Cover Story
The final flight of Martin McNally
Finally alone after 11 hours of feverish demands, threats and hostage exchanges, the hijacker pulled off his shaggy brown wig and began to disrobe. He shrugged out of a burgundy sport coat, white dress shirt, and yellow trousers — it was, after all, 1972 — revealing a second outfit: a set of dark-colored slacks and…
Royal Trux and Negative Approach at El Club tomorrow, Saturday, May 13
Here’s one way to celebrate. Get two of the 1980s’ most influential, uncompromising (and still-unmissably-excellent live) bands to play your club. That’s what’s happening tomorrow night at El Club, when Royal Trux and Negative Approach will play the venue’s first birthday party on Saturday, May 13. Last we checked, tickets were still available at the advance…
UPDATE: Set times for this weekend’s ‘Barely Human’ fest, with Adult. and ESG
With John Bender, Adult., Xeno and Oaklander, Casual Sweetheart, Moon Pool and Dead Band, and of course ESG(!!!) playing the festival, this weekend’s Barely Human festival at El Club is going to be one for the ages. Update: The organizers just posted this note regarding the lineup for the first night of the fest: We are…
Detroit Historical Museum showcases Mobsteel-restored 1913 ‘motorcycle car’
The world’s first “motorcycle car” hybrid is now on display at the Detroit Historical Museum. Originally created by artist and designer James Scripps Booth, the 1913 Bi-Autogo was recently featured in the Feb. 4 episode of the History channel’s Detroit Steel, the new reality TV show featuring Detroit-based car customization shop Mobsteel, where it got a total cosmetic restoration. “We are so…
Dlectricity festival call for entries deadline is coming up
Dlectricity, Detroit’s festival of lights, will return to Midtown Sept. 22-23, 2017. Last seen in 2014 (OK, so it’s not exactly a biennale), Dlectricity showcases illuminated art installations from local, national, and international artists in Midtown, transforming the neighborhood into a walkable Nuit Blanche festival. In past years, that included video projections, sculptures, interactive art, and more.…
‘Detroiters’ temporarily stiffs Detroit bars with ‘free beer’ tab
It appears Detroiters is, in fact, a legitimate Detroit production — but not totally for the show’s content. Instead, the sitcom showed its authenticity by offering to buy the town free beer during its Tuesday night premiere, then passing off a non-working credit card to the the 24 participating bars. Several bartenders at Hamtramck establishments and The…
18 metro Detroit date ideas to impress your lover
Thursday, 2/9 Pepper, Less Than Jake @ Majestic Theatre Pepper has been around since 1997, and has released seven pretty awesome alternative rock/ska albums in that time span. Since the Hawaiian band moved to the mainland, they’ve had a pretty spectacular career, and most people have probably heard them without recognizing them, since the band…
Expanded Supino to reopen on Wednesday
It was a giant bummer to see La Rondinella close so quickly, but it’s equally exciting to see an expanded Supino Pizzeria with new menu items take over that space. On Tuesday, thin-crust pizza master/Supino owner Dave Mancini announced via Facebook that the business will reopen on Wednesday with an expanded Supino menu (or trimmed Rondinella menu)…
Betsy DeVos is in as education secretary — now what?
