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Last Updated:
Mar 19th, 2008 - 07:43:02 |
Detroit 2007
Do you want an explosion now?
Forget “Those were the days,” forget taste-making, forget who’s better, forget who sucks … take a moment and realize that Detroit rock has exploded since ’99 … from a small scene of two main venues and a dozen bands to a nebulous, far reaching coral reef of lively, flavorful activity and musical camaraderie. Forget who’s underground, who’s mainstream or who’s in it for the right or wrong reasons — the bands can debate all that.
Take a sip of PBR and enjoy the glorious, boundless freakout because, for Detroit rock fans, it’s a helluva wild time to be alive …
“The most exciting thing about ‘The Golden Age’ (‘99-‘02) was this whole community of budding musicians. It was so exciting to be a part of this movement. With the success of The White Stripes, there was a lot of hype about Detroit for a hot minute, but actually the scene has been great throughout. Detroit is spoiled, really. You think there is this amount of music in other cities? Think again … you can go out on any given day and see top notch music of any genre. So, come on out and see what you’re missing.”
— Tony Muggs (The Muggs, 2001-Present)
The New Breed
Zack Weedon (Lee Marvin Computer Arm, 2004-Present):
“These new groups are not rooted in the past. Detroit tends to steep itself in the past, which makes sense because the past was so fluid — with Motown, The White Stripes, The Stooges, MC5, etc. But I think there is definitely a similarity in the thoughts and attitudes of this entire state and the music that inhabits it. There is a new crop of bands outside (the mostly republican suburb circle) that can create something new, which is so fucking refreshing and very appropriate considering the circumstances and the need all around. It’s much more important than just ‘the scene,’ even the term ‘scene’ makes me cringe. I am not selectively doing this for a small group of people; we are doing this for the entire city.”
Marlon Hauser (Siddhartha, 2004-Present):
“Now, it’s like a rock ‘n’ roll scene where it’s not one particular sound but still one particular spirit. It’s some kind of psychedelic freak-out that’s coalescing into its own individual monster. It’s pretty all inclusive, that’s what music should be … completely inclusive, not exclusive.”
Drew Bardo (The Questions, 2004-Present):
“Our little community of bands focuses on ‘what you know’ NOT ‘who you know’ — that is a huge difference. No one should be left out. No matter how long these bands last now, the music has so much substance that it will never be passed off as a scene or fad. I think a lot of the bands doing what they’re doing now learned a great lesson from that (garage) scene so hopefully this will be what that should have been …”
Jeremy Freer (Freer, 2005-Present):
“I like the fact that so many of these bands are making music that pleases them and not to please a specific scene. It’s the blur of clarity abolishing boredom. The soul, polished and raw. The souls crying to souls. The love singing to love. Some of the things I’ve seen at shows in this city will be etched in my mind forever. Don’t be a fashion victim — Detroit could be the rainbow.”
Timothy Monger (Great Lakes Myth Society, 2003-Present):
“Communities are forming out of homegrown influences and bands are just excited to play shows together. If the scene continues to gain national attention, which I hope it does, it will inevitably be branded with a label and its influence will spread. Right now it’s still all about bands playing magical shows for each other. That wonderful feeling of pride and importance never lasts for long and that’s one of the reasons we all treasure certain eras and scenes in popular music’s vast history.”
Robbie Buxton (The BirdDogs 2005-Present):
“There’s a group of bands that are really starting to make some noise. There is definitely something big happening here, it was inevitable. We’re all trying to connect hearts. We want people to come together just as we have as musicians. That’s what people need to see. It’s brotherhood above anything and it makes for some really amazing music."
The New Vibe
Jasper Q. (Operator of jasper.webvomit.com)
“Overall, less leather jackets and more non-prescription frames — less standing around in silent judgment, more getting into the jam. Musicians are free to do whatever they want. Creativity has returned and ‘having fun’ has become the new ‘taking yourself too seriously.’ You want to set toys on fire during your set? OK. You want to throw glitter into the crowd? Alright. You want to jump off stage wearing only boxers and dance with fans? Yes, please. No one is pretending to be the next ‘thing,’ crowds are having fun and most importantly, I can stop shopping for jeans in the women’s department. No one’s going to look at you funny if it’s your first time to Hamtramck. A music fan is a music fan, and in this city we need to stick together and support the artists and sounds we enjoy.”
