Zeke's Rock And Roll BBQ is Here!!!!

The coolest restaurant around is now open in Ferndale! Zeke's Rock And Roll BBQ has officially opened its doors, and let us be the first to tell you that it was well worth the wait!

Located on 9 Mile in Ferndale, Zeke's brings together amazing BBQ, delicious drinks, and kick ass ambiance. Since the people behind this new joint are the same ones that own one of our favorite bars, Small's, we knew it was going to be amazing. But, after finally getting to check the place out and try the food and drinks tonight, we were blown away.

Zeke's offers an extensive menu of barbecued meats served up on platters or as a sandwich, along with some vegetarian options. It took me and my dining mates a minute or two to decide what we were going to stuff our faces with, so we decided to start things off with the fried cheese curds because really, how could you go wrong? They were amazing and might be one of my new addictions! You can also get these curds served up on 2 different types of Poutine, BBQ with pulled pork and a more traditional style.

For dinner we decided to go all out and get entrees, which are served with fucking amazing corn bread and 2 sides of your choice. This was another difficult choice to make, since there were classics like mac n cheese and potato salad, but then different choices like BBQ pasta. Well, the three of us all got different options so we could try a whole slew of sides. We had a new take on brussel sprouts, the pasta, mac n cheese, potato salad, smashed potatoes and veggies, and the Sriracha coleslaw. All of them were delicious, but I think my favorites were a tie between the potato salad and the slaw, with everything else coming in at a close tie for second. Let me put it this way, you won't be disappointed by anything that comes out of that kitchen.

Apparently you won't be disappointed by anything from their bar either! Zeke's has a great list of drafts, a fully stocked bar, and awesome craft cocktails. I'm kicking myself in the ass right now for not remembering the clever names of the drinks I had, but one was their take on a Moscow Mule and the other was a concoction made up of Bourbon, Tonic and Lemonade. They were good and they were strong (which might have something to do with why their names are escaping me right now).

And the meat! How the hell can you talk about how great a BBQ restaurant is without talking about the meat? So, as I mentioned, we all went with entrees. However there are a ton of sandwiches that were very tempting and I will be venturing back for soon. Two of us got the pick 2 meats option, with pulled pork and chicken. The other got the ribs. Fucking Amazing! All of it. Probably the best pulled pork I have had and the small bite I managed to snag of the ribs was super tasty too. On the table was a choice of 4 sauces to choose from, North Carolina, ZBBQ, Pineapple Habanero and a Mustard sauce. All were great, but I kept going back and forth between the Z sauce and the Pineapple Habanero, that one had just the right amount of sweet and spicy.

So I'm sure that now you're convinced that you need to head to Zeke's to eat ASAP. But, even if you aren't looking to get a meal, this is a great place to grab a drink and hang out with friends. We already saw a ton of familiar faces while we were there, both on the staff and in the seats! On top of that, there are great tunes playing and the place just has an overall cool vibe. Definitely going to be one of the new hot spots in Ferndale. Rumor has it they will eventually be having live music somewhere down the line too!

If you'd like to see what Zeke's Rock And Roll BBQ is all about, they are located at 240 West 9 Mile in Ferndale, right across from Public House. For hours of operation and all of the info you need to know, head over and give them a "like" on Facebook here.

~C

Let Pure Detroit Show You Around The Fisher and The Guardian Building

This weekend Pure Detroit is doing something more than clothing you in cool shirts. They are hosting free guided tours of two of Detroit's most famous buildings. The company will be taking the public on tours throughout The Fisher and The Guardian Buildings.

Both of these buildings are absolutely gorgeous! If you haven't seen the interior of them before, this is a must. The painted and mosaic artwork along with the architectural design make these building true pieces of art. Chances are you have seen tons of photos of these buildings from aspiring photographers and professional photographers, like our good friend Camera Jesus. Well, this a chance for you to get inside and take some photos of your own, while learning the history behind the design and the structures themselves.

The Pure Detroit Architectural Tours are completely free and open to all ages. Both tours start at the Pure Detroit store within each of the buildings. Advance registration is not necessary, you can just sign up when you get there! The tours begin at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. this Saturday at each of the locations. So start at one, grab lunch, then head to the other!

