Cover Stories
Charlotte de Witte makes her Movement Music Festival debut
Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte has been steadily making her mark in the world of techno through her magnetically dark mixes and by transferring her infectious energy into entranced crowds around the world. We caught up with de Witte before her first time playing Movement to discuss how Detroit techno has influenced her artistry, her…
Detroit is Techno City, and techno is Black
On Memorial Day weekend, a persistent thud spreads over downtown Detroit from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning, originating from the center of Hart Plaza and continuing to the after-parties that boom from different corners of the city. It’s Movement Music Festival weekend and people are here to see what Detroit and its techno or electronic…
Electronic music prophet Claude VonStroke gets a hometown welcome at Movement Music Festival
Claude VonStroke has been flying high since founding the San Francisco-based and Detroit-loving record label Dirtybird in 2005. He has hosted the Dirtybird Campout Festival and Dirtybird BBQ Parties across the country, was voted America’s DJ in 2016, played both weekends at Electric Forest in 2017, and on Saturday, May 26, he closes out the…
10 can’t-miss metro Detroit artists at 2018’s Movement Music Festival
It’s no secret that Movement Music Festival draws renowned musical acts across genres from every corner of the world. But the truth is, you don’t have to look beyond our own backyard for some of the most innovative electronic artists working today. Nearly 40 acts on the bill this year hail from metro Detroit, many…
Why DJ Loco Dice is winging his Movement Music Festival set
Tech-house producer Loco Dice was born in Tunisia and raised in Düsseldorf, Germany, where he had a 10-year residency at the legendary nightclub Tribehouse. He had another four-year stint at DC-10 in Ibiza from 2002 through 2006, and he’s since played countless clubs, beach parties, and headlining sets at the biggest electronic music festivals in…
Cass Corridor deli Rocco’s is an Italian sandwich paradise
For all the range you’ll find in Midtown’s menus, the neighborhood lacks much in the way of delis. And with the exception of La Pecora Nera near downtown’s Capitol Park, Detroit proper is pretty much deficient in Italian delis — the kind that stacks mortadella, salami, capicola and prosciutto on crusty, rustic Italian bread — and…
Righteous babe Ani DiFranco is headed to Ann Arbor’s Power Center
Over the course of nearly 30 years and 20 albums, singer-songwriter, poet, and activist Ani DiFranco has blazed a trail all her own. As one of the first artists to create their own label (Righteous Babe Records in 1990 — she was 19), DiFranco reminds us that folk isn’t about wielding an acoustic guitar: It’s…
‘Thrash Grass’ creators The Native Howl gear up for album release at Magic Bag
What in the hell is “thrash grass”? If you guessed a blend of thrash metal and bluegrass, you’re almost there. The Native Howl created the genre in 2015, though they have been playing music together since their high school days. This Leonard, Mich. foursome labeled themselves as traditional metal fans until they attended Wheatland Music…
The ‘Grim Reaper’ is coming to Michigan
Attorney General Jeff Sessions is set to visit Michigan on Thursday to give a speech at the annual dinner of the state’s chapter of the Federalist Society, an influential conservative legal group known for promoting late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia’s brand of constitutional originalism. The talk will be held in Plymouth, outside Detroit, where Sessions’…
Bask in the feel-goodness of Frank Turner at the Fillmore
What the world needs now is some feel-good tunes, and no one is quite as capable of delivering as the king of kindness Frank Turner. Sure, the singer-songwriter from across the pond might not be a household name, but Turner has seven solo albums under his belt since his split as frontman for the post-hardcore…
Bo Burnham’s ‘Eighth Grade’ will kick-off Cinetopia’s opening night
Returning for its seventh year, the Cinetopia Film Festival showcases a handpicked program of the best of the best from global festivals. This year’s fest will feature more than 44 world-renowned films from May 31 through June 10, and will span Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Detroit. Kicking things off is the Midwestern premiere of the…
Chase the rainbow at the seventh annual Ferndale Pride
Life doesn’t have to be a drag — but we sure hope it is, honey. For the seventh year in a row, fabulous Ferndale will kick-off the summer season with a celebration of our LGBTQ brothers, sisters, and nonbinary buds. Hundreds of vendors as well as participating businesses along the main drag will raise their…
Signed, sealed, delivered — Motown: The Musical brings history to life at the Fisher Theater
