SXSW TO PRESENT A DETROIT RAP SPECTACULAR...

Detroit hip-hop will be making a big splash in Austin next week at the 2010 South By Southwest festival via a "Detroit Hip-Hop" showcase being curated by our own mighty Invincible (who is also curating a "Women in Hip-Hop Showcase and will be performing at both events. Slum Village will be headlining the Detroit showcase,  the legendary collective's first-ever SXSW appearance, along with 11 other local rappers, including Black Milk and Ro Spit, among others.

The complete lineup is as follows:

Thursday, March 18. Victory Grill, 1104 E 11th St, Austin, TX.

1:15 a.m. - 1:50 a.m. - Slum Village
12:45 a.m. - 1:05 a.m. - Black Milk
12:20 a.m. - 12:35 a.m. - Finale
12:00 a.m. - 12:15 a.m. - Invincible
11:35 p.m. - 11:55 p.m. - Monica Blaire
11:10 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. -Vaughan T feat. Crown Royale
10:45 p.m. - 11:05 p.m. - Miz Korona
10:20 p.m. - 10:40 p.m. - Marv Won
9:55 p.m. - 10:15 p.m. - Ro Spit
9:30 p.m. - 9:50 p.m. - Mae Day
9:05 p.m. - 9:25 p.m. - Now On
8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and between sets - Houseshoes & 14KT

GERI ALLEN SALUTES CECIL, MCCOY AND HERBIE IN FREE SHOW

Geri Allen's new album, Flying Toward the Sound (Motema), isn't officially released until Tuesday, March 9, but you can get a preview for free (with a suggested $5 museum admission) on Monday. Better yet, it's a live performance accompanied by a short film by the pioneering Carrie Mae Weems.
The music, underwritten by a 2008-2009 Guggenheim Fellowship is a "solo piano excursion" that salutes three of Allen's piano inspirations and influences: Cecil Taylor, McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock. But rather than outright references to the three, it's a work that shows how they've been absorbed into Allen's own piano language in a work that brings out her lush, impressionistic side.
For a look at what the collaboration between Allen, currently a U-M prof, and Weems is about, check out this video about the making of the project.
The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Monday in the apse of the University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 South State Street, Ann Arbor; 734-764-0395; umma.umich.edu.

MUSIC & ART BENEFIT FOR FERNCARE THIS WEEKEND...

You can bet the war criminal with the bad ticker is getting quality health care today -- but the rest of us aren't so lucky. People without health insurance often need to rely on free clinics like Ferncare in, duh, Ferndale. There's a music and art benefit for the facility this weekend at the Phoenx Cafe in Ferndale, featuring Duende!, Old Empire, the Crooks and a whole slew of local musos and work by fine artists. Drop by if you can...or donate a few bucks even if you can't attend. It's a very worthy cause. Someday, future generations will look back at a society that allowed evil corporations to obscenely profit on people's illness, pain and suffering with the same kind of disgust we now have when looking back at a society that allowed people to actually own other human beings as personal property.

TROY GREGORY'S STRANGE DETROIT-CENTRIC FILM

We're still two-and-a-half weeks out from this but felt it was worth mentioning now so it doesn't get lost in the upcoming Blowout shuffle.

Local jack of all musical trades (and Dirtbombs bassist) Troy Gregory will be presenting World War Love -- a film he wrote and directed and has been working on for years -- at Cliff Bell's downtown on Sunday, March 14th, at 10 p.m. The film features a hodge-podge of local (and formerly local) musicians, gadflies and rock luminaries, ranging from Mick Collins and the late Nathaniel Mayer to Tony Muggs, Eugene Strobe, music scribe Jeff Milo and punk musician Kyle McBee. And, of course, Kim Fowley as The Shadow of Love!

