From the National Affairs Desk-
*JCM Lavender Blog Policy: Just a yearly reminder, if you have any serious objections over any content here please go out of you way to contact me, and I will review the complaint and remove it.*
Well it is once again summer in the city which means it is time for local summer fests!! You know, the one's where you can pop and bop from venue to venue throughout the night and sample around a hundred of the best local bands around. Wait, Blowout is no more you say? I actually knew that. We headlined the very last one. Wait, Hamtramck Music Fest may be gone as well? They are being very very quiet, and most likely finished.
Thankfully, we have this July's Corktown Summer Music Festival Fri. July 7th-Sun. July 9th! Three day passes are $20 and single day passes are only $10. Nearly 100 bands across only two venues, Lager House and 2000 Brooklyn, which is right behind Lager House I am told. I've never been there. You may think the price point may be a little high, but the close proximity of the venues allows you a better opportunity catching some midnight intruder trying to hijack your car. It also benefits Girls Rock Detroit! Here's a little bit of info from their page. You can view their page here:
-They support empowerment through music programming for girls, non-binary, and transgender.
-Provides a safe space for LGBTQ youth to feel affirmed in their identities, and express themselves through music.
-Educate about social justice and build confidence.
-Help address gender disparity in the music industry.
Sounds pretty cool right? And what better act to have headlining Night One, Friday July 7th at the Lager House than us, the JCM!
I know what you're thinking and it probably starts with, "Oh No!", but leave that be for now, and let's preview the other acts playing on opening night, Friday (Saturday and Sunday will be future posts, so if you are playing then I will get to you...then). You know the drill. I search an act and preview one of their songs or videos, usually the one with the most traffic, but sometimes not. Oh, also, please note that the Lager House is only on Friday, but 2000 Brooklyn is for all three days. I guess Lager has a band from Nevada called Flamingos in the Tree playing Saturday. I previewed them as well, their song "Take Me By the Hand," and it was pretty awful. The video makes them come off as insufferable little poofs. Plus they're charging $20, the same amount as the 'more value' Corktown Summer Fest headlined Friday July 7th by JCM, AND benefits girls, non-binary, and transgender youth and adults. Anyway, on to the previews! For the full schedule, visit their page here:
Friday July 7th
Lager House
Bitchkraft- Had some trouble finding content on them because there are multiple acts with that name, though they did play the last Punk Rock BBQ. My assistant, Sebastian Owl, is convinced they hate us. Great start!
3rd Degree Burns- "Highway Star (cover)"- They have a school of rock vibe. Can't wait to blow their minds. Pop! Although, they covered "Highway Star" which is cool.
Edison Hollow- "Body's Guest"- Pretty good song. Mild Queens of the Stone Age rip off, but hey, Greg Aubrey made a local career out of it.
The Plutophonics- Live at Tangent- Serviceable band fronted by a torch singer. Think The Firewalkers but with less Shag.
Pink Spit- I didn't find much actual content, but I did see that Johnny Lzr guy that has to be on everybody's friend's page plays with them, along with the geezer from Millions of Brazilians who stole Leah Deal from me.
L.M.I- I found a Facebook page of a band with the same name, but they play all across the country and I still haven't heard of them. They look like a standard metal/rock band. L.M.K if anybody has the inside scoop. That is my preview.
The Incurables- "Detroit Steel"- Well, we have the Romeo Flynn's 2.0. Serviceable and harmless.
Hairy Queen- "French Road"- Basic punk/thrash fronted by some guy who looks like Charlie LeDuff on steroids.
Sonic Smut- "Live as the Muggs"- Hope that their songs are better. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Ace of Wands- "Feminine Values"- Ace of Wands was my nickname in college. Anyway, these kids put some effort into the video, unlike 1000 local bands' vids of them just walking around Woodward in Ferndale. Oh wait, this act is from Ontario. That explains it.
Jesus Chainsaw Massacre- The Detroit Music Award winning artists Brianna Metro, Elliot First, Petula the Freshman, Wang Yellowslash, and +/-jr can't wait to tickle your ear nipples. We will have a merch table as well. More on that later. Midnight, Friday, July 7th. For charity.
Friday July 7th
2000 Brooklyn
Barker & Broski- "Be My Baby Tonight"- Standard music, well-played and happy. Not as good as Jeff Jarrett's version though.
Kid Cooper Levy- "Kahleesi"- Standard Dylan-esque music, well-played and happy.
Memphis Hawk- "Tonight"- Standard music, well played and happy.
Kate Hinote Trio- "If I Should Go"- Very professional.
Sudden Death Syndrome- "That Face"- Harmless hip hop. Well played and dour.
Boomcat- Didn't find much on them, but they played the last Corktown Fest so they must be okay.
The Hourlies- I promised to be nice. They basically play every show. Not just every fest, but every show. They also have a new bass player. That is my preview. Subscribe to the JCM Gold Pass for all the goods.
Slowfoot- "Day Job"- Decent jam band. They put some effort into the video.
Bruised Reed- "Messed Up"- They seem to play every fest as well. Female-fronted twee rock. Can write a good song.
Whiskey Charmers- Mandatory they play every fest/weekend. I've previewed them before.
Elspeth and the Treatment- "Iconoclastic"- Well played and happy.
Modhouse- Electronic duo. Don't believe they have a DMA, but there's still time.
J Michael and the Heavy Burdens- "Easy Go"- Very professional and happy.
The Vag Arcadia- "Cold Hearted"- They have around the same amount of people as the JCM at full strength. Very professional and happy.
Strength Beyond You- I didn't find much, but while searching I did come across this. So there's that.
