Tart Pops Their Black Christmas Cherry Tonight!

Black Christmas is finally here! Tonight some of the best bands in Detroit and the surrounding area will be taking over the entire Majestic complex! This annual event couldn't be pulled off by anyone other than Black Iris Booking, and this year Ramona has outdone herself. 

Favorites like The Suicide Machines, The Black Dahlia Murder and Mustard Plug will be hitting the stages throughout the night, but this year there are some newbies playing the show too! This is the first year that bands like The Idiot Kids and Tart will be playing this festival. We had a chance to ask Zee & Adam from Tart our 12 Days of Black Christmas questions. Check out what they had to say. 

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas? 

TART- "This is always such a tough question, we're not much for picking favorites. But we are super pumped to see the Suicide Machines and Fucked Up. We also always love watching the Idiot Kids. They mesmerize us every time. "

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 

TART- "We must have been on the nice list this year, because Santa delivered on a the new boots we'd been eyeing."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 

TART- "A very sophisticated wooden easel, that had a drawer filled with new paints. Also a pair of shiny, violet, pleather pants my Gram got me when I was nine. I thought they were so cool, but my mom wouldn't let me keep them."

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 

TART- "Everything, we're not picky! But we do get excited for desserts- cassata cake, banana cream pie, hummers- yes, please."

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 

TART- "'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' is surprisingly moody and dark for a Christmas song. We also like Nat King Cole's version of "The Christmas Song". It's classic."

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?

TART- "This is our first Black Christmas, so we're sure we'll be able to answer this better after Friday! But we're really just excited/proud/honored to be included in this line-up. Like, holy shit. This is awesome."

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve? 

TART- "Not yet! Maybe next year."

Tickets are still available to Black Christmas and can be purchased in advance here. Doors are set to open at 6 p.m. and all ages are welcome. Check out the entire lineup and set times below! 

 

~C&S

Grand De$ign Brings You a Fabulously Free Night of Music and Entertainment

This Friday, December 30th Mic Phelps & djkage will be releasing their latest album GRAND DE$IGN 2. To celebrate the release they have invited Macs TheRealest, Bevlove, Chavis Chandler, NICK SPEED, and Negus Dean Arubis to share the stage with them. djkage, DJ Dash and J HOUSE will be providing the sounds throughout the night and Tatiana Simone and parkhouse will be hosting the event. Youngestwaffle will also be showcasing his art during the event. Even Alley & Eye will be in house handing out frames to the first 50 people through the door! What's Snappin' Productions will be providing the Photo Booth!

The release party will be held at the Tangent Gallery and doors for the event open at 9 p.m. On top of all of this, somehow it is FREE to get in! So, save your money on the door and spend it at the bar or at Alley & Eye's booth!

~S 

Get Ready for Black Christmas with The Suicide Machines!

It's no secret that we're super excited about Black Christmas. The lineup is great, with bands like The Black Dahlia Murder, Cheapshow, Bison Machine, and the Koffin Kats. But, the band we are most excited about seeing is The Suicide Machines! The "main event" for every Black Christmas, The Suicide Machines are at the top of a lot of people's lists of favorite Detroit bands. They always put on an awesome show, they don't play very often, so it's always a treat, and every SM's show is like a reunion! You see friends that you haven't seen in years and you dance and party like you're a teenager again. We absolutely cannot wait!

Photo Credit: Camera Jesus

Our friend Ryan V. from The Suicide Machines was nice enough to answer our 12 days of Black Christmas questions. Check out what he had to say below, then read ahead to find out how you can enter to win tickets to Friday's show.

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas

Ryan V- "I'm looking forward to checking out some the bands I haven't seen yet like Bison Machine, The War Between, and Municipal Waste. Black Iris has done another great job of organizing a cool variety this year."

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 

Ryan V- "Nothing! I have a car that runs, a warm house, and an awesome boyfriend. I don't really need much more. Unless of course, Santa wants to stop by and clean my house...he does windows, right? Either that or maybe a little help getting the new Machines record finished at some point in 2017."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 

Ryan V- "My first guitar! It was a piece of shit and never stayed in tune but I absolutely loved it. So much in fact, that I traded it for a crappy drum kit years later!"

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 

Ryan V- "Mostly bourbon and champagne, but sometimes you need a little Great Lakes Christmas Ale to kick the season off right."

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 

Ryan V- "Not one particular song, but I usually play the entire Vince Guaraldi Trio Charlie Brown Xmas album on repeat for most of December. I did make the mistake of watching the Mariah Carey Christmas special this year...yeowza"

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?

Ryan V- "It's become an end of the year reunion to see friends and family and celebrate some cool music that happens to be in the middle of a killer party. I like how it has kind of morphed into a mixture of older bands stepping out for reunion sets, newer bands that are keeping things fresh, and bands coming to Detroit from out of town to join in the chaos. It's a perfect way to close out the year. Oh, and a massive hangover the next day."

