Nov. 2013
KORN WALKING DEADS
EMILY KINNEY MY PERFECT NIGHTMARE BALLYHOO BLAKE SHELTON
DL METAL TRIBUTE FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
THE
RUINERS
EXPORTING THE DETROIT MUSIC SCENE TO THE WORLD DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
Photo -Marc Nader
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Contributors: Benny Jet, Eric Harabadian, Darian Counts, Aluna Michaels, Marc Nader, Rikki Roxx, Mark Petty, Jen Drewyore - Beck, Olin Ezra, Ashley Zlatopolsky, Lauren Rae, Karen Hubbard, Jonny Reinhardt, Lisa Joy Adams, Jenne Barnes Graphic Design:: Granger Graphics Story Editing: Elizabeth Sinclair Photgraphers: Marc Nader (Cover), Scott Legato, T-Mac Imaging, Christopher Bjornberg, Jen Drewyore-Beck Publisher: Granger Publishing Inc. LLC Editor: Darian Counts Account Execs: Norm Stachulski, Jerry Good
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from
It’s no secret that AMC’s Walking Dead is one of, if not the most popular show on TV. Many attribute it’s popularity to spectacular makeup and effects. Others say it’s the beloved zombie genre. Still some credit incredible writing and acting. Combine those factors with the emergence of Netflix and Hulu allowing fans to submerge themselves in the world of Rick and Carl Grimes, and you’ve got a winning combination. In the past, viewers were spoon fed episodes of their favorite shows one episode at a time. These days fans can binge on entire seasons in one sitting. This allows viewers to lose themselves more deeply in the reality of the show and establish a bond with the characters in a way that feels more genuine. Another aspect of today’s new
Emily Kinney Talks with Darian Counts
the new world, to an unflinching zombie killer who is as comfortable cradling a newborn baby as she is thrusting a crowbar thru the skull of a flesh-famished walker. Another technique for giving an onscreen character depth is to incorporate dimensions of an actor’s true self into the character they play. To the writer’s credit they’ve chosen to infuse the soulful vocal talents of Emily Kinney into the character of Beth Greene. Last month I got a chance to talk with Emily about her ever expanding role on the show as well as the release of her new CD “Expired Love” Here is a bit of our conversation.
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Darian: Who is on your IPod now? Emily: I like Lourdes and another band called Frightened Rabbit. I love Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson, and those kind of things.
Darian: Tell me someone you’re a fan of that will probably surprise me. Darian: I noticed that you’ve been able to showcase your singing in episodes of WD. It’s an incredible opportunity to be able to display your talent to so many Emily: Well this might not seem like it but, I love Nicki people at one time. How did that come about? Minaj. I memorize all her raps. I’ve just kind of started getting into this guy J. Cole. I really like music with a good story and great Lyrics. Emily: Well between seasons my first EP came out and some of the writers and producers had seen me play and sing in New York. As far as singing on the show; Darian: How did you get your role on TWD? it was actually Glen Massara’s idea. For that episode he had a vision of the characters singing around the Emily: Well the audition was pretty much a standard campfire at a moment of rest, kind of reflecting on all audition. But I didn’t know at first that I wasn’t the zombie killing. I think they felt the song just kind auditioning for the role of Maggie. They gave me of fit really nicely into the show. So yeh it was a great Maggie scenes but then told me to play it as her sister. opportunity for me as a singer. They definitely kept everything very secret. They gave me scenes that weren’t going to be in the show. I had Darian: Who chose the songs? one audition then they called me back to audition for Frank Darabont who was running the show at that time. The a couple days later they called and said that I got it. Emily: Well the first one, the Irish one (around the campfire), that was Glen’s choice. Later on I was given input. I recently sang the Tom Waits song “Hold On”, Darian: Did you know how popular the show was at the that was partly my choice. time. Darian: I just became familiar with your CD, I gravitated to the song “Julie”. Is there a real Julie? Is that song Biographical? EM: (laughs) I guess within my songs I’ve been able to be really… honest. Ya know… sometimes in life we don’t get to say how we really feel. I mean exactly the way we want to say it. So…yeh, there’s really a Julie and that song is take directly from my experience.
“supershows” (Breaking Bad/ S.O.A / T.W.D) that registers with fans is the transformational nature of the characters. Over the course of the first four seasons of the series we’ve seen characters struggle with changes in their reality. Changes that force them to adapt or die. One such character on The Walking Dead is the farmer’s daughter “Beth Greene” played by Emily Kinney. Over the last few seasons we’ve seen Beth evolve from a scared, suicidal child unable to accept the viciousness of
guitar player. I kind of switch it up. Lately I’m really liking the full band sound I just think if you’ve heard the recordings you want to hear it with the full sound. I like having more people onstage also, it gives the show more energy.
Darian: Well, then listening to the song I have to ask... How did it turn out?? Emily: (still laughing) well lets just say I wasn’t the winner in that story. But that’s ok; ya know we just move on. Darian: Do you regularly perform Live? EM: When I can. I’ve played around New York in the past. I’m have 2 shows coming up in Atlanta. One is for Walking Dead, the other is at Eddies Attic which is a great place to perform for singer/songwriters. It’s very intimate you can tell stories, I’m really excited to play there. Darian: What is your live show like? Is it acoustic or do you have a band with you? Emily: It changes up. Lately I’ve been doing the full band thing, which I love. Drums, Keys, I play guitar and I have my friend Simon playing guitar with me. But in the past we’ve done a trio with Keys, Cajon and another DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
Emily: Well at that time the show only had 6 episodes out. Even though I knew of the show and I knew it had a good following; I didn’t know how long I’d be involved. I wasn’t givin a lot of information and I figured I’d be in just a few episodes. But one thing led to another and now it’s a huge part of my life. I’ve made great friendships and I love it. Darian: If you could be bring any character back; Who would it be? Emily: (audible gasp) oh my gosh... that is so hard... that
Game Review: Olin Ezra Ingress is good, deceivingly good. Almost too good. This has been a challenging game to review, because this really isn’t a game at all. Well, it is, but it isn’t. Augmented reality, sort of. If I were to review it in a sentence it would be, “Four Square, with Weapons.” But it’s not Four Square, Sound complicated? Good. Ingress revolves around portals. New portals are added by players, and occasionally removed. Faction control of portals changes on almost a daily basis. News is delivered every Thursday, updating players as to in-game happenings and events. Be prepared to move, a lot. Not in game, but in the real world. Portals have real world locations, you have to travel to them. Several times I found myself in some pretty unique areas, I may not have ever been to without a good reason. Like, hacking portals. You can attack enemy portals and make them your own. As of right now, you can reach a max level of 8 in Ingress. Ingress is still in its beta form, and is invite only. I personally have 10 ingress invites waiting. If you would like to try Ingress, please e-mail me at Olin@TapDetroit.com with the subject ‘Ingress Invite’ and I will send you an invite to try it for yourself! A lot of time however while I was playing, I felt like it was more of a social experiment than an actual game. While you do need to utilize strategy, and network with other players to reach your own goals, little info on why you’re doing what you’re doing is given. If you’ve ever read a book like Enders Game, it really makes you wonder what in the world you’re doing. is so, so hard, that’s not fair...how can you make me choose? ………. Can I pick 2? Darian: Sure. Emily: Well I guess as a fan of the show I love Andrea. Especially watching the show in the first season I just loved Andrea’s character. Laurie Holden is also an amazing actor. I was so sad when she died. But also Randall from season 2. Darian: The guy that they chained in the barn?
I also found that this game can take your gas tank from full, to empty rather quickly. As with online games, you will make enemies, but these are real life enemies. Not someone hiding behind a mouse and keyboard. Your in game actions have the potential to have real world consequences. All in all, for free, Ingress is a great game to try, if you can find an invite, and have a lot of gas. The Good: Passionate Driven Community - You Feel Like James Bond - Hacking and Maintaining Portals is Extremely Addictive The Bad: Invite Only - Android Only - Cleverly Designed Social Experiment? - What happened to all my gasoline?
Motor City Films - COMING SOON!