The Fisher Building is located at 3011 W Grand Blvd. in Detroit and The Guardian Building can be found at 500 Griswold St. These architectural tours are recurring events that Pure Detroit puts on. For more details on this week's tour or upcoming opportunities to check out amazing structures in Detroit, click here.

~C

Puppy Parade & Winter Fun at Palmer Park

Palmer Park is hosting what might be one of the most adorable events of the year this weekend, a Doggie Fashion Parade! It is part of the Palmer Park Winter Fest and it is happening this Saturday, January 31st. The Doggie Fashion parade will feature all sorts of pups strolling around in their favorite winter wear. The cutest dogs can win numerous prizes, from gift cards to restaurants to gift cards to pet stores.

In addition to the parade, there are a ton of other activities going on throughout the park. There will be horse & carriage rides, food trucks, and live music. Plus, you can bring your ice skates to skate on Lake Frances or your snow shoes or skis to go on a guided tour through the wooded areas of the park.

Admission to the Winter Fest is free, but some activities will have a suggested donation price. The event runs from 1 'til 4 p.m. and the parade is set to take place at 2 p.m. near the lake. If you would like to sign your pooch up to be in the parade, click here.

Palmer Park is located on Woodward between 6 & 7 Mile. For more details on the Palmer Park Winter Fest click here.

~C

Win Tickets to See Periphery at St. Andrew's Hall

I have been a fan of Periphery for a while now. They are known for their progressive rock style, but in my book they should be known for their drummer. Matt Halper is one of the most creative and solid drummers I have ever seen. Watching him live is a privilege and a mind trip if you can appreciate a great drummer. One of the coolest videos I have ever seen is of him setting up in the middle of the street at SXSW 2012 and making a crowd go crazy, check it out. 

He's much more than a drummer in my book. If you love progressive music and or a great drummer you must see this band perform live this Wednesday, February 4th at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit.  The band is performing alongside Nothing More, Thank You Scientist, and Wovenwar (formerly As I Lay Dying). Tickets for the show are only $27 in advance and can be purchased here. We also have two pairs of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Live Nation Detroit. To enter to win those tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. Please include Periphery in the subject line so that we know which giveaway you are entering to win because we have a lot of of them this week!

~S

Win Tickets to Project Trio at the Max M. Fisher Music Center

Project Trio is a chamber music ensemble based in Brooklyn, New York. It consists of Greg Pattillo, Eric Stephenson, and Peter Seymour. With over 70,000,000 combined views on YouTube and over 70,000 subscribers on their YouTube channel. Project Trio is one of the most viewed chamber music ensembles on the internet and they will be performing in Detroit next week. Throughout the night you'll hear arrangements of Bach, Beethoven, Django Reinhardt, and even Jethro Tull, not to mention plenty of Project Trio originals that will have you dancing in your seat.

They will be preforming at the Max M. Fisher Music Center on Wednesday, February 4th. They will also have warm cocktail specials, including a fully stocked spiked hot cocoa bar. Tickets for the event are only $15 and can be purchased in advance here. We also have two sets of tickets to giveaway to two lucky readers. To enter to win those tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line "Project Trio". We will draw the winners about 24 hours before the show and email them details on how to claim their prize. The show starts at 7 p.m. and the Fisher Music Center is located at 3711 Woodward Avenue in Detroit.

~S

Win Tickets to see Marilyn Manson

I remember the first time I saw Marilyn Manson on TV. It was back in the day when MTV ruled the world. Not only did I love his sound, but I also loved his look. This pale, skinny, creepy ass dude related to me in a way that no other artist had before. I started smearing my lipstick a little more (on purpose of course), wore fishnets on my arms, and listened to Smells Like Children and Portrait of an American Family until the CDs were too scratched to play anymore. During this time I had the privilege of seeing him perform live twice. As you can imagine, he put on one of the most amazing live shows that I have ever seen, even to this day. His show reminded me of Alice Cooper and he paved the way for many of today's best live performers, including Lady Gaga. His next two albums Antichrist Superstar and Mechanical Animals were also great listens, but after that I sort of lost touch with his music. He also seemed to step away from the spotlight for a few years.

It seems that he is ready to re-emerge and is ready to release some new music and go out on tour. His latest album is called The Pale Emperor and thanks to an early leak, I have been listening to the album for a few weeks now. And it is good, very, very good. It reminds me of the Manson that I first fell in love with. It is one of those recordings that is solid from start to finish, there is not a bad song. You can stick this one on the player and just let it ride. And, for the first time in a long time, you can see him perform live.

