YES @ THE FOX THEATER REVIEW

 

YES live, is a musical and visual treat. Seeing the stage as I entered, I knew it was going to be amazing. The shining drum kit, the keyboard station, the multiple guitar stands, the large screen in the back and the many light towers. I was not let down.

YES is an iconic band. Most people have at least heard of them. I knew them only from what was played on the radio, which I enjoyed. I seen the sheet music for "Roundabout," which, for a novice musician, was intimidating. Their music would and rival any piece of classical music.

The opening song, "Close to the Edge," was epic. It was the first time I heard it. It started softly and slow, then it started to build and then came to a climax. It wasn't over, there was an interlude/bridge that lead to another building of the song with lyrics. The power and feeling of the song stopped me from taking photos, to just listen and take in the song. To watch the artistry happening in front of me.

I now have a deeper appreciation of YES. I hope this is a beginning of them playing on a semi-regular basis. Any fan of music would do themselves a favor to get out and see YES on this tour or any that may follow.

The Full Set
Or watch the slideshow

 

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Blowout 2013: Night 4

Night 4 of the 2013 Blowout, May 2nd, 2013

The first band playing anywhere Thursday night was The Philter over at Found Sound on west Nine Mile. I felt let down by a band I had recommended just a day earlier. All the percussion came from a drum machine, and it just sounded tinny and overly repetitive.

Over to the Rustbelt Market for Carjack. This an act I was introduced to years ago at a previous Blowout. Whatever was happening at the Columbus hall was boring me, so I walked over to the lounge and into a Carjack performance. It was the highlight of that year's Blowout experience for me, and a great example of why you have to try as much new stuff as you can at these things. At Rustbelt the room just seemed too big. The crowd and the energy needs to be bottled for it all to work.

Next was Ciccarelli at Woodward Avenue Brewers. I was digging the their instrumental stuff, but not the space. The upstairs at the WAB doesn't seem suited to host bands. At least not in the place where they were stationed, just behind the walkway that everyone needs to pass through.

The only thing weirder than going to a library to see a band, is having to prove that I'm over 21 at the door because that library is serving booze. The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre likes to provoke more than they like to perform. I once saw the lead singer, Bryan Metro, wearing a skirt of raw bacon while the swine flu outbreak was in the news. This time it was placing a pressure cooker on the floor. I left to peruse whatever else was happening. Tunde Olaniran was late setting up at the Loving Touch, and so was Duende at the WAB. I figured I might as well catch more of the JCM spectacle. At least I got to see the library staff frantically try to contain beverage spills. That library completely a huge renovation just a few years ago. (Disclaimer: This band was kind of affiliated with this site years ago. It was before my time here.)

Tunde Olaniran finally got under way at the Loving Touch. After hearing his name for a few years and thinking "who is this guy?", I see him take the stage and finally realize that I saw him at last year's Dally in the Alley. Normally the more backup dancers there are, the worse the music is, but Tunde could have 12 and it would still be fun. It's kind of an electronic R&B thing. I wouldn't listen to it in the car, but it's great live.

They brought everyone on stage for the last song, and it became obvious that the Loving Touch was the most happening venue that night.

A little bouncing around to other places and it was back to the Loving Touch for Flint Eastwood. The lead singer is still furious at people who don't move around enough. She called out someone in a denim vest in front of me, and I decided to move farther back to stay out of her field of vision. I love when they use spaghetti western riffs, and I wish they would use more of them. They're all wearing bolo ties anyway, so why not go all in?

It's strange to see a band at Como's. If you go in the front door you have to pass through a mostly empty and depressing bar area to get to the stairs in the back. When you get upstairs you think you've entered a 70's era Turkish hair salon. I wanted to see more of Phantasmagoria there at the end of the night, but my cold symptoms kept getting worse, and I desperately needed sleep.

Bands I saw that night that I'm putting in the "whatever" category: The Philter, Eleanora, The Salt and the Sea, and At Willoughby.