Emily: Yeh, I just thought he could have been a fun character. He could have been one of my Beth’s boyfriends. Darian: Do you have a favorite episode? Emily: I really loved shooting the barn scene where Sophia came out. It was such an emotional scene. That was one of the first days as an actor to be able to film with everyone. It was one of the first times I felt bonded with the whole cast.
SUMMER 2014
In the aftermath of the undead apocalypse, Detroit’s crooked politicians, crackheads, thugs and panhandlers are now gone, replaced by flesh feasting walkers.
Darian: had you seen the show before you were in it. Emily: I had seen maybe one episode. But then when I got the role I went back and watched episodes one through six and just got super into it.
As the rest of the world decends into chaos and decay the residents of the motor city have a different take on the apocalypse.
Darian: So what the chance you giving up a spoiler? Maybe tell us who the next cast member to go is. Emily: (laughing) not gonna happen. Besides, I wouldn’t want to ruin it for you. Just keep watching, this season will blow you away!
WANTED
writers, actors, effects people and of course zombies. email experience / headshot etc. film@detroitlivemagazine.com
Darian: I’ll keep watching…I have a feeling everyone will.
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TITTLE BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION PRESENTS
MASTERS OF METAL TRIBUTE ROB ZOMBIE, DIO, OZZY AND KISS TRIBUTES
THIS FANTASTIC SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR FRIENDS AT
Sarah Devide
On Oct 5
Detroit Live Magazine rolled into Rocky’s Pub to present the long awaited DLM 2013 Metal Madness Tribute. The show was the 4th in series of Detroit Live “Tribute shows” and like its predecessors was a raging success. In the past we’ve done tributes to the Doors, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Led Zeppelin, Ted Nugent, AC/ DC, Alice in Chains just to name a few. This night we were particularly excited due to the close nit styles of these tribute bands and the visual nature of the performance. th
Kicking things off in an over-the-top undead style this evening was newcomer to the circuit & Rob Zombie tribute, THUNDERKISS. Opening with his signature “More Human than Human”, complete with samples from Zombie’s“Astro-Creep 2000” The band established the pace for the evening. For only four members this band had a bigger than life (or should I say death) sound. In addition to capturing the slithering creepy metal feel of Rob Zombie’s music live, a task sometimes Rob himself is not able Chris Luccas to do, the individual members of the band had the look of an undead quartet. Complete with a John 5 style guitarist and go-go dancing “Zombettes”. Closing their set with White Zombie’s “Thunderkiss ‘65” the band’s debut performance set the bar high for a night that would blur the lines between tribute and authentic. Between bands, I like to hang outside with the smokers. The weather was still relatively warm and it was a clear night. As I stood outside of Rocky’s discussing the impressive nature of the Rob Zombie tribute I heard the next band take the stage. From outside I could hear the roar of the crowd and the sub sonic swelling sound effects that explosively morphed
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into Ronnie James Dio’s “Holy Diver”. From the first count of the first measure it was difficult ascertain that this was not the real Ronnie James Dio. The fact that the Dio died several years ago had me relatively sure this was not him. That being said Rick Stafford does an impressive job to recreating Dio’s Stage persona while nailing the signature vocal lines.
Lou Abraham
Rick Stafford got to be, one of, if not the most difficult. From the 6 inch spiked boots to the make up and leather studded stage apparel to the lighting, flames and blood splitting these guys have their jobs cut out for them. To Alive Rock City’s credit they understood that their performance begins well before they take the stage. Prior to their stage time and dressed in full Kiss attire, members of the band wandered the crowd. Towering close to a foot above most concert goers Raj Mangipani as Gene Simmons was an intimidating force as heads turned to take in his entire portrayal of the rock and roll demonic god of thunder. His wardrobe as well as the rest of the bands was spot on. The authenticity of this bands appearance seemed to give me the impression that their shoes cost more than some bands guitars. Once onstage Alive Rock City, for all intent and purposes became KISS. It’s one thing to see KISS in an arena style setting. But it’s another to see them in a local club environment where you can get up close and personal. It makes one wonder what it might have been like to see KISS in the mid 70’s in a local bar type environment. Luckily we have youtube and we can see what Kiss was actually like in those days. And I can tell you that Kiss of 1975 could not compete with Alive Rock City of 2013. From the sound, to the lighting, to the spitting of blood and breathing of fire; this night several hundred cont. on 13
Flanked by veteran musicians Keith Holstein on guitar, Sly Valentino on bass and Darrel Robertson on drums the Holy Divers will more than satisfy any Dio enthusiast, fan, maven or devotee’. Keeping in line with our metal gods theme was a band that is quickly becoming the standard bearer for Ozzy Osborne tributes. With flailing arms and an eerie maniacal smile, Sins of a Madman lead singer Michael “Stonecage” Dickinson completely captures Ozzy Osborne’s essence. Lead guitarist Dave Hicks, for all I know actually is Randy Rhodes and Evil-T and Troy Mitchell provide a thick and imposing rhythm section that overcomes anyone in its path and undeniably puts the listener in the front row of their very own Ozzy Concert. Sins of a Madman, like all of the bands performing this evening, aren’t content looking like the real thing or sounding like the real thing, They are firm believers that their job is to have the spectators forget they are watching a tribute. That is exactly what they do. As a life long metal-head I am no stranger to the look, sound or stage antics of an Ozzy Osborne show and I can tell you definitively, that Sin’s of a Madman, with their intricate stage props and dedication to auditory and visual excellence will make you believe you’re at one of Ozzy’s best performances. Finally closing the show was a band everyone had waited to see. Earlier this year Kiss Tribute band “Alive Rock City” emerged onto the scene. Of all bands to portray, Kiss has
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Benny &
The Jets The Column
By Benny Jet
Benny and the Jets: the song, the band, the van, the man, the beard, the book, the movie, the Pawn Star TV guy, or in this case lets call it...The column! It is kind of my new pet peeve, Detroit Rock and Roll bands. Do we know em? Do we love em? Do we care? We can, kind of blame it on social media, and the demise of radio. In the old days, everyone listened to radio. In the 60’s, Robin Semore would talk about, or you would hear a commercial for a club, or a band, on WKNR - Keener 13. In the 70’s, Dave Dixon on WABX and 80’s, Arthur Penhallow would do the same on WRIF - BABY. Your friends would say, who is that band Arthur P was talking about? But you knew the name of the band, and you just had to go check them out. Nowadays more people listen to iPod’s and MP3’s, if they hear of a local band maybe they check them out the Facebook or YouTube, and no need to even mention the DJ or Karaoke competition. SRC, Mitch Ryder, Sunday Funnies, Curtis Heyflash, Muggsy, Halloween, Rockets, Strut, Bitter Sweet Alley, Salem Witchcraft, Tobby Redd, Steve King and the Dittilies, Bridge, all became, well known, local bands, local celebrities. Some at their peek could locally out
draw nationally known acts. So let’s list some of the biggest current Detroit Rock and Roll bands, see if you know the names. See if your friends know them. What they look like, sound like.
Ty Stone? He has toured with Kid Rock, even opened the Comerica park show. But Ty has played his share of local gigs, and for all his success, is still not what we would say, well known.
Plenty of other bands we should know more about. PS if you have some info on area bands let me know (benejets@aol.com). Critical Bill - eastside band often mentioned as best band in town, but haven’t heard much lately. War Machine, a KISS tribute band, that plays the bars under the name illegal. Shock Wave, young guys, who may be my favorite local band, but also haven’t heard much from them lately. Two Timin, two girls, singing country music, also very new to the Killer Flamingos? Well even if you haven’t heard of scene. Yankeeville, a rock meets county, bar band, that them, they have their own Wikipedia page! And really on the list of locally known bands, they rate pretty high. has quietly become a fixture in the west side bar scene and surprisingly well known. They have a female singer, they play wide range of hit songs, that people know and love, and they sound really good. As easy as that may sound, it is hard to find bands Hear Benny Wednesdays 5pm on WCXI radio. Thursdays open mic at Redford Moose. Fridays 5pm at Greek that sound good, and play good songs! We could call Island Bar and Grill in Farmington Hills. Saturdays 6 them a very successful top 40 bar band. Good enough till 10pm dinner show at Do Hickey’s Bar and Grill to play Vegas. Good enough to take the next steep, downtown Wyandotte Michigan - Say you read about it festivals, concerts and that elusive fame and success. HERE and get your second dinner 1/2 price! For more LMFAO-Party Rock Anthem. information or to hire Benny Solo or Benny and the Jets band for your club, party, or event call 313 730 1627 or Kaleido? Following the Romantic’s, White Strips, idea that a photo is worth a 1000 words, lead singer Christina find Benny and the Jets on FACEBOOK 50 Amp Fuse? Probably the biggest and most successful cover bands in town. They have really cornered the market on festivals and big events. They promote the “Your Generation” sound, playing music from the era. Every thing from Journey and Queen to Lady GaGa and Eminem.
