Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Break Anchor Releases "In A Van Down By The River"

It's a great summer for Detroit music! Some of our favorite bands are releasing new albums, and we couldn't be happier about it! This past weekend the guys in Wilson released their second full length, Right to Rise, and now, this week Break Anchor is celebrating their newest release. It's called In a Van Down By the River and the big release show is Wednesday night.

This Wednesday, July 1st head west on 94 for Break Anchor's Vinyl Release Show at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. The band will be playing the new album in full with a few old favorites sprinkled into the set. Joining them on stage are Symptoms (Portland), Trace the Veins and Black Note Graffiti. Admission is only $7 and doors are set to open at 8 p.m.

In a Van Down By the River is being released on Paper + Plastik. It will be available in the traditional black as well as Detroit River (waves and swirls of Kelly Green and Olive Green) and Detroit River Raging (hazed Kelly Green and Olive Green). If you can't make it out to the show, but still want the album, you can pick one up here. There are also CDs and downloads available. To get a feel for the new album, check out Break Anchor's video for the first song, "First World Problems", below.


~C

Wilson Fucking Parties!!!!

Last Saturday night Wilson returned to Michigan to release their second full length album Right to Rise, their first album on Razor and Tie Records. The new album sounds great and looks even better. It features a picture of "Satan" shot by Detroit's own Camera Jesus.

Saturday's show at The Crofoot was epic to say the very least. This is one of those bands that works their assess off to make sure that every person in the room has a good time. They don't just get up there and play the songs, they get up there and suck you into their world for an hour.
Lead singer Chad Nicefield entertained the crowd by talking to them in between each set. He thanked all the people that came out, all the people that helped with this record, and all the people who helped Wilson get where they are today. It was the kind of night that gave you warm fuzzies and made you want to get up, jump around, and have a good time.

Their latest album Right to Rise is now available for purchase. You can pick up your copy here. The band will be touring in support of the music through August. You can see a full schedule of tour dates here.

We took a couple of shots of the performance and even captured a song for all of you that missed out on the fun. Check it out, get the CD, and don't fucking miss out next time! Party!
 
 

~S

Monday, June 29, 2015

Celebrate the 4th of July with Fireworks!

Fourth of July is right around the corner! We wanted to make sure you have plenty of opportunities to celebrate America before the big day on Saturday. So we compiled a list of fireworks and other fun happenings going on around Metro Detroit over the next week. Unfortunately some of the big ones, like the Detroit Fireworks and Stars and Stripes, have already passed, but there are still plenty of opportunities to see explosions in the sky and sport your red, white & blue.

Lake St. Clair Metropark Fireworks - Tuesday, June 30th:
Located in Harrison Township on 16 Mile Rd. at 31300 Metro Parkway, the fireworks start at 10 p.m. But the fun starts at 7 with The Happy American Band playing until 9:30 p.m. on the beach. Park admission is $10 after 5 p.m. or free with a Metro Park annual pass. Watch from the beach or bring your boat and watch from the water.

Greenfield Village - Salute to America - July 1st thru 4th:
This event truly celebrates America. There are picnics, games, a parade, a performance by the United States Army Field Band, fireworks with a soundtrack provided by the DSO playing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, a canon will be fired, and much more. The celebration takes place from 6-10 p.m. each evening. Tickets range from $15-25 and can be purchase here.

Romulus City Fireworks - July 2nd:
These fireworks can be seen best from Wick & Ozga Roads or Elmer Johnson Park. Bring your lawn chairs and purchase snacks from food vendors on site. The fireworks are set to start at dusk!

Hazel Park Raceway - July 3rd:
Head out early and watch some ponies race, then stick around after the live races for the fireworks. Racing starts at 6:30 p.m. and the fireworks start right after the races. The raceway is located at 
1650 E 10 Mile Rd. in Hazel Park. 

These fireworks take place on Sylvan Lake in Keego Harbor. The best place to watch is from Memorial Park at Garland and Pontiac Drive. It's free to get in, but plan on paying for parking. There are also shuttles running from Gino's Pizzeria.

Grosse Pointe Farms - July 3rd-5th:
There will be a regatta all weekend hosted by the Grosse Pointe Farms Boat Club. There will also be live music on the 4th from 7-9:45, followed up by fireworks. On the 5th there's even a pet parade! It all takes place at Pier Park located at 350 Lake Shore Rd.

Clawson Fireworks- July 4th:
There's a carnival, a parade, arts & crafts and tons of fun to be had all day long on the fourth. The fireworks shoot off at 10 p.m. at City Park located on West Elmwood, West of Main Street. If you want to watch from inside the park, admission is $2.

Gibraltar 4th of July Festival - July 4th:
Gibraltar has been doing it for 51 years, so they must know how to do it right! There's a parade at 10 a.m., a carnival on the 3rd and 4th, live music, petting farms, and a craft show, all leading up to the fireworks display at 10 p.m. on the 4th. This is not at Gibraltar Trade Center, it's in the city of Gibraltar! Just head down I-75. The fireworks take place behind Parsons Elementary School at 14473 Middle Gibraltar Rd.

Huntington Woods 4th of July Activities - July 4th:
Enjoy a parade and hot dog roast before these fireworks! The parade starts at 10 a.m. and the fireworks at 10:05 p.m. The display is held at Rackham Golf Course located at 10100 W. 10 Mile Road. Attendees are encouraged to bike or walk to the golf course.

Trenton Fireworks - July 4th: 
This is claiming to be Michigan's biggest firework show! There's a concert starting at 8 p.m. followed by the fireworks. You can even tune into the concert on your radio! It's all happening at Rotary Park on Riverside Drive.


