It is So Hard to Say Goodbye to The Swellers!

One of my all time favorite bands to come out to Michigan/ Metro Detroit is The Swellers. They have been around for over 10 years and played all over the world. Their 2007 album My Everest will always be one of my favorites, although their latest release The Light Under Closed Doors was their best album to date in my opinion. They have played everywhere from Warped Tour to basement shows, and no matter where they took the stage, they killed it. I am truly saddened to hear that they are calling it quits, and at the same time I am looking forward to getting crazy at one last show with all of my friends. They are one of those bands that takes over the room and gets everyone into the moment.

Nick, Jono, Ryan, and Anto are simply good guys who play great music. I am proud to call them friends and it was fun to follow their careers throughout the last 10 years. When they take the stage at the Magic Stick this Saturday, December 6th I will probably cry, just a little bit. It is truly the end of an era. We always morn the loss of the things we love and The Swellers were a band I really loved. But, their music and exceptional lyrics will live on forever. There is however a light at the end of this tunnel,  they have enlisted one of my all time favorite bands, The Fullblast, to reunite for one night to play alongside them. They also have Kid Brother Collective, Loose Planes, and Jono's new band BraidedVeins joining them on stage. I drove to Toronto to see The Fullblast the last time they reunited, so I couldn't be happier to hear that they will be taking the stage in my hometown. I have no doubt that this will be a night to remember.

Tickets for the show are only $10 in advance and can be purchased here. We also have one set of tickets to give away to one lucky reader courtesy of Black Iris Booking. That winner can join us at the show for what I know will be one hell of a memorable night in the city of Detroit. To enter to win a set of tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Farewell to The Swellers in the subject. We will draw one lucky winner the day of the show and send them details on how to claim their prize.

In the mean time, take a look back at The Swellers by checking out some of our previous interviews with the band. We will love you boys forever! Cheers to all of the good times we have had!

~S

Win Tickets to Little Big Town at the Masonic Temple

Little Big Town is a four piece country rock group from Nashville, Tennessee. They recently released their 6th studio album and decided to take a different approach to writing this time around. For this album, all four musicians wrote music separate from the band and brought what they created together to write their newest album Pain Killer. This process worked so well for them that when they were finished they had 23 full songs that they had to cut down to 13 for the release. My favorite song off their latest release is called "Day Drinking". Check out the music video for the song below.

This band knows how to have fun and how to write some really catchy lyrics! The band has strong vocals, great lyrics, and catchy music.

They are currently on tour and will be making a stop in Detroit to play The Masonic Temple. I can only imagine how great this act will sound live in that room. Tickets for the show are only $27 to $42 in advance and can be purchased here. We also have one set of tickets to giveaway to one lucky reader who wants to have a  good time on Thursday, December 4th. To enter to win these tickets you must tweet your full name with the hashtag #ineedapainkiller to @hipindetroit. We will draw a winner the day before the show and give them details on how to claim their prize. Brett Eldredge and Brothers Osborne will  be opening the show which starts at 7:30 p.m. sharp! 

~S

Win Tickets to See Flogging Molly at The Orbit Room in Grand Rapids!

Getting really drunk and dancing the jig is usually associated with St. Patrick's Day, but if you're into punk rock you know that it's also the way that you celebrate Flogging Molly coming to town. This time around the band isn't coming through Detroit, so if you want to join in on the jig you have to drive out to The Orbit Room in Grand Rapids on Friday, December 5th. I personally love going to Grand Rapids to see shows, it's a good excuse to have a meal and a drink at Founders and visit my friends on that side of the state.

This week we have a chance for two lucky readers to win a set of tickets to the show, so that you can spend that cash on the gas to get there. If you're a fan of the band and you haven't experienced them live, you need to make the trek! They are one hell of a live band! To enter to win, just email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Flogging Molly in the subject.

The Orbit Room is located at 2525 Lake Eastbrook Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. Tickets for the show are $40 in advance and can be purchased here.

~S

Win Tickets to See The Gods of Metal: Slayer

Usually when you think of Slayer you thinking of Reign in Blood, but here at HipInDetroit.com we are reign-ing free tickets instead. That's right kids, we have two sets of tickets to see one of the best metal bands in history! You can witness the wall of sound that is Slayer in person on Friday, December 5th at The Fillmore. I'm sure that the stage will be stacked with amps and that your ear drums will be ringing the next day, in other words its going to be really awesome.

Slayer will be playing alongside Suicidal Tendencies and Exodus, which is a solid line-up of awesome if you ask me. Tickets for the show range from $55-$75 and are available for purchase here. You can also email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com if you would like to enter to win one of the sets that we are giving away. Remember to put Slayer in the subject line so we know what contest you're entering. We're also giving away Flogging Molly tickets, so if you were actually entering for Slayer and you win those, you might not be so happy.

The Fillmore is located at 2115 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Slayer is on the verge of releasing some new music, I bet that they will be playing a lot of it at the show. Be the first to see the best!

~S

The New W.A.B. Menu Made our Taste Buds Dance

Last week Christie and I attended a launch party for a new app called Tastemade. This app enables you to make a short one minute video when you are out to eat to share with your friends, family and followers. It is a new way to bring your friends to the dinner table with you.

The launch took place at one of Ferndale's most famous eateries, The Woodward Ave. Brewery. For years this bar/restaurant has been known for brewing up its own beers and serving up some great food, but about 8 months ago they said out with the old and in with the new. They closed down shop and relaunched with an an entirely new menu that was curated by Chef Brent Foster. This new menu was based on an old American staple, pizza and beer, but they do it with a gourmet twist. At the Tastemade event we were able to sample some savory and some sweet treats and we were  more than pleasantly surprised with the spread.