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve? 

Ryan V- "I never looked for Santa. I met him at the mall a few times and he always smelled weird."


Black Christmas is happening this Friday, December 30th. That means that there is only one day left to win tickets to the show from us and Black Iris Booking! To enter to win, email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackchristmas in the subject line. Since there's only one day left, you can get a second entry in if you hit us up on social media (@hipindetroit). Tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and let us know that you want to go to #blackchristmas. You can also purchase tickets here for just $35! We will draw our final winner on Friday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors are set to open at 6 p.m. on Friday. For more details and to stay in the loop the day of the show, head over and RSVP to the Facebook event here.

~C

Get Haute to Death on NYE

This weekend Detroit's most fabulous party duo Haute To Death is throwing a NYE bash at The Elizabeth Theater inside The Park Bar.  If your goal is to dance your way out of 2016 and into 2017 this will be the party to attend! Haute to Death always delivers a sinfully good time to anyone that attends. This year's NYE blowout will also feature a guest set from Scott Grooves.

Tickets are $20 in advance, but they will be more at the door. If you want to ensure entry click here and buy your shit in advance this year! Tickets include complimentary coat check, photo booth snaps, a champagne toast at midnight and late night snacks. Doors for the party open at 10 p.m. on NYE and The Elizabeth is located at 2040 Park Street in Detroit.

~S 

Bison Machine is Ready for Black Christmas! Are you?

All week we have had the pleasure of talking with some of the bands playing this year's Black Christmas and giving away free tickets to the show. Well, the fun isn't over yet! Black Christmas is only a few days away and we have more tickets to giveaway and bands to chat with.

This time around, we had the pleasure of talking with Bison Machine. These guys just got back from tour, opened for Nashville Pussy a few weeks ago, and now they have a new album in the works. If you like stoner rock and you haven't checked this band out yet, it's about time that you do. Give them a listen on bandcamp here.

Casey O'Ryan and Anthony Franchina were nice enough to answer our 12 Days of Black Christmas questions. Read ahead to find out what they asked Santa for this year.

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas
Casey & Anthony- "Municipal Waste. Gotta get a couple of those Trump-blowing-his-brains-out shirts. Also looking forward to the George Michael hologram we heard is gonna be on the main stage between bands."

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 
C & A- "New band van, a couple of swords, a fifth of Jezy, and a sense of purpose."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 
Anthony- "Black Sabbath We Sold Our Souls For Rock And Roll CD from my grandma."

Casey- "Backrubs from Santa (I think it was my uncle Jack)."

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 
C & A- "Anything leftover, just throw it in the deep fryer. Good as new."

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 
C & A- "Judas Priest - Ram It Down"

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?
C & A- "Guarantee of a 3 day bender. But seriously this is our first time playing it and we are stoked to be here this year. See you all Friday!"

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve?
C & A- "Yes..."

Tickets to see Bison Machine and a ton of other awesome bands at Black Christmas this Friday are $35 and you can pick yours up here. You can also win tickets from our 12 Days of Black Christmas ticket giveaway! If you would like to enter for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show, email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackchristmas in the subject line. Since time is running out and the show is drawing closer, you can get a second entry in if you hit us up on social media (@hipindetroit). Tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and let us know that you want to go to #blackchristmas.

Good luck! 

~C

Spend New Year's Eve Drinking B.Nektar

Everyone is ready to say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017, but there are a lot of cool parties to choose from. If you're looking for a night out on the town that features a chic dimly lit space with great drinks and one of a kind spirits, you might want to check out the B.Nektar Meadery New Year's Eve Party at their brew house in Ferndale, Michigan. The Detroit based meadery brews up unique libations like Zombie Killer and Necromangocon and serves them on tap in their brew house. But, for NYE they are stepping it up and doing something special.

They will be bringing out a few special brews throughout the night and serving them until they are gone. This includes The Zombies Take Manhattan from 8 p.m. 'til gone. Cherry Amburana from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. and Dragons are Real from 10:50 till 11:50 p.m. LazyBones Smokehouse will also be parked outside serving up BBQ throughout the night. The Meadery will open at 2 p.m. on NYE and close its doors well after the ball drops at 2 a.m. that night. They will not be selling bottles, only serving up pours. So don't even ask!

~S 

Celebrate 25 Years of Mustard Plug at Black Christmas

Can you believe it? Black Christmas is almost here! In just a few days The Majestic will be full of boys and girls, and women and men of all ages all there for one reason. To fucking party! Black Christmas will once again bring together great bands like The Suicide Machines, The Black Dahlia Murder, Koffin Kats, Cheapshow, Dirtwolf and of course, Mustard Plug.