~C


Win Tickets to See Punk Rock Legends The Weirdos

The Weirdos rose to fame in the 70s when punk rock was punk rock. The band formed in L.A. in 1975 and has been playing together on and off throughout the years. The latest lineup of the band includes John Denney and his guitarist brother Dix who founded the band. They reunited the latest lineup for  Punk Rock Bowling in 2013 and things went so well that they decided to take the show on tour.

They will be coming to Detroit to play The Majestic Cafe this Tuesday, June 30th. They will be performing alongside The Devious Ones and Stale Phish. Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The music will start at 8 p.m.and all ages are welcome to come out and play.

Black Iris Booking has given us one pair of tickets to give away to the show, so we wanted to kick the week off right by running a 24 hour giveaway. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to see this show with a friend for free please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #letsgetwerid. We will draw one lucky winner tomorrow morning and email them details on how to claim their prize.


~S

Friday, June 26, 2015

Party with Wilson Saturday Night at the "Right To Rise" Release Show!

This Saturday night hometown rockers Wilson will be hitting the stage at The Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac! Wilson has been hard at work playing shows around the globe and working on their second full length album Right To Rise which is being released at the big Crofoot show this weekend.

Although the album has not been released yet, you may have heard a track or two on the internet or even on the radio. The WRIF has been playing the title track off the album, "Right To Rise", in regular rotation and "Crave" has been the champion on 89X's People's Choice for weeks now. And now, thanks to Alternative Press, you can stream the entire album online here.

If you like what you hear you can either pick the album this weekend at the release show or order Right To Rise at WilsonPartyAnimals.com. Not only does this album include awesome music, but it also has some pretty rad artwork. The cover and all of the artwork for the album are photos by Mr. Joe Gall, so we suggest that you pick up a hard copy either on CD or Vinyl. Plus when you pre-order the album you will get a download of the tracks, too!

Saturday at The Crofoot Wilson will be joined by Citizen Zero, Red Stone Souls, and Wolfshark. Tickets are only $10 in advance and can be purchased here. The day of the show ticket prices will go up to $15, but we will be shocked if this show isn't sold out. So, don't be a dope. Pick tickets up ahead of time. After Saturday's show Wilson will be hitting the road again for most of the summer. So this will be the only chance you have to see the guys at home.

We are so excited for the dudes in Wilson and wish them continued success. This all couldn't be happening to a better bunch of guys! We've had a blast partying and working with these guys over the past few years and can't wait to party with them again at their big show on Saturday! Get ready for a night of Fuckery!!!


And just because we feel like reminiscing now, here's one of the very first videos we ever did for Hip In Detroit and it just happens to be with Wilson. Oh, how much things change in a few short years. 



~C

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Hit the Pavement in Pontiac this Weekend

There's a new bike ride in town and it's not the Slow Roll that you're familiar with. It's called Fast Cat and it takes place a little ways up I-75 in Pontiac.

The Pontiac Fast Cat is a monthly ride through the streets of Pontiac. People meet at the Vernors Room at The Crofoot and ride the designated course at their own speed. You can ride as fast or as slow as you'd like. But, the ride kicks off at 6 p.m. and drinking is set to start promptly at 7 back at the Vernors Room. Plus it sounds like the first three people back will get bandannas. So that's two good reasons to speed things up a bit! Plus, after the ride is over there is live music! The first time around the always awesome Bars of Gold played. For the second round the band has not yet been announced, but the flyer hints to a surprise performance. Who could it be???

If you'd like to see find out who is playing and ride some bikes through Pontiac, head to the Vernors Room this Sunday, June 28th. The ride starts at 6, but people will start meeting up around 5 p.m. All ages are welcome to ride. You can hit the streets alone, in a group with your pals, or this week there will also be a slower "kitten" group roll. To check out the route and for more details on this event, head over to Fast Cat's Facebook page here.


~C

Get Some New Gear at the Motor City Gear Gala

If you're a musician, you 'll want to be at The Rust Belt Market this weekend! There you will find a whole slew of vendors with guitars, pedals, amps and more. It's being called the Motor City Gear Gala and it is happening this Sunday, June 28th from 11 a.m. 'til 6 p.m.

A couple of years ago a similar event was put on by Nik and Kim from The Philter at The Loving Touch. It was an awesome opportunity for everyone in the music community to come together, hang out, and check out some great equipment and companies that keep this scene going. It sounds like this is going to be just as awesome. Some vendors that will be at the Gala are Wallace Detroit GuitarsMadisons MusicGreat Lakes Guitar Pickups, Metropoulos Amp IncLovepedal Custom Effects, Jext TelezRenaud AudioRed PandaMotor City GuitarGuitar GripDetroit Amp LabSpiral ReconingMotown Guitar ServiceJumperz L.L.C.Acme Audio Manufacturing Co., Bacu Instrument Company and DIME. So you will be able to get everything from some new strings to info on lessons. There will also be raffles for new gear along with some performances.

This great event is being headed up by Jason Stollsteimer and Dustin McLaughlin. It sounds like there are still tables available if you have a company that wants to get in on the action. If you are interested, just send an email over to motorcitygeargala@gmail.com. For more information on the Motor City Gear Gala, click here. Admission to the event is free and The Rust Belt Market is located at 22801 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.


~C

Win Tickets to GoatWhore at The Majestic Cafe

Black Iris Booking may not be hosting shows at the Magic Stick anymore, but they are still hosting shows at The Majestic Cafe. This week the cafe will fill with darkness as a killer lineup of metal and death metal acts take the stage. This Sunday, June 28th GOATWHORE will perform alongside
Ringworm, BLACK BREATH, and Theories. Tickets for the show are $15 at the door and all ages are welcome to attend. The music will start at 8 p.m., so you can expect this to be an earlier show. Do not putz around!

