Cover Stories
Democracy for dollars
The sting of an icy wind and temperatures that dipped into the teens didn’t deter a small group of protesters as they marched along the sidewalk across the street from the U.S. District Court in Detroit a few weeks ago. There are people in their 20s and members of the group that call themselves the…
Amending the Constitution
As outlined in the document itself, here are two ways to amend the Constitution. One is to hold a constitutional convention, which must be proposed by two-thirds of the state legislatures. That has never happened. The other is to have two-thirds of both houses of Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate —…
City Slang: Ghosts of August to play the Rock on the Range Festival
Detroit metal-heads Ghosts of August have been added to the line up for the Rock on the Range festival, taking place May 18-20 in Columbus, OH. Ghosts of August join bands as prestigious as Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, Anthrax, Slash and the Darkness on the bill. According to a press release, “Ghosts of August has…
Chit Chat
Ypsi/Arbor rock trio plays PJ’s Lager House this Thursday (2/9) with a band coming all the way from Australia. Guitars will be prominently featured throughout… Pop songs are pummeled out by this Ypsi/Arbor trio; their charm lying somewhere between those clattered rhythms, the dreamy/dissonance of that reverb-dashed guitar (and, yes, inevitably we have…
City Slang: Madonna + Clint Eastwood > Tom Brady
OK, so by now we know that the New York Giants again ignored the form book and won the Super Bowl over the Patriots, just as they did four years ago. Former Wolverine Tom Brady was particularly underwhelming, made to look slightly silly by a man whose name is Eli. Again. The half time show…
City Slang: Mitch Ryder signing at Book Beat
Here’s a very cool treat for anyone who can be in the Oak Park area on Sunday afternoon. Mitch Ryder will be signing copies of his new autobiography Devils & Blue Dresses: My Wild Ride as a Rock and Roll Legend at Book Beat (26010 Greenfield, Oak Park) between 12:30 – 2:20 p.m. According to…
City Slang: Madonna at the Super Bowl competition
In honor of Detroit gal Madonna’s much-anticipated performance at the Super Bowl this Sunday, City Slang is getting into the spirit by offering a prize for the first Detroiter to send us the answer to this question: What will be the first song Madonna plays during the Super Bowl halftime show> Send your answer to…
Should bridge company’s Moroun and Stamper remain out of jail? State Court of Appeals will decide.
We’ve been going over the coverage of yesterday’s hearing before a three-judge Michigan Court of Appeals panel, which is considering whether Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Prentis Edwards acted within the law last month when he jailed Detroit International Bridge Company President Dan Stamper and Manuel “Matty” Moroun, who, along with his wife and son,…
City Slang: Andre Williams set for new release
We have already reviewed this album in the weekly music review roundup a coupe of weeks ago, but it is worth another mention. Local legend Andre Williams will release his new album Hoods and Shades via Bloodshot Records on February 28. It’s a beauty too, like the soundtrack to the greatest blaxploitation movie, set in…
Chronicle
Chronicle Directed by Josh Trank. Written by Max Landis and Trank. Starring Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Kelly and Ashley Hinshaw. Rated PG-13. Running time: 83 minutes. B The last thing the world needs is another superhero origin story or "found footage" flick. Whether it’s the moronic con job of The Last…
The Woman in Black
The Woman in Black C+ There’s a difference between being scared and being startled. Real fright requires a filmmaker who knows how to get under the audience’s skin, creeping up their spines and haunting their thoughts hours after the movie ends — preferably as they lay in the dark waiting for sleep. On the…
Of Montreal get “exorcismic”
It’s not easily loved… but this is exactly the album Kevin Barnes (Of Montreal) should have made after False Priest. A needed hard-swerve into a brambly, cacophonous left field. Paralytic Stalks – Polyvinyl Records (stream it on SPIN while you can…) –> Listen (via Polyvinyl) Of Montreal – “Dour Percentage” After grinding out Priest’s over-glitzed buffet of booty…
City Slang: RIP Mike Kelley
We are saddened and stunned by the news that artist and former Destroy All Monsters member Mike Kelley has passed away having apparently committed suicide. Reports seem to suggest that Kelley, a Detroiter who had been living in LA, had been depressed following the breakup of a relationship. “His work was widely collected and exhibited…
City Slang: Showtime at Hastings Street Ballroom
One of City Slang’s favorite haunts, Detroit’s Showtime Clothing, will host a concert on February 11 at the Hastings Street Ballroom to promote both local and national acts. Of course, we are more interested in the local bands, which include Bixy Lutz (pictured), Bloodline Riot, Citizen Zero, Curbstone Beauty, Glitter Trash, Haflife and Saturnine Hello.…
Pupils’ EP – playing at the Loving Touch – Groundhog Day
Riled-up never sounded so groovy. Call it AgitGroove, or whatever you blogoids prefer… –> Listen: Pupils – “Bone Avenue” MP3 Though this Detroit quartet (made up of players from Legendary Creatures, Marco Polio and Red China) may sound like they’re in a sort of a firestorm-ish pinpball punk mode for…
Mad Regal – Doc Waffles
Doc Waffles was a poet studying at Wayne State when he started rapping. He got into battles. It seemed like a fun, engaging way to do something that, at it’s core, Waffles said, is “kinda intellectual but gives a certain credibility and whimsy that is lacking in dry poetry functions.” If you go see a…
All Over The World: Dilla Month Begins Now
