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Mar 19th, 2008 - 07:43:02 |
subbacultcha
by Keith N. Dusenberry
I don’t know what’s freaking me out more, that it’s actually snowing now or that Rhys Chatham is playing again at the Bohemian National Home. Crazy! Dude is a freak out, experimental, avant-garde, weirdo-music legend. And get this — he’s playing with some sort of crazy Detroit “supergroup” for this gig: Matt Smith, Bill Brovold, Mark Sawasky and Joel Peterson will join him on stage for the psyche-out on Feb. 3. I can already feel my brain melting. (More info: myspace.com/bohemiannationalhome).
Or my mind might be liquefying because I’m also trying to get my head around this show: Polka Floyd on Feb. 9 at 313.Jac (though they should just call it “Upstairs at Jacoby’s“ because I have NEVER heard anyone but Stirling call it “313.Jac.” Whatever.) If your brain hasn’t turned to Jell-O, you may have deciphered that, yes, Polka Floyd is a Pink Floyd polka-style tribute band. LSFlkjfJSDpojfE)(*@#$()*@#$0i23-082309[8fjlksdjf;lTHSsdfSDkjsd … Sorry kids, but I just had to mop up my brain goo from off the desk and then wring out the towel back into my skull via the ears.
Polka?! Are they kidding? Kitsch will be the death of us. | RDW
Just how much more can we take? Keith@realdetroitweekly.com.
kill your radio
by Aaron Rajala
Abbey Matron, two colorless and a white for a 1/3 cleric; tap a white and tap him to give him +0/+3 until end of turn.
“When people hear us it doesn’t matter if we called ourselves ‘The Dickheads’ because from the first riff to the last delayed breakdown our passion shows through the music. But anyways the name came from a Magic: The Gathering card named ‘Abbey Matron’ that our bassist had read wrong,” according to the ass whooping band known today as Abby Martin.
These guys are part of the array of ruthless metal bands that Detroit has to offer. Heavily influenced by The Black Dahlia Murder, these guys eat just as many, if not more souls as BDM does. They hope to accomplish the feat of being the absolute heaviest band to come out of Michigan, and they’re doing a good fucking job of it. “We're not really out to send a message or to heal the soul, I think that's what therapy is for; we just want people to say, ’Whoa! Who is that band? They're awesome.’ or ’Man, that band is sweet’ — mainly just really dig our music, that's what we're about.”
Congruent with a lot of the brutal metal bands, these guys are straight outta the garage. These days, it’s a lot less plunking around and a lot more of the kind of shit that separates a good band from a garage band. “In December of 2005 is when we really started picking up, writing better songs, playing good shows doing the real band things, not just being some kids in the basement messing around.” More info: myspace.com/abbymartinmusic. Go there or Abby will shoot you in the head. | RDW
dope
by Tom Matich
Sometimes showing love for Detroit isn’t enough for rappers, they rep their crossroads as well. The Gratiot Boyz are part of this rap phenomenon along with other Detroit groups the Lodge Boyz, Joy Boyz and the East Nine 4 Boyz.
So what’s in a street name? “I think gangs is where a lot of them got their names from but then again maybe not,” the Gratiot Boyz say. “The Gratiot Boyz consist of guys who have been out here since the ‘80s — honestly! Back when Y.B.I., Chambers, Curry Boys — them names your kid's kids will never forget — was out here. Gratiot Boyz is really a name we ran with like Y.B.I. did. So for people to think we just found a street and started rapping about it, that's not true; it is a full story behind the name Gratiot Boyz, with that being said there's a rap group to tell it.”
Representing the East Side, The Gratiot Boyz consist of Tymez 20, Envy 20, Tizzle 20 and Sperm Uzi a.k.a Young Docz 20 spinning tales of street knowledge on synth-filled cuts like “What Cha’ Know About That” and “Step Yo Game Up,” the latter a track where the Boyz warn out-of-towners about Detroit’s rising rap scene “Renaissance is comin'/You better step yo game up.”
Will 2007 be the beginning of a Renaissance age for Detroit rap? “This year we just plan to do more shows within the Detroit and suburban area just so people can get to know the Gratiot Boyz and what we are trying to bring to the table,” says GB. “We plan to drop the first album ever from the Gratiot Boyz hopefully sometime this summer and basically get the biz up so we can start fishing for record deals.” You can witness the Renaissance in action when the Gratiot Boiz hit Alvin’s on Feb. 2. | RDW
electrophile
by Jean Johnson
Blank Artists celebrates their second birthday tomorrow. This calls for a celebration. “People should expect to hear a quality selection of dance music, specifically techno and house, from a couple quality DJs,” said Joshua Dahlberg who, along with Drew Pompa, co-directs Blank Artists. “Drew and I are going to open the night, and Greg (Mudge) is going to provide the perfect nightcap for our celebration. It will be a great night to see old friends and to make some new ones.”
With five records released, Blank Artists began in Big Rapids and then migrated. “After a short stay in Lansing, we now operate in Detroit and couldn’t be happier,” Dahlberg said. “Just being able to contribute to what is going on in the city is an accomplishment in my book, not to mention very humbling. However, I don’t believe that we are done growing yet. We are still in our infancy and really look forward to what the future has in store.”
Furthermore Blank Artists has no intention of stunting their growth this year. “We have a new podcast that features sneak-peaks at upcoming releases as well as info pertaining to the label,” he said. “Additionally, we are planning several great releases from some notable talent here in Detroit.” The collective plans to release a 12” and digital releases, in addition to its artists branching out to other labels. Keep an eye on blankartists.com for more info. The party’s free, and it’s at Pulse Lounge. | RDW
british hype watch
by Ann Gordon
“The sticksman needed several stitches in his elbow after he woke up in a Munich hotel in a pool of his own blood ... a spokesperson for the band said: ’Andy has no idea how it happened ...’” — NME.com regarding Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows on 1/26/07
“No idea how it happened.” Riiiiggghhhttt. | RDW
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