Chriss and her pink hair has become one of Detroit’s most photographed bands. They have a reputation as a strong band, with more then good looks. Joan Jett would be a fan.
Howling Diablo’s? Maybe a shoulda, coulda, woulda, type band. They play mostly, if not all originals, which is tuff for a local band. They have become the long time kings of the eastside funk. Think J Geils with a sax! Thornetta Davis? Maybe a shoulda, coulda, woulda, too! Good enough to make you think, what does it take to hit the big time? They say it is a thin line between the bars and the stars, and that is very true here. You often see Thornetta and festival and casino gigs. People that don’t know, might thing she is already a big star. Think younger Aretha Franklin.
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Pistol Day Parade? This band is still a should. Not a coulda, as in could have, or woulda, as in would have. They really should, hit the big time. They have a couple of good songs, that have got regular play on WRIF. They seems super dedicated, willing to travail the world in search of that path to fame. In a era where so many stars are made, think American Idol, vs when people like Bob Seger, kind of worked and toured their way to the top. DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
ty stone
cont. on 28
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screaming KISS fans got exactly what they wanted, great music, an unbelievable stage show, a face full of blood and singed eyebrows. While I know that no true KISS fan would ever pass up a chance to see the real thing to see a tribute; I have to go on record and challenge you to compare and see if you can tell the difference. I promise that while the most hardcore of fans might, and I say might, be able to tell the difference, most people wont. And the ones who can tell the difference won’t care due to the overwhelming authenticity of the bands performance. Impressive. The entire show was a mind-blowing success. From Zombie to Kiss each band thoroughly portrayed their subjects. The end of the evening found me contemplating what it would cost to see the real KISS, OZZY, DIO and ZOMBIE bands all on one bill. My conclusion is it would be hundreds per ticket just to occupy some upper level seat and perhaps $8 per beverage. This night it was a short drive to Rocky’s Pub in Riverview and a $10 cover to experience a concert that will be talked about for years to come.
FRIDAY 11/15 DETROIT LIVE MAG PRESENTS SOLDIERS LAST BREATH CRADLE THE FALL & BLIND SEASON
TROLLFEST & GYPSYHAWK
Thanks to all the bands and fans for making this a spectacular night… can’t wait to see this show again!!!
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The Rikki Roxx Effect Secondly, you must discover your brand, this is where the whole package comes into play, and not just the song. You have to realize that although promoting the music is the most important goal, you must also realize that the band as a whole is a product, and with any product, the goal is to make the product as appealing as possible. The goal is to make the brand as exciting as possible so your fans are excited for both you AND your music.
By : Rikki Roxx
Facebook pages, they are given dozens if not hundreds of these a week, and like I mentioned earlier, your goal is to separate yourself from the heap. What goes into an effective press kit? It should contain your bands biography, including former bands that booking agents or promoters might know. Promotional photos are a must owners love collecting these, and of course include your song and contact information. Also throwing in some goodies such as a band t-shirt or a stickers, anything will be much appreciated by venue owners or booking agents.
Next month we will get into preparing for that first live performance, from stage set ups to a band image and Another obvious issue that you an individual image (my forte). So here we are three For the last couple months I have been discussing in must figure out from the get-go is to know your target months into this series on how to build a band and depth the proper way to start a band, and get the ball audience. This is an obvious key, but you would be we have yet to book our first show. This series should rolling in to give the best possible chance at making a surprised how many indie rock bands try to market have shown you that being in a band is more than just mark and having success. Now, before I get back into the themselves to a heavy metal demographic. This can be hopping on stage and playing songs, this is a business next step, I have to throw the obligatory disclaimer in as easy as figuring out the type of music you are actually and a product and should be treated as such. that everything I am saying in these articles is purely my creating, have it be grunge, rock, indie, metal, grindcore, opinion, and in no way guarantees any success. These or whatever. This is a very important step that will save So, with that said, do you agree with what I have been lessons I have learned during the last 15 years working you a lot of time and money in the future, and save jabbering about the last couple months? Or do you Detroit music scene have worked for other bands. In you from promoting and marketing your product to a think I am a pompous, milk crate preacher, you can hit addition some tactics I discuss are things that I have demographic that will not care, or who would not be me up at rikki@rikkiroxxeffect.com, or you can let me found a lot of bands have repeatedly done with horrid likely to be into what you have to offer. have it LIVE on air on The Rikki Roxx Effect Radio Show results. every Sunday from 7pm to 10pm on RawRadioX.com. Granted, we live in a culture of the internet, and we find In the last couple months, we discussed finding the most of our entertainment through mediums such as Either way, I am here for all you local Detroit musicians, right members for your project, and finding people with Facebook, YouTube and the like, bhere are other ways trying to help you avoid the years of trial and error that similar long term goals. Last month, we talked about that can must be implemented when promoting your I and many others have encounterd throughout our creating that ‘hit’ song that will define your band, your product. A good rule of thumb is to use each method carees. Take what I say with a grain of salt, or use it as ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ or your ‘Master Of Puppets’ as a tool, and never put all your eggs into one basket. your bible. Take bits and pieces and use it with what you and then recording it the proper way. Don’t do all your marketing and promoting only on think will work. Facebook, or only using Twitter. Again, these are all We discussed the vast differences in recording studios, tools that you can use in promoting your product, not Until next month, keep it real. from the demo factories that will record your song for the only tool. cheap, to the basement studios that can do a great job, to the all-in-one high dollar studios that will give you For years, the most that mainstream polished sound. effective way to promote any product has been We also discussed the job of the music producer and in person relationships. what their job consists of. Be it a passive “button People get off when they pusher” producer or the active “opinion oriented” can actually meet the producer that will critique your songs and suggest the people behind the music. changes the song needs to give it the best possible Imagine how you would chance for success. feel if you got to meet your favorite guitar player, or This month we will talk about the most highly contested favorite singer, people live and argued aspect of getting your band going in the for that type of interaction. right direction; The act of promoting and marketing your Granted, it involves more band as a brand and a product. Once you spend the effort to be personable, money on a quality recording, the next step is selling but it has proven time and your product and getting your sound in front of as many time again to be the most people and listeners as possible. There are countless effective way to get your methods of doing this from both online promotion and music into peoples hands. the almost extinct act of the street team, and everything Also, you never know who in between. This month we will talk about a few of the you might run into, or be most popular and most effective ways to market and introduced to, that person promote the product you spent all that money in the you talked to might be studio producing. the cousin of a Hollywood record executive, or Obviously the first thing you need to do is be sure that Aerosmiths tour manager. you are ready to put your first song out to the world. You’ll want to make sure that the song you choose to A next step, which is very put out first is going to be your calling card. If you put often overlooked in todays out a bad song, or a badly produced song, it can be very ‘online’ culture is the art of difficult to bounce back and have a ‘redo.’ a press kit. Yes, a physical press kit, this will most Ways to make sure the song you think is groundbreaking definitely set you apart is to ask professionals. A good rule of thumb is to from the herd when it record the track the best way you can, then send that comes time to finally set track to trusted and respected members of the music foot on that stage for the community, local, national and international. Once first time. Promoters, and approximately 60% of the people you send it to say booking agents rarely get that it is a good product to put out, take that as your go the physical press kits, ahead. Reason for this being is that producers and critics instead they are given will obviously be more critical than your fans. ReverbNation pages, or 14 LIVE DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
aren Hub bard B y: K Metal is far from dead in Detroit. Especially if you’re a fan of heavy hitting, yet darkly romantic tunes. With a year under their belt in the Detroit rock scene, My Perfect Nightmare is providing a musical dopamine you won’t be able to get enough of. This metal clad quad brings an enthusiastic yet deeply melodic style back to the D. Look no further if you want a non stylistic band in your mix.
