Chatting with Shaun Cooper of Taking Back Sunday & Quinn Allman of The Used Before They Head to Detroit!

There are some bands that you hear once and you're hooked. For me, that band was Taking Back Sunday. I first heard them at CBGB's in New York about 12 years ago when they opened for Grade. It was just before they released Tell All Your Friends on Victory Records. I picked up their 5 song demo and it was quite some time before it left my CD player. Since then, this band has grown immensely in popularity with major record deals and sold out concerts around the world. I have every album and have seen them live countless times. You can probably say I'm a super fan. So you can bet your ass that I'll be at their show this Sunday, April 6th at The Fillmore!

Taking Back Sunday will be heading to town on a co-headlining tour with The Used, another band that has tons of fans that have remained loyal over the years. The success of both of these bands has lasted for over a decade, which is quite the feat now-a-days. And, neither band seems to be going away anytime soon! Both just released new full length albums. Taking Back Sunday's Happiness Is is out now and The Used's album Imaginary Enemy is set to be released on April 1st, but you can preview it online here.

The co-headlining tour kicked off a couple of weeks ago and has been selling out shows across the country. That goes for the Detroit show too, so we know we're not the only ones that are super excited about seeing these bands! If you weren't lucky enough to get tickets, earlier in the day Taking Back Sunday fans can head over to Fishbones for a FREE acoustic performance thanks to 89X. This show is all ages, but it is first come first serve. So, even though it starts at 5 p.m., you'll probably want to get there way earlier to get in the door. You can get more info on that event here.

Since we're so stoked about this show, we decided why not talk to the guys in the bands. So, we had the honor to chat via email with Shaun Cooper of Taking Back Sunday and Quinn Allman of The Used. Check out what they had to say.

INTERVIEW WITH SHAUN COOPER, BASSIST - 

TAKING BACK SUNDAY

Photo Credit: Natalie Escobedo

HID- It has been a couple of years since the Tell All Your Friends lineup reunited. How is it being in a band together again?
Shaun- "Like the great Garth Algar stated, 'It's like a new pair of underwear, ya know? At first it's constrictive but after a while it becomes a part of you.'"

HID- You guys did some recording for your new album Happiness Is in Fenton, MI. Why did you record there? What did you do on your free time while you were in Fenton?
Shaun- "That is where Marc Hudson's studio Rancho Recordo is located. We didn't have much free time but we did get a few workouts in, in the backyard. Eddie managed to watch 22 episodes of The Mindy Project over the course of 2 days. That was pretty cool."

HID- You've already released two music videos for songs off the new album. Who did you work with on these and did you really shoot and complete them as quickly as it seems?
Shaun- "Djay Brawner directed "Flicker, Fade" Evan Brace directed "Stood a Chance". These videos were shot probably quicker than you could imagine."

HID- You guys really tour a lot. There are breaks here and there, but you've been pretty consistent over the years. How is tour different now that you have families of your own compared to when you were starting out?

Shaun- "Leaving home is definitely a lot harder now. We are a lot more relaxed than we used to be. We also enjoy eachother’s company more than ever. The band and our crew are definitely our second families."

HID- Are you excited to hit the road with your friends in The Used?

Shaun- "You betcha!"

HID- You guys have played a ton of different venues in Detroit, The Shelter, The Magic Stick, St. Andrew’s Hall and The Fillmore, just to name a few. Do you have a favorite?

Shaun- "The Shelter always has a special place in my heart as I believe it was the first place we ever played in Detroit. The Fillmore is definitely the most comfortable and best sounding venue in Detroit."

HID- Anywhere you're looking forward to making a stop at while in Detroit?

Shaun- "We usually don't have much time to do any sightseeing. I'm just excited for the show. Detroit crowds are really second to none."

HID- What bands have you been listening to a lot lately?

Shaun- "Against Me! "Transgender Dysphoria Blues", The Lawrence Arms "Metropole", and I know I'm late to the party, but I just got into the Bon Iver self-titled record.

HID- When you released Tell All Your Friends back in 2002, did you think Taking Back Sunday would still be at it over 10 years later?

Shaun- "Absolutely not. That record came out in March of 2002. I figured we'd be able to score a few tours to keep us busy through that summer then in the fall I'd go back to school. 12 years later we have our 6th album coming out. Most days I have to pinch myself to make sure this isn't a dream. If it is, I don't want to wake up. I can't believe my life went exactly as I had planned it when I was 6 or 7 years old."

HID- Any advice to other bands on how to stick it out as long as you have?

Shaun- "Persistence pays."

HID- What’s next for Taking Back Sunday?

Shaun- "Lots more touring, hopefully many more records. I never want this to end."

INTERVIEW WITH QUINN ALLMAN, GUITAR & VOCALS - 

THE USED

Photo Credit: Kane Hibberd 

HID- You recently released a music video for the track “Cry” off your new album Imaginary Enemy. Where was it shot at? Can you explain the concept behind it?
Quinn- "We shot the video in LA... surprise I know. But we wanted to profile a post apocalyptic world where truth and love are seen to flourish after the fact."

