Win Tickets to See Minus the Bear

Ten years ago Minus the Bear released Planet of Ice and this Thursday, May 3rd they will be playing it in full at The Crofoot Ballroom. This was the first album with the keyboardist Alex Rose and the last album that the band made with Suicide Squeeze Records whom they recently returned to for their 2017 release VOIDS. The Coathangers and The New Trust will be opening the show and tickets are $25 in advance and $28 at the door, you can purchase them here.

You can also win a pair of tickets to the show! To enter to win a pair, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #bear. We will draw one lucky person  the morning of the show and they will get to attend he show with a friend for free.

~S

The 3 Ring Traveling Apothecary + Rat Queen Vintage Bring Oddities and Treasures to Hamtramck

The 3-Ring Traveling Apothecary/ Rat Queen Vintage is proof that when two women team up, great things happen. Monique Given and Joanna Komajda have joined forces to open their new shop right in the heart of Hamtramck on Joseph Campu. The new store features an eclectic mix of items, including curated vintage oddities and a full line of handmade organic soaps, candles, and lotions. If you're looking for a vintage human skull or a soy candle in a tea cup, this is the place to go! The owners are fun to chat with and they have a great story to share about many of the items that they have collected over the years.

They also are willing to hand pour a soy candle in any container that you bring to them for a reasonable cost. If you have cool vases, glassware, or decor that you want to turn into a custom soy candle, all you have to do is bring it in and chat with Monique, and she will get it done for you.

The new store is located next to a yoga studio and two doors down from the new Harlequin Tattoo location. Bon Bon Bon is also within walking distance. 3-Ring is just one of many stores that make it worth the trip to Hamtramck the next time you need a gift, some cool vintage clothing, or just have a day to waste and are looking for something different check out. The shop is open from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday! Go say "hi" to the women and see what kind of weird things you can't resist taking home. 

~S

Win Tickets to See Yung Gravy with bbno$ at El Club

Monday night, April 30th Yung Gravy brings The Gravy Train Tour to El Club! The tour has made stops everywhere from Ann Arbor to L.A. and this week he brings the train back to Michigan. Joining Yung Gravy on the stage is bbno$. The two artists recently released a music video together. Check it out below.

Tickets for this show start at $14 and can be purchased in advance here. There is also a special meet & greet package available for $69, which will get you early entry to the show and a photo opp with Yung Gravy. Thanks to our friends at AEG, we are giving away a pair of general admission tickets to this show to one lucky reader. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #gravy in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Monday morning and they will start their week off right with Yung Grave and bbno$! 

~C

GreenSpace Opens a To-Go Space!

GreenSpace resturant in Ferndale is well known for its upscale vegan cuisine and great drinks, but they have expanded their brand and made vegan to-go food easy and accessible for all! This restaurant, which is owned and operated by Dr. Kahn, is the perfect place to get a healthy plant based meal on the go, something that Metro Detroit is seriously lacking.

Their to-go space features a completely different menu from their full service cafe. The selections include a variety of wraps, bowls, salads, and smoothies. Everything on the to-go menu is priced in between $8 and $14 and they have gluten free, nut free, soy free, and plant perfect menu choices, so they can literally cater to any diet very quickly. For example, I ordered the Go South Wrap + chic peas and was eating my food in under three minutes.

Quick, healthy, and vegan has been nearly impossible, but now its right up the road on Woodward! Their cooler also features a wide variety of kom­bucha, juices, and alkalized waters. All of their food is also certified Kosher! On top of that, the new space is a 100% no waste zone. Everything that you use to eat your meal is recyclable. Even the food waste is picked up and reused if you scoop it into the right bucket! Green Space & Go is the future of fast food. Go check it out!

~S

Blakdog Plays Trixie's This Weekend with LNSP and Fizzbang

This Saturday night you have a chance to check out three acts that people have been raving about! Blakdog, LNSP, and Fizzbang will be playing at Trixie's in Hamtramck. In case you aren't familiar with these three acts, here's a little background on each to bring you up to speed.