 

The spread included The Supreme Clientele pizza which features pepperoni, prosciutto, smoked mushrooms, red onions, black olives, red sauce and mozzarella cheese. They also had another pizza  called Smells like Florentine Spirit that was topped with smoked chicken, mushrooms, spinach, pesto, and feta. They had a sandwich called The Mary Moon, that included zucchini, artichoke, roasted red pepper, asparagus, pesto, and goat cheese. They also had a special salad called Killer Tomatoes which featured smoked tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil pesto, balsamic glaze, and greens. Desserts included dark chocolate stout cake and a cheese cake topped with strawberries. Drink specials included two beers, one called Custom Blonde and the other was called Burke's Maple Brown. I tried a sample of everything and went up for a second round of the Smells like Florentine Pizza. The pizza and the cheesecake were my favorite two items of the night, and that says a lot because I am not a dessert person, I am usually a carb whore.

I made a quick Tastemade video while I was at the event so that I could share my experience with all of you. Check it out below!

I tried the new menu when it was first released and I liked it, but it is very obvious that Chef Brent Foster plans to continue to up his game because this spread was simply divine. I mean, I liked the cheesecake so much that I couldn't even remember what the name was when I was making the video, I just new that I wanted to eat it! I love this app, I love this resturant, and I had a great time at the party. Kudos to everyone invloved. If you are in the Ferndale area stop in for some pizza and beer that you cannot get anywhere else!

The WAB is located  at 22646 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. For more information on the WAB, you can visit their website here.

~S

Celebrate Gold Friday with Bars of Gold!

I do not participate in Black Friday, I will not set foot near a store. But, I found out that this year Black Friday has another name.

Some people are referring to this Friday as Gold Friday in anticipation of seeing one of my all time favorite local acts, Bars of Gold. If you have ever seen these dudes live you already know that they are memorizing. When they play they are so full of energy, you cannot help but get caught up in the moment.

These golden boys will be playing alongside the bastards in Bastardous and the shitty lovers in Shitty Love. Doors for the show are at 8 p.m. and it's $7 to get in.

The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, MI.

~S

Earn Your Thanksgiving Hangover at The Painted Lady with Radio Burns!

This Thursday morning we will all wake up with hangovers and stuff our faces with turkey. But, before we stuff our faces we need to earn that hangover by going out on the biggest bar night of the year. Choosing where to go on this special night can always be difficult, so I thought I would help make the decision for you. Instead of heading out to one of the many downtown's and paying a cover to get in to a crowded bar, we think you should head down to The Painted Lady in Hamtramck and see some of Detroit's best bands for FREE.

This Wednesday, Radio Burns, Lava Moth, Alex Webb and The Q are playing together to celebrate the giving of thanks. The bar will be running a few specials, including $2 High Lifes and $5 pitchers. The show starts at 9 p.m. and The Painted Lady is located at 2930 Jacob St. in Hamtramck.

~S

Shanksgiving Eve Wednesday Night!

We all know that the night before Thanksgiving is the biggest bar night of the year. Everybody and their brother fills the local watering holes and drinks a bit more than they should. Because of this trend, many of us that go out any of the other 364 days of the year steer clear of the bars for the night. Well, this Thanksgiving eve we have a reason for you to stop being old and sitting on your couch while the rest of the world is out partying. There is a show going on at the Garden Bowl that you can't miss!

This Wednesday night head downtown for Shanksgiving Eve featuring music from Rebel Spies, Devious Ones and Black Jack Wilson (whom you formally knew as Frank White). This is one of the best lineups we have seen in a while!

First off, you may remember Rebel Spies from our second anniversary show or Black Out BBQ. The band includes Detroit music veterans Jeff Sanguis (Telegraph/The Skolars), Matthew Wedge (Fordirelifesake, The A-Gang), Tony Del Bel (HiFi Handgrenades, The A-Gang, Bastardous), Jeff Uberti (Hellmouth, Left In Ruin, World of Hurt), and Ryan Vandeberghe (The Suicide Machines, HiFi Handgrenades). This is their first show since summer, and who knows when they will play again!

Then there is Devious Ones, a band we have been dying to see! This is just the band's second show, but this another one full of people you may know. Eric Villa on the mic, Daniel Boustany on bass, Amado Guadarrama on guitar and Dougie Tangent behind the drums. We're sure this band is going to knock your socks off!

And, last but definitely not least, Black Jack Wilson will be hitting the stage. You may know this band better as Frank White. Same guys, same great songs, just a different name. Since the guys in this band are scattered across North America right now, this is a rare chance to shout along with them. If you haven't yet, check out their album All Glory is Fleeting here. Definitely one of my favorite albums of 2014!

So now you know the lineup is awesome. The other great thing about this show is that it is completely FREE! Can't beat that!

It all starts at 10 p.m. The Garden Bowl is located at 4120 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. For more details on this show, click here.

~C 

Win Tickets to Hear Some Real Friends This Friday!

Everybody is working for the weekend, there is nothing like a little quality time with your real friends to bring your stress level down and help your remember who you really are. This Friday at The Crofoot you bring a friend to see Real Friends courtesy of our friends over at Fusion Shows. Real Friends will be in town alongside Neck Deep, Cruel Hand, and Have Mercy and we have a pair of tickets to get one of our readers and one of their friends in for FREE!

If you are not familiar with Real Friends, check out their latest video for the song "I Don't Love You Anymore" here.

These guys remind me of the pop punk/emo bands that I grew up listening to with a modern twist.  They also take really cute band seflies and have a fun blog that you can read here.

Tickets for the show are only $15 and can be purchased here. The Crofoot is located at 1 South Saginaw Street in Pontiac, MI. Doors for the event are at 6:30 pm. If you would like to enter to be our lucky ticket winner, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Real Friends in the subject. We will draw a winner the morning of the show and send them details on how to claim their prize. In the meantime, keep dreaming of the weekend and spending time with your real friends, it makes those work days a lot easier!