It has been a tradition for years now for Mustard Plug to play special holiday shows around Christmas. This year it is extra special for these guys because they are also celebrating their 25th Anniversary! And we thought 5 years was a big deal! Mustard Plug will be celebrating their anniversary first on Thursday night at The Intersection in Grand Rapids. Then they will head to Detroit on Friday night to party at Black Christmas. 

We had a chance to ask Mustard Plug's own Colin Clive our 12 Days of Black Christmas questions. Check out what he had to say below.

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas? 

Colin- "Fucked Up! and… Municipal Waste!! and…. Suicide Machines!! and… Rebel Spies!!! and… Koffin Kats!! and….. and…. I’m sorry, I can’t do this. I can never pick just one / when it comes to seeing live music/bands! I’ve been going to shows forever and I still get just as excited as I did at my first show. A good band can change your life!! Love it!! Can’t wait to see everyone!!"

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season?  

Colin- "To please help the nation survive the next 4 years. Other than that some new records is always a good thing!!"

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child?

Colin- "I’d have to say it was probably my Hutch BMX Bike. Or any number of other BMX related gear. My family was really into BMX racing in the early 80’s and Christmas presents were heavily based around new bike stuff. My parents were also really clever with surprises!"

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 

Colin- "Mexican food!! All the time!! I am a big fan of fondue as well!! My family usually has one or the other for our big holiday meal. This year it’s enchiladas, burritos, rice and beans, etc. So good!!"

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 

Colin- "Last Christmas by Wham! Is there another one?"

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you? 

Colin- "It’s a tradition at this point!! Something to always look forward to and an awesome way to end the year!! Detroit has always been a home away from home for us and it’s a great way to wrap stuff up and get ready for the next year!! Good times with good friends old and new guaranteed!!"

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve?

Colin- "Thankfully I have not. I was reading these questions to a 21 year old coworker who unfortunately had and he didn’t have very fond memories of it. He said he will probably never recover. I’m glad I don’t have to live with that. I have enough things to deal with."

Tickets are still available for Black Christmas, but hurry because they're going fast! You can pick yours up for $35 here. Thanks to the always amazing Black Iris Booking, our 12 Days of Black Christmas ticket giveaway continues today! If you would like to enter for a chance to win tickets to the show, email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackchristmas in the subject line. Since time is running out and the show is drawing closer, you can get a second entry in if you hit us up on social media (@hipindetroit). You can tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and let us know that you want to go to #blackchristmas.

Whatever you do, don't miss it! Black Christmas is always one of the best shows of the year! 

~C&S

Win Tickets to See Tunde Olaniran Perform at El Club this New Year's Eve

Most of us can agree that 2016 wasn't the year that we thought it would be. We lost a lot of amazing people and changed the direction of our country. Many of us are nervous about what 2017 will bring, but we are embracing life with open arms.

This weekend we will celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. And, there is no better way to celebrate the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017 then by heading up to El Club to watch Tunde Olaniran perform at midnight this year. He is the perfect person to put a smile on your face and bring you hope for the future. He is one of the most powerful performers and social justice warriors this city has ever seen and he will be casting a spell of protection and performing rituals of resistance alongside Nordy, Mother Cyborg, Little Animal and Edgeslayer. El Club will be a safe space for all those who are open minded and want to have a good time. Closed-mindedness, racism, sexism and transphobia are not welcome to come to the party.

Tickets to get in are $10 in advance and $15 at the door the day of the show. Doors for the show open at 9 p.m. El Club will be hosting a free champagne toast at midnight and good music will be playing all night. This will be the only place where you might be able to forget about the past and move towards a better future. Grab your tickets today or enter to win a pair courtesy of Party Store Productions. If you would like to enter to win a pair please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #tunde. We will draw one lucky winner on NYE and they will get to attend this hip bash with a friend for free!

We hope your New Year's is fun, fabulous and freaky! 

~S

Koffin Kats Are Ready to Party at Black Christmas! Are You?

Christmas has come and gone until next year, but fret not. That just means that we're another day closer to one of the best events of the year, Black Christmas! This Friday, December 30th Black Iris Booking will take over the entire Majestic complex for one night. Some of the best punk, metal and ska bands that Detroit has to offer will play at every venue throughout the complex. Check out the full lineup of bands here. 

Once again this year one of the headlining bands is the Koffin Kats. These guys always put on an amazing show! The band recently started playing with Tommy "T-Bags" Koffin again and now they are getting ready to release a new album. Party Time in the End of Times is set to be released the first week of 2017. You can get a preview of the album here.

We had a chance to chat with Vic & Tommy last week and ask them our 12 Days of Black Christmas questions. Read ahead to see what they had to say.  

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas?
Vic- "It's become a bit of a tradition now with this time of year and playing a few shows with Mustard Plug. So its going to be cool to see them again."

