Song Premiere: "Sometimes We Scream" by American Noise Army

Flint's own ANA (aka American Noise Army) is gearing up to release their debut full length album. The album is called American Noise Army Pt. 1 and rumor has it that it's going to be a "'game changer' for the Michigan music scene". Judging by what we've heard so far, we are definitely digging it and can't wait to hear the entire album. So far the band has premiered "Dirt" on Nothing Original and "Away With You" with Alternative Press Detroit. Well, here at Hip In Detroit we are thrilled to premiere another new track off of the album. It's called "Sometimes We Scream", crank the volume up and check it out below.

American Noise Army Part 1 is set to be released on October 20. Starting next week, you can preorder the 10 song album through iTunes or bandcamp for just $5.99 and get an instant download of 3 songs. If you preorder through bandcamp, you will also receive a downloadable lyric book. Once the album is officially released the price will go up to $8.99. You know you're going to want this album, so you might as well save yourself a few bucks and go for that preorder deal! 

To stay in the know on ANA's new album and upcoming shows, make sure you head over and "like" them on Facebook here. 

~C

Station 515

Photos Courtesy of Station 515

Workout trends come and go, every week there is some new thing that you are supposed to be doing to stay in shape. I have tried out most of these things and found that for me, good old cardio, weight lifting, and dynamic workouts are the only things that really do the trick. There is no easy way to get in shape and lose weight, it is all about putting in the work and doing your best day to day. I'm sick of gyms, shakes, diets, and trainers promising things that they cant deliver. My disgust with the weight loss hamster wheel made me turn to working out on my own and my progress eventually plateaued when I got into a routine and consistently avoided things I hated, like push ups while over doing it on things like squats, which I love. I was frustrated and discouraged when I was asked to interview the owner of Station 515 for our pals at InkAddict. I did a little research and went to the 515 gym to meet the owner and talk to him about his workout philosophy and routine. I left the gym feeling inspired and booked my first workout the next day!

Chris Burkey, or Burkey as he likes to be called, is one hell of a dude. Not only does he train harder than anyone I know, he's got the coolest attitude about working out, gyms, food and fitness. He's a no bullshit kind of person. He doesn't offer you any sort of magical fix instead he asks why do you even want to work out, what are your goals. You are not going to achieve anything if you don't recognize where you are and where you want to go. Much like myself, Burkey sees training and working out as a process. I asked him what kind of shoes I should be wearing, and he told me it didn't matter what kind of shoes I wore, what matters is that I get my ass up and do some work while I'm in them. He stresses pushing yourself, holding yourself accountable, and making a point to make yourself better one day, one task, and one movement at a time. It was the first no bullshit response I have ever gotten from a trainer.

The 515 gym is isn't filled with 100 elliptical machines that people are walking on while they read a magazine, and there is no one there staring at their muscles in the mirror. In fact, there are no mirrors. Instead there are weights, chains, and bars. Things to lift, pull, and move. You can book individual appointments, but they also have group appointments, where you work out with up to four other people at a time. The experience of working in a group with others and being accountable to the group helps to motivate you to do better, try harder, and make sure that you show up. The price of training in a group of four is a measly $15 , way less than any other gym or trainer I have come across and yet the workout was one of the best ones I have ever got.

I was hooked after my first session with 515 trainer Jake Watson. It was rough, but I got through it. I felt encouraged and enjoyed meeting a few new people before the session. I plan on continuing with the gym and seeing how far I can go. If you are looking for a no bullshit approach to making a change, come join me at Station 515!

~S

Celebrate Labor Day in Hamtramck!

One of our absolute favorite festivals of the year is finally here! It's always bittersweet when it's time for the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival, we're not quite sure why. Even though neither of us have been in school for years now, there's a sadness that goes along with Labor Day because it marks the beginning of the new school year and end of summer vacation. Well, we don't go to school and we don't get summer vacation, so all that Labor Day really means to us is an extra day off work and a weekend of partying in Hamtramck!

The Hamtramck Labor Day Festival will take place Saturday, September 5th through Monday, September 7th. It is 3 days of great Polish food, cool vendors and awesome music. This year's music lineup is just as great, or maybe even better, than the last few years, with everyone from Bison Machine to Tunde playing. Check out the full schedule below.

In addition to food, music and vendors, there will also be a carnival, a 5k, canoe races thru the streets of Hamtramck, Fowling in the streets, and a Polish Day Parade on Labor Day. For more information on any of these fun attractions or to find out how to sign up to participate in any of the races, click here. 

