The Hayloft Grand Re-Opening Weekend!
Let there be no doubt about it, The Hayloft is back, bigger and definitely better than before! Dr2 spent the past weekend checking out the festivities for The Haylofts Re-Grand Opening Party and by all accounts it was a huge success, thanks to new devoted blood being pumped into the Loft. The first thing “new” to hit you as you’re walking up to The Hayloft is the new signage depicting the new Hayloft logo which is a combination of heaven and hell, and the ultra clean parking lot, the result of multiple sweeps throughout the
night courtesy of Mike Scott, and from what we hear CBE-Katie even took a turn, very eye catching to say the least! What a great evening the Hayloft put together, giving the Hayloft a complete makeover inside, using a more rocking color scheme of Gray & Black while adding some vintage photos from shows past (courtesy of Michael Spleet-2snapsup.com), even added a killer Made In Detroit wall sculpture inside the Rock Room. You’ll also find that new Hayloft logo on a number of walls through out the place so no matter how many shots you’ve bought from one of the Hayloft’s Shot Girls, you’ll always remember were you’re at! Friday night saw a great line-up of local music acts opening up for the National Headliners Days of The New. Kicking things off was Mt Clemens’ own 
Shotgun Opera, who recently changed their name from Sleep At Dawn, featuring Jeff Cavataio, a mesmerizing frontman that brings the flair back to rock & roll. Babcock, a relatively new band in the area, held the second slot tonight as they previewed several songs from a forthcoming CD, look for them performing various acoustic/electric cover shows around town as well as the occasional original show. Keeping things moving right along was Tryanny, a bit of a heavier band from the
local scene featuring songwriter & guitarist Bill Kennedy (who also host’s an open mic at Mugshots) and vocalist Robin Black. Putting the rock in the roll tonight, these guys hammered out a fantastic set, check em out during the Erotica Ball on October 25th at Bert’s Warehouse in Detroit, an annual ritual near the eastern market. By this time things were in full swing, and the line to get in was still expanding, a perfect setting for Core Effect to set the crowd on fire, laying down a full out assault as The Hayloft prepared for tonight’s headliners, Days Of The New. Days of the New definitely packed the house tonight with their somewhat acoustic jam band style which obliviously is a big hit judging by the size of the crowd inside the Hayloft’s rock room, actually jamming 4 songs straight up before Travis Meeks (vox, A & E “Intervention” Reality Star)stepped up to the mic to unleash his vocal. The most amazing sight was the dozen or so high end guitars of various configurations lined up behind Meeks as Days of the New delivered one lengthy set, actually dropping his final chord at 2am sharp! What an amazing first night for The New Hayloft, in fact, after rising the following afternoon, Dr2 wasn’t quite sure if we’d make the Grand Finale Saturday Night! Ooouuch!
Wow, after a day long hangover, after coming to it was time to head up for the final night of The Hayloft Grand Re-Opening Party with Critical Bill. What a difference a night makes. Getting to the Hayloft around 7:30, the place already had a line to get in, but then again, Mt Clemens own, and owner Mike Scott’s band Critical Bill was performing tonight! Always a great time when you’re surrounded by Michigan Made Music fanatics, and tonight ultimately gave Dr2 plenty of opportunities to catch up with all the local bands that were showing up to throw their support at the revival of the historic Hayloft. Revving up the night was KrankNine, a heavy hitting 
band that actually delivered some soulful hooks during their set while getting everyone out of the bar room and into the rock room to see what was going down. Keeping everyone in the rock room with there brand of rock & roll, Arazi ripped it up during their 7 song set featuring The Light, Less Is More & finished it off with Sorry, opening the stage for that hip hoppin MC Hatch, who earlier this year released Wiseguy. Full of energy, Hatch blends his rhymes over top of his beats, delivering one high energy set that was damn near impossible to photograph! With Critical Bill in the house Facture was a natural selection to pump the crowd up prior to their set, and boy did the ever pump! Dressed in their Tuxedo t-shirts, Facture came prepared for the night’s event as Joe Sera (vox) did his best Chaplin impression, complete with cane, while delivering one mad metal rapping set, popping across the stage as they launched into Local Hero’s Kid Rock’s Somebody’s Got To Feel This. Awesome, never heard anyone try to cover that song and Facture absolutely nailed it before bringing Powerdise (vox-Critical Bill) up with him to finish out their set. No 
doubt about it, The Hayloft was primed and about to bust open by the time Scream’n Scott came out to introduce Critical Bill to the rabid crowd that now stood shoulder to shoulder, chest to back through out the entire rock room. Now this was Detroit Rock & Roll, hot sweaty, and ready to explode! Didn’t take long either as Critical Bill hit the stage, the mosh pit erupted quicker than Mount St. Helens, sending plenty of beer across the mob gathered in front of the stage, pretty much right where Dr2 was standing! Gotta love it! Rolling through there own lengthy set, Critical Bill left no room for discussion relating to who was king tonight in Da Clem, at one point stopping to remind everyone that it was here in this very room where their own star began to rise, making a point to show all their corresponding tattoos on the base of their neck’s to prove it! By the
time they invited the 20+ female fans on stage to “jump around” during their infectious hit Jump Around, Dr2 knew that they had just witnessed the official Grand Re-Opening of The Hayloft. Taking a few minutes with the band after the show, The Critical guys informed Dr2 that they are in the middle of lining up an upcoming tour that will most likely take the guys across the country and from coast to coast, spreading the 313 love along the way. Now the lingering question is, can The Hayloft continue it’s phoenix like rise from the ashes and carrying on all the momentum from this past weekend? Only time will tell, but if you know Mike Scott like we do, then all you need to do is look at their upcoming schedule of events to find that answer, as The Loft already has some pretty phenomenal 
shows/events lined up in the upcoming months that you really won’t want to miss starting tonight with their new “Made In Detroit Wednesdays” that will see Kid Rock’s own brand in the house with cheap drink’s and free giveaways’, followed by the ever so popular “College Night” every Thursday. Look for live music to come your way the rest of the week featuring some of the best national & local bands to hit Mt Clemens including Soul Circus, Maceri & Ballz Deluxe this Friday night, followed by Lies Unknown, The Big Pink Black, & The Orange Marsupials on Saturday. And if that’s not enough, head on over to the Dr2 Gig Calendar to check out all the other fantastic show’s they have lined up including JoCaine, Dirty Americans and a very special New Years Eve Celebration with none other than Band With No Name! Check out the video below that Dr2 recorded of Critical Bill performing Rock Like That that should give you a pretty good idea of the insanity that went down during their set, and don’t forget to check out all the photos from the night over in the Dr2 Photo Gallery. As always, you can find both Critical Bill & The Hayloft over in the Dr2 Links or head on over to the Dr2 MySpace Page where you’ll find them both in our “Top Friends”. DertroitRockReview.com - The Only Place For Local Music News & Reviews.
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