~S

Brightly Twisted

It's officially cold in Michigan and there is nothing more comforting than throwing on your favorite scarf before you walk out into the brisk air. I have built up quite a collection of scarves over the years and there are two things that go into the decision to buy a scarf. The first is the feel of it, the scarf has to be soft. The second is the color, it has to be something that will make my outfit pop. I love to wear a bright red scarf or a bold hounds-tooth print with a simple outfit, it's a fun way to wear color during the fall and winter. I usually wear a different scarf every day of the week, but that changed recently when I got a one of a kind scarf from Brightly Twisted. I was fortunate enough to receive one of Brightly Twisted's signature one of a kind Pashmina scarves as a gift and I cannot leave home without it!

Brightly Twisted is a Michigan based company that was created by husband and wife duo Greg Stemas and Tammy Bourque. They started off modestly and spent there summers selling items that they hand dyed at local art shows, but what they did was so different and so beautiful that it soon took on a life of its own. Both teachers left their positions and officially started Brightly Twisted in 2006. 

The company gets all of its materials in the United States and every item that they sell is made by hand in their studio in Livonia.
The warehouse has a dying area, a drying area, an office area and a store front where you can go in and purchase one of a kind items straight from the people that make them. They are known for their scarves, they also create some of the most beautiful maxi skirts, pullovers, tunics, harem pants, headbands, dresses, and beachwear that we have ever seen. We were mesmerized by all of the racks of beautiful clothing as we walked through the space.

All of the blank materials (except for the scarves which you cannot purchase in the US at this time) are made right here in the United States. Every one is hand dyed in the shop and checked for imperfections before it is shipped out. Brightly Twisted products are sold by all sorts of retailers including Nordstrom, but small local boutiques are their bread and butter.

Buying something from Birghtly Twisted is more like buying a piece of art than just buying another piece of clothing or another scarf. The colors, the patterns, and the techniques that they use are unlike anything that we have ever seen before. Watching Greg and Tammy hand dye in person was amazing and beautiful. I left the studio with  a huge smile on my face, it was great to see a local company that was doing something so special.

We knew we liked their designs, but after meeting them and seeing what they do in person we have to say that we love this company.  They are local, family owned, creative based, and they give back to a lot of charities in the area including Crossroads Detroit, Mittens for Detroit, and Vista Maria.

Please take a second to check out our interview with Tammy Borque and visit the website. Everyone needs to have one of these scarves! They are beautiful, soft, one of a kind, and locally made.What else could you ask for?

~S & C

Lagwagon: An Interview and a Ticket Giveaway

Lagwagon recently released their first studio album in nine years called Hang. The record has gotten really good reviews from the media and amazing reviews from fans of the band. It's great music and you can tell that it is Lagwagon, which I find to be very refreshing. The band may have grown up a bit, but they are still true to the sound that stole our little punk rock hearts.

I had the privilege of interviewing the band's front man, Joey Cape, and his answers made me smile. Joey has stayed true to himself, Fat Wreck Chords, and his fans. Like a fine wine, he only gets better with age.  

HID- How does your new album Hang compare to your previous albums?
Joey Cape- "That's a tough question. It's difficult to be objective. I feel that it is our best work."

HID- How has the process of recording and promoting an album changed from the early '90s to today?
Joey Cape- "It's pretty much the same with exception of web press. Lots of touring and interviews. Most of which is a pleasure."

HID- Lagwagon has never left Fat Wreck Chords. What kept you on this record label all of these years?
Joey Cape- "We have had a great relationship with the label from the beginning. They have always been exceptionally accommodating to their bands and I consider them all close friends as well as colleagues. I have seen many other bands fall into the pitfalls of this industry. With Fat it is a very simple plan and completely transparent. We spend what we can afford and work together. There is no delusions of Grandeur. This maintains an honest and realistic relationship."

HID- What is your favorite part about being on tour? What do you despise?
Joey Cape- "Food. I have become a bit of a foodie. I don't despise any aspect of touring. Being away from my family has been some compromise of course."

HID- What inspires you to keep writing recording and touring?
Joey Cape- "I am still passionate about music. As long as that is true and people are interested in what I do, I see no reason to do anything else. I'm very fortunate."

HID- What bands are you currently listening to?
Joey Cape- "To name a few, Swingin' Utters. Love their new album "Fistful of Hollow". Canadian band The Dirty Nil. Laura Mardon from Gold Coast, Australia. She was the latest One Week Records artist I recorded. She's an amazing song writer. Her album will be released in January 2015."

HID- Best memory of your time in Detroit?
Joey Cape- "There are many. I have had some pretty good times at the border casino, the many shows we have played, endless nights out at bars with friends. And the DIA is cool too."

HID- Anything else that you would like our fans to know?
Joey Cape- "Yes, come to the Magic Stick on November 22nd. We'll have a good time."


Lagwagon plays The Magic Stick this Saturday, November 22nd alongside Swingin' Utters and This Legend. Tickets for the show are $20 pre-sale and $22 at the door. We also have one set of tickets to give away to one lucky reader courtesy of Black Iris Booking. If you would like to enter to win, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Lagwagon in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner the day of the show and email them details on how to claim their prize!

~S

Kick Off the Holidays at the Campus Martius Tree Lighting!

The cold weather is here and it brought the snow along with it. It might not quite be Thanksgiving yet, but the city is getting ready for Christmas!

This Friday, November 21st head down to Campus Martius for the official Detroit Tree Lighting Ceremony. The lights on the giant pine tree will light up around 7:45 p.m., but the fun starts at 5 p.m. and will go 'til Midnight. The night's festivities include live music from Jena Irene (American Idol Runner-Up), Second Ebenezer Mass Choir, Rhythm Society Orchestra with Paul King, the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences Choir, Corey Roberts, Corktown Popes, The Salvation Army Band, Laith Al Saadi, Feral Ground, Inohs Sivad and Kaleido. There will also be figure skating performances, DJs, food, drinks, street performers, and of course, Santa. There is a new addition to the fun at Campus Martius this winter too, as the park will have horse and carriages awaiting to take you around the heart of the city!

Admission to the tree lighting is free, and there are also a lot of freebies on site once you get there. There will be free hot cocoa, free cinnamon rolls, and you can even get the photo of you and your friends in front of the tree printed off for free.

