Friday, October 30, 2015

A Night Out at Michigan Science Center's Colorosity


This past weekend we had the honor of attending Colorosity at the Michigan Science Center. This event helped raise funds for the center while entertaining guests with colorful hands-on activity stations as well as live painting and performances. Attendees also had a chance to check out some of MiSci's regular exhibits and their newest exhibit, Toytopia. (Keep an eye out for our look inside this awesome exhibit soon!)

This was the first time we had been to the center in years and it was pretty cool! If you have kids, you definitely will want to check this place out. But, even if you're a kid at heart or a full blown "grown up" we're pretty sure you will enjoy this great museum right in Midtown!


The Michigan Science Center is open Wednesday thru Sunday and admission starts at $21. There are also coupons and other ways to save on admission, check them out here. To stay in the loop on MiSci's exhibits, events, and next year's soiree, make sure you head over and give them a "like" on Facebook here.


~C

Hip's Guide to Halloween 2015

Well, the spookiest time of year is officially here! If you haven't had your fill of costumes and cover band shows yet, fret not. There are still many more opportunities to go out and have some Halloween fun. Here's a list of some of the best Devil's Night and Halloween happenings that are going on in the Metro Detroit area.


Unhappy Endings @ Zeke's Rock & Roll BBQ - 10/30:
If you want to bust out your dancin' shoes this weekend, this is the place to be! Dance to Classic Alt, Shoegaze, Brit Pop, Post-Punk and Synth Pop, and grab a snack while you're at it!

Devil's Night with The Warhorses @ The Garden Bowl - 10/30:
If you want to check out a great show and you don't want to spend a lot of cash, head to the Garden Bowl this Devil's Night! The Warhorses will be playing around 10 p.m. and admission is FREE!

Funk Night @ 1315 Broadway - 10/30:
Funk Night is always the best dance party around and the Halloween edition is the best Funk Night of them all! Wear a costume, grab your friends and dance your ass off! The party starts at 10 p.m.!

Covenfest @ Small's - 10/30:
With cover bands like Glamzig and Party Zeppelin how could you resist? Plus proceeds go to Enough Said Detroit, helping thousands of rape victims get justice.

Twistin' Tarantulas @ The Magic Bag w/ Broadzilla - 10/30:
Party with Detroit's own Twistin' Tarantulas at this show celebrating the release of their new album,  The Subtle Sophisticated Sounds of the Twistin TarantulasBroadzilla will be along for the party along with Jeff German and the Blankety Blanks.

Rocky Horror Picture Show @ The Main Art - 10/30 & 10/31:
This year marks the 40th anniversary for this cult classic and what better time to watch it then Halloween weekend!?!?! Main Art in Royal Oak has showings of Rocky Horror this Friday and Saturday night.

Devil's Night & Halloween @ Cellarmen's - 10/30 & 10/31:
If you haven't been to Cellarmen's since they opened their doors a couple of weeks ago, this is the perfect opportunity! Head to Hazel Park to check out this awesome new brewery, taste their mead, cider and beers, and watch some horror movies. You can even wear a costume if you want!

Damned @ Tangent Gallery - 10/30 & 10/31:
On Devil's night, head out for a night of experimental and aerial performances as well as food and drinks at "The Enlightment". Then on Halloween the Tangent will host "The Masquerade", a mask mandatory ball with DJs and an array of strolling cirque performances.

Halloween @ Blake's - 10/30 & 10/31:
Take a little drive out to the country this weekend and drink some of the best hard cider ever made, right where it is made! Blake's is hosting parties on Friday and Saturday night at their Cider House & Winery in Armada. Friday night there will be live music and Saturday night there will be a costume contest! The fun starts at dusk!

Star Wars Themed Spooktacular at The Ferndale Library - 10/31:
Whether you are out with the kids trick or treating or you just freakin' love Star Wars, you'll definitely want to make a stop at the Ferndale Public Library this Halloween between the hours of 6-8 p.m. They are hosting a Star Wars themed Halloween party with a trick or treating trail, make your own lightsabers, make your own origami Yoda, and a silly photo booth! Admision is FREE and you don't have to live in Ferndale to attend this event!

Haunted Detroit Bike Tour - 10/31:
Alright, this is probably one of the coolest events we've come across! Hop on your bike and check out some of the spookiest places downtown with the folks from Wheelhouse. The ride goes from Noon 'til 3 p.m. and tickets are $30. Great way to kick off Halloween day!

Dead Celebrities Party @ Punch Bowl Social - 10/31:
Dress up like your favorite dead celebrity and head to Punch Bowl Social in Detroit. This party should bring out some of the best costumes around. We're sure there will be a ton of people you will want to get photos with, like Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, and a long list of other famous people that have passed on. Lucky for you there will be a photo booth at this party as well as a DJ, costume contests, food specials, drink specials, and a spooky featured punch.

Halloween @ the Redford Theatre - 10/31:
Redford Theatre has 2 chances for you to get spooky with them this Halloween. The first is a little less spooky, they will be showing ET on the big screen at 8 p.m. Kids 12 and under get into this movie for FREE and adult tickets are $5. Then at 11 p.m. the real thriller starts when they show Nightmare on Elm Street. Tickets for this movie are also $5 and we suggest that you leave the little ones at home.

The Goddamn Gallows @ The Loving Touch w/ Devious Ones and CBJ - 10/31:
If you're looking for something a little less Halloween-y, but still a lot of fun, this is our pick! Great lineup from start to finish!

A Nightmare on Trumbull 2 @ UFO Factory - 10/31:
Costumes are mandatory for this show, featuring Casual Sweetheart, Paint Thinner, Rebel Kind DJs, Nots, and Unholy Two. The night before make sure you swing by for a Devil's Night art opening featuring nightmarish works of art!

Carnevale di Venezia @ The Townsend - 10/31:
If you're looking to get fancy this Hallow's Eve, head to the Townsend in Birmingham. They will be hosting a swanky Masquerade Ball, costumes fitting event theme or formal attire with a mask is required.

Thirst Wave & Industrial Is Not Dead Halloween @ Small's - 10/31:
Dance the night away to New Wave and Industrial music all night long provided by DJ Pleasure Kitten, DJ Elektrosonik, DJ Aaron Hingst, DJ Void6 and special guest DJ Jon Noble. Plus, there will be a LIVE performance from 3TEETH! Costumes are encouraged, but not required and there will be a costume contest!

Detroit Party Marching Band