Marilyn Manson will be heading to The Fillmore on Tuesday, February 3rd and in my opinion this is a not miss event. Christie and I will both be in attendance, I cannot wait to see what he does next.  Tickets for the show are only $45 to $80 in advance and they can be purchased here. You can also win one of two pairs of tickets that we have to giveaway to two lucky readers. To enter to win those tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line "I want to see Marilyn Manson". We will draw two winners the day before the show and email them details on how to claim their prize. We wouldn't miss this one for the world and we do not think that you should either!

~S

New Music and a New Website from Boudoir Noir

When we first head Maria Rose & The Swiss Kicks we fell in love with the band. But, when that project ended we were eager to see what Maria would do next. A few months after the demise of MRSK she announced she would be working with bassist Graham Rockwood and drummer Beni Schlatter on a new project that they were calling Boudoir Noir. BN has finally launched a new website and released two singles, one of which also has a new music video to accompany it. The two new songs are titled "Change It Up" and "Summer Skin", you can give both songs a listen on their Souncloud here. You can also learn more about the band an check out their first music video over at their new website here.

I have listened to both singles a few times through and I like what I am hearing. This is the perfect music to put on during a snowy day while cuddling with someone. Their sound is soft and sexy at the same time, very different from what anyone else in Metro Detroit is currently doing.  The other amazing aspect of this act is that they don't just get on stage and perform their music, they have a whole visual show that accompanies the music. This show includes pole dancing, burlesque dancing, and a hula hoop show. Their live show is mentally and visually stimulating, which creates a unique experience.  They are one of those groups that are thinking outside of the box and trying to bring you something that you have not seen before.

The band is in the process of putting together their first EP and we will keep you updated on its release. In the meantime, we encourage you to head over to the website to see some videos of past live performances and to hear the two new singles. We look forward to hearing and seeing more from Boudoir Noir in the near future. 

~S

Win Tickets to say Sayonara to Josh from The ILL Itches and Elise from YUM this Weekend at The Loving Touch!

From the first time we saw The ILL Itches we were fans, we loved their sound and their live show.  We have seen them play more times than we can count and to be honest, it still isn't enough. We were honored to have them play last year's anniversary show. They just released a new EP and we loved that, we planned to continue to follow the band for years to come.

That's when we found out that Joshua Woodcock was moving out of country and taking Elise from YUM with him. I mean we get it, life has to change and when opportunity knocks you have to answer the door. But, this could mean that we may never get to see bands that we truly enjoy play again. We decided instead of speculating to go right to the source and find out all of the details about the big move and the future of both bands.

We had a chance to talk to Josh Woodcock form The ILL Itches and find out more about the move. Check out what he had to say and head up to The LT this weekend to say your goodbyes, or at least your goodbyes for now. 


HID- Why are you moving to Japan?
Joshua Woodcock- "I'm moving to Japan to work as an associate producer at a well know entertainment company. They are NYC-based, but I will be working at their Tokyo office. I just finished law school and was lucky to get into a field that I was interested in."

HID- Will this be the end of The ILL Itches?
Joshua Woodcock- "No! We have a few releases geared up for this year. A friend of ours will be covering live shows for me while I'm gone."

HID- What will you be working on next musically, if anything?
Joshua Woodcock- "While I'm in Japan, I hope to play with some of my old band mates who I played with before in Tokyo. You can rent rehearsal studios in Japan, and we used to do that on nights off and just played music for fun. Elise and I both enjoy playing music, so we'll probably work on some stuff together when we both get our footing after the move."

HID- What is your favorite ILL Itches memory?
Joshua Woodcock- "That question is really difficult. Opening for the Buzzcocks and Dead Kennedys were both great highlights... the first time we got test pressings in of our record and listened to them is another. My favorite memory was probably playing with Matt (Livengood) and those unspoken looks and nods during shows of, 'ok, this is pretty fun.'"

HID- Do you have anything special planned for the last show?
Joshua Woodcock- "Nothing really special, I'm just going to go and have fun and spend some time with friends and family who can make it out. We'll be leaving early the next morning, so it'll be the last time we have the chance to see everybody for a bit."