Today is February 1st and for thousands of hip-hop fans around the globe, it means the all too short month of celebrating James “J Dilla” Yancey’s life has commenced. The late groundbreaking Detroit producer who touched the lives of countless music fans worldwide would have been 38-years-old this month (Feb 7) if he hadn’t been…
City Slang: “Ultraglide in Black” revisited
By now you should have seen the lineup for Blowout 15. If not, take a look. Last week’s Revisited, on the Sights’ debut album, was due to Eddie Baranek’s band’s appearance at this year’s festival. That will be an ongoing Revisited theme up until the week of Blowout. This week, the Dirtbombs. It’s kind of…
Remember the lightning
Aaron, Ben and Leah … three shy blond kids who, in 2008, barely of legal drinking age, turned lots of local heads when their group, Lightning Love, self-released its first album amid a whirlwind of shows, charming many with sweet ‘n’ sour, yet hook-heavy, pop romps. The trio soon regularly headlined, earning a reputation for…
Certified 2 Satisfy
Certified 2 Satisfy What: An erotic art show featuring the paintings of local artist Marty Winters. Where: Funhouse Gallery in the Russell Industrial Center, Third Floor, Bldg. 2, 1600 Clay St., Detroit; funhousedetroit.com. When: Opening reception 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. The work of Detroit-based artist Marty Winters often…
Prince Fielder and the poor folks
Last week the Michigan League for Human Services released its yearly report on the status of children in this state. Not surprisingly, the report, called the Kids Count Data Book, was depressing as hell. Most of what attention the study received in the media focused on the news that child abuse in the state jumped…
Hot Taco
Hot Taco 2233 Park Ave., Detroit 313-963-4545 Tacos: $2.50-$3.50 Burritos: $6-$7 Handicap accessible You could argue that Detroit didn’t need another taquería. We’ve got plenty, many of them hewing to their Mexican roots. But then, the west side of downtown was still taco-less. And what’s to stop anyone, especially Sean Harrington of the neighboring Centaur…
Mike Cox, reefer & Frampton
Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, to the surprise of some of us here at the Hits, kind of tiptoed his way across the dividing line in Michigan’s marijuana legalization debate and entered the land of compassion during a Jan. 27 speech at Wayne State University. Unlike our current attorney general, Cox voiced a willingness…
A Detroit community plans for survival
I’ve never really heard the term lower east side used in reference to Detroit. I’ve heard of the near east side and far east side, but the lower east side sounds like some kind of New York thing. As it turns out, though, the folks on the lower east side know exactly where they are…
Pina
Pina A- There are no giant robots, alien worlds or rampaging dinosaurs, and nothing explodes — and yet Pina may be one of the most compelling applications yet of the 3-D process that Hollywood insists on cramming down our throats. Instead, there’s merely the spectacle of bodies in motion, across bare stages, crowded city…
Netherlands’ coffee shop confusion
New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam was even more festive than usual this season as thousands of European visitors flocked to the city to enjoy what they believed would be the last night they’d be welcome in the coffee shops of the Netherlands. For several months, the reigning Dutch government had been trumpeting the imminent demise…
Meet Tam Johnstone, son of Captain Fantastic
No need to gawk at Nicole Richie on TV anymore, and anybody who has seen Traci Hunter live, practically dressed as her old man (Mott the Hoople’s Ian), will know how freakish rock star offspring who perform can be. They’re doomed to a fishbowl life, forever compared, dissected and accused of a privileged upbringing, and…
Remember the lightning
Aaron, Ben and Leah … three shy blond kids who, in 2008, barely of legal drinking age, turned lots of local heads when their group, Lightning Love, self-released its first album amid a whirlwind of shows, charming many with sweet ‘n’ sour, yet hook-heavy, pop romps. The trio soon regularly headlined, earning a reputation for…
Food Stuff
Not a gamble For Valentine’s Day, consider dining at the MGM Grand Detroit. At Wolfgang Puck Grille, there will be a three-course prix fixe menu for $60, with a $25 wine pairing option; choice of entrée includes sautéed swordfish with Maine lobster, grilled beef tenderloin with horseradish potato puree, or organic free-range chicken. At Bourbon…
Smoked delights
Bad Brad’s BBQ 35611 Green St., New Baltimore; 586-716-9977; badbradsbbq.net: A relatively recent entry into metro Detroit’s barbecue category, Bad Brad’s motto is "From our smoker to your plate," summing up their intention to give diners the best barbecue possible. They start every day at 5 a.m., cooking beef brisket and pork shoulder in fruit…
The music man
The little girl struggles to hold the heavy clarinet in her hands. Amira Chambers, all of 5 years old, sits inside the cold air of the Metro Music store, with her winter coat still on, and blows out one unsteady note after another as she learns her new instrument. Her teacher, wearing a knit hat…
Secret service
Q: My husband is a very kinky submissive man. When we were dating, I found out that he had been talking to multiple people online and that he had met up with a professional dom a couple of times. I felt betrayed that he had done this all behind my back, even though I had…
City Slang: Hear Jack White’s debut solo single
We’re taking a break from the weekly music review roundup this week, kinda. Jack White’s debut solo single, “Love Interruption”, can be heard by clicking here. The single is the first from the Blunderbuss album, available on April 24 on Third Man Records/Columbia. The record can be pre-ordered via that link now, and the single…
