It is Thursday and I am dazed and confused. Why? Because last night was a night of Rock-and-Roll mayhem in The Clem and that must mean it happened on a Wednesday night, and nothing happens in the clubs on a Wednesday night....Right? Well if you thought that and stayed home last night you missed a great event. Brothers Jim and Brian Saad, owners of Madison’s in Mt. Clemens, in cooperation with WRIF and Macomb Motorsports put on a charity event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan. The called it, appropriately, “Rock Hard Wednesday”. The night started innocently enough with Monti, my wife, saying she felt like checking out Radiocraft at this Make-A-Wish event. Since it was close by, and we could bring my son who, true to his lineage, loves live music, we jumped in the truck and headed to The Clem. We arrived to find, to my son’s great happiness, a free nacho buffet laid out. After unloading a donation of stuffed animals from my wife’s work, we talked to Jim Saad about the idea of a Wednesday event and he shared his opinion that he has been wanting to do something like this and he chose Wednesday because, as he put it, “Mt Clemens and the surrounding area will come out for an event like this, for a cause like this, any day of the week”. We grabbed a couple of drinks from Dino, the best bartender in town, and settled in for the action. We didn’t wait long. At 7:30 sharp the acoustic duo “The Allies” opened their set with an incredible cover of G&R’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorns”. With Chris on lead vocals & rhythm guitar and CMak on Lead guitar & backing vocals they meandered their way through a set of acoustic covers that ranged from an incredible performance of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away” to Zeppelin. Check out the pics on www.myspace.com/detroitrockreview and if the faces look familiar it is because both Chris and Cmak are Detroit rock veterans. On a normal weekend you can catch Chris fronting the rock rampage that is Overloaded and CMak shreds the frets with both Mindcandy and Hush among other projects. Both are among the best at what they do and the acoustic format suited them well. Chris has an amazing vocal range and control and CMak is a demonstrated master of the 6 string. If you want to check them out got to www.myspace.com/thealliesacoustic.com I heard they may be returning to Madison’s next Wednesday. Well, now we were stuffed to the gills with free nacho’s and beginning to feel that rock-and-roll buzz setting in so we sat back to wait for the next band, Dismantle. We at DR2 had not heard or saw these folks before so some digging was in order. I tracked down the drummer, Eric (okay, so I turned around and there he was!). Anyway, he filled me in that recently the band had a shake-up and changed from a more metal sound to what he called “Blue-Collar Rock-and-Roll”. He can call it whatever he likes it is some plain old-fashioned kick- @$$ rock-and-roll. From the moment they jacked in and turned it up the crowd took notice. The band, with Eric on drums pounding out the beat (despite a rip in his snare), Brad pounding on the bass, Glynn showing a southern flair for the frets and Justin belting out the lyrics into his custom-made mic stand (Built from a WWI-Era Russian Rifle) showed a real blue collar grit, creating mayhem for a 13 song set that featured 11 original tunes. The best, in my opinion being the one-two punch they featured near the end of their set with the songs “Devil Wins” and the incredible “Liquor Store” that had the crowd singing along by the second verse. I would also recommend you check out their website at www.myspace.com/therealdismantle where you can find four other originals including their popular “Black Veil”. I have a feeling we will be hearing more from these guys in the future. At this point we knew the night was a success and the headliner hadn’t even played yet! During the change of bands we sat down and watched Doug Podell and Taylor the WRIF Rock Girl gave out some tix and WRIF swag. It was turning into a beautiful night on the patio at Madison’s and we were anticipating a great Radiocraft set. Now, if you read our blogs and reviews at all you have probably read about how much we at DR2 like this band. Suzie Ferro’s Pat Benetar-esque vocals and their solid song writing give this band a pretty large number of songs to choose from. You can see the set list in the pics on our myspace site but I want to mention one of the new songs they chose to include in the show last night. I especially liked “Bribe the Guards”. It has a great hook and a sticks in your head! What a way to finish the night by rockin with one of Detroit’s best! If you haven’t checked out their music yet go to www.myspace.com/radiocraft or www.radiocraftmusic.com and buy their CD or get out to a show! Well it was time to end the night, say goodbye to the good folks at Madison’s, climb into the truck and head back to the lair with rock still ringing in our ears. As we drove out onto Cass Ave. I still had the thought buzzing around my head...”there are no good shows on Wednesday night...” Well Jim you showed them you were right, you can rock on Wednesday and help a great cause in the process. Congratulations and thank you!! Until the next show..... D :)