We have one pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of the ladies over at BIB. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject #goatwhore. We will draw a winner the day before the show and email them details on how to claim their prize.  

~S 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Win a Pair of Tickets to Lumpfest II: Summer Lumpin'

Summer is in full force which means every weekend there is another cool festival to attend. This year Lumpfest returns for the second year with a new lineup. This year's lineup of acts includes Doc Wafffles, The ILL Itches, PonyShow and more. The fest will feature three stages with back to back music starting at 4 p.m. this Saturday, June 27th. Detroit's own chef will be cooking up some treats and they are only charging $5 to get in! We also have four sets of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of the event's organizers. If you would like to enter to win a pair, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject #lumpfest. We will draw four lucky people the day before the show and email them details on how to claim their prize. Check out the full lineup for the festival:

BACKYARD
5:30 - Coin Laundry
6:30 - Lament
7:30 - Virgil Shepp & the Ear Hustlers
8:30 - Black Market Rx (Toledo)
9:30 - White Bee

DOWNER STAGE
4:00 - Slow Dance
5:00 - Waffle Cone
6:00 - The Tusks Band (Ann Arbor, MI)
7:00 - Glyders (Chicago, IL)
8:00 - Doc Waffles
9:00 - Five Pound Snap
10:00 - Chives (Indianapolis, IN)
11:00 - The ILL Itches

***SECRET STAGE***
10:30 - PONYSHOW (Detroit, MI)
11:30 - Local Surfing (Bloomington, IN)

Lumpfest will take place at The Lumpkin Lodge located at 12038 Lumpkin in Hamtramck.


~S

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Tony Rave Presents Politics As Usual

The growing art community of Detroit has been one of the most interesting changes to come to our city in the last few years. While it seems that there has been a lack of new bands, there is no lack of new artists and galleries popping up all over the city. There seems to be a gallery opening of interest almost every weekend. We have been very inspired by this growing community so we have been covering more and more art shows over the last year. Last weekend we had the pleasure of checking out Laura Finlay's latest gallery at The Storefornt Gallery (a small gallery in Ferndale) and this weekend we are looking forward to seeing artist Tony Rave's first solo show at the newly opened Baltimore Gallery in Detroit.
Tony started drawing and creating art when he was 3 years old. He has a uncle who made quite a name for himself in the local scene and watching his uncle create inspired him to take the same path. Most of his work is politically themed. He received some notariety a few years ago when he released a painting of Kwame Kilpatrick that was titled "The King of Broken Hearts". Since then, most of his art has had themes of pigs in it. His art is highly political and purposely left open for interpretation by the person viewing it. He mixes serious topics with an almost comical style of drawing to create something that is bright and oretty, but also makes you think.
His first solo show will be called "Politics As Usual". The Gallery will feature all of Rave's newest creations. The show will run from this Thursday, June 25th through July 15th. The opening party will take palce this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. The Baltimore Gallery is located at 314 E. Baltimore Ave. in Detroit. All the work that he is displaying at the show will be for sale, so get there early to claim your favorite piece before someone else does!

~S

Grab a Drink with Your Dog Tonight!

Is your pup your best friend? Do you wish you could take him everywhere with you? Well this Tuesday, June 23rd that wish comes true! Thanks to Canine To Five and Como's in Ferndale you can spend a wonderful evening out on the town with your best friend.

Friendly leashed dogs are welcome to join their human companion at Como's this Tuesday from 6-9 p.m for Drinking with Dogs. You already know that Como's has a great patio, so this is a great chance to show your four legged friend how awesome it is and let them meet some new friends too.

Canine to Five recently opened a new location on 9 Mile in Ferndale. They meet all of your doggy daycare needs and are planning a lot of great pet friendly events in the area, like pack walks and puppy play dates. So make sure you head over and give them a "like" on Facebook so you can be the first to find out about great events like this one! For more details on Drinking with Dogs and to stay in the loop the day of, RSVP to the Facebook event here. Also, mark your calendars for the Detroit edition of Drinking with Dogs, on July 7th at Northern Lights Lounge.

~C

Win Tickets to See Against Me!

Gainesville, Florida rockers Against Me! are currently on tour with Frnkiero andthe Cellabration and Annie Girl and the Flight. Their latest album Transgender Dysphoria Blues was released in the beginning of 2014. This album explores singer Laura Jane Grace's journey as a transgender individual. Laura announced her transition in 2012 and documented her personal journey in a documentary called True Trans: Laura Jane Grace. Her story is pretty inspiring, it will be wonderful to finally watch her preform as her true self at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit this Friday, June 26th.

Tickets for the show are $20 and they can be purchased here. We also have two pairs of tickets to give away to the show thanks to our friends over at Live Nation Detroit. If you would like to enter to win a pair, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #againstme! We will draw two winners the day before the show and we will email them details on how to claim their prize.

To learn more about transgender visit Glaad's website here

~S

Monday, June 22, 2015

See "Jaws" in Theatres this Wednesday

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Jaws, the movie that made everyone a little weary of swimming in the ocean. Then there are a few of us that are even keeping an eye out for sharks in lakes and pools. Hey, you never know! Crazed sharks could show up anywhere!

