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Our Best And Brightest
We took the gritty, tragic passion of the blues and we made it sharper, noisier — turned it into punk rock. We took disco and house and turned it into techno. We took gospel and we turned it into Motown. We took the carriage and we turned it into the automobile. We’re Detroit. We’re unavoidably, often unabashedly, and — most times, deservedly, proud of our history.
“I think you need to respect where all this comes from,” said Eddie Baranek, drummer for Spitting Nickels and guitarist/singer for The Sights. “Because, what you’re doing is really not all that original, even though you probably think it is … but you’re basically just recycling something for a newer generation that hasn’t yet heard it. ”
Baranek, with Nickels bassist John Bissa, were bar-stool bantering one late winter’s eve, “trying to decide how to celebrate [Baranek’s] birthday (April 5). We realized it was the same weekend as the Final Four. We also realized what a great opportunity there was to put a big show together for the day that there was no game (Sunday, April 5).”
Hence, the Motor City Rock Revue was born, featuring a wide arc of local music, from rock to pop and electro to shoegaze. With some of the older guard including the avenerated garage-pop trio The Hentchmen, the fiery blues of The Muggs and Spitting Nickels, these bands show that time doesn’t always change things.
“It’s crazy to think that in some way The Muggs are a small part of the Detroit lineage,” said Muggs bassist/keyboardist Tony DeNardo. "I used to dream of performing at the Magic Stick and other big Detroit venues in my 20s. Now were the elder statesmen on the scene and I’m proud that we're still sticking to our band's collective vision.”
Other acts on the bill range from newer indie-pop trio The Friendly Foes to The Pop Project. This tight, 70s power-pop inspired quartet of songwriters weathered the raucous garage boom when it was, as singer/guitarist Dave Lawson says “not very fashionable to be singing harmonies in Detroit."
The bill also features pop powerhouses The Silent Years, who are indicative of a new direction for Detroit music that's more experimental yet embraces the classic pop sensibilities and the danceable pop of Deastro. Rounding out the pack are The Displays, who span the garage/indie lo-fi pop sounds inspired by the Detroit rock of the 60s. The Displays singer/guitarist Andrew Hecker says “Things really seem to be shaping up for the town. So many new bands popping up, I feel like the town’s music scene’s more alive than ever and I really feel hopeful for the city.”
Spitting Nickels’ Bisas concludes saying, “We have a fantastic local music scene. This weekend, we have the world at our doorstep and we're gonna absolutely take advantage of it.” | RDW
Motor City Rock Revue • 4/5 Magic Stick
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