets just email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Reverend Horton Heat in the subject. We will email one lucky person back the morning of the show and their name will be on the guest list plus one for the show that night. Good luck!

~S

Traits Album Release Show at The Loving Touch This Friday!!!

There are many things that I like about The Loving Touch, but the fact you can get in to most of their shows for under $5 is definitely on top of the list. While ticket prices and cover charges keep going up at other venues, The Loving Touch has been bringing good lineups through and rarely charge any cover at all. Ever since they opened the place up and put up the new stage I’ve really enjoyed seeing shows there and they have been bringing decent bands through on a consist basis.

This Friday they have another solid lineup and true to form they aren't charging any cover at all. Traits will be playing alongside Le Voyage and Awesome Jarvis & The Whales. Traits was recently featured on 89.3 FM and they have a great live recording up on their site that you can check out here along with a few rough mixes of  songs that they will be releasing this Friday on their first self titled album. Awesome Jarvis & The Whales can be described as pure funk and you can hear a sample of their music here. And Le Voyage will round out the night nicely with their prog rock sounds that you can hear here.

Traits will be selling thier new album for only $5 and doors for the show are at 8 p.m. The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.

~S

Helping To Save Lives With a Night of Laughter and Fun

Approximately 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year. The sad fact is that most of us know someone that has taken their own life. After a staple in the Detroit music scene passed away in 2012, Katie Hardy, along with Jenn Koss and friends, decided that something needed to be done about this. She formed a group called Suck It Suicide that's purpose is to provide awareness about suicide and support to those in need.

This Saturday night Suck It Suicide is having a fundraising event that is sure to lift some spirits. Nine comedians are coming together at Small's in Hamtramck for a night of fun and laughter. Admission is only $5 with all proceeds going to help people in need and families that have lost a loved one to suicide and need support. Since this group and these ladies have such big hearts, they have also decided to use this event to help out in another way. At the comedy show there will also be a drive for items that will help keep the homeless warm during this extremely cold winter. They will be collecting warm blankets/sleeping bags, emergency blankets, scarves, hats, warm socks, and soft pre-packaged snack food. The best part is that if you bring items to donate, Suck It Suicide will give you a shirt for free. It's really a win win, you'll be helping others through your donation and then you get a free shirt with a sweet design that also helps support this foundation and spread awareness. So, I guess that actually makes it a win win win situation.

Doors to Small's open at 8 p.m. on Saturday and the show will begin at 9. The lineup of comedians for the evening includes Ray Hollifield, Laura Witkowski, Heather Kozlakowski, Hailey Zureich, Bruce Pych, Blain Hill, Ben Langworthy, Justin McLeod and John Mahar. For more information on Suck It Suicide head over to their Facebook page.

White Shag is Throwing You a Birthday Party!!!

Who doesn't love birthdays? They're the perfect excuse to party and the start to a new year full of fun. This Friday night at the New Way Bar is your chance to come out and celebrate EVERYBODY's birthday!

The Birthday Show is a party put on by White Shag and it's in its second year. The band started this fun event last year as a way to celebrate the three members' (Laura Mendoza, Jorge Cortez and Joe Leone) birthdays. It was then expanded into a birthday celebration for everyone who has ever been born. It doesn't matter if your birthday just passed or it isn't until August, you are celebrating it this Friday night. Did you have a crappy birthday party that no one showed up to last year? Don't worry, you're going to have a great one this week! And no one's going to want to miss out on this one.

White Shag will be providing the tunes for this bash along with their pal Michael Turner. Showtime in Detroit and Distorted Soul are the sponsors for this event. It's free to get in (because who the hell would make people pay to get into a birthday party???) and there will be cake and party favors! So get your friends together and head out to the New Way in Ferndale Friday. Just don't show up in your birthday suit... the bar owners might not be too happy about that. Happy Birthday!!!

~C

An Inside Look at InkAddict's New Home in Ferndale!

This past weekend I went on a trek across Ferndale to pick up some of the prizes that we will be giving away at our Two Year Anniversary Show on February 1st at The Loving Touch. I had a chance to stop by the new InkAddict offices located in Ferndale and get a sneak peak of the companies future.

InkAddict moved into this location a few months ago and they are growing by the day. The space is huge and beautiful and will one day feature an actual store front where you can go purchase InkAddict apparel in person instead of having to catch them at a festival/convention or order online. They have two giant screen printing machines that are knocking out new designs everyday. There was even someone working on Saturday to keep up with the orders. They are shipping out multiple trucks worth of merchandise every day and making tattoo lovers across the globe happy with their well made shirts, hoodies, undies, hats, leggings and more. They have a full kitchen, a bad ass main office with a large meeting table and windows over looking the screen pressing machines. They also have lots of smaller offices to house the over 20 employees they now have working with them. The retail space is already painted and features wooden floors with a very clean and simple look to it. 