Last month, Detroit Live sat down with Howi Spangler, J.R. Gregory and Scott Vandrey of Ballyhoo! when their current tour stopped in at The Magic Bag.
BALLYHOO
Jen Drewyore - Becxk
DL: This is my first Ballyhoo! show. What should I expect? Howi: Energy, fun, partyishtype of shit. Scott: Rockin’ reggae grooves with some punk rock influence JR: It’ll be a good time. Loud guitars, drums in your face, people yellin’, people drinkin’, people gettin’ kicked out. Howi: Sunday Funday.
DL:There are some serious topics discussed on your latest release, Marcus Mayhew (vocals), Josh Burdick (guitar/vocals), Earl Pineapple Grenade. Do you care to talk Adkins (bass), and John Webb (drums) bring a sound and about any of that? charisma that is second to none. Making a strong debut on Howi: I just like to write about real stuff. the 89X Homeboy Show in August 2012, they’ve proven to Stuff that happens to be going on and tell be a force to be reckoned with. With an eclectic sound and stories. I think that’s the best way to go, lyrics written straight from trials & tribulations in their own for me any way. It’s easier to connect to the lives; My Perfect Nightmare is bringing the sexy back in audience that way because they’re going Metal. through the same stuff. And I just get more and more comfortable talking about different In February 2013 they headlined the launch party for things. Bad shit like paying my bills or having RawRadioX.com; Detroit’s top indie radio station, horrible credit. People can relate to that. where they currently are the most requested and played band. Shortly to follow they placed 3rd in DL: What’s it like being on the road for such long Gorilla Music’s Detroit Battle of the Bands. They stretches, leaving your kids and loved ones at maintain their good standings on the 89X Homeboy home? Show, and have been played numerous times. Scott: Miss a lot of birthdays, a lot of births, weddings and all that shit. On October 26, 2013, “The Nightmare Begins” J.R.: Miss a lot of parties. Sporting events. EP debut party blew away every patron at Scott: Intramural sports. I miss intramural sports. We the Token Lounge in Westland. It was most can’t take part in that. We can’t be on a team. certainly living proof that their impeccable Howi. We’re our own team. talent is going to take them straight to J. R.: With a very big playing field. mainstream. The fans represented in epic proportions, and created a surge stronger DL: How’s the tour going? than any mosh pit at a mainstream show. Howi: We’ve played a lot places we’ve never really played before or places that we barely play. We’re playing places that With songs that hit hard and fast like we haven’t played in 5 years. It’s interesting because we go to “Think Twice” and “Get It Out”, this the bigger cities and stuff and we play a good show and some of fearsome foursome is sure to blow your the other ones, it’s hard to pull people out some times because mind. Don’t let their striking charm and we haven’t been there. And then it’s like, we still have some work sex appeal fool you, they’re about to to do. Keeps ya humble, that’s for sure. take over the Detroit Metal scene, J.R.: We need it! and headed straight to the top. DL: Listening to Pineapple Grenade, you can definitely hear the rock My Perfect Nightmare should be and the reggae. But it also kind of reminded me of the ‘80’s band considered a reintroduction to Madness. Talk about your influences. Detroit metal, and their EP is a Howi: Madness had a part in that for sure. All the videos on MTV. For must have to any collection. me, writing songs as a kid, I was like 12 or 13 when I You can find My Perfect wrote my first song and it Nightmare on Facebook, or was terrible. I just fell in love also on ReverbNation at with Green Day, everybody www.reverbnation.com/ fell in love with Green Day back myperfectnightmare. then. Just like 3 chords whatever, 4 chords, and just write about Every metal maniac needs being a kid. It eventually just kind to check them out. They of grew. And I found this band won’t leave you satisfied, called Goldfinger a year later. They’re My Perfect Nightmare a mix of ska and punk and reggae will leave you begging and I thought that was really cool. I’d for more. never really heard it before. Even with Bob Marley around all those years. It never really clicked on what it was and I was like, that sounds really cool. It took me a while to master the upstroke. It’s hard! Then I just kept writing stuff like that. We all have our influences. (Pointing to J.R.) I always tell people he sounds just like Dean DeLeo from Stone Temple Pilots, that rock bass playing. DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
DL: What’s coming up next? Scott: Well, morning TV tomorrow. Howi: Cleveland. We have our Halloween show on Friday in Baltimore. Scott: Cali Roots Carolina Sessions down in North Carolina. It’s a big festival, lot of big names on the scene, DirtyHeadz, Passafire... J.R.: Tribal Seeds Scott: We finish this tour up, go home for a little while, spend the holidays with our families then go out in January and February, take this tour that we’re on right now to the west coast. DL: What is success? Howi: When it comes to singles and things like that, what’s going to hit, what’s not, you never really know. You can try your best to make it happen, work with the best producer you can afford... I don’t know. Some bands just get that timing. Timing is a good word. There’s a lot of factors. For me there’s many successes. There’s small ones and there’s big ones. The small one is one person. You go from right here, writing a song, recording it, putting it out, playing a show in somebody’s town and then singing the song. We come to Detroit tonight, somebody’s going to be singing that cont. on 27
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FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH FROM TOUR BUS TO THE STAGE Article by Jonny Reinhardt
Lately, Five Finger Death Punch has been a buzzword in the mainstream metal world having been direct support for Rob Zombie at Mayhem Fest, finding time to record not one but TWO albums back to back, and planning a tour celebrating both releases! Phew! That’s some
Photos by Marc Nader
work, but “The fans and sold out crowds are keeping us inspired and fed full of energy” as bassist Chris Kael told me in a recent interview. He called me from his tour bus out on their third night of touring the country and he was very pleased with FFDP’s progress recently, boasting about working with Metal-God Rob Halford, Max Cavalera, Tech N9ne, and Maria Brink on the new album. “Man, it’s been great...this new album has made us happy. There isn’t a single dud track on there...it’s just a beast from start to finish!” Along with two albums worth of new material, they added a live cd as a bonus for all the “knuckleheads” out there. “I grew up mimicking ‘Kiss Alive 2’ in my bedroom as a kid and to put this out there for other kids practicing their guitar or bass to this album has been a real ‘full-circle’ moment for me, personally.” The Show: I was ready for a kickass metal show at The Fillmore Oct 8th, seeing them once before at Mayhem Fest in the lawn at DTE was “just a teaser for this tour” Chris said very sternly. “We’ve taken the huge set from Mayhem and transformed the entire set to be able to fit smaller venues, and its freaking cool.” He was right; The Fillmore stage was transformed into Heavy Metal Cathedral walls of skulls, guns, and brass knuckles. The best way to describe the entire show was just purely, METAL! Playing for the most packed show I’ve DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
been to at that venue drove the band as wild as they drove the crowd. The entirety of the ground floor turned into a mosh pit from the first note of “Under and over it” to the Encore of “The Bleeding”, I was loving what I was hearing. Fans screaming every word they could get out between beer chugs and head banging, metal chicks crowd surfing the entire show, and the never ending mosh pit in which singer Ivan Moody called “One of the best circle pits he’s seen” made up for the “tease” Chris Kael had discussed with me earlier. They TORE IT UP! If you don’t like these guys….You’re just OLD!!!
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FALL PREY, RAY STREET PARK, SUPERLAST AND THE RUINERS!