The festival runs from Noon 'til 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There is plenty of parking throughout the town in lots and on the streets, and most of it is even free! There will also be free bicycle check if you want to pedal to the fest. Admission is free too! That's a whole lot of FREE! That means extra money for drinks, food and fun souvenirs! 

To stay in the loop on the Hamtramck Labor Day Festival and get updates leading up to the event, head over and RSVP to the Facebook event page here.

~C 

Win Tickets to See Mac Sabbath

What do you get when you combine a love for McDonald's with a love of Black Sabbath? You get one of the kookiest cover bands ever, Mac Sabbath! No bullshit, your favorite McDonald's characters like Ronald, Grimace, and the Hamburglar team up to cover some of Black Sabbath's songs with a twist. For instance, "Iron Man" becomes "Frying Pan". Check out this video to see what we mean.

It's fun, it's kitschy, and it's ridiculously cool. Thanks to Black Iris Booking. Mac Sabbath will be performing upstairs at the Magic Stick this Tuesday, September 1st. We are so excited to see that Black Iris is booking shows at the Magic Stick again, we hope this is the first of many! Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the show. Advance tickets can be purchased here. If you would like to attend the show for FREE we have one pair of tickets to giveaway thanks to the ladies of BIB. To enter to win these tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Mac Sabbath in the subject. All ages are welcome to enter and win. We will draw a winner the morning of the show and we will email them details on how to claim their prize.

~S

Win Tickets to See Four Year Strong and Defeater w/ Expire and Speak Low if You Speak Love

Photo courtesy of LiveNation.com

Pop punk veterans Four Year Strong are currently on tour in support of their fourth album which was released in June. They will be playing The Shelter in Detroit this Wednesday, September 2nd alongside Defeater, Expire, and Speak Low if You Speak Love. The new self titled album has been getting rave reviews and the band is letting the fans vote on what songs they play when they come through town. Tickets to attend the show are only $17.50 in advance, they can be purchased here. The show starts at 6 p.m. and all ages are welcome to attend.

We have two pairs of tickets to give away to two lucky fans courtesy of Live Nation Detroit. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to attend the show for FREE, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will be drawing two winners a few couple of days before the show and emailing those winners details on how to claim their prize. Please use the subject line #fouryearsstrong in your email.

~S 

VLOG #2

Devious Ones "I'm Allergic To You" Release Party

This Friday Detroit four piece Devious Ones will be releasing a brand spanking new album. The 7" is called I'm Allergic to You and it is being released by East Grand Record Company. If you haven't heard Devious Ones before, you can check them out on bandcamp or listen to their track "Stylus to Speaker" below.

We first gave Devious Ones a listen because we're friends with the guys in the band and knew them from other projects (like Bill Bondsmen and The Dewtons). But, once we saw them live, we were hooked. And we're sure you will be hooked too!

Devious Ones' record release show will take place at Small's this Friday, August 28th. Also on the bill are a few other guys we know and that we think you will like, Radio Burns, Destroy This Place and The Idiot Kids. Doors for this show will open at 8 p.m. and $7 will get you in. The music is set to start right at 9, so don't slack! Get there early! For more info on this show and to hear some more music from Devious Ones and the other bands, head over to the Facebook event page here.

~C

Show Your Love for the Library at The Loving Touch

If you don't know by now, the Ferndale Area District Library is the coolest library around. Come on, what other library do you know of that has concerts and other super fun events like game nights? Well to keep the Ferndale Library and their cool events going, they need your help. And it just so happens that you can help by going to another cool event right down the street from the library.

This Friday, August 28th head to The Loving Touch for a Library Benefit Concert. The concert will feature 7 great acts on 2 stages. The lineup includes Chris Bathgate, 800beloved, Ancient Language, Woven Tangles, Kriss Gaynes, Mister and DJ sets from Eddie Logix throughout the night. This is the first time in a long time that Mister is playing a solo set instead of hitting the stage in Passalacqua. So that should be reason enough to check this show out!

Friday's event is set to start at 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 8. Once the music starts, it will keep going all night long. All ages are welcome to attend. There is a suggested minimum of a $5 donation to enter the event, but as the organizers put it, you can give $6 if you really like libraries, $7 if you really... REALLY like libraries, $8 if you love libraries and $10 if you think libraries are the best places on the planet. So whatever you are willing to give, they will take it! If you aren't quite sure why you should support the Ferndale Library, click here to find out.

~C

End of Summer Fest @ Elijah's

It's like everything we're writing about this week is about summer winding down. Yes, it's true, summer as we know it is coming to an end. But, there's still time to party!