After the first night of the Blowout in Ferndale it seemed like there was a low turnout. When Hamtramck had a Thursday night for the Blowout, the turnout was was always lower than the weekend, but this felt worse. The only place where it felt really vibrant and alive was at the Loving Touch. Maybe I was wrong, and the Chris Johnston Ferndale Illuminati conspiracy is true after all.

While Blowout defenders say that evolution is necessary to survive, people in Hamtramck are eager for you find out what's also going on in Hamtramck this weekend. Personally, I'm trying my best to keep an open mind until the weekend is over.

Also, I learned last night that I confused Sakana Sushi Lounge with Inyo Sushi across the street. I guess sushi restaurants that I don't go to all look the same to me. The Boogie Fever and Blowout collision won't be as pronounced as I was hoping for.

Recommendations for Friday, Night 5
Pewter Cub, 10:10-10:40, Ferndale Library
Jessica Hernandez and the Deltas, 12:10-1:00, Rustbelt Market, part of the "Hangin' with Navdo" Showcase (Another Disclaimer: Navdo is kind of affiliated with this site, I think)

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SPENCE @ THE RITZ TONIGHT 3/4/2013

Spence is a hard rock act out of California that has been making a name for themselves in the L.A. scene. They've played most of the big venues in L.A., The Roxy, The Whiskey, and The Viper Room.

If your looking for a hard rock, music that will be familiar, Spence is your band. And you need to get yourself to the Ritz in Warren.

Spence @ The Ritz
Doors: 7:00pm
24300 Hoover Rd.,
Warren, MI

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Reverbnation

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HOT FUN IN THE SUMMER TIME: SOUNDS OF AFRICA, LATIN AMERICA, DETROIT DOMINATE CONCERT OF COLORS LINEUP

Two MC5 members reunite for 6^th Don Was All-Star Revue

DETROIT (May 1, 2013) – Led by classic funksters The Family Stone, super producer Don Was’ 6th Detroit All-Star Revue and the intriguing combination of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Ozomatli, the 21st Concert of Colors lineup delivers Hot Fun in the Summertime June 29 and July 4-7, 2013. The 8:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7 Revue closes out the festival with a re-teaming of two members of the seminal Detroit band MC5 – guitarist Wayne Kramer and drummer Dennis “Machine Gun” Thompson – on the Main Stage at historic Orchestra Hall.

This year’s festival also delivers a healthy dose of new music from Africa, including performances by Fatoumata Diawara (Malian wassalou/international; 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 6) and Samba Mapangala (Congolese/Kenyan; 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7). Latin-influenced sounds come from MAKU Sound System (Latin ska/funk; 8 p.m. Saturday, June 29), Matuto (Brazilian bluegrass; 2 p.m. Saturday, July 6) and the fascinating mash-up of Ozomatli w/ Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Latin-hip hop-rock/classical; 3 p.m. Sunday, July 7).

Presented for the second year running by the Ford Foundation at several leading cultural destinations in Midtown Detroit, the festival celebrates the city’s indigenous sounds and music reflecting the many cultures represented in southeast Michigan.

Announcements about additional venues and performers will be released at www.concertofcolors.com as information becomes available.

21^ST CONCERT OF COLORS PRESENTED BY FORD FOUNDATION

All performances free and open to the public

All venues on or near Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit

News and updated information at www.concertofcolors.com

Saturday, June 29, 2013 (doors at 8 p.m.)

Tune Up Concert @ New Center Park

West Grand Boulevard at Second Avenue

MAKU Sound System (Latin ska/funk)

DJ sets by WDET This Island Earth host Ismael

Thursday, July 4, 2013 (doors at 6 p.m.)

Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

315 E. Warren Ave.

Free museum admission

6:30 p.m. Stepping into Destiny

Mike Ellison and friends explore the transformative influence of jazz, spiritual, world, doo wop and hip hop.