Tommy- "This is my first Black Christmas since rejoining the band, so I'm looking forward to the whole experience. Suicide Machines are always awesome to catch live."

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 
Vic- "A new motor for our tour van."

Tommy- "Lots of booze."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 
Vic- "The upright bass I got for myself after working a hellish holiday season at Toys R Us."

Tommy- "My first electric guitar that actually stayed in tune."

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 
Vic- "Deviled eggs. Lots of deviled eggs. Lots of farting on the band mates. Especially Tommy, because he throws up anytime he smells something awful."

Tommy- "I like Taco Bell. Around the the holidays. Around anytime really. "

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 
Vic- "I love that cover of Emmanuel by Bad Religion. Its from a great xmas song cover album they did."

Tommy- "Up On The Rooftop sung by the great El Duce of The Mentors."

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?
Vic- "We've done a few now and to me it's always one of our last shows of the year. A good way to go out with a bunch of great bands."

Tommy- "Seeing good bands and good friends."

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve? 
Vic- "I never believed in Santa. And this question just made Tommy's hangover kick in hahaha. He's currently in the bathroom throwing up."

Tickets for Black Christmas are $35 and can be purchased in advance here. There are also a few days left to get in on our 12 Days of Black Christmas ticket giveaway! We will be giving away a pair of tickets every day leading up to the show on Friday. If you would like to enter to win, email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackchristmas in the subject line. Since time is running out and the show is drawing closer, you can get a second entry in if you hit us up on social media (@hipindetroit). You can tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and let us know that you want to go to #blackchristmas.

We can't wait to party with all of you this Friday! Get those entries in and good luck!

~C&S

Downtown Brown Comes Home for Christmas

Tonight Downtown Brown will be coming home for Christmas! They are returning to Michigan for the holidays and throwing a big Christmas party at The Loving Touch in Ferndale! The lineup for the evening is pretty stacked and includes DTB, Carmel Liburdi with Mike Land, Leaving Lifted and Ellyeahdehd. This show will definitely be a blast and we're sure there will be some shenanigans throughout the night.

Admission to the show is $12 and tickets can be purchased in advance here. All ages are welcome to attend and doors are set to open at 8 p.m.

Don't miss this chance to see Downtown Brown while they're back in town! For more info on this show, click here.  

~C

A Fireside Chat with Rebel Spies before Black Christmas

Our 12 Days of Black Christmas continues today with one of the bands that we're looking forward to seeing the most at this year's show, Rebel Spies. This year's lineup is so great that we're looking forward to seeing every band on it. But, Rebel Spies always puts on a great show and we have been big fans since this band got its start a few years ago. Actually, we've been fans of pretty much everything everyone in this band has done in the past too, since it includes guys from Telegraph, Fordirelifesake, The Suicide Machines, Hellmouth, and Bastardous. In case you haven't heard Rebel Spies before, give them a listen here.

We had a chance to ask front man Jeff Sanguis our 12 Days of Black Christmas questions. See what he had to say.

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas?

Jeff- "I'm stoked to see Municipal Waste, their style of thrash takes me back. Makes me feel like a kid again, which is no small feat considering how old I am. Also looking forward to The War Between, a new cool band from Grand Rapids. It cannot be easy being from GR and having to live in the shadow of those tools Mustard Plug... especially Colin."

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 

Jeff- "A new fancy Keurig coffee maker, and then some gift cards to Starbucks, for when I cannot make coffee because I cannot afford K cups for the stupid Keurig I asked for. Vicious circle, not very well thought out, I know. Sitting on his lap makes me nervous, especially with all the kissing."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 

Jeff- "Santa took a shit while dropping off our gifts. One year, Christmas of 79 I believe. he didn't flush. I will NEVER forget that, so gross. I'm the one who found it. True story."

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 

Jeff- "It's pizza... it's always pizza, holidays or no holidays. You want me to betray my love for pizza? That's just nuts. I do not like nuts though. On anything. Is there a Christmas pizza? What would be on that? Ham I guess. Candy canes? That would be so gross. See, it doesn't work. Quit trying to make Christmas pizza happen. What the hell was the question again?"

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 

Jeff- "(There's no place like) home for the holidays by Perry Como, 1954 version people. Mariah Carey sucks, stop it."

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?

Jeff- "It's fun. Not a lot of shit is fun these days. It's dope to see so many generations mixing together as well. If ever there is a day where the old kids can mix it up with the new kids and see that the more things change the more they stay the same it's Black Christmas. But hey, that trend of wearing those stupid fucking cosby like thrift shop sweaters, is that still a thing? That should stop too. Mariah Carey and Cosby sweaters. Sucks, stop it."

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve? 

Jeff- "No. My parents never had sex. I was a virgin birth, just like that Jesus kid. Merry fucking Christmas. Literally."