This Friday, August 28th head to Elijah's in Hamtramck for End of Summer Fest, featuring some of the best band's Metro Detroit has to offer and some out of towners. The lineup includes The Bruised Reed, The Vonneguts, Mover//Shaker, Tart, The ILL Itches, The Old Adage, Nina & The Buffalo Riders, Bloody Diamonds and Feral Ground. You can see all of these great bands for a measly $5. That's a pretty great deal!

All ages are welcome. The party starts at 6 p.m. and music starts just before 7. Elijah's is located at 9536 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck. For more info on this fest, click here.

~C

Everything You Need to Know About the First Cider Dayze Festival

HipInDetroit.com had the honor of visiting Blake's Cider Mill in Armada, Michigan when they were just getting started in the Hard Cider business not too long ago. We immediately fell in love with the beautiful space, the owners, and the cider. We have watched the company grow throughout the last couple of years and couldn't be happier to see Blake's getting the attention that they deserve. In fact, they recently announced that they will be opening a "brand new 12,000 sq/ft production facility the end of August to allow Blake's to produce upwards of 400,000 Gallons of Hard Cider Annually". Apparently the word got out, this stuff is good!

This weekend, Blake's will host the first annual Cider Dayze Festival. The two day event will take place at Blake's Apple Orchard on August 29th and 30th. The event will feature brews from local companies, such as Perrin, Founders, Rochester Mills, Atwater, Falling Down, Shorts, New Holland, Sherwood, 51 North, Roak, Uncle John's, Ridge Cider, Tandem Cider, Farmhaus Cider, Vadermill and of course Blake's. The event will also feature food from places like The MuleFoot Gastropub and Bad Brad's BBQ. They will also have a brew camp where you can learn how to brew at home, cornhole games, barrel races, beer stein holding, and apple bobbing. These are all great ways to have a little fun while tossing a few back! There will also be live music throughout the day. The best part is that they are offering $5 bus rides to the event from Ferndale! You can wait for a ride out to the country at Ferndale's favorite brewery The W.A.B. and  The Detroit Bus Company will be running buses throughout the day both days of the event.  

Tickets to attend are $35 for one day or $55 for both days. Tickets include 9 five ounce pours and a commemorative glass. Tickets can be purchased here. The event runs from 12-9 on Saturday and 12- 5 on Sunday. Blake's is located in Armada, Michigan, you can find directions to their orchard here. The fun will be happening rain or shine, so don't let the weather hold you back. Cheers! 

~S

Only Two More Garden Parties Left this Summer

Summer is winding down. The sun is going down earlier and the nights are getting a little cooler. But, summer isn't over yet! If you feel like you have been missing out and haven't taken full advantage of summer nights and outdoor events, you still have a couple of weeks left to do so. And we can't think of a better way to spend a summer night than at a Whitney Garden Party! Music, outdoors, and booze, what else could you want?

This week our friends in MPV will be playing in the beautiful gardens of The Whitney. Opening up for them are the ladies in Cheerleader. Two great bands, full of a bunch of awesome chicks (and one rad dude)! The party is set to kick off at 5 p.m. with music starting at 6:15. Admission is $5, and there are $5 brats and $5 craft beers. So once you get off work on Thursday, hop in the car and head to The Whitney. You can eat a brat for dinner once you get there and spend the evening relaxing on their patio, in good company with great tunes.

The last Whitney Garden Party is on September 3rd with The Normandies, so you only have 2 weeks left to party in the garden. For more information on the Whitney Garden Parties, visit the Facebook event page here.

~C

Calling All Creative Types for Red Bull Creation 2015!

Photo from RedBullCreation.com

Do you like to work with your hands? Are you awesome at coming up with ideas and inventions? If you answered yes to either of these questions, we have an awesome event for you! 

Coming up September 23rd thru 26th Red Bull will be coming to town for Red Bull Creation 2015. Here's what that's all about. "Red Bull Creation is a 72-hour creative competition that annually assembles the country’s best and brightest makers, hackers, and inventors to innovate around a “secret topic”." After your team works together for 3 days on your creation, there is a "show and tell" type ceremony on September 26th. This day is open to the public and is your chance to show your creation off to judges and the public. The winners will receive an array of prizes, including tools, cash, and the chance to make their creation a reality. There will be prizes for first, second and third places. 

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, here's how you can get started! First, assemble a team. Think of all of the creative, awesome people you know and get them on board! There is no limit on how many people can be on your team. Red Bull suggests having a whole bunch of people, as many as you can get. We suggest you keep it limited to people that will be able to work well together. The less time you spend arguing and deliberating, the more time you have to create! If you've worked together before, even better! And, make sure you have people that aren't just good at coming up with ideas, but they also know how to use tools and actually make stuff. Once you have your team together, head over to RedBullCreation.com and register! You don't have to have all of your team members before you register, but we suggest at least making sure you have a few people. You don't want to go at it alone!

