Mayhem Media...music, monsters, mayhem...

Konniption Fit CD release 1/30/10

Hey guys, come out and celebrate the cd release of "Ballistic" from Detroit's Konniption Fit at TNT's Bar and Grill January 30. Konniption Fit is a great pop punk band that proves we are not all about gloom and doom here in the Motor City, and can still have fun. And they're good people to boot. Come out and support them and get some cool raffle prizes from Coffin Case. And of course, pick up their new cd, with photography by yours truly...but hey, when you have good subjects, how can a girl go wrong? Supporting acts include: Potty Mouth Sissys, Panic Trigger, The Pilz, and Maceri.

OFFICIAL CD RELEASE PARTY FOR KONNIPTION FIT’S FULL LENGTH CD “BALLISTIC”
Date: Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: TNT’s Bar & Grill, 35101 Harper Rd., Clinton Twp., 48035 (Phone: 586-792-1435)
Details: All Ages, Admission $5.00

Gore Galore this weekend...

 

Gorevette has cd release shows tonight and tomorrow night:

The Park Bar in Detroit on Friday, January 29th w/ Easy Action
2040 Park Street, Detroit Doors and Ticket Price TBA

Goodnight Gracie Saturday, January 30th w/ Silverghost and USL
 Ann Arbor Doors 9pm – Tickets - $7.00

And perhaps the best Gore-fest on the planet, the After Dark Film Fest is this weekend, debuting the "8 FIlms to Die For" series. Check your local listings...

For Detroiters, check it out at

Emagine Canton

39535 Ford Road, Canton, MI - (888) 319-3456

Putting the XXX in Xmas

A Cruddy XXXMas at the Ritz, Detroit, Dec. 23. My dreams about Santa will never be the same again...

Crud

Dirty Danielle grabs a pre Xmas package from Vin E. Those Crud kids are so naughty.

 


 

Mound Road Engine

 


 

60 Second Crush
  

Konniption Fit to release full length CD January 30

The long awaited and much anticipated official CD release of Detroit’s own Konniption Fit, has been scheduled for January 30, 2010 with a fun-packed line-up at TNT’s. The night will include not only great music from a variety of bands, but also a number of exciting giveaway and raffle items from Coffin Case, one of Konniption Fit’s endorsement companies.

Konniption Fit's "Ballistic", produced by Andy Patalan at The Loft studios in Saline Michigan, features 12 songs of fun, upbeat Pop Punk sharpened to a razors edge with Modern Rock. Stylistically, the songs on "Ballistic" run the gamut of styles and influences, from the sounds of a riveting racehorse riot to moments of harmonic texture and melodicism, all coming together as a whole which can only be described as uniquely Konniption Fit. Catchy, lush harmonies and melodies are contrasted with the roar of Marshall-driven guitars, sledgehammer drums and tight, pulsing bass lines, causing the listener to want to sing along and slam dance all at the same time.

 

Konniption Fit is a punk/pop/rock band with a heavier edge, hailing from Detroit, MI. Their sound covers many sonic territories, from crunchy ear candy to rebellious moments of anarchy, yet all mixes cohesively into one band. Their goal? To write music with a raw, rebellious attitude, play music with conviction, and devastate the stage with an onslaught of catchy melodies, high energy performances, and an unforgettable show. Konniption Fit is brimming with hook-laden, pop punk bliss contrasted with guitar-driven modern rock, creating a fresh sound with mass-crossover appeal. A bright light emerging from Motor City, this is a band that isn't afraid to step outside the darker Detroit music “box” and tap into diverse influences.

While working hard to promote their live show, Konniption Fit has had the opportunity to play some of Detroit's largest and best venues, including the Royal Oak Music Theater, St Andrews Hall, The Crofoot and The Emerald Theater. Through hard work, they've garnered stage time with national recording acts such as Days of the New, Taproot, Sponge, Ashes of Soma, WWE Diva Christy Hemme, The Luchagors (featuring Lita from WWE), The Muggs (“Greatest American Band” finalists), Frequency 54 and Crud to name a few. Recently, the band just finished up their second Midwest tour, hitting cities such as Chicago, Fort Wayne, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Cincinnati and more.

