Category: Show review
Posted by Melody Baetens on Wed, May 14, 2008 at 6:53 PMThe Sword slayed 'em last night at the Magic Stick
For the past two years or so, one of my favorite bands has been Austin-based stoner metal group the Sword. I saw them last night at the Magic Stick in Detroit. It was the fourth or fifth time I've seen them.
The first time I saw them was at the same venue and there were barely 100 people in attendance (at at the spacious Magic Stick, 100 people looks like 40). I met the band and invited them to play the 150-capacity club I book in Hamtramck. Next time around Detroit they did play my little club and it was the event of the spring for us.
Fast-forward two years and the Sword is at the Magic Stick again, this time as part of a tour for their second album, "Gods of the Earth." They had nearly 300 people in attendance. Not surprisingly, it was the most energetic Sword show I've seen yet.
They started off with a gem from the first album (I don't know the names any of the songs, I just put the CD on and rock it). The new material seemed heavier than the first album, "Age of Winters," which I thought would be impossible. The whole set was mesmerizing. During their encore, they broke into a few bars of Led Zeppelin's "Bring it on Home" (by Willie Dixon). The crowd loved it.
Speaking of the crowd, it was a who's who of Detroit's metal scene. Members of Chapstik, Diegrinder, Year of the Pig, Gannon, Bluesong, Mean Mother and more were in attendance. I also ran into The Detroit News' own Adam Graham and MotorCityRocks.com's Big Matt.
That show is about as much metal as I'll get until the big "Metal Masters" tour at the DTE Energy Music Theatre on Aug. 18. Judas Priest, Heaven & Hell, Motorhead, Testament and Seduce all on one bill!? I'm there.
Category: Band news
Posted by Melody Baetens on Wed, May 14, 2008 at 3:45 PMMetro Music Expo to offer panels, seminars, live music and more
You may have heard something about the Metro Music Expo, during the Hamtramck Blowout in March. I also wrote about on my blog around the same time.
The event is scheduled for Sept. 12-14 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. It will include panels, exhibits, seminars and live performances that all relate to being a musician. The event caters to independent musicians and music fans of all genres from all around the Midwest. Tickets will be $10 or $25 for the weekend.
The live performances will happen inside the Rock Financial Showplace, and not at showcases around town like the Blowout, or like the Motor City Music Conference of 2005.
Bands interested in performing at this event should visit the Web site at www.metromusicexpo.com and sign up for the mailing list. Soon, a call for submissions will be sent out with more information on how to suggest your band.
Category: Band news
Posted by Melody Baetens on Tue, May 13, 2008 at 1:12 PMDetroit artist Matt Blake remembered
Recently, the Detroit art and music community lost a treasured member in Matthew Blake. Blake was an artist, a musician and a Center for Creative Studies alumnus. He died Friday, May 9, of a heart attack.
Some may know Blake as the dummer in rock band Bogue. The trio stopped playing before the death of another member, front man Dan Maister. He died in February of 2005.
There will be a memorial service for Blake at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 15, on the third floor of the Piquette Model T Plant (461 Piquette Ave., Detroit). There will be words from his family; and friends are invited to share their thoughts as well. Call (248) 217-1017 for more info.
On Wednesday, May 14, an exhibition of Matt Blake's artwork will be on display from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Motor City Brewing Works (470 W. Canfield St., Detroit). Anyone with art by Matt who wants to share it should call the brewery at (313) 832-2700.
For more information visit CorridorTribe.com. Photo courtesy of Lowell Boileau (click on it for caption info).
Category: Around Town
Posted by Melody Baetens on Sun, May 11, 2008 at 8:39 PMWeekend round up: Cleveland, the casino and Creepy Rick
Another weekend has blasted on by. My weekend started on Thursday with a trip to the Jigsaw Saloon in Cleveland to see the Meatmen kick off their spring tour. Guess what? Ohio has a smoking ban in full-effect. Guess what else? It's so not a big deal.
I don't know about you, but if I don't smell smoke I don't want to smoke. The bar had an outdoor patio, but it isolates you from the rest of the fun. The owner did tell me that he plans to make the patio (which was heated) more of an outside bar. Hardcore smokers shouldn't worry, I'm sure many Detroit bars will do the same once the ban passes. In any case, it was great to wake up the next day and not smell like an ashtray!
