With nine bands on two stages in one of the best venues Detroit has to offer, the five hour-long concert is set to be one that not only brings to the forefront bands that have either long been in the consciousness of those who love hardcore punk, as well as some that are just now making their mark on the genre. And according to Vee himself, it's one that should get people off the La-Z-Boys and in front of a live musical performance for.
"It's hard to put a show on these days," says Vee. "It's hard to get people off their wheelchair butts, off YouTube and out to go see a real show."
With two stages set up to provide continuous, non-stop music throughout the evening, the show's set to feature Negative Approach, AntiSeen, Gang Green, Iron Cross, Bill Bondsmen, Golden Torso, Hellmouth and Against the Grain and is sure to be one you'll be glad you left the recliner for.
"There's going to be stage A and stage B and as soon as the music ends on the first one, it's going to start on the second one," says Vee.
And the music that's going to be rebounding from those stages was hand-selected by Vee and his fellow Meatman, Dan "Mr. Danny Dirtbag" Gillies.
"I picked some personal favorites. They're all bands that I love. We tried to go for an old-school flavor, some of these groups haven't played in years. But we also picked new bands, like AntiSeen. We've played with them a few times and they don't get their due, this will be their first time in Detroit," says Vee.
Negative Approach is one name on the bill that's recognizable to most people, even for those who aren't particularly a fan of their music. And though their notoriety is certainly a plus, there's more to the relationship between Vee and the group than putting a big name on the bill.
"Negative Approach is like the Detroit hardcore band. We've been doing these annual shows with Negative Approach for a few years now, some of them at St. Andrew's, some of the at other places," says Vee. "It started out as them asking us to come introduce them, then it was 'Well, could you play a few songs?' and then it turned into us having a full set. Including them was about keeping that tradition alive."
Keeping not just the tradition of these two groups' onstage relationship alive, but that of having hardcore punk fests at the Magic Stick also led Vee to choose the Woodward Avenue venue as the home for this first-ever showcase.
"The Magic Stick used to have Fucking Awesome Fest, but they don't do that anymore. Now there's this gapping void in the punk rock world," says Vee. "Plus, it's a great room, I think the sound is good and we've got a few surprises that you're just going to have to come out to see."
To see whatever spectacular, unannounced events Vee has prophesied to happen on the night of 8/18, he suggests you buy tickets in advance. "This show is going to sell out early. It's going to be a double barrel assault and live fury." Considering the man's played shows in five different decades, we'll put our $15 on this being one hell of a time. | RDW
Tesco Fest • 8/18, 7p.m. • Magic Stick • 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit • 313.833.9700 • Majesticdetroit.com • $15
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