OFFICIAL CD RELEASE PARTY FOR KONNIPTION FIT’S FULL LENGTH CD “BALLISTIC”
Date: Saturday, January 30th, 2010
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: TNT’s Bar & Grill, 35101 Harper Rd., Clinton Twp., 48035 (Phone: 586-792-1435)
Details: All Ages, Admission $5.00
Bands: Konniption Fit, Potty Mouth Sissys, Panic Trigger, The Pilz, and Maceri

Action Time Radio 25/Koffin Kats Interview

If you guys haven't checked out Steven Blaqart's "Blaqart Radio" and "Action Time! Radio," you need to tune in post haste. He has some great interviews and playlists of songs you probably haven't heard of but definitely should have.



This particular show features Vic Victor of the Koffin Kats, and they talk about yours truly a bit as well...

Action Time Radio 25/Koffin Kats Interview.

This Thanksgiving I gave thanks by airing an interview I did with Vic Victor of The Koffin Kats!! We talk about everything from their brand new album Forever For Hire to naked photo shoots with Diana Price to self afflicted entertainment.. this show also includes archived clips from The Quakes and The Limit Club!!!

Gorevette EP release parties January 29 and 30

(If you pick up the cd, check out the photos inside the booklet by yours truly)

Gorevette to Release The Lustfully Yours EP on Strange Girl Recordings

Record Release Parties in Detroit and Ann Arbor January 29th and 30th

"Bubble-gum and hip-shakeable hooks meet ruthless, pure-firestorm guitar ecstasy" Real Detroit Weekly

 
  

Some things are just meant to be. When the legendary Nikki Corvette arrived with equally revered rock critic Robert Matheu at a Gore Gore Girls show in Los Angeles, he instinctively knew that she and bandleader Amy Gore would be natural compatriots. Both women have toured the world, rejecting trends and gimmickry to play the authentic, powerful rock n’ roll they’ve made their religion.  They became friends that night, not industry associates but real pals. When Corvette relocated to her native Detroit for family reasons, she and Gore began to spend time together, spending hours talking about music while hanging out by the record player. 

With members of each woman’s bands in different cities, they originally conceived the idea of doing a punk cover band, playing their favorite songs from bands like the Buzzcocks and the Damned. That soon changed when Nikki brought her tune “Lustfully Yours” to the table. Amy Gore, a formidable guitarist and writer, began writing songs specifically for Nikki that carry on the ‘Shangri-Las meets Ramones’ v sound she is famous for while incorporating lyrics rejecting the artificiality of current feminine ideals (“Fake It”) and making stand for the hedonistic fun of dancing, cars and staying up all night. “Rock n’ roll, above all else, should be fun,” said Gore.

Enlisting Lianna Castillo (bassist from the Gore Gore Girls) and Al King (Powertrane) on drums, the line-up was compled, and Gorevette began playing festivals and club shows. When it came time to record their EP, they split time between both Jim Diamond’s Ghetto Recordings in Detroit and Rock City Studios in Ann Arbor, MI, Gore producing and the songs. Gorevette were honored to have Radio Birdman guitarist Deniz Tek playing lead guitar on 'Nothin's Gonna Stop Me' and trading licks with Amy Gore on 'Brand New Lover'.

The new tracks are compiled for The Lustfully Yours EP, available Tuesday, January 26th on itunes USA and Internationally, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, IMVU, LimeWire Store, Amazon MP3 & Amazon on Demand. The video for “Lustfully Yours” has just been unveiled as well! Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taMdqu7R-BY

 

 

  Gorevette Hit The Park Bar in Detroit on Friday, January 29th w/ Easy Action

2040 Park Street, Detroit

Doors and Ticket Price TBA

Gorevette Rocks The Heidelberg Club Saturday, January 30th w/ Silverghost and USL

215 N Main Street, Ann Arbor

Doors 9pm – Tickets - $7.00

Special Guests: Silverghost & USL

About Nikki: 1978 saw the birth of Nikki Corvette's career with the release of the Nikki Corvette and the Convertibles single "Young and Crazy" b/w "Backseat Love" and "Criminal Element". This was all happening in Detroit during the punk rock explosion where Nikki would see herself sharing the stage with The Ramones, Johnny Thunders, The Romantics and many more. By 1980 the band name was changed to Nikki and the Corvettes. They would release their legendary debut album on BOMP! Records, an incredible mixture of 60's style girl group vocals, twangy guitars and teenage pop with plenty of punk rock attitude, with songs about cruisin for boys and fun in the sun. The album and band would influence everyone from The Go-go's (to go for more of a "pop" sound) all the way to The Donnas (see the lyric "I wanna be like Nikki Corvette" from Gimmie My Radio), and around the world to Japan with The 5678's.

