MotorCityRocks.com: The Detroit Dish

Recap: Electric Six w/ Local H, Child Bite at St. Andrew's Hall... in 3D!

2008-12-01T00:00:00.004-05:00

Hey kids, dust off your old comic book 3D glasses, because today's special Electric Six show recap features photos from artist Chris Dean's 'Live From Detroit' series. These are 'analglyphs', which means you'll need those red and blue 3D glasses. More 'lenticular' style images will be shown along with shots of 20+ other bands in an exhibition in summer 2009, but for now, get your glasses ready, and prepare to relive E6... in three dimensions...

If you've never seen Child Bite before, this visual description might help describe their sound: most of their members have the frazzled look of the Saddam Hussein that we dug out of that hole in Iraq, and their instruments include a saxophone and computer game joystick. 'Spastic' is the first word that comes to mind. Set ended with the guitarist giving his instrument to an unsuspecting girl in the audience to play while the singer donned a t shirt ninja mask and jumped from the balcony.

Next up was Chicago two-piece Local H, who brought in a sizable chunk of the audience nostalgic for their 90's grunge-reared punk. The two played a punishing set, and reminded everyone that you can still make catchy, even danceable songs with three chords and the knobs turned to 11.

Electric Six took the stage in a manner that suited their musical bravado, with singer Dick Valentine clad in a sequined red cape that had "Flashy" written on it, later taking it off to reveal another cape that said "Showtime" as the band played songs of the same names.

A catalog-spanning set followed, the Six for the most part skimming for their hits, with Local H and Child Bite's sax player joined the band onstage to provide additional instrumentation. For as much of E6's songs (and their charm) can be written off as gleeful studio-screwing, songs like "Dance Commander", "Gay Bar", "I Buy The Drugs", and "Danger! High Voltage!" are as funny as they are great songs (though "Feed My Fuckin Habit", the essential E6 song in my opinion, was sorely missed).

Between-song banter proved to be equally humorous, such as when the band used 'Stephen Hawking technology' to to send us back to 2005 so that they could play the hopefully no longer topical "Rock And Roll Evacuation". Despite rock-royalty posturing, in the end Electric Six persists because they just want to have fun, and the band manage to deflect one-hit wonder status, in tandem with constant touring, by making songs the frat pack can pound some Jägerbombs to.

Photos by Chris Dean

Concert Review: Lee Marvin Computer Arm

2008-11-27T15:08:00.015-05:00

Holy shit! Last night the Lager House threw a hell of a Thanksgiving Eve Party. I've never seen the place as packed as it was last night. Now, granted, I haven't been around that long, but from what I was told it's been years since they've seen a crowd that size. Making walking from front row to the bar a 5 minute chore, and making the mens bathroom unisex. Shoulder to shoulder jam packed on both sides of the place. It seems like everyone was there, even Mr. Jack White, who stuck around the whole show. It's a good feeling seeing so many people out in one place to hear some great music. Oh, and it was great music, it was some damn great music.

Magic Shop opened the 4 band bill with a powerful Garage, country, catchy as hell, tight set. Now they've always sounded fantastic, but after recent touring they have gotten so much better, which I didn't think was possible. They got a brand new 45 out, which they sold out of last night, but they'll have more soon, I advise you to grab one.

Gardens followed, also great. Every time I see this band I like them even more; fast, spastic,

garage/avant garde wonders, pure energy. They got a demo cd for sale, I bought one, but forgot to pick it up, which sucks. They're hand made and I'm guessing in limited supply, so pick one up quick!

I didn't catch much of the Terrible Twos set, I walked into the room too late and couldn't make my way within 20 feet or so, but from what I caught on my tippy toes in the back was great. Their usual wild, fun set, they were on that night as well, brought their A-game for sure.

Lee Marvin Computer Arm definitely won the set-off between them and Terrible Twos, no question. They hit the stage and kicked all of our asses, they sounded great, AND, they got their shit together. A frenzy of dancing broke out from the Lee Marvin crowd, and the aggravating ass who got his kicks by slamming full force into everyone, almost killing the mood, was issued a bear hug by Ben Blackwell, nicely done. No one hesitated in fucking with the band by throwing beer cans at them, to which they threw them right back. So yeah, certainly the wilder set, and a perfect end to a great day for detroit music. Happy Thanksgiving, Detroit.