The topic announcement party will be on September 23rd at The Old Miami and the show & tell takes place at Recycle Here! in Detroit. The time in between will be spent in your own shop or garage working on your creation. For more information on the timeline and the event overall click here.

This sounds like an awesome event! Although we might not be creative enough to participate in Red Bull Creation, we can't wait to head out to the reveal and see what all of you have come up with!

~C 

My Evening Kayaking on The Detroit River

Last Saturday I kayaked the Detroit River. It was something that I always dreamed of doing, but I didn't know how to bring that dream to fruition until I discovered Detroit River Sports. This kayak and paddle board tour company offers tour of one of Detroit's most beautiful and overlooked entities, the Detroit River.

We arrived at the Greyhaven Marina at 6 p.m. and changed into comfy workout style clothes inside the onsite bathrooms. We joined the group of 23 people (plus four guides) that we would be kayaking with and got a quick rundown of the dos and don'ts of the river. We strapped on life jackets provided by the company and loaded into the kayaks one by one or two by two, depending on each person's preference. After everyone was loaded in we took off on an adventure.

First we went through the boat canal and saw an upscale side of the city that features huge homes with large yachts parked in the backyard. We saw the old Fisher Mansion which has been converted into a Buddhist temple and heard tales of how these particular canals helped bring 80% of the booze into the U.S. during prohibition. Then, we took to the river and fought some pretty intense waves to get to a small island and see a whole different side of Detroit, where people are BBQing, bonfiring, and riding boats on the river all day long. Everyone smiled and waved at us as we paddled by and we got to see a new side of the city of Detroit. Finally we went back out onto the river to paddle towards the sunset as the sun went down over the city of Detroit. It was one of the most breathtaking visions I have ever had.

The tour was only $40 a person and was worth every penny. It is a bit of a challenge, but not difficult. Make sure that you wear something comfy and expect to get a little wet. There are three different kinds of tours to pick from, this includes a daytime canal tour, a sunset tour and a Belle Isle tour for the more advanced kayakers. This is a must try Detroit! Get out there and start paddling, we guarantee that you will have a great time and see the city in a whole new way!

~S

Corktown's Newest Hot Spot - Bobcat Bonnie's

Photo Credit: Michelle and Chris Gerard

Corktown's latest attraction is a hip new restaurant called Bobcat Bonnie's. This gastropub boasts fresh local finds and stiff cocktails. Their menu ranges from burgers, to sandwiches, to tacos and is full of fresh and surprising finds. We stopped by on Saturday with a group of friends and sampled the menu. We found a wide selection of must try cocktails, a few yummy appetizers and some of the best fish tacos we have ever tried.

Photos Borrowed from Bobcat Bonnie's Facebook Page

Bobcat's menu features a great lineup of staples mixed with some one of a kind items.  We started our night with mushroom ceviche and deviled eggs. The ceviche was sweet and spicy and came with tortilla chips, the deviled eggs were pickled in beet juice and extra zingy. I would suggest making sure that you try the mushroom ceviche when you visit, it was one of the most unique appetizers we have ever ordered.

For my meal, I ordered the grilled fish tacos while my dining mates ordered a classic burger, the fried fish tacos and the beet burger. Some of us ordered fries on the side and others ordered a potato salad. One of my dining mates even insisted on ordering one more appetizer, for the second round he choose the al pastor sliders. Everyone loved their food and we were all passing our meals around and trying each other's treats. The fish tacos, the fries, and the potato salad were the highlights of the meal. The tacos were covered in cabbage and had a really zingy sauce that complimented their flavor. The fries were seasoned, thick and crunchy, literally perfect. I look forward to returning for a second round of tacos ASAP.

Throughout the meal we sampled an array of cocktails including The Ginger which featured a splash of jalapeno and a watermelon flavored drink that was mixed with whiskey that went down to easy. I was impressed by their drink menu, especially the fresh watermelon juice, it was nice to have something so sweet and refreshing with he meal.

Bobcat Bonnie's is well decorated, has great service, and great food and reasonable prices. In fact, if you go during happy hour you can try any of the shareables and have a few drinks at ridiculously low prices.

Bobcat Bonnie's is located at 1800 Michigan Ave. It is open from 11 a.m. 'til midnight Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. 'til 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. They also have a spcial brunch menu on Sundays. I am looking forward to heading back the next time I'm in Corktown to try out some more of their tasty food.

