Rockin In A Blizzard @ Club 54!

on 18 December 2007.

After a long and miserable try to become an “eastside” rock & roll hangout, Club 54 may have finally taken its last breathe as we know it, a promising “new” eastside rock & roll club that had all the potential to become one the premier eastside venues. But alas, all good things must come to an end! So, here we were sitting in Club 54 this past Saturday night wondering if there was any “salvation” for “Da Club” when lo & be hold Convergence Theory stepped up on stage and performed what can be called nothing short of a complete “exorcism” on the club, in a full blown attempt to rid this beautiful club of it’s past. Performing the procedure entirely from behind a huge “pulpit” positioned up front & center, Convergence Theory began the night’s “sermon-ies”, opening with their huge War, then Calling out the demons lurking throughout the club, while asking if they Wanna Fly or risk being beaten Down by his disciples. For tonight would be like no other night in recent months at Club 54, where local “original” bands had been replaced with the run of the mill “cover band”, bringing even the most stout rock fan to their knees. With Neiko (vox, keys, mysterious powers) literally smoking from the puplit as he and his fellow worshipers Randy (drums), Ty (bass) and Tucker (guitar) chased the demons from the club with A Wait in Time before declaring Club 54 free of all evil spirits with their set closing AngerHead. What an awesome set from Convergence Theory, hailing from Flint, and who braved the storm outside to come help us with this cleansing of the club of spirits past and clearing the way for a full out riot of a rock show. Check these guys out at www.convergencetheory.com , where you can locate where they’ll be playing next, or check out our Dr2 Links where you can also find them. Well, rumors have been rampant about Club 54’s future in recent months as even some big name “personalities” have claimed that it’s doomed to be a dollar store. With the air clear, and Da Club busting at the seams, yes that’s correct, even with blizzard like conditions out, there had to be 250 people tucked inside, Publik Parking, also from Flint, had the “all clear” to christen Club 54 with another amazing set of hard driving rock & roll. Fronted by the lovely Monica (vox), Publik Parking stepped up and delivered a 9-song set that had the front of the stage filling up fast! Backed by Neiko (guitar), Tim (bass) & Erik (drums), Publik Parking proved that rock & roll is alive and well inside Club 54 by performing their Holy, Chant, where Everyday you can Lose Control! Monica’s vocal on the remake of the Cranberries Zombie had Dr2 & Crew sitting up to take notice, in fact we vote their version over that of the aforementioned, literally amazing! Publik Parking had Club 54 up on it’s feet by the time they closed their set with the fire setting Scream, and yes, she did, they did and so did everybody else as Monica’s on stage presence complimented a set that we at Dr2 won’t soon forget. Remember these names, Monica, and Publik Parking, as they not only rocked the club tonight, but they’ll be rocking you before long! Go check them out on our “Top Friends” list over on our MySpace page or hit them up at publikparking.com to find a show near you! I wonder how many of you out there have heard of this next band, straight from the depths of Detroit City and constantly on a world wide tour? Choking Susan may not be a house hold name, but they are a world wide force to be reckoned with in the world of Punk Rock. In high demand across the pond, Colleen Caffeine (vox, butt kissing) and her band of bad boys, can throw down with the best of them. Think Ramones meet WendyO! Scheduled to play the “Rebellion Fest” next summer over in the UK, Choking Susan came to the Burbs to teach us all about what Punk Rock really is! Armed with an enormous set list of 14 songs, and 2 extra just in case, Choking Susan unleashed a fury of fast back beats and even faster vocals! From the set opener of Waste My Time and Makes Me Sick, Colleen gives a show that must be seen to be believed, removing her heels during the first song, jumping off stage to dance with the massive crowd, only to return to the stage on her knees then delivering vocals while laying smack down on her back! One wild time as she has as much energy as that pink rabbit that almost matches the color of her hair! Backed by a killer rhythm section of Bob The Builder (drums), LowerGI Joe, and Killer Keith 2Dope, The Susan’s were relentless on their attack of the Club with the sexual overtones of Baby Doll, Tie Me Up, So Pretty, Silcone Chest and Wanker, if you get my drift, even able to perform “hands free” as Colleen Caffeine uses her “Cleavage” as a mic stand! Very entertaining set from these Punkers, who also made it in through all the blowing snow! Stop over to chokingsusan.com and get educated on real Detroit Punk! Now with the snow drifting up against the front door, there was concern we’d all be “snowed” in for the night, Not! We had Lithium in the house, and that’ll keep your feet on the ground, if ya know what I mean. We all know about Club 54 and the promise it held, but if the commotion that we’re hearing in the back room is any indication of success in tonight’s “festivities”, then you better keep your eyes and ears tuned in to Detroit Rock Review over the next couple of weeks as that sound we thought we heard may not of been it’s last breathes as we once thought, but may actually be the waking of a giant that Club 54 once promised to be. Can’t say much more, but remember those terrific nights that once took place inside this place? We do. Well with Club 54 having a “Real PA” brought in especially for this night, all seemed healthy again as Lithium came to celebrate some Birthday’s in the house. Taking the stage amongst the mob of fans, Lithium stepped up to turn out some hard and heavy metal that surprisingly made you want to get up and jam! With the ordinary “metal” bands seemingly there to blow your ears out, Lithium actually has a genuine sound that is loud, hard, heavy and extremely “melodic”! We don’t mean that in a bad way, but with as many metal bands that Dr2 has seen, Lithium breaks that mold with a style of their own, blending rhymes among the vocals, they come across with a raw sound that can’t be ignored. And with an unforgettable front man like Pauly, check out the picture of his brightly “spiked” hair, totally awesome, Lithium came to party! Out of Detroit, Lithium put on one tight set as Pauly takes control of the stage while being backed by the thunderous rhythm section of Carl Shank (hi end guitar), Tom Koppman (bass mechanic), and features Patrick Vadnais with his “percussion concussions”! Bracing for the impending storm, Lithium cranked it up as they gave us Melting Away, a very fitting song for the night, as the snow was piling high outside! This Emotion was exactly what the Club needed tonight as everyone gathered near the front of the stage to rock along with Lithium before having to brave the drive home after the best night of rock & roll Club 54 has seen in a quite a few months! Lithium will be competing this Thursday over at TNT’s for the 89X Homeboy Battle of the Bands Showcase “Finals” for a chance to open up for Hot Hot Heat on New Year’s Eve, so head on over to their MySpace page for all the details! You can find them in our “Top Friends” and also in the Dr2 Links you can find right here on Detroit Rock Review. Overall an absolutely excellent night of “Original Music” that we here at Dr2 appreciate more than ever, so go on and check all these bands out as you will not be disappointed, and as always, remember to Support Local Music! If we don’t then no one will!

Keep On Rocking!