Friday, July 5, 2013 (doors at 4 p.m.)

Detroit Institute of Arts

5200 Woodward Ave.

Free museum + exhibition admission

On the South Lawn

7 p.m. Feufollet (Cajun)

6 p.m. Detroit Party Marching Band

5 p.m. October Babies (rock)

In the DFT Auditorium

9:30 p.m. film TBA

Saturday, July 6, 2013 (doors at 2 p.m.)

Max M. Fisher Music Center
3711 Woodward Ave.

Main Stage, Orchestra Hall 
8:30 p.m. The Family Stone (funk/R&B)
6 p.m. Delta Rae (folk/rock)
3:30 p.m. Fatoumata Diawara (Malian wassalou/international)

Diversity Stage, Music Box
9 p.m. Kobo Town (calypso)
6:30 p.m. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino (Italian traditional/eclectic)
4 p.m. Cathie Ryan (Celtic)
2 p.m. Matuto (Brazilian bluegrass)

Wolverine/Spartan Outdoor Stage

9 p.m. Terrence Parker (DJ)
8 p.m. 5^th Wall Concept (rock)
7 p.m. L’Renee (R&B)
6 p.m. TBA
5 p.m. TBA
4 p.m. Leilani (R&B)
3 p.m. Kate Monaghan (blues)
2 p.m. Vision Male Ensemble (vocal music)
1 p.m. TBA

Saturday, July 6, 2013 (doors at 10 p.m.)

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD)
4454 Woodward Ave.

Official After Party
Cambodian Space Project (cross-culture rock)

Free admission

Sunday, July 7, 2013 (doors at 2 p.m.)

Max M. Fisher Music Center
3711 Woodward Ave.

Main Stage, Orchestra Hall

8:30 p.m. 6^th Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue (rock/eclectic)

Wayne Kramer + Dennis Thompson, Mosaic Youth Theatre Singers, Ty Stone, Howlin’ Diablos, Rev. Robert Jones, The Hounds Below, Katie Grace, Emmanuel Young & Howard Glazer, Drew Shultz & Detroit Legends, The Hand Grenades, Pat Lewis, Passalacqua , Jeecy & The Jungle

With your host, Don Was + The All-Star Review Band (lineup TBA)

6 p.m. Calypso Rose w/ Universal Xpression (reggae)
3 p.m. Ozomatli w/ Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Latin-hip hop-rock/classical)

Diversity Stage, Music Box


9:30 p.m. Yemen Blues (global jazz)
7 p.m. Samba Mapangala (Congolese/Kenyan)
4:30 p.m. Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys (Zydeco)
2:30 p.m. Candy Band (children’s rock)


Wolverine/Spartan Outdoor Stage

9 p.m. Motor City Soul (Motown/cover band)
8 p.m. Chris Canas Band (rock/blues)
7 p.m. Lola Valley (rock)
6 p.m. The Chiropractiers (blues/rock)
5 p.m. Sean Dobbins (jazz)
4 p.m. Ben Sharkey (lounge/jazz)
3 p.m. Wisaal (Arabic/ethnic)
2 p.m. Taylor Hawkins (house/techno)
1 p.m. Detroit School of Arts students (vocal music)

********

The Concert of Colors is a community-enhancing free-admission music festival with an expanding presence in Detroit’s bustling Midtown district. As of this year, it’s filling a long-vacant spot in the local music fest calendar by moving from its traditional mid-July slot to Independence Day weekend, Thursday-Sunday, July 4-7, 2013, with the 2^nd Tune Up Concert set for the evening of Saturday, June 29, 2013.

The Concert of Colors has the whole world in its bands. Curated by its founder, Ismael Ahmed, the festival celebrates the diverse global origins of metro Detroiters, as well as the indigenous sounds of our musically magical hometown. All festival performances are free and open to the public, and take place at cultural institutions on or near Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit.