That Jeff, what funny guy. If you want to hear more from him, you should also check out his show, The Jeff Sanguis Show. 

Make sure you don't miss Rebel Spies when they play Black Christmas this year along with The Suicide Machines, the Koffin Kats, The Black Dahlia Murder, and a whole slew of awesome bands. For the full lineup click here. Tickets to this awesome show are $35 in advance here. And don't forget! We're giving away a pair of tickets every day leading up to the show! To enter to win those tickets, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackchristmas in the subject line. Good luck and see you on December 30th at The Majestic! 

~C

Get Sick & Twisted at The Magic Bag

This Thursday night Spike & Mike's Sick & Twisted Festival of Animation returns to The Magic Bag in Ferndale! This festival was the birthplace to shows like Beavis & Butthead and South Park and even premiered Tim Burton's first projects. It continues to feature work from some of the biggest names in the world of animation. But, keep in mind, these are not your normal Saturday morning cartoons! Prepare to be offended, grossed out, and get ready to laugh your ass off!

Spike & Mike's Festival will be showing at The Magic Bag for three fun nights. The show kicks off on Thursday, December 22nd and returns on Thursday, December 29th and Friday, December 30th. Tickets are only $7 and can be purchased in advance here. This event is only for those 18+ and doors open at 8 p.m. every night.

The Magic Bag is located at 22920 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. Get to know more about Spike & Mike's Festival here.

~C

Happy Skalidays!

Skank your way into the holidays this Friday night at the New Way Bar! St. Thomas Boys Academy will be hitting the stage along with Dirty Notion. This will also be the first show for The Detroit Ska Review. They're calling it the Happy Punk-Skalidays Show and we're sure it will be a blast! Detroit Ska Radio talked about the show this past weekend, hear what they had to say here. 

Admission to Friday's show is only $5, which is quite the steal! 21+ are welcome to attend and this one starts a bit later, at 10 p.m.The New Way Bar is located at 23130 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. For more info on this show, click here. 

~C

A Very Black Christmas Chat with Trevor from The Black Dahlia Murder

This weekend many of us will celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah, but those in the loop know that the real holiday party is on December 30th and it's called Black Christmas! Every year Black Iris Booking brings some of Detroit's best bands past and present to the Majestic Theatre. They take over the whole complex and have bands performing in every room!

This year's lineup includes The Suicide Machines, The Black Dahlia Murder, Municipal Waste, Fucked Up, Mustard Plug, Koffin Kats, Flamingo Nosebleed, HiFi Handgrenades, Tart, Bison Machine, Rebel Spies, DIRTWOLF, The Idiot Kids, The War Between, J. Navarro & the Traitors, Some Uncoordinated Bastards, MadHouse, Cheapshow and S a f e w o r d s. We are giving away a pair of tickets every day leading up to the event and we are interviewing a few of the bands. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #blackchristmas. In the meantime, check out our first Black Christmas Interview with Trevor from The Black Dahlia Murder!

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas? 

Trevor- "Fucked Up! I love those guys. We’ve played alongside them before at a festival and that was how I first heard them. What an awesome and original sound. I’ve gotten into them quite a bit and gone to see them at The Magic Stick since... was a total blast. They have such a great energy live... very positive."

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 
Trevor- "Tons of death metal records, as usual. Nothing better than a fat stack of new tunes at Christmas. This used to greatly upset my mother back in the day when I was in high school and we got into a few fights about blood guts and Satan spoiling Jesus' birthday or whatever."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 
Trevor- "I guess it had to be Nintendo. Probably the greatest day of my life, still! It was such a huge deal then... a thing of status. I was finally a made man! I still play the old OG Nintendo at least once a week. It’s like a nostalgic security blanket type of feeling for me. A portal to happier times."

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 
Trevor- "Cookies. I love all of em. The best however are the peanut butter ones with the Hersey Kiss in the middle (or you could swap them out for Rolos if you’re really wild). Must have a glass of milk, too. Lactose free so I don’t soil my Christmas knickers."

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 
Trevor- "That one that’s like “Whoopdy doo, and hickory dock! Don’t forget to, hang up your sock!” Happy Holidays? I don’t remember who sings it. I don’t know if I’ve ever known. It used to come on when I worked at Frank’s Nursery and Crafts. I was the Christmas tree dude. I had cuts and scabs all over my arms constantly and I smelled like sap. Good times."

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?
Trevor- "It means a total riotous holiday occasion... familiar faces, booze, hugs, and loud music... it’s better than actual Christmas. The most ridiculous sets we’ve ever played in Detroit have been under the Black Xmas banner. It means the next day I’ll probably be hurtin’, haha."

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve?  
Trevor- "No, thankfully this never happened.  I never saw them having sex any other time either, but I heard it a few times and that was mortifying enough."