One of the owners Jim Doyon, walked me through and explained the vision for the space. Someday this will be a place for their sponsored tattoo artists to do guest features and to show off some of their art. They may even lease out a few offices in the building to other creative business looking to get a start, but for now it's all up in the air.

I loved checking out all the new designs and will be buying a new hoodie with the gold lettering the next time I get paid. I love my InkAddict hoodie, wash after wash and wear after wear its holding up better than any other hoodie I have ever over worn. The gold shines so brightly that it caught my eye from across the room and my first thought was, "I must have it." My favorite thing about their clothing is that it is made on soft materials that I feel good wearing all day. 

I'm extremely happy to see a Michigan based company doing so well and expanding. When you make a good product and do good business you get good results. They gave us quite a few things to give away in our prize packs, so head out on the 1st to enter to be one of the lucky winners! Keep an eye out for the retail location to open soon and, when it does, we will get a camera in there and show all of you how nice this place really is. In the meantime, head over to their website and get a little something for yourself. I promise that you will be happy with whatever you get, this brand and this company are legit.

~S

Talking wth Undesirable People About Their Tour Kickoff and “Former Self/Current State”

We met the boys from Undesirable People a little over a year ago when they opened for Wilson. We dug their sound and had a chance to talk to them during the show. They were charming and funny, check that old interview out here. Time has passed and they have recorded a new EP and booked a small Midwest tour that will kickoff this Wednesday, January 15th at the Yonka House.

The Yonka House is a DIY house/venue that is attempting to bring back the old school house show. They will be playing alongside Haunted House, Left of the Dial, and Private Parts. The Yonka House is located at 20483 Yonka Street in Detroit. The show is $5 at the door and all ages are welcome to come out and party.

We asked the boys a few questions about the new album and the tour and they were just as witty and charming as the last time. Check out what they had to say and head out to the Yonka House this Wednesday at 8 to help the boys kick off their tour on a high note.

Hip In Detroit- Why did you name your new EP Former Self/Current State?
Undesirable People- "I think we all really liked the idea behind “Former Self/Current State” because the concept meant so many different things to us as a band & just being people on this planet. In life, you try to propagate and reach beyond what you’ve known or where you’ve been. But you’re always told to embrace your past. Most of the time, you fill it with regret or despair. In a musical sense, that is how we felt as a band. We wanted to gap these two periods of our existence to reflect on and create the sound for this EP."

Hip In Detroit- How does this recording differ from the last two releases?
Undesirable People- "This recording was a whole new experience for us as a band. We recorded these four songs comfortably in a basement with our friend, Jan Calo. The overall environment and vibe in a sense shaped the final product. The biggest thing for us was recording all guitars, bass, and drums live. It really brought on a raw element and a different feeling for the EP. We even opted out of using click track on a few songs just to see how it would feel. I guess you could consider it a experiment for us. Simply trying new methods of recording until we can one day define our sound."

Hip In Detroit- How long did it take you to record this EP? What was the most difficult part?
Undesirable People- "Since we had the chance to record everything but vocals all at once, it only took us a few hours to cut all four songs. Spent a solid day recording vocals and playing around with a violin bow. The scariest part is there was truly nothing difficult about the process, it was a very laid back session for us."

Hip In Detroit- Tell us about your 5 stop tour kicking off at the Yonka House on the 15th. Will you all be driving in a van? Will you be pulling a trailer? What are the sleeping arrangement plans?
Undesirable People- "We’re doing a small Midwest run in January. The kick off show will feature our friends in Private Parts, Left Of The Dial and Haunted House. This run is a bit overdue and we can’t wait to see a lot of people we haven’t seen in a while & of course meet more. Here’s the dates:

1/15 - Detroit, MI - Yonka House
1/16 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Waffle Haus
1/17 - New Haven, IN - The Den
1/18 - Kent, OH - Euro Gyro
1/19 - Toledo, OH - The Ottawa Tavern

The old girl, Big Red (our van), will be towing the trailer. Our sleeping arrangement is usually unknown. It typically consists of 5 filthy men sweating, singing tunes and cuddling until we pass out wherever. We recently pulled out 2 benches in our van and added a N64. So we will most definitely be playing Mario Kart."

Hip In Detroit- Tell us about the Yonka House itself, what kind of venue is this?
Undesirable People- "The Yonka House is a DIY house/venue ran by our dear friend, Maxwell. He brings through a lot of out of state bands for the love of it. The Michigan music scene obviously needs more of this, so be sure to support all of his shows."

Hip In Detroit- What is the bands New Year's Resolution?
Undesirable People- "Continue to work on new songs. Do a full US tour. Hopefully get our music to other continents. Maybe grow out our hair..."

~S