Presented for the second year running by Ford Foundation and produced by the Arab American National Museum with its partners Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Institute of Arts, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Midtown Detroit, Inc. and ACCESS, Concert of Colors proudly welcomes a new partner/venue this year, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD), 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit.

The Concert of Colors is made possible by many generous, community-minded businesses and organizations, lead by presenting sponsor Ford Foundation and returning sponsors Comerica, Ford Motor Company, HAP and Bank of America, University of Michigan – Detroit Center, Michigan State University Community Music School and University of Michigan – Dearborn, among others.

21^st Concert of Colors presented by Ford Foundation

8 p.m. Saturday, June 29, 2013, Tune Up Concert @ New Center Park

Thursday, July 4, 2013, @ Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

Friday, July 5, 2013, @ Detroit Institute of Arts

Saturday, July 6, 2013, @ Max M. Fisher Music Center

9 p.m. Saturday, July 6, 2013, Official After Party @ MOCAD

Sunday, July 7, 2013, @ Max M. Fisher Music Center

All performances are free and open to the public; all venues are located on or near Woodward Avenue in Midtown Detroit. Find the latest news and information at www.concertofcolors.com. 

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Detroit Derby Girls: Bouts 9 & 10

Bouts 9 & 10 of the Detroit Derby Girls 2012-13 season, on April 13th, 2013

Bout 9: Pistolwhippers versus the Detroit Pistoffs

This first bout had a slow start. No scoring by either team in the first jam, and the Pistolwhippers didn't score at all until the 6th, at which time the Pistoffs were up, 12-4. The first big play came in the 13th jam. Lazer Beam, as jammer for the Pistolwhippers, got sent to the penalty box. This allowed Cookie Rumble to score 11 points for the Pistoffs before getting sent to the box herself. As Cookie's penalty time ran over into the 14th jam, and Lazer was able to fire back by scoring 10. That put the score at 28-23, still in favor of the Pistoffs.

In the last jam of the first half, Midnight Vulture, jamming for the Pistolwhippers, and Kraken Whips, jamming for the Pistoffs, both spent time in the penalty box, but Kraken still managed to score 10 points. 75-31 for the Pistoffs at the end of the first half.

No scores were made in the first two jams of the second half. In jam 3 Uhura Belle Death scored 10 for the Pistolwhippers, while the Pistoffs' Combat Cat was sent to the penalty box.

The Pistoffs were still leading 85-65 at the end of the 9th jam. In the 10th Lazer Beam  scored 19 unanswered points while Freakin' Rican was in the penalty box, unable to score for the Pistoffs. The score was now just a one point deficit, but with the Pistoffs still ahead. Freakin' Rican scored 8 in the 11th, and Cookie Rumble scored 10 in the 13th. The Pistoffs were widening their lead again, at 103-84. Another big play by Cookie Rumble in the 15th jam added 13 points for her team.

A flurry of penalties made the 17th jam very confusing. Sam I Slam, as jammer for the Pistolwhippers, was still held over in the penalty box from the last jam. Combat Cat got sent to the penalty box, which released Sam early (since two jammers can't be in the penalty box at once). Sam got lead jammer status, then got sent back to the box, releasing Combat Cat early. Combat Cat would get sent to the box again before the jam was over. in the midst of all of that, Sam scored 5, and Combat scored 4.

Freakin' Rican made the last big play of the bout, scoring 15 in the 20th and final jam. Final score, 142-112 for the Pistoffs.