You can see Black Dahlia Murder and lots of other bad ass bands at the show on December 30th, get your tickets NOW!

~S

Support the Girls

During the holiday season a lot of us look for cool ways to give back. I have already donated gloves, hats, scarves and socks at a number of events this year. But, I recently found out that there are two really important things that a lot of less fortunate ladies need, but have a hard time getting their hands on. Those two items are tampons and bras.

Imagine not being able to afford hygiene products and going without, it seems unfathomable to a lot of us. For many women this is their reality. So, I researched a great organization in Maryland that helps women get access to both of those things. Support the Girls collects bras and feminine hygiene products and distributes them to those in need. So far the organization has distributed 75,000 bras and 177,000 feminine hygiene products in the last year. They want to increase that number in 2017. If you would like to help them do so you can send donations to them at:

Support the Girls
Attn: Dana Marlowe
P.O. Box 2736
Wheaton, Maryland 20915

You can also reach out to them at info@isupportthegirls.org to arrange for a drop off site in your area! You can also click here and donate to help them continue their work! This is a really cool way to give back and do something different for the ladies this holiday season! We hope that a few of you will be filled with gratitude and pass it along this holiday season!  

~S

We Wish you a Merry Black Christmas!

Some people look forward to Thanksgiving, some people look forward to Christmas, and in Detroit some people look forward to Black Christmas! This yearly gathering of all things great about our local music scene is the place to be this holiday season. So, spend some time with your family and friends over Christmas and Hanukkah and then spend some time with some of Detroit's best musicians at this event on Friday, December 30th.

The multi-stage festival will once again take place at The Majestic Theatre complex and this year's show will feature performances by The Suicide Machines, The Black Dahlia Murder, Municipal Waste, Fucked Up, Mustard Plug, Koffin Kats, Flamingo Nosebleed, HiFi Handgernades, Tart, Bison Machine, Dirtwolf, The Idiot Kids, S.U.B., Cheapshow, MadHouse, Rebel Spies, The War Between, J. Navarro & the Traitors and more! Local companies like Suck It Suicide, Vile Company, PRTY Crew Collective and Haus Cat Media will also have tables up at the event.  

Tickets to get into the show are $30-$35 in advance and $40 the night of the show. All ages are welcome to attend and the fun kicks off at 6 p.m. on the 30th. We will be celebrating Black Christmas by interviewing a few of the bands throughout the next two weeks! We will also be giving away a pair of tickets everyday until the show starting tomorrow morning! So, if you would like to enter to win to attend the show for free with a friend please email hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #blackchristmas. We will pick someone to win tickets everyday until the 30th! Check back for our interviews and we will see you at the show! 

~S

A Very Loving Touch Christmas

This Wednesday night celebrate the holidays with some of your favorite local musicians! The Loving Touch is hosting A Very Loving Touch Christmas, an event bringing together some of the best bands in Detroit to play your favorite Christmas tunes. This event will feature The Messenger Birds, Siamese, Ryan Dillaha, After Dark Amusement Park, Emily Rose, and more! Plus Santa and Rudolph will even be making an appearance!

So, throw on your favorite Christmas sweater and make your way to Ferndale this Wednesday night. Admission to A Very Loving Touch Christmas is free and all ages are welcome. Things are set to kick off around 7 p.m.

The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale. For more info on this show, click here.

~C 

Win Tickets to See Mango Lane and More at PJ's Lager House

This Wednesday, December 21st Detroit locals Mango Lane and HALA will be performing with Chicago based Jungle H. Green at The Lager House. It's the perfect opportunity to get out to enjoy some live music before you spend the weekend with family and friends.

Mango Lane released two separate EPs in 2016, you can give them both a listen here. You can check out HALA's newest music from 2016 here and you can find Jungle H. Green's recently released album Right Doo-Wop Gems here. Or, you can head up to PJ's this Wednesday at 8 p.m. to see them all play live. Tickets are $6 for 21 and over and $8 for 18-20.

We also have one pair of tickets to give away to the show. If you would like to enter to win tickets to attend the event for free please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #mango. We will draw one lucky winner the morning of the show and will email that winner details on how to claim their prize.

~S

Your Last Minute Guide to Shopping Local

The Rocket Ferndale- The Rocket is a very cool store with thousands of kitschy items. They have everything a cool collector is looking for and this is the perfect place to get lots of last minute stocking stuffers for everyone on your list. They are open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday!

Shinola- If you're looking to buy somethting a little extra special this holiday season check out the Shinola gift guide. They have lots of really cool beautiful items that anyone would enjoy, including purses, rings, cuffs, bikes, and of course watches. They have free two day shipping online or you can visit them downtown. The store hours are 8 a.m. 'til 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Division Street Boutique- This Eastern Market based boutique is the home of the Detroit Hustles Harder Brand, Their brick and mortar store is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday this week and they have lots of in-store sales that they share with their Facebook followers. So, add them to your feed to keep up with their latest deals and holiday specials.

