16 things to do in Detroit this week (Feb. 5-11)

SATURDAY, 08
John Acquaviva & Kevin Saunderson

There’s a lot to get excited about here. A performance by Kevin Saunderson would be reason enough to party — one of techno’s original godfathers, Saunderson has had success through the years under the aliases Kreem and Inner City while also DJing by his own name. Saunderson’s a living legend — hell, the guy’s mixing board is now in the Detroit Historical Museum. Add London, Ontario’s John Acquaviva to the mix and we now have a rock solid night of electronic music. Acquaviva has decades of DJing on his résumé and is one of the founders of electronic music download site Beatport. Grasshopper residents Golf Clap and PRGRM round out the bill. Catch the show at the Grasshopper Underground at 8 p.m.

SATURDAY, 08
Detroit Derby Girls

Ah, roller derby. The only time you can watch women with names like Roxanna Hardplace and Princess Die hip check each other … on roller skates. But roller derby is no mere theatrics: It’s a competitive, athletic sport, and Saturday’s bout won’t disappoint. It’s a double header — the Detroit Pistoffs square off against the Pistolwhippers, while the D-Funk Allstars take on the Devil’s Night Dames. In honor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red campaign, fans are asked to wear red to promote heart health. A shuttle will take fans to McShane’s Irish Pub in Corktown for an after party following the match. See all the bumps, bruises and beauties at the Detroit Masonic Temple at 4:45. Tickets are $18.

FRIDAY, 07
Manowar

Sorry, the tickets are how much? It’s $75 minimum? For fucking Manowar? To be fair, the metal titans hardly ever play metro Detroit, so there will be some demand for the group of musicians with a penchant for puffing out their barbarian chests and wielding a broadsword. Whether the demand matches the insane cover charge remains to be seen. Those who do go will surely be rewarded with a killer metal show and a whole lot of epic power metal tunes. The bravado is part of the deal, and those fans will expect nothing less. Just watch out for those swinging loincloths. The loudest metalheads on the planet will shake the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Friday, doors open at 8 p.m.

SUNDAY, 09
The Black Angels • Roky Erickson & the Hounds of Baskerville

Austin band the Black Angels is named after a Velvet Underground song, “The Black Angel’s Death Song,” and they love the 13th Floor Elevators, so their quality influences are present and correct. The band has a very psychedelic sound, though a contemporary take on the Nuggets formula, so the fact that it’s touring with Roky Erickson of those 13th Floor Elevators makes complete sense. Erikson is 66 now and, though he has piled on a few pounds and is gray around the edges, he still looks like the mildly deranged and out-of-left-field rocker that he’s always been. This double bill will be awesome. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at The Magic Stick in Detroit. Tickets start at $20.

WEDNESDAY, 05
Cirque du Soleil: Varekai

Wild costumes, astounding acrobatics, vibrant colors, intense precision and an incredible spirit of wonderment are all characteristics of a Cirque du Soleil show, and Varekai promises to deliver them all during its short stint in Detroit. Varekai, which translates to “wherever” in the Romani language, “pays tribute to the nomadic soul.” According to the website, “The sky lets go a solitary young man, and the story of Varekai begins. Parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world imbued with fantastical creatures, a young man takes flight in an adventure both absurd and extraordinary.” This acrobatic act will be flying high at the Joe Louis Arena Friday, February 5 - Sunday, February 9. Tickets start at $38.

FRIDAY, 07
Dilla Day • De La Soul

De La Soul has been around since ’87, which makes sense to us because we can remember kicking back to “Me Myself and I” at high school. That 3 Feet High and Rising album was and remains a killer, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that the band has released a ton of material since then and most of it is great. It often is forgotten, but it shouldn’t be. Don’t panic though; they’ll also play “Say No Go” and “The Magic Number.” This show is a celebration of the Detroit talent that was J Dilla, so members of Slum Village will also be performing. Dilla would surely approve. Celebrate Dilla at The Fillmore in Detroit. Tickets start at $35. Doors open at 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, 06
G. Love & Special Sauce

How much more laid-back can G Love get? At this point, he makes Beck sound like he’s bouncing around on speed. But that’s how we like him. The Special Sauce sound was the soundtrack to many summers back in the mid-’90s, and those same people are now trying to get through the week as working men and women. They need some musical Xanax to avoid getting addicted to the real thing. G. Love has a new album due out this year, sugar. It’s unlikely to be a slab of speed metal, so the new songs played at St. Andy’s will probably go down just fine with a crowd that just wants to sway. Catch the show at St. Andrew’s Hall. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets are $20.

TUESDAY, 11
Kings of Leon

Nashville band the Kings of Leon might be as generic as almighty hell, they might sound like a lot of other bands and inspire nothing but the desire to hum along, but they do sell a lot of records and they pack all of the big venues, headlining summer festivals all over the world. This show, on the first leg of the band’s Mechanical Bull Tour, also has Gary Clark Jr. on the bill, and it will probably sell out or at least come close because, let’s be honest, sometimes we just want to hum and sing along to easy-to-like rock anthems. In that regard, these guys are the kings. Fans can catch them at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Doors open at 7:30. Tickets start at $29.50.