The beat of a generation, the soul of a nation, and a musical revolution — Motown changed the world. And behind it all? Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The Tony Award-nominated jukebox musical based on Gordy’s autobiography To Be Loved: The Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, Motown: The Musical takes us back to…
Until June 4, everything at this Salvation Army in Pontiac is priced at 50 cents
Talk about being priced to move! We hear that a Salvation Army outlet in Pontiac is closing on June 4, and until that day everything is marked down to 50 cents. The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) is closing due to continued, costly building repair and maintenance issues. A spokesperson said that closing the 10,000-square-foot center…
Belle Isle closed due to overcrowding — it’s likely the Grand Prix’s fault
Belle Isle was in the news on Memorial Day because the Michigan State Police temporarily closed the public island park due to overcrowding. But there’s one thing that almost none of the local media mentioned — about a quarter of the island is already shut off from the public. Each spring, the construction of the…
Seattle raised Amazon’s taxes to help the poor as Michigan offered the company $4B
There seems to be quite a difference in how governments in Michigan and Seattle approach their richest and poorest residents. In Seattle, the city council is imposing a new tax on the city’s wealthiest corporations and using that money to help the poor. Meanwhile, in Detroit and Michigan, governments are offering up and giving away poor…
Jeff Buckley’s manager to remember the late icon at Saint Andrew’s Hall
On May 29, 1997, Jeff Buckley vanished into the Mississippi River. What the musician left behind was a single studio record and a multitude of unanswered questions. On the anniversary of the late singer’s death, Buckley’s longtime manager Dave Lory released a book that serves as an intimate glimpse into the life of one of…
Now Michigan is being invaded by pelicans
Similar to this past winter’s arctic snowy owl invasion, this spring has seen an influx of another unusual bird for Michigan: the American White Pelican. According to the birdwatchers over at eBird.com, pelicans have been spotted in Michigan over the month of May. The large-beaked birds have been primarily spotted in the Pointe Mouillee State…
Kwame’s son releases rap video as part of campaign fighting for father’s release
Ex-mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s youngest son has dropped a new rap song and video as part of a web campaign fighting for the ex-mayor’s release from prison. “It’s too much time/ there was no crime … 28 year injustice/ black fathers sit in cells while their family out on crutches/ rig the system/ and they wonder…
MDEQ ‘polluter panels’ bills making their way to Gov. Snyder’s desk
A package of bills that has Michigan environmentalists hopping mad seem to be on their way to being signed. Senate Bills 652, 653, and 654, now making their way to the desk of Gov. Rick Snyder, have been described as gentle, common-sense reforms of the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. As Richard K. Studley of…
Catch a concert in the garden at this amazing Minoru Yamasaki home in Palmer Woods
Palmer Woods Music In Homes is presenting a rare chance tonight to catch an Afro-Cuban musical performance in the garden of a Minuro Yamasaki-designed home in Palmer Woods. Yamasaki is most famous for designing the World Trade Center, but locally he’s behind modernist masterpieces like the Michigan Consolidated Gas Company Building, Temple Beth El, Wayne…
Detroit techno history hotline helps you get learnt during Movement
The folks over at the Red Bull Music Academy have developed a “Detroit History Hotline” to better acquaint Movement festival goers with the music genre they’ll be dancing to this weekend. Think museum audio-tour — except you’re at a rave and have to call in and step away from music to hear what’s up. The hotline will…
‘Detroit: Become Human’ is finally out and people feel some type of way
“How far will you go to be free?” The tagline for the neo-noir thriller (and the most anticipated video game release of the year) Detroit: Become Human suggests that oppression has befallen the city which has been reimagined as a dystopian titan of manufacturing. Not of automobiles, though, because that’s so 1950, but of androids…
Guess which Detroit bands are featured in the new game ‘Detroit: Become Human’
The word is out now: With the release of the new video game Detroit: Become Human we can now reveal that some actual, nonfictional Detroit bands are featured in the game. We don’t know how they appear, we don’t know why, but we do know which bands and which songs are included. The bands include some…
Detroit’s new KAWS statue vandalized within a week of installation