If you can't make it out on Friday, there are festivities going on all weekend long. Plus, this is just the first of many events that will take place at Campus Martius throughout the winter, with some activities like ice skating and carriage rides being open to the public on a regular basis! To stay in the loop on all of the happenings at Campus Martius, head over and "like" the park on Facebook here.

~C

24 Hour Ticket Giveaway - Win Tickets to See Arch Enemy @ The Majestic Theatre!

This Friday night, Swedish Death Metal legends Arch Enemy will be hitting the stage at the Majestic Theatre. The band is currently wrapping up their US tour, which was the first time they have ventured to the US in over 5 years. Next, they are headed to Europe, then they are hitting pretty much every other corner of the world in support of their latest release War Eternal. Check out the music video for the title track off that album below.

Also on Friday night's bill are Kreator, Huntress, and Starkill. Tickets are $28 at the door or $25 in advance and can be purchase here. Thanks to our good friends over at Black Iris Booking we are also giving away two pairs of tickets! To enter to win, just email your first and last name to us at hipindetroit@gmail.com with Arch Enemy in the subject line. We will draw our two lucky winners the morning of the show. So that means you only have about 24 hours to get your entry in!

Door are set to open at 6 p.m. and all ages are welcome. The Majestic Theatre is located at 4120 Woodward Ave. in Detroit.

~C

An Interview with Terry Peake

When I was a teenager The Wired Frog on Gratiot was the place to go out to see live music. I was too young to get into a lot of the local bars that played music, but old enough to get a crappy coffee and watch the bands at The Wired Frog. Some of the most iconic shows if my life happened within those walls. Fordirelifesake, Boys Night Out, and Nipon were three of my favorite bands to see at that time. Nipon packed the place every time they played and everyone had a good time. They were the only band that brought a steal drum on stage, and it got all of us moving.  

I have been following Terry Peake's music career ever since those Wired Frog days. When Nippon ended, Bahamut started. Bahamut is one of the fastest, heaviest, and most intense bands around. It was a total switch from the Nipon days and I loved it. Years later Bahamut would launch Fireloom, a side project that Terry created during the year that he was a Kresge Fellow. 

Terry is a great musician who has spent the last ten years creating music and teaching others how to play it. He has been a music teacher at Axis Music for years, he has influenced another generation of kids to get out there and play music. But, all good things must come to an end, and this Saturday Terry will be playing one more live show with Fireloom before he moves across the country to pursue a new dream.  

I had a chance to ask Terry a few questions about his music, his move, and his plans for the future. It brings me great sadness to see Terry move, in the words of Boys 2 Men, "it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday". Check out what Terry had to say and come out this Saturday for one more bash. Let's hope that the steal drum makes an appearance!

HID- Why have you decided to leave Michigan?
Terry Peake- "I have been wanting to move out west for quite some time now. Every time I’m in the mountains, I feel like I belong there. For right now, Las Vegas is the perfect spot, because my mom lives there and I want to be closer to her again. It will also be in a good place to expand my network and just spread what I do to the west coast. I’ll be able to make it to L. A. in four hours or so by car. I’m also looking forward to many ski trips this season in Utah and California etc."

HID- Does this mean its the end of Bahamut and Fireloom?
Terry Peake- "It is not the end of Fireloom and Bahamut. I have plans for future releases with each band and live shows are on a TBA status for right now. I do plan on visiting Michigan twice a year so there will at least be opportunity during those times."

HID- Reflecting back on winning the Kresge two years ago, what was the best part?
Terry Peake- "The best part was the freedom and the chance to focus on my craft. I really developed my skills to a whole new level during that year. I wish I could live it over and over again."

HID- What will you miss most about MI? What will you miss the least?
Terry Peake- "I will miss the amazing people! I have such a great group of friends and acquaintances here. I can walk a block and be in downtown Ferndale and certainly run into someone every time. I’ve been part of the music scene here for 18 years and have connections that run so deep; people I’ve known since the 90’s. And on top of that a great group of really close friends, which is the hardest part about leaving. Detroit builds some great characters.
What I will miss the least? All of the things that I dislike about living here are not to blame on Michigan. I’m just really not interested in the Midwest right now. For a while (aside from the fellowship) I’ve felt like I’m really spinning my wheels here. I just really want to pursue new opportunities and adventures with a change of scenery."

HID- Do you ever see yourself moving back?
Terry Peake- "It’s possible, but I will probably live several different places before I ever do. If I did it would probably be for family reasons or something similar. Ideally, I’d have a home here and another somewhere out west."

HID- How has music changed your life? Good or bad?
Terry Peake- "It has changed my life quite a bit, and this goes back to the network of people that I’m connected to. Not to mention that engaging in music composition, performance, etc. is actually now scientifically proven to use more of your brain at once than absolutely anything else. The states of mind that I’ve achieved and the “places I’ve gone” with music are beyond words. It has been a struggle, but it’s what gives my life meaning. There is no question that it’s what I was meant to do."

HID- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Terry Peake- "I’m not sure, it could be so many places! I’d really love to end up somewhere beautiful like Little Cottonwood Utah, Telluride Colorado, or Lake Tahoe or something, especially now that writing for TV and film can all be done through email. I also hope that Robot Academy Music will be fully developed and well known for music production and education by then. I would also love to expand my creative efforts into photography and video, which I will be doing soon after I move."


Fireloom will perform this Saturday, November 22nd at The Loving Touch  in Ferndale. It's FREE to get in and Fireloom will have copies of their album available for purchase. They will be playing alongside Blue Black Hours and Lava Moth. Blue Black Hours is releasing a lot of new music on their bandcamp this week leading up to the show. Head over and hear what they are up to before the show!

~S

Tesco Vee's Motor City Punk Rock "Swap Meat"

If you follow musical legend Tesco Vee from The Meatmen online, you know that he is somewhat of a collector. Every day there is another vintage toy or cool comic posted to his Instagram. Half the time I have to ask myself where the hell does he find this stuff.

