Somehow Datacarbon Recordings and Royce Music Distribution have managed to fit almost all of my favorite Michigan-based or Michigan-roots bands on two new compilations out this week and next. Datacarbon’s Across Woodward Volume 1 introduced me to a new favorite as well. I heart the Detachment Kit!
The other bands include Judah Johnson, Showshane, halon, A Thousand Times Yes, Paik, Utah!, Kris Kaczor, Adam’s Castle and Laughing Gas. A few tracks are unique to this release, including Showshane’s “Wind Creator,” and halon’s “Down With the Optimator.” Utah!’s saying farewell to Kalamazoo this week. They’re off to North Carolina to soak in the successes of their debut, ’Zoo Sounds and Destructovision.
If you’re feelin’ it, go to the Gold Dollar (3129 Cass Ave., Detroit, 313-833-6873) on Friday the 13th when a bunch of the bands on the compilation — Showshane, halon, Laughing Gas, Adam’s Castle and The Detachment Kit — play in celebration of the release.
Royce’s project is the second installment of the Detroit Now series. The first Detroit Now comp featured 12 of the best bands working in the city, including the Sights, deathgirl.com, Fez and Jelly’s Pierced Tattoo. Detroit Now 1.5 features Mood Elevator, Brendan Benson, Atomic Numbers, Chris Richards, Brothers Groove, W-Vibe, Octopus, Fletcher Pratt, American Mars, Lucid Jones, Jinx and Au Revoir Borealis. At 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, the Emerald Theatre (31 N. Walnut in Mount Clemens, 810-913-1920) hosts a Detroit Now party, featuring performances from deathgirl.com, American Mars, Fletcher Pratt, Lucid Jones and Orbitsuns. American Mars also is performing at the 89X Garden Party at the Whitney (4421 Woodward, Detroit, 313-832-5700) this Thursday. The music starts at 6:30 p.m. and the 8 bucks includes food. The horrified looks from the rich people dining at the posh venue, however, are free. In case you were curious, the new American Mars record is finished and currently being mastered. They’re trying for a record release in October.
Real Love
Hometown hero Stevie Wonder is headlining the Detroit 300 celebration at Hart Plaza on July 21. But the weekend before (this Friday) Jody “Lookin’ For a New Love” Watley’s gonna be singing her heart out for free at Hart Plaza for the Ribs ’n’ Soul event.
The entertainment also includes performances from Trammps and Little Anthony and the Imperials, and goes from noon to 11 p.m. each day, Friday through Sunday. Call 313-877-7958.
Three shows, one night
This Saturday marks the dub debut of what could be a monthly event at detroit contemporary (5141 Rosa Parks Blvd., Detroit, 313-898-4ART). At 10 p.m., the gallery will be bumpin’ with the reggae beat. DJs Ras Michael, gimp, Tommy and special guest Greg Baise will spin the finest versions and dubs of roots rhythms in a free party called A Dub Supreme.
If hip hop’s your deal, I’m guessing you won’t want to miss DJ Butter’s release party for his new album, Shit Happens, this Saturday at the Magic Stick (4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313-833-9700). King Gordy, Wallstreet and Bareda round out the bill. DJ Butter’s album features guest performances from almost everyone in Detroit who’s ever held a microphone and rhymed. Eminem and D12, Royce The 5-9, Obie Trice, Wesley Valentine, Shim-E-Bango, Paradime, Lab Animalz, Lodown, Slickonez, NoCoast, Sick Notes, Young Black Proffesionalz, Uncle Ill, Slum Village, Promatic and Boogie Bandero are a few of the guests who will probably be in attendance at the show and might join Butter onstage.
The Lager House (1254 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 313-961-4668) in Corktown is hosting many fun bands in a show called Mess Fest. The lineup includes Trembling, a relatively new band featuring one member of They Come in Threes, a guy who used to be in a band called Spyshow and a girl with a cool guitar and screamy voice. Also on the bill is New Grenada, which features a member of the now-defunct Cloud Car; the Sissies, a cool punk band from Bloomington, Ind., and Violet Skin, a smart punk-rock-indie band from Ferndale.
P.S. The White Stripes are going to be on the “Late Late Show” (CBS) with Craig Kilborn on July 17.
E-mail In One Ear at [email protected]