Weekend Lowdown - November 26, 2008

2008-11-26T01:43:00.014-05:00

Wednesday (11/26)
Lee Marvin Computer Arm, Magic Shop, Terrible Twos, Gardens @ PJ'sLager House

Human Eye,The Smashed Windows @ Painted Lady

Bump, The Hard Lessons, Mick Bassett & The Marthas @ Majestic Theater

The Silent Years, Mason Proper, Wildcatting, Oscillating Fan Club @ Magic Stick

Thursday (11/27)
Detroit Cobras w/ Esquire, Mahonies @ Magic Stick

Friday (11/28)
CD RELEASE: Mick Bassett & the Marthas w/ Satin Peaches @ PJ'sLager House

Sh! the Octopus, Chris Bathgate w/ Alan Scheurman @ Corktown Tavern

Prussia, Ohtis, Blase Spree, Benny Stoofy @ Painted Lady

The Verve Pipe @ St. Andrew's Hall

Saturday (11/29)
The Octopus, SSM @ The Belmont

Electric Six, Local H, Child Bite @ St. Andrew's Hall

Deadstring Brothers w/ Whitey Morgan & The 78's, The Orbitsuns @ Magic Stick

Wildcatting Champions of Breakfast @ Blind Pig

Sunday (11/30)
Nathaniel Mayer Benefit Show w/ The Fondas @ Northern Lights Lounge

Rag Wrap - November 24, 2008

2008-11-25T10:00:00.019-05:00

L.A. Record talks to "Sugar Man" Rodriguez about the Big 3, politics, Sydney and why the art of song witting is so important.

This Silent Years' "On Our Way Home" was recently the Song of the Day on NPR's All Things Considered.

D-Tales gets it right.

He was right, he was right, Na Na Na!!!

Eat This City want's to eat the Northern Lights Lounge's audio system (thank God I decided not to go to this show.)

Back In Spades moved their reunion show form Dec. 19 to Dec. 20th at Small's.

Also, the documentary Unheard will be coming to Detroit to check out our music scene.

Pensatos reviews the latest form the Friendly Foes.

Ever wonder why that Iggy Pop biopic staring Elijah Wodd, or that Jeff Buckley movie staring Brad Pitt never got made?

Funk it Up.

The Bloids call it quits, as well as Freer.

Metro Mix looks at The Callbacks and Shram.

Pitchfork gives their 2.0 cents on Detroit rapper Black Milk's Tronic.

This has got to be the stupidest music article I have ever read (do we really give a flying fuck?)

Ticket Giveaway

2008-11-25T08:00:00.009-05:00

MCR has two tickets to give away to tomorrow night's Lee Marvin Computer Arm, Magic Shop, Terrible Twos, and Gardens Thanksgiving Eve show at the Lager House. The cover is $7 otherwise, so be the first person to contact us (use our form on the about page) and you and a friend are in for free.

Update: We have a winner, thanks for all that emailed us.

Bluesong on WDET

2008-11-24T06:09:00.002-05:00

On Friday Bluesong played their brand of heavy 70's-style rock on WDET's Detroit Today.

Pour out another 40 ...

2008-11-23T17:02:00.002-05:00

Courtesy of longtime Mr. Gary homie Adam Graham over at the Detroit News: Flint Rapper MC Breed Dead at 36 ...

Goddamnit.

Silent Years On ABC News

2008-11-23T16:55:00.002-05:00

While at CMJ this past fall, Josh Epstein of The Silent Years was interviewed by ABC News. Josh give props to Detroit's local scene and talked about writing "sex songs." Catch The Silent Years on Thanksgiving Eve night with Deastro and Mason Proper at the Magic Stick.

The Gories Will Reunite In 2009

2008-11-22T09:33:00.002-05:00

Mick and Ben of the Dirtbombs talk about Detroit on The Sound of Young America and they also speak about the shows The Gories will be playing next year (it's 15 minutes into the interview.)

Rag Wrap - November 21, 2008

2008-11-21T09:00:00.002-05:00

Bands interested in playing the 2009 Metrotimes Blowout, get your applications in before December 26th. The Blowout is March 4th to 7th.

Dicky V shows Cleveland that "More Is More."

