MOG - yarrr's Posts

FREE Detroit Festival: George Clinton, The Zombies, Calexico, De La Soul, Broken Social Scene, Seun Kuti Headline

yarrr — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:53:29 GMT

The music line-up for the 2008 Comerica Cityfest (formerly Comerica Tastefest) is firming up with most of the 60 acts now confirmed for the July 2-6 schedule. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Comerica Cityfest, and its tradition of presenting some of the best free concerts anywhere, will continue over the 4th of July weekend on the following four stages in Detroit’s Historic New Center: The Motor City Casino Stage (presented by The Detroit News), The Pure Detroit Stage (presented by Real Detroit Weekly), The Grand Boulevard Jazz and Blues Stage, and the New Center Council Park Stage (presented by Metro Times).

Headliners on the Motor City Casino Stage include Grammy winning New York MC’s De La Soul, funk originator and international superstar George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic, Canadian indie pop collective (and Juno award winners) Broken Social Scene, New Orleans’ favorite sons The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, emerging songbirds (and sisters) Aly and AJ, sun-bleached Arizonan troubadours and festival favorites Calexico, 60’s pop innovators The Zombies, and Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, who will lead his father’s legendary band, Egypt 80.

The Grand Boulevard Jazz and Blues Stage will once again feature stellar local and national acts who are sure to delight the dedicated Cityfest jazz and blues audience : artists include the sweet soul harmonies of Ultimate Ovation, Detroit's own diva of soul and blues Thornetta Davis, Austin Texas favorite latin funk orchestra Grupo Fantasma, anointed singing from Kidz of the Kingdom and the Perfecting Church Mass Choir, musical adventurers the Oblivion Project presenting the nuevo tango music of Astor Piazzolla, the tight swinging world jazz beats of NOMO, acid jazz veterans Jazzhead, new jazz rock fusion guitarist Mikhal Caldwell Trio, the blue eyed-soul stylings of Stewart Franke and the Regular Boys, the swinging little big band Planet D Nonet with Detroit’s Queen of Blues Alberta Adams, Organic Trio, Scott Gwinnell Group, singer, songwriter and stylist Jo Serrapere and the Willie Dunns, and acclaimed trumpeter Rayse Biggs and friends.

The Pure Detroit Stage legacy will continue by showcasing some of Detroit’s best and brightest rock, soul, hip hop and electronica artists with a few national acts added for maximum flavor. Acts currently booked include a full day showcase hosted by the effervescent performer Monica Blaire. Her Detroit Groove Gumbo will showcase poet Khary Kimani Turner, reggae sensation Ras Kente’s Take no Prisoners Posse, DJ’s DEZ and Mike “Agent X” Clark, Silent Riot Allstars, Orthea Barnes and a special closing Live/DJ set by the legendary Underground Resistance.

For those about to rock, the Pure Detroit Stage presents guitar wiz Cetan Clawson, Zoos of Berlin, The Dead Bodies, SSM, Deastro, Bump, The Amino Acids, Thunderbirds are Now!, Grayling, Silent Years and recent reality show (The Next Great American Band) celebrities The Muggs. Also appearing will be LA based rock band The Strays known for their riveting performances and post punk/mod rock recordings. And for good measure, Paxahau (Producers of Detroit’s Movement Festival) will present King Britt of Digable Planets and eclectic Philly production fame. King Britt’s DJ set tore it up at last year’s Movement, and this will be his first Detroit play since then. Detroit’s own Ryan Elliot will open.

The New Center Council Park Stage will once again feature Detroit’s best folk and indie rock bands, along with some others who defy categorization. Hosted by Detroit’s glam-rock-art impresario Stirling for the fifth straight year, this stage has become a festival favorite. Confirmed acts include Detroit’s alt-country pioneers the Volebeats, guitar driven indie rockers Apt. 4, Ann Arbor naturalists Great Lakes Myth Society, new and refreshing female fronted trio from Ypsilanti Lightening Love, the working class country rock and “real deal” from downriver Doop and the Inside Outlaws, Patrick O’Brian, Danny Dollrod’s new project The Readies, the atmospheric pedal steel stories of American Mars, the broke down country of Shotgun Wedding fronted by Eddie Baranek of the Sights, garage heavies The Hentchmen, and Magic Shop, the brand new band featuring Steve Nawara of Detroit Cobras fame with much more to be announced in the coming weeks.

For 20 years, Comerica Cityfest has drawn patrons of all ages and tastes to enjoy a wide variety of free music performances that regularly play top ticketed festivals throughout the country such as Summerfest, Coachella, Bonnaroo, and Lollapalooza. Recent years have seen the likes of Wilco, Jet, Cat Power, Spoon, Ray Davies, Mavis Staples, Weird Al, Lupe Fiasco, Cheap Trick, The New York Dolls, Common, Kings of Leon, All American Rejects, Cake, The New Pornographers and Buddy Guy.

The music and entertainment at Comerica Cityfest is always free, but the public is reminded that food and beverage purchases from our 40 Detroit area restaurants support the free programming. So come hungry and be ready for some of the best free shows anywhere.