Friday night I took my friend Liz out for her birthday. We headed to Greektown to eat at Fishbone's and hit the casino. We tried to park in the new parking structure but the guard said we had to have a Greektown players' club card. I had one, but not on me. No dice. The crappy part was the security guard was really rude about it. I'm going to get the low-down from Greektown's publicity peeps about when exactly non-members can park there, if ever.
We went to Fishbone's and the sushi was great, as usual. The casino was packed with folks coming from the Tiger game. After an extremely brief trip to the roulette table, we headed for the slots. Fun, but not profitable.
Saturday night I hung out with my band mates at the Painted Lady in Hamtramck to see the 3D Invisibles. I caught the last few songs from Cynecide, one of Detroit's oldest, still-active punk groups. They formed a few years before I was born, in the mid-'70s. The 3D Invisibles were great. Fronted by Creepy Rick, the band tore through songs about zombies, mummies and ghosts. Oh my!
Should be a pretty fun week ahead too. I'm going to see Austin's doom-metal Gods the Sword at the Magic Stick (and yes, I'm going to park in the lot). All the while, I'll have one eye on the basketball game. Go Pistons!
Category: Bar news
Posted by Melody Baetens on Thu, May 8, 2008 at 5:00 PMState Senate OKs Smoking Ban in Bars, Restaurants, Casinos
Alright, so it finally happened. The Michigan Senate passed a bill to ban smoking in all bars, restaurants and workplaces in the state. That includes cigar bars, casinos and bingo halls, which was exempt from the House version of the legislation. Because of the changes, the bill has to return to the House.
Naturally, non-smokers are breathing a sigh of relief (pun intended), and smokers are balking. Me, I'm both. I'm a smoker only at night when I'm at the bar and a happy non-smoker the rest of the time. But I'm ambivalent about the extent of the ban.
When I bartend, I notice that well over half of my customers smoke. While I work in small neighborhood bars, I see lots of smokers when I go to lounges and clubs in Ferndale and Birmingham, as well. I don't see the same pattern in restaurants. I find the smokier the restaurant, the less likely I want to eat there.
There are some bars you can't smoke in, like Clawson's Black Lotus and Warren's Dragonmead, both breweries. But if people loved sitting in bars and not smoking so much, wouldn't there be more non-smoking bars?
Don't get me wrong, I find it strange that it's 2008 and you can still smoke indoors in some nice restaurants and in workplaces. I mean, even France has a smoking ban! I think a law is long overdue. However, I say that only for restaurants and workplaces.
When it comes to bars, it should be at the owners discretion whether or not smoking is allowed. Many people -- myself included -- only smoke in bars. It's a luxury we allow ourselves. We know it's bad. We know it's gross. We know it's going to make our clothes and hair smell terrible. It's a guilty pleasure, and like they say "anything in moderation..."
So, if my friends and I only smoke in bars, and smoking in bars is outlawed, then guess what? We don't smoke. That's the legislators' theory too. It will be interesting to see if it works. I'm ready to see.
On a related subject, while we're passing bills on issues such as these, can we please lift the ban on selling alcohol on Christmas Day (from 9 p.m. Christmas Eve through Christmas Day) and Sunday mornings? This means that people going to tailgate parties on a Sunday can't pick up a six-pack on the way and that bars can't hold parties on Christmas Eve.
It's an archaic law from a different time. I don't even mind if you raise the tax on alcohol while you're at it (put it toward education!); just don't tell me I can't buy it because I should be in church.
Category: Drinks
Posted by Melody Baetens on Wed, May 7, 2008 at 12:47 PMNew beer alert: Atwater Brewery's Dirty Blonde Ale!
This week marks the debut of a new local beer, Dirty Blonde Ale. The Atwater brew is made with unmalted wheat, coriander and orange peel.
I got to try a sample of the beer a few weeks ago at the Detroit Music Awards. If you like wheat beer, it's definitely worth a try.
This Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m., Atwater Block Brewery (237 Jos Campau, Detroit) and Fuel Detroit will host a party for the debut of Dirty Blonde Ale at the brewery. There will be samples of the brew, plus a live performance by local band Zydecrunch.
Dirty Blonde is now on tap at the Park Bar, D'Amatos, the Fillmore Detroit and State Bar. By this week, the beer is expected to be in select area stores, including Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Holiday Market and Hiller's.
