Cover Story
Alt-country band the Michigan Rattlers are ready to strike
Backstage at classic rocker Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band’s penultimate show last month at DTE Energy Music Theatre — or its old name, “Pine Knob,” as it is still stubbornly referred to by Seger’s fans — opening act the Michigan Rattlers has time to kill. Soundcheck isn’t for a few hours, so there’s…
Beat-maker TOKiMONSTA brings evolved electronica to MOCAD
It took Jennifer Lee, who performs beats as TOKiMONSTA, nearly two years to recover from two back-to-back brain surgeries, topped by a devastating breakup. Following the procedures, which were performed after the young producer had been diagnosed with a rare and possibly fatal brain disease, Moyamoya, she lost the ability to speak. Lee had to…
Mary J. Blige and Nas bring Royalty Tour to DTE Energy Music Theatre
There’s something about Mary J. Blige. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Blige’s game-changing record, My Life, which found the emerging singer grappling with depression, addiction, abuse, and self-exploration against soul-infused R&B. Naturally, 2019 has been shaping up to be a bit of a victory lap as the 48-year-old actress, activist, and icon received…
Ypsilanti’s Electric Blanket head to Dreamland Theater for album release
If you fancy Romeo Void, early PJ Harvey, some Karen O B-sides, and have a habit of taking a too-hot shower because, yeah, pain feels kinda good, look no further than Ypsilanti four-piece Electric Blanket and the band’s forthcoming sophomore record, Terminal Leisure. It’s going to be difficult to follow up 2018’s Viper, in which…
Postcards & Protest Songs at Planet Ant offers activism and music
After three years of Trump, there’s only one thing we can do: protest. Folk mainstays Audra Kubat and Dave Toennies will host Postcards & Protest Songs — an evening of action that celebrates the power of protest. Emily Rose, Darren Shelton, Jack Oats, Mike Galbraith, Alison Lewis, and Mike Ward are among some of the…
Drink all the beers at 22nd Annual Michigan Summer Beer Festival in Ypsilanti
Fact: Michigan loves beer. From Stroh’s to Founders Brewing Co. and Bell’s Brewery, we don’t just love the hoppy nectar of the gods, we make a shit ton of it, too. While an attempt to taste all of Michigan’s brews would likely mean a tragic end to your earthly voyage, there’s a more responsible way…
Immigration 101 for Allies event aims to unite and educate the community in fight against ICE
It’s 2019 and immigration concentration camps along the U.S. border not only exist but are over capacity thanks to Racist in Chief President Donald Trump. While our southern border remains a battleground for immigrants seeking refuge, Michigan was named the state with the second-highest number of ICE arrests in the nation, which means being an…
LeVar Burton will celebrate 10 years of creativity and ‘geek culture‘ at Maker Faire Detroit
Fake it ’til you make it — or in the case of the Maker Faire Detroit, just friggin’ make it. Described as “the best geek culture party in the Great Lakes,” the Maker Faire celebrates 10 years of showing and telling with a family-friendly showcase of invention and creativity. The two-day event boasts demonstrations, performances,…
Detroit gets caviar bumps and edible gold at Midtown’s forthcoming French diner
Yes, the “caviar bump” craze is indeed about to hit Detroit. For those not experienced in bumping caviar, it involves receiving a dollop of caviar on a demi-spoon or the outside of one’s hand between the thumb and pointer finger, and consuming it from there. At Savant, a new French diner two alums from Chef’s…
Armageddon Beachparty Lounge celebrates first year with ‘Vibrant Oasis’ celebration
Happy one-year anniversary to the Armageddon Beachparty Lounge. Last year, married couple and creative duo Elena Smyth and Aubrey Smyth (aka Kozma and Motu, aka Detroit’s “ambassadors of psychedelia”) took a break from the music festival circuit and put down roots in Detroit. The result is an eclectic lounge where you can buy original surrealist…
Detroit’s Ladyship Warship debut new music video at Armageddon Beachparty
There’s nothing soft about Detroit duo Ladyship Warship. Together Kristin Lyn (percussion, vocals) and EZ Meyers (guitar, vocals) meld the rolling demonic sludge of Black Sabbath with hints of Jack White’s other band, the Dead Weather. Rabbit Ears, Hung Up, and Chicago’s Pixel Grip have been enlisted to celebrate the premiere of Ladyship Warship’s latest…
Boozy 3-day Outer Limits Summer Stroh-down welcomes 30 bands
Stroh’s — or as we call it, liquid fool’s gold (that’s a dang compliment) — serves as the summer inspiration for one of the city’s most rock ’n’ roll weekends of the year — Outer Limits Summer Stroh-down. The three-day event will see a whopping 30 Detroit area acts take the Stroh-down stage with music…
Metro Detroit bands take on ‘the best band on the planet’ with Radiohead Night at the Loving Touch
There are two camps of people: those who like Radiohead and those who live, breathe, and eternally suck the teat of the longstanding pioneers of art-rock until they’re drunk on Thom Yorke’s marble-mouthed wisdom. Well, back by popular demand is an evening for those who fall into the latter category. Welcome to Radiohead Night III,…