It’s been just a week since Dan Gilbert and his wife gifted Detroit with a unique statue, and already, vandals have targeted it with graffiti. A statement was found scrawled on the ground in front of the 17-foot tall “Waiting” this morning, but it was quickly rendered undecipherable thanks to swift cleanup by a group of…
Wu-Tang Clan to close out Movement a quarter-century after the hip-hop supergroup’s breakthrough
One of the most memorable years in hip-hop music history was 1993: Dr. Dre dropped his groundbreaking album The Chronic the year before, setting up Snoop Dogg to emerge as hip hop’s biggest star with his release of Doggy Style. Other West Coast artists had their highest first-week album sales — including Ice Cube’s Lethal Injection,…
Camp Bacon, Livernois Tap’s one-year beer party, and other hot Detroit food events
Camp Bacon Zingerman’s five-day festival celebrating all things bacon returns for its ninth year on June 1, with a variety of events, including a visit from Rick Bayless, films, cooking classes, kids events, and sample-heavy street fair. The main event on Saturday, June 1, features a wide range of speakers presenting a variety of bacon-themed…
Here’s all the shit Schuette owns — including those properties the Calley camp says he hid
Republican gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Bill Schuette has disclosed his assets with the hope that it will make people trust him more, which means we now have a chance to check out all the cool shit Dow Chemical money can buy! But first — the reason for the disclosure. Schuette released the financial statement…
There are palm trees in Detroit and the reason isn’t as cool as you might think
“Los Angeles is like Detroit but with palm trees.” Perhaps you’ve heard this backhanded sentiment before. Well, guess what? Detroit has palm trees — five palm trees. Detroit’s 48201 got the 90210 treatment earlier this week when the palms were planted at the intersection of Grand River Ave. and Hobson St., just off the Lodge. Detour first…
Report finds greater Detroit among most segregated U.S. metropolitan areas
It doesn’t exactly come as a surprise, but a new study from the number-crunchers over at Apartment List shows that metro Detroit is the third-most segregated large metropolitan area in the United States. (And this is 50 years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act.) Here are some snippets from the study: • Metro…
Betsy DeVos to schools: Call ICE on potentially undocumented kids
Michigan’s most ignorant daughter, Betsy DeVos, is once again pissing off a good chunk the country. This time Trump’s Education Secretary told a lawmaker on Tuesday that schools can choose to call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on potentially undocumented students. “I think that’s a school decision, it’s a local community decision,” DeVos told the…
‘Solo’ is only so-so
How did Han Solo meet Chewbacca? How did he meet Lando Calrissian? How did he become captain of the Millennium Falcon? How did he get involved with Jabba the Hutt? How did he get his blaster (because of course he didn’t just buy it at the blaster counter at a Corellian Walmart)? Just what is…
Detroit’s population continues to drop, according to new census data
Detroit is still hemorrhaging esidents — though the bleeding has slowed, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Numbers released Thursday show the Motor City’s population loss has diminished slightly over the past two years. As of last summer, Detroit’s population was reported at 673,104, or a decline of 2,376 residents from 2016…
Jack Lessenberry resigns from Michigan Radio following sexual harassment claims
Former Metro Times columnist and Wayne State University professor Jack Lessenberry has resigned from his role as senior political analyst at Michigan Radio after being accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. The allegations were made in an in-depth report published last week by Deadline Detroit. The online outlet quoted both former students and colleagues…
Shortly releases new song ‘Spare Time’ and it’s got all the feels
Not to say we told you so, but we chose Shortly (aka Alexandria Maniak) as one of Metro Times’ bands to watch in 2018. Since then she’s opened for Phoebe Bridgers, the Decemberists, Jeff Rosenstock, and she’s hitting the road with Bad Bad Hats next month. And the girl only has only one damn song out.…
Global gossip girl Kathy Griffin is coming to the Fisher Theatre
Nearly a year after Kathy Griffin shared a mock photo of herself holding the bloody and decapitated head of President Donald Trump, a stunt that threatened her career, the outspoken comedian found herself agreeing with the human Cheeto this week as they both took to Twitter to show support for the firey right-wing mouthpiece Tomi…
How Chef Greg’s Soul ‘N’ The Wall revived Detroit’s legendary Boogaloo Sandwich
A dish with a name like “Boogaloo sandwich” is going to compel to most to ask “What is that?” Someone in the know might tell you, or a little bit of quick research will reveal, that it’s a gourmet sloppy Joe, a loose burger, a barbecue sandwich, a hoagie, or a Detroit-style sloppy Joe. But…
