*Got an e-mail from local scribe and Paybacks leader Wendy Case, announcing the FIfth Annual Life -Affirming Rock 'N' Roll Garage Sale, which will be held in Ferndale this coming weekend -- Saturday, September 5th, to be exact. If we're talking "exact," then it's not exactly an "annual event," since Ms. Case and crew took two years off. But what this involves is the local rock 'n' roll minions putting tons of their accumulated junk on sale -- CDs, albums, 45s, cool vintage and new clothing and home goods, musical instruments, jewelry, etc. It's not exactly for charity (unless you consider lining the pockets of starving musicians to be a charitable endeavor) but the idea is to rid yourself of all the baggage in your life to make room for all the new crap headed your way. As Ms. Case says in her note, you deserve the best crap life has to offer! Again, it's this Saturday, September 5th (rain day is Sunday the 6th), from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 418 E. Cambourne in Ferndale. See the poster (featuring a photo of Dan Kroha) at the bottom of this post.
*Don Was' Motor City Hayride launched this past Saturday, August 29th at 10 pm ET on Sirius Radio as part of that cable-satellite radio's Outlaw Country network. The shows will then be rebroadcast on Sundays at 8 am and on Mondays at 10 a.m. Don discussed the show in our interview with him earlier this summer -- but the premise is that the native Detroiter will host Detroit-themed shows from various locations in his hometown and feature interviews with local notables, ranging from Mitch Ryder to Elmore Leonard, with tons of cool Detroit-linked music in-between. “We’ll spin some cool records --- some of which come from my personal stash of unreleased master -- and interview local notables who are keeping the city interesting and vibrant,” says the master producer.
*Rap music is, of course, all about the competiton -- and Red Bull is sponsoring the Detroit part of its Big Tune: A Head to Head Producer Beat Battle at the Magic Stick a week from Friday, September 11th. Vitamin D and J. Moore are hosting, with guest performances by Guilty Simpson and Black Milk. Doors open at 8 p.m.; admission is is $5.
*We're a little behind on this but The Station, a new renegade radio outlet based in Hamtramck (with about a mile broadcasting radius) launched earlier this summer. They're soliciting material from Michigan indie artists and won't be playing material licensed by ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, Sound Exchange, or similar licensing represnentatives. Indie artists can either send high-bitrate mp3s to [email protected] or send CDs and other material to: The Station, 11758 Sobieski, Hamtramck, MI 48212. Click here to check out their Facebook page.
*Speaking of indie artists and bands, if you getting ready to hit the road, Better Than The Van, a website based in Ausin, Texas, helps to connect touring bands with free places to stay across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Cool idea. Click here to check it out.
*Congratulations to local music honcho Howard Hertz (Eminem, the Go, Detroit Music Awards, etc.) who celebrated his 60th birthday last week. Congratulations, Howard. You don't look a day over 59! Check out the image of the young Howard and his soon-to-be bride (at the time) below.
*Finally, speaking of us older farts, most of us are excited about the September 9, 2009 (as in "Number 9. Number 9....") of the Beatles remasters. But even if you're really young, you should be excited about them as well. Brian Smith and I have been talking about nothing else for the last two weeks. The Mono boxset is the way to go for lovers of the Fabs. However, on that same day, the new Beatles Rock Band is being released for the youngsters. And on Tuesday, September 8th, from 9 p.m. to midnight, Blockbuster Video in Royal Oak (27942 Woodward Ave.) is hosting a party in its store, complete with a Beatles tribute band, the Backbeats, and a chance to win the pretty expensive Beatles Rock Band package. A video gamer obviously isn't writing this, of course -- but check out the TV comercial for the thing below. Makes me want to run out and buy it, along with the required Playstation or wii...even though I'm not at all sure what it does, how it works, or what it's all about. But the below video sure looks cool.
Mr. Hertz and the future Mrs.