Tesco Vee has decided that he wants to share his love of collecting with all of us. He is hosting the first of what he hopes to be many Punk Rock Swaps at The Loving Touch in Ferndale this Saturday, November 22nd. This weekend he has invited other collectors to set up shop to buy/sell/or trade their vintage toys, records, books, retro items and all things music. Punk Rock DJ Richard Bowser of Violent Apathy will be spinning some tunes throughout the day and Break Anchor will perform an acoustic set around 3 p.m. The Loving Touch will be also be serving up coney dogs throughout the event. 

The Swap Meat will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.  

~S

Watch A Christmas Story on the Big Screen with 5 Original Cast Members

The Redford Theatre is known for playing some of the most iconic movies in cinema history and bringing in at least one of the original cast members for the event. This time around they are playing everyone's favorite Christmas classic, A Christmas Story. They have five original members making appearances at all three showings. This includes cast members Zack "Scut Farkus" Ward, Yano "Grover Dill" Anaya, Scott "Flick" Schwartz and the two elves Patty LaFontaine and Drew Hocever. There will be three showings of the film, this includes:

Friday, November 21 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 22 at 1 p.m. (SPECIAL MATINEE START TIME)
Saturday, November 22 at 8 p.m.

Doors open an hour before each show and an organ player performs 30 minutes before each showing. It is only $7 to get in unless you would like to attend the Special VIP event. The VIP event will take place on Saturday, November 22 from 5-6:30 p.m. It is $25 to get in. This will include dessert with the cast and entrance into the show. The Redford Theatre has FREE supervised parking and is a great place to see a film, classic or otherwise. 

~S

Child Bite "Strange Waste" Record Release Show

I have never been able to explain Child Bite to others very well. Some people come out to their shows and love it and some people think that it is one of the weirdest bands that they have ever heard. I remember watching the crowd during Wild In The Streets a few years ago, they were delighted and confused at the same time. Apparently, I am not the only one who hasn't been able to put them in a nice little box.

I just read a review by Chris Besinger from STNNNG that described the new album in a very interesting way. He states "This record is only 19 minutes long, but it is so dense with ideas and riffs and biting, late-era Black Flag guitar solos and clanking, chugging bass lines and splattering drum blasts and yowling vocals you will be gnawing on it like gristle for months to come". He also goes on to talk about how much this band changes from album to album and how intense the new record is.   If that doesn't peak your interest I do not know what will. I know that Child Bite is a little intense for some of you, but I dig it. My favorite part is how passionate these guys are when they are performing, it makes the live show worth attending. If you would like to do just that you can head out to their record release party this Friday, November 21st at PJ's Lager House. 

Woodpecker From Mars, Acid Witch, Minus 9, and Her Dark Host will be joining them on stage. It's $10 to get in, but you get either an album or a CD with the price of admission. Child Bite will also finally have some shirts for sale in various sizes. The show is 21 and over and doors are at 9 p.m.  PJ's is located at 1254 Michigan Ave. in Detroit.

~S

Guest Writer Kat Paled Chats it Up with Big Data

American alternative electronic outfit Big Data has been on an incredible journey over the past year. Helmed by producer Alan Wilkis, the band’s debut EP “1.0,” and the remix EP “1.5” have shot the group to a new level having been featured in publications and on radio stations all over the world. Currently, they’re on the road in the middle of a very successful tour with Fitz and The Tantrums. Kat Paled caught up with Alan in Boston before his House of Blues gig to talk with him about music and the technicolor web of voyeurism that is the internet among other things ahead of the tours arrival in Detroit, MI at The Fillmore on Tuesday, November 18th.

HID- Your first release, the self-produced 1.0 EP has seen incredible success in the past year, particularly the track ‘Dangerous,’ which has turned into a monster. It seems to be steeped in a bit of a “Big Brother” is watching you vibe.
BD- Absolutely. It’s sort of like the voice of a stalker or a creepy person, but that creepy person is Big Brother, or the NSA or whoever is spying on us on the internet (laughs)

HID- You also have the Facehawk interactive video, which is a fantastic concept playing on the themes of voyeurism while also acting as an extremely unique promotional tool. How did you come up with the idea?
BD- Well, I met the director, Rajeev Basu about a year and a half ago. He’s an interactive artist who makes all sorts of weird stuff on the internet and as soon as I found that out, I was like “Well, my music is weird and about the internet!” (laughs) So we decided to collaborate and I told him what ‘Dangerous’ was about and I sent him the music and he came up with the whole concept based on what the themes of the song and of the band are, and it couldn’t be more spot-on. With the music and how I present the lyrics and the presentation of the band in general, I want it to be sort of fun and entertaining on the surface, but I also want it to be sort of unsettling and scary, the more you think about it. That was exactly what his idea was the Facehawk. It really was all perfectly in line with how I think about it all. It couldn't have been a better fit.

HID- In regards to many of the recent articles and debates regarding online privacy, data collection and surveillance of the population in general to collect information and direct marketing to individuals, do you think there is still such a thing as the concept of “Online Privacy?”
BD- Well, I don’t think it ever really existed (laughs) but it’s hard to say. The second we’re relying on any sort of company or any sort of infrastructure that is out of our own hands, of course there’s going to be privacy issues. We’re all comfortable enough to post private things on the internet, so of course at some point it will wind up in someone elses hands. The hope it that it won’t be abused in wrongful ways and I think that lines gets a little blurry. We’re so far removed from what’s being done with our data and I think that’s where the problems really arise. There are some companies that are really fighting the good fight in terms of actual privacy; There’s one company I’ve gotten to know called Wickr. It’s a private messaging app that essentially works in the same way as Snapchat. It deletes everything from their system and from your phone within 24 hours. And it doesn’t store anything in the cloud, it’s not stored on their servers, so it really is gone after the message does “self-destruct.” I don’t see any reason why everything can’t work this way (laughs)

HID- Living in New York, you must feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such a diverse and eclectic music community and scene, including a personal favorite of mine, the DFA records empire, which holds an impressive catalog, including LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost and The Juan Maclean. What sounds of the city have inspired you as an artist and musician?
BD- That’s a hard question to answer (laughs) It’s sort of an infinite list (laughs) I go to a venue called The Bowery Ballroom a lot, I’ve seen so many bands there. I’ve played at so many venues around New York and I grew up in New York, so really all of my musical development happened in New York.