Rick Stafford -RSP
Amanda Jacob - Fall Prey
Mike Azuri Superlast
Ricky Ruineres - The Ruiners
DETROIT LIVE MAGAZINE 5 Year anniversary BLOWOUt Jeff Howey - RSP
On Oct.19
OCT. 19 ROCKY’S PUB RIVERVIEW
Over the last year we’ve seen a sharp increase in the amount of international readers of Detroit Live Magazine. Music fans in Great Britain, Indonesia, Russia, Norway, Japan, Brazil and many more countries are now enjoying Detroit Live Magazine on a regular basis. Combine international readership with the thousands of loyal local readers and Detroit Live is quickly becoming an influential worldwide media outlet.
th Detroit Live Magazine celebrated our 5 year anniversary at Rocky’s pub in Riverview. We were joined by Fall Prey, Ray Street Park, Superlast & The Ruiners and a few hundred close personal friends. We at Detroit Live would like to thank all the bands, musicians, fans, friends and readers of DL who have joined with us over the last five years to enjoy and enhance the Detroit music scene.
Thanks to our readers, advertisers and sponsors as well as the musicians for Southeastern Michigan for your continued support.
We are very excited as we enter this next year. We have many new projects that will launch
Nina Friday - The Ruiners
and look forward to contributing to the growth and acknowledgment of all of this areas many expressive talents, including art, film, theater and of course music and live performances. In the last year, readers may have noticed we’ve delved much more into coverage of national artists who perform in the Detroit area. The purpose for that is draw a much larger audience to the print and more importantly the online editions of Detroit Live where international readers can now explore the many diverse sounds of the motor city music scene and immediately purchase songs, merchandise and tickets to live performances. Throughout 2014 we at Detroit Live Magazine look forward to teaming up with local musicians and bands to create some of the areas most exciting live events. These events take place within the venues of our advertisers and frequently end up within the pages of DL print and online editions. 20 LIVE
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Mat Mathews and Eric DeJules- Fall Prey
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By Jeff Marzolf
Hold On Tight: The Ruiners Take You On
A Wild Ride By Jeff Marzolf
Photo Trevor Long
explores a range of musical styles, tied together in by leather, fuzz and psychedelic biker punk. The group purposely set out to break new musical ground while still retaining its raw, experimental artistry that is the band’s usual M.O. With this record, the band steps outside of its own alter-ego, and takes on another identity.
Hey! Quinten Tarantino. The Ruiners want to give you a heads-up. The soundtrack to your next movie is ready when you are. That’s right. Leave it to the creative likes of The Ruiners to conceive and record a movie soundtrack—for a flick that doesn’t exist. “Well, not yet. But you never know,” says a halfgrinning Rick Ruiner, co-founder and front man of the Detroit band. In keeping with the theme of, “Motorcycle Lazarus,” the band On October 25, New Fortune Records Detroit hosted the record release party on released The Ruiners much anticipated, “Motorcycle Friday, October 25, at the Jokers MC/ Lazarus and The Masters of Fire and Love.” It’s the DETROIT Chapter, located at 12727 Stout, band’s 7th full-length release since its debut in 1997. Detroit. Ruiner says, “What better place to “This record covers a lot of musical ground. It’s got a celebrate a record that features songs that non-linear quality, much like the films created by the glorify hyper-masculinity, chopper hippies and collaboration of Tarantino, Rodriguez and Meyer,” greaser gangs who burst from their graves on according to Ruiner. motorcycles ready for crazed adventure.” Ruiner himself collaborates with bandmates Nina Friday, (Vocals), Jerry Allen (Guitar), Rob Moon (Drums) and Justin Hall (Guitar), and new back-up vocalist Casey Tek, who Friday describes as her “partner in crime.” “These are some of the best musicians in Detroit,” says Ruiner proudly. Ruiner admits that it’s no easy task following his and
“Motorcycle Lazarus” is the follow-up to the band’s 2012 release, “Shake, Rattle and Moan.” Where songs from the latter were recorded mostly in one take in the studio, the band took a different approach with this recording. Ruiner describes “Motorcycle Lazarus” as being constructed like the musical equivalent of “Frankenstein.” The Rock n’ Roll monster that is “Motorcycle Lazarus” is an assembly of recordings done in a dark, dank basement and a greasy garage. The recording is littered with beer cans, burned out cars, black cloaks, and candles, dirty bikers and residual exhaust smoke. It’s taken two years to put all the parts together, but after one listen, there’s no denying that, “It’s alive!” While Ruiner spent most of his time on working on what he considers the band’s “Their Satanic Majesties Request” or “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” Friday kept herself busy by pursuing her love of art. Friday is a self-taught artist and musician, who was born Leningrad, U.S.S.R., which is now St. Petersburg, Russia. She’s never been back to Russia. “I love it here,” replied Friday with almost a sigh of relief when asked how she feels about Detroit.
Friday’s often unpredictable stage antics. Ruiner is referring to the fact that he may, for example, disappear into the audience, interacting with the throng of the band’s loyal fans. Ruiner adds, “There’ve been times when I’ve lost my mic in the crowd. But when I find it and then get back on stage, it’s like I never left. These guys don’t miss a beat.” That’s quite an accomplishment for a group of musicians who don’t practice together on a regular basis.
Coffin photos -AJ Kahn
The mission of the band for “Motorcycle Lazarus,” was to construct a movie themed soundtrack that
poster features the photogenic Friday in all her red-headed, stimulating glory. “It’s easy creating great art when you have Nina as the subject,” admits Ruiner. Ruiner credits his artistic influences to a number of American artists including Chris Burden, who specializes in performance, sculpture, and installation art as does Vito Acconci. Ruiner also acknowledges the work of Gustav Metzger, who is known for Auto-Destructive Art and the Art Strike, as the basis for his own “artistic sensibility.”
Destroying props on stage—once the trademark of the band, now takes a backseat to the music. Cofounding member and drummer Moon returned after an eight year hiatus because he preferred playing music over hauling piles, garbage, dirtbikes, props, baseball bats and appliances to shows. That’s not to say that the band has lost its edginess according to Ruiner. “We’re still very well-received The sense of relief is as a result of the fact that Friday by the audience. But our stage doesn’t resemble the local junkyard like it did when we started had to flee Russia to the United States in 1997 as performing,” Ruiner says with a laugh. a 19 year old to escape the same possible fate as her parents, who were tragically murdered in their Ruiner and his crew have heard rumors that the home country. “My art is inspired by my childhood new record will garner major label interest. But memories, old movies, bizarre things I’ve come across while antiquing, old photographs, the people he is cautiously optimistic because he’s heard the same rumor before. Regardless of whether or not that I’ve met, music, and seasonal changes,” said they land a deal that would give the band greater Friday. exposure around the country, Ruiner looks forward to performing the new songs and taking fans on a The artwork on the promotional poster for wild ride as only The Ruiners can do. “Motorcycle Lazarus,” is stunning as one would expect from Ruiner, who is an art professor by day. Catch The Ruiners live Saturday, Nov. 16, at Longhorn He created the eye-catching poster for the record Saloon, Toledo, OH with his friend and photographer A.J. Kahn. The
https://www.facebook.com/TheRuinersDetroit DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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Eric Harbadians