FRIDAY, 07
Dance Theatre of Harlem: ?Dance Medicine Clinic

The best-kept secret is a dancer’s injury. Dancers’ bodies endure abnormal strength, power, flexibility and agility training, sometimes on a daily basis, to achieve their choreographic goals. Pushing their bodies past their limits in the name of art and entertainment, dancers often ignore physical pain because “the show must go on.” So in addition to their athletically artistic performances, the Dance Theatre of Harlem presents: Dance Medicine Clinic in conjunction with the DMC’s Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, a clinic focusing on the importance of dance wellness, flexibility and injury prevention followed by a performance from the world-renowned dance troupe. Limber up with the best on Friday, February 7 from 11:30 a.m.- 2:15 p.m. Tickets are $65.

THURSDAY, 06-SUNDAY, 09
Shen Yun

Bringing 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture to the stage, Shen Yun transports audiences back to the past through music and dance while simultaneously pissing off China’s communist regime. This group, a nonprofit dance company based in New York, merges the elements of colorful costumes, acrobatics, folklore and history to share a vibrant version of ancient Chinese history. Despite battling with the CCP over the years, the company continues to tour internationally and will be landing in Detroit this weekend. Immerse yourself in traditional Chinese Culture at the Detroit Opera House. Tickets start at $80.

FRIDAY, 07
Museum of Contemporary Art ?Detroit Winter Opening

After thawing throughout the first few months of the year, the MOCAD opens its doors to introduce two hot new exhibits. Opening night will include performances by local trap-pop sensation Jamaican Queens and experimental rapper Doc Waffles beginning at 9 p.m. The first exhibit, I Cancel All My Works at Death, is a comprehensive survey of the costumes, scripts and other elements used by performance artist James Lee Byars. The other exhibit will display a project from the University of Michigan Institute for the Humanities, State of Exception, which is inspired by the undocumented migrant experience. This project will show items left behind along the U.S.-Mexico border during migration, and includes photography, videography and interviews done collectively by Richard Barnes, Amanda Krugliak and Jason De León. Doors open at 7 p.m. Entry costs $5.

FRIDAY, 07-SUNDAY, 09
Meridian Winter Blast

FREEZING FUN Escape the misery of the polar vortex by getting outside and exploring all the fun a Michigan winter has to offer at the Meridian Winter Blast. The event is centered at Campus Martius park and includes various wintertime activities, such as snowshoeing and ice skating. Guests can slide down a 30-foot snow slide, enjoy the kiddie carnival, view ice sculptures, sample local food, and enjoy local musicians. A donation of three canned food items, one children’s book or $2, is the fee for entry. These donations will be given to Matrix Human Services to help those in need this winter. Additional fees will be charged for some activities.

FRIDAY, 07-SUNDAY, 15
The Dirty Show

If you tilt your head sideways, you could see a pair of boobs in the painting. Now if you look straight ahead, you could see, well, a pair of boobs in the painting. That’s because you’re at The Dirty Show, which has been glorifying and appreciating the human anatomy for 15 years strong and has yet to lose its appeal. With artists from around the world showing off their art and how they see sex and the human body, you get a variety of pieces that may leave you with your pockets empty and possibly aroused. I mean, sex does sell, right? See all the dirtiness up close and personal at the Russel Industrial Center in Detroit. The show runs from 8:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets start at $25.

SATURDAY, 08
Congress • Pewter Cub

Ypsilanti band Congress formed in 2011 when, according to Aaron Quillen, “I was not entirely stoked on the idea of what I thought was going to be a random day of jamming and nothing else. However, something magical happened, and we churned out six full, completely arranged songs in three hours or less.” And so Congress, with its REM-meets-Jesus Lizard sound, was born. Meanwhile, Pewter Cub is one of the best pop-rock bands in town. Regan Lorie’s voice could charm the drunks from the Corktown alleys, and the band has more sugary sweetness in its melody than a Strawberry Shortcake doll. Catch the show at PJ’s Lager House. Doors open at 9, cover is $5.

SATURDAY, 08
Detroit’s Winter Thrash ?Extravaganza

According to the Rawdogs, they are “the hard-rocking master race, sent from Earth to outer space to make you watch us masturbate, thrash this place n’ smash your fuckin’ face.” The Chesterfield band has Axe Ripper drummer Louie Badalament in its ranks, so you know they mean business. This bill also includes Milwaukee thrashers Population Control, local stoners Lava Moth, punks the Hangdowns, other punks SUB, and old-school rockers Eric Villa & the Vista Marias. If you don’t like the music then, hey, you get to watch the Rawdogs guys jerking off. Just a normal Saturday night in Corktown then. Bang your head at Corktown Tavern in Detroit. Tickets are $6, doors open at 8 p.m.

THURSDAY, 06
WDET presents: ?The Moth Story Slam

There’s something incredibly disarming about listening to someone tell a personal story in an intimate setting, even if he’ s a stranger, and the Moth Story Slam is a show that prides itself on celebrating the human experience and creating connections between the teller and the audience. The popular storytelling show gives you the opportunity to get up on stage and spin a yarn in front of a packed house. The raconteurs are usually, but not exclusive to, writers, musicians and artists, and their stories explore a broad range of topics. Ten names will be drawn from a hat to determine whose tales will be heard. The slam is happening at Cliff Bell’s on Thursday, there’s a $5 cover charge.