In honor of the milestone anniversary of this legendary movie, Turner Classic Movies has teamed up with Fathom Events and Universal Pictures to show Jaws on the big screen once again. On Sunday, June 21st movie goers in over 500 theatres were terrified by Jaws again. In case you weren't one of those people, we wanted to let you know that you have another chance to see the film this Wednesday, June 24th. Jaws will be shown at select theatres in Metro Detroit and around the country at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Prior to the movie there will also be an intro by TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz. Some of the theatres in the area that you can catch Jaws at are AMC Livonia 20, AMC Forum 30, Cinemark Movies 16 and Canton Cinema. There will also be bonus footage shown at these screenings.

Stay out of the water, keep an eye out for sharks, and "see it before you go swimming".


~C

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Attend a Live Taping of Vice's "The Business of Life" Show in Detroit

Vice magazine was founded in Montreal, Quebec in 1994. The magazine is published monthly, each month the magazine focuses on one issue and goes in depth about the subject of focus. Vice has a reputation for putting out provocative and politically incorrect content. Over the last 20 years Vice has expanded to include a record label, a film company, and as of 2013, a news channel.

Vice News is a global news channel that broadcasts documentaries about current topics. They also have a website where they feature a lot of videos and coverage of current events. They currently have news teams on every continent, except Africa and Antarctica. The company and their coverage are expanding very quickly and this week they are coming to Detroit.

The Business of the Life, a new talk show for Vice News, will be recording a live taping in Detroit on the topic of challenges facing the U.S middle class. This includes a discussion about why so many Americans are falling off that list. They are inviting people to come and participate in the taping by giving their point of view on the subject. They will be giving out Vice swag to those that attend the discussion.

The discussion and filming will take place this Thursday, June 25th at The Masonic Temple in the Crystal Ballroom. The show will run from 7:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., but you must arrive by 6:30 to guarantee yourself a spot. If you would like to attend the taping you must RSVP here.

The Masonic Temple is located at 500 Temple St. in Detroit.

~S

Friday, June 19, 2015

Win Tickets to See Coliseum at The Loving Touch

The Loving Touch has always been a great place to see shows, but over the last few years they have stepped it up and improved something that was already solid. They have been working with more and more of our favorite booking companies to bring some really great lineups on to their stage. One of our favorite booking company's, Black Iris Booking, has recently started booking events at the LT. BIB tends to work with heavier punk, rock and roll, and metal bands, which means they have been bringing a different crowd into the bar, which is really cool.

This Monday, June 22nd Black Iris Booking will be bring Coliseum, United Nations, and Them Teeth to the stage. Coliseum is on tour in support of their latest album Anxiety's Kiss, which was released last May. You can check out some of the band's newest music here

Tickets for the show are $8 in advance and $12 at the door. You can purchase tickets in advance here. We also have one pair of  tickets to give away to the show. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show, please email hipindetroit@gmail.com your full name with Coliseum as the subject line of the email. We will draw a winner the morning of the show and email them details on how to claim their prize. 

The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale and doors for the show are at  8 p.m.  

~S

Royal Oak Summer Beer Fest

This Saturday, June 20th The Royal Oak Farmers Market will host The 2015 Summer Beer Fest in celebration of Craft Beer Month. This event features over 100 different brews from 40 different breweries. They will also be featuring a few hard ciders.
This year's breweries include:
Abita Brewery | Angry Orchard | Arbor Brewing | Arcadia Ales | Atwater | Avery | Bells Brewery | Big Sky Brewery | Blue Moon | Blue Point Bottletree | Breckenridge | Brewery Vivant | Brooklyn | Boulder Brewing | Cheboygen | Chicago Beer Company | Crankers | Crispin
Dark Horse | Dragonmead | Dundee | Erie Brewery | Evil Twin | Fenton Winery | Founders | Fox Barrel | Frankenmuth | Goose Island Granite City | Great Lakes | Green Flash | Griffin Claw | Harpoon Brewery | Hofbrau | Hornsbys | Jolly Pumpkin | Lagunitas
La Trappe | Leelanau | Leinkugel | Lion | Liberty Street | Magic Hat | McKenzie | Mendocino | Milking It Productions | Mount Pleasant Motor City Brewing | New Belgium | New Castle | New Holland Brewery | North Peak | Old Dominion | Oskar Blues | Peroni
Perrin | Pilsner Urquell | Right Brain | Rochester Mills | Round Barn | Sam Adams | Saugatuck | Schmohz | Shiner Bock | Shipyard Brewery Top | Shorts | Sierra Nevada | Southampton | Southern Tier | Sprecher | Stillwater | Stone Brew | St. Stefanus | St. Julian Summit | Tailgate Brewery | The Bruery | Thirsty Dog | Troubadour | Unibroue | Weihenstephaner | Woodchuck | Worthington's

You can check out a full list of the beers that will be featured here. Cabresto Tequila and Tito's Handmade Vodka will be pouring the hard stuff and the festival will also feature food from ten different eateries, including Delectabowl and Detroit BBQ. There will be games to play and entertainment throughout the night.

Tickets for the fest are $64 for VIP or $45 for general admission. For additional information about the festival visit their website here

Cheers! 

~S

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Lots of Fun to be had on Sunday at Eastern Market

Photo Borrowed from EasternMarket.com
In case you haven't heard, the Sunday Street Market at Eastern Market is back in full swing! This market started last year and is a bit different than the Saturday Market that we are all so familiar with. On Sundays you will find artists, crafters and vendors selling all sorts of fun items, rather than flowers and produce from local farmers. There are also food trucks on site and often times there is even live music.