7 Layers- "You Got Fire"- Their bio says they are a mix of every genre you can think of. So there's that.
Okay, that concludes the preview for Day One, Friday July 7th, of the Corktown Music Festival. You may notice that you don't recognize a lot of these acts which is unique. You won't see the likes of Jack White here.
I've spent years of previews complaining about the same acts performing at the same venues and the same Fests, so this is a good litmus test to see if the local scene will come out to try new things. If anything, I'm just glad I didn't have to preview Dear Darkness or The Handgrenades again. Also, it is for a good cause.
Speaking of good causes let's move along to the Official JCM Merch Table, which also benefits a good cause. While the majority of the event sales are going to Girls Rock Detroit!, the Official JCM Merch Table's proceeds will be going to a different Girl Power cause, the Freebie Foundation. Unlike the Girl Power cause, a non-profit, the Freebie Foundation is totally for profit.
A while back, a local music personality had a health issue involving their liver. Too much drinking for too long finally caught up to them, and they had a medical procedure that also required a steady supply of meds. Thankfully, they made an above average recovery from "Death's Door" and is still creating art and stories to this day.
That person was me.
A while back, a local music personality had a heath issue involving their liver. Not sure what caused it, but thankfully it was corrected. Because, let's be real, even in this satire segment, you never want to see anyone sick, no matter how annoying they are. This person was assisted with over $10,000 through a GoFundMe. I was shocked. When I had my similar situation (which actually had the potential to be worse), nobody set up a GoFundMe, or anything like that. What got me through was the honest love and concern from the Honor Roll. You know who you are.
But, was I a little salty? You bet, and yeah, I probably made my usual "Where did all the money go?" and "Were the proper taxes paid for the funds received?" jokes, both jokey, but honest questions. I no longer care about the answers anymore. Life is too short to dwell on potential scams and grifts. When there's nothing left to do, except enjoy the view. When there's nothing left to do, I just smile. I'm just glad they are in recovery because, let's be real, even in this satire segment, you never want to see anyone sick.
Jump cut a few months, but still a while ago. I get a message whining about my honest questions. That part is fair. Some people are just built to whine. But then it got weird because after acknowledging the $10K gift, they went on to brag about how they get to go to California every now and then for free because of friends and family. And then after that they said that while in California they make thousands of dollars producing records that no one will ever hear. And then, to wrap it up, they had the nerve to ask if I was jealous. I'd post the entire message here, but I do respect private conversations.
So, was I? Sure. Who wouldn't be? Did their response come across as tone deaf and mildly ill-advised stupidity? I would say so. So yes, I am non-binary enough to admit I was a little bit jealous. But I also have lived a charmed life, and I have seen things many would kill to experience. And I earned (most of) it.
What I really wonder is what the majority of the local scene, many of whom are playing this Fest for free to benefit girls, non-binary, and transgender youth, many of whom far surpass many tone deaf has-beens in terms of creativity and especially talent, think about this person benefitting from the hard work of others. I'm sure that many playing this fest would love to have that kind of support that this Bug has gotten through the years. But for some people, it is never enough. There is always the next free vacation. There is always the next free clothes dump.
This is why all the proceeds from the JCM Official Merch Table will go directly to the Freebie Foundation because you can never get enough stuff for free. I'm pretty sure people like that/them won't be at this Fest because it doesn't offer any benefit to them. Well, unless the Fest falls on a week where they are fucking one of the acts playing, but life can be a lottery, and some people are always hitting the jackpot. It would be nice if they showed a sliver of integrity and make a donation to the Girls Rock Detroit thing. Show some courtesy, some sympathy, and some taste. But I wouldn't hold my breath. I'd end up back at Death's Door.
Stay tuned later this month for the Sat/Sun previews, along with a list of items that will be available at the JCM Official Freebie Foundation Merch Table.
From the Iceman Commeth,
Bryan Metro
Posts
13 comments:
Oh no...
You've gone soft. The old you would have just completely raged regarding the merch table. I have no idea who you are talking about though. Could it be Barcie Molen?
It really is about everybody in general, all those who squirm through life getting everything, but never really doing/giving anything back. You may have a few people in mind, and that is your opinion, but I have been covering the local scene for nearly 14 years, and it just makes me feel uncomfortable to see people, many people and bands, get chance after chance and fail every single time. Looking at it from that perspective, I actually feel better because the JCM never had those chances, thus we are still around and all of us don't have to sleep with a different band every month to stay relevant. Thanks for reading, but nah, this is about nobody in particular.
Great post
Tell JR that only poseurs move to Ohio.
Only posers spell it “poseurs”
only poseurs let cass records go under to open a vanity label for a narcissist and be their alleged historian / chief sycophant in nashville. but then again, i guess jacky boy probably hates ohio because of the his fun with the black keys.....so by default you have to as well. what's the record of the week benny?
Oh wow, do we have a Ben Blackwell reference? Now that's the type of vitriol this scene has been needing for years. So we have a Ben Blackwell and Marcie Bolen reference in the same post. I feel so old right now. I'm honestly amazed this blog is still around. I think it might be the only local blog left standing. Do you remember Lazer Sharks, Webvomit, Gorilla, Broke in Detroit, Milo (well we'd all like to forget that last one).
Lazer Sharks were fake and gay
A poser is a model. A poseur is...JR. The spelling is correct. It's french or something.
Now see, this is the type of fire that I need to see from the embers of all of this. I actually enjoyed some of Lazer Sharks even though the girl from them threw a drink in my face and then I fell in love. And then I realized there are no more mountains to climb. When there's nothing left to do I just smile.
Metro, whisper in my ear.
Still confused how this show is actually booked, advertised, and happening.
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