~S

The 4th Annual Hazel Park Art Fair

This weekend the Hazel Park Art Fair will take place at Green Acres Park. In its 4th year, this art fair features art (of course), music, food and drinks. There will be approximately 80 booths set up featuring artists and vendors like Curious City Art, Eastworks Detroit, FairiesFive, Kozy Kouture, Nuvo Vintage, and many more. You can see a full list here. There will also be music throughout both of the days, Zander Michigan, The Solar System and Bronze Mambas are just a few of the acts you will see on stage. For a full list of bands playing, click here.

The art fair runs from 10 a.m. 'til 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 22nd and 10 a.m. 'til 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 23rd. Music will start at 11 a.m. both days. Green Acres Park is located at 620 W. Woodward Heights in Hazel Park, west of John R. For more details on the Hazel Park Art Fair and to see photos from last year, head over to HazelParkArtFair.com.

~C

VLOG #1

Check out the newest edition to Hip In Detroit, a weekly(-ish) VLOG!

~C&S

White Bee & Characteristics Double Cassette Release

We love finding new bands to follow and we are always on the lookout for the newest and latest thing. This week we were introduced to White Bee, a four piece self described "neo-soul" band from Detroit. We checked out a few songs from their EP and were intrigued by their sound.

They will be releasing that EP on cassette at Elijah's (9536 Joseph Campau in Hamtramck) on August 21st alongside Characteristics who are also releasing a cassette that night. Ancient Language and Lipstick Marquee will also be performing. It's only $5 to get in to the show and the fun starts at 9 p.m. this Friday. 

We are always looking for new music so don't be afraid to send it over (hipindetroit@gmail.com).  Shout out to White Bee for turning us on to their solid sounds. 

~S 

Win Tickets to See Moon Honey at The Majestic Cafe

This Friday, August 22nd Moon Honey will be making their way to Detroit to play at The Majestic Cafe. The LA rockers are currently travelling across the country on their Moon Honey Boy Magic Tour and it will be the first time they are making it all the way to the east coast. The tour is named after their first single "Boy Magic" from their latest album Hand-Painted Dream Photographs, you can hear that song below.

Moon Honey will be playing with Detroit's own George Morris & The Gypsy Chorus and Valley Hush on Friday. Tickets are only $8 and all ages are welcome. Thanks to the fine folks over at the Majestic, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this concert. To enter to win, please email your first and last name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Moon Honey in the subject line. We will draw our winner early on Friday morning and give them details on how to claim their prize.

The show is set to start at 9 p.m. For more details, visit the Facebook event page here.

~C

DIME Detroit Presents Gosh Pith, Ancient Language, and Nigel & The Dropout in Capitol Park

DIME Detroit ( Detroit Institute of Music Education) is bringing a pretty solid synth filled lineup to Capitol Park this Saturday, August 22nd. This FREE show is part of their summer concert series. The music will start at 8 p.m. and end around 11. There will be food and drinks for purchase and the weather is supposed to beautiful. There are only so many more summer nights, so don't stay in and waste yours, get out there and check out some of Detroit's best up and coming acts courtesy of  DIME!

~S

Ham + Jam at Fowling Warehouse

This Saturday, August 22nd the Fowling Warehouse will be hosting a day long event called the Ham and Jam. this festival will feature three of our favorite things, art, food, and of course music. Amicci's Pizza will be in house serving up some Detroit style slices as well as other vendors that will be serving up some polish food, coney's and snacks. All ages are welcome before 6 p.m. after that only 18 and older will be welcome.

The musical lineup is as follows:

Noon - Scrawlspaces
1:00 - The Messenger Birds
2:00 - Bronze Mambas
3:00 - Le Voyage
4:00 - David Bigham
5:00 - 7Layers
6:00 - Mom Barley
7:00 - Liquid Monk
8:00 - Narco Debut
9:00 - Soul Divide
10:00 - The ILL Itches
11:00 - The Erers
Midnight - BLAKDOG
1:00 - CHARACTERISTICS

 The fowling warehouse is located at 3901 Christopher Street in Hamtramck.

~S 

Catch JungleFowl and The Gator at Small's and Learn a Little Bit About Girls Rock Detroit from One of the Ladies Who Started It All

Last year I toured the "Women Who Rock" display when it traveled through town. The Henry Ford had lots of costumes from some of the ladies that have had the biggest impact on music, including Cher, Kathleen Hanna, and of course my favorite, Miss Lady Gaga. It was very powerful to be surrounded by so many strong women who have done so many amazing things, I left the exhibit recharged and full of girl power. I imagine that is the same way you feel after attending a Girls Rock Detroit music camp.