Blakdog is a four piece garage rock band featuring Steven Putnam on Guitar and Vocals, Brent Szczygielski also on Guitar, Josh Lewis on Bass, and Andrew Maslowsky on Drums. The band has three releases available on their bandcamp, with their most recent being a single that was released last year. The song is called "Witch Fuzz" and the B side is called "Heavy Dreams". You can give both a listen below. Blakdog hasn't been playing a ton of shows lately and they have some new songs to play for you this weekend. So that sounds like two great reasons to head out Saturday night!

LNSP is a band that we first heard about before this year's Hamtramck Music Fest. We had the pleasure of chatting with them on our podcast before the fest. This band is a little newer to the scene, but they're making a name for themselves quickly. LNSP is fronted by Margaret O'Sullivan with Chris Zehnphennig on Keys, David Thoel on Drums, and Kyle Dluge on Guitar. Check out their latest release "Live at Studio J" to get a feel for this band's sound.

Last but not least is Fizzbang. This is a band that we haven't had the pleasure of seeing live yet, but we have heard that they're awesome. You may have seen them perform at the kickoff for the HMF this year at Ant Hall. They classify themselves as "Dancey Basement Blues Rock with Punch". Their self-titled full length was released last year. Give it a listen below.

Cover to see these three great bands live is only $6. You also have a chance to get in the door for free for this one! We are getting two pairs of people in to this show free of charge. To enter, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #trixies in the subject line. We will draw two lucky winners on Saturday morning and they will each get in the door that night with a friend for free.

Doors are set to open at 8 on Saturday and the music will start at 9. 21+ are welcome.

~C

Looking for a Gift? Check out 3Winks in Ferndale!

I love giving people the perfect gift, which means I spend a lot of time hunting for something that I think will make my friend's face light up and I feel an unbelievable amount of pleasure when I can make someone I love smile. But, in this overly saturated, Instagram obsessed, Amazon Prime plagued world we live in, it's getting harder to find something special and unique. Thankfully, I found a "new" store in Ferndale that caters to thoughtful gift givers like myself.

3Winks is a finely curated gift shop in Ferndale that is owned and operated by Heather Hopkins, a self proclaimed dreamer and Vespa enthusiast. She opened the space just under a year ago to help people like me find the perfect gift when we need it.She spends her time collecting cool things so all we have to do is stop in and buy them when we need something awesome. Heather greeted me when I walked in the door and was full of passion as she talked me through the store. It was the personal shopping experience that I crave and something that I haven't experienced in a long time.

I was also impressed by the selection in the space. The store isn't over packed with "things", instead it is elegantly laid out and easy to shop through. Most importantly, there really is something for everyone in a variety of price points. I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that she carries my favorite line of Michigan made candles called LOVE. If you need a gift or want a great soy candle to freshen up your home this summer, stop by, pick one up, and thank me later.

3Winks is located in Downtown Ferndale on 9 Mile, right across from the Ferndale Library. They are open 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon until 5 p.m. on Sundays, and they are closed on Mondays. You can get updates on in-store events and see some of the items they have in the shop by following them on Facebook here or Instagram here. But we really recommend stopping by instead! The in store experience is worth it!

  

        

~S

Beacon Park Transforms into a "Parcade"

This year, winter seemed to last way longer than usual. Maybe it was because Mother Nature taunted us with a nice day here and there just to follow it up with ice, snow, and bitterly cold temperatures. But, it seems like the weather has finally broke, and (fingers crossed) warmer temperatures and sunshine are here to stay!

If you're yearning to get outside and have some fun in the sun, Beacon Park has something special lined up this weekend. They are hosting a Free Arcade this week that will bring about a dozen of your favorite arcade games out to the park. Some of the games included are Donkey Kong, PacMan, Mario Kart Driver, and Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift. To see a full list of the games that will be on site, click here. The games will be free to play and the "arcade" is open from 10 a.m. 'til 10 p.m. daily. In addition to the arcade, the park also has LED Putt-Putt golf set up this week, which is also free to play. So, head downtown and have some fun at the park this weekend!