HID- It seems like you guys have been touring non stop over the last couple of years. What is it like being on the road so much?
Quinn- "It’s beyond words. It’s amazing and inspiring, it's challenging and sometimes difficult to leave your family and life at home. After this long, it’s both easy and harder than ever."

HID- Do you have a favorite city to play in?
Quinn- "Personally I think Australia is my favorite place to play. Sydney. Good people down there."

HID- Why did Ryan Logan get to come on stage and scream with Bert the last time you were in town? What’s the story there?
Quinn- "Ryan is a long time good friend of ours."

HID- Are you excited to hit the road with your friends in Taking Back Sunday?
Quinn- "Yes. These guys are some of the most down to earth, humble, and talented people we’ve ever toured with. Great guys."

HID- The Used has a pretty loyal fan base. Are there any crazy fan stories that stick out in your head? Or maybe a favorite tattoo in homage to the band?
Quinn- "Our fans are incredible! Every single one of them. We’ve seen fans overcome suicide, depression, drugs, abuse… inspiring them to follow their dreams. The amount of love for that is endless."

HID- What bands have you guys been listening to a lot lately?
Quinn- "Tame Impala, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, all the classics."

HID- Any advice to other bands on how to stick it out as long as you guys have?
Quinn- "There’s a clear distinction between “music” and “music business”. To have success in music is to learn and love and appreciate the whole process. It’s not about money, it’s about making music, playing, recording and the fun that comes along with it. Treat your fans good, be a good listener and the match is lit. Whether it starts a forest fire is out of your hands."


Taking Back Sunday and The Used will be playing with Tonight Alive and Sleepwave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on the 6th and all ages are welcome. The Fillmore is located at 2115 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

~C

Great Eats at Republica in Berkley

Until recently I didn't know much about the city of Berkley. I went to the Front every once in awhile to see a band play, but that was about it. Recently, a bunch of people I know started moving into the area, it seems that a lot of of couples are choosing to settle down in Berkeley after they have children. The city is known for having an excellent school system, but is still a hip enough area to go out on the town after the kiddies fall asleep. There are all sorts of new restaurants and bars popping up in the area and one of those new places is a small space called Republica.

I recently visited the restaurant for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. The food was excellent and so was the space. The menu was enticing and offered gluten free and vegetarian options.I had to order the special house fries, which are covered in feta cheese and oregano. I've never seen this done before and wasn't sure how it would taste. It is now my favorite way to eat fries and I keep dreaming about going back and getting them again. I tried the salmon over spinach because it was on special for the night, but there were all sorts of items that I wanted to try, including the gluten free lobster grits with parmesan cheese. Doesn't that sound like it would be amazing? I drank Moscow Mules with my meal and the drinks didn't disappoint. The restaurant also features lots of specialty beers, but I myself am not a beer drinker so I stuck to the liquor.

Republica is located at 1999 Coolidge Hwy., Berkley, MI 48072. For a full menu you can click here. My friend and I really enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to going back. I highly suggest giving it a try if you are in the area!

~S

Celebrate 20 Years of Cass Cafe Saturday Night!

This weekend marks the 20th Anniversary of one of the best restaurants in Midtown, Cass Cafe. Located at 4620 Cass Ave. this restaurant not only serves great food, but also is known for displaying local art on the walls. In honor of their milestone anniversary, Cass Cafe is having an art opening this weekend. "Twenty Years Against The Wall" will showcase art collected by the owners Chuck Roy and Diana May over the last 20 years. A wide range of Detroit artists will have pieces featured, including Robert Sestok, Mary Fortuna, Gilda Snowden, Jerome Ferretti, Bradley Jones, Leni Sinclair, Gary Grimshaw, Mark Arminski, Gary Eleinko, Paul Schwartz, John Bell, Eric Fogle, just to name a few. 

On top of the art opening, the Cafe will also feature music by DJs Daniel Kroha and Richie Wohlfeil. As always, there will be a full bar available and delicious food (until 10 p.m.). You can check out the food and drink menu here. The festivities kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday evening. For more details, visit Cass Cafe on Facebook or check out the event page here. If you've never been to Cass Cafe before, check out our review here. 

~C

SICK Benefit for Covenant House Michigan

When I was 15, I was lost. I was a weird punk rock girl with pink hair and my parents did not understand me at all. I was lucky enough to have a best friend named Christie. Christie's mom pretty much let me live at their house from the ages of 13 to 16. I have always felt lucky to know that these two ladies had my back and gave me a place to go when I was arguing about clothes, music, and parties with my parents. My arguments were petty, but some families have to deal with much bigger problems. Sometimes kids have to get away from a bad situation and they don't have anyone to turn to or any place to go.

Covenant House was created for children and young adults ages 13-22. It is a place for people “who have no where else to go”. Kids who come to Covenant House have been abused, neglected, and at times homeless. The Home provides food, shelter, education, and vocational programs for these at risk youth and gives them a chance to do something positive with their lives. Covenant House is a non-profit organization.They state that 90% of the money that they raise goes directly to the people that they serve and is used as efficiently as possible. They are a very positive organization that has already changed over 54,000 people's lives since 1997.