HID- Is this the end of YUM?
Joshua Woodcock- "I'm sure it's not the end for YUM. Elise pours herself into those songs, and I'm sure with the move, she'll have even more inspiration for new songs. Whether she carries the name over in Japan with those songs, or is involved in something entirely different, she'll be playing music."

HID- Why are you doing this to us?
Joshua Woodcock- "HAHA I don't know, I'm sorry. I love the city and everyone out here and I will be back on business quite a bit, so I hope I can make some trips into town to see everyone. But it's a great opportunity, and in all honesty, I miss Tokyo a bit."

HID- What will you miss most about Detroit?
Joshua Woodcock- "So many things! My friends and family, for sure. I'll miss playing all the time and in Detroit venues. I'll miss going out to shows and seeing people and hearing about their music projects, and probably the biggest thing I'll miss about the city itself is going to see a show of a band I've never seen or heard of before...you know, that type of band where you hear them come on and you stop whatever conversation you're in and get up close to watch their set. I'll miss that. A city's personality is largely made up of the people who inhabit it, and Detroit has such a wide-range of talented people that I'll miss having conversations with and learning new things from."

HID- What are you most looking forward to in Japan?
Joshua Woodcock- "I'm looking forward to seeing some of my old friends (some who I haven't seen since I was last there 4 years ago), and checking out cool parts of Tokyo with Elise. Most of all, I feel really energized and I'm looking forward to getting to work."


Catch The ILL Itches this Saturday, January 31st at The Loving Touch alongside YUM, Citizen Smile, Le Voyage, and Nigel & The Dropout. It's only $5 to get in the door and it is your last chance to say goodbye to Josh and Elise, as he mentioned, they will be leaving the next day. We also have three pairs of tickets to give away to our readers. If you would like to go to the show, please email your full name with the subject line Farewell to hipindetroit@gmail.com.

We wish you both nothing but happiness and success, but we have to admit that we are sad to see you go!

~S

Win Tickets to See Reverend Horton Heat with Blaire Alise & The Bombshells!

Next Saturday, January 31st the legendary Reverend Horton Heat is coming to town! He will be hitting the stage at The Magic Stick, which we all know will be gone before we know it. There are a handful of amazing shows coming up there in the next couple of months before they change formats and this is one of them. So you don't want to miss it!

Joining Reverend Horton Heat on stage are Dale Watson, Rosie Flores and Detroit's own Blaire Alise & The Bombshells. We absolutely love Blaire, so we are thrilled to see her on this bill! Tickets to this show are $25 in advance and can be purchased here or at the Garden Bowl. All ages are welcome and doors open at 8 p.m.

Thanks to the lovely ladies at Black Iris Booking, we are also getting one person and a friend in to see the Reverend for free! To enter to win, please email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Reverend Horton Heat in the subject. We will draw our winner the morning of the show and let them know how to claim their prize!

To get ready for the show and make your day a little better, check out the video for "Mad, Mad Heart" off of Rev, Reverend Horton Heat's latest album that came out last year. Warning: your feet will probably start moving when you listen to this song!

~C

A Music Movers Benefit for the Greening of Detroit

 

Saturday, January 31st Music Movers LLC will be hosting their first showcase featuring local talent to raise money for the The Greening of Detroit. The Social Bandits, The Gasoline Gypsies, The Native Howl, and The Prime Ministers will be performing to help raise money. The Greening of Detroit is a non profit that is trying to, "help Detroit grow and flourish for a greener tomorrow by revitalizing urban gardens, restoring and beautifying local neighborhoods and providing Detroiters with job skills through training programs." To learn more about TGOF you can visit their website, they have all sorts of events throughout the year that you can volunteer to help with.

The show will take place at The Magic Bag and it is only $10 to get in the door. They also arranged for a few buses to drive people to the event. You can take a bus to the show from Port Huron, Utica, and Commerce Township. This special ticket is only $30 and includes a concert ticket, transportation to and from the show, and a “special guest” gift pack. Regular and party bus pre-sale information and tickets are available here. We also have 2 sets of tickets to give away thanks to Music Movers LLC.  To enter to win those tickets, please email your full name with the subject line Music Movers to hipindetroit@gmail.com. We will draw the winners a few days before the show. The winners names will be on the guest list and there will be a CD featuring these acts waiting for them at the show when they get there. Great event, great charity, and the bus idea was a very cool extra touch!  

~S