Saffron Royal Oak

Saffron- This is one of our favorite stores in Metro Detroit! They carry items that you cannot find anywhere else and there is always something new and interesting to try on. This season they have lots of velvet, cool candles, chokers, lux capes, dresses, and more. They also have a really cool collection of torn up t-shirts for the rock stars on your list. This is a great place to pick up a something special to wear this weekend! They are open 11:30 a.m. -  7 p.m. Monday through Friday this week!

UHF Records- This record shop has special holiday hours leading up to the holidays. Don't forget that
they sell gift cards too!

MON - 12/19 - 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
TUE - 12/20 - 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
WED - 12/21 - 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
THUR - 12/22 - 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
FRI - 12/23 - 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
SAT - 12/24 - 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
SUN - 12/25 - CLOSED

Leon & Lulu- This cool Clawson shop carries everything from housewares to personal care items. They have a unique selection of items that you cannot find anywhere else in the area. You are guaranteed to find something special for everyone on your list inside their store. They also have special holiday hours to help accommodate their customers this week. They will be open from 10 a.m. 'til 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve!

Ironclad Tattoo Co- Ironclad has a lot of cool options for last minute shoppers, including upscale body jewelry, clothing and apparel from PRTY Crew Collective, Ironclad and InkAddict. Don't forget you can also get a gift card!

The Detroit Mercantile Co.- A unique collection of "new and vintage goods from Detroit and beyond". Open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Scout- An interesting collection of home goods and rare beauty products in Royal Oak, Michigan. Open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Nest Detroit

Nest- A collection of unique gifts in Midtown Detroit. Located next door to City Bird Detroit so you can hit up both places when you visit. They have lots of cool Michigan themed items, candles, and more. We love browsing around this place and always walk out with something cool!

Their holiday hours are as follows:
Sunday 12/18 - Thursday 12/22 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday 12/23 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturday 12/24 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 12/25 Closed

Rust Belt Market- The Rust Belt Market is a unique collection of vendors located on Woodward in Ferndale, MI. The space features tons of different local vendors selling everything from taxidermy to plants and Detroit themed merchandise. The best part is that they have a bar, so you can grab a cocktail before you browse around and do your shopping! The market's holiday hours are as follows:

Dec. 19TH: 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Dec. 20TH: 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Dec. 21ST: 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Dec. 22ND: 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Dec. 23RD: 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Dec. 24TH: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Dec. 25TH: CLOSED

City Bird- City Bird is another cool store that features lots of unique items. It is located in Midtown Detroit next to Nest. Both stores have a cool vibe, but carry different items.So it's worth stopping into both when you are in the area! If you have a hard to shop for friend or co-worker, this is a great place to find something to please them this holiday season! They are open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday!

The Peacock Room- The Peacock Room is an upscale boutique in Detroit that has an amazing section of beautiful clothing and accessories. If you are looking for the perfect outfit for New Year's, Christmas or a holiday party, this is the place to go! They are open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. all week!

Brightly Twisted- This uncommonly pretty Detroit company makes one of a kind clothing and accessories. The Detroit based brand uses all American made materials to create one of a kind pieces of wearable art in their dye house in Livonia. They have a showroom at the dye house that is open from 9 a.m. 'til 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or you can shop online!

Lost & Found Vintage- Lost and Found vintage is a cool resale shop in the heart of Royal Oak Michigan. They have a wide selection of coats, dresses, shoes, coots, purses, jewelry and antique items. They are open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday.

Rouge Hair and Nails- Get someone started on a whole new beauty regimen at Rouge Hair and Nail Studio in Ferndale, Michigan. They have the best pedicures in town and a unique skin care and makeup line that is 100% organic. We can personally attest to how luxurious their products are and we are excited to see that they have started custom mixing organic foundation. I love their lipstick and would recommend a pedicure from Michelle to anyone who wants to feel true happiness. The shop is open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday though Friday!

Noir Leather- Looking for something special for the naughty little freak in your life? Noir has a large selection of leather clothing and fun sex toys for every kind of couple. They are open from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. 'til 10 p.m. this Friday!

Rail and Anchor 

Rail and Anchor- This upscale home goods store is located in Royal Oak Michigan, walking distance from Scout. They are open from 11 a.m. 'til 8 p.m. this Monday through Friday.

Found Sound- Found Sound carries a wide selection of new and used records. They are open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. all week and they have gift cards if you are not sure what to get!

~S

Get Your Christmas Shopping Done at Eastern Market

Still have some Christmas shopping to do? Head down to the Eastern Market this Sunday for their Holiday Market! The market will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and will feature over 100 different vendors selling unique items. You're sure to find something for everyone here! This is a great way to shop local and support some great businesses and artists.

