detroit @ nite

What an amazing summer it has been. Maybe even my best summer yet. I got to meet Andrew W.K. twice, I met and partied with the Flaming Lips, and just recently I met and hung out with one of my favorite bands, Fu Manchu! Those guys are awesome! Weekend after weekend, I have had experienced nothing but good times, great friends and killer music. I love this town and I swear I will never leave. Not permanently, anyway.

August was amazing. The month started out with a daylong trip (13 hours) to Ozzfest where I got to meet my favorite musician/rockstar, Andrew W.K. -- again! What an amazing person. I can’t believe a guy this nice and sweet is also such a kick ass musician. He said after Ozzfest he and his band (also very nice guys) will take off for the "I Get Wet" tour in October and November. I can’t wait! Other acts at Ozzfest worth mentioning are Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, System of A Down and, of course, Ozzy!! He played for well over an hour, yet it only seemed like 15 minutes. He did three or four Black Sabbath tunes too, which rocked. Ozzy’s guitar player Zakk Wylde has got to be one of the greatest metal guitarists ever. I don’t think he gets enough credit. The only problem I had with Ozzfest (a.k.a. sausage fest) is that out of all the many musicians in all the many bands on the bill there was only one woman, the singer/screamer of Otep. From what I saw Warped Tour was pretty low on estrogen too this year. How come if I want to see a woman rock out at a summer music festival I have to go to a "lady" festival designated just for women? C’mon.

Speaking of rocking out, I was fortunate enough to see one of Detroit’s greatest working guitarists kick ass recently. Danny Metric (Danny Muggs), who is also known for his work with Detroit band The Muggs, has been playing with hard-ass rock group The Kingsnakes. These guys look straight out of 1973 and they raaaaawk. And with Dan’s amazing guitar licks, huge chops and probably the best vintage t-shirt collection in town, he fits right in. The band played the annual Mussel Beach Fest held at one of the east side’s coolest drinking spots, the Cadieux Cafe. The Kingsnakes were scheduled to play between two of my favorite Detroit rock groups: Inside Five Minutes and the Sights. This show had so much buzz surrounding it that several handfuls of scenesters actually took one night off from the Magic Stick and/or Lager House to party hard on the east side. Awright.

Okay, back to August, I caught the now-legendary White Stripes/Strokes show at Detroit’s Chene Park. It was surreal. Last June I was up front rocking out to the White Stripes along with a few hundred people at one of their Magic Stick shows. But this year I was rocking out with thousands of people, and I could hardly get up front. But I’m happy for them. (And this is where I stop talking about the White Stripes and go off on a senseless tangent) They are a good band, and I’m really sick of the whole pre-fab pop game. And I can do without hip-hop 24-7. It kind of makes me nauseous how music journalists, MTV and the like group bands like the White Stripes, the Vines and the Hives together – like it’s something new. Hello? It’s rock, and it’s been here forever. But right now rock has the ability to make people money (mainly white males who own record companies), so it’s cool now and it’s on TV again. Well rock has always been cool, and it will always be cool. And when I say rock and I mean a band. A rock band. I don’t mean one teenage girl who doesn’t play an instrument fronting a put-together rock band of young studio musicians. Guitars. Songwriting. Drums. Fever. Unity. Blood. Sweat. Tears. I mean BANDS. Rock bands. Queens of the Stone Age. Fucking rock bands. The rock bands of the ‘70s were the first musicians to make insane amounts of money. And now rock seems to be the poorest genre. I’m going to have to change the subject, because this is just going to turn into an angry feminist rock and roll manifesto, and we don’t have time for that right now.

So, what else is going on in Detroit? Find out in the October issue of Spin magazine, which hits newsstands on September 10th. You’ll find Jack and Meg on the cover, and inside a fabulous article by Chuck Klosterman which gives a peek inside our dirty little scene here via interviews with Jack, Meg, Wendy Case of the Paybacks, Mary Restrepo of the Detroit Cobras, and more. I can’t tell you how weird it is to read about Detroit in Spin fucking magazine. Just when you think the ride is over...

The Riff Randells are the cutest! They are just one of so many band I have seen recently that are either from or coming through Detroit that have totally rocked my socks off. Once again, I spent a Saturday night trying to be in eleven places at once, but on this night I was glad I committed myself to seeing this Vancouver trio kick out the jams at Lili’s in Hamtramck. They were on the bill with locals Violet Skin and Desolation Angels Detroit. Lead singer/guitarist Kathy Camaro totally knows what a girls wants to hear with lyrics like "Who says girls can rock?/Boys are all talk" (which I was told later was a cover song). I was trying to remember some more catchy lyrics, but I was having too much fun dancing around to jot any of them down. Another couple chords of full-fledged rock and roll goodness later and I was totally hooked. Any fan of bands like the Bobbyteens, Nikki & the Corvettes (Detroit goddess) or the Donnas will live and die for this shit. Actually, I’m not really a huge fan of any of those bands (except maybe Nikki) yet I was totally diggin’ the Riff Randells. I wouldn’t be surprised if they became Vancouver’s ticket to coolness – this band has a lot of promise and I hope they come back soon!

