I'm About To Have Another BLOWOUT! From The Hard Lessons

on 21 February 2008.

The following Blurb is from one of Dr2's favorite home grown bands that have been tearing up the local & regional scene for a number of years now, The Hard Lessons! A dynamic trio that beckons your attention, Augie (vox, lead guitar) KoKo Louise (vox, keys) & The Anvil (drums) have been climbing the ever so diffucult ladder trying to find that plataeu that lies atop the world. Believe us folks, if you've never seen these guys live, then you need to keep an eye on Dr2 where we will surely be the first to let you know when they'll be back in town for what will be another blowout homecoming after they complete their current tour. In the mean time class, listen up as The Hard Lessons have put together an educational seminar of local music to be held in their honor during the upcoming Metro Times Blowout! Be sure to check out The Hard Lessons, you’ll find them in our “Top Friends” over on the Myspace page!

I’m about to have another BLOWOUT!

After 4 consecutive years of memorable Hamtramck Blowout performances, our tour schedule this year will prevent us rocking the festival. However, we are pleased to announce that we've been asked by the Metro Times to pick some sweet bands for a special showcase. Well, we decided to bring in some of our favorite bands from around the state. Check it out:

LANSING ROCK CITY!

Lansing is the spot where we first started The Hard Lessons as itty bitty college kids back in 2003. The scene at the time revolved around places like The Temple Club and Mac's Bar where we played some of our first shows with bands like Modey Lemon, Apes and Gris Gris as well as shows with a ton of great Lansing bands like Flatfoot, Calliope, Casionauts, Honest D and the Steel Reserve, The Cartridge Family and a ton more. Flat, Black and Circular was and still is the spot to pick up vinyl (and Craig Horky's amazing promo posters for local shows), right across the street from MSU and The Impact radio station. The current crop of music coming out of capital city includes the raw power of Funender and the energetic and clever songwriting of The Darts

We first played with The Darts at a show with The Muldoons at Mac's. They've got a compelling combination of smart songwriting and youthful energy, and the type of attitudes on and off stage that are so perfectly unforced they scare the sense of irony right out of you. Check it!

WELCOME TO FLINT, BITCHES!

The 3rd most dangerous city in America is the home of the Flint Local 432, a spot where we began playing crazy 7-band shows in 2004. Leftover Halo Burger always tastes delicious at 3:00 am, and the all-night-dance-party vibe that's been infecting other parts of the state seems to have been in full effect in Flint since forever ago. We played with a ton of great bands in Flint (many of which ended up on wax courtesy of Duffmeister Records) like Fuckin' Gnarly, The Hot Flashez, The Pulse, Island View Drive, and The Swellers (pictured above in the Flint Local basement). For the Metro Times showcase, we've got the cream of the crop:

Empty Orchestra sound like an army, and they rally the troops with a call to "fuck the party." Then there's this: "Screamin' Jay Hawkins fucking Tom Petty in the bathroom at a Sixteen Horsepower concert." And TWO drummers! Yes! Their CD Release party was in some sort of abandoned factory and Augie put his foot through a hole in the stage at the end of the night. Still worth it. Check it!

You know Champions Of Breakfast from seeing them around Detroit. They're the dudes playing World of Warcraft at the 24 hour diner. They're the group of friends simultaneously trying out 7-string Ibanez guitars at Guitar Center over their junior high's spring break. Or really they're just the tongue-in-cheek representation of all of these things, funneled through the most amazing and danceable pop songs you've ever heard. Take a page out of the "Unicorn Bible" and get ready to DANCE ALL NIGHT.

Check it!

DETROIT: I LOVE YOU AND I'LL SEE YOU AT WORK TOMORROW!

The Decks are the youngest veterans Detroit has seen since The Sights. They're a two boys and two girls rock band that eschews stereotypes with the girls at the drums and guitar positions. A self-released 7 inch record appeared at shows about a year ago before the band was asked to join the Cass Records roster. Biting guitar tones, and vocals that are both salty and sweet color their chaotic songs. They've been playing shows in Detroit at places ranging from Jacoby's to the Majestic Theater for years, and only one of them is of legal drinking age. Check it!

Have fun, our fellow Detroiters. Wish us luck on tour!
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XO THL