Hey, you — Metro Times is seeking fall editorial interns
Looking for an opportunity to build your writing portfolio while getting college credit? Then look no further, because Metro Times is currently seeking fall editorial interns. As an editorial intern, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your writing skills while gaining newsroom experience. Do you want to pursue music journalism? Investigative reporting? Maybe you’re a…
Nintendo, Sega, and Atari — oh my! Vintage video game adults-only happy hour comes to Science Center
Long before virtual reality, there was virtual ping-pong and yes, it was about as exciting as it sounds. The humble beginnings of what has become a $130 billion industry, however, is having a resurgence in popularity because no matter what advancements are made, nothing beats jumping on shelled dinosaurs as a tiny, mustachioed set of…
Detroit City Council votes to keep Spirit Plaza open in a last-minute reversal
Actually, it looks like downtown Detroit’s Spirit Plaza isn’t going anywhere after all. The Detroit City Council moved to preserve the Spirit of Detroit Plaza for five more years in a 5-4 vote Tuesday morning. The pedestrian gathering space — which has closed off a section of Woodward Avenue between Jefferson Avenue and Larned Street…
Detroit’s famous Gold Dollar bar gutted in suspected arson
A suspicious fire on Monday gutted the former Gold Dollar, a small bar that once packed in crowds with drag shows and live music in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. Arson investigators will be searching for clues Tuesday. “There are a lot of video cameras in that area,” Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell tells Metro Times. “They…
New marijuana expungement bills are a sea change for how Michigan treats marijuana entrepreneurs
There has been a lot of positive movement in government and regulations around adult-use marijuana in the past couple of weeks. First the Marijuana Regulatory Agency released emergency rules for recreational adult-use marijuana. A couple of weeks later MRA officials released a social-equity plan as called for by Prop. 1, which legalized adult-use marijuana in…
Kamala Harris introduced legislation to decriminalize marijuana on federal level
California Sen. Kamala Harris wants to free the weed. The Democratic 2020 presidential candidate introduced legislation on Tuesday that would decriminalize and tax marijuana on the federal level. The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act would also allow for re-sentencing or expungement of marijuana-based criminal records and ban the denial of public benefits for marijuana use…
Tlaib says minimum wage should be $20 per hour, not $15
Rashida Tlaib says the federal minimum wage should be $18 to $20 per hour, not just $15 as many Democrats are pushing for. Tlaib made the comments on Sunday while she served food at a One Fair Wage event at COLORS restaurant in Detroit. The $15 per hour minimum wage campaign started around five years…
Politicians discuss voter suppression, impeachment at NAACP convention
Thousands descended upon Cobo Center this week for the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People’s 110th National Convention. The NAACP is one of the leading civil rights groups for African-Americans nationwide. With a theme of “When We Fight, We Win,” the event hosted speakers such as Reps. Brenda Lawrence and Rashida Tlaib, Senate…
7-Eleven is giving away free AirPods to anyone in Ann Arbor willing to order $50 worth of crap from their app
This is not a drill, 7-Eleven is giving away a limited number of free Apple AirPods on delivery orders over $50 on Thursday, July 25. 7-Eleven is only running this promotion in less than 30 markets nationwide and Ann Arbor is one of them. Basically, all you have to do is download the 7NOW Delivery…
Traverse City Whiskey Co. expected to open tasting room inside Como’s soon
Last year, Traverse City Whiskey Co. announced that it would be opening up a tasting room inside Como’s in Ferndale — and that time is almost here. The popular Michigan distillery wants to offer metro Detroit a “taste of Up North” at the staple neighborhood restaurant. After being closed for all of 2018, Como’s reopened to…
Dethroned MAGA Miss Michigan defends ‘offensive’ tweets
A Trump-supporting beauty pageant winner who was stripped of her “Miss Michigan” title over Islamophobic and racially insensitive social media posts defended her controversial remarks on Monday. In an interview with CNN, University of Michigan senior Kathy Zhu said she was just citing statistics and facts when she criticized Black people and Muslims. Last week,…
Global street food restaurant, juice and oxygen bar headed to Rosedale Park
A new global street food restaurant called Street Cuisine and a neighboring juice and oxygen bar open this week in Detroit’s Rosedale Park neighborhood. The establishments, at 19803 W. McNichols Rd. and 19805 W. McNichols Rd., respectively, are both run by Ari Shah, a day trader who grew up in the neighborhood. Street Cuisine will…
New legislation aims to save at-risk species in Michigan