Captain Lazer Beam, and Co-captain Boo D. Livers of the Pistolwhippers:

Detroit Area Dork: What are you thinking about that bout right now?Lazer Beam: I'm happy about it. I thought we did really well. I think we played a very good game.
Boo D. Livers: I agree.
D: What do you think the other team did well?L: They have good jammers, and they play good defense. They're just a good team. They're the defending champions. Since I've been a Pistolwhipper we've never beat them, in three seasons. They're just good.
B: I think they're tenacious. They work hard. They did a good job.
D: How would you asses how your team did tonight?L: I think they did excellent. I'm proud of them. I told them when we got down in the locker room, "If I ever have to get in a street fight, I want you ladies with me". I think they did really good. I'm proud of them.
B: They're going to the championship and we only lost to them by like 20 points, but we hung with them. What it tells me is that next season, we're setting us up really well, and I'm excited about that.
D: Now that the season is over for you, how would you sum it up?B: I think we had some bad luck at the beginning of the season. A lot of our jammers disappeared, and we were trying to develop blockers into jammers, and they're getting there, but it was a big transition. I think next year, get a few more jammers, get some more jammer experience, and we're going to do really well.
L: I agree with that. I was the only returning jammer from last season. Sam and Uhura were both rookies last season, and they were blockers. They really stepped up this year.
D: Does your practice schedule change between now and next season?L: What happens now is we get to share practices with the teams that are going to the playoffs. We didn't have any alone practices for the rest of the year. However, the Whippers have more girls than any other team on the two travel teams, so they'll still be practicing. We also have a couple of girls that skate with the Wreckers. Hopefully they'll take advantage of league practice, come to the open travel and MCDL practices.
B: We're hope the momentum of our close games all season will keep people skating all summer, so we can come back even stronger. We've been building and building all year. There's a lot of good things, and we just want to keep it going.
D: I have to ask, how many penalties did you (Boo) get tonight?B: I got five.
L: Boo is a very aggressive player, and she stands out a lot. I think more girls in our league should skate at her level, and not skate down. We had a bout in Indianapolis with the allstar travel team, and she only went to the penalty box twice.
B: I seem to do pretty well on away games.
D: Did anyone on the team get more than five penalties?B: I don't think so.
L: No.
D: You didn't have to think about that too long, did you?B: No. At one point I had four, and everyone else had zero or one.
L: We made adjustments at halftime. We made some adjustments to the line, and it worked in the second half.
B: The team worked together to cover it. I really appreciate that.

Bout 10: The Devil's Night Dames versus the D-Funk Allstars

Heading into the second bout of the night, it was already set that these two teams, the D-Funk Allstars, and the Devil's Night Dames, were going to play each other in the Grudge Match for third place. Each team came in that night with a record of one win, two losses, and the Pistolwhippers had just ended the season without any victories.

First jam, Swift Justice scored 3 for the Dames, and Ally Sin Shoverland scored 4 for D-Funk. It was a series of small scoring jams, with D-Funk always a little bit ahead. Ally made the first big play, with a 14 point scoring drive in the 7th, to put D-Funk up, 28-11.

A lot more small scoring increments made up the first half. The only other notable exception to this was in the 24th jam. Roxanna Hardplace got lead jammer status and 9 points for D-Funk before getting sent to the penalty box. This allowed Terror Ettes to then score 15 points for the Dames. After just two more jams, the score at the end of the first half was 65-54 in D-Funk's favor.

The Dames didn't score for the first 3 jams of the second half. Feta Sleaze broke that streak for them with a 2 point play in the 4th. Doom Shakalaka then made the only big play for the Dames in the 5th when she scored 13. The score was now 73-69, D-Funk.

For the remaining 20 jams of the bout, the Dames would only score 10 more points. The Dames defense completely faltered, and D-Funk kept making big scoring drives. Roxanna scored 9 in the 8th. Ally scored 11 in the 11th. Meryl got 20 in the 13th. Ally scored another 14 in the 14th. Roxanna added another 20 in the 17th. Ally scored another 20 in the 19th. In the last big play of the night, Eight Mile Rose, who rarely ever jams, scored 20 for D-Funk in the 21st jam. What had been a very close game ended in a total rout, with D-Funk winning, 218-79.