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 3 (Shout Factory! 82666313579): You all know Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, right? He had a string of solo hits in the early ‘90s like “Girlfriend” and “Sick of Myself.” And then there’s Susanna Hoffs who was the lead voice for, arguably, one of the biggest bands of the ‘80s, The Bangles. What they put together here is power pop magic! They have produced and starred in tributes to the ‘60s and ‘70s in previous volumes and their third installment focuses on the ‘80s. Sweet and Hoffs pull this all covers album off brilliantly because, let’s face it, they lived it! You’ve got hand-picked MTV and classic college rock radio gold from The Pretenders, Tom Petty, The Go Gos, The Smiths, Roxy Music and others. The production is lean and simple and leaves a lot of room for the duo’s artistry and talents for interpretation to fully shine through. A nice nostalgic trip with a kick! ### Amnesty International, Released! The Human Rights Concerts 1986-1998 ( Shout Factory! 826663-13562, DVD): The Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Amnesty International presented a series of legendary concerts between 1986 and 1998 to raise awareness and funds to support human rights struggles around the world. The origins of these global benefit concerts actually date back to the mid-‘70s, with U.K. comedy troupes like Monty Python. This led to 1979’s “Secret Policeman’s Ball” which brought in solo acoustic performances by the Who’s Pete Townshend in order to bring more young people into the human rights movement. Fast forward to the mid-‘80s where Amnesty International became a wellorganized machine and was attracting many diverse global music stars to perform at record-drawing shows. This 6-DVD box set features a multitude of stellar live performances from legends such as U2, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Page & Robert Plant, Lou Reed, Miles Davis, Joan Baez, Tracy Chapman and on and on! Besides four major concerts, companion material includes in-depth interviews with many of the stars that performed at these shows, back stage and behind-the-scenes footage, an animated film by David Byrne, Danny Elfman and others and Amnesty testimonials from prominent musicians and movie stars. There are over 12 hours of concert performances and over 5 hours of interviews and extras! And if this was not enough there is a companion 2 CD set of this album that is being released concurrently as well. According to the liner notes, net proceeds from this release will directly benefit the continuing work of Amnesty International. Needless to say, with the holidays approaching, this might be a great gift to consider. ### Dave Sharp’s Secret 7, Worlds (www.davesharp.com , Vortex Jazz Recordings): This is a Detroit-based project by way of Africa, Asia and many other great cultures of the modern world. Michigan bassist/multi-instrumentalist Dave Sharp has created an album that is a celebration of jazz and improvisational music in all its wonderful forms. Personal journeys to West Africa and associations with East Indian artists and jazz musicians in southeast Michigan and beyond creatively made this album a reality. The contributions from fans and patrons through Kickstarter and Indiegogo got the project funded. There are 10 tracks total, with three bonus takes of the very funky and signature piece “Nu Africa.” A rich cross-section of musical flavors is represented here such as ragas, swing, vocal chants and Middle Eastern 24 LIVE
rhythms. Joining Sharp on this exotic musical travelogue are Detroit mainstays like Chris Codish, Gary Schunk, Gayelynne McKinney and Evan Perri, along with a cast of indigenous players from around the world. This is an amazing record and a true testament to, not only the quality of the Detroit artistic community, but the universality and power of music period! ### Harper & Motor City Josh, Bare Bones (Blu Harp Records Blu Harp 002): Australia’s Peter Harper and Detroit’s own Josh Ford paired up to create a modern folk and blues masterpiece helmed by Ford himself in his Macomb County studio. Both artists have their own respective full-band ensembles but decided to work together after a chance meeting at a Flint, Michigan food bank fundraiser. The two cast their hectic individual touring schedules aside long enough to document this eclectic and cleverly conceived collection of modern blues classics. “Classics” might be a strong word but one would be hard pressed to hear more authentic slices of roots and Americana music than right here. Harper blows a mean harmonica and sings with a passion and clarity of thought that rivals anything from Muddy Waters to John Mayall. Motor City Josh plays superb guitar and his gritty vocal delivery matches perfectly with the Aussie. Of note are, most assuredly, fan favorites like “Pot Hole BBQ,” “Stop Staring at Your Phone” and the hopeful “Why Can’t We All Just Get Along.” What a great team that invests substantive, inventive and entertaining blues music, with fresh perspective! ### Danny D, Last Call (Vagabond Records, www.dannydlive.com ): Singer-songwriter Danny D has cut his musical teeth in a number of different directions as a straight up rocker, consummate Rod Stewart impersonator, entertainment entrepreneur, etc. Whenever he sets his sights on something he seems to do it well and with conviction. With his latest release he puts all his cards on the table and reveals one of his most poignant and down-to-earth portrayals yet. Along with collaborator Paul Warren, Danny delivers some of the best heartfelt and Americana-flavored rock one could hope for on the scene today. He opens with the ebullient “American Pride” and lets you know from the get go where his loyalty lies. It takes the sentiment of classic Woody Guthrie and filters it through the lens of a John Fogerty or John Mellencamp. You get the picture; it’s flag waving without the schmaltz! And then there are some terrific ballads like “Turned My Life Around” and “Friendship Never Dies.” These are songs that feature vivid stories performed by a guy that is a master painter of human emotion. The Jerry Jeff Walker-like “Searchin’ All My Life” and the tuneful Eric Carmen-flavored “I’ll Be There for You” are further evidence of his undeniable craftsmanship and purpose. Made in Detroit! ### --Eric Harabadian
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Lincoln Park’s ALL NEW
Blue Iguana Where community comes first!
w/ special guest
Jeremiah Furguson www.radiorebel.net/jeremiahferguson
When local entrepreneurs Natalie Shepherd and Ariane Spencer took over the Blue Iguana Bar on Fort Street in Lincoln Park this past August they had several goals in mind. The first being to change the feel of the bar by improving the menu and creating a more family friendly atmosphere, while still maintaining a fun weekend dance crowd. Ariane, “The look of the interior of the bar is beautiful, it reflects a modern Caribbean/Hispanic culture and we’ve had many compliments on the décor, but we really want to create a more inviting atmosphere during the day and a fun safe environment during the evening hours” In the last few months Ariane and Natalie have worked hard to accomplish that goal. A new cook, new menu items consisting of more authentic Hispanic foods and a new wait staff have gone a long way towards transforming the Blue Iguana. In addition they’ve added features like Comedy night on Tuesday, Latin nights with a Latin dance instructor. But the real change has come from the top down, changing Management has made all the difference. Ariane
and Natalie’s friendly outgoing personalities have permeated the bar and created an establishment that puts community first. This year they are sponsoring many community based outreach programs. One such program is their tradition of sponsoring a family during the holidays. This year, as is years past, one local family will get care packages of toys and necessities. Courtesy of the Blue Iguana, its patrons and staff. Says Ariane “This is something we’ve done in the past and we feel it’s so important to reach out and make an impact on our community” Stop into the Blue Iguana soon to check out the new menu, comedy nights, Latin night or stop in to make a charitable donation this holiday season to help out a local family.
3456 Fort Street, Lincoln Park
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ZZ Ward Packs The Fillmore BLAKE SHELTON / COUNTRY MUSIC FREAK
Review by Jenne Barnes Photo Marc Nader
Article by Jonny Reinhardt Photos by Marc Nader
I walked into St. Andrews Hall in Detroit for a ZZ Ward show the other night and I was surprised at the attending audience. I have never seen ZZ before and half expected to see the Hall full of teens. Quite the opposite; It was a large mix of middle- aged blue collar couples, some whom even brought their kids. There were a good number of what I call “Cougars” sporting ZZ’s trademark fedora’s hovering around the bar enjoying every cocktail offered while a number of 20- something’s held down the front row. The majority was the generation that still goes out and buys the music they love from the store instead of obtaining it in a growing digital fashion. After my fan analysis was complete I concluded that ZZ Ward must be something special to attract this full capacity crowd. My hunch was right as the place exploded with cheers as ZZ took the stage. She has a small “girl next door” look but from the first note her talent made her seem 7 feet tall. ZZ’s music is catchy and upbeat with a pop-rock bluesy feel. Her voice has a good ole’ blue-eyed soul tone that separates pop singers from true artists. She has the glamour of the big pop star but is far too musically gifted to just be that! She mentioned this was her last show on her tour but the energy Detroit fans presented was that of a Hollywood debut. With so many fans singing along and the crispness in her performance being almost “too perfect” I thought that maybe she was using backing tracks for vocals and/or guitar since she was dancing so much while performing. Of course I had to verify my suspicions; so I pushed my way towards the front of the stage, stepping on mustached men’s’ toes while climbing over cougar’s to reach the press pit area and low and behold I was WRONG! I could hear her singing first hand and it was the song “Crying Wolf” which had such a catchy chorus that EVEN I started singing along “Ohh Whoa ohh go on and cry boy!” Those fans I had inconvenienced on my quest to the front were now all dancing and singing with me. ZZ could see this celebration and could hardly keep her professional composure as she started laughing with us mid-song! Singer, song writer, guitarist, ZZ Ward is the whole package and after seeing her for the first time she has made her way onto my playlist as well as into my heart. What a fun show, get out and see the music!