The flick is described as "a dark comedy about three Detroit musicians returning to frazzled home lives in a world of masks and the self imposed drama of temporary realities. Teri Lynn has hit the limit with her neurotic party girl roommate. Perhaps the guy she met at the record store could take her away from this insanity. But will his obsession with the role playing game Unicorn Disease totally turn her off? Mary Alice needing some serenity time to work on her shadow puppets is disrupted by the sudden appearance of her eccentric sister that disappeared eleven years ago into a cave with a map from the hollow earth society. Who will be severely beaten? Troy Gregory plays with imaginary friends and stays drunk to avoid every aspect of a reality that terrifies him. Is it the end of the world? Again?"

Sound weird enough for you? Hey, it's gotta be at least as good as that recent ICP flick! An entire cast list and a trailer for the film is below:

WORLD WAR LOVE

Starring
Troy Gregory and The Stepsisters

Co- starring
Annie Paras
Todd Gregory
Aphrodite Nikolovski
Mike Walker
Maygun

with
Nathaniel Mayer as The Beyond
and
Kim Fowley as The Shadow Of Love

Written and Directed by
Troy Gregory
with the assitance of
Todd Gregory

Sound
Jon Babich

Soundtrack by
Troy Gregory and The Stepsisters

CAST:

Troy Gregory - Troy Gregory 23
Mary Alice - Mary Alice 13
Teri Lynn - Teri Lynn 7
Annie Paras - Annie
Todd Gregory - Mr. Tracy
Aphrodite Nikolovski - Molly
Mike Walker - Mike Unicorn
Maygun - She
Nathaniel Mayer - The Beyond
Kim Fowley - The Shadow Of Love
Mick Collins - Barnabus
Ko Shih - Tanya Wesley Harding
John Sparks - Master Of Ceremonies
Rick Mills - Host Of Pain
Tyler Spencer - Geddy Lightfoot
John Nash - Randy Roadz
Mathew Smith - Randy Caledonia
Kyle McBee- Randy Manteeth
Eugene Strobe - Randy Fiendish
Chris and Jamiel - Chris and Jamiel
Chris Tait - Randy Door Fella
Darren Grow - Randy Puss
Steve O Grimes - Randy Castles
Kerry Pryor - Toy Girl
Danielle Arsenault - Masturbation
Aimee Edwards - Rhoda Smokin O.P's
Magdalena Gos - Rhoda Burning Santa Claus
Tony Top Cat Ligget - Randy Fired
Stanley S. Komajda - Randy Sports Section
Paul Harris- Randy Space Cult
August - Randy Barkeep
Jon Babich - Juan
Sarah Sparkles - Rhoda Absinthe
Meaghan DeGrave - Rhoda Yourself
Scotty Hagen - Randy Finski Dribble
Lee - Randy Hungarian Ska
Carey Gustafson - Nancy and Sheila
Emily Gustafson - Nancy and Sheila
Andy Waino - Harvey
Jake - Irving Johnson
Mark Thomas Rayman - Dash Rip Rock
Greg - Horatio Winston Hawthorne the 3rd
Jared - The Uncompromising Franco Thor
Travis - Randy Would You Rather
Tracey Stevens - Trippin Dancer Rhoda
Spencer Cullum - Randy Whippets
Pat Kenneally - Randy Crack
Alex Sharp - Randy Poppers
Steve Palziseuic - Randy Medieval
Jeff Cullum - Randy Meth
Thomas Koch - Randy Outta Here
Kathleen Bittner - Rhoda Tyler Moore
T. Michelle Turner - Lust Almighty
Tony Muggs - Masked Randy
Justin Walken - Randy Maniac
Milan Filipec - Randy Problem
Bryan Brozowski - Randy Requiem
Wendy Mcleod - Rhoda Barrett
Carjack - Feline Monkee Boy
Jeff Milo - Lucifer Sams Club
Laura Gregory - Them Girl
The Monster - ?

