Saturday night in Detroit can be somewhat boring. The city is getting inundated with more and more of these upscale dance clubs that play crappy music from the 80's and call it alternative. The only real "alternative" is to ignore that and head down to the Magic Stick to see some punk. I quickly determine that none of my friends would go down there and taking a date to a punk show usually produces the same results as booking Pavarotti at Paycheck's. The Magic Stick is right next to the Majestic on Woodward and has been booking some great bands. There are 4 bands on the bill and the $6 cover charge is the best entertainment value in town (& you can't find it in those stupid Entertainment pass books that they're constantly trying to sell you). I had already missed the B-sides,but get there in time to see Catfish & the Krabbs.
Catfish is plagued by a bad sound system, but the Krabbs come out and put on a great show. Next up is Boris from Green Bay & they are fabulous. During their set they manage to insult hunters, the entire state of Wisconsin, the Tigers' abysmal season and present a hysterical history of Vince Lombardi High before breaking into the Ramones' Rock & Roll High School. (Vince Lombardi High is the high school that the Ramones blow up in their cinematic triumph "Rock & Roll High School".) The Boris's follow this up by distributing matches to everybody to use on Devil's Night and their set consists of one great song after another climaxing with their hit single (it's a hit, because I bought it & said so) "Do you want a Grill Cheese" and following it up with the Undertones's "Male Model".
This is one of those shows that makes listening to punk so worthwhile (no rock & roll entourage, no fights, no attitudes, no groupies, the band talking to the people after their show & selling their records out of the back of an old van) & some great music that you sure as hell aren't going to hear at a "dance club". I hope that these guys enjoyed their trip to Detroit as much as everybody enjoyed their show & I'm sure hoping that they'll be back soon.