Justine Blazer @ Silver Spur Music House 8/4/07

Saturday night brought Justine Blazer to the Music House, and Dr2 wasn’t going to miss her show! We’ve been aware of her presence on the local “country” scene for some time now, but just really hadn’t had the stars and moon line up for us to catch her, until this night. With the recent opening of the Silver Spur Music House on the eastside, it gives Dr2 a chance to catch some acts that we just might not have had a chance to see before. Thank you Music House! Anyways, if you are not familiar with Justine Blazer, all you need to do is find yourself an internet connection, type Justine Blazer into you favorite browser and viola, you’ll have pages worth of info on this young rising country star from Detroit! Featured on many sites across the www, Justine cites her www.myspace.com/justineblazer site as the one that has opened many doors for her. In fact, she’s jumping in her “fuel efficient 4 cylinder” to head down to a gig in the heart of country land at the Sam’s Town Casino in Tunica, Mississippi later this month. Any way’s, one look at her schedule and you’ll see that this young lady is working hard to achieve her goal of stardom! At 24, Justine is quite musically diverse, as she mixes country with a little bit of soul, R&B, Pop, and even rock. Just take a look at her Debut Album, Passion In Me, available everywhere (click pic for link), to hear what we mean! As we entered the Music House, things where already in full swing, with a bevy of folks two steppin’ and line dancing to the DJ. Very interesting, as Dr2 is not totally accustomed to the Country scene! As Justine hit the stage, the dancers took their seats, and everyone sat up and noticed that girl with the big voice! And what a voice! From the moment Justine steps on the stage, all eyes are focused on her, and she does not let you go. With a proven stage presence, she played the club crowd as if it were an arena, big vocals, big movements, big future! Showing us why she was nominated for three 2007 Detroit Music Awards for Outstanding Artist, Outstanding Vocalist and Outstanding Songwriter in the country category, Justine drew from her debut album with Diamond Tears and When Love Comes To. Mixing covers from The Stones to Carrie Underwood with her own originals, Justine also gave us a look into her future with the title track from her upcoming album called Red, White, And Blue. Judging by that song, Justine Blazer just may have another hit disc on her hands! Red, White, And Blue is due out this fall, so keeps your eyes on Dr2 as we are sure to be reviewing this album from one of Detroit’s best Female/Country/Rock vocalists. Check her out @ justineblazer.com, you won’t be disappointed. As we left the House that night after the show, Dr2 came to the conclusion that we had just seen one of the best shows this year at one very nice venue.

Justine Blazer Rocks Her Country!

Twisting Tarantulas @ Silver Spur Music House 8-2-07

Heehaw! What a weekend @ the eastsides newest hang out, The Silver Spur Music House. Twisting Tarantulas invaded the House on Thursday night, while the heels were a clickin on Saturday night with one of Detroit’s best female country vocalists, Justine Blazer (see Justine Blazer review). Thursday night found Dr2 checkin out the punked out “Rockabilly” sounds of Detroit’s own Twisting Tarantulas, a group we ran across back @ the 2007 Winter Fest. The Tarantulas are lead by “Pistol Pete” Midtgard who is not only the lead singer, but plays an upright bass like it’s a Rickenbacker! Midtgard has been at it over 10 years and has recorded 3 CD’s of original material, the latest called “El Destroy-O”. Playing through a little technical difficulties, the Tarantulas came out biting! Wearing his trademark Converse skid’s and playing a slew of their own music, including the favorites Roughneck, You Look Like A Hundred Bucks, and I’m the Boy, Midtgard and the Tarantulas had the House a rock’in.  Throwing in some covers through out the night, Midtgard put the House in an uproar when the T.T.’s launched into their version of AC/Dc’s “Sin City”. Overall the T.T.’s style ranges from Rockabilly, Swing, Blues, Country, and good ole R&R. Having a Guitarist like Marc "Stretch" Nischan at your side certainly helps with their diversity of music. Stretch can rip out the riffs, whether we’re talking country, rockabilly or rock & roll, with a stage presence that completes Pistol Pete’s thunderous bass manicism! Check out the photos from the night to see what the T.T’s are all about, or check them out @ twistintarantulas.com.