Friendly Foes new album Born Radical got Pitched Forked.

Thirsty interviews Josh Epstein of The Silent Years.

Is the "Motown auto slowdown" hurting the local music scene?

Punksters Elvis Hitler will be playing one night only at Small's on Dec. 12th.

Deep Cutz types about Magic Shop.

Eat This City has had several good posts this weeks. First they dive into the next Von Bondies album and then they do some callin' out on the new Go lineup rumors (truths).

Man I miss Rumors, best summer deck in Royal Oak.

Weekend Lowdown - November 20, 2008

2008-11-20T09:59:00.004-05:00

Thursday (11/20)
Dub Trio, Goes Cube, Old Tiger Stadium, Sik Sik Nation @ Small's (Hamtramik)

Silverghost, Sugarcoats, Parts & Labo @ Lager House (Detroit)

Friday (11/21)
The Fondas w/ Pinche Gringo @ Berkley Front (Berkley)

Dirtbombs w/ Friendly Foes & Electric Fire Babies @ Blind Pig (Ann Arbor)

Chris Bathgate w/ Alan Scheurman @ Elbow Room (Ypsilanti)

Aran Ruth @ Corktown Tavern (Detroit)

Nomo @ Cliff Bell's (Detroit)

The High Strung, Scarlet Oaks @ LJ's Lounge (Detroit)

Whitey Morgan & the 78s w/The .357 String Band, Left Lane Cruiser @ Lager House (Detroit)

Saturday (11/22)
Monkey Jacket CD Release Party @ Lager House (Detroit) (EARLY SHOW)

Universal Temple of Divine Power w/ Bluesong, The Rumpshakers @ Lager House (Detroit) (LATE SHOW)

The Nice Device w/ Speedy Greasy, The Esperantos @ Northern Lights Lounge (Detroit)

Rag Wrap - November 19, 2008

2008-11-19T15:35:00.000-05:00

The Metro Times lists the most influential people in the current Detroit rock scene (we're on it.)

Electric Six sex up the Red Stick.

Real Detroit Weekly has some print on the Electric Six, Bump and Lee Marvin Computer Arm (wow)

Detroit Drummer John (Johnny Bee) Badanjek (Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels) is be inducted into the Canada South Blues Society.

Itchy from Shock therapy passed away recently.

Here's a look at college radio in Detroit.

Ryan Allen finds the P.J. in the Lager House

A new Von Bondies 7-inch single came out yesterday and the band's drummer Don Blum wants to "pump you up."

Loud Reviews checks out The Muggs latest On With The Show.

Deep Cutz looks at this past weekend's Champions of Breakfast and Carjack show at the Elbow Room, as well as next Wednesday's Thanksgiving Eve Round table at the Magic Stick.

Finally, A memorial concert for the late, great Nathanial Mayer will be happening on Saturday Nov. 30th at Northern Lights Lounge in the New Center area. Garage rock icons The Fondas will be reemerging to play Mayer memorial show on Sunday, Nov. 30th. The Fondas are also playing this coming Friday night at The Berkley Front.

Concert Review: Love Meets Lust @ Luna Lounge

2008-11-18T20:00:00.002-05:00

Last Friday night at Luna Lounge the Detroit rock faithful came out to see one of the most unique billings that the Royal Oak "industrial" dance bar has put out in quite some time.

Though I only soaked up the tail end of Flint's Stereoluxxx, I was impressed with their pop/soul vocal stylings, as well as their minimalistic electric grove. Lead singer Tunde's ability has me looking forward to what this duo will be doing in the near future.

Fast forward - what more can be said about Ohio's Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival except that "we're all doing the devil's work." After taking the stage, it became apparent that Uncle Scratch came to Motown to cleanse our souls with their fresh take on" junkyard rock" (they literally use junk for their instruments like barrels, metal cages, you name it.) But Uncle Scratch is clearly not your ordinary band of brothers. The duo; on mission from God, let us all know that rubber snakes don't bite your balls off when they're shoved down your pants, or world renowned Scientology's Tom Cruise loves to be tee bagged, and CB radios make for amazing vocal effects. If you missed them last week at Luna or last month at Theatre Bizarre, I'm sorry but you will forever burn in "The Gates Of Hell."