This Saturday SÏCK, 500 Club, Le Voyage, Seven Birds One Stone, and Emily Rose will all be performing at the New Dodge to benefit the charity. They are asking for a donation of $5 at the door and 100% of the proceeds for the night will go directly to Covenant House Michigan. The New Dodge is located at 8850 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck. Doors for the event open at 8 p.m. To learn more about Covenant House go to www.covenanthousemi.org. To learn more about this benefit show, go to the Facebook event page here. 

~S

A Great Reason to Head Out to Brush Park or Check It Out for the First Time!

Photo Credit: Sadie Quagliotto

Last spring a few people started digging when the snow melted in Detroit. By the time summer came around they had worked together to build a DIY BMX park in Detroit.

Brush Park BMX was one of our favorite places to hang out last summer. Christie and I would go up to the park with friends to watch the guys ride, to get a tan, to work on cleaning and maintaining the space, and to have picnics before we went out on the town. Sometimes the place would be packed and sometimes you had the space all to yourself. I mean, essentially they took over an abandoned park and made it their own and we all got to enjoy the spoils. I wondered if the guys would come together this year and keep it going and I was pleased to find out that they intend to do so. This winter was harsh and the space is going to need a lot of work, but at least we don't have to knock down dead trees this time around! 

It's a little early to dig or ride, but it's not too early to get out there and make a plan for the next year. The guys are planning to have demos at the park this Friday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. as part of North American Bicycle Week. They are not sure how many tricks they can do on the course right now, but they should be able to do some stuff on the street. They may even bring ramps out. This would be a great way for anyone who wanted to be part of the park to come out and meet the guys. They are going to need a lot of help to get the park ready in the next few weeks and we would love to have all of you that love bikes be part of it!

Brush park is located at 256 Adelaide in Detroit. Check out this video our friend Jeff Tabb made to learn more about the park!

Brush Park BMX from Jeff Tabb on Vimeo.

~S

Friday Night at The Old Miami

There is a solid lineup at The Old Miami this Friday that we think you should consider checking out. Our Hamtramck Fest favorites Radio Burns are playing with The ILL Itches, YUM, and The Cheetahs.

We fell in love with Radio Burns a few months ago and loved their set a few weeks ago at The Painted Lady. If you missed that show, check out a song below.

The ILL Itches are another fav for us, heck we even had them open our infamous 2 Year Anniversary Party a few months back and did a horrible drunken interview with the boys at last years Blowout in Ferndale!

YUM is another band that's been on our radar the past couple of months. We caught them at Secret Friends Fest and at The Hamtramck Fest and liked what we saw both times. But then again, there is a talented little lady fronting the band. So it's no surprise that we would dig the band!

The show is only $5 and promises to be a good time. The Old Miami is located at 3930 Cass Ave. in Detroit.

~S 

Awesome Lineup for the Break Anchor Tour Kickoff Show!!!

I just sat down to write about Break Anchor's Tour Kickoff show and wasn't aware of the lineup until I checked the invite. When I saw who was playing I realized that this one sells itself so I'm basically just doing a public service announcement to tell all my little punk rockers where to be this Friday.

Break Anchor will be kicking off their next tour with none other than Against The Grain, S.U.B., Nice Hooves, and S.B.L.C. Let me break this down for you. Break Anchor a.k.a. one of the best bands in town is playing with some of the best acts that Detroit has to offer. Against the Grain are masters of their instruments and Dave Graw is one of the best frontmen Michigan has ever seen. Combine all that greatness with some solid solid punk and you are set.

The best part is that this is an old fashioned house show. That's right, Jay isn't fucking around, at the end of the day he still prefers a basement show to the big stage. The Yonka House is located at 20483 Yonka St. in Detroit. Cover is 7 bux. Make sure to be cool and be respectful, we've seen too many party houses fall in the last year and we want to see this one stick around.

Don't forget to give Break Anchor your support in winning this year’s People's Choice Award at The DMA’s. Voting ends this week and you can vote once a day until then. To cast your vote, click here.

~S

El Dee "Endearment" Release Show & Album Giveaway!

I'm a sucker for good looking women who can sing. Let's just say having a female front woman is a quick way to my heart, and unfortunately I’m more likely to check your band out if their is a luscious lady in the lineup.

That's why when I got a copy of El Dee’s first album called Endearment that is being released this Saturday at The Loving Touch, I immediately gave it a listen instead of putting it into the pile of things I need to check out. The album was nothing like I expected, mostly because the only time I saw this band play before listening to the album was seeing them cover No Doubt at this past Creepy Cheapy. The singer, Lauren Deming,  must of really had to psych herself up to pretend she as Gwen because she is much more of a sultry singer than a push up doing punk rocker. At times, this reminds me of Fiona Apple, which is a huge compliment in my book.

The band is hoping that you'll come out for their debut this weekend. They will be playing alongside The Cold Wave and Psalm. There is no cover charge for coming to check out the show and doors open at 8 p.m. 

We asked El Dee to send us a copy of the new album to giveaway to our readers. So, if you’d like to check out Endearment, send your name and address to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will choose a winner at the end of the week and mail them a copy of the album along with some swag. If you're looking for a great place to kick back with a strong drink and hear some soothing music this Saturday, head out to this show!