JAZZ FEST NAMES HEADLINERS: MILLER, MARSALIS, HAYNES …

Earlier than ever, the Detroit Jazz Festival has released a list of early headliners. It’s good news.
First, there’s the artist in residence, pianist Mulgrew Miller. The AIR designation guarantees that like John Clayton, Christian McBride and Regina Carter before him, Miller will hit Detroit for some special events leading up to the festival, in addition to a number of special shows during the festival over the Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-6). The former Art Blakey, Betty Carter and Woody Shaw sideman has cut hundreds of discs, and has been lauded in recent years for live and studio discs by his group Wingspan.
Also announced today: saxophonist Branford Marsalis, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, veteran drummer Roy Haynes and conductor-composer Maria Schneider.
The theme this year is  “Flame Keepers,” which all of these artists certainly are. Haynes is one of the players in on the early phases of the bebop revolution, and he’s been open to myriad jazz changes since. (Not that there’s anything wrong with purists, but Haynes decidedly did not enroll in the bebop police force.) Miller and the others earn the designation for what they’ve absorbed from Haynes’ generation and other forerunners — and for their commitment to passing the music along to younger generations as well.
The complete roster is to be released during Jazz Appreciation Month in April.
According to the release from the festival, the 2010 event will continue to present artists from big names to emerging ones, not to mention Detroit-based artists and student ensembles. Collaborations are also planed with “the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit School of Arts.”
The festival also announced:
• A March 12 appearance by Terence Blanchard and the Wayne State University Big Band at the Music Box of the Max M. Fisher Music Center. Clearly playing off Blanchard’s extensive cinema work, it’s titled “Mo’ Better Jazz — An Evening of Swing and Film.”
• A challenge to music lovers from festival benefactor Gretchen Valade, who will match 50 percent of all gifts to the festival of up $250,000, as the fest pushes to recruit 400 supporting members this year.
Fans, prospective donors, restaurants and other vendors can find out more at detroitjazzfest.com. There's also information for prospective performers, although time is running out. Friday, Feb. 26, is the last day for area musicians to submit online applications.

SAD NEWS REGARDING GARY GRIMSHAW

Gary Grimshaw -- one of Detroit's greatest graphic artists, Grande Ballroom poster legend, creator of the MC5 logo, former '80s CREEM art department honcho, and just all-around great guy -- has been quite ill for several years now. He has been maintaining nevertheless. Sadly, we received this e-mail earlier today:

Our friend -- and Detroit's rock art treasure - Gary Grimshaw, has become seriously ill. He has just undergone major surgery. The result is the removal of the majority of his small intestine in the first stage of operation. He has survived that stage. He will be unable to eat solid food from this point and will have to subsist on liquids and intravenous feedings for life. There is still stage two for him to endure.

Laura Grimshaw, his wife, has asked everyone to give a moment of thought, meditation, or prayer for Gary.

Please forward this message to all of his many friends.

Damn! Please think good thoughts for Mr. Grimshaw...

UPDATED:  8:30 p.m., Feb. 18

Just received this e-mail:

Today Gary MADE IT through the second stage of the operation.   Things are looking up. There will still be a restrained diet, and IV's. Can't keep a good man down.

Looks like good thoughts may help after all.



Gary (right) with fellow Detroit artist Carl Lundgren

KELLY CLARKSON DOES THE WHITE STRIPES...

WTF? Not a bad version, though...

DOUG FIEGER, 1952-2010

We were saddened to hear of the death of native son Doug Fieger in Los Angeles this morning following a long and gallant battle with brain and lung cancer. The singer-songwriter-guitarist may be remembered by some locals as lead singer and bassist of Detroit's the Sky -- which recorded two albums for RCA, produced by Jimmy Miller of Rolling Stones and Traffic fame -- when he was still only 16. But he'll forever best be known as the leader of power-pop sensations, the Knack, who took "My Sharona" to the top of the charts in 1979, making it and their Get The Knack album mega-hits..

According to friends who were with Fieger (whose brother is, of course, famed Detroit attorney Geoffrey) at the end, Ringo Starr visited him the night before he passed "Doug was sleeping. And Ringo quietly sang 'She Loves You' to him at his bedside..."