Beacon Park is located 1903 Grand River Avenue, at the intersection of Grand River and Cass. To see a full list of all of the fun events coming to the park, head over to their Facebook page or visit their website at BeaconParkDetroit.com.

~C

Hip in Detroit Chats With Tony Muggs Before The Muggs Go to Spain

The Muggs are a pretty popular band in Detroit, but did you know that they have a huge following in Spain? The band made its first trip to the country in 2007 and they have been back four times since then. They will be making their fifth trip South this May, but before they hit the road they are throwing a good old fashioned tour kick off show at Outer Limits this Saturday, April 28th. As an added bonus, they have decided to release their first album The Muggs on vinyl for the first time!  We reached out to talk to bassist Tony Muggs to find out about the re-release, the tour kick off show, and the trip to Spain, which will feature a special guest star on drums. Check out what he had to say, give the band a listen, and head up to Hamtrmack to see them play live before they head to Spain this Saturday!

HID- Why are you calling your upcoming tour The Get It On Tour?
Tonymuggs - "As your readers may or may not know, The Muggs have been touring Spain, among other European countries, since 2007. This particular tour in May 2018, we were invited by a different promoter from Spain than the one we had been previously working with since 2012. Our new promoter is Break Music promotions, and owned by Alfonso Cito who will also be our tour manager. Usual protocol for touring Europe is that promoters require you to have an upcoming, new record. Because we are in between making records but got invited anyways, our promoter and The Muggs brainstormed ideas and Alfonso thought that since we haven't toured Spain since May 2015, it would be okay this one time to turn a blind eye to the usual rule of having a new album for promotion. It's also a good thing to have such a deep back catalog of exciting songs. I picked the tour name because that is one of Dannymuggs finest, most exciting songs (Get It On off our 2nd LP On With The Show) in the Muggs catalog and I wanted the Spain to know we are coming guns a-blazing and we're gonna GET IT ON!"

HID- Tell us about the new music that you will be releasing, where was it recorded? What can we expect?
Tonymuggs - "Timing is everything right? Well, we just didn't have enough time to release what will be our 6th full length album yet so Dannymuggs came up with a great idea to make it worth everyones while to come out this Saturday August 28th for our "send off" show at Outer Limits Lounge, and for our fans in Spain. Because we never released our very first album entitled, The Muggs, on vinyl, we got together with a company that manufactures vinyl in Spain and made 300 copies of our first album. The Muggs was originally recorded in August 2004 in Royal Oak, MI. at Rustbelt Studios when we were signed to a local record label called Times Beach Records, along with such legendary label mates as the Hentchmen, and Audra Kubat among other bands. Since 2006, the Muggs have been an independent, DIY band with limited funds to get all the things we want accomplished. But we are smart with the money and so we created new artwork for this vinyl, (graphic artwork by the amazing Jason Seaman, www.esotericadesign.net) and this will be a collector's edition on vinyl for sure. I just received 150 copies from Spain in the mail last week! Limited Edition Spanish Import baby! If we decide on a second run, we'll have new artwork and perhaps even a different track listing. Very rare indeed!"

HID- Why Spain?
Tonymuggs - "Spain gets us! Spain, in my opinion, is very similar to Detroit. Spain is very blue collar, works hard, plays hard, loves rock n roll and the blues, the people are genuine and the food is to die for! Wendy Case of the Paybacks took the Muggs to Spain back in January 2007 for our first tour abroad and I just feel in love with the country. We went back in 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2015. Needless to say, if you build it and you have a good product, they will come. We are lucky but also have worked our butts off to be in this wonderful position that we are in today. My dream is to build a bridge from Detroit to Spain so that many other talented bands from Detroit can experience Spanish crowds and culture!"

HID- Do any of you speak Spanish?
Tonymuggs - "Oh god!" Or rather, "Dios Mio!" I try but luckily English is the worlds' second language. After three minutes of me butchering and blathering in the Spanish language, they say, "ohh, my friend, please speak English, I understand English." Dannymuggs, and Todd Glass also try their best. There have been some hilarious memories of us trying to speak the language and failing miserably. Ultimately though, they appreciate the effort we put forth."