As another special treat, Eastern Market will have another Holiday Market taking place on Tuesday, December 20th from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. This time around, they will have all sorts of food and sweets to help you get ready for that Christmas feast! So knock out your Christmas shopping on Sunday, then head back to the market to pick up some delicious items for your holiday meal!

For more details on the Holiday Markets, Eastern Market and all of the great events happening there, head to EasternMarket.com.

~C

Win Tickets to See H2O on Their 20th Anniversary Tour

It's hard to believe that it has been 20 years since H2O released their first album. In honor of this monumental anniversary the band is out on the road playing that album in its entirety for fans across the country! They will be making their way to the stage at the Magic Stick this Sunday, December 18th.

The hardcore punk legends always put on an awesome show, but this is definitely one that die hard fans will not want to miss! Joining H2O for the night are BURN, Something to Hate, Empathy and Great Reversals. Tickets to this awesome show are only $18 in advance here and at the Garden Bowl. The day of the show the price will go up to $22. All ages are welcome to attend and doors are set to open 6:30 p.m.

Thanks to the always amazing Black Iris Booking we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win these tickets, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #H2O in the subject line. If you would like to double your chances to win, tag us on social media (@hipindetroit) and let us know why you want to go to this show! We will draw one lucky winner on Sunday morning and they will get to attend the show with a friend for free!

Good luck!

~C

"It's a Wonderful Life" at the Redford Theatre

It truly is a wonderful life and this weekend the Christmas classic will remind you of that! This Friday and Saturday, December 16th and 17th It's a Wonderful Life will be showing on the big screen at the Redford Theatre. This classic movie tells the story of, "An angel [who] helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed." The 1946 film stars James Stewart and Donna Reed and always brings out all the feels! Take a minute to watch the trailer below.

It's a Wonderful Life will be shown at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. There will also be a 2 o'clock matinee on Saturday afternoon. Tickets are only $7 and can be purchased in advance here. We highly suggest that you purchase your tickets in advance as the holiday events sometimes sell out. 

The Redford Theatre is located at 17360 Lahser Road in Detroit. The theatre and the box office open an hour before showtime. Make sure you get there early to hear an overture on the classic Barton organ too! The music typically starts about a half an hour before the movie begins. For more info on this weekend's festivities and the Redford Theatre, click here.

~C

Win Tickets to the 2nd Annual Sweater Ball

This Sunday, December 18th Fusion Shows is bringing together 4 great Detroit area acts for the 2nd Annual Sweater Ball! This event is guaranteed to spark some holiday cheer! The lineup for the evening includes Rival Summers, Ellis, If Walls Could Talk and Mike Mains. The party is happening at The Loving Touch in Ferndale and all ages are welcome to attend. Tickets are only $12 in advance here or $14 the day of the show.

Thanks to the fine folks at Fusion Shows we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show to one lucky reader! If you would like to enter to win those tickets, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #sweaterball in the subject line. If we draw your name out of the hat, you will get to attend Sunday's festivities with a friend for free!

Doors are set to open at 7 p.m on Sunday. For more info on this show, click here.

~C

Hip in Detroit Celebrates 5 Years on This Saturday's Podcast

Last week we announced that we are celebrating our five year anniversary on January 6th at El Club. Against the Grain, James Linck, Go Tiger Go, and The Messenger Birds will be performing as well as a guest that won't be announced until January 2 live on WDET with Travis Wright. We will also be sitting down to broadcast a live podcast with some of the bands this  Sunday, December 11 Saturday, December 17th. M-1 Studios will once again be bringing you our podcast of all things hip in Detroit. You can tune into the show by visiting PodcastDetroit.com at 6 p.m. on Sunday. We will be on the air until 7:30 pm. Due to last weekend's snow storm, we have rescheduled this podcast to this Saturday, December 17th! You can spend your afternoon listening live beginning at 1:30 p.m.! We always broadcast from Studio 2, so click on that portal when you go to listen live.

For the fifth year in a row we will have lots of prizes that we will give away in between the bands. Everyone who comes out and pays 8 bucks to get into the birthday bash will get a raffle ticket and will be eligible to win prizes form a variety of local companies, including A & E Heating and Cooling, Camera Jesus, Jett Plastic Recordings, B. Nektar Meadery, Suck It Suicide, M-1 Studios, InkAddict, Zeke's Rock & Roll BBQ, the Michigan Science Center, St. Andrew's Hall, Green Dot Stables, Johnny Noodle King, Huron Room, Blumz by JR Designs, Black Iris Booking, Party Store Productions, Ironclad Tattoo Co., Rock City Eatery, Saffron, Incognito, Lost Highway, The WAB, The Emory and PRTY Crew Collective.

Tune in live at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and let's talk about the last five years, the anniversary bash and everything else that is hip in Detroit these days! 

~S