In addition to all of the great goods that you can purchase on Sunday, there are also special events from time to time. This coming Sunday, June 21st, there will be kids activities in Shed 5 and Camp Fire of Southeast Michigan will be on hand. And for all of you car enthusiasts and mechanics, there will also be an Auto Parts Swap! For more information on both of these events, click here.

Sunday Street Markets at Eastern Market run from 10 a.m. 'til 4 p.m. every Sunday from June through October. For more details on the street market click here and make sure to "like" Eastern Market on Facebook for the most up to date information. The Eastern Market is located at
2934 Russell Street in Detroit. While you are down there, make sure you check out all of the great shops in the area too!


~C

The Dude Abides this Weekend at The Main Art

This weekend the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak has picked another stellar movie for Midnight Madness! John Goodman, Jeff Bridges, Steve Buscemi and a whole cast of characters will be on the big screen in The Big Lebowski.

This hilarious comedy is a favorite for a lot of people out there. It seems like "The Dude" has become a go to Halloween costume for people, pretty much every year at Creepy Cheapy there's at least one. You've probably heard the phrase "The dude abides" a time or two before. Well, in case you haven't ever seen The Big Lebowski before, here's the synopsis from IMDB. ""The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it." And you can check out the trailer below.


Whether this will be your first time seeing this movie or the millionth, it's going to be a blast to see it in a theatre! Tickets to see The Big Lebowski on the big screen are only $7 and can be purchased in advance here. There are showings on Friday, June 19th and Saturday, June 20th at Midnight. For more information click here, where you can also find a list of some of the other awesome movies that are coming up on the Midnight Madness schedule.


~C

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

RiverDays at the Detroit RiverFront

Photo borrowed from the Detroit Riverfront's Facebook
This Friday, Saturday and Sunday head down to the Detroit River Front for the 8th Annual Riverdays. The event features three days of rides, live music, food, sand sculptures and even zip lines. There will also be Jet Ski demonstrations, appearances by the Tuskegee Airmen, and there will even be Tall Ships on site. This year the Riverdays music lineup includes a wide variety of bands. Some acts that stood out on the lineup are Detroit's own Bill Grogan's Goat and Kaleido, as well as big names like Gladys Knight and Bell Biv DeVoe. To see the full lineup click here.

Admission to Riverdays is $3 before 3 p.m. or $5 after 3. Children ages 3 and under are free and so are seniors that are over 65. If you head down early on Friday to kick the weekend off, you can get in for free between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Don't forget, the Riverdays festivities all lead up to the big Detroit Fireworks show on Monday, June 22nd. For more information on that, click here.


~C

Check Out the Michigan Science Center for FREE on Saturday!

Here in Detroit we are lucky enough to have some great museums. There's the DIA, Charles H. Wright Museum, Detroit Historical Museum, The Henry Ford, Hitsville, MOCAD, and the list goes on and on. Well this weekend you have a chance to check out one of the most popular museums in town for FREE, the Michigan Science Center.

This Saturday, June 20th is Ford Free Family Day at the Science Center. That's right, general admission to the museum is completely free this Saturday thanks to the Ford Motor Company Fund. Guests can check out all of the great regular displays and hands on exhibits from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. You can also check out the brand new Robot Lab that is opening at the MiSci Center. In conjunction with this great opportunity for the public, the Science Center is also celebrating teachers on Saturday. Guests can show their appreciation for their favorite teacher by drawing a picture or making a card. As an added bonus, teachers that visit the museum on Saturday will get a gift and can enter to win a field trip for their class next year.

The Michigan Science Center is a great place to visit for both children and adults. Why not take advantage of this chance to check it out for free? For more information on Ford Free Family Day, click here. The Michigan Science Center is located in Detroit at 5020 John R.


~C

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

The Storefront Gallery Welcomes Laura Finlay

The StoreFront Gallery is a small privately owned gallery in Ferndale, Michigan. The gallery features a lot of Detroit's best up and coming artists throughout the year. It is owned and operated by Derek John, one of the co-owners of Mary Ann's Soda who was recently featured on the Metro Times People of Detroit issue. The space also hosts all types of events, including pop-up art exhibits, dinners, boutiques, parties, improv nights, and flea markets.

This week Laura Finlay will be premiering her latest work at The Storefront Gallery. Laura is a talented vocalist, musician, and visual artist. She sings in Sleepless Inn, a two piece that features Laura and Eddie Logix. Her latest art gallery is called Floral Pleasure, the collection will feature large collages of flowers. This week Laura shared a preview of her work to get everyone excited for the gallery.
We are officially intrigued and we want to see more. If you want  to see more, you can attend the gallery's opening this Saturday, June 20th. The StoreFront Gallery is located at 477 West Marshall, Ferndale, MI. The party starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 10 p.m.  The show will run for at least a month and the space is usually open on Saturdays. Follow the gallery on Facebook to keep up with their hours and future events!  

~S 

This Saturday - Woodbridge Merrick'n Summer 2015

This Saturday, June 20th plan on spending the day in Woodbridge. Right outside the Woodbridge Pub there will be two stages filled with some of the best musicians Detroit has to offer. It's the Woodbridge Merrick'n Summer Fest, it's free, and it's going to be a blast.

This year's lineup is stacked, just like in years past. It includes:
Adult.
Ritual Howls
MPV
James Linck
Javelins
Ancient Language
Maraj
800beloved
Nina & The Buffalo Riders
Little Animal
And if that lineup isn't enough for you, Hip In Detroit's own Sadie Q will also make an appearance on stage as a guest MC. 

