Jessica Risker combines her two loves with the podcast Music Therapy, footwork crew the Era drop a dreamy rap single, and more.
Tag: Detroit
Posted inMusic
Protomartyr dive into the murk of modernity with Ultimate Success Today
These days, nihilism isn’t a choice—it’s a corner that we’ve boxed ourselves into in a feeble attempt to preserve some semblance of peace of mind. By 2020, Protomartyr had already spent more than a dozen years making malaise seem ineffably cool, with vocalist Joe Casey serving up tongue-lashings over gummy bass lines and bristling riffs. […]
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The Black Dahlia Murder pull out some new tricks on Verminous
Three years after releasing their first record with new guitarist Brandon Ellis, the Billboard-charting Nightbringers, the Black Dahlia Murder have returned with their ninth studio album, Verminous. It turns out the Detroit five-piece have been trying out some new tricks and angles in their fervent death metal, making this release arguably their most diverse and […]
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Jazz drummer Gerald Cleaver explores electronica on Signs
Drummer Gerald Cleaver has explored the edges of jazz in a career that’s already stretched over more than four decades. On last year’s What Is to Be Done (Clean Feed) he joined saxophonist Larry Ochs and Wilco guitarist Nels Cline for a set that swayed and jerked about in the space between free playing, ambience, […]
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Detroit art-rock foursome Saajtak harness the power of improvisation for good
The members of Detroit art-rock group Saajtak met at the University of Michigan in the early 2010s, when all four participated in an improvising ensemble called the Creative Arts Orchestra. They’ve since carried the experimental traditions they explored as students into their work in Saajtak and into their individual creative pursuits—each has developed such an […]
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George ‘Wild Child’ Butler breathed new life into raw, old-fashioned blues
This stubbornly idiosyncratic harmonica player had lousy luck with recordings, but he thrived for four decades onstage.
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Detroit’s Slum Village releases two orchestral tributes to its early hip-hop records while keeping an eye on the future
Slum Village has been through numerous lineups over its 23 years, but unlike other legacy groups that keep rehashing the hits long after key members have left, the influential hip-hop group honors its roots while moving in fresh directions. Currently a duo of T3 (aka RL Altman III) and longtime producer “Young RJ” Rice, Slum […]
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Legendary Detroit folk rocker Sixto Rodriguez brings his political and romantic music to City Winery
When obscure downer-folk singer Sixto Rodriguez announced his 2009 show at Schubas, I was beyond thrilled—and nearly in shock. Outside record-collector circles, hardly anyone seemed to be aware of the Detroit musician’s work. It was practically impossible to get a copy of the records he’d made in the early 70s (except for bootlegs), and rumors […]
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Getting in your steps on the gig poster of the week
This week’s featured gig poster was designed by local artist and musician Karissa Talanian.
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Wolf Eyes are experimental music’s most prolific act—and most prolific meme makers
Detroit-based duo Wolf Eyes have been one of the country’s most important experimental-music acts for more than 20 years, but they’ve also developed a mainstream following due to their presence in the world of viral meme Instagram accounts—it’s nearly impossible to talk about the band without bringing it up. For the past few years, longtime […]
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Forgotten dance-craze hit maker Jerry O has inspired a new biography
The Chicago DJ, promoter, and soul man broke big with “Boo-Ga-Loo” in 1965, but within eight years his career was over.
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The most colorful parties in the city are Noire
Nick Alder and Rae Chardonnay Taylor of Party Noire get to fun by going through respect, safety, community, and empowerment.
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Miguel Atwood-Ferguson translates the works of of hip-hop prodigy J Dilla into orchestral majesty
Shortly after the 2006 death of James Dewitt Yancey, best known as J Dilla, Los Angeles multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, and producer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson began creating orchestral homages to the Detroit hip-hop producer and rapper. Though Yancey had spoken publicly about his health struggles, his passing at age 32 (due to complications from lupus and a […]
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Bettye LaVette can make any song sound like it was written for her
Bettye LaVette debuted with a hit soul single in 1962, but she’s long since transcended genre, singing blues, country, pop, funk, rock, and more.
Posted inFood & Drink
Lola’s Coney Island stands for Detroit
There’s a dog in the fight in Humboldt Park.