Not too long ago I was hanging out at the Lager House (aka "the new Gold Dollar") and I ran into my friend Carol from Cleveland. Well it turns out Carol has now become Carol from Columbus and she formed a band, Tough and Lovelys, with this guy Andy who use to play in the Columbus band Them Wranch (he might still play with them, I’m not sure). And they were playing that night! What luck. The band’s singer is amazing. I haven’t heard a white girl belt out notes like that in a long time. The whole band is great, in fact. You must check them out if you live in the upper Ohio area. Also that night I saw one of the last sets by Detroit group "The Wildbunch." They are still together, in fact I hear they got signed by a label in the U.K. (hasn’t everyone?), but apparently there is a fellow over there who has already copyrighted the name. So "The Wildbunch" will from now on be known as The Electric Six! Catch them with rap boy-wonder esQuire and Thomas Potter at Ferndale’s Magic Bag on July 27^th.

Earlier this summer I was fortunate enough to be one of only 400 people with a ticket to the Queens of the Stone Age concert in Detroit. Oh. My. God. Words cannot describe the magnitude of how good these fuckers are. And with Dave Grohl on drums, there isn’t a better rock band on tour right now. Dave Grohl is one of the top five rock drummers on the planet. If you thought the Queens of the Stone Age were killer before, just wait. Oh my god. Sorry I can’t be more descriptive, it was just beyond amazing. And I’ve heard the new album (it’s supposed to come out at the end of summer). Just wait, these guys are going to save rock and roll. They’re back on tour in September (sans Dave, too bad) so be sure to go see them.

At the end of June I visited New York City because the Gore Gore Girls’ record label, Get Hip Records, was putting on a big showcase at the Warsaw in Brooklyn. It quite a party. First of all I have to say that the sound and stage crew at the Warsaw, especially Mike and Freddie, are the coolest! We played with fellow Detroiters and label-mates the Paybacks, who kicked ass, as always. Cleveland’s Charger Street Gang played just before us. They were nuts, but a good nuts. After we played the Cynics tore it up and after them, Scotland’s Rezillos. Apparently this band has been around a long time and has large followings all over the world. I can see why; they rocked! If you get a chance, check out www.gethip.com for more information on all these bands.

Coming up this summer...OZZFEST! That’s right, I get to see my sweetheart Andrew W.K. one more time! I can’t wait. Other bands on the bill are...who cares! AWK! Other shows I’m looking forward to include the White Stripes with the Strokes on Aug. 9th at Chene Park. On Aug. 10^that the Lager House the Gore Gore Girls will host the coolest instrumental surf rock trio in Canada – Les Doktures! French-Canadian boys in surgical masks and full doctor’s scrubs – not to be missed! And then this fall the Gore Gore Girls are heading out for a month-long tour of Europe including Holland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. Hopefully I’ll get to meet a few of the overseas coolgrrls while I’m there!

April 10, 2002

Wow! I am still a ball of excitement after seeing my first Andrew W.K. concert last night. What a show, what an experience! I’m so convinced that this man is going to save rock and roll. I’m sure most of you have heard of him. You may have seen his album cover, a head shot of him with his hair all over the place, dreary eyes and blood running down his nose and onto his shirt. Stunning, just stunning. You may have heard the first single off his album I Get Wet, "Party Hard". I got the CD and was totally blown away by both his music and his image. The way he presents himself is really cool, and after meeting him last night I’ve found that there could not be another rock star as cool, un-pretentious, kind and as rock and roll as Andrew. In his music, layered with guitars and keyboards, the message is simple – have a good time. Fucking party. Do what you want to do and don’t compromise yourself. I haven’t been this excited about listening to and writing rock music in a long time – and I have Andrew W.K and his album to thank for it.

Last night at St. Andrew’s Hall in Detroit Andrew W.K. (who grew up and went to school near Detroit in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area) headlined among a few other bands picked by Mtv2. I got there just in time to see Andrew and his band fucking tear the place up. The energy was incredible. It was definitely the most exciting rock concert I’ve been to in a long time. I found myself in the front surrounded by girls and boys of all ages just screaming our heads off – totally excited and having tons of fun. Andrew really played to the crowd. It’s apparent he loves his fans and he still knows what it’s like to be in the crowd and to want a piece of your favorite rock star. He gave himself to the audience as much as he could, all the while putting on a killer rock show. About three or four songs into the set he told the stone-faced bouncers up at the front to take a hike and waved everybody up past the barricade to the very front of the stage. The front row (myself included) was literally covered in Andrew W.K. sweat. Andrew changed the name of his song "I Love New York City" and changed to "I Love Detroit City". Needless to say, the crowd went nuts. Even more nuts when he belted out such future rock classics as "Party Till You Puke" and, of course "I Get Wet."

I don’t know what else to say except if you get a chance, you have to go see Andrew W.K. live. Get up as close as you can and just Party Hard.

