Hell Hath No Fury
At last, a band that lives up to its name! The Blaise Sherman Fury furiously rocks out as the star vehicle for outsider-rock maniac Blaise Sherman. Though certainly an unknown quantity in "the scene," ask any Volebeat or member of the Wildbunch and they’ll tell you that Sherman was the original guy who lost control of his rock ’n’ roll. His over-the-top, out-of-control stage presence inspires comparisons to Wild Man Fischer. But instead of a Zappaesque musical backdrop, Sherman sings atop a caterwaul of groovy hate punk. The high-energy sounds come courtesy of some of Detroit’s finest underground musicians, including members of the Volebeats and the Witches. When the Fury made its chaotic debut at the Magic Stick last Halloween – after only two practices! – they capped off their set of fiery originals with a take on "Jumpin’ Jack Flash" that sounded more like an outtake from Raw Power than a theme for geriatric jumping jacks. Live, Sherman’s voice remains in the bellowing basso profundo range, though on BSF demo tapes he reveals a more sensitive side, with inverted Barry White mewlings set atop some ersatz Funkadelic vamps. But whether Blaise lets loose with deep screams or hits the high registers, someone ought to be lighting some candles for St. Blaise – the Patron Saint of Throats – just to be on the safe side. The Blaise Sherman Fury kicks it with the Cleveland Spiders – who hail from Lansing – and Uvula. This not-for-the-timid show happens Friday at the Gold Dollar (3129 Cass Ave., Detroit). Call 313-833-6873 for more info. –Greg Baise
RADIO, RADIO
Jon Moshier longs for the days when families huddled around the Philco or RCA Victor and radio greats such as Orson Welles captured a generation.
"Part of me wishes that I was born earlier," confides the WDET (101.9 FM) radio host. To mollify his yearning, Moshier has begun airing classic radio dramas from the late 1930s through the ’50s. Looking back to radio’s most innovative hours, every week Moshier resurrects segments of such sci-fi, horror and mystery classics as "Suspense," "Lights Out" and "Dimension X."
"When Radio was King" airs at 3 a.m. Sundays. Tune in and transport back to the days when ingenuity, not ear candy, reigned supreme.
This Sunday, April 18, features episodes from the series, "Dark Fantasy" (aired sometime between Nov. 1941 and June 1942) and "The Sea Phantom" (the skeletal ghost of legendary sea captain Jonathan Strange delivers a mysterious message that sends a group of modern-day treasure hunters aboard a ghost galleon that disappeared 200 years ago).
Check out www.wdetfm.org for the full programming lineup for "When Radio Was King." –Kristin Palm
MEANWHILE …
On the eve of WDET’s spring fundraising drive, the station is celebrating its 50 years of broadcasting with the release of ’DET Live! Vol. 1. The CD compiles 16 tracks recorded live in the WDET studios by bands hailing from across the globe – including stellar cuts from Detroiters Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents, Soul Clique and Ann Arborite Dick Siegel. Standout cuts from those who don’t live in the 313-734-248-810 – man, is it getting complicated to make hip references! – include Los Lobos’ spontaneously combustible version of the Tempts’ "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," the late Ted Hawkins performing "Bring It on Home Daddy" and Patty Larkin’s "Wolf at the Door." It’s a glorious thing to lay your ears on, but, for now anyway, you can only get it by pledging during the fundraiser – which begins this Friday, April 16, and runs through April 25 or until $440,000 in pledges are raised, whichever comes first. For more info, call 313-577-4146 or tune in starting this weekend.