Girls Rock Detroit is a local music camp for little ladies who want to learn how to play an instrument, write a song, or record a beat. Powerful local female musicians Melissa Coppola (Junglefowl), Ros Hartigan (of Blue Pontiac) and Willa Adamo (of Ms. Willa Rae & The Minor Arcana) joined together to create this group. These talented local female figures recruited other local artists like Allison Hanna (The Gator) and Val Klaft (MPV) to teach some of this summer's classes. They worked with the female youth of Detroit to give girls access to musical instruments to see where their creativity may take them. These ladies are doing something amazing for music and for women. They are essentially creating and inspiring the next generation of women who rock. After spending the summer working together, they decided to link up and start playing shows together whenever possible, the first of which will take place this Saturday, August 22nd at Small's in Hamtramck.

The Gator and Junglefowl have teamed up with Monica LaPlante and Murder Shoes from Minneapolis to bring you a fun female packed lineup. Tickets for the show are only $7 at the door and 18+ are welcome. Doors for the show are at 8 p.m. and music starts promptly at 9. Check out our interview with Melisa Coppola from Girls Rock Detroit and Junglefowl to learn more about her, her music, and the organization, then consider spending your Saturday with these ladies.

HID- Who are your biggest musician influences?
Melissa- "National? Probably St. Vincent and Band of Skulls. Great shows, great songwriting, and fuzz galore. What more can you ask for?
Local? MPV and The Erers - some of our favorite Detroit musicians, and really just people in general.
Fictional? Sex Bob-Omb. (All our shows are secret shows.)"

HID- How would you describe your must to someone who has never heard it?
Melissa- "Loud and anxious. Sometimes dance-y... always fuzzy."

HID- Why did you decide to team up with The Gator to play this show?

Melissa- "I met Allison when she applied to volunteer for Girls Rock Detroit (I'm the volunteer coordinator.) She was a band coach at camp and then stepped up as our showcase producer. We spent a lot of time together during camp week and talked about being in bands together, so it only made sense to recommend The Gator when Hollander Records reached out to put us on a bill with Monica LaPlante and Murder Shoes."

HID- Who formed Girls Rock Detroit? What is the idea behind the organization?
Melissa- "Girls Rock Detroit was founded by myself, Rosalind Hartigan (of Blue Pontiac) and Willa Adamo (of Ms. Willa Rae & The Minor Arcana). We all met at Girls Rock Chicago in 2012 and kept in touch, agreeing that a camp in Michigan needed to happen soon. Willa and I volunteered at the first Girls Rock Iowa City camp the summer of 2014, and Girls Rock Grand Rapids started their first session that same year - so the time just seemed right. We starting getting together for regular meetings in September of 2014."

HID- What is Girls Rock Detroit?

Melissa- "Basically, it is an amazing music camp where girls learn to play instruments, form bands, write original songs and perform a concern at a live music venue. We also offer a DJ program!
Most of the girls have never played music before, and we provide all of the equipment and instruments for them to use during camp. This year was our first year of camp, and we had 25 campers attend, and about 40 women donate their time to volunteer. It was a wildly successful first camp and we can't wait until next year's sessions(s)!

We are a pending member of the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, which is a non-profit that unites all of the girls rock camps across the country in one similar mission: We all desire to achieve a reality where gender and culture do not decide whether a person can play music. At camp, we use methods to encourage campers' creativity, provide a variety of different musicians and mentors as role models, and a curriculum that is a broad introduction to the world of music.
For more background on the Girls Rock Camp Alliance, check out http://girlsrockcampalliance.org."

HID- Tell us a little bit about what the girls who attend the camp learn?
Melissa- "We offer music instruction (instrument lessons, DJ lessons, and band coaching) in addition to a great program of workshops led by experienced female musicians, artists and activists from Metro Detroit. This year, the workshops included Women's Rock History, Songwriting, Self-Esteem, Urban Farming, Screen Printing, Stage Presence, Zine-Making, and more!"

HID- Why do you think it is so important to have an organization like this?
Melissa- "Girls Rock Detroit is crucial to our community! We are empowering girls with the knowledge to create and express themselves in a way that is not usually encouraged - playing music. We are helping train and grow the next generation of female musicians. We are empowering them with the confidence to pursue their dreams.
Not only are the leaders acting as role models for our younger generation, we are creating a stronger community of female musicians in Detroit."