~S

Get Ready for NO AM Bicycle Week & Slow Roll - Interview with Jason & Mike of Detroit Bike City

Slow Roll has become one of the most popular events of the summer. Every Monday people head down to Detroit with their bikes and go for a ride through the streets of the City. What started as a group of a bout 10 friends going for a weekly bike ride, has grown into a group of thousands of people from all walks of life joining together to ride.

Although many people have heard of Slow Roll, they don't know about the group behind these weekly rides. Detroit Bike City is an organization that is dedicated to promoting cycling in the City of Detroit. Jason Hall and Mike MacKool formed Detroit Bike City from a bicycle club they started called Bikes & Murder. The organization has grown over the years and now provides a ton of different rides and events, but their biggest event of all is coming up this week.

Thursday thru Sunday, March 27-30, marks the North American Bicycle Week. Being referred to as NO AM Bike Week, these 4 days will be full of events, bike rides, demonstrations and the Detroit Bike City Expo at City Hall. Basically, bicycles will be taking over Detroit this weekend. Not only will they be taking over Detroit, but Windsor too! There are a ton of cool things going on in conjunction with this event, but a few that stuck out to us are demos at Brush Park BMX on Friday, the Tweed City Charity Party at Cobo, the first Slow Roll of the season, and of course, the Expo on Saturday. The Detroit Bike City Expo at Cobo Hall runs from 10 a.m. 'til 6 p.m. on Saturday and features bike shops, seminars, and booths featuring pretty much everything Detroit. But, after the Expo is probably the event that we are most excited about; The Aftermarket.
The official Detroit Bike City after party is being held at Eastern Market in Shed 3. There will be bike ramps, vendors, a full bar, and music by Guilty Simpson, Stuck Lucky and The Suicide Machines! Tickets for the Expo are $12 with kids 12 and under free and they can be purchased here. Tickets to the after party can be picked up online here for $12 or you can pay $15 at the door. Proceeds from this event will go towards improving the bike infrastructure in Detroit. Check out a full schedule of NO AM Bike Week Events here!

There are so many great things going on as part of NO AM Bicycle Week and all year long thanks to Detroit Bike City. We wanted to find out more about the organization and the guys behind it. So we sat down with Jason and Mike at the Lager House to find out how the group started and learn more about Slow Roll and NO AM Bike Week. Check out what they had to say.

If you made it all the way to the end of the video, you heard Jason & Mike right. They are awesome enough to let us give away a pair of tickets to The Aftermarket the Detroit Bike City Expo After Party! To enter to win, email us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with Aftermarket in the subject and your name in the body. If you want to double your chances to win, head over to our Facebook and share the flyer for the show. Make sure you click "share" so we can see that you did though!

This party is going to be huge and so is NO AM Bike Week! So bust out your bicycle and get to some of these events this weekend! For all of the details on Detroit Bike City, the Expo, Slow Roll, and NO AM Bicycle Week, make sure you "like" Detroit Bike City on Facebook or visit them at detroitbikecity.org.

~C

A Night of Moonshine & Music Presented by Ole Smoky

Moonshine to many is a drink of the past. The strong booze was made by rebels years ago in bathtubs and whiskey barrels. Up until recently the only talk of Moonshine was in stories about our elders getting wacky off "the hooch". Well, in the last few years this drink has grown in popularity, with people beginning to make their own and now there are even a handful of companies producing this drink. It's becoming more and more common to see mason jars of assorted Moonshine at your corner liquor store or even in the booze aisle at big box stores like Target.

Although there are quite a few Moonshine producers popping up, one that we have been hearing a lot about is Ole Smoky. Distilled in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this brand is growing in popularity and showing up in bars across the country. If you haven't tried it yet, it's time that you do. In fact, this Thursday at The Loving Touch is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Thursday night Ole Smoky Moonshine is throwing an event called Shine on Locals. This is the second time that Ole Smoky has taken over The LT and they plan to do it every month. There will be infused Moonshine shot specials, the Ole Smoky girls will be handing out free swag, and there will be live music from The Vonneguts and Double Weirdo. Entry is completely free and the fun starts at 10 p.m.

So, tell your boss you'll be in late on Friday and head out to The Loving Touch on Thursday night for some fun! For more details on this event, visit the Facebook event page here.

~C

Videos from James Linck's Album Release Show!

Last Thursday we visited The Lager House for James Linck’s album release. The night included performances by Tunde Olaniran, Passalacqua, and a set by Chris Jarvis. There were also guest appearances by Doc Waffles, Eddie Logix, and Little Animal. The Lager House was packed wall to wall and people seemed to have a blast. Tunde was a trooper and instead of canceling his show, he played an excellent set with a 101 degree fever. We got a few highlights of the night on film including a live performance of “Lights on Rider Anthem”, an interview with Mister and Blaksmith of Passalacqua, and a post show interview with a slightly hammered James Linck and Chris Jarvis. 

The coolest thing about this group of performers is that they support each other like family. When they all get together you can feel the power that music can have in Detroit. It can bring groups of people from all different backgrounds to the same place to have a good time. 