HID- How do you get ready for a three week tour?
Tonymuggs - "It can be a grind. Thankfully, it's only three weeks. Leave yer egos home. Surrender to the road and the tour. But we have been through this five times already so with each time, you learn something that you shouldn't have done from the previous time and move forward."

HID- Whats your must have travel item?
Tonymuggs - "Good books, great music, earplugs for those nasty snoring band mates and duty free whiskey for the road!"

HID- Why did you decide to have your send off show at The Outer Limits Lounge?
Tonymuggs - "Our regular drummer, Todd Glass, couldn't make this tour. He is still in the band of course, but he's tending to family matters. So, whenever the Muggs get invited to Spain or any other European country, I feel it's our duty to go. Again, I feel so lucky and privileged to go somewhere like Spain, where we have an amazing following. That being said, it's a great feeling to know that the Muggs are respected enough in Detroit to know we can ask other drummers on the scene if they'd wanna go on tour. Dude's drummer, Zach Pliska fits the bill! He's a young, exciting drummer with his own style. Zach and I started getting together in January 2018 and then after he basically nailed our entire catalog, we brought in Dannymuggs and have been rehearsing hard ever since mid February. Regarding OL, Johnny Hentch is a wonderful man, as well as a great and legendary musician in Detroit. He and his wife Kelly now are the owners of Outer Limits Lounge, which is one of the coolest, new music venues in Hamtramck and metro Detroit. He and Kelly do every right from the bar's decor to the music and bands they bring in. We also wanted to get one show under our belts with Zach on drums before we hit the ground running in Spain."

HID- Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?
Tonymuggs - "Yes! The Cheetahs are gonna open up the show this Saturday for us! Get there to see them, they are easily one of my new favorite bands in Detroit. There are so many actually but it's a real pleasure to be sharing the stage with them for Saturday's show. 9pm doors. Only $5. 18+ welcome!"

~S

Win Tickets to See Odonis Odonis at Trixie's

Toronto trio Odonis Odonis are currently out on a short tour and Detroit was lucky enough to get a stop along the way! The group also has dates lined up in Ottawa, NYC, Montreal, Chicago and Toronto. For the Detroit date, they will be performing at the super intimate Trixie's in Hamtramck. Get a sneak peek of what you can expect at their show below.

Odonis Odonis will be joined by No Body this Friday, April 27th at Trixie's. DJ Marc Church will also be performing. Cover to see this lineup live is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Thanks to our friend Virginia at Party Store Productions, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #odonis in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner the morning of the show and they will get in the door that night with a friend for free.

21+ are welcome to attend this one and doors are set to open at 8 p.m.

~C

Brian Fallon Shot by CJ Benniger at Saint Andrew's Hall

Singer Songwriter Brian Fallon played Saint Andrew's Hall on April 22nd, 2018.  Detroit photographer CJ Benninger caught the former The Gaslight Anthem vocalist taking the stage solo. Click here to hear music from Mr. Fallon and check out the shots from his Detroit show!

RESCHEDULED: Hip in Detroit's Next Podcast will Feature Plus Size Blogger, Model, and Activist Leah V. from Beauty and the Muse

Flyer designed by Monster Free Design 

I have always been a plus sized person. I wore women's sized clothing by the time that I was in middle school and wasn't able to shop at any of the cool stores at the mall that my friends frequented. There was no such things as plus sized fashion, plus sized models, or representation of anyone that was not white and cisgendered in the media. It was nearly impossible to find anyone in the spotlight that looked anything like myself. Thankfully, women like Detroit plus sized fashion blogger, model, speaker, and writer Leah V. are working hard to finally change that. 

She is self described as "fat, Black, and unapologetic" and she is inspiring as hell. The blogger, model, traveling speaker, and panel member is changing the way that the world views black Muslim women while reclaiming the word fat. She is also living her life out in the open and sharing all of her victories and struggles with her followers. Leah is boldly making some people face some of their biggest misconceptions by simply living her best, most honest life out loud with no apologies. There is no topic too taboo for Leah to embrace on her blog, Beauty and the Muse, where she features stunning photos of herself that redefines what it means to be stylish and beautiful, alongside in depth thoughts about her personal experiences. 

