Busy, busy, busy
Wow. Since we returned from tour Detroit has just been a whirlwind of activity. Recently I attended a benefit extravaganza for the one and only Tony DeNardo. Held at the best beer-hole on the east side, the Cadieux Cafe, the benefit was to help Tony raise the funds he needs to head out to California to partake in some hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment. (For you non-Detroiters, Tony is the bass player in one of the most promising heavy rock bands in town, the Muggs. Last year he suffered a stroke and although his recovery has been amazing, the oxygen treatment may help Tony regain full use of his body even quicker) There were so many people at this event you would’ve thought they were giving away hookers! And why not? The line up was incredible and the cause was extremely worthy. The night started off with a performance by Mod Orange, which is the solo project of Mark Dawson, who is known about town as a very capable drummer and all-around supporter of local bands. I’d been meaning to catch Mark in the act for a while, and I finally got the chance. Of course I was extremely impressed. As someone who has always performed with a group of people, I have a lot of admiration for someone who can get up on stage alone with only a guitar and still manager to belt out great songs and keep an audience’s attention. For more on Mark, check out a great piece my friend Eve Doster wrote for the Metro Times.
Next up was Stunning Amazon, fronted by folk chanteuse Audra Kubat. This was my first time seeing this long-standing act as well, and I was amazed at what a clear and pleasant voice Ms. Kubat has. Great band too. Audra also fares well around town as a solo artist and her recent release is the very well-received “Elixir.” After Stunning Amazon came Bluesong. This blues-rock trio was really impressive. Great instrumentalists too, especially the drummer, J. Blue Song even had Tony come up and play a song with them on bass, which was a really nice treat. The Climax Divine was up next, and although I have thoroughly enjoyed this band in the past, my mind really wasn’t on the band this night. I guess I was too busy talking with all the fun people who showed up at the benefit. At least one member of almost every notable rock act in town (that was in town) was at this event including members of the Sights, the Go, the Kingsnakes, W-Vibe, Jettison Red, Black Magic Crossing, Outrageous Cherry, the Filter Kings, Inside Five Minutes, the Witches, Blush, Sponge, the Nice Device and more.
The night came to a close with an all-star band, Over Under Sideways Down, featuring Danny Methric from the Muggs and the Kingsnakes on guitar, Ross Westerbur from 500 ft of Pipe on keys, Brett Lucas of Lucas on guitar, Stunning Amazon’s bass player (I’m sorry I don’t know his name) at Matt of the Muggs on drums. I knew this was going to be good, but I didn’t think it would be as fucking cool as it was. Just seeing two of my favorite Detroit musicians, Danny and Ross, up on stage together and totally rocking out was the best. I guess when you put five extremely talented people up on stage you just can’t go wrong. The vibe was very “jammy,” very ‘70s and very rock and roll! I don’t know if Over Under Sideways Down plans to continue playing together, or if it was for just one night, but I definitely think they gained a lot of fans that night and they should continue to play out, because we need more bands like this. Overall, the benefit was a smashing success and Tony raised a little over half of what he needs for the trip to California. There will be another benefit at Nancy Whiskey’s on Saturday, Dec. 
28th. This will be more of a blues-based line up. Be sure to stop by if you can.
Just this past weekend was extremely fun filled! On Friday I saw the “next big thing” Har Mar Superstar at the Magic Stick. I met him before the show and was surprised at how nice and polite he was. He certainly didn’t have the ego of a “superstar.” The show was great though. It was all about ‘80s beats, all about sweaty sexy lovin, and all about Har Mar. One of my favorite parts of the show was when the lead singer from the Gossip (the two bands are touring together) came up on stage to sing “Power Lunch” with Har Mar. That woman has a great voice, and “Power Lunch” is one of my favorite Har Mar Superstar songs. And is that not the best name? Har Mar Superstar! I love it. After the show Har Mar (his real name is Shawn (or Sean), but I don’t know if I was supposed to tell you that) invited some friends and I to his hotel party, but I was lame and didn’t go. I know, I’ll regret it forever. I recommend that you visit his website, www.youcanfeelme.com and listen to the sound clips which pop right up when you enter the site. And buy his album!
And finally, last Saturday I drove down to Bowling Green, OH to see my FAVORITE, Andrew W.K.! This was my fourth show (and my fourth 
time meeting him), and I’d have to say this was by far the most sweaty and most dangerous. I was up in the pit for the first five songs and (this shows now not hard-core I am) I was afraid of getting jacked or felt up, so I got out of there. By the end of the show I saw two girls leave because one got sexually assaulted, and another girl (a girl I knew) got punched in the face, and no, it wasn’t an accident. What a bunch of bullshit. Why does shit like this have to happen, especially at an Andrew W.K. show? He’s not about any of that, and it’s not his fault that some of his fans are meatheads who like to hit girls. I wish more artists would stand up and say something about this kind of thing though, because it happens at a lot of concerts. However, I think it takes more than just the artist to stop this kind of thing and they should never be to blame. It’s more the job of the bar and the security staff, but it’s a hard thing to watch for. All I know is that women should be able to enjoy the roughness and insanity of a heavy rock show without worrying about someone sticking his hands down her pants or up her shirt.
Anyway, besides all of that, the whole experience was great, as always. I got to talk to Andrew before and after the show (I even got on the tour bus this time, whoo!) and he really is the nicest, sweetest guy. Whenever the Gore Gore Girls are asked what our influences or favorite bands are, I always list Andrew W.K., and when we were talking he told me that he saw something one of the Detroit magazines where I was quoted as saying something very nice about him, and he thanked me. That made me really happy. I got to meet and hang with two guys from Wolf Eyes too, who I had heard of, but never met. They’re from Ann Arbor (the area where Andrew grew up) and they’re really cool guys. They’re playing at the Detroit Institute of Arts this weekend on Saturday Dec. 21. I also spent some time talking to AWK’s guitar player Erik Payne, who is also a really, really nice guy. He said they’ll be going into the studio soon. I’m so excited to hear what the next album will be like.
Upcoming in Detroit…
Fri. Dec. 20th – Link: Motor City Breakdown @ the Magic Stick with Pas/Cal (oh, the buzz!), Jack Vulpine, the Fondas and more.
Sat. Dec. 21st – Christian Marclay, Toshio Kajiwara, DJ Olive and Wolf Eyes @ the DIA.
Thurs. Dec. 26th – Magic Stick holiday party with The Sights, Saturday Looks Good To Me and Asteroid.
Fri. Dec. 27th – Real Detroit Weekly’s Live & Loud Bash featuring the Bloody Hollys, Gore Gore Girls and the Hentchmen @ the Magic Stick and Gold Cash Gold, Bridge and Paradime @ the Majestic Theatre.
Sat. Dec. 28th – Tony’s California Dream benefit part II @ Nancy Whiskey’s.
Sat. Dec. 28th – Gore Gore Girls, Esquire and Columbus Ohio’s Tough & Lovely (great band!) @ the Lager House.
Tues. Dec. 31st – New Year’s Eve party with the Detroit Cobras, Electric Six and Peelander-Z @ the Magic Stick (where else?).
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