James' latest record, Fortress of Solitude, was released on New Fortune Records. They were kind enough to not only give us a copy for our collection, but they gave us a copy to give away to our readers! The album comes in a few different colors and each one has a different splash of color in the vinyl. This is the latest in a long line of great records that New Fortune has put out by Detroit artists. To enter to win the album and some Hip In Detroit swag, please email your full name and address to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw a winner and send them their goodies via snail mail. 

Thanks for having us out to the show and showing us such a great time!

~S

Win Tickets to The Julie Ruin at The Loving Touch!

In 1997 Kathleen Hanna took a break from Bikini Kill and put out a solo album called Julie Ruin. She attempted to form a live group to play those songs and instead ended up forming Le Tigre. That first Le Tigre album is one of my all time favorite records and Kathleen is a musical genius as far as I'm concerned. Years later, in 2010 she reopened her musical vault and finally put together a group with Kathi Wilcox, Kenny Mellman, Carmine Covell and Sara Landeau appropriately called The Julie Ruin. They played their first show in Brooklyn, New York in 2010 and their first album as a band was released in 2013, entitled Run Fast. 

The Julie Ruin are coming to Detroit to play The Loving Touch on April 8th alongside Screaming Females. Hearing that Kathleen Hanna is in the band is enough to get me to the show, but in case you need a little more of a push, we are giving away one set of tickets. To enter to win, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will email one lucky person a few days before the show and their name will be on the guest list plus one. 

Check out The Julie Ruin's video for “Oh Come On” and come out next Tuesday to see them live.

 

For more information and updates on this show RSVP on the Facebook event page here. To purchase tickets online click here.

~S

Marche de le Nain Rouge

Some people swear there is a curse on the city of Detroit and it’s hard not to agree with them at times. We are a city that has seen its string of bad luck, but were also a city of people who refuse to give up. The legend of the Nain Rouge is a perfect example of Detroiters taking action against even the toughest odds. 

In 1702 Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac the french founder of Detroit claimed he was having dreams of a little red devil. He went to see a fortune teller and was told that devil that he dreamt of was the Nain Rouge, also known as the harbinger of doom. The fortune teller told Antoine that if he choose to settle in the straits between Michigan and Ontario he might turn a profit, but it would be a long uphill battle fraught with setbacks. Eventually, Cadillac saw the little red devil in person and instead of running or cowering in fear he chose to confront him, he chased the Nain Rouge away with a stick. His fatal mistake was to let the Nain see his face. The Nain continued to taunt him nonstop after he settled in those plains, he eventually had to return to France penniless.

Cadillac had courage against all odds and stood up to fight, a defining characteristic of the city he founded now called Detroit. When Cadillac left for France the Nain Rouge decided to stay on and continue to haunt our city. Every year we gather to chase him out of our city, but we do not make the same mistake that Cadillac made, we remember to cover our faces so that the Nain won't be able to find us when he returns. 

Detroiters, let's meet up this Sunday and chase that little red devil out of our town! If you are ready to stand up for our city, wear your favorite disguise and march up Cass Ave. to chase the Nain Rouge away for another year. We will be meeting in the parking lot of the Traffic Jam located at 511 W. Canfield St. in Detroit at 1 p.m. For details about the marche and to learn more about the events of the day visit http://marchedunainrouge.com/home/marche. No red eyed dwarf with furry boots is going to keep this city down!

~S

Win Tickets to the Kaleido Release Show with Flint Eastwood!

Detroit’s own Kaleido is finally ready to release their latest album called Unbreakable.You can hear their first single “Watch Me Walk Away” and download a copy here. They have teamed up with Flint Eastwood for the albums release party on Saturday, March 29th. There is nothing more inspiring to me than a strong woman and Christina Criss and Jax Anderson are two of the baddest broads around. They both command the stage in a way that only they can and have surrounded themselves with a team of killer musicians to deliver the full package to Detroit next Saturday at the Majestic. Half Light Music and DJ Godfather will also be performing.

Tickets for the show are available for $12 in advance and can be purchased online here.

We also have two pairs of tickets to giveaway to two lucky readers! This time we have hard copies not guest list spots, so we have to do the drawing a little earlier than normal. I will personally draw the winnners a few days before the show and mail out the tickets along with some fun hipindetroit.com swag. To enter, email your full name and address to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Kaleido & Flint Eastwood in the subject line. The show starts at 7 p.m. and all ages are welcome. The Majestic Theatre is located at 4140 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

~S

IllyMack Release Show This Saturday!

IllyMack, a super fun and very talented two piece from Detroit, is getting ready to release some brand new music this weekend! The band consists of Jennifer David on vocals, guitar, keyboard, saxophone and crash cymbal alongside Steve Kendzorski on bass guitar, bass drum and snare. That's a whole lot of instruments for just 2 people! You may have seen this duo last year at DIY or Pig and Whiskey, but this weekend you can catch them in a smaller setting at Nancy Whiskey's.

The duo is throwing a bash this Saturday in honor of the release of a brand new cassette tape. The tape will feature 6 new songs, two of which you can preview on their bandcamp here or you can check out a new track and video below.

Hitting the stage with IllyMack this weekend are Casual Sweetheart and Pretty Ghouls, whom people were raving about at The Hamtramck Music Festival a couple of weeks ago. Entry is completely FREE and doors open at 9 p.m. Nancy Whiskey's is located at 2644 Harrison in Detroit. For more info on this show, head over to the Facebook event page here.

