Summer in the City

So it’s hot and muggy; like really hot and muggy.  Everybody in Detroit is now complaining about the weather. The good news is that the weather will have to cool down; the bad news is that this “cool down” could bring in a few tornadoes, like those that ripped the roof off of Paycheck’s a few years ago.  Back in the days when Paycheck’s was an essential stop for bands like the Butthole Surfers, we always talked about some band blowing the roof off the place and then it really happened.  I’m happy to report that the roof is back on Paycheck’s and a measly tornado couldn’t shut that place down. 

While I’m in the griping mood there is nothing more aggravating than not being able to buy a CD that you desperately need to hear.  The new Gore Gore Girls CD “Up All Night” totally rocks.  A friend of mine at work bought a promo copy and I spent the most enjoyable lunch hour I ever had driving around and listening to the disc.  Now I’ve spent the last week driving around to every record store and not finding a single copy anywhere.  I know that the CD release party is in a couple of weeks, but I needed to hear it now!!!!

Speaking of CD release parties – I blew it and missed the Sights CD release party too.  Yup – I can’t find their new CD anywhere either.  Luckily, I found a copy of their first CD and can use that as a crutch till I get the new one.  The Sights are this awesome band that I just didn’t appreciate when I first saw them.  I thought that they were just another cutesy power pop band that you forgot about by the end of the night.  Well it finally got through my thick skull that these guys are really good and I better start catching them before they “White Stripe” their way out of the Magic Stick and into Royal Oak somewhere.

However, to prove that I haven’t been a total loser – I did catch the Clone Defects last Friday night at the Lager House.  Unfortunately I missed the Mystery Girls from Wisconsin, because I spent too much time with my buddies watching and analyzing the Tigers at Comerica Park.  What’s to analyze?  They can’t hit, field or pitch; luckily Comerica Park is almost good enough, so you can forget about the team.  Anyway, I rave about the Clone Defects to anyone that will even talk to me.  They totally blow me away every time that I see them.  They’re the kind of band that just makes it worthwhile to be sitting and sweating in a tiny little bar just hoping that this will not be their last song!!!!

Another reason to blame the heat is that I almost forgot to mention the incredible and jam-packed Modey Lemon, The Makers and Von Bondies show at the Magic Stick the week before.  I'm one of these people that is never happy with the crowds at some shows.  If it's a small "intimate" audience - I'm always wondering - Why the hell aren't there more people here?  Of course, when the place is jammed to the rafters - I start complaining about all of these new people that are blocking my view of the stage.  Maybe I should just shut and watch the bands.  Modey Lemon is this incredible two-piece band from Pittsburgh that just creates an amazing sound and keeps it going for the entire set.  You're always wondering how two guys can keep this going.  The Makers are a perfect rock & roll band.  A friend of mine described them as a "cross between the New York Dolls, the Ramones and Aerosmith" and I haven't been able to top that description yet.  If you haven't heard of the Von Bondies yet - this is your best chance.  They've been raising up a storm all across the USA and Europe and there's really no reason why they won't be selling tons of records one of these days.  The Von Bondies just seem to have this uniqueness about their sound that's hard to describe, so I won't even try.  I can say that the entire night was a rousing success and I'm sure that nobody walked out of there disappointed.