About Amy Gore: Amy was born in Detroit, Michigan and in 1997 she founded the Gore Gore Girls, the first of few all-female bands of the garage rock genre. Along with other bands such as The White Stripes, The Dirtbombs, The Detroit Cobras and others, the Gore Gore Girls helped establish the modern American garage rock scene of the 1990s in Detroit. Gore’s talents are myriad: she is a ferocious guitarist who has helped bring Gretsch hollowbody guitars their due, a songwriter who distills the perfect pop gem and a studio pro whose unerring ear brought Gorevette to light.

Theatre Bizarre...Halloween will never be the same

Usually my posts fall under one of the tagline topics - music, monsters or mayhem. Theatre Bizarre qualifies under all three. In spades.

The elusive master of ceremonies, Zombo the Clown.

Theatre Bizarre was one of the things that made me first take notice of Detroit as a possible relocation city. It's the perfect example of the thriving arts and counterculture scene here, and this is one hell of a party that everyone should experience once in their lifetime. Actually, you should experience it every year.

I don't know what this year's budget was, but the budget for 2008's party was $70,000. That is not a typo kids. 70,000 dollah. That buys you one hell of a lot of entertainment, as well as your refillable beer mug for the night. Three stages of music, burlesque and sideshow acts, haunted house, fire artists, hook suspension sideshows, bonfires, AND free beer (well, free after you pay admission.) A chance to see this dark carnival in it's full glory is worth the price of admission alone.

And if you are even thinking of checking it out next year -- and you are crazy if you aren't -- get your tickets early. This event sells out every year, and every year it is selling out quicker. It is hands down the hottest ticket in Detroit around Halloween, and I daresay, perhaps the hottest ticket all year round.

 



 

I heard many people say the same thing -- after Theatre Bizarre, the actual Halloween holiday was an anti-climax. Judge for yourself, say I. Come out next year and thrill to the obscene, from dusk till dawn...

What's So Funny About Peace, Love, and Understanding? Sevendust live at the Emerald Theater in Detroit

Since Barack Obama's nomination and subsequent election as the first African-American president of the United States, we have been bombarded with commentary about how he has broken racial barriers, winning traditionally "red" states and southern states. But political superstar that he is, Obama would likely have his hands full winning over a crowd of beer-guzzling, good ol' boys into metal and hard rock.

For Lajon Witherspoon, it's all in a days work, and has been for years as the frontman for Sevendust. Witherspoon is one of only a few African-American vocalists in heavy metal, yet has garnered such respect he was named #35 on Hit Parader's list of 100 Best Rock Vocalists of All Time in 2008.

And when you see Sevendust live, you can see he's earned his place. He may be short in stature, but he thrashed his muscular frame around the stage, Keith Morris-esque dreads whipping around him as the band covered songs from their full discography, going back as far as "Denial" from 1999's Home, to "Inside" from their current release, Chapter IIV: Hope and Sorrow.

You'd expect Witherspoon to be a total badass, but he showed the Detroit crowd a bit of a different side that night. At one point, he called out to a couple of soldiers in the crowd still in camouflages, and as they were hoisted over the crowd to the pit, Witherspoon stopped security from booting them out, and took one of the soldiers on stage to thank him for his service. To roaring applause, as you can imagine.

If that won't win over a rough crowd of metalheads and biker types I don't know what will.

 Then as the set resumed, a drumstick had been thrown in the audience. I watched as two men both had a deathgrip on it, struggling to rip it from each other, neither giving it up. They seemed on the verge of blows, but Witherspoon quickly put an end to that. It's one thing to have a pit, but he's not having any fights at their shows -- he called to them to stop and handed the men a second drumstick, ending the brewing fight and inspiring the men to hug each other to the crowd's applause.

Who knew he could be such a sensitive guy and ambassador of peace and goodwill?