February 16, 2002

I started the month off right, meeting friends old and new up in Lansing (Michigan’s capital) for a rough and rowdy rock and roll show with Detroit band the Ruiners. Thanks to a cute little website called livejournal.com I’ve gotten to know a handful of awesome girls and boys from all over Michigan, including the Lansing area. My best friend Jeremy and I drove up there to a bar called Mac’s where I got to meet Lansing’s coolest grrrls Rolanda, Meaghan and Angela. We rocked out to a blistering set by the Ruiners, who were accompanied by dear friend Sarah Klein and her buddy Danielle. The girls acted as naughty cheerleaders slash go-go dancers and made for delicious eye candy. Oh and the band was good too! Punk rawk in its truest form, the Ruiners are probably Detroit’s rowdiest bands. There is a list of clubs from which they are banned due to their stage act that involves everything from nakedness, dismantling of washing machines, guitars and pants on fire and lots and lots and lots of shredded paper. The night ended with the super-fun activity of garbage bag sledding. Those of you who live in warmer climates are sure missing out. You haven’t experienced fun until you’ve soared down a snow-covered hill on a trash bag at 4 a.m.!

This past weekend was like a big blast from the past (if you consider last year "the past"). First I got to see my favorite Chicago band, The Dishes. The girls stopped in for a show at the Magic Stick as part of their tour with fellow Chicago band the Nerves. They rocked as always. With a name like that I’m surprised the Dishes don’t get more press. It’s a music writer’s dream to be able to work with a band name like that because you can think of all sorts of stupid and quirky cliché lines like: "Those Dishes are dirty," "The Dishes served up a full plate of hard rockin’ tunes" or "I’d like to do those Dishes." I’m sorry – I had to do it. The one thing I like about the Dishes is that they always look like they’re having a good time on stage. I don’t know if they’re smiling and laughing because they thought they screwed up or because they’re having so much fun. Either way it makes for a fun show. I was glad to hear that the girls, Kiki, Sarah and Sharon will be back in Detroit next month to be apart of the 2nd annual Mid by Midwest festival taking place here in Detroit. Speaking of the MXMW, my newest band, The Sirens will be performing the fest as well. Details are still sketchy. I made my debut with the band last month at the Magic Stick. Damn, was that fun! I love those girls. The band includes myself on gutiar, former Gore Gore Girl drummer and curent leader of the Come Ons, Deanne Iovan on drums, magnanimous singer Muffy Kroha, Michelle Lanoo on bass and when he’s not on tour, Dirtbombs front man Mick Collins joins us on guitar as well.

Upon heading downstairs from the Magic Stick I got the surprise of the night! Good friend and fellow chick rocker Lynda Mandolyn from Fabulous Disaster! I knew she was coming back to town, but I wasn’t sure when. What a nice surprise that was. We chatted a bit and agreed to meet up again the following night at the Magic Bag. On the bill was up and coming Detroit rapper esQuire. Damn, did this boy have some style! He and his go-go dancers put on a great show and his lyrics were hilarious. I don’t doubt that in the next few years we will be hearing about esQuire on a national level. He had all the right elements. The highlight of the show was when Detroit’s very own Queen Bee, Karen Neal appeared on stage to do a mid-set boogie with esQuire. This was one of the reasons Lynda was at the show, to catch her buddy Karen in action. These ladies made up 2/3 of one of Detroit’s first all-female heavy rock groups, Inside Out!

Between sets I was surprised to run into Carol from Cleveland (from Columbus). I met Carol when the Gore Gore Girls played with Carol’s band the Librarians in Cleveland. Carol was also a member of the Plastics, but she has a new band going now, although they are yet to be named. She will appear in Detroit on Feb. 22 performing with the Dirty Shame as the opening band for Jonathan Richman, also at the Magic Bag. Anyway, back to the show. After esQuire’s unique performance the much-loved Detroit five-piece rock group the Wildbunch took the stage. This band is so rock and roll. In fact the are SO rock and roll that Maximum Rock and Roll said they were "too rawk" on more than on occasion. I don’t want to say too much about the band because they claim to get nothing but bad press, even though there is absolutely no such thing. I don’t have anything bad to say about the band, but apparently music journalists seem to have it all wrong about them, no matter what they write. So to save them from any possible discomfort I will stop talking about them now, except to say that if you live in the Ohio area, go check them out at Mickey Finns in Toledo on Feb 23rd.

So what else is happening? I recently recorded a song for the upcoming third installment of the Patty Duke Fanzine. Top Quality Rock and Roll label head Mike D hasn’t decided if he’s going to put out a third fanzine album or a Detroit-only Patty Duke cover album. Either way, I’ll be on the next one, along with the Come Ons, the W-Vibe and some other cool Detroit bands. Speaking of records, hard-working rock n’ fuckin’ roll band Inside Five Minutes will be releasing a split single with the Tight Bros. From Way Back When on Makoto Records. This bad boy should be out in the next few months. Also in the future for Inside Five Minutes: a performance during the Hamtramck Blowout in early March. But their big show of the season will be at the underrated Michigan Fest where local and national rock, hardcore and emo bands gather to support Michigan-based charities. Please take a look at the Michigan Fest website for more info and an impressive list of bands.