Michigan gubernatorial Democrat candidates to face off in three upcoming debates
Michiganders will have soon have a chance to see the state’s Democrat candidates for governor go toe-to-toe in a series of online and televised debates. The debates will feature former state Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, businessman Shri Thanedar, and former Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed. The first debate is coming up on May 31 at…
Ex-GOP Congressman says he regrets supporting gerrymandering as ‘blue wave’ looms
A former GOP Congressman explains why he’s now working to dismantle gerrymandering — even though he voted for it and his party has benefited greatly from it in Michigan. Penning an opinion piece for the Detroit Free Press, former Rep. John J.H. Schwarz says that though he voted for gerrymandering — the redrawing of districts…
Judge in Nassar case says John Engler should step down from MSU
The Ingham County judge who became an internet sensation after her emotional remarks during Larry Nassar’s sentencing now has a message for John Engler: Step down from your role as interim president of Michigan Statue University. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina made the statement ahead of a speech at a “Women in Blue” breakfast event for Detroit…
Americans are increasingly afraid of autonomous cars, study finds
A new report from AAA finds that an increasing number of Americans do not, for one, welcome our autonomous vehicles overlords. The study follows a spate of high-profile accidents involving autonomous technology, including an autonomous Uber vehicle which killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz. earlier this year — the first reported fatal crash involving a…
The feds want to know how many of these things are in the Detroit River
The monster pictured above isn’t an extra from the last Alien movie, but it is the thing of nightmares. It’s a sea lamprey — an eel-like, parasitic invasive species that has decimated local fish populations by boring into them with those creepy Saarlacc-like teeth. And ever since the Atlantic Ocean native species first infiltrated the Great Lakes…
Thank your Michigan senators — bank deregulation is on its way
A day after passing the House, a bill to roll back regulations on all but the nation’s largest banks is heading to President Donald Trump’s desk, where he says he will sign it. Big legislation will be signed by me shortly. After many years, RIGHT TO TRY and big changes to DODD FRANK. — Donald…
A new vegan taco spot is planned for Southwest Detroit
A new cafe that trades in vegan tacos and organic coffee will take over the former Charlie Clark’s Bar space at the corner of Morrell Street and West Vernor Highway in Southwest Detroit. The owners of vegan taco and coffee truck Rocky’s Road Brew purchased the building and hope to open Damelo Cafe by this…
Easy, breezy, Ouizi: Louise Jones makes it all look so damn simple
To be able to watch Louise Jones do her thing is a privilege and a joy. As her street art moniker, Ouizi, Jones has made a name for herself as a muralist best known for painting oversized, intricate flowers, and her shared Eastern Market studio space is filled with them. During a recent interview, Jones…
A delightfully awkward conversation with comedian Maria Bamford
To understand comedian Maria Bamford is to understand the darkest corners of your own mind. The 47-year-old is best known for her mélange of offbeat voices, parodied characters, and sharp, absurdist humor. However, it might be her ability to joke about “electric-green gripper socks” issued by the psych ward she spent time in after suffering…
Review: Windsor’s Jubba serves up a taste of Somalia
When you visit Jubba, a Somali restaurant in Windsor, you’ll find a laminated sign adorning the side of a drink cooler next to the register: “PLEASE BE PATIENT. This is not fast food. This is a restaurant. If you want faster service, call ahead.” This is something you’ll learn after your first visit, as the…
Bill Meyer’s key to life
Bill Meyer is a do-it-yourself kind of guy. “I’m the kind of guy who just reads books and watches videos and learns how to do something,” he says. “I do a lot of physical work, like roofing and siding. I try to keep active. I pretty much do all my construction and plumbing. I’ve learned…
Savage Love: Pissy
I like watersports, and I heard about a guy in a rural area who holds piss parties in his backyard. I found a mailing list for those interested in piss play, and it wasn’t long before he posted about one of these parties. People on the list talk a big game, but no one else…
Horoscopes (May 23-29)
ARIES: March 21 – April 20 It’s hard to say for sure where you all are at. In some cases your bridges have burned and there’s no going back. For others the picture is bright, and there is newness and change, along with a desire to grow and evolve. In the former case, coming to…