This month, she will be sitting down with hipindetroit.com to discuss how she became the strong, beautiful, hardworking feminist that she is today. You can tune in live to hear us discuss what inspired Leah to choose to embrace her body and become a body positive activist. The show will broadcast live from PodcastDetroit.com at 6 p.m. on April 29th. We never know what studio we will be broadcasting form until we get there, so make sure that you are following us on Instagram so  you can see what studio to tune into that day. If you have any questions that you would like us to ask Leah, make sure you send them to hipindetroit@gmail.com before the 14th! Don't forget, you can re-listen to all of our past podcasts by clicking the link here.

~S 

Win Tickets to See Kevin Morby with Hand Habits at El Club

Solo artist Kevin Morby will be making his way to Detroit this Wednesday, April 25th. He is currently out on tour with Hand Habits and they have been packing houses and selling out dates across the country. Morby's most recent release City Music was released last year. Give the music video for "Downtown Lights" off that album a watch below.

Kevin Morby and Hand Habits will be performing live this Wednesday night at El Club. Tickets for the show are $15 and can be purchased in advance here. Thanks to our friends at Party Store Productions and El Club, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #morby in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Wednesday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors are set to open at 8 p.m. for this one and all ages are welcome.

~C

Win Tickets to See Born Ruffians and Handgrenades this Thursday

Canadian indie rockers Born Ruffians are currently on tour in support of their latest album Uncle Duke & The Chief. The 9 track LP was released last February and since its release the band has been selling out tour dates all over the US and Canada.

This Thursday, April 26th the band will be coming to Michigan to play The Loving Touch in Ferndale. Local indie rockers Handgrenades will also be opening the show. Both bands are known for their live performance and The LT is known for having good sound, that's a match made in heaven! We reached out to the band and briefly chatted about the album and the tour with Steve Hamelin, drummer for the Ruffians. Check out what he had to say and then read below to find out how to win a pair of tickets to the show!

HID- What's your favorite part of touring in the states?
Steve- "Our fans are really dedicated in the states so we have a lot of people who have been coming out to our shows for years now. My favourite part is seeing them again and realizing they are still with us."

HID- Where did you record your new album Uncle Duke & The Chief?
Steve- "We recorded it with Richard Swift. He was fantastic."

HID- What was the inspiration for this album?
Steve- "The inspiration behind this album was to make a record that felt true to our band. We wanted to record it mostly live, and not overthink things. We just wanted it to feel real."

HID- Why did you choose "Miss You" as the first single from this album?
Steve- "It gets great reactions when we play it live and it just seemed like the right song to introduce the album to the world with."

HID- Most bands break after a year or two, how have you guys been able to keep it together?
Steve- "We all drink a lot! Also we go way back. Mitch and Luke are family and I met them in high school, so everyone understands each other really well at this point and gives each other the space they need when they need it and welcome them back with open arms when they are back (speaking from experience on this one)."


Tickets to attend the show are $15 in advance and all ages are welcome to attend. We also have a pair of tickets to giveaway to the show courtesy of Black Iris Booking. If you would like to enter to win them, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #BR. We will draw one lucky winner this Thursday morning and they will get to attend the show for free with a friend.

~S

W.O.M.B. Provides a "Soundtrack for a Heated Conversation" Sunday Night at Cellarmen's

This Sunday night W.O.M.B. takes over Cellarmen's in Hazel Park to celebrate their latest release "Soundtrack for a Heated Conversation". On this five song release, War On Man Babies (W.O.M.B.) does what they do best, play heavy tunes while bringing up social issues. The song list includes "Christina Aguilera Will Have Her Revenge", "Reverse Racism Isn't Real", "Out Them All", "No Means Fuck Off" and "Fuck the Christian Right". Give them a listen for yourself below.

If you would like to hear these songs live and scream along, make your way to Cellarmen's Saturday night. This will also be the last show for W.O.M.B. for a while, so you don't want to miss it! Also playing Sunday night are Teener, Empathy, and Menagerie. Comedian Josh-Redd Sanchez will also be performing his stand up to start the night off. Cover for the show is only $7, 21+ are welcome, and things are set to kick off early at 6 p.m. For more info, click here. 