~C

Interview with Mike from The Ataris and Win Tickets to See Them at The Shelter!

There are some bands that definitely take you back to a certain time and place. The Ataris are one of those bands for many twenty somethings and people in their early thirties. When I brought this band up to friends over the past week, the first thing everyone recognized them for was their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys Of Summer". This popular remake was on the band's album So Long, Astoria that was released back in 2003. That album gained the band notoriety, world wide tours, headlining spots on Warped Tour, and a gold record.

It has been about 10 years since So Long, Astoria was first released. The Ataris have put out a handful of albums, had lineup changes and side projects. But now the lineup from this album that made them what they are has reunited to do another tour. They're heading across the country and playing So Long, Astoria in full and they are making a stop in Detroit this Sunday. We got a chance to chat with bass guitarist Mike Davenport from The Ataris before they head to town this weekend. Here's what he had to say:

HID- So, it has been a couple weeks since you kicked off your So Long, Astoria tour. How's it going so far?
Mike- "Amazing really. We are having such a great time and the band is playing so well. Everyone [is] singing all of our songs. We really couldn't have expected this outcome. So fucking cool."

HID- Whose idea was it to do this tour and play So Long, Astoria in full?

Mike- "That was all Kris. He wanted our show on this tour to be special and a challenge to us musically. Playing the album beginning to end has been both."

HID- It has been a while since this lineup toured together. How is it being on the road together again?
Mike- "So fun. We were a band for 11 years and when we called it quits, no doubt we needed a break, but playing together again is amazing. I love and miss my brothers and I am so thankful to have another chance to play with them."

HID- When a friend and I were talking about your band today, one of the memories that stuck out in our head was seeing you at Warped Tour back in the early 2000s. That was right around the time when this album came out. Are there any shows or tour stories that stick out in your head from around that time?
Mike- "'In This Diary' was written about the 2001 Warped Tour. A lot of the lyrics from that song are actual events from that Warped Tour. The best times of our lives."

HID- Any plans to record a new album in the near future?
Mike- "Kris has been having a hard time finishing a new Ataris album so we are gonna try to move him back to Santa Barbara to work with my Versus The World producer Thom Flowers and get a new Ataris album out next year. "

HID- What can fans expect at the Detroit show on the 23rd?
Mike- "The best Ataris show that we have ever presented. We are really focused on our instruments and performances. Do not miss it."

HID- Any favorite places that you need to make a stop at while in Detroit?Mike- "I love me sum Sweetwater Tavern around the corner from St Andrews. That's where you can find me before the show. "

The Ataris will be hitting he stage at The Shelter with their friends Authority Zero, Drag The River and Gasoline Heart. Tickets are $27 in advance and can be purchased online here. But, thanks to our friends at Live Nation we are giving away 2 pairs of tickets to this fun show! To enter to win, just email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with The Ataris in the subject line. You only have about 24 hours to enter though! We will draw our winners on Friday morning. So don't wait! Get your name in the hat now and maybe you'll save yourself some cash and still get to go back to 2003, but for free!

~C

James Linck Vinyl Release Show at PJ's Lager House

Four of my favorite artists in Detroit have teamed up to play the Lager House this Thursday, I swear this show was made for me. Tunde Olaniran, James Linck, Passalacqua, and Chris Jarvis are teaming up to celebrate the release of James’ vinyl version of his last EP The Fortress of Solitude. Jarvis and Linck will also be celebrating the kickoff of a month long tour that they are about to embark on. They need you to come out so that they can earn enough cash to head out and show the rest of America their stuff.

We plan to interview all the acts and get our readers an update on how all the boys are doing, but I am hoping that a lot of you will come out to dance with me. This lineup is guaranteed to get your booty shaking. I even asked my boss if I could come in late the next day so that I could stay out past my week night curfew and not miss a moment of the fun. 

All of these acts are worth the $10 cover charge on their own, so you shouldn't think twice about the door price. Tunde will be selling copies of his highly reviewed new EP Yung Archetype and Passalacqua is finally back out, playing shows, and doing what they were meant to do, perform. Chris will no doubt set a perfect mood for the night, just like he did a few weeks ago in between bands at our two year event. Basically, as far as i'm concerned, this is the best lineup Detroit has seen in a long time and you need to be there. 

Doors for the show are at 8 p.m. and PJ's Lager House is located at 1254 Michigan Ave. in Detroit.

~S

Check Out the First Ever Freep Film Festival & Win Tickets to See "Packard: The Last Shift"

This Thursday kicks off the first ever Freep Film Festival in Detroit. This inaugural event is taking place at The Fillmore and the Detroit Film Theatre inside the DIA and runs from Thursday the 20th thru Sunday the 23rd. The festival will feature film talks, a tour of some of Detroit's theatres,  premieres and screenings of several documentaries about Detroit and Michigan. You can check out the full schedule of events below. 