The fun is set to start at Noon and will go until Midnight. In year's past there has been some food available for purchase outside, but you can always head into the pub as well. Woodbridge Merrick'n Summer Fest takes place on Merrick between Trumbull and Commonwealth. Make it easy on yourself and just head to the Woodbridge Pub at 5169 Trumbull in Detroit and look for the big group of people having fun in the streets! For more info on this event and to stay in the loop the day of, RSVP to the Facebook event here

~C

Ferndale's Art of the Cocktail

Ferndale is known for doing things a little bit differently. This small suburb of Detroit is know for being fun, friendly, and fabulous, but over the last few years it has also become a mecca for great restaurants and bars. There is a plethora of great places to eat, including Imperial, Anita's, Zeke's Rock and Roll BBQPublic House, The Emory, The Oakland, Valentine Vodka and Local Kitchen, to name a few. This week Ferndale is using its best new asset to raise money for a good cause. This charity event is called The Art of the Cocktail.  
The city of Ferndale has recruited 10 of the city's best known bartenders to create a specialty cocktail that they will feature from 6-10 p.m. on Thursday, June 18th. Each bartender was given the same list of ingredients to work with, so they will be putting their own spin on the same flavor. This list of bartenders includes Tanya Hoppe from the Elks, Andy French from Go Comedy!, Jade Cole from Howe's Bayou, Jason Robbins from Dino's, Steve Michael from Zeke's Rock and Roll BBQ, Lisa Thaqi from The Bosco, Chris Garcia from Woodward Avenue Brewers, Kyle Thousand from The Oakland, Shawn Stanton from Public House and Jon Bradbury from Imperial. The bartenders' creations will be competing for the title of  "official cocktail of Ferndale".  
This year's competition will take place inside Dino's and M-Brew.  Tickets to attend are only $40, they can be purchased on the DDA website here. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund the enables acquisition of permanent public art pieces within the district. Basically, Ferndale is asking you to come out and have some really good drinks in order to fund the purchase of some art that you can enjoy the next time you are in town. The event is being sponsored by Blumz by JRDesigns and McClary Brothers.  
If you want to get your drink on for a good cause, head out to the Art of the Cocktail in Ferndale this Thursday! 

~S

Sunday, June 14, 2015

An Interview with Don Slater of Battlecross and a Chance to Win Tickets to See the Band Play with Crowbar this Friday!

It has been almost two years since the last time we talked to Michigan's own Battlecross. But it turns out that the band has spent the last two years touring non-stop. They also won a few awards, added a permanent drummer to their lineup, and recorded a new album called Rise to Power that is scheduled to be released this August. They are about to embark on a world tour with Gwar.

Before thy head out on the road with everyone's favorite freak show, they will be making a quick stop in Detroit to play The Shelter alongside Crowbar and Lord Dying. This show is part of their 2015 Summer of Doom Tour. We checked in with bassist Don Slater and found out a little bit more about what the band has been up to since the last time we talked. We also have a pair of tickets to give away to this Friday's show. If you would like a chance to see these guys shred up close, email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com. Please use the word Battlecorss as the subject of the email.  We will randomly draw a winner the day before the show and we will email them details on how to claim their prize.  

HID- What band or artist inspired you to play music?
Don Slater- "Two bands and one artist in particular inspired me to play and learn. The first band is undoubtedly GWAR. From them I learned how important stage presence and a show is worth. Plus it just looked so damn fun. I learned my early chops from the band Rancid. Good ol' fashioned punk, and Matt Freeman is a master at just making bass guitar incredibly present in the mix, making it stand out on its own. Last but not least - Les Claypool. I learned my slap attack from that guy via albums and bootleg VHS tapes."

HID- You recently recorded a new album called Rise to Power which will be released in August, what can you tell us about the new music?
DS- "It’s most certainly the next logical step in the evolution of our music. A nice blend of heavy and melodic, any fan of BATTLECROSS will know what to expect. Don’t be misled, however; we aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel here. This album is simply a portrayal of what we love and what we do best. Crushing riffs galore!"

HID- Where was the music for the new album written? Who brings the songs to the table, is it one person or a collective effort?
DS- "The music was written in our homes or on our downtime on the road. Between last years hectic tour schedule in North America and abroad, we had to do as much as we could with the what little time we had. Our music has always been a collaborative effort between us, which allows us to have a more personal feel to the music when we play it live. Anyone who has played in a cover or tribute band knows that while it’s fun playing another band’s music, it’s far more rewarding when you get to shred your own brand on stage."

HID- Where was this album recorded? Did you work with any special producers or engineers?
DS- "We recorded the album at Audiohammer Studios just outside of Orlando, FL. Great environment, great place to get work done, aside from the occasional wandering black bear outside of the studio. Engineered and produced by the mighty Jason Suecof; the mixing and mastering of the album handled by the equally mighty Mark Lewis. Such a pleasure working with those dudes, and if you take a moment to browse their portfolio, you’ll see why!"

HID- You will be touring with GWAR this August and September. What are you most looking forward to on this tour?
DS- "Watching GWAR almost every damn day! I’ve seen GWAR in concert almost a dozen times, and I’ll be more than happy to at least double that number, let alone actually sharing the stage with the Scumdogs. Also on tour will be the Butcher Babies, who we made friends with on the Mayhem Festival tour back in 2013. I’ve a good feeling this tour will be a blast."

HID- How are things working out with Alex Bent, the now official drummer of Battlecross? What made you decide to add him to the mix? Did he bring anything special to the table on this new recording?
DS- "Fantastic! His ability, talent and tenacity are just a few of the key reasons. He’s also a road dog like ourselves, and his personality is a great fit. His father is a former bass player for a few funk groups, and he’s also dabbled in gospel, all which combines to make him a groove machine with a penchant for blast beats. His ideas on the album hit the nail on the head, and it fits so perfectly. You won’t be disappointed - we certainly aren’t."