League President, and member of D-Funk, Tinja:

Detroit Area Dork: What are your initial thoughts on that bout?Tinja: I thought it was a lot of fun. I think the Dames came in with a lot of heart, and proved that in the first half that they were hungry for a win.
D: How do you account for the change in momentum towards the end of the game?T: At halftime we definitely realized that we were up for a challenge. We went back to basics. We had also been working on a couple of different strategies and plays, and just relied on the fundamentals. Didn't try to get too distracted, and also tried to stay out of penalty trouble.
D: I don't think there was a lot of penalties. The most any player got was three.T: It was definitely either a cleaner game for both teams, or the stars and the moon aligned, and it was just a "let's play derby and have fun" game.
D: You're going to be playing the Dames again in the Grudge Match. What did you seen in this team that you need to prepare for in the next month?T: I can definitely see the hard work that they've been putting in all season. Great positional blocking. I know I got caught up on a couple of Dames' butts in the back. Some personal stuff that I need to work on as a jammer, but I saw great communication from them, and D-Funk is going to have to bring it at the grudge match. Bring it with love.

League Vice President, and member of the Devil's Night Dames, Tess Tackles:

Detroit Area Dork: What are your initial thoughts on that bout?Tess Tackles: We fought really hard. We had been working together a lot more. We had tight walls. We wanted to be a force to be reckoned with, and I think that we were, definitely, for the first half. Then the second half, we lost a little bit of steam. We had some party jams, where we got to throw in some different jammers, so that was a lot of fun. Always keeping a positve attitude.
D: The score was just four points apart at one point, and then D-Funk just took off. What happened to your team?T: We had a little penalty trouble. Our walls drifted apart a little bit, and the D-Funk jammers were just barreling through.
D: Same opponent for the Dames in the Grudge Match. What did you see in D-Funk that you need to prepare for?T: I think we'll have tighter walls. We'll also have Yo-yo and Catch [La Fever] back, which I think will be a benefit to us because we were little short. So just keep up the momentum, keep up the tight walls, and stop them barrelers, those jammers that were just busting through without us even getting the chance to block. We're going to stop them next time.

All photos by Dan Bachorik

This post written by:

I'm a dork, I live in the Detroit area, and sometimes I take blurry photos on an outdated camera

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NEXT WEEK: JAN BROWN ABSTRACT ART at Gallery 822 Royal Oak - May 11th 5-9pm

GALLERY 822

JAN BROWN ABSTRACT ART

Show dates: May through July

Reception: May 11th, 2013, 5-9 PM

Location: Gallery 822, 822 West 11 Mile, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Hours: Wed-Sat 11-5 or by appointment, 248-202-6073

Jan Brown's abstracts lure viewers in by their emotion and excitement. She creates spaces that beckon one to look deeper, past the surface, to a richer and more complete

experience. Her colors are blended with brayer, scraper, and brush to create a depth of intensity; her lines, whether drawn or dripped bring an excitement to the surface; her

sense of space moves one forward and backward at the same time.

Included here is the painting Dr. T. J. Eckleberg inspired by the book The Great Gatsby.

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TONIGHT: Bill Bondsmen Album Release +Tour Kick Off Party wsg The Frustrations - Garden Bowl Lounge Detroit

Bill Bondsmen Album Release Party + Tour Kick-off wsg: Frustrations

Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 10:00 PM | Garden Bowl

You could say that the Detroit based BILL BONDSMEN play raw, angry hardcore punk and leave it at that. But that’s lazy. And since I’m getting paid by the word, I need to pad this out a bit (wink, wink). I will say that they’ve got the trigger-finger animosity of other compatriots from the Midwest—the guitar scuzz certainly sounds like some of the buzzsaw Cleveland acts like 9 Shocks Terror or the Inmates.  WSG: Frustrations

No Cover | 18+ | 10pm

http://majesticdetroit.com/majestic-upcoming-events/bill-bondsmen-album-release-party-tour-kick-off-wsg-frustrat.html

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