Twisting Tarantulas and Detroit Rock!

Over.

Friday, July 27th St. Clair Riverfest Concerts
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Music

The Question is; Do you like your Rock with a little bit of country or your country with a little bit of rock?  If the answer is yes to either of these, then the St. Clair Riverfest was the  place to be Friday night.  With Mark and his crew at the Warped Tour downtown, Me and mine decided to go see Kracker out at the Riverfest.  Unfortunately we got there too late to catch The Unheard, but I am sure Ken and the guys rocked the riverfront.  We arrived just as Stealing Allan's Rights started their set.  This group brings it the old-fashioned way with strong melodies and a classic rock sound that plays well for a festival audience.  Diana Balsama, the lead singer has some incredible pipes and definitely enjoys what she is doing.  She and the band, Rik on bass, Tony on Guitar, and the steady beat of Pete Cvetanovski on Drums played a solid set that showcased some of there best originals.  You can check out their music at www.sarmusic.com . With my crew in tow, I decided to work our way up to the front during the set and stay there for the night so we would be in front for Kracker's show.  We got there and waited for the next band up, REDHILL, without any real idea what we were about to see.  I had seen them on some playbills but couldn't remember the style or type of music they played.  Boy were we in for a wakeup! This band blends the best that country and rock have to offer!!  Julianne, the lead vocalist has all the charisma and energy of Gretchen Wilson and the voice to boot.  The Band fills the stage with energy and showmanship from the rythym section of Ramon Landicho(Bass) and Greg Michaels(Guitar, vocals and, also,the man responsible for writing the songs) to the solid rock-inspired mayhem of Jay Fiondella on drums and the lead guitar mastery of Jon Lenardon.  Not to quote that brother and sister act of the 70's, but these guys are a little bit country and a lot of rock-and-roll.  Ramon, Julianne, and Greg constantly move around the stage, obviously having way more fun than anybody should be allowed.  Their originals "Just Another Day" and "All Night Long" were my favorites.  They definitely rock their country sound!! If you want to know more about REDHILL, and I encourage you strongly to see this group live, go to www.redhillrocks.com . I went from not knowing who REDHILL was, to not wanting their set to end. ...Uncle who?  After the REDHILL set we went to the merch tent and bought their CD.  As we were talking with Jay and Greg, the Kracker set started and we realized we had no chance to get back to the front of the stage, so we enjoyed the last set of the night from a distance, a long distance as the crowd had swelled to huge proportions! Kracker rocked the crowd for the last set of the night as everyone waited for the rumored arrival of Kid Rock.  Same rumor, different night, same result, no Kid.  But, overall, a great night of live music.  As we headed back to the car for the drive back home I thought that we had seen everything for the night. But, as I opened our car doors, we heard a strange sound next to us. Spinning to investigate, we were surprised to find a goat in the front seat of the car next to us (see Pics).  Obviously a watchgoat! Also obviously, we weren't in Detroit anymore!!  Time to head home.

until the next show....D:

Matt Austin Band with Poets And Pornstars  July 19^th, Club 54 

Damn. Did anyone get out to “da Club” last Thursday? Phew, what a night, what a show.  These Thursday night shows are starting to light the place on fire! I mean first, we have the winner of the highly contested Fox Rocks contest, “Matt Austin Band”, then the up and (fast) coming LA band “Poets And Pornstars”, who’s currently on tour in support of Tesla. Fresh off winning the Detroit Fox Rocks contest hours earlier, Matt Austin had an extremely busy and rocking day. Matt and his band won the chance to perform live on stage as the opening act for Def Leppard and Styx at Pine Knob Music Theater on July 24th. Over 220 Bands from Michigan entered the contest, and over 27,000 votes were cast by Fans. Only 200 votes separated the top 4 bands, with Cruzin’ Jupiter, Sex And Patriotism, and the Paper Street Saints following Matt Austin. In other news dropped on the Band that day, it was announced that The Matt Austin Band was chosen to compete in Simon Cowell's new Fox franchise "The Next Great American Band". Interviews with WRIF and a Fox 2 News spot @ 6 kept Matt hopping all day long, while he still had a show to make that night. The WRIF party, with the Doc of Rock, Doug Podell, at the helm, got of to a slow start, but as usual, the place was rocking by the time Matt Austin hit the stage around 10 O’clock. When the Matt Austin Band started their set, da club responded by moving to the stage. Firing off a blazing guitar riff, the band embarked on a 45 minute set that included the mainstays of World Wide Flight and my favorite Between The Lines. From the reaction of the people in da Club, Between The Lines is more than just my favorite as everyone in the house jumped and pumped along to every word! Good to see a crowd that is into the music as much as the band itself! While the Matt Austin band rocked through its set, we noticed that the members of Poets And Pornstars where right up front rocking along to the “Local” guys. Awesome show of support for a band from LA!! Such great stuff from the Matt Austin Band, that we purchased the CD. So look for a review on that in the weeks to come on www.detroitrockreview.com.  You can check Matt Austin out this Saturday night at the St Clair River fest with the Dirty Americans and The Romantics, or on his site http://www.myspace.com/mattaustinrocks.  

Off subject, but we have it on reliable sources that there just may be some big news out of The Hard Lesson’s camp soon……. remember you heard it here first! 

Ok so now for a “LA” band. First time an “outsider” has hit up da Club. Never heard of this band till I was told they were booked up here by Kevin the week before. Poets And Pornstars? What the hell is that I asked myself? A quick search on the internet gave me the answer. LA Band, new album due out in August, on tour with Telsa, heck I didn’t think they knew what rock and roll was out on the Left Coast! Well this I can say for sure folks, if LA doesn’t know rock and roll, the Poets and Pornstars do! Man from the first thump off the PA to the final chord of the night, this band comes at you, picks you up for the ride of your life, then sets you back down where you began, leaving you with that “What the hell did I just see feeling” AGAIN! Man it was a sweat soaked night tonight baby! If the da Club seemed empty earlier in the night, it was in full tilt by 11pm when everyone in da Club was right up front rocking out to P&P. This might not have been the biggest crowd in here tonight, but they were entertained by one talented 5pc that left everyone waiting in line to buy their CD. Consisting of Hal Oszan (vox, guitar), Domo (yes that’s it, just Domo on Lead), Randy Austin (keys/vox), Sally Hope (bass), and David Plesh (drums), the Poets (or are they Pornstars?) delivered one of the finest sets ever at da Club! From the moment Poets and Pornstars took the stage they had da Club in their hands, pulling you into their songs as they ripped through an hour set. Oszan switched between guitars and mic all night delivering his flawless vocals, and showing da Club how fronting a band is done. While Domo blazed on his guitar, the rhythm section of Hope, Austin, and Plesh just blew us away. Sally Hope may just be the most mesmerizing bassist around. Not only can this girl lay down a tremendous bass line, she has that look and a never ending smile, which makes it hard for you to not watch her! Along with Hope, Plesh supplies one heavy back beat that had you on the verge of begging for mercy! Then there is Randy Austin, who quietly lays down the keys, then slowly brings your attention to him with his stellar vocals, only to end the show by threatening to totally trash his Korg right in front of us all! That was cool, check out the pics to see. Anyways by the time they launched into there new single “Rock and Roll” (available now on iTunes etc.)  they had da Club in a frenzy that was as close to the frenzy we witnessed at the Brian Schram Band CD Release party! As the set ended and the Pornstars (or is it Poets) slide off the stage and into the crowd, we had a chance to introduce our own phenom bassist from The Brian Schram Band , Dave Dion, to Sally Hope. Check out that photo, LA meets Detroit! Awesome! Anyways, check out the Poets and Pornstars @ poetsandpornstars.com, they have a new album due to drop on August 21^st, and believe me it rocks! What a Night, What a Show! 

Remember to stay tuned to Dr2 for all the latest going done in the city!

Detroit Rocks! over.