Grasshopper Underground
by Ashley Zlatopolsky
If you love house music and just can't get enough funky beats in your life, Grasshopper Underground in Ferndale is the place for you to be every night of the week. Well, every night might be a LITTLE too much (or maybe it's not, you crazy party animal), but it's definitely a must for all house heads to check out. If you're looking for Top 40 or rock 'n' roll, I suggest looking elsewhere because Grasshopper is straight-up electronic dance music.
Stripper Mondays (yes, you read that correctly) provide entertainers with 40 percent off their entire bills with a dance card or proof of employment, and also give 20 percent off to all others in the service industry. On Got Nothing Tuesdays, come grab a drink and hang out with your crew. And when I say grab a drink, I mean try one of bartender Davina's or Travis' creations. These two are NOT light-handed by any means, so one strong drink may have you feeling a bit tipsy. Their generosity with alcohol goes a long way. My suggestions: test out a White Russian from Davina and a Gummy Bear shot from Travis. Delicious!
One of Grasshopper's biggest draws, however, is Stimulus Wednesdays, featuring the best in both local and sometimes even global talent. A solid booking of artists and no cover (for the most part) keeps the place packed each week. With Stimulus' one-year anniversary approaching later this summer, we've watched this event grow into one of metro Detroit's best Wednesday night parties. And during the anniversary party, we can look forward to a set from Eddie Fowlkes, known as the "Godfather of Techno Soul." Some recent bookings have included Sonny Fodera, DJ Psycho, and Bang Tech 12 Ohio.
The fairly new Tribe Thursdays are also making marks and bringing crowds. Since beginning in April, we've seen big names such as Thugfucker, Kyle Hall and Nina Kraviz hit the decks and spin in an intimate setting. Fridays and Saturdays generally have individually booked events, with frequent appearances by Dabura and house legend Terrence Parker.
Since Grasshopper Underground is, well, underground (or at least down a set of stairs from the entrance), the place is small and cozy – but we like it that way, because it means there isn't a bad seat in the house. The intimacy of the venue creates a nice connection between the musical talent and the partygoers since everyone is on the same level...no raised DJ booths, upstairs VIP viewing areas, or any of the stuff that might get in the way of someone fully enjoying a set. Anyone and everyone can come dance right next to the speakers and get an earful of house all night. Oh, and we also like the fact that it doesn't take 20 minutes to get a drink at the bar–the bartenders are on top of their game and keep the alcohol going.
So there you go, house heads. We've found the perfect place for you. If you haven't experienced Grasshopper Underground yet, it's time to make a change. Break out your calendar, cross off your plans for next Wednesday, and write in "Stimulus – be there." | RDW
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