Steven Rajewski(Canada, 2005-Present):
“All the bands that make up the music scene here in Michigan are SO great and talented, but they’re all also very diverse: garage rock bands, folk rock bands, hardcore bands, math rock bands, indie rock bands, electronic bands, noise bands, pop bands, punk bands — they’re all here and they’re all doing amazing things and they’re all very nice and fun human beings to be around, too. It’s genuine respect and love for fellow bands and musicians that really makes this scene so great to be a part of. It’s so great to see that kind of support and camaraderie.”
Paul Barning and Matt Lieder (The Hotness 2004-Present):
PB: “The crowds who follow these torch bearers are almost as significant as the bands they follow. You can go to see a dozen different scene-triumphant bands and find yourself in entirely different crowds every time. Any musician will tell you that a good show is mostly dependent on the crowd.”
ML: “The scene is like high school. If you’re a freshman and you piss off a senior, you’re bound to get a swirly.”
Wisdom
Rich Hanson (Lager House promoter):
“I think if everyone spent as much time worrying about their songs, live show or why they have a band in the first place as they do about The SCENE, it would be better for everybody.
Enjoy the majesty of Myspace, but don’t totally rely on it. Bands can go out and see each other’s shows; bands can go out and hand bigger acts their demo and get to be friends with the folks in these bands. This tactic has worked regularly for the 15 years I’ve been paying attention, so I’m assuming it will still work.”
Troy Gregory (Witches, 1997-Present; Stepsisters, 2004-Present):
“The term ‘local’ sticks with some people as a dirty word and the idea that if they’re still playing around here then they’re probably not very good. Someone might say, ‘Well, there’s not as many good bands (as before),' but have they really gone out and checked? No matter what you like, if you went and looked for it you’re going to find somebody who’s doing it really well. A lot of times part of the experience is just going out to see your friends. It’s motive more than style, it’s substance more than intent.”
Wendy Case (The Paybacks, 2000-Present):
“Don’t be manipulated by masturbating ‘tastemakers’ who want to tell you what’s cool and what’s not. Listen for yourself and make your own decisions about what you like — and don’t be cowed by fashion or, even worse, by anti-fashion. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends that the Turtles’ ‘Happy Together’ is your favorite song. If they don’t approve, they can blow dogs. Also, make friends with as many record collector dorks as you can — that way you can have access to all the rare/weird/interesting stuff without having to become a record dork yourself. You’ll hear what they’ve got eventually because they love to show it off.”
No Place I’d Rather Be
Bobby Harlow (The Go, 1998-Present):
“Everything can change if you’ve got the guts to maintain your integrity. What’s most important is awareness — of some other kind of music that somebody may or may not love, but should know it is there and available at least. We want to understand ourselves and we can do that through others — we gather at the Magic Stick to find people that we can relate to.” (Recalling a particular escapade): “The electricity of the room was incredible. When I ran into Tim (Lampinen — Clone Defects, Human Eye, Reptile Forcefield), the look of his face was pure energy, mesmerized — both of us, I could tell, there was no place I’d have rather been than at the Magic Stick at that moment. A person could go wild and nobody would notice, and everybody would take notice that nobody noticed.”
The edge of a Detroit stage can feel like the center of the world. See you there. | RDW
Detroit’s Dead?
Rich Hansen (Lager House promoter)
“There are less people going to shows and less bands adhering to the few simple, workable rules of self-promotion. The bar used to be a place where folks would gather to meet, talk, exchange ideas and party. Now, people are completely inundated by Myspace, blogs, mailing lists and whatever else allows you to check out more bands than any person could possibly have time to digest and I think it lessens the desire in people to get out of the house and interact.”
Ben Blackwell (Dirtbombs, Cass Records)
(To up-and-comers): “Don’t get caught up in what’s already happened, pay attention to what’s happening now. There’s no point in hemmin’ and hawin’ (that you never saw The White Stripes at a small club). No, get out there — there’s an opportunity to be a part of something.” | RDW
Views From Other Genres:
Kenneth Thomas (producer/DJ):
“There has always been a great core crowd supporting dance music here in Detroit. The last two years have seen a general spike in attendance in the events at nightclubs. I just love the vibe in the room. I feel more so with dance music than any other music, there’s this invisible but clear as day energy in the room.”
Zenas Jackson (DJ the Nyhylist):
“The guys I remember going up to and wanting to ask questions about mixing — they were never like a big brother putting their arm around you, like, ‘OK kid, you like to do what I do, too … come along and watch me, I’ll show you how it’s done.’ I don’t let it bother me, I just do what I do.”
Phat Kat (rapper):
“In the last few years, it’s been divided and standoffish, since the Proof incident, but now everybody is starting to come together and form alliances and work together, that’s the only way.” | RDW
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