She’s known for blocking efforts to hold Michigan charter schools accountable and has proven through an embarrassing confirmation hearing that she lacks the basic knowledge needed to helm the Education Department, but thanks to some Republican maneuvering and a historic tie-breaking Senate vote from the vice president, Betsy DeVos has been approved as the nation’s next…
Wayne State University rejects proposal to become a sanctuary campus
This post has been updated to remove a reference to a report that said there are 28 sanctuary campuses in the U.S. That number has not been verified. Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson says the school will not become a “sanctuary campus” following a petition effort by students and faculty at the school. In an…
Just dropped: New singles from Ty Farris, Nolan the Ninja, and more
Singles roundup for the week Some of these tracks were debuted today, while others were posted last week. Hope you like! Ty Farris, “Hold On” featuring Royce Da; 5”9 (off the album Room 39) “Hold On” uses gospel musical and vocal samples under inspirational bars about overcoming traps of the hood to succeed in music…
Two white men loaded with guns invade Dearborn PD and leave on bond
A video has been widely shared on the internet since Sunday showing two white men entering the Dearborn Police Department wearing tactical vests, cameras, and carrying loaded guns that could do serious damage. The two men were reportedly stopped by Dearborn police after someone made a report on them because they looked suspicious. The men…
This new West Village French cafe will introduce Detroit to ‘tea culture’
When Detroit bottomed out in bankruptcy several years ago, the city’s story captured the attention of Eve de Castro, a French novelist living in Paris. Like many in and outside the city, she saw something in Detroit that’s missing from most other towns. “I kept looking at it online and there was all this energy…
VIDEO: Woman forced to give birth in Macomb County Jail cell
A woman who was held at Macomb County Jail for driving on a suspended license was forced to give birth on her dirty cell floor after guards ignored her calls for help. Jessica Preston has gone public with her story, speaking with WDIV about the incident. After five days behind bars in 2016, Preston told…
A cop comedy set in Detroit is coming to CBS
Are TV shows set in Detroit becoming a trend now? CBS has ordered a pilot for a new TV show set in Detroit called Brothered Up, Vulture reports. The new show, which will come form the executive-producer of the CBS show Man With a Plan, will not stray too far from the buddy cop sitcom…
WATCH LIVE: Senate Democrats doing everything they can to stop DeVos
In one final rally to stop Betsy DeVos from becoming the Secretary of Education in Trump’s Cabinet, Democrats are speaking on the Senate floor right now until Tuesday afternoon when the scheduled vote will go down, Politico reports. Two Republican senators said that they will not vote for DeVos when the full senate vote happens…
Why America needs to listen to the rage of its angry men
“Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.” —Horace Walpole It’s ironic that Facebook, lately the source of so many inchoate political hip shots from all quarters, was the source of a strangely…
The stars of ‘Detroiters’ want to buy you a beer tomorrow night
There is no better sign of friendship than buying someone a beer at your local neighborhood bar, and it seems that the stars of Comedy Central’s new show Detroiters are doing just that. 24 participating bars in and around Detroit will be giving out one free beer between 10-11 p.m. to toast the premiere of…
Annual 5k ‘PaczKi Run’ returns to Hamtramck
Perhaps the only thing better than the satisfaction of completing a 5k run? Chasing it with a paczek and a cold one. Hamtramck’s Fifth Annual 5K PaczKi Run will be held Saturday, Feb. 25. This year’s event begins at 10 a.m. at the corner of Joseph Campau Ave. and Hanley St. Registration is $40 and can be done…
Macomb County WWII collector displays Nazi caboodle in Craigslist ad
File this one under WTF. Five days ago a collector seeking, “WWI, WWII, Vietnam American, German, and Japanese items” posted an ad on the Detroit Craigslist page with this, uh, remarkable and eye-catching image. The collector — who, I suppose, could choose to amass Nazi paraphernalia for reasons other than being a Nazi himself —…
VIDEO: Betsy DeVos got the ‘SNL’ treatment this weekend and it was glorious
