Aaron-Carl wants to hurt you. He wants to see you suffer. Eyes closed, lips pressed up against a microphone in his basement studio called the Dungeon, he mouths such words to his track “Hateful” like he really means it. “I do,” he says looking up, brown eyes burning, a scowl crossing his round face. Then he laughs and says, “I needed to get that out of my system. Now I feel good.”
Aaron-Carl ought to feel good. The 32-year-old producer-DJ — who was raised in Taylor and now lives in Lincoln Park — has been on a steady, quiet roll since 1996, when he began releasing his own 12-inchers and remixing other artists for Mike Banks at the famed Submerge compound.
Then in 1998, his song “My House” busted into the Billboard dance charts after it was licensed to Philadelphia’s Ovum label. Another track, “Dance Naked,” also charted soon after, followed by a string of dirty club hits like “Down,” “Switch,” “Homoerotic” and “21 Positions” — tracks that saw Carl in multiple roles both gay and straight, playing everything from male and female lovers and haters to blow-job queens and assorted nasty bitches. In 1997, he performed in France with a bare ass showing through a hole in his white pants. “Oh, my God, I got so much attention for that ... even if it was so stolen from Prince.”
In 2002, he released Uncloseted, his official debut LP (Carl disavows his first full-length, Storm, saying the record’s poor overall quality “still haunts” him). His new CD, Detrevolution, was released earlier this month on his Wallshaker label. It has 21 tracks, ranging from traditional house to electro-ghetto-funk, from techno-pop stompers to soulful ballads about being shy and lonely. “I am,” he says. “It’s all true.”
The shy, lonely guy with the dirty mind is part of a new night starting up at Corktown Tavern (1716 Michigan Ave., Detroit. 313-964-5103). Called Jackit Required, Carl will host the bimonthly event with Trench. Special guest for opening night on Saturday, Nov. 5, is Detroit vet Gary Martin (Teknotika, Transmat, Submerge, KMS). The event is 18 and up.
Ghostyhead
This town is enamored with the idea of tying one on, no matter what the occasion (Groundhog Day? Let’s get it on). And the granddaddy of all Detroit occasions is Devil’s Night and Halloween. Period. So here’s a subjective guide to the rowdiest nights out. Select your poison; just swallow it all down responsibly.
• On Friday, Oct. 28, the party to crash is Scary Robot, co-produced by Windsor’s Minus and Detroit’s Paxahau. This costume electronic dance mega-event features Polish minimal technician Magda, Marc Houle, Chuck Flask and Rich Korach. Bleu, 1540 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-222-1900. Free with costume; 18 and up. More info at paxahau.com.
• The next night, wander south on Woodward to Oslo for Interdimensional Transmissions’ (IT) annual Halloween Samhain spectacle. The party is headlined by Electric Skin, a live project featuring Brendan M. Gillen (Ectomorph) and Liquid Liquid’s Sal Principato, who sings and plays percussion instruments in the group.
Also performing live is Perspects (Ian Clark), who has a new 12-inch, “Skillsets: Parts,” and forthcoming LP, People Skills, on the Ann Arbor-based IT label. The superb Carlos Souffront will play a DJ set and there will be a fashion show by Infinite Dimensions. Saturday, Oct. 29, at Oslo, 1456 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-963-0300. More info at Star67.com
• The same night an assortment of lunatics is hosting the final edition of Ride the Snake, a raucous party that threatens to blow the roof off (sucka) of Foran’s Pub (612 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-961-3043). This will be the last night of mayhem at the Art Deco railroad car-style saloon before it’s sold. Performers include: Stillbirth (aka Alex Lugo from Ultradyne); Bonglord Onslaught (aka Acid Pimp); Wolfblud (aka Darkcube). Others scheduled to appear are Pointy Skull (aka Vacuum), Death Warrior (aka The Cynic), Jesters Majesty (aka K-Fresh) and John Foran, who will make his first — and last — appearance as Captain Jackass. It all sounds like, uh, fun. No cover.
• On Sunday, put your costume back on and go back to the house: house music, that is. The guys who throw the weekly Sunday Night Rehab at Agave (4265 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-833-1120) are having a special Halloween event there featuring residents Mike “Agent X” Clark, Delano Smith, Norm Talley and special guests. Plan to strip off at least some of your costume; you will feel the heat.
Upcoming:
Friday, Nov. 4: Breakloose Detroit, featuring MC Bombscare, Matt Clarke, MD!, Robin Selecta, Twonz and more. Free CDs to the first 100 people in the door. The Works, 1846 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-961-1742.
Friday, Nov. 4: Luomo. Dancefloor minimalist from Finland performing live. Oslo, 1456 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-963-0300.
Saturday, Nov. 5:Detroit Collective presents Golden Phoenix. Featuring Boy George (house DJ set), Mark Vedo, Derrick Thompson, Dennis Cox, Mike Czech and more. Motor City Resource Center, 17405 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-255-4355. For presale tickets, go to groovetickets.com.
The Subterraneans is a column devoted to dance and club culture. Send comments to [email protected]