Headliners, Love Meets Lust took the stage just after midnight to a raucous, near capacity crowd that was clearly fueled by alcohol. They started off their set with a couple of new songs, but the highlights were the two killer tracks "Stars & Satellites" and "Brooklyn Lights" off their latest release Bitter Company.

Adding to LML's already impressive mobile light show, Luna Lunge's "trance" style house lights warped the audience into such a dancing frenzy that I had a hard time getting close enough to the stage for a photo. But after successfully knocking over a few unsuspecting "ravers'" drinks and catching glimpses of all the gorgeous women in the crowd (LML live means hot chicks,) I was able to grab a few choice snaps.

Near the close of the night, Love Meets Lust dished out their song "Direction" with such ferocity that I had to ask myself what kind of a show these guys could pull off in a larger venue? Love Meets Lust's live show is so full of epic energy it rivals that of their electronic forefathers (Depeche Mode, New Order, Nine Inch Nails.)

In case you missed LML, you've got one more time in 2008 to catch Love Meets Lust live (Corktown Tavern with Eat Sugar and Sex Ghost on Dec. 5th.) Lead singer John Webb told me they will be taking a break from playing live locally this winter to work on their next record. Look for LML to reemerge sometime in March with new songs and some possible tweaks.

Album Review: Two Dogs, A Television - Fields of Industry

2008-11-18T01:10:00.007-05:00

On Fields of Industry's debut full-length Two Dogs, A Television, the Lansing-based band deliver stripped down ambient rock along the same lines as Duluth, Minnesota's Low. Utilizing a sound of sparse instrumentation- percussion is no more than some tambourine on some songs, and frontman Joshua Barton's vocals sound like they are being sung to himself rather than an audience- Two Dogs... is a fragile, but dense record.

On the disk, the band is fairly unrelenting in its pace and tone, with positively churchlike chilled-out tracks like "I've Seen A Light" and "No Relief". The third song in, "I'm Not Afraid Of A Fight", breaks with more traditional rock n' roll. But the album manages to maintain an air of meditation or remembrance: "Dreams" has a cinematic quality and sounds suited for the credits reel of a movie.

Track "Point of Contention" is a standout, which the band has also shot a music video for (the track was also featured on NPR). On it, faster strumming and ethereal female backing vocals separate it from the bunch, and Barton's voice has something more of an emotional inflection to it. Don't play this at a party or you might lull your guests to sleep. But if you're on your own, Two Dogs... is some fine background noise.

MCR wants to cover your band

2008-11-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

We at MCR want to write about your band. We're trying our best to find out about you: we read all the rags, our feed readers are set to pick up any news about "Detroit" and "rock", and we try and hang out with all the cool kids. Still, a lot of things will pass under our radar. Why not make it easier for us to find you by sharing your new record or telling us about your upcoming show? Drop us a line at the Contact page. We can't promise we'll cover everything, but if your dream is to be written about on the pages of MCR, you'll have a better shot if you call our attention.

Alan Scheurman on WDET

2008-11-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

Folk artist Alan Scheurman did a performance on WDET's "Detroit Today" show last Friday. His upcoming record Old Patterns, produced by Warren Defever of His Name Is Alive, will be available in the ever-so-trendy Radiohead-style free download at alanscheurman.com on December 2nd. You can catch him with Ann Arbor folkie Chris Bathgate in Ypsi's Elbow Room Nov. 21st and Detroit's Corktown Tavern the 28th.

Weekend Lowdown - November 13, 2008

2008-11-13T09:29:00.013-05:00

Thursday (11/13)
Early Show: Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs • Delany Davidson @ Magic Stick (Detroit)

Late Show: The Fleshtones, The Hentchmen @ Magic Stick (Detroit)

*** see both shows for $15

Javelins w/ These United States, Lightning Love, Matt Jones @ Lager House (Detroit)

Deerhunter @ Crofoot (Pontiac)

Friday (11/14)
Love Meets Lust, Uncle Scratch’s Gospel Revival @ Luna (Royal Oak)

Mazinga w/ Invader and Jehovah's Witness Protection Program @ Elbow Room (Ypsilanti)

CD RELEASE: Mellotron with Grand Circus, Radar Pilot and The Science Fair @ Magic Bag (Ferndale)

Friendly Foes, High Strung, and Wildcatting @ Belmont (Hamtramck)