We were wondering if Saturday Night Live was going to poke fun at Betsy DeVos (her senate hearing alone was full of outrageous statements that make for comedy gold) and this past Saturday our dreams were fulfilled. Melissa McCarthy made a guest appearance to play White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and it brought the…
David Stroughter, 1966-2017: A remembrance
I first met David Stroughter in 1988. I was in Spahn Ranch, and Dave was a friend of our drummer Odell Nails. Dave came in to sing on an uncharacteristically dance-y track where we had the idea to use a drum machine and synths. “What would you do if two lions attacked me, tearing me…
Lady Gaga to play Little Caesars Arena in November
It turns out that her little show in the middle of a sports ball tournament and advertisement popularity contest last night was the kickoff for the announcement of a ginormous tour around the world. And yes, it will bring the fabulously artsy pop star to us! Lady Gaga will perform at the glittering Little Caesars…
Downtown Detroit Shake Shack aims for late February opening
A downtown Detroit Shake Shack location on Woodward Avenue will likely open sooner than expected. A spokeswoman for the Dan Gilbert-owned Bedrock told The Detroit News on Friday that the New York City burger chain will open in the First National Building by the end of the month. Bedrock manages the property. Shake Shack fancies…
U.P. Republican backpedals after tweeting ‘time for another Kent State’
A Republican leader from Marquette has apologized after suggesting that last week’s University of California-Berkeley protests should have solved with a Kent State-style crackdown — the 1970 massacre in which the Ohio National Guard shot four unarmed anti-Vietnam War protesters. On Thursday, Republican leader and “In the Right Mind” conservative talk show host Dan Adamini took…
Show review: Talib Kweli at The Shelter Saturday, Feb. 4
An epic five hours of hip-hop went down Saturday night in Detroit on February 4 at The Shelter (St. Andrew’s for those unfamiliar). The Detroit trio DopeDiv (acronym for Defeating Other People’s Expectations) opened up around 9 p.m. with a high octane 30-minute set. The group is made up of Freshmen, Ali Keys, and Jru Nukem.…
Anat Cohen’s expressive jazz comes to Michigan
Music students and jazz lovers alike are a lucky bunch this weekend and next week. Clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen – recurrent winner of “Clarinetist of the Year” titles from DownBeat, JazzTimes, and the Jazz Journalists Association, as well as frequent performer at the Detroit Jazz Festival – will be arriving in town to perform in the…
Wayne State University students, faculty petition for sanctuary campus designation
Wayne State students and faculty are circulating a petition urging the university’s leadership to designate the school a sanctuary campus following President Donald Trump’s move to deny federal funds to cities that won’t comply with federal officials in deporting undocumented immigrants. So far at least 1,300 people have expressed support for the proposal at the…
Record review: Boldy James, ‘The Art of Rock Climbing’
Boldy James The Art of Rock Climbing (Mass Appeal) If someone created a hip-hop category called “sophisticated trap,” Detroit native Boldy James would own it. There’s a difference between cats that tell trap tales versus cats who tell trap tales because they lived in trap houses. Enter DJ Butter presents The Art of Rock Climbing.…
This Kalamazoo man protesting Groundhog Day is a hero
If there’s one cause we get all agree on, it’s that winter sucks and it’s too damn cold to do anything. Yesterday was Groundhog Day, and apparently the groundhog saw its shadow which means 6 more weeks of winter. Since protests are busting out left and right over President Trump’s Executive Orders, this man decided…
Eminem and Flint Chozen Choir featured on Big Sean’s excellent new album
We’ve been counting down the days until Big Sean’s new album I Decided would be released, and luckily for us, that day is today. The 14-track LP shows Big Sean exploring some new territory, especially with tracks like “Bigger Than Me” and “Voice In My Head/Stick To the Plan” where Big Sean follows this “coming…
Cafe D’Mongo’s owner talks new hours, ‘high end’ second story/rooftop concept
Few spaces in Detroit are as well-loved as the little corner of downtown Larry Mongo created in Café D’Mongo’s Speakeasy. After re-opening ten years ago, the weird but still accessible bar is nearly iconic, yet still feels like sort of a secret. The latter is partly the result of it only opening Thursday through Saturday…
Halt on Trump travel ban ordered by Detroit federal judge Victoria Roberts