Category: Around Town
Posted by Melody Baetens on Sun, May 4, 2008 at 9:07 PMBluesong, a broken window and new Hamtramck bar
Friday night I dragged myself away from my laptop and off the couch to see stoner rock/blues band Bluesong at the Magic Stick.
I've seen this local band a few times, most recently at the Hamtramck Blowout in early March. At each show keyboard/organ player Ross Westerbur lights a stick of Nagchampa incense to set the mood. Bluesong is tight, heavy and each musician is stellar. Guitarist Kevin Roberts lays back at times to let Ross do his thing on the keys, but when it's his turn he really makes you take notice of his guitar playing.
Although I kind of wanted to stay, I left before headliner Dead Meadow (from L.A.) took the stage. I'm glad I did. When I left the Magic Stick, I walked a few feet to my car, which was parked on the street next to the bar, about 15 or 20 feet from Woodward. I was totally surprised to see my window busted. I don't have an alarm, but I have The Club and tinted windows. The thief didn't take much, because there wasn't much to take. I've had my car broken into six times in the last nine years. Nevermind the other dozens of various crimes that have happened against me, from attempted carjackings to harassment. So remember kids, spend the extra $3-$4 and park in a lot. It's a lot cheaper than a smashed window.
After dropping off my car at home, we went up to the Belmont in Hamtramck to hang with friends. We quickly learned the new bar down the street was having a soft opening and we were invited.
I was under the impression that the Trowbridge House of Coffee was to be a coffee house. It is located in the same space that was the club Exile, and before that, Lush. The THC has coffee, yes, but it's really a bar. A really new, nice bar with lots of flat screen televisions and comfy couches. The staff was well-dressed and very courteous. The decor was beautiful and the bathrooms were luxurious.
They weren't really open for business so there was a lot they didn't have (such as any beers on tap). We'll have more for you about the THC in a few weeks in The Detroit News.
Category: Concert news
Posted by Melody Baetens on Fri, May 2, 2008 at 3:44 PMLoftfest ticket giveaway
On Saturday, May 10, the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac will host more than 20 bands for Loftfest. Each band has done time at the Loft, recording studio in Saline, Mich. Together those bands have sold more than 2 million albums in the last 20 years. Look for a full story in this Thursday's My Time section of The Detroit News.
Some of the awesome rock groups scheduled to play Loftfest include Sponge, Speedball, Bob Guiney Band (yeah, the guy from "The Bachelor"), Solid Frog, Crud, Taproot and Universal Temple of Divine Power. Hard rock all-female trio the Motor Dolls are also reuniting for this show!
If you'd like to win a pair of tickets to Loftfest, mbaetens@detnews.com send me an e-mail with "Loftfest" in the subject line. I'll notify the randomly picked winner by Wednesday.
Category: Band news
Posted by Melody Baetens on Fri, May 2, 2008 at 10:38 AMWanna play the Dally in Alley?
Bands that are interested in performing at this year's Dally in the Alley near the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit should send in press kits now. Dally officials say they are accepting submissions until June.
Although DallyintheAlley.com has not been updated since last year, the event is always the Saturday after Labor Day.
Remember, bands don't get paid to play the Dally; it is a benefit for the North Cass Community Union, a nonprofit group that aims to preserve and protect the area, specifically around Second and Third streets between Forest and Cass.
Send submissions to: Dally in the Alley, c/o Music Committee, 4632 Second Ave., Detroit, Mich. 48201.
Category: Around Town
Posted by Melody Baetens on Thu, May 1, 2008 at 4:22 PM24.5 hours till the weekend starts
It's Thursday afternoon, and I'm getting excited for the weekend. Friday evening I'll be attending the Dead Meadow show at the Magic Stick. My friends in Bluesong are opening the show, which makes it even sweeter.
Saturday there are some options. I'd like to stop by the 40th Annual St. Florian Strawberry Festival, which is within walking distance from my house. I went last year and it was very, um...low key. It's a good place to stop in and get some strawberry desserts or authentic Polish food.
Saturday night is up in the air. I'm either going to check out Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak to see comedian Greg Wilson, or I'm heading out to DTE Energy Music Theatre to see Megadeth. I think I'm leaning toward Megadeth. If so, I'll post a review by Monday morning.