The first film being shown at the festival is Packard:The Last Shift. The Packard plant in Detroit went up in

1903 and has been used for everything from making cars, to hosting some of the most legendary raves in the 90s. In 2008, director Brian Kaufman decided he needed to tell its story and in 2010 he began filming a documentary about its past. The film uses pictures and videos, past and present, to give viewers an inside look at the history of this space. Packard: The Last Shift will premiere this Thursday, March 20th at The Fillmore. This film takes an interesting look at the Packards decline over the last century and features narration by NPR’s Celeste Headlee. 

Tickets to this screening are $10 for general admission and $25 for VIP seating. They can be purchased through Ticketmaster here. We also have one set of tickets to give away to one of our lucky readers. To win these passes, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line "Packard". We will draw a winner the morning of the show and give them more information on how to claim their prize. This film promises to offer us an inside look at the downfall of a once great facility that was ahead of its time. 

To learn more about the Freep Film Fest check out their website here. For a full list of films and links to purchase tickets to each, click here. 

~S&C

Learn Ableton for Free This Wednesday!

This Wednesday, Axis Music Academy is offering a FREE class that I thought our readers might be interested in checking out. Julliard graduate Ryland Kelly will be teaching attendees what you can do with the recording program Ableton. This class will feature beat making, producing, mixing, DJing, and preforming. It will concentrate on Dubstep, Hip Hop, Pop, House, and more. Mr. Kelly is also proficient in almost every musical instrument out there and is a huge resource for someone trying to improve their music making skills.

The class starts at 8 p.m. and Axis Music is located at 29555 Northwestern Highway in Southfield (next to Guitar Center). To make a reservation please call 248-799-8100. Axis is also a great school for those interested in taking personal one on one lessons. To learn more about this event and the school itself visit there website here.

~S

Win Tickets to See "Filmage: The Story of The Descendants and ALL"

Back in 2010 a crew sat down to start conducting the first of over 50 interviews that would eventually turn into a documentary about The Descendants and All. The filmmakers were fans of the band and thought that their story needed to be examined and filmed. They interviewed the band and lots of music’s heavy hitters, including Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, Mike Watt from the Minutemen, and Brett Gurewitz of Bad Religion.

The product of those interviews is a film being shown this Thursday, March 20th at St. Andrew's Hall called Filamge: The Story of The Descendants/ALL. Tickets for this event are $10 in advance and can be purchased here. But, we were lucky enough to get three pairs of tickets to giveaway to our readers! To enter, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com and include Filmage in the subject line. We will draw the winners before the show and their name will be on the guest list plus one. 

Saint Andrew’s Hall is located at 431 E. Congress in Detroit and doors for the show are at 7 p.m.

~S

Win Tickets to The Mosh Lives Tour at The Magic Stick!

This Wednesday, March 19th mosh lives at the The Magic Stick, The Mosh Lives Tour that is. This tour features Volumes, Thy Art Is Murder, Gideon, Sworn In, Smash Your Enemies and Emmure. This is not a show for the faint of heart, it is going to be a night of loud guitars and even louder drums. The ladies of Black Iris continue to bring in all sorts of music and aren't afraid to go all out and book a super heavy show like this one.

Tickets for the show are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. You can buy them fee free at The Garden Bowl or online here. But, we have one set to give away to one lucky winner! To enter, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw a winner the morning of the show and they will get further guidance about how to claim their prize. In the meantime, visit the band's websites to get a taste of the each one for yourself.

EMMURE: https://www.facebook.com/emmure

VOLUMES: https://www.facebook.com/volumesband

THY ART IS MURDER: https://www.facebook.com/thyartismurder

GIDEON: https://www.facebook.com/GideonAL

SWORN IN: https://www.facebook.com/swornin

SMASH YOUR ENEMIES: https://www.facebook.com/smashyourenemies

~S

Recap of Broadzilla at The Magic Bag

Friday night Broadzilla played at The Magic Bag with an all female Motley Crue cover band called Girls Girls Girls. The place filled up around 9 p.m. and the ladies of Broadzilla hit the stage around 9:30. They played for over 40 minutes and went through their catalog of songs. Guitarist and lead singer Rachel May talked to the crowd in between songs and gave a shout out to fans old and new. The front row was lined with people wearing vintage Broadzilla shirts and a younger female who was looking up to Rachel the way I did 10 years ago. You could tell that she was inspiring a new generation of women to be strong right before my eyes.

 Then, half way through the set the band announced that they had written a new song and wanted to play it for the first time. Rachel said that the song was inspired by none other than Sadie from Hip In Detroit and then she said some positive words about our website and what we do. I have to admit that while I tried to play it cool, this was one of the most surreal experiences of my life. To have people that you respect give you that respect back is so fulfilling.

You cannot deny the power in these women. From the way that they play their instruments to the power of Miss May's voice, it's easy to see why they have lasted over 18 years and won so many awards. When Rachel solos on guitar, it is literally music to my rock and roll ears. She has such a stage presence and reminds me of why I fell in love with music in the first place. A passion that was laying dormat inside me was awoke at that moment, I remeberbed who I am and why I love Detroit so much. I remembered that there are other people who feel the way I do and are willing to fight for this city and its music scene. 