A new bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell would put almost $1.4 billion a year toward pulling at-risk animal and plant species back from the brink — with about $27 million of that for Michigan. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would allow states and tribes to better implement their wildlife action plans to help…
Jazz and pop artist Jesse Palter returns to metro Detroit to celebrate the release of ‘Paper Trail’
Singer-songwriter Jesse Palter is shifting gears. The West Bloomfield native has returned to metro Detroit to celebrate the release of Paper Trail, her debut full-length solo record which serves as a transition from classic jazz to pop balladry. Palter’s journey to the creation of Paper Trail is, in many ways, the emotional source material for…
New Yorkers bring anti-gun violence exhibit to Detroit Art Week
Brooklyn-based curator Amanda McDonald Crowley and Brooklyn-based artist Amy Khoshbin teamed up to bring an anti-gun violence exhibition to Detroit Art Week, taking place July 17-21. Gun control has been an ongoing debate in the U.S., with the conversation escalating after the tragic Parkland, Sandy Hook, Pulse nightclub, and Las Vegas shootings, among others. In…
2 Detroiters among New York Times’ 16 Black chefs changing food in America
Folk owner Kiki Louya and Coop owner Maxcell Hardy are among 16 chefs across the nation named by The New York Times as having a significant impact on food. The Times sought out chefs who pushed past “Eurocentric traditions that many absorbed in culinary school. They are reflecting Africa and its diaspora in their kitchens,…
Detroit sisters who are ‘polar opposites’ go viral on Twitter
Two Detroit sisters went viral this week after Alexandria Bishop tweeted out some pictures with her sister, Jessica Toutant, showcasing their drastically different personal styles. The tweet, which reads, “My sister and I are polar opposites,” shows a picture of the sisters sitting side by side. While Bishop looks rather serious rocking all black, her…
CAIR: Muslim American couple told to ‘go back to your own country’ at Tim Hortons
An advocacy group filed a civil rights complaint Thursday against Tim Hortons after a worker at the chain’s Ypsilanti Township restaurant allegedly refused to serve a Muslim American couple and demanded they “go back to your own country.” The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed the complaint on behalf of Alaa…
These 5 Michigan reps voted to impeach our racist president
The U.S. House on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to kill an impeachment resolution brought by Rep. Al Green. The Texas Democrat introduced the resolution after Trump earlier this week told four congresswomen of color to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came.” The four representatives include Alexandria…
Aretha Franklin tribute show to benefit music students and cancer research
The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre is hosting a tribute concert to mark the one-year anniversary of the Queen of Soul’s death. The Aug. 16 show will celebrate the life, legacy, and career of Aretha Franklin, and will focus on classical, R&B, and gospel — the musical genres Franklin performed. “This year’s concert will pay tribute to…
Actually, the Motor City wants more bike lanes
The people have spoken, and they want more bike lanes — or at least that’s according to a recent survey. A survey of more than 3,000 metro Detroiters conducted by the Southeast Michigan Coalition of Governments found that a majority of respondents would like to walk or bike more, but a lack of sidewalks and bike paths…
Detroit police commissioner who was arrested at meeting won’t be charged
Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton won’t face charges for disorderly conduct after he was arrested last week at a public meeting. Detroit Police Chief James Craig said he made the decision not to pursue charges “after consulting several people, including board members.” Still, Craig defended the arrest during a raucous meeting. “The arrest was legal, and…
Tlaib co-sponsors resolution to protect right to boycott Israel
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar yesterday introduced a resolution co-sponsored by Rashida Tlaib and civil rights icon and Democratic Georgia Rep. John Lewis that aims to protect the Boycott Divestment Sanction movement that targets Israeli companies. The resolution states that “all Americans have the right to participate in boycotts in pursuit of civil and human rights…
Macomb Twp.’s serial pool pooper caught
Justice has been served in Macomb Township now that a serial pool pooper has been caught. The community of Buckingham Woods was on edge this month after it was revealed that someone was wreaking havoc in its neighborhood pool. Due to the frequency of the bowel movements, the neighborhood association believed it was not a…
Iggy Pop announces new ‘somber’ record, ‘Free,’ due out in September
For his latest record, Detroit’s godfather of punk is trading in his signature sweat-soaked hedonism for a somber and meditative sound that lends itself to search and restore more than “Search and Destroy.” Iggy Pop announced the details surrounding his forthcoming release, Free, which is slated for a Sept. 6 release via Loma Vista. Described…