The Emerald Theater was sold out for this show supporting Black Label Society, and as I looked up from the front row into the balconies in that old theater, I could see about every face in there, and I only saw one that was African-American. But I didn't see any that weren't rocking out.

I can't see Obama as a rock star, but for Lajon Witherspoon, who knows...maybe he has a promising future in politics and diplomacy, should he ever get tired of rock and roll.

But given the show Sevendust put on in Detroit, I can't see that happening anytime soon. And thank god for that.

Running with Panthers at Small's Bar - Hamtramck Blowout

I'm going to guess that many who may stumble on this blog will have no idea what Hamtramck Blowout is. In fact, you probably have never heard of Hamtramck.

What rock have y'all been living under? I recently saw a list on AOL along the lines of "Fastest Dying Cities in America" and guess who made the top 10? That's right, Hamtramck is number 7 according to Forbes. Or, "Hammy," once you get to be on a first name basis with her and all. So anyway, this city on the edge of Detroit is a Polish neighborhood of bakeries and discount shopping by day, and the stomping grounds of Detroit musical bohemians by night. So what better place to have the largest music festival in the country, with 275 bands playing in four days?

Wait...make that four nights. Just under 300 bands playing between the hours of 9pm-1am on those four nights. Pretty impressive, eh? Does that sound like a dying city to you?

As you can imagine, this took place over many venues, but most within close enough proximity for walking. Doing my first Hammy Blowout was like a Detroit music sampler platter, and I would shoot 10-15 minutes of a band's set, then move to another venue. With a few exceptions, where I lingered a bit longer.

Running with Panthers (at Small's Bar) was one of those exceptions.

 

Running with Panthers is not breaking new musical ground. They are not challenging the accepted conventions of rock music. They're simply a bar band who rocks out on stage and puts on a good show. They are obviously having fun, and that's contagious.

 And that's kind of the point. Not taking yourself so damn seriously -- it's rock and roll for chrissakes.

Which brings me to why I chose to start blogging Hamtramck Blowout with this particular band. Below I've reposted a video from their site...MTV Cribs, "Running with Panthers" style.

Humor is a good thing, even in rock and roll. Especially in rock and roll.

Running with Panthers CRIBS ONLINE

PS. FUCK YOU Forbes magazine, with your "dying cities" bullshit.

Photo of the Day - The Koffin Kats

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm always going on about the Koffin Kats.

I swore to myself I wasn't going to put up any more photos of them for awhile, and especially of Vic Victor, but I mean, hey...look at the pic, you know? This was the last stop of the Nekromantix, Koffin Kats, Chop Tops show, and I would like to say Vic outdid himself, but honestly, this is pretty much...par.

Now, a lot of people ask, is that blood real? First, let me tell you not to ask Vic that. That drives him nuts, because yes, it is real. In fact, Vic will tell you point blank the only blood you'll ever see on their stage is real -- they don't go for that fake blood shit so common in psychobilly. How does he do this? Well, the boy has been smashing beer cans into his head and has all these cuts in his scalp. So all he has to do anymore is headbutt something or smack himself in the head, and they open right up. FYI -- for those who don't know this, scalp wounds bleed VERY dramatically, and look far worse than they are.  He's gonna be okay. Really.

Well, the cuts anyway. As for what is actually going through his head, rather than bleeding out of it -- the jury's still out.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm always going on about the Koffin Kats.

I swore to myself I wasn't going to put up any more photos of them for awhile, and especially of Vic Victor, but I mean, hey...look at the pic, you know? This was the last stop of the Nekromantix, Koffin Kats, Chop Tops show, and I would like to say Vic outdid himself, but honestly, this is pretty much...par.

Now, a lot of people ask, is that blood real? First, let me tell you not to ask Vic that. That drives him nuts, because yes, it is real. In fact, Vic will tell you point blank the only blood you'll ever see on their stage is real -- they don't go for that fake blood shit so common in psychobilly. How does he do this? Well, the boy has been smashing beer cans into his head and has all these cuts in his scalp. So all he has to do anymore is headbutt something or smack himself in the head, and they open right up. FYI -- for those who don't know this, scalp wounds bleed VERY dramatically, and look far worse than they are.  He's gonna be okay. Really.

Well, the cuts anyway. As for what is actually going through his head, rather than bleeding out of it -- the jury's still out.