HID- How can someone help support Girls Rock Detroit if they believe in what you are doing?
Melissa- "There are so many ways!
FOLLOW US on social media (Facebook, Twitter) and sign up for our mailing list for starters.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS! We want all parents and kids to know about our camp so that they can apply!
VOLUNTEER to plan for next year's camp by becoming a member of our leadership team! You can also volunteer for camp week as an instrument instructor, band coach, workshop leader, roadie, foodie and/or counselor! It's only a 6 day commitment out of the whole year, and you get to meet and work with the coolest gals you will ever meet. Other ways to volunteer: donate artwork, music, graphic designs, logos, web design, etc. If you have a special talent that you think would be helpful to our organization, we would love to work with you!!!
DONATE gear or instruments to our camp. We provide all gear and instruments for the girls each year, and we desperately need to expand our inventory. We'll take drum sets, guitars, DJ turntables, basses, keyboards, practice amps, cables, stands, strings, picks, sticks... if it's music related, we can find a use for it! We'll also take monetary donations and offer tax deductible receipts.
APPLY for your child to be a camper! Girls ages 8-16 are eligible to apply and we offer financial aid for qualifying campers."

~S

New Mimi & Ferne Jewelry Line Offers Wearable Inspiration

Photo Credit: Kelly Pettibone

When Ferndale’s Naka closed, I was devastated. The boutique had provided me with endless gifts for my sister and mother in law, whose styles could not be more different, but somehow share the lovely commonality that they are difficult to buy for. I even bought my husband’s wedding band there. So I was really excited when I saw that Naka’s former owner Kelly Pettibone was bringing her unique aesthetic and design skill to a new jewelry line dubbed Mimi & Ferne ~ Modern Vintage Alchemy. The line is sold exclusively at ROUGE MakeUp & Nail Studio in Ferndale and should offer a panacea to those of us who still long to browse all the shiny things at Naka.

KT- Does the name Mimi & Ferne have a specific significance to you?
KP- Yes, it does. My paternal grandmother was an identical twin. Her sister’s name was Ferne, and my grandmother’s name was May, but her family nickname was Mimi.

KT- Why did you choose ROUGE as your storefront?
KP- Rouge seemed like a perfect fit on so many levels. Rouge is a beautiful space with a very “jewel box” feel, a great reputation in the community, and customers who appreciate unique, local goods. Furthermore, I have had very good experiences collaborating on events with them when I owned Naka, which meant I had no concerns about their level of integrity or follow through. When we met to discuss the idea, they were enthusiastic and very open to making this a joint effort; it was clear that it was going to be a great opportunity for me creatively, as well as a way for Rouge to have a curated and frequently rotating selection of jewelry available for their customers.

KT- Is this a new venture, or were you designing and selling your jewelry while you owned Naka?
KP- I was designing and selling my jewelry line while I owned Naka, but at that time it wasn’t possible for me to develop and expand it to the point I hope to in the future, or to keep any sort of regular wholesale inventory on hand.

KT- Love the dichotomy of Modern-Vintage Alchemy. Is the jewelry just vintage-inspired, or is it made with heirloom pieces? What materials do you use?
KP- Thanks! It is vintage-inspired, particularly the Mimi part of the line, but some pieces do also include vintage materials, ranging from various metals to Lucite, acrylic, semi-precious stones, glass, and crystal. Some of the Mimi pieces also feature one-of-a-kind paper and ephemera collages sealed in resin. I do incorporate new materials as well: everything from actual jewelry findings to industrial materials and recycled and new brass and copper.

KT- Who do you see as wearing the Mimi line? The Ferne line?
KP- Both parts of the line are aimed at women who want something different, fresh, and modern that’s been crafted with thought and attention to detail, and in the future people can expect less delineation between the two parts of the line. In general, the Mimi part of the line is for women who like something with a little more color and vintage influence, while the Ferne part of the line is for those who like their jewelry a little more urban, industrial, and modern.

KT- Who, or what, is your biggest inspiration?
KP- Honestly, I find so many things inspiring, but some of the things that always seem to stir something in me are the silhouettes found in Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture and art, as well as the juxtaposition of industry and nature that you can find all over Detroit. Sometimes it can come from unexpected places. For example, the “Shoreline” earrings in the Ferne line were inspired by satellite photos of the shores of Lake Michigan I saw about a year ago. It was really fun to experiment with the patina until it did some justice to those beautiful photos.

Photo Credit: Kelly Pettibone

ROUGE is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. You can contact Ms. Pettibone directly at mimiandferne@gmail.com.

~KT

Who Wants to be in a Gosh Pith Music Video?

Gosh Pith is currently one of Detroit's most talked about bands. They have only been on the scene for a short time, but their unique sound and their entertaining live shows has gotten them a lot of attention from Detroit and beyond. We had a chance to interview them a few months ago and also fell in lust with the two men behind the music. They are solid dudes whose positive attitudes are exhilarating. They also make really cool music videos, like 2014's "Waves".