Festival-goers will have more time to experience all that Comerica Cityfest 2008 has to offer this year with its new extended hours. The festival will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

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My New Favorite Podcast

yarrr — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:00:24 GMT

The SPAG Show

Iggy on Kimmel

yarrr — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:08:26 GMT

Are you kidding me?! Granted, I'm too young to have seen Iggy Pop and/or the Stooges in their prime, but I live in Detroit so I am surrounded by tales of the old times; anyone who is into music knows the history of Iggy Pop, knows the revolutionary ideas the Stooges represented..... I haven't liked what I've heard from the new record, but it's not bad- just overproduced, watered down versions of old Stooges songs basically, with slightly tamer lyrics. But that doesn't mean I've stopped liking the band - they're legends! Tonight, though, my faith in rock was shaken more than ever. There he was, awkwardly squirming around on an outdoor stage to a slow-ish song with too much sax, and surrounding him on all sides is a huge sign advertising "Pontiac Garage"! Gross. I turned the TV off and came here to wallow. I'm not longing for the past or mourning the death of anything, and yes I know Iggy has sold out in the past as well, but I just always thought at least the Stooges name could remain unsullied, that the name could still hold at least a teency bit of integrity in the present. I guess that dream has died. Weirdness doesn't even begin to describe....

Back To Happy: Jimmy Martin

yarrr — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:43:24 GMT

I had to counterbalance my self-important previous post. This is a f*cking great old bluegrass tune, performed live by the great Jimmy Martin.

Necessary Evil: The Music Business

yarrr — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:38:04 GMT

For those of us who got into the music business out of necessity, it can be an evil beast. I myself play drums, a little piano, and used to even sing in the church choir when I was very young and didn't know any better. I was even a marching band geek and a music major in college (until I decided that practicing four-mallet marimba five hours a day so I could be an underpaid band director didn't make me happy). I never felt the drive to become a full-time touring rock star, but I was addicted to going to see those who did, and eventually made friends with some of them. I decided that after school, if I couldn't be surrounded by music for the rest of my life, I wouldn't be happy. I didn't want to do anything else at all ever for a living.

I never took business classes and never fancied myself a super-competitive person. I just love helping musicians and record labels who are truly dedicated to putting out great music, and there are lots of people like that out there. However, because it is a BUSINESS, there are lots of people who couldn't care less about the quality of the music. They want a product, something they can easily sell to the masses. These people have taken over SXSW. My first year in Austin was, as far as I know, the beginning of the end. Now, as a self-employed flack, I do not bother to spend $500 on a badge; I spend lots of money putting on fun parties, so I'd rather just spend cash for the night shows and skip the convention center altogether. Last year, I had no problem doing this - I don't go to the big "buzz" shows anyway, so I usually don't have to stand in lines. This year, though, I tried to go to a relatively small venue on 6th St that was not even full to capacity, and was turned away; I was told "Only badges and wristbands after 8:30." I wonder, the people who put this showcase on... did they know that people were being turned away? Paying customers?

We all know it's not an unsigned band haven like it used to be, but now regular joes or broke indie industry folks can't even pay hard-earned cash to get in showcases with plenty of room for more people? That's just depressing. SXSW is the only time of the year I see all the talented writers that I deal with on a daily basis. Face-to-face: the best way to do business, right? I apologize for the downer post- usually I'll just gloat over my new favorite band, but since SXSW is so fresh in a lot of our minds and I'm sitting at home with the infamous post-SXSW cold and missing my beloved Honky Tonk Tuesday at The Belmont, I felt the need to write about it. None of my bitching really matters, though- I'm sure next year I'll be back again, throwing another day party and drinking too much Shiner Bock and top-shelf margaritas. I can't help it- it's irresistible!!!

SXSW Pirate Elvis Party from Y!PR and Latest Flame- FREE!

yarrr — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 19:31:06 GMT

If you're going to be in Austin for SXSW, stop by Treasure Island at 413 E 6th St, on Wednesday, March 14 from 1 to 6 PM. Everyone is invited and there will be lots of free stuff. The band line-up is fan-freaking-tastic! First up, NYC's Looker (recently included in David Fricke's "Picks"), followed by That Handsome Devil (check out 'Elephant Bones' on Guitar Hero 2), Minmae (incredible Portland folk-ish rockers), Heligoats (Chris from Troubled Hubble), 1986 (Austin-via-NYC), and finally the king dorks themselves, The Slats, who will rock your bum off. See you there! Come say hi! (ps Skull Time had to cancel so ignore the poster's line-up)

Clemente

yarrr — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:06:36 GMT

This song is so beautiful; it's also very sad....

You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd

yarrr — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:26:59 GMT

I am officially obsessed with Roger Miller. I have been on a quest to discover/absorb his songs and his life for the past couple of years now, but now that I have the box set I can't stop listening. It's a sickness, just like my Big Lebowski addiction. Every time I listen to or read about Roger Miller, I discover some new little tid bit that amazes and delights me. I guess it's safer than heroin....

LOOKER

yarrr — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:52:28 GMT

Ok - so yes I have a tendency to write about my clients. Well, that's the upside/downside of only working with bands I really love. So now you're going to hear about a band I'm totally and completely in love with that is NOT paying me - LOOKER! They are out of New York and it's just such a great sound. I listen to everything from bluegrass to hip-hop, but punk music with a good melody gets me every time. It really does. Especially when it's played with balls, and I mean that metophorically, as 3/4ths of Looker is girls. Anyway, go listen. They are so freaking good. myspace.com/looker

GO SEE THE SLATS!

yarrr — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:49:06 GMT

The Slats are taking over the world so just accept it. myspace.com/theslats

1986 rule

yarrr — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:45:56 GMT

1986 play one of the loudest live shows you will see by a trio. You have to see them live - they RULE! See them on tour right now! myspace.com1986music