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Saturday September 28th, The Palace of Auburn Hills was packed with self proclaimed hillbillies, rednecks and country music freaks waiting to rock out country style with Blake Shelton. The county music sensation and judge of the NBC hit show the “Voice” is selling out venues nation wide with his 2013 “Ten Times Crazier Tour,” Blake’s first headlining show. Speaking to the fans about how nervous he was with such a huge crowd and being in Detroit, he shared his way of settling down, have a drink! The artist reminded everyone that he brought his big ass here for two reasons, to sing country music and drink. Tipping his glass back the band started in with a song from his 2011 album, “The More I Drink.” As the show progressed Shelton shared his sense of humor with fans turning away from the crowd and slipping on a white cowboy hat complete with an attached mullet. Blake admired his long locks flipping it from side to side and saying “everyone had one of these when I first started.” With his flash back hair style, Shelton broke into his hit “Some Beach” all the while grinning and shaking the hands of adoring front row fans. Blake kept the crowd on their feet bringing back some of his earlier career hits weaving in his latest album. Although the music style was different, the fans love and support remains continuous. Holding the microphone out to the crowd, new or old, the fans knew all the words to the songs that were preformed. Blake even turned a large venue like the Palace into an intimate night club feel with his spot light acoustic set. Blake shared two songs under the single white light. His guitar in hand and velvet smooth vocals he brought us all to a place that he holds dear. Playing “Over You”, a song co written with wife Miranda Lambert and “Austin” took this giant production and made it personal with his fans. “Enough sadness” he stated as he stood to switch gears. Once again he took the crowd in his hands back to a redneck way of life. Singing and sippin that sweet drink from is solo cup Blake belted out many more crowd favorites. “Ol Red,” “Hillbilly Bone,” “Kiss My Country Ass” and ‘Who are You When I’m Not Looking.” With lighters being a thing of the past, what are we to do when an artist performs a ballad? Well as any good country music freak would do, you turn on your cell phone LED light! The Palace was a glowing room of fire flies swaying as Shelton performed “Home”. The energy was amazing and with the powerful performance it is sure to be one of the highlights of the night. Ice cold beer, girls and a truck, ending the night with the crowd favorite “Boys Round Here”. Blake had captured the spirit of the country music freak, which is how he referred to his fans through out the night. Withsuch and energetic non stop show the fans were eager for more of Blake Shelton’s charismatic ways. With unending cheers it wasn’t long before he stepped back on stage for a double encore. “Footloose” and “God Gave Me You” took his Detroit visit to an epic end.
Upon exiting the Palace you could hear fans attempting their own version of Blake’s performances as they walked to there vehicles. Radios of passing cars rang out with various songs from the nights echos as the passengers sang along. To say the least, he had captured redneck hillbillies for years to come, his job here was done. Until next time Mr. Blake Shelton. DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
local film
Ballyhoo - cont. From 15 song. That’s success. But we just need that to happen a thousand more times. J.R.: Everything times a thousand! Howi: That’s how you measure success. DL:How much of this is just for you? Howi: Well, writing a song, that’s for me. But when you put it out, it’s like like giving it to everybody because these people need that. People need music. They’re coming up to us all the time and saying like, “Oh my God, that song makes me feel so great!” and that’s huge. I feel like we’re contributing. Brighten some days out there. DL: Any stories about Detroit? Scott: The Old Miami. With Rude Buddha and 33 West. The first day that 33 West got on the tour was in Detroit and we played wiffle ball in the parking lot. And since being in Detroit many times since then (Scott’s girlfriend is from Detroit), we’ve specifically driven past The Old Miami just to look at it and we’re like, “Yeah, we played there seven years ago.” It’s kind of a sketchy neighborhood. There’s like 15 dudes just in the parking lot playing wiffle ball for like 5 hours before the show. Howi: It’s so wrong looking back because we parked our vans and put a tarp over it. It’s rainy and it’s cold. We’re sitting out there and cooking a big can of beans. And there’s homeless dudes just walking around like those zombies in The Walking Dead around the prison, ya know, trying to get in. We were like inside the prison looking out. And they’re like (zombie voice) “Beans! Beans!” Scott: And that show, we played for the bartender and the promoter and the other bands. Howi: I counted like 3 people. Like the bartender and 2 friends, the owner and 2 friends. There was a 3 day span we played the outskirts of Chicago, played here and then drove back to Chicago. We didn’t get paid any of those days. There was one day we got paid $5 dollars for a show in Rhode Island. They paid us 15 bucks. There was 3 bands. Scott: Each band got a 5 dollar bill. That was a rough tour. That was our first tour ever. We learned a lot the hard way. Howi: No one’s ever told us anything. We just figured it all out on our own. Scott: I’m going to write a book, here’s how you start a touring band and here’s how you start touring. I’m going to write that book. Call it “The Hard Way.” DL: Anything else? J.R.: Don’t burn your pancakes. Ballyhoo!’s latest release, Pineapple Grenade, is available on iTunes, Amazon and at your favorite record store.
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THEATRE BIZARRE: FALLING FROM THE TIGHTROPE Vivid. Wild. Crazy. Such words have been used by others to describe my imagination for as long as I can remember. I know others with minds like mine. We are aware of the tightrope edge that we balance on with our daring thoughts. We are aware when the desire to lose that balance overcomes us and we free fall from that tightrope beyond the realm of imagination, into the world where color is more saturated, where music intoxifies the spirit, where our senses reach out and return satisfied. In this world the limitations of the mind and body do not exist and we have no identity. We become experience and sensation. This is the world of the bizarre.
Article by Lisa Joy Adams (The Raven) Photo’s by Marc Nader
mentioning here, but it was constantly happening figuratively and quite literally. I am convinced if one becomes bored at Theatre Bizarre; one has become dead at Theatre Bizarre. People with unchained minds and uninhibited imaginations who fearlessly express who they are excite me, and just watching them entertains me. Every pair of elevator doors that opened were like stage curtains opening introducing a sensational new cast of costumed characters on opening night. Some characters were so theatrically exquisite; I circled them assessing each detail in case I might need it later. Some were so explosively unique I simply stared with my puzzled raven bird face then searched the eyes of my character friend for a morsel of enlightenment. The exterior of Masonic Temple was veiled in Once I understood I was looking at a grape that secrets. There were no flashing lights or giant signs went to the beach, fell asleep on its side and attracting the uninvited, the underground knows became half raisin, my inner peace returned and the intended ones and they were recognized and Graisin and I danced happily together. welcomed at the door. Disguised as the Raven of Death, I entered the beckoning Temple. Acutely My face met the thigh of the 7 foot tall Grim Reaper aware of my virginity as an attendee of Theatre who had obviously already cast a shadow upon Bizarre, I ruffled my black feathers as a warning and an invitation to the hundreds of masked eyes that glanced into mine. I glanced back but focused only on one eye, The Eye. The Eye of Zombo. The Eye of obsession and the obsessed. The Eye did not return my gaze; it focused directly into my untamed mind, which caused a rush of warmth inside of me and instant vertigo. I knew behind The Eye an enticing universe was breathing and I inhaled deeply to breathe in sync with its respirations and become immersed in the intrigue that surrounded me. The Temple held 7 floors of mystery, each floor its own wild, unexplored kingdom and culture. Each floor, identifiable by its music, was laced with spectacular entertainers, exhibitionists, fetishers, and its lingering voyeurs. There were peepshows, bearded lady acrobats, those who swallowed, danced with and spun fire, human suspension artists, burlesque dance, and classic striptease blended with some very modern revisions. The list of entertainment far surpasses what I am 28 LIVE
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the Animal Woman who wore actual turkey feet, horns, bones and rodent skulls in her elaborate headdress. The very old dead bodies of many circus and sideshow performers must have been disturbed by the intense energy of the Hunter’s full moon on Saturday night, and the atmosphere within the Temple far too familiar and tempting to resist revisiting. Many circus folk popped over from the other side, dressed in vintage circus attire, which curiously on some bodies did not decompose as rapidly as the skeletal remains that were wearing them. Every soul I encountered that was twirling, peering, shaking, dancing, peeping, swinging, blazing, teasing, spinning, spying and laughing did so with the composure and elegance that is trademark to those who are aware of the tightrope edge they balance on with their daring thoughts. They, like me love to lose that balance and free fall from that rope beyond the realm of imagination into the world of the experience and the sensation. What better place to land but into the glorious world of the Theatre Bizarre.