~C

Undesirable People Release 6 Song EP "Ask Me If I Care" Today!

Today is the official release date for Undesirable People's new 6 song EP Ask Me If I Care. Leading up to today's release, the band put out two strikingly different music videos for two of their new songs.

The first video for the single "I Saw a Dove" features a topless Camera Jesus puking all over a birthday cake and eating a dove.The music isn't as disturbing as the video but you can definitely feel some pain and passion the tune, check it out below.

The second video is a bit more laid back and so is the song. "Climb High" features the band hanging out and jamming in the middle of somebody's house. It's a sold tune and a visually pleasing video, check it out below.

The new EP is out today and you  can check it out and order a copy for yourself here.

The band will also be hosting an EP release party at The Sanctuary, Saturday, June 23rd in Hamtramck. Mark your calendars and follow the Facebook invite here to find out more about the show, including openers when they announce them.

~S

A Look Inside The Rust Belt Market with Hip in Detroit & Obscura Broadcasting Company

To learn more about The Rust Belt Market click here!

The Sanctuary Makes Hamtramck Its New Home

Last fall, Detroit lost one of the best DIY venues that its music scene has ever had. The Sanctuary closed its doors on Outer Drive in Detroit after a series of break ins and bad luck. This venue was one of the few BYOB venues in the area and hosted a ton of great shows over the years. After it closed its doors, there was definitely a void in the community. But now that void is about to be filled!

This Friday night The Sanctuary officially makes its triumphant return and this time it's for good! The venue will take over the space in Hamtramck previously known as Paychecks where Maxwell and his team have been hard at work revamping the venue. (You can check out the progress on Instagram.) For its comeback show, The Sanctuary will welcome Break Anchor to the stage along with
Booze & Glory, Antagonizers, OC45, Walk the Plank, Aggro or Die, and Come Out Fighting. Cover for the show is only $13 and all ages are welcome. Since the venue has a bar now, you can no longer BYOB, but it's Hamtramck so we doubt the drinks will be too pricey. Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. and The Sanctuary is located at 2932 Caniff in Hamtramck. See you there!

~C

Win Tickets to See Frenship w/ YOKE LORE at The Pike Room

Monday night, Frenship will be making their way to the stage at The Pike Room in Pontiac. The LA based duo is currently out on their "Good Morning, Goodbye" tour in support of their new single by the same name. This single is the follow up to the band's debut EP Truce that was released at the end of 2016. Give the song "Good Morning, Goodbye" a listen below and if you like what you hear, make sure you also check out Truce here.

Joining Frenship at The Pike Room on Monday night is YOKE LORE. Tickets for the show are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. You can purchase your tickets in advance here. Thanks to our friends at AEG and The Crofoot, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to the show. To enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #frenship in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Monday morning and they will get into the show that night with a friend for free.

Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. for this one and all ages are welcome.

~C

Win Tickets to the Trash Brats "Out of the Closet" Vinyl Release Show

The Trash Brats have been a part of the Detroit music scene since the late '80s. It's been about 30 years that they've been rocking out and during that time they have released several albums, singles, and EPs. But, of all of them, one of the most popular still today is their 1996 release Out of the Closet. Although it has been over 20 years since the album was released, it was never released on vinyl, until now.

Jett Plastic Recordings has released a ton of great music for Detroit bands and national acts alike. This Friday night it releases the first ever vinyl pressing of the Trash Brats' Out of the Closet. In celebration of this release, the band will be performing live at Small's along with David Bierman Overdrive and Dirty Copper. This will be an amazing night of music that you don't want to miss! Tickets to this show are only $13 and can be purchased in advance here. If you're feeling lucky, you can also enter to win a pair of tickets from us! Just send your name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #trash in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Friday morning and they will get in the door that night with a friend for free.

Doors are set to open at 8 p.m. for this one. For more info, click here.