Red China, Slow Dynamite, Aleph-1, El Gato Legato, Mother Whale @ Corktown Tavern (Detroit)

Great Lakes Myth Society @ Blind Pig (Ann Arbor)

"Dream of Life" (Patti Smith documentary) @ Detroit Film Theatre

Saturday (11/15)
Grayling (the last show) w/ They Never Sleep @ Small's (Hamtramck)

Jesus Chainsaw Massacre, Murder Mystery @ The Stonehouse (Detroit)

Champions of Breakfast w/ Edie Sedgwick, Carjack and Jeremy Messersmith @ Elbow Room (Ypsilanti)

I,Crime, Audra Kubat, DJ Robit @ Northern Lights Lounge (Detroit)

"Dream of Life" (Patti Smith documentary) @ Detroit Film Theatre

WUMD Radio Benefit Show w/ The Word Play, The Birdgang @ Lager House (Detroit)

"Detroit, You Done Set Me Up For A Comeback"

2008-11-12T20:29:00.009-05:00

Here's the scoop on the forthcoming new Von Bondies album Love, Hate and Then There’s You, complete with tracklistings.

Is it just me our are Leann Banks and Christy Hunt looking outstandingly hot in their new band photo?

Eat This City Launches

2008-11-12T14:24:00.021-05:00

Rising from the ashes, Jasper (webvomit) and JCR (fivethreedialtone) have teamed up to create the next great Detroit music blog: Eat this City

F.Y.I. "Eat This City" is the name of an oh so fabulous Thunderbirds Are Now! tune.

New Child Bite Music Video

2008-11-12T14:13:00.001-05:00

Child Bite - Barracuda Mouth - Music Video

Rag Wrap - November 12, 2008

2008-11-12T09:10:00.004-05:00

Mick Collins talks to LA Records

D-Tales gives a firsthand account of last Friday night's Detroit Unplugged event at The Lager House.

Deep Cutz has got (count em) four record reviews this week.

Hey, those wacky kids had another Instant Album Party

I'm pretty sure MCR blogger Señor Garo is going to throw himself off a bridge when he finds out that Grayling is calling it quits.

Outrageous Cherry's Matthew Smith reflects on Nathaniel Mayer, and the Metrotimes's also looks at the Detroit "supergroup" know as Octopus.

Is Tally Hall redefining the music industry?

Andrew W.K. gives Japan some album lovin'

XM has merged channels with Sirius.

Finally, there have been reports that Detroit rock legends Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop will join Henry Rollins and Moby as the cast in a brand new vampire movie called Suck which stars Malcom McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Halloween, Heroes.) In the film Eddie Van Helsing hunts down a band of vampires. In short, Suck is a Rock'n'roll vampire satire about a group of rockstar wannabees in search of immortality and a record deal.

Franklin Tops Rolling Stone List

2008-11-11T22:21:00.005-05:00

Detroit's Aretha Franklin and Motown legends Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye have been named to Rolling Stone Magazine's "Greatest Singer In Rock Era."

Emofunk

2008-11-11T15:55:00.001-05:00

The Polish duo Modfunk is releasing their latest album Emofunk on Friday. John Webb of the Detroit band Love Meets Lusts offers his vocals on a track "Disaster Brother."

Also featured on Emofunk is French vocalist Phillipe Zdar of Cassius and Demon. Check out the album on www.seekrecords.net

5 The Hard Way - Spitting Nickels

2008-11-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

Of their live shows, Spitting Nickels say "You might even forget about your day job for a bit," and the band (Dennis Miriani, Chris Brosky, John Bissa and local rock n' roll fixture Eddie Baranek) take the working man angle on their new EP 5 The Hard Way.

The band take on topics of blue-collar Americana, such as working for the man ("Give & Take"), cheap drinks ("4 The Hard Way"), being in a bar band ("The Bitch Of It All") and soccer moms ("You're The Bomb, Soccer Mom"). The latter is a country-tinged diddy which almost could've been a Sarah Palin campaign song – maybe if not for the line about "$40 nails coming up my back". Even still, 5 The Hard Way is a solid EP of Ghetto Recorders-produced, vintage -sounding, Beatles-esque rock n' roll.

From Old To Gold

2008-11-10T16:00:00.003-05:00

From Old To Gold's website