HID- What is the best thing about getting on stage and playing live music?
DS- "Being on stage and melting faces is better than any drug out there. It’s how we release any pent up rage or emotions and to expel energy that in turn inspires people and let’s them express themselves is flat-out addictive. Seeing smiles, head banging, circle whips, mosh pits, all of it. It’s the best thing in the world. I seriously pity anyone who has stage fright. It takes some time to get used to, but once you get used to putting everything on display for people to watch and judge, there’s no regretting it."

HID- Is there anything else that you would like your fans to know?
DS- "Our fans are 3/4’s of the reason we do this. The other quarter, as selfish as it may sound, is because we truly love performing and playing music for a living. I hope we can see each and every one of you on our tours coming up or in progress right now. Enjoy the new album, and come rage with us! THANK YOU!"


See Don shred on stage with Battlecross this Friday at The Shelter

~S

Friday, June 12, 2015

Against the Grain with The Hookers, Mud Falcon and Nuke at Corktown Tavern!

Head to Corktown Tavern tonight to see one of the best rock and roll bands Detroit has to offer! Against the Grain will be playing along side The Hookers, Mud Falcon and Nuke. This is one of the best lineups we've seen in awhile, from top to bottom.

It's no news that Against the Grain is one of our favorite bands in Detroit. Well, they just reconfirmed why we love them so much! This morning the band released the first track from their upcoming album Road Warriors. Its' called "Here To Stay" and you can check it out below.


We were already going to tell you to go to this show because it's a great lineup. But, after hearing ATG's new music, it reminded us how fucking awesome they are and that you really need to go see them. Plus, this show kicks off ATG's tour with The Hookers. So come out and send the guys off right.

Doors for tonight's show open at 8 p.m. and admission is $10. Make sure you get there early and stay late because you won't want to miss anyone on the lineup. Corktown Tavern is located at 1716 Michigan Ave. in Detroit. For more details on this show and to hear music from all of the bands, head over to the Facebook event page here.

~C

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

Coming up on Tuesday, June 16th, Hinder will be playing at St. Andrew's Hall. Joining the band on the bill are Core Effect, Saints From Silence and Full Devil Jacket. Tickets are $29 and can be purchased in advance here.

We are also giving away 3 pairs of tickets to this show! There are some ticket giveaways that we aren't too sure about, and then a ton of people enter. We know there are a lot of people out there that are fans of Hinder, so we are curious to see how many entries we get to this show. If you want a chance at free tickets, just send your name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Hinder in the subject line. We will draw our winner on Monday morning and let the winners know how to claim their prize.

Doors for this show are set to open at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and all ages are welcome. St. Andrew's Hall is located at 431 E. Congress in Detroit.


~C

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Party with The HandGrenades at The Whitney

Photo borrowed from The HandGrenades Facebook
This Thursday night one of our absolute favorite Detroit bands is playing. So of course we have to tell you about it! The HandGrenades will be playing and as if that isn't great enough, they are playing a Whitney Garden Party!

Whitney Garden Parties are a great way to go to The Whitney without having to spend an arm and a leg on dinner. They take place in the garden outside of the historic Whitney, unless it rains, then the party is moved indoors. The party features wonderful musicians from the area, $5 beers and $5 brats. And admission is only $5 too! Blaire Alise & The Bombshells kicked off the 2015 season a few weeks ago and the parties happen every Thursday until the end of August. Some other great acts that are playing this year include Britney Stoney, White Shag, MPV, and many more. Check out the full schedule here.

Doors for Whitney Garden Parties open at 5 p.m. and 21+ are welcome. The music will start at 6 p.m. and this week The HandGrenades will be joined by Jibs Brown. The Whitney is located at 4421 Woodward in Detroit.


~C

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Win Tickets to See Mustard Plug and the Voodoo Glow Skulls at The Loving Touch

This Saturday, June 12th punk and ska will be taking over The Loving Touch. Mustard Plug and the Voodoo Glow Skulls will be hitting the stage! This is not your usual Saturday night lineup at The LT, it's nice to see them doing something different. They are taking on some of the shows that would have been a The Magic Stick and I think it is a win, win for all of us. The LT has a much better sound system, better/cheaper drinks, and there is always a working bathroom when you need it!

These two veteran punk acts will be playing alongside Detroit's own Rebel Spies and Slow Children from California. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 at the door. All ages are welcome to come out and play and doors for the show open at 8 p.m.

We also have a pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of the ladies over at Black Iris Booking. If you would like to enter to attend the show for free, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Mustard Plug in the subject line. We will draw a winner the morning of the show and email them details on how to claim their prize.

~S

Another Chance to Help the Clawson Skate Park

A few months ago we told you about a new skate park that is coming to Metro Detroit. It's the Clawson Skate Park and they have finally broke ground!

The skate park is going to be located inside the Clawson City Park. Although the ground has been broken, that was just part of Phase I of the project. Now they are getting ready to move on to Phase II and there is a lot of work to be done. The minds behind the skate park have teamed up with Evergreen Skateparks to get the job done. Judging by the work this company has done in the past, this park is going to be pretty amazing!