Detroit’s U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts has ordered a temporary halt on the enforcement of President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban. Roberts filed a court order Thursday on behalf of four lawful permanent residents, which include a U.S. citizen whose 9-year-old son was denied a visa to join his family and members of the Arab…
Detroiters’ home movies from 1967 depict destruction, racial segregation
Home movies depicting crumbling buildings in the aftermath of the 1967 riots were among more than half a dozen on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts theater Thursday, as the museum kicked off a series of screenings that will run through the 50-year anniversary of the riots in late July. The movies, shot between…
EMU drops punishments against black students for protesting racism
Eastern Michigan University has dropped all punishments issued against 16 students who were involved in anti-racism protests, according to a statement released today. The students were protesting the university’s perceived indifference to racist graffiti that appeared on campus late last year, and held several peaceful demonstrations which included disrupting an EMU football game and an after-hours sit-in…
Just announced: More Movement 2017 lineup with Testpilot, Richie Hawtin, Juicy J
With all of the secrecy, planning and hoopla which one might expect from a tech giant at its annual shareholders meeting, our friends at Paxahau today announce “phase two” of the announcing of the lineup for Movement, the internationally-beloved electronic music gathering which takes over downtown Detroit each year. Over forty acts have been announced…
See how McClure’s produces over 2,000 jars of pickles per day
In Detroit, McClure’s Pickles needs no introduction. Brothers Joe and Bob McClure launched the company in 2006, quickly making a name in the Detroit and New York City farmers’ market circuits before growing into an international brand over the last eleven years. The media has told the story of the brothers’ hard work, dedication, and…
UPDATED: Detroit-area man claims mother died after being turned away by Trump travel ban
Updated 4:01 p.m.: According to an update by WJBK Fox 2, Hager’s mother died on Jan. 22 — five days before Trump ordered the travel ban. Fox 2 is attempting to contact Hager for explanation. Originally posted 9:04 a.m.: A metro Detroit man is blaming President Donald Trump for the death of his mother, who…
Mo Pop will be back in Detroit July 29-30
Sorry we’re not sorry, but we’ve been dreaming about warm summer days since the snow first landed in Detroit, and the announcement that Detroit’s Mo Pop Festival will be back again this summer just made us want sunshine on our face even more. The boutique festival will take place July 29 & 28 at the…
One more Republican senator is needed to stop Betsy DeVos’ nomination
After a senate committee narrowly approved Betsy DeVos for the education secretary nominee, two GOP senators have announced that they will not support DeVos when the times comes to vote for her appointment. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said today on the Senate floor that she “simply cannot support her nomination.” Collins is the first…
This weekend: “The Boss” vs. Bob Seger — or the next best thing to it
This weekend, concertgoers in Port Huron are going to witness a kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience. It will be a confrontation of the classic rock giants, a battle between two rock behemoths seldom seen sharing the same stage: Bob “Silver Bullet” Seger versus Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen. Too good to be true? Well, actually, yes, of…
Avalon International Breads partners with Alternatives for Girls for month of February
For the entire month of February, Detroit-based Avalon International Breads will share proceeds with nonprofit Alternatives for Girls, a nonprofit that offers support to homeless and at-risk women through prevention, shelter, and outreach programs. Starting today, shoppers can purchase “Share the Love” gift boxes filled with sea salt chocolate chip cookies, which will benefit AFG’s outreach programs. And customers…
Big Sean announces Detroit pop-up shop
To coincide with the release of his new record I Decided, Detroit rapper Big Sean is launching a series of retail pop-up shops in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto — and yes, the Motor City. The pop-ups will include limited edition merch like including T-shirts, hats, hoodies, sweats, bomber jackets, and more, ranging from $30-$200. According to a…
R.I.P. Majesty Crush’s David Stroughter