~C

Ben Keeler Releases "Movo Daring" this Friday at The Loving Touch

This Friday night Ben Keeler will be releasing his new album Movo Daring. The album was recorded with Alex Kaye at Rustbelt Studios and Assemble Sound and captures Ben's sound, which he refers to as Metaphysical Indie Rock. Keeler worked on these new songs with friend, drummer, and long-time collaborator David Dionise, and the recordings feature several musicians from the area. Give the new tunes a listen for yourself below.

Keeler will be celebrating this release at The Loving Touch this Friday night, where he will also be sharing the music video for the song "Meditation" off the new album. Joining Ben for the release show are Ancient Language and Mango Lane. Cover to see this lineup is only $8, but lucky for you, we are also getting some people into this show for free. To enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #daring in the subject line. We will draw two lucky winners on Friday morning and they will each get in the door with a friend for free that night.

Doors are set to open at 8 p.m. on Friday and all ages are welcome. For more info on this show, click here.

~C

Hip in Detroit X Camera Jesus

Every few years we get the honor of spend the day being captured by the lens of truly talented Camera Jesus. Here are some shots from our last day out exploring with one of the city's most talented photographers.

24 Hour Ticket Giveaway: Win Tickets to See Five Pound Snap, Hala and More!

Some people can wait until the weekend to see some live music, but others can't wait that long to get their fix. Lots of great lineups happen all over Metro Detroit throughout the week, this includes lots of great touring bands that make a stop to see us while they are in town. This Wednesday, April 18th Triathlon (New York) will be doing just that and they have lined up a seriously solid local lineup to make sure that all of us come out to the show. Hala, Five Pound Snap and L. Martin to play alongside them at Baker Streetcar in Hamtramck.

Tickets to attend this event are only $7 a person and 18 and older are welcome to come out. We also have one pair of tickets to giveaway to the show courtesy of Five Pound Snap. If you would like to enter to win, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #humpday. We will draw one lucky person in the morning and they will get to spend their midweek taking in some solid tunes at one of ham towns cutest little dive bars.

~S 

The Hello Kitty Traveling Cafe is Making a Stop in Metro Detroit this Weekend!

Hello Kitty is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. She has stores, coffee houses, restaurants and planes that bare her face as well as thousands of novelty items from pencil cases to makeup lines that bare her name. There is even a toaster oven that you can purchase that burns her face into your slice of bread. But, you may not know her backstory as well as you think you do. For example, did you know that Hello Kitty is not a cat, she is actually a third grade girl? Hello Kitty is also from England, even though she was created in Japan, and she even has a twin sister! The mini mogul recently celebrated her 40th birthday by taking the show on the road.

The Hello Kitty Cafe travels around the globe throughout the year bringing a little bit of magic to every parking lot that it lands in. The van sets up shop and sells sweet treats and limited edition novelty items to fans for one day only before taking off to the next town, and if you have ever seen the stuff that they sell, you already know that you cannot miss the van when it stops at Great Lakes Crossing this Saturday, April 21st. They have a full menu of sweets that includes macaroons and mini cakes as well as a tons of new merchandise that you cannot get anywhere else.

The traveling Cafe will be parked at Great Lakes Crossing from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. or until they run out of stuff to sell! To follow the cafe and see where it is going next, click here.

~S

24 Hour Giveaway: Win Tickets to See Rainbow Kitten Surprise at The Majestic

Rainbow Kitten Surprise is currently on tour in support of their third studio album How to: Friend, Love, Freefall which was released less than two weeks ago. Last Friday they hit the stage at Late Night with Steven Colbert and tomorrow night they will be hitting the stage at The Majestic Theatre in Detroit. They have invited CAAMP to open the show and they will be heading across the US on their mostly SOLD OUT tour throughout the next few months.

Tickets to attend the show are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. Detroit is one of the only stops on this ride that still has a few tickets left, so you might want to scoop yours up before they are gone. Or, you can take your chances and enter to win a pair of tickets from us courtesy of AEG Presents. To enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #rainbowkitten. We will draw one lucky person in the morning and they will get to attend Tuesday night's show at The Majestic with a friend for free.

~S