Detroit considers posting health inspection grades in windows
Is your favorite Detroit restaurant storing chicken at 52 degrees? Are its employees washing their hands before exiting the latrine? Are those veggies not being washed before they land in your salad? At this point, you really have no idea what goes on in Detroit’s kitchens, but that could soon change. City council member Scott…
Woodward and Jefferson may finally open up again after City Council rejects Spirit of Detroit Plaza renewal
City Council members failed to reach a majority vote Tuesday to keep the Spirit of Detroit Plaza a pedestrian gathering space for five more years. The plaza — which has closed off a section of Woodward Avenue between Jefferson Avenue and Larned Street since 2017 — will be removed, and roads will reopen for automotive…
Greta Van Fleet elects producer of Adele, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney for new record
It appears as though Greta Van Fleet may soon be saying “Hello” to a new producer to follow up Anthem of the Peaceful Army — the Michigan band’s divisive chart-topping debut. The Detroit Free Press confirms that GVF has put the prolific Greg Kurstin at the helm of its sophomore record, which may be released as…
Congressional committee dials up anti-robocall legislation
Those annoying robocalls that drive people crazy are the targets of a bill before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology on Wednesday. The “Stopping Bad Robocalls Act” would require the Federal Communications Commission to adopt consumer-protection rules, forcing telecom companies to install technology that would identify and block more of the calls. Maureen…
Watching democracy die, part 3: Can a post-Trump America pull itself back from the brink?
In How Democracies Die, political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt argue that there are three strategies would-be authoritarians — from Juan Peron in Argentina, to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, to Silvia Berlusconi in Italy, to Vladimir Putin in Russia — have employed in their efforts to consolidate power: capturing the referees, sidelining key players,…
Review: Bodega Cat serves up hot tamales in Southwest Detroit
Gabriel Martinez, born in Puebla, Mexico, counts off the three American dreams: “1. Citizenship. 2. To own a house with a white fence. And 3. To go into debt to set up a business.” With his mom, Rosa Ortega, Martinez bought a house in Southwest Detroit at auction six years ago, and now, at Bodega…
Ingrid LaFleur’s Afrofuturist ‘Manifest Destiny’ makes it clear the future is Black
The first installment of Manifest Destiny — a new exhibition that opens Saturday curated by Afrofuturist curator (and former Detroit mayoral candidate) Ingrid LaFleur — is a billboard installation by artist Alisha Wormsley that went up earlier this month above Queen’s Bar in downtown Detroit. The phrase “THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE” in…
Detroit Art Week is back, bigger than before
When he arrived in Detroit via New York in 2016, publicist Amani Olu was blown away by the arts scene he found here. That inspired him to highlight it by co-founding the inaugural Detroit Art Week with Aleiya Lindsey in 2018, which largely united numerous existing arts exhibitions and events already happening under one banner.…
Why Detroit is home for neo-soul superstar Dwele
Dwele could not be happier to be home. The neo soul singer is performing Wednesday, July 24 at the former Chene Park. “Playing at Chene Park is always a fun time for me,” he says. “Being a Detroiter, it’s an honor to play there. For an artist, you have to get in your Chene Park…
Artist Ellen Rutt takes on climate change and interconnectivity in new exhibition
Artist Ellen Rutt will soon turn 30 and she’s nervous — but it has little to do with her milestone birthday, general aging woes, or the pressure to fulfill the “30s are the new 20s” trope. She’s concerned with the Earth, global warming, and how to make people care. “If I’m going to make work…
Michigan’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency cuts pot licensing fees in 19 cities
The Marijuana Regulatory Agency took a big step toward fulfilling the social equity provisions of the adult-use marijuana law when director Andrew Brisbo announced the 19 communities that will benefit from the policy. Agency workers made the determination by looking at where marijuana convictions exceeded the average rate for the state. Out of that group,…
Horoscopes (July 17-23)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 Before you can get out of limbo, there are a few things that need to be cleared up. If you’re upset that things aren’t going anywhere, remind yourself that this lack of progress means it’s time to get real and look at what’s in the way. You’re smart enough…
Review: Ebony Roberts’s ‘The Love Prison Made and Unmade’
Ebony Roberts, a native Detroiter who built a career as one of Detroit’s best-known youth advocates and community activists, has penned her memoir. The Love Prison Made and Unmade is book that details the various twists and turns of Robert’s romantic encounters that lead up to her relationshiop with Shaka Shengor, a man who was…