LOCAL MUSIC TIDBITS: BLOWOUT SCHEDULE, JACK WHITE, FABULOUS COUNTS & MORE...

In case you haven't yet noticed, the official 2010 Blowout schedule has finally been announced. Just click on that banner at the top of this page that says, um, Metro Times Blowout...

Don't forget about the Roommates' reunion -- featuring our friend Beaux Mitchell -- at Paycheck's in Hamtramck this weekend -- Saturday, the 13th, to be exact. We did a much longer blog post on the event last week...

Speaking of Paycheck's, former MT advertising account executive (and wife of writer Brett) Toni Callwood (formerly Deville) is the new talent buyer/booker at that club. One of her first events is a birthday show for the hubby on Saturday, Feb. 20th, with Shakey Jakes, They Never Sleep and Nurse Ratched. Contact her at Stiv Deville Productions; 248-565-8299 or 310-210 0922

It seems a little ironic when one considers that the Who actually recorded their own recruting ads for the U.S. Air Force back in the '60s, right at the height of the Vietnam conflict (it's true!), but Jack White is awfully pissed about the Air Force ad that used the White Stripes' "Fell In Love With a Girl" that aired during last Sunday's Super Bowl -- that would be the same Super Bowl that featured that classic band that used to recruit for the Army during its halftime festivities. (A friend pointed out that the Who failed to play "My Generation," possibly because it would be too disconcerting to hear the line "Hope I die before I get old"...and then glance over to see, um, Walter Brennan on lead guitar)...

State Voices -- a non-profit organization that's part of a national network working for progressive grassroots organizations -- is planning a few metro Detroit benefit concerts for Haitian earthquake relief. There can never be enough of those! The organization is reaching out to see which local bands may be interested in being a part of the concert. The first one is scheduled at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac on Thursday, February 25th, at 7 p.m. A gospel concert is also set for the next night, Friday, February 26th at 7pm at Central Methodist Church. Bands are artists interested in participating should contact Julie Funke at julie@statevoices.org or at 313-965-8987.

Speaking of the Crofoot, MT cover dudes We Came As Romans will be back in Detroit and playing the venue on Saturday, Feb. 20th. Even more exciting is the news that the underrated Detroit funk powerhouses and pioneers, the Fabulous Counts, will finally be doing a local show on Friday, February 26th at the Majestic Theatre. Looks like it's a Funk Night event. And if you haven't already, check out MT writer Don Waller's great piece on the band from last year by clicking here.

Just a reminder that the "Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement’" that President Barack Obama and wife Michelle hosted at the White House last night -- and which will be broadcast on PBS tonight (Feb. 11th) at 10 p.m. -- features Detroit's own Smokey Robinson. We're actually more excited, though, by the appearance of one Mr. Bob Dylan, who -- can you believe it? -- was playing the White House for the very first time.

Detroit author and former Real Detroit and Jam Rag scribe Ryan Bartek is currently offering his new book, The Big Shiny Prison, to the public as a free PDF. In his words," the manuscript is a fusion between counterculture music journalism and the autobiographical road novel, the sum result of one non-stop year living on Greyhounds and interviewing some of the largest names in rock, punk, metal, industrial, etc." The manuscript riffs on such local Detroit acts as Downtown Brown, Friends of Dennis Wilson, Salt Lick, Sasquatch Agnostic, and legendary Flint group Repulsion, the latter the first grindcore band in music history. Plenty of general Detroit commentary as well. The book can be downloaded -- again, for free -- by clicking here. (I actually downloaded a PDF of Bob Greene's Billion Dollar Baby -- about Alice Cooper, of course, and one of the best rock books ever written -- from the Internet a few years ago, btw, after mine burned in the fire. Just expect for it to take some time to download...)

Wally Palmar of the Romantics is a member of Ringo Starr's All-Star Bandtour this summer. The concert will be hitting Caesar's Palace in Windsor on July 23rd. (And who can hardly wait for that July weather??)