Rachel, Kim, and Angie, thanks for having us out to the show and for being the amazing women that you are. I hope to see you back on stage soon, but in the meantime, its going to be a long time before I can pull your album off my player. Check out some live videos from the show and get out there and support local music, Detroit!

Videos Courtesy of Matt Moy

~S

How To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day 2014!

The grass may not be green yet, but this weekend the beer will be! St. Patrick's Day falls on Monday this year, which means there are tons of parties going on all weekend long! It can often be difficult to decide where you should go get your fill of Irish Whiskey and green beer, so we decided to make the choice a little easier for you.

Photo Borrowed from Detroit St. Patrick's Parade's Facebook Page

First, the biggest and most important St. Patty's Day celebration of them all is the Detroit St. Patrick's Parade. This annual tradition is in it's 56th year. The parade will kick off in Corktown at Noon on Sunday, March 16th. Irish Families, Irish Dogs, Bar Buses, Bagpipers and maybe even some of your favorite Star Wars characters will march down Michigan Ave. from 6th to 14th Street. This parade gets pretty packed! So make sure you head out early to find a parking space and join in on the festivities!

In conjunction with the parade, many bars and businesses throughout Corktown will be having bashes of their own. A couple that stuck out from the crowd were PJ's Lager House, Corktown Tavern and Two James Spirits.

PJ's Lager House will be right at the front of the parade route. They'll be kicking things off at 10 a.m. with live music from Stone Clover before the parade starts. Then after the parade, Bill Grogan's Goat will hit the stage at 2 p.m.


This is the first time Two James is joining in on the fun. They will have heated beer tents with taps from Atwater, Motor City Brewing Works and Guiness along side their delicious whiskey, gin and vodka. There will also be live music by RootStand.




Corktown Tavern will be right in the middle of it all with 94.7 WCSX on hand, a huge heated tent, and live music by The Beggars and The Kreellers. Both of these bands are guaranteed to get everyone feeling a little Irish! To top it off, Howling Diablos will hit the stage too!




On the actual holiday, we all know there will be parties EVERYWHERE! Pretty much every bar will be covered in green garb and green drinks. A few bars that you may want to check out are:

Old Shillelagh - They are throwing a bash from Friday 'til late on Monday. There will be live music, Irish food, a photo booth and on Monday there will be a beer tent. The tent will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, but the bar will open its doors early at 7. Plus, the Old Shillelagh is offering a shuttle on parade day and limo service so you don't have to worry about having a DD. For a full list of happenings click
here.

Kuhnhenn Brewing Company - If you're looking to party in the 'burbs this
St. Patty's Day, this is one of the spots that tops our list. Afterall, you're already going to be in the city on Sunday for parade day. This great brewery will also be partying all weekend long with live music and food from Detroit BBQ Company, Flora's Village Kitchen and the St. Anne's Fish Fry. But, the biggest reason to head out to Warren happens on St. Patty's Day. Kuhnhenn's opens early at 7 a.m. and will be serving up 6 Breakfast themed beers and then at 9 they will have an awesome complimentary breakfast buffet! Can't beat that!

I suppose we'd be remiss if we didn't pick one bar in Ferndale for you to party at, since so many of our readers live there. Although all of our regular favorites will still have booze on Monday, the huge St. Patty's Day party that tons of people will be flocking to Ferndale for will be at Rosie O'Grady's. They'll have a heated tent with bands and there will be DJs inside the bar. The party will go from 8 a.m. 'til 2 a.m. with Irish Dancers, Green Brews, Bagpipers, and a Breakfast Buffet for $5. So you can head to Rosie's and get your fill of St. Patty's Day and a full belly, then stumble down the sidewalk and hit all of your favorite bars on the walk home.

Where ever you end up this St. Patrick's Day, we hope you have a great time! Please party responsibly though. We don't want any of you to end up behind bars and we definitely want to see all of your pretty faces again soon! So drink 'em up, but don't drink and drive. Cheers!

~C

Awesome Jarvis & The Whales CD Relase Show Tonight at PJ's Lager House!

Tonight's the night! Fans of Detroit Rockers Awesome Jarvis & The Whales can finally get their hands on the band's first full length album. Ride The Whale is being released on Funky D Records, which is headed by Tino Gross of The Howling Diablos. In celebration of the new album, the band will be hitting the stage at PJ's Lager House Friday night with Mega Weedge and Woven Tangles.

Awesome Jarvis is a five piece funky garage rock band fronted by Chris Tomko on vocals, Bryan Wietecha and Ben Kay on guitar, Emily Wietecha on Bass and Drummer Phil Giannotta. The band has only been around since the Summer of 2012, but in their year and a half of existence they have managed to put out an EP entitled Worse Things Have Happened and play numerous shows around town with bands like The Royal Blackbirds, Fires In Japan, Silent Lions and The ILL Itches. If you want to get a feel for this band's sound, check them out on Reverbnation here. They only have songs from their EP up on there though! So if you want to hear songs off of the new album, you'll have to head out to the Lager House tonight!

Doors will open at 8 p.m. and it's only $5 to get in the door. Funky D Records' own Linda Lexy will be your hostess for the evening. For more info on this show, head over to the Facebook event page here. To hear a special message from Chris on why you should go to this show, watch the video below.

~C