HID- So the city of New York as a whole?
BD- Yes! I’ve met so many incredible musicians and seen so many talented bands there. New York has this kind of crazy energy. It’s the best place in the world when you’re feeling good... (laughs) and it’s sort of a brutal place to live when things are tough, but I think that makes you tough and more resilient and resourceful especially if you stay in New York. It’s definitely shaped my life quite a bit.

HID- Right now, you’re out on the road with Fitz and The Tantrums on what seems to be a very successful tour with quite a few sold out dates on the itinerary. I now we’re all very excited about The Fillmore show here in Detroit. What are some personal highlights from the tour thus far?
BD- It’s been crazy. I honestly could not be luckier to be touring with them. Every single person in the band, every single person in the crew is really nice and thoughtful and helpful. There’s no requirement to be nice to your opening band, but they really go above and beyond. Their crowds are really all ages and really into the music. There’s no people just standing there with their arms crossed (laughs) People are there to have fun and that all makes up the best possible scenario. We’re all really grateful.

We’ve done 10 shows already and they’ve all been awesome so the bar has been set really high (laughs) There was this one show in Ithaca, NY. There were a bunch of college student there in this big, seated concert venue-style hall and we weren’t sure how it was going to play out because everyone was sitting down at the beginning.

By the time we got to our fourth song in the set, everybody got up and bum-rushed the stage and the crowd stayed right up at the front of the stage for the whole show. That was the coolest thing! I’ve never experienced that before. It was really special.

HID- In addition to Big Data, you’re also an accomplished remixer with credits to The Who, Phoenix, RJD2 and many more under your belt. What would you say your favorite remix has been to work on thus far? Who would you like to work with in the future?
BD- That’s how I started to make more of a name for myself. I had been recording things under my own name, and then a bunch of bands in college and when I started doing more remixes, you know, you inevitably get more exposure, if the remix is good, just because the band you’re remixing is a famous band. That was the period in my career where thing really started to grow.

HID- Is there a “Bucket List” artist you’d love to remix?
BD- That’s tough (laughs) Probably The Beach Boys. They’re just on my “Bucket List” in general.

HID- You seem to be pretty Pro-Spotify in your online presence, including your Friday Mixtape which is uploaded weekly showcasing some of your favorite tracks. Spotify itself tends to be a hot topic of debate with musicians for a number of reasons with some even going so far as to remove their entire catalog from the streaming service. What is it about Spotify that you enjoy? What makes them stand out from the rest of the online streaming services?
BD- The whole issue is extremely complicated and all this flack that Spotify gets, it’s only because they’re the biggest one. They’re the best and most successful in the streaming category and that’s why they take all of the heat. The royalty rate is low obviously, but it’s not that low. The way artists make more money ultimately on Spotify is if everyone uses Spotify, or whatever streaming service it is. They way I look at it all is that if it weren’t Spotify, it would be someone else. All signs point to Streaming Media as the way we will be consuming media across the board more and more. I happen to think that Spotify is the best out of all the streaming music companies. I’ve also found that the payout aren’t all that bad on Spotify. When I used to release my music independently, I always found that Spotify made up a pretty good chunk of my income with my record label. I think the issue is more when artists have old-school, more traditional record deals and various parties are taking their commissions on this and that, and finally when the Spotify money actually makes it to the artists, it’s been divided up so many different ways that of course it looks awful!

(laughs) But that’s more of an issue of bad, old record contracts. Like with Taylor Swift; Taylor Swift is certainly the one right now making all the Spotify waves. The most ridiculous part of it all is that of course she can do that because she’s Taylor Swift and a zillion people around the world know who Taylor Swift is and they’ll go buy her album wherever it is. ‘Joe Indie Band’ that no one’s ever heard of though? If he’s not on Spotify, you know, there are people that only listen to music on Spotify and they’re not going to listen to his band if it’s not there. That can be the case for most independent artists. It’s all very complicated and of course the money could be better and hopefully it will be someday (laughs) I think to categorically say that streaming music is the enemy, it’s just really short-sighted and silly because we all stream everything now; Music, TV, Movies… everything. You’re basically saying that you don’t want to move forward with the way that technology is moving.

HID- Touching back on the Spotify mixtape idea, do you want t tell us a little bit about who you’re listening to right now?
BD- Well, today I was listening to old stuff. (laughs) I was listening to Kris Kristofferson earlier. There’s this band that I just listened to called Timber Timbre. I really love their record. There’s also this band called Wampire that I’ve been listening to a lot lately.


You can check out more about Alan and Big Data (as well as his Spotify mixtape) at:

http://www.wilcassettes.com / http://www.bigdata.fm / https://www.facebook.com/bigdatabigdata

You can catch Big Data live at The Fillmore in Detroit on Tuesday, November 18th with Fitz and The Tantrums. Doors are at 7 p.m. and all ages are welcome. Tickets are available in advance here.

~Kat Paled

Star Wars Film Night at The Magic Stick

Star Wars will always hold a special place in my heart. Han Solo was one of my first crushes and Princess Leia in chains and a bikini taught me what sexy is. In fact, I think it is safe to say that there is a whole generation of men that got their first boners when they saw that image. The first three films have become classics that truly transcend time, I can watch them over and over again.

On Thursday The Garden Bowl within the Magic Stick will be playing The Empire Strikes Back on Super 8mm Film Reels. Many people feel that this is the best movie in the series, and I have to agree with them. You can sit back with your friends and enjoy the film with a beer from the bar and a pizza from Sgt. Pepperonis. 

This event is FREE to anyone that is interested. The film will start promptly at 10 p.m. and The Magic Stick is located at 4120 Woodward Ave, in Detroit.