Finally, local Detroit musician Patrick Davy recently captured his hometown -- albeit with a bit of his own quirky avant guard treatment -- for the video for his song, "The Joke." It's posted below for you visual and musical enjoyment. Pretty cool tune, too!

'80S REUNION FEVER...

Two bands that made quite a splash on the local scene in the '80s are planning reunion shows over the next two weekends.

First, the Hysteric Narcotics -- a band at the forefront of the first Detroit garage rock revival (with some pyschedelia thrown in for good measure) -- will be presenting a reunion show this Saturday, February 6th, at Paychecks in Hamtramck. The catalyst for the event is a Hysteric Narcotics anthology CD that features mostly unavailable recordings -- "some cuts out of print; some never-before-released; some studio outtakes; some live cuts. All of them recorded between 1983 and 1989," according to the reunited band's press release. The CD will be available at the show. Also on the bill will be DJ Jim Shaw spinning his favorite records and former Gorie, Dollrod and current Readies leader Danny Kroha making a guest appearance. The band had a slightly revolving lineup that included nine different members during its time together, but we know for a fact that drummer Chip Sercombe (currently of the Fondas) will be on hand, since he's the one who sent the press release. Other Hysteric Narcotics over the years included Dave Feeny, Mike Murphy, Jerry Barterian, Sean Curran, Mark Niemenski, Tom Nieminski, Keith Soucy and Larry Ulrich. Expect most of, if not all of, them on hand for a rockin' good time. So to repeat: The Hyseric Narcotics. This Saturday. At Paychecks in Hamtramck.

We also recently heard from local rocker -- and former CREEM Magazine T-Shirt chick (see below) -- Beaux Mitchell, who's reviving her popular '80s rock group, the Roomates, for a show a week from Saturday, Feb. 13, also at Paychecks. The Roomates started out as an all-female band (which Beaux, who won several Metro Times Music Awards back in the day, formed after being inspired by singing background vocals for Nikki Corvette in Nikki & The Corvettes) but was a co-ed unit by the time the group was opening shows for national bands and headlining their own nights in local clubs ranging from Bookies to Lili's during the decade that gave rise to (ugh!) MTV. Not sure how many original members will be on hand; it's impossible, of course, for the Roommates' powerhouse drummer -- the late, great Steve Sortor, best known for his time as the skinsman for the much-lamented Mutants -- to be there ... but we know for a fact that original Roomate Sarana Verlin will be performing with Ms. Mitchell, who will be front-and-center for the festivities. Four other local reunited bands are also on the bill that night -- Natasha, the Earthworms and Treatment Bound. Should be quite the night for reminiscing and musical memories.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON FUN WITH THE STOOGES...

I guess this Swiftcover insurance commercial, which is currently running in Great Britain on the telly, means Iggy's really about as "mainstream" as you can get these days. Not as much fun or as genuinely funny as Johnny (Lydon) Rotten's British butter commercial from a year or so ago was -- but still pretty clever, especially the "Little Iggy" thing.

Also, our old L.A. friend, rock photog and scribe Heather Harris, recently posted on her blog about the Ron Asheton tribute show that took place earlier this month in L.A. (West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip, to be exact), and which we mentioned here a few weeks back. Interesting read, although it looks like Detroit's own Mike Jtone of Circus Boy fame didn't exactly endear himself to any of the denizens of the L.A. punk scene at the Roxy Theater that night. You can read Heather's full report by clicking here. 

Heather also recently did a new photo shoot with former Detroit golden boy/Raw Power guitarist and co-writer James Williamson. James liked the shots enough to post them on his own Website, which you can access by clicking here. Now, when in the hell are those local Iggy & The Stooges reunion shows gonna be announced? Thus far, nothing except European shows through the spring and Coachella is now officially a no-go. Looks like Iggy is opting for those Euros while the getting's good....

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