HEADS UP!
Hip-hop heads and heads-up music heads seeking retail enlightenment may have noticed lately, as they cruise Woodward downtown, that the unassuming music mecca, Kaboodlz (you know, the shop with the Chuck E. Cheese Elvis in the window) hasn’t had its doors open for business. Kaboodlz has, in its relatively brief existence, established itself as the independent Detroit record spot for A-list national and local hip-hop and R&B artists rolling through town or playing high-profile slots. The list of in-stores and big-shot visitors the joint has hosted reads like a hip-hop who’s who: From Chuck D. to the Black Eyed Peas, Slum Village and everyone in between. So, when Kaboodlz owner Eric Perry decided recently to put together a benefit show to help reopen the store’s doors, it came as no surprise to see some heavy hitters stepping to the plate to go to bat on his behalf. This Saturday, March 4, Johanson Charles Gallery (1345 Division, in Eastern Market, Detroit) will host that benefit. Headlining the shindig is revolutionary African-American poetry group the Last Poets and former leader of Public Enemy’s S1Ws, poet-hip-hop raconteur Professor Griff. Not enough yet? How’s about sets by poet-MC (and Metro Times contributor) Khary Kimani Turner – performing works from his recently released book, selfloveactivism – and poetic-soul-jazz-jam trio Jelly’s Pierced Tattoo. OK, so, see you there, then? Alright!
Admission to the show is $15 and the festivities begin at 8 p.m.
VIDEOCALYPSE
Documenting the apocalypse culture can be pretty grimy, but Chicago videographer Mark Hejnar gets his hands (and his video heads) dirty with a vengeance. Hejnar comes to detroit contemporary (5141 Rosa Parks) to show some recent work exploring the aesthetics of the grim, including his collaboration with Motown film scavenger T.M. Caldwell and avant noise rockers Larval, "Slow Death of a Very Large Animal." Larval will be on hand in person performing a live set, too. Call 313-898-4ART for more info. –Greg Baise
STUNNING THE CLARK
Blame it on the eerie powers of Ozzy Osbourne if you must, but something in the air that night brought Detroit über-producer Mike E. Clark (ICP, George Clinton, Charm Farm, Gories, etc., etc.) to Detroit music haunt 313.jac (above Jacoby’s, 624 Brush, Detroit). What he found when he arrived was Detroit singer-songwriter Audra Kubat and her band, Stunning Amazon, commandeering the stage, performing Kubat’s poetic, urban-universal-heart-folk.
"He came in after the Orbit party. We were doing (Osbourne’s) ‘Diary of a Madman’ and he was blown away. By that time in the show, I’m like standing on a chair doing the song," says Kubat.
That night, Clark invited Stunning Amazon to his Funhouse Studio to cut a few tracks for a demo he’d volunteered to shop around on the band’s behalf. (Aaah, serendipity!)
Ensconced in the Funhouse, Stunning Amazon (with new drummer Will Osler on the drum stool) cut four tracks – most on the first take and most with the additional rock factor of electric guitars.
Hear Stunning Amazon live on WDET’s "Martin Bandyke Program" next Thursday, March 9 at 1 p.m. And catch them at this year’s Hamtramck Blowout, Saturday, March 11 at 10 p.m. at Roadrunner’s Raft (2362 Yemans, Hamtramck). (BTW, the full Blowout lineup for the March 10 and 11 event can be accessed online at www.blowout.metrotimes.com.)
HEADS UP, PART DEUX
The annual Michiganfest, an annual celebration of true underground DIY culture is happening this year March 24-26 (that’s Friday through Sunday, kids). The event features more than 30 hardcore, emo, punk and eclectic upstart bands from around the country and around the block performing over the course of the three days, as well as plentiful vegan cooking, workshops, activist presentations and more. The fest takes place at the Notre Dame Knights of Columbus Hall on Van Born Rd. in Wayne. The event is a benefit and this year’s proceeds go to Lansing women’s shelter Council Against Domestic Assault. For more info, visit http://makotorecordings.com or write [email protected].