~S

Red Bull House of Art - Cycle 9 Show Opening

Detroit has always been known as the Motor City or the birthplace of Motown, but a new generation of creative people are redefining this city and what it is known for. Over the last few years we have seen a huge surge of artists flood into the city, and new galleries and events have been created to nurture and expand this influx of talent. We even had Sierra Mist come to town last month to have some of the best artists in Detroit paint their new billboards that you may have seen recently while driving on the expressways. The Rustbelt, The Russel, and countless other spaces have emerged, places that celebrate art and creation. The Red Bull House of Art has also helped develop and encourage new artists to grow and create. Becoming a Red Bull artist means that you no longer have to worry about finances or space, you just have to create.

This week Red Bull will premiere its 9th cycle of artists. Artists Shaina Kasztelan, Brach Goodman, Colin Tury, Karianne Hollowell, Nick Pizana, and Dino 'Ramen' Valdez will all be debuting their work. If you haven't been to a Red Bull House of Art opening, we highly encourage you to go. The streets of the Eastern Market will be full of all sorts of creative people, the art is always interesting and intriguing and it's simply put, a great time. 

The opening will take place this Friday, November 14th from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Red Bull House of Art is located at 1551 Winder St. in Detroit. The best part, it's totally free to get in. 

~S

So You Can Blow Up the Internet, Now What?

Yesterday Kim Kardashian broke the internet. The reality TV star posed for the cover of Paper magazine popping a bottle of champagne and inside she's almost totally nude exposing her best asset, her money maker if you will. I posted the picture on my Facebook and watched my feed blow up. Some people loved it some people hated it, some people simply posted silly jokes or comments. The cover of the magazine reads Kim K will break the internet, and she did, but I found myself asking one thing, so what?

A very pretty woman took some beautiful photos showcasing one of the most talked about bodies in show business for all of us to talk about and we talked about it, what a surprise. What was the point of all of it? I understand that there doesn't have to be meaning behind a stunt like this, but I know if I was going to bare my beautiful ass to everyone I would want it to be for the greater good, not just for my own ego, at least I hope not. It's interesting to see how people choose to use or not use their power.

 Last night I also found myself watching the second installment of Sonic Highways, the new HBO docu-series featuring the Foo Fighters recording their latest album (which came out Tuesday) in various studios across the U.S. The second episode was shot in DC and featured musical legends like The Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Chuck Berry, Pharrell and more. It showcased a group of kids who booked DIY shows, created Discord Records, and inspired a generation of amazing musicians. This documentary did not break the internet, but it inspired the hell out of me. Dave is using his power in such an interesting way. I can envision thousands of kids picking up old records, guitars and other instrument to learn about music because of this documentary. It's an interesting way to inspire a new generation to get up and do something meaningful. He uses the history of the art form to hopefully inspire the future of it. A future that is based on trial and error, on failing, on doing your own thing no matter how few likes it is going to get.

You are probably wondering how a Kim K's cover and the Foo Fighters documentary relate to each other. Well, they don't, but they both make an impact on the world around them in very interesting ways. Kim K might be able to break the internet, but what does that actually mean? Will she sell enough copies of Paper to save print magazines? Nope. Will magazine sales and publicity translate into more attention for her perfume and clothing lines? Maybe. I personally think that will just inspire another crop of people who think that likes on the internet are all that counts, people whose sole purpose is to blow up the internet no matter what it takes. Don't get me wrong, I write for a blog. I wish that something I posted blew up the internet. But, I want it to be for something of substance, not my perfect ass, I'll save that for and select group of people.

I do not mean to knock Miss Kardashian because there is nothing wrong with her cover or the inside shots, they are great. What is wrong is that these days that is what blows up the internet. I wish that something as inspiring as this Foo Fighters documentary was blowing it up. I hope that those that are watching it are showing it to their friends and getting inspired. I would love to see a whole new crop of people that do not validate themselves with likes, but instead seek to gain attention for what they do based on its merit.

The internet is an amazing place. We can all find a million headlines a day to click on, the more raunchy or scandalous the better. I personally love gossip, but I'm starting to think that maybe this shit is getting old. I'm ready for something of substance to blow up the internet. I’ve always thought that music could save the world, and I really think Dave Grohl is onto something here. Give the new docu-series a shot. Let's blow up the internet with a little substance for once!

~S

Details on Echo Fest V Right from the Source - Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor

Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor are a psychedelic trio that has been in the Detroit Music scene for about a decade now. They started out as SikSik Nation and then changed names and their style a bit about five years ago. Coincidentally, the band also started hosting an annual fest about five years ago too. The fest is called Echo Fest and it features, "swirling lights, fuzzed out guitars, and of course so much delay that time travel may become possible."

The fifth installment of Echo Fest is coming up this Saturday at The Loving Touch in Ferndale. Echo Fest V will feature twelve bands spread across two stages for one night. The lineup includes, Elephant Stone (Montreal), King Buffalo (Rochester, NY), Dead Leaf Echo (Brooklyn), Siamese Detroit, Buffalo Coven Party (Ann Arbor), The Witches, Heaven's Gateway Drugs (Ft. Wayne), MOSS FOLK (Milwaukee), Plastic Crimewave Syndicate (Chicago), Rogue Satellites, Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry and Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor. So this is a great chance for you to check out some touring bands, with a few Detroit favorites mixed in there.

We caught up with Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor's drummer Rick Sawoscinski to find out more about the band and Echo Fest. Check out what he had to say below.