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Photos by Marc Nader
Story by Jonny Reinhardt
Korn packed The Fillmore full while D.C. shut the government down. Many are calling this period of financial ruin and unprecedented natural disasters a ‘Paradigm Shift’ and what better way to kick off an album of the same title by rocking out in the brokest city while our broke country shuts itself down! My evening with Korn was a much welcomed blast from the past. I’ve heard critics say that Korn has gone digital, lending a heavy touch to a few tracks thick with the Dubstep phenomena that is still somehow sweeping the country. But for this show they stripped down elaborate stage props and gadgets and welcomed back Brian “Head” Welch back to the lineup to give us a more personal feeling with a plug in and rock out from the first ride cymbal roll to open ‘Blind’. I was brought back to the late 90’s and my “rebel against my stepdad” days jumping around with everyone while screaming the lyrics. The entirety of the main floor instantly became a mosh pit with its focal point in the center. I don’t think the security crew knew what they were in for! Jonathan played the bagpipes for ‘Shoots and Ladder’. Always unique and crushing as the band chimes in to heavy metal nursery rhymes. Head and Munky had themselves a little duel showing off a little bit of skills ending with a riff contest. Head won with “Lay it Down”…what an 80’s nut! Shortly after that, Jonathan came out to rev up the crowd with middle fingers for “Ya’ll wanna Single” as Detroit delivered and seemed to overwhelm the band at times with their energy. I remember being showered with beer during that song for no one was standing still and mayhem had struck the main floor. People were flying, tripping, falling, jumping, and not giving a F*ck! I believe that is exactly what we all wanted. Instead of being caught up in flashy stage props and acts, the VIP section was caught behind a jail cell type of cage behind the drums for the entire show! “LOCK UP THE RICH!” is the message I received from that. It didn’t look much fun and probably sounded like crap. I saw Vince Bommarito from Detroit metal band Hell Rides North in that cage as well…so maybe not all “rich”. (He’s married!) After playing 14 songs of blood, sweat, and fear, the band left with “Goodbye Cruel World” only to come back out for 3 more. At this point in the show many left the ever-going mosh pit to higher grounds of safety. Which gave me the headway to push up to the front to rock out “Got the Life” right up against the security with bodies falling overhead. IT WAS AWESOME! I was literally 6 feet from the band and could hear Jonathan directly instead of the speakers with the opening words of the closing song to suit all of us ‘freaks’ and it’s not a Korn show unless there’s “Freak on a Leash” and to be honest, I was so caught up in the energy that the song had skipped my mind until Jonathan sang the words, clear as I remember them in 6th grade. Korn has stood the test of time against most other Nu-Metal bands from the 90’s and they’re not slowing down by what I seen on that stage. 5 guys, playing their songs as best as they can while we all just absorb the magic! Now get out and see the music!
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SPIRITUAL HOROSCOPE Spiritual Horoscope for November by Aluna Michaels, M.A.
is forming in your relationship, or you can meet a new person with whom bonding feels safe.
Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21) – Happy birthday Scorpio! This is a wonderful year for meditation and development of intuition. This month Mercury, Jupiter and Neptune are all combining to help you feel centered, serene and poised – even about difficult issues. Relationships will be smoother. You can even start a very romantic new partnership, or your current one will feel like a “second honeymoon”!
Cancer (June 21 – July 22) – You can be starting a new relationship – or vastly improving your current one. Meditation shows what directions to move in so you can be your authentic self and bond more deeply. Incorporating spiritual activities together will help build a fulfilling foundation. Single or partnered, make a list qualities of your ideal partner – and a list of how you can be an ideal partner. Ponder it, adjust it, and seek to manifest it!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21) – It’s time to clear up financial issues. Whether dealing with debt, or needing to learn money-management skills, you can bravely move ahead and gain confidence -- end up feeling way more prosperous than you did with the chaos! Also clean and organize your home, since physical clutter can clog the flow of finances. Make sure to have a serene place for your meditation so you can stay spiritual centered!
Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22) – Pay close attention to dreams, and also intuitions that jump into your mind. The Universe wants you to heal issues of trust regarding sexuality, finances and spiritual surrender. Meditate on letting go of control. Trust that there is a guiding force and it’s safe to blend and surrender. You’ll have clarity about healing relationship problems – and issues of debt or overspending. You’ll also feel safer connecting with God, whatever you feel God is. By releasing 3rd dimensional personality issues, you gain 4th dimensional soul power!
Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19) – Venus, the planet of love and fulfillment, is in your sign for a prolonged stay! You can start a new relationship, or solve problems in a current partnership so you can appreciate each other anew. You can also meet new friends who are interested in the spiritual path. See if you can meditate together and support each other in higher goals. It’s also good to ponder what keeps you from feeling fully happy and rid yourself of that negative subconscious programming! Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18) – You’ll have lots of breakthroughs at work and feel much more successful! Financial issues can clear up. Meditate on ways you can keep your serenity throughout your life – ways to stay above the drama! This gives more energy for creativity, prosperity, good health and happy relationships. It’s also a good time to re-vamp your diet. Don’t be stuck in a food rut, since new meals bring new minerals and new levels of energy!
Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22) – Difficulties or misunderstandings in relationships clear up! You’ll probably see you’re actually each other’s ideal partner, but your egos were in the way, blocking that truth. If single, you’ll see yourself more clearly and feel confident of what you have to offer. Also, re-connect with old friends – it’s amazing how much love and support is still there! Keep meditating on positive affirmations and watch them come true! Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22) – You’ll have insights into how thoughts impact your physical health and mental serenity. Are you addicted to the drama of indecision? Think of the Libra scales moving up and down. Meditate on staying balanced, even when life is chaotic and there are choices to make. Train yourself to identify with the fulcrum of the scale. You are the still center point. You are not the scale’s vacillating edges! This perspective will change your life!
Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20) – Neptune is your ruling planet and moves direct this month! This offers clarity about boundary issues, as well as ways to be more assertive and get your needs met! You can have breakthroughs with work or relationships – and also overcome addictions. Your connection with others will deepen because you’re revealing your authentic self. Your soul is victorious over the little pesky personality! Aluna You’ll feel your soul power – which is gentle but strong Michaels is – in all areas of your life! a secondgeneration Aries (March 21 – April 19) – Dreams and astrologer and meditations become more profound as you make an Soul Evolutionist effort to connect with deeper parts of yourself. Make practitioner. the time because life becomes so much easier and She also holds you’ll be successful in an effortless way! Family issues a Masters can resolve, even if they’re longstanding, mostly due in Spiritual to your inner guidance. There’s also good work karma Counseling afoot – maybe a raise, or having a wonderful new and has been colleague that makes your job a pleasure! teaching and consulting for Taurus (April 20 – May 20) – Mercury more than two moves direct and helps clear any relationship decades. Her misunderstandings. If you’ve been meditating together, book “Spiritual instead of misunderstandings, you’ve been developing Gifts of the 12 more intimacy, and you’ll reap the benefits of that! Astrological It’s also a great time to continue to dwell on positive Signs” is now affirmations and creative visualization. You’ll be able to on Amazon in manifest these changes because of your loving energy Kindle version. field. Ms. Michaels is available for appointments Gemini (May 21 – June 20) – Many positive changes can happen at work – especially if you’re able in her home or by phone. Call to bring your spiritual mindset to the office. It’s easy to be spiritual while meditating, at yoga or with a dear (248) 583-1663 friend, but living it out in “mundane” circumstances is or visit www. the challenge! Yet, if you can do it, even just a smidge, alunamichaels. you’ll set exciting changes in motion. Also, deeper trust com 30 LIVE DETROITLIVEMAGAZINE.COM
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