Putting the XXX in Xmas
A Cruddy XXXMas at the Ritz, Detroit, Dec. 23. My dreams about Santa will never be the same again…
Crud
Dirty Danielle grabs a pre Xmas package from Vin E. Those Crud kids are so naughty.
Konniption Fit to release full length CD January 30
The
long awaited and much anticipated official CD release of Detroit’s own
Konniption Fit, has been scheduled for January 30, 2010 with a
fun-packed line-up at TNT’s. The night will include not only great
music from a variety of bands, but also a number of exciting giveaway
and raffle items from Coffin Case, one of Konniption Fit’s endorsement
companies.
Konniption Fit’s “Ballistic”, produced by
Andy Patalan at The Loft studios in Saline Michigan, features 12 songs
of fun, upbeat Pop Punk sharpened to a razors edge with Modern Rock.
Stylistically, the songs on “Ballistic” run the gamut of styles and
influences, from the sounds of a riveting racehorse riot to moments of
harmonic texture and melodicism, all coming together as a whole which
can only be described as uniquely Konniption Fit. Catchy, lush
harmonies and melodies are contrasted with the roar of Marshall-driven
guitars, sledgehammer drums and tight, pulsing bass lines, causing the
listener to want to sing along and slam dance all at the same time.
Konniption
Fit is a punk/pop/rock band with a heavier edge, hailing from Detroit,
MI. Their sound covers many sonic territories, from crunchy ear candy
to rebellious moments of anarchy, yet all mixes cohesively into one
band. Their goal? To write music with a raw, rebellious attitude, play
music with conviction, and devastate the stage with an onslaught of
catchy melodies, high energy performances, and an unforgettable show.
Konniption Fit is brimming with hook-laden, pop punk bliss contrasted
with guitar-driven modern rock, creating a fresh sound with
mass-crossover appeal. A bright light emerging from Motor City, this is
a band that isn’t afraid to step outside the darker Detroit music “box”
and tap into diverse influences.
While working hard to
promote their live show, Konniption Fit has had the opportunity to play
some of Detroit’s largest and best venues, including the Royal Oak
Music Theater, St Andrews Hall, The Crofoot and The Emerald Theater.
Through hard work, they’ve garnered stage time with national recording
acts such as Days of the New, Taproot, Sponge, Ashes of Soma, WWE Diva
Christy Hemme, The Luchagors (featuring Lita from WWE), The Muggs
(“Greatest American Band” finalists), Frequency 54 and Crud to name a
few. Recently, the band just finished up their second Midwest tour,
hitting cities such as Chicago, Fort Wayne, Pittsburgh, Toledo,
Cincinnati and more.
OFFICIAL CD RELEASE PARTY FOR KONNIPTION FIT’S FULL LENGTH CD “BALLISTIC”
Date: Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: TNT’s Bar & Grill, 35101 Harper Rd., Clinton Twp., 48035 (Phone: 586-792-1435)
Details: All Ages, Admission $5.00
Bands: Konniption Fit, Potty Mouth Sissys, Panic Trigger, The Pilz, and Maceri
Theatre Bizarre…Halloween will never be the same
Usually my posts fall under one of the tagline topics – music, monsters or mayhem. Theatre Bizarre qualifies under all three. In spades.
The elusive master of ceremonies, Zombo the Clown.
Theatre Bizarre was one of the things that made me first take notice of Detroit as a possible relocation city. It’s the perfect example of the thriving arts and counterculture scene here, and this is one hell of a party that everyone should experience once in their lifetime. Actually, you should experience it every year.
I don’t know what this year’s budget was, but the budget for 2008’s party was $70,000. That is not a typo kids. 70,000 dollah. That buys you one hell of a lot of entertainment, as well as your refillable beer mug for the night. Three stages of music, burlesque and sideshow acts, haunted house, fire artists, hook suspension sideshows, bonfires, AND free beer (well, free after you pay admission.) A chance to see this dark carnival in it’s full glory is worth the price of admission alone.
And if you are even thinking of checking it out next year — and you are crazy if you aren’t — get your tickets early. This event sells out every year, and every year it is selling out quicker. It is hands down the hottest ticket in Detroit around Halloween, and I daresay, perhaps the hottest ticket all year round.
I heard many people say the same thing — after Theatre Bizarre, the
actual Halloween holiday was an anti-climax. Judge for yourself, say I.
Come out next year and thrill to the obscene, from dusk till dawn…
What’s So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding? Sevendust live at the Emerald Theater in Detroit
Since Barack Obama’s nomination and subsequent election as the first African-American president of the United States, we have been bombarded with commentary about how he has broken racial barriers, winning traditionally “red” states and southern states. But political superstar that he is, Obama would likely have his hands full winning over a crowd of beer-guzzling, good ol’ boys into metal and hard rock.
For Lajon Witherspoon, it’s all in a days work, and has been for years as the frontman for Sevendust. Witherspoon is one of only a few African-American vocalists in heavy metal, yet has garnered such respect he was named #35 on Hit Parader’s list of 100 Best Rock Vocalists of All Time in 2008.
And when you see Sevendust live, you can see he’s earned his place. He may be short in stature, but he thrashed his muscular frame around the stage, Keith Morris-esque dreads whipping around him as the band covered songs from their full discography, going back as far as “Denial” from 1999’s Home, to “Inside” from their current release, Chapter IIV: Hope and Sorrow.
You’d expect Witherspoon to be a total badass, but he showed the Detroit crowd a bit of a different side that night. At one point, he called out to a couple of soldiers in the crowd still in camouflages, and as they were hoisted over the crowd to the pit, Witherspoon stopped security from booting them out, and took one of the soldiers on stage to thank him for his service. To roaring applause, as you can imagine.
If that won’t win over a rough crowd of metalheads and biker types I don’t know what will.
Then as the set resumed, a drumstick had been thrown in the audience. I watched as two men both had a deathgrip on it, struggling to rip it from each other, neither giving it up. They seemed on the verge of blows, but Witherspoon quickly put an end to that. It’s one thing to have a pit, but he’s not having any fights at their shows — he called to them to stop and handed the men a second drumstick, ending the brewing fight and inspiring the men to hug each other to the crowd’s applause.
Who knew he could be such a sensitive guy and ambassador of peace and goodwill?
The Emerald Theater was sold out for this show supporting Black Label Society, and as I looked up from the front row into the balconies in that old theater, I could see about every face in there, and I only saw one that was African-American. But I didn’t see any that weren’t rocking out.
I can’t see Obama as a rock star, but for Lajon Witherspoon, who knows…maybe he has a promising future in politics and diplomacy, should he ever get tired of rock and roll.
But given the show Sevendust put on in Detroit, I can’t see that happening anytime soon. And thank god for that.
Combichrist at Majestic Theater, Detroit
There are three things that give music photographers nightmares: heavy backlighting, heavy red lighting, and fog. Combichrist liberally applies all three.
I'm not quite sure how I pulled these out of my ass.