They are inviting their fans to be part of their next video. They will be filming a "cool warehouse party" scene at 6541 E Lafayfette St., Detroit, MI 48207 this Thursday, August 20th. They need their fans to come out and party for the video! They will be providing drinks, music, and fun, all you need to do is come out looking camera ready to have a good time. Basically, this is your chance to catch the band in a more intimate setting for free, who wouldn't want to do that?

Filming starts at 11 p.m. because nothing good happens before the sun goes down. To be part of the fun, RSVP to the Facebook event and head out in your hottest threads to have some fun this Thursday!

~S 

Get in to Mountain Club's Release Show for FREE

This Friday, August 21st Mountain Club will be releasing their first album, Time Waits for No One, at The Loving Touch. Although Mountain Club is a pretty new band in the Detroit music scene, they are already making a name for themselves and they have some pretty big names joining them for their release show! They have invited Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms, Hawk & Son, Javelins and Monument, Monument out to play with them.

Photo Credit: StephRek Photography

Just to give you a little background on the band, Mountain Club is an indie rock trio from Detroit made up of Ross Kurtis (Vocals, Guitar), Brent Mosser (Bass) and Evan Starr (Drums). The band played their first show back in April, and since then they have been playing quite a bit around town. You may have even seen them at the Garden Bowl for this year's Blowout. Although this band has only been together for a few months, you probably recognize the members from other projects, including Half the Battle, Loose Planes, The Word Play, Hit Society, Snow People and the House Hold Punx. Check out "Ocean Floor" the debut single from Mountain Club below.

Friday's show is set to start at 8 p.m. and admission is $6. Thanks to the guys in Mountain Club we are also getting one lucky person into this show for FREE! Not only will this person get in for free, but they will also get a copy of the new album, a t-shirt and the band will buy you a drink! (I just might enter this contest myself!) To enter to win this contest, please send your name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Mountain Club in the subject line. We will draw our winner the morning of the show and email them details on how to claim their prize.

This is going to be a great show! We can't wait to hear the new album!

~C

A Few Videos and Pictures from Blackout BBQ 2015

This weekend Black Iris Booking took over the Majestic complex for a night of bands, booze and BBQ. The lineup for this year's Blackout BBQ featured quite the mix of bands from near and far, with local boys the Koffin Kats headlining in one room and the Legendary Shack Shakers in the other. Some other bands that played include Malo Konjche, St. Thomas Boys Academy, Gallows Bound, Cadaver Dogs, and Devious Ones kicked things off at the beginning of the night.

We would go on and on about what a great time we had at this show and how awesome it was, but it was a Black Iris Show, so you already know that. Instead, check out a few videos from the evening, including a song from Multi-Grain's reunion and St. Thomas Boy's Academy's 15th anniversary!

~C

Win Tickets to See Tweens with PONYSHOW and More at UFO

The UFO Factory has very quickly become one of our favorite venues in the city of Detroit. It's a mid-sized venue that's clean, has cute bathrooms, good drinks and some great music, especially when Party Store Productions books the show. If you haven't been to UFO Factory yet, you must make it a priority. There are a few decent shows there every week.

This Wednesday, August 19th PSP will be bringing Cincinnati's Tweens to the stage alongside PONYSHOW (Detroit), Ping Pong (Ann Arbor), and Junglefowl (Ypsilanti). Tickets for the show are only $10 at the door and the fun starts at 7 p.m. Each one of these bands is worth a listen (seriously click over and give them a listen, they're all fucking good), so why not head out and see all four for $2.50 a band?

We also have two pairs of tickets to give away courtesy of PONYSHOW. If you would like to enter for a chance to see the show with a friend, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw two winners early on Wednesday morning and we will email them details on how to claim their prize.  Please use #iwanttogototheUFO as your subject for the email. Good Luck!

~S 

Win Tickets to See 7Seconds, Hellmouth and More @ The Shelter

We have really enjoyed watching Black Iris Booking branch out and book shows at new locations over the last year. One of our all time favorite venues has always been The Shelter/ St. Andrew's and they have had quite a few exceptionally good shows there over the last few months.

This Thursday, August 20th the ladies will bring the heavy sounds of 7Seconds, Hellmouth, Bishops Green and Success to the stage of The Shelter. 7Seconds are punk rock legends, they have been making music together since the early 80s and they do not show any signs of slowing down. Hellmouth is sort of a Detroit mega group. It has members from bands like The Suicide Machines, Fordirelifesake, Left in Ruin, and more.

Tickets for the show are only $15 and doors are at 7 p.m. We have one pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Black Ir is Booking. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, please email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com and use #7Seconds in the subject of your email. We will draw one winner early on Thursday and we will email them details on how to claim their prize.

~S