Last night we were alerted that David Stroughter, of the immensely talented Detroit shoegazer act Majesty Crush (1990-’95), has died in Los Angeles. The band was of course hugely popular in the Detroit/ Windsor area, but their record label dissolved right as their debut album was released, and they never regained commercial momentum after that.…
Show review: Dear Darkness, Siamese, Queen Kwong, and Kaleido at Loving Touch
Show review: Dear Darkness, Kaleido, Siamese and Queen Kwong at the Loving Touch on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 I nearly got a parking ticket Saturday night in the nearly futile quest to try to find a legal spot to park in Ferndale. I followed the car ahead of me, and didn’t stop, through a “Michigan U”…
Michigan inmates sue doctor over alleged prison clinic sexual assault
It wasn’t long ago that that institutional food giant Aramark sat alone as the undisputed poster child for all that’s wrong with privatizing prison functions. There’s not much worse than a company that starves inmates, and — when it does feed them — sends rotten chicken tacos, rat turds, garbage, and maggots down the chow…
Politics & Prejudices: The nerd and the national menace
“I want you to look for those Michigan cows. Michigan cows are the second most productive in the nation after Colorado per cow. So when you see those cows, give them a shoutout. We want Colorado to moove on over.” — Gov. Rick Snyder, State of the State address, Jan. 17, 2017 “We assembled here…
Retrospective celebrates the life and art of John Brown, a canonical Cass Corridor character
It takes a lot to be thought of as an institution, an element so integral to a community that it’s impossible to imagine it not being there. Sometimes it’s a building, or a business, or even a natural feature — in special cases, it might be a person. Longtime Cass Corridor resident John Brown is…
Review: Pepe Z serves up inventive pies at El Club
You’re probably going to El Club for the music, not the food — but Matt Ziolkowski wants to change that. The sculptor-guitarist-drummer-singer, who as his chef persona goes by “Pepe Z,” was recruited to run the kitchen at the nine-month-old club on the basis of 20 years of home practice perfecting the pizza art. The…
Savage Love: Advice columnists without borders
Q: I am a 26-year-old heterosexual European man. I have been for four years in a monogamous relationship with my girlfriend. Recently she cheated on me. When she told me what she did, I felt a very strong pain, even stronger than I expected. After a few days of pain, however, I found that the…
How to cater the ultimate metro Detroit Super Bowl party
The Super Bowl — a nearly national holiday in which America turns on the tube to witness a reel of its ad agencies’ finest work broken up by a contest of tightly padded and spandexed men plowing into each other along with a usually impressive halftime performance — is nearly upon us! And what really…
18 bars where you can watch the big game in metro Detroit
On Sunday, the New England Patriots will play the Atlanta Falcons for the NFL’s top spot. If you don’t want to catch the game at home, here are our picks for the best places to watch Super Bowl 51 in metro Detroit. Bogart’z Features a tailgate buffet, cash bar, and prizes. Tickets are $20 advance,…
Higher Ground: A Wild West for Michigan marijuana
Since the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act (MMMA) became law in 2008, there have been a slew of legal maneuvers, precedent-setting cases, and even a new set of laws in 2016 regulating how cannabis may be cultivated and sold. All of these actions have been aimed, from one perspective or another, at clarifying what the law…
Horoscopes (Feb 1-7)
ARIES (March 21- April 20): You are poised on the threshold of success. Whatever you do, don’t drop the ball. The efforts of the last four to five years are just about to pay off. If this sounds a little too optimistic, it could be because things appear to be hanging on a thread. You’re…
JP Brown rides the beat with talk
Over the last two years, JP Brown has scorched Pontiac with some of the most diverse hip-hop in the entire country. Sometimes it feels trap, sometimes if feels boom-bap, and others times it feel ’90s throwback. Versatility is easily Brown’s biggest asset as he does not set out to create one particular type of sound;…
The real MCs come out from the underground
Fabled East Coast MC and outspoken social critic Talib Kweli appears at Saint Andrews Hall on Saturday, one of the final dates in a recent string of live performances Kweli has dubbed “The Seven Tour.” Kweli will be joined by Styles P — audiences may remember for his work with the LOX and Ruff Ryders…