Since it costs a pretty penny to build a skate park, especially a concrete park like this one, the Clawson Skate Park needs your help. They are hosting another benefit show this weekend, and it sounds like it is going to be awesome!
This Saturday, June 13th head to The Berkley Front for a night of music, art, raffles, and more. The lineup includes The Boogie Woogie Kid! (wsg Kate Jablonski & Sean Nasrey from Oak City Roots), DIRTWOLF, Changes (reunion show), The Dirty Dirty Dollars, David Mervak, Mary Margaret, and more! There will also be a bunch of artists on deck selling skate decks featuring their work, with portions of the sales going towards the park. Head over to the Facebook event page to see more of the skateboards that will be up for grabs.

The fun all starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday. They are asking for a minimum donation of $6 at the door, but by all means, feel free to give more! And make sure you bring some extra cash to get in on the raffles, auctions, and other fun! For more details on this event, click here. To stay in the loop on the progress of the Clawson Skate Park, head over and give them a "like" on Facebook here.


~C

Meet Dear Darkness

It's not everyday that you hear a good two piece band, and it's even more rare that the two piece that catches your ear is made up of two females. Women who rock can be hard to find, but thanks to local groups like The Seraphine Collective we have recently discovered that bad ass female music is on the rise here in Detroit. They have literally been turning us on to new artists left and right. They construct compilations that feature a few bands and give you a sample of some of the music that they are into. So far I haven't heard something that I didn't enjoy.

My latest discovery is an awesome band called Dear Darkness. This two piece reminds me of two things, Sleater Kinney and David Bowie, both amazing artists in their own right. The ladies' latest EP is called I Only Came Here to Dance, it's pretty solid and can be heard on their bandcamp  here. You can also see the ladies perform live this Saturday, June 13th. They will performing at the UFO Factory alongside Olivia Neutron-John from Washington D.C. But, before you click over to hear them, or head out to see them play live, check out our interview with the ladies and fall a little in love with their personalities before you fall in love with their sound!

HID- What inspired you to create music?
Samantha- "The mystery of human existence."
Stacey- "Music is part of my identity. When I was five-years-old, the neighbors would ask my mom if I could come over and sing songs to them. When I was eighteen, I started playing guitar and songwriting because I wanted music to be what I did and how I lived. All of my fantasies are tied to music in some way."

HID-What are your biggest musical influences?
Samantha- "When we are working on a new song, sometimes I try to imagine what Ringo would do, or Bill Ward from Sabbath or John Bonham from Led Zeppelin. I don't try to play like them but that is where a lot of ideas come from. Other times I try to play a beat that I imagine someone could have fun dancing to, like disco music or dance-pop. When all else fails I think of Patty Schemel from Hole and I just hit the drums as hard as I possibly can."
Stacey- "I recently decided that the word "influences" maybe doesn't mean which artists or songs inspired our music,to me, but actually means, which artists and songs do I hear the influence of in our music, retrospectively: The Ramones, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, Suede, Pulp, Siouxie and the Banshees, The Kinks, PJ Harvey."

HID- Why did you name the band Dear Darkness?
Stacey- "'Dear Darkness' is a song on PJ Harvey's album, White Chalk. I wanted to honor PJ Harvey for inspiringme to treat music as an unpredictable experiment. Her guitar and vocals know no limits."

HID- Why did you decide to put a song on the Seraphine Collective’s Spring mix?
Samantha- "We admire the work of the Seraphine Collective and we were really honored to be invited to contribute to their spring mix."
Stacey- "The Seraphine Collective invited us to play one of their showcases and asked us to contribute a song to their mix. When we played their showcase, the enthusiasm and support from audience was invigorating. By the end of our set, I was screaming, because I was so fired-up. The Collective is doing great work in encouraging art in Detroit right now."

HID- Why a two piece?
Samantha- "We scare everyone away."
Stacey- "Sam and I are like flotsom and jetsam, like honey and pepper. We say "yes" to each other's ideas. We bothbelieve in making the music that happens, and not forcing a sound. We talk about adding a member someday, if we find the right person. I often remind Sam to remember that we need a member who can remember, because we both have poor memories."

HID- What made you decide to record you latest EP, I Only Came Here to Dance, with Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders?
Samantha- "Jim Diamond has a great reputation as a producer. We knew that he would be able to bring out the best in us."
Stacey- "Everybody in the Detroit music scene has heard of Jim Diamond and that's because he is very good at what he does. Honestly, I don't think we could have recorded our EP with anyone else, because I had a herniated disc in my back, at the time, and I was on painkillers. He made quick decisions about how to record us and about what would sound best. The session was exactly what we needed."

HID- What do you consider to be you’re must listen to track?
Samantha- "Everyone should listen to "Every Few Years I die" - I think a new style of dance will be invented by people trying to dance to that song."
Stacey- "'I Only Came Here To Dance", the title track, is my favorite track on the EP. The guitar riff is reminiscent of an eighties’ pop anthem, like The Psychedelic Furs' "Pretty in Pink." Samantha' s drums flash. In the song’s lyrics, rock ‘n’ roll is everything, a love, a need, and a dance party that must never stop."

HID- You played a show at The Henry Ford in honor of the Women who Rock Exhibit. What was your favorite piece of memorabilia in that exhibit?
Stacey- "My favorite piece was Joan Jett's glam, golden jumpsuit, from The Runaways days. It was strikingly small. Oh, I also liked Kim Gordan's "Eat Me" shirt! I had a picture of Sonic Youth on my bulletin board in my bedroom for forever, and in it she's wearing that shirt. Classic."

HID- Is there anything else that you would like our readers to know?
Samantha- "I would like to have a group of "dear darkness dancers" to perform live with us."
Stacey- "Join our fan club by "liking" our Facebook page and messaging us your mailing address. We will send you an envelope filled with random and interesting gifts. What might you get?"

With these two, you really don't know what your going to get and we absolutely love it!

~S