R.I.P. Detroit City Council

One of MCR’s favorite bands, the Detroit City Council, played its final show to help close out the Hamtramck Blowout on Saturday night at Small’s. Although the band didn’t bring out the old all-white tuxes, they did go out in fine style, as the DCC had the packed house shaking with its brand of funk. Singer Tom Potter was in rare form, spouting out frequent comments like, “I feel real sexy tonight,” and “I’m feeling very improper.” At one point, Potter actually encouraged audience members to take their pants off and dance. Not long after that, he intro’d a track with, “This song is about fucking.” He later added something to the effect of, ‘If you can’t get laid at the Blowout, there is something wrong with you,’ which drew a roar of approval from the crowd.

Towards the end of the set things got a bit alcoholically sloppy, but that really just made the set more fun. Celebrating on-stage was at an all-time high, and the band’s infectious partying spirit spilled over into the crowd. The band’s cover of the Ohio Players’ “Fopp” was a dirty, oozing, blues-funk rendition laced with searing guitar work; a playful, ‘champagne of beers’ enhanced version of the band’s own “Party Planet Rising” helped to answer Potter’s frequent requests to see some asses wigglin’.

As usual, the band closed the show with the requisite DCC cover of Parliament’s “Hit It and Quit It,” which wound the band’s final show down amidst a sloppy haze of guitar and a thudding rhythm section. The DCC always provided a fun and entertaining show with solid songs, and the band will be greatly missed amongst the MCR posse. The only question now, of course, is “Who will take up the ‘Ass Struggle’?” The Detroit City Council may be gone, but it most certainly is not forgotten. Those of us that have become familiar with the Council will never forget that it most certainly is always our civic duty to shake that booty.