HID- Describe your band in three words or less.
Rick- "Psychedelic Spectral Vortex"

HID- Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?
Rick- "We of course love bands like Pink Floyd, The Doors and The Velvet Underground. We also like to think that we are very eclectic in our individual influences. Rick: The Pixies and Primal Scream. Eric: Primus and MC5 Sean: Sid Barret and Miles Davis"

HID- Your live show is more of an experience than just a band playing on stage. How do you come up with the projections you show during the show? Why don't you go up and just play your songs and maybe say a witty line or two here and there like many bands do?
Rick- "That's a great question. As a band we have always wanted our shows to be an experience that the crowd could feel like they were a part of. To that end, we used to bring an overhead projector and put it on the side of the stage. We would then encourage the crowd to use the projector and to do the visuals for us. It turns out most people were not excited about getting food coloring all over their hands and clothes. Fortunately for us Wayne Woodward was not hindered by the prospect of having purple hands. Wayne was already a friend of the band and when we introduced the projector element he started showing up to our shows early to help us set it up. Before we knew it Wayne started adding his own elements. It's been years now and Wayne is now an official member of the band and is responsible for all the visuals. Plus, maybe we just aren't that witty?"

HID- You recently played CBGB Fest. That had to be pretty awesome, right?
Rick- "Yeah we were really honored to be asked to play that festival. We did two nights with our friends Dead Leaf Echo and both nights were a lot of fun."

HID- It has been a couple of years since you released your last album. Do you have anything in the works right now?
Rick- "As I type up this response we are adding overdubs and finishing up the final details on our new album which will be released early next year on Mongolic Records (http://www.mongolic-records.es/). The new Album is a little bit of a divergence from Spectra Spirit in the sense that we are trying to tell more of a concise story with our music. We knew that the scale of what we are trying to create would be impossible to finish with all of the distractions surrounding us in our usual studio space. So we drove four hours north this summer and recorded most of the tracks in a secluded cabin. We honestly believe we have created some of the best pieces of music we have ever written. Hopefully, this is exciting to people since we will be playing half of the new stuff at Echo Fest this year."

HID- So now that we know more about your band, let's talk about Echo Fest. What is it? How did you guys come up with the name and idea? When and why did you start putting this event on?
Rick- "Echo Fest was originally Sean's ideas that he came up with after one of his weird taco fueled vision quest. When we started as a band we really struggled to find people to play with. Echo Fest is our attempt to help bring those musicians together and to create a community around what we do. This is the 5th annual Echo Fest and it just keeps getting bigger and better every year. We were obviously inspired by Austin Pysch Fest but we shied away from calling this a "psych rock festival" we wanted Echo Fest to be just a little more inclusive than that. Honestly, we just wanted to throw party."

HID- What can you tell us about the other bands playing?
Rick- "So there was an article posted today on Midwest Action (http://midwestaxn.com/music/psychedelic-sunday-echo-fest-v-at-the-loving-touch-detroit-1115/) I am just going to paste what they said because I honestly don't think we could do a better job.

Matthew Smith (of Outrageous Cherry) | Side Stage 7:30pmThe Detroit locals were formed back in the early ’90s as a solo project of Matthew Smith but soon expanded into a 4-piece psych pop powerhouse. They’ve put out 12 albums since then and are just as relevant now as they were two decades ago. Their latest album The Digital Age as well as a retrospective cassette called 1993-2010 are out now via Burger Records.

Rogue Satellites | Side Stage 8:30pmA little bit indie-pop, a little bit shoegaze, but all-in-all a very catchy Detroit act. Their layered guitar tracks fit right into the mold of MBV, Ride, and the rest but are merely a sonic background for their catchy vocals and synthesizers.

Dead Leaf Echo | Main Stage 9:00pmThis Brooklyn based dream-pop group is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Their latest 4-track EPtrue.deep.sleeper is an incredibly lush wall of sound that hits you like a tidal wave. They’ve been called one of the best live acts in NYC, don’t miss your chance to catch them in the Midwest!

Plastic Crimewave Syndicate | Side Stage 9:30pmPurely classic psychedelic rock from Chicago. The infamous Steven Krakow fronts this incredible trio that create driving, reverb-drenched treats for your ears and mind.

MOSS FOLK | Side Stage 10:30pmThe ambient drone project of Milwaukee Psych Fest founder Andrew James Shelp will surely offer a transcendental experience mid-way through this incredible bill.

Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor | Main Stage 11:00pmThe founders and curators of this incredible festival, Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor are themselves an incredible force of dark psychedelic power. Their latest LP Spectra Spirit is a heavy mix of garage rock and psychedelia that begs to be heard.

Elephant Stone | Main Stage 12:15amWith the release of their 3rd full-length LP The Three Poisons in August, Montreal’s Elephant Stone have proven that they can do everything from heavy psychedelic rock, indie pop, and even dance music. Fronted by immensely talented bassist/vocalist/sitar player Rishi Dhir, their live show is something that no recording could do justice.
It’s psych-pop infused with a broad range of musical influences that in turn make for an incredibly diverse and exciting sound. This will their only US tour date until next year, stay up late and stick around for these guys."

HID- So these Echo Fest glasses sound pretty awesome. What are they all about? And where did you get them? Do your own secret scientist that has been working on them in a lab???
Rick- "The glasses were Eric's idea. Last year we did record bags so he wanted to do something completely different this time. We used the cosmic omnipotent Google to find a company that would sell them to us in bulk then Eric added his design to all the glasses with our screen printing equipment. They are just another attempt to make Echo Fest not only a musical experience but a visual one too."

HID- Why should people come out to Echo Fest V?
Rick- "The bands. I honestly believe this is the best Echo Fest lineup yet! Plus beer."

HID- Anything else you would like our readers to know?
Rick- "It's not too late to RSVP for the event and save a $3 at the door. ($12 instead of $15)"

As Rick mentioned, entry to Echo Fest V is $15 or if you RSVP to the Facebook event here, you will get 3 bucks off at the door. Doors will open at 6 p.m. with music starting promptly at 7 p.m. and going all the way 'til about 2 a.m. Buffalo Coven Party is opening and The Witches will close things out, so we suggest you get there early and definitely stay late! Plus, the band said it themselves, this is the best Echo Fest lineup yet! So why would you want to miss any of it? For more details on Echo Fest, be sure to "like" it on Facebook here. Be sure to head over to sistersofyoursunshinevapor.com too for details on the event and to download some of SOYSV's music for free!

~C