Ko & the Knockouts / "The Band with No Name" @ the Magic Stick 3/16/2002

Things just seem to be getting better and better in Detroit.  On Monday night, March 18th the White Stripes finally made their long-awaited appearance on the David Letterman show.  They were supposed to perform a couple of times before, but were either bumped or postponed.  Last night they finally got their chance to rock and Jack & Meg made the most of it.  I'm not sure how much Dave & Paul appreciated it, but it's about time the rest of the country saw what we've been lucky enough to experience for the last few years.

The weekend had gotten off to even a better start on Saturday at the Magic Stick at the CD release party for Ko & the Knockouts.  This was a special evening for a couple of reasons.  Opening up was the new "unnamed band" that had everybody already buzzing since their show last week at the newly-opened Record Graveyard in Hamtramck.  The band, which will soon have a real name, consists of Steve Shaw (ex Detroit Cobras) and Mark Niemenski (ex Hysteric Narcotics) on guitar, Joe Burdick (the Buzzards) on bass, Julie (Slumber Party) on vocals) and Chip Sercombe (ex Hysteric Narcotics) in drums.  Their first appearance was an unqualified success.  I'm been hearing stories about this band for a while and I'm happy to say that they sound better than I had even imagined.  I'm looking forward to hearing great things from them (and maybe even a name). The pictures below of the band are courtesy of Walter Wasacz.

The evening continued along with the official Ko & the Knockouts CD release party.  Their first release is finally out on the Sympathy for the Record Industry label and it's already found a permanent home in my CD player.  This band plays some of the most enjoyable music that I have heard in years.  It's rock, it's pop, it's garage all in one and it just seems to make you want to hear more.  Their live show is even more fun than the excellent CD and I wish them the best.  Maybe Letterman should keep those chairs warm as there are plenty more bands from Detroit heading his way soon.