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Cass Records

About a month ago, metrotimes writer Chris Handyside wrote a glowing feature of Ben Blackwell's new Cass Records label. Mysteriously, a month later, the paper lashed out at the label and reported that it was suburban-based (authored anonymously). With a thorough check of the address, we find it clearly located in the city of Detroit however... if that even matters. The label is recording exciting local music - a task that is attainable without purchasing the vacated Gold Dollar for office space. Ben Blackwell posted the email on the Cass Records site for our amusement.

Marshall Matthers For President?

According to NME.com, KIIS FM (Los Angeles) recently reported two-thirds of people surveyed preferred Eminem over Prez G. W. Bush. Over 1,000 people were questioned and 53 percent found Em's rhymes to be more credible than any of Bush's speeches. Maybe someday Em will rule the country much like he rules the mic.

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White Stripes Update

The White Stripes have decided what to release for their next single - the classic Bacharach and David "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself". The single will include a few bonus tracks including a cover version of " Who's to Say" by Blanche, a Peel session version of "I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman" and a Radio 1 Evening Session version of "Lafayette Blues".

In other White Stripes news, the band was nominated for a few MTV video awards. "Seven Nation Army" was nominated for Best Group Video, Best Rock Video, Best Special Effects in a Video and Best Editing in a Video.

Finally, NME decided to get a whole bunch of band's to sign a giant get well card for Mr. Jack White. Several top UK acts took time out to write some very special messages to Jack, and NME will send the card to Jack right here in D-town.

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Detroit Bands Play Warped Tour

Several D-town bands made the cut and will be playing the Warped Tour this summer. After playing the Monster Energy/Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands VII, Donkey Punch, Hot Flashez, South Bay Bessie and the Swellers will play during the Vans Warped Tour at the Silverdome on August 2nd.

Dick The Dictator

Dick Valentine (Electric Six front man) recently unveiled a very interesting new persona. After learning the band's new single "Gay Bar" will be played at the end of Will & Grace, Dick decided to dress up as a dictator - complete with mustache and cigar. Dick will keep his new digs until Electric Six releases its new single in September.

"Gay Bar" has received a lot of airplay in Britain and the chorus "gay bar, gay bar, gay bar" has become a cult phrase in the U.K. According to NME, Dick wrote the song more than five years ago after he heard Devo's Girl U Want. The sing explains how a guy wants to take his girlfriend to a gay bar. Apparently Dick was quite surprised by the success of the song. He said, "That was just the idea. It was an idea that I had and went with. I never thought of it as an making an anthem or joke. It was just kind of there."

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Mick's Other, Other Project

Mick Collins, of Dirtbombs and Gories fame, has emerged with yet another side project. The Voltaire Brothers new album I Sing the Botty Electric is an eclectic mix of George Clinton, Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone, Bootsy Collins and many more. Mick has teamed up with sidekick Jerome Gray, and the duo will release their new recording on the Fall of Rome label.

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Broadzilla Goes to The UK

The good people of the UK have been itchin for some Broadzilla action, so the band will play several venues over a two week period in August.

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3rd Annual Siren Festival In NYC

Brooklyn, NY - This past weekend the good people of NYC were graced with one of D-towns finest - The Dirtbombs. The annual Siren Festival also included Hot Hot Heat, The Kills (Jack's favorite band), Ted Leo/Pharmacists, The Datusuns and a few others.

The festival has become a yearly summer event (this is the third) at Coney Island and is hosted by the Village Voice.

Eminem's New House

In Rap news, Eminem recently purchased a 29-room, 15,000-square-foot home near Rochester Hills. This $4.8 million abode sits on six acres, boasts six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, heated marble floors and mahogany paneling and was previously owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conway. Apparently Em got a deal on the house, buying it for about $1 million less than the asking price.

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Jack & Meg White In The Movies

Now both Meg and Jack will be movie stars. According to NME.com, the duo will team up with the likes of Iggy Pop, Tom Waits, Steve Buscemi and a few others, to star in a film project for director Jim Jarmusch. The White Stripes will play themselves in a collection of self-contained scenes called “Coffee and Cigarettes”. It should be an interesting film, seeing that everyone slated to star will play themselves.

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Ottawa Bluesfest Featured Local Detroit Acts

The Ottawa Cisco Systems Bluesfest celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The musical extravaganza featured blues, gospel, roots, world and popular music – as well as some of our very own D-town bands. The Sights, The Paybacks, Soledad Brothers and The Dirtbombs rocked during 10 day event, bringing a little Detroit love to Canada. The Bluesfest featured hundreds of performers on a total of 10 stages.

The festivities began on July 4th and ran until July 13th. The event was started in 1994 and has since become Canada’s fastest growing celebration of Blues music.

White Stripes shows postponed

All White Stripes shows, through the middle of August, have been postponed until further notice.

Once the finger finally heals, go get your tickets at whitestripes.com. The band has recently begun to offer concert tickets directly to their fans in order to eliminate the outrageous ticketmaster fees and charges. To quote a Flaming Lips song, "thank you, Jack White."

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Jack White's Hand Injured In Crash

In a statement to motorcityrocks.com, the White Stripes’ publicist confirms that Jack was involved in a car accident at 1 pm on July 9th, and suffered a compound fracture to his left index finger. According to NME, Renee Zellweger was a passenger in the vehicle but was not hurt. The accident has caused the Stripes to pull out of their headlining spots in the T in the Park and Witness U.K. festivals this weekend. The band's publicist also stated, word of upcoming US and Canadian tour dates will be forthcoming.

Exclusive – MCR sources recently confirmed an elderly woman pulled out in front of Jack’s car, and it was the airbag that broke his finger. Stay tuned to MCR for all of the latest details.

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Jack White Makes Guest Apperance At Record Store Opening Party

Dave Buick (Italy Records, The Go) and Dion Fischer (The Go, Godzuki) have opened a new independent record store next to the Magic Stick. The store, called Young Soul Rebels, is located above C-Pop on Woodward Ave. At the store's opening party - which took place at the Magic Stick on July 4th - Jack White made a surprise appearance. White played a cover of "Louie Louie" with his nephew Ben Blackwell and longtime friend and mentor, Brian Muldoon. There was definately a resemblance to The Upholsterers, but this trio dubbed themselves The Science Farm.

The billing for the free show also included the Tough and Ugly, Saturday Looks Good to Me, esQuire and Slumber Party.

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Jack White Goes Hollywood??

White Stripes front man Jack White, is stepping out with his reported leading lady, actress Renee Zellweger. According to US Weekly, our famous D-town musician took Zellweger home to meet his family (and no doubt show her our wonderful city) in early May. Sine then, the pair has been spotted ‘paling’ around Hollywood – dining and holding hands. In June, Renee got the famous ‘backstage’ view when she attended the White Stripes concert in San Francisco. The two meet while filming Cold Mountain, Jack and Renee's Civil War era film.

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Brendan Benson On Carson Daily

Tune yer TV's to NBC on Tuesday, June 10, and catch Detroit's Brendan Benson on the Carson Daly Show. He also played NYC's Bowery Ballroom on June 6.

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Album Review: Birth of a Lover - The Nice Device

The Nice DeviceIf you want an album that’s guaranteed to get “stuck” in your CD player, then pick up a copy of Birth of a Lover, the latest release from The Nice Device. You’ll listen to it so much you’ll know the lyrics by heart, without even realizing it.

Birth of a Lover is a mixture of pure rock with a dash of pop – combining to make for pure listening enjoyment. The band, fronted by the vocally powerful Alicia Gbur (vocals, guitar), has a sound that makes it hard not to sing along. Backed by Matt Lannoo (guitar, vocals), Nick Gerhardt (drums) and Matt Hatch (bass, vocals), Gbur’s voice resonates long after the song has ended.

Nice Device is able to seamlessly transition from guitar heavy rock tunes like "Bittersweet" and "Oh Me Oh My", to songs that slow it down a bit like "How Low How Obscene" – which still has its moments of “rock”. Gbur’s vocals never waver, even though each song has its own distinct sound. Not many bands can pull that off…The Nice Device can. Gbur says, “We’re not afraid to sound like Pat Benatar, or Black Sabbath, for that matter.”

The album, portions of which were recorded by Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders, Brendan Benson at Grand Studios and Zach Shipps, has a gritty sound, but the saccharine sweet vocals keep it from sounding like every garage band in the scene. There is one small problem with the EP…it only has seven tracks, and we want more.

If you haven’t checked them out already, The Nice Device will be having their CD release party at Small's on Saturday, July 10th. -Jacquie Trost

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Ben Blackwell Brings Us: Cass Records

The Cyril Lords and The Mooney Suzuki are the first releases on Ben Blackwell's Cass Records. Blackwell started playing with the Dirtbombs at the young age of 17, and has traveled the country working merchandise on his uncle Jack's tour. Now, with some support from "secret investors," Blackwell has launched a Detroit-based label. Look for some interesting upcoming releases on Cass including The Sights, The Waxwings and The Trachtenburg Family Slide Show Players.

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Von Bondies Release New Raw and Rare Album

Fans of the Von Bondies have been waiting a long time for some new material from the band (the groups last album hit stores almost two years ago). So, to help quench their fans' thirst (before their Sire/Warner release), the group released a CD containing 15 live tracks recorded in 2001 and 2002 called Raw and Rare. The album includes 13 songs from the BBC and two recorded at D-town's own Lager House. Since the Von Bondies have been on the road so much lately, it's only fitting they release an album of live songs. The tracks include a number of familiar tunes, but the band throws in a few news ones for your listening pleasure.

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Comerica Tastefest: Five Rocking Days In The D

This year's Comerica Tastefest is a smorgasboard of great bands. The week kicks off with a Wilco show on Tuesday night. Detroit acts include The Dirtbombs, Detroit Cobras, Paybacks, Waxwings, Twilight Babies, Carl Craig, Blanche, The Elevations and esQuire. Get down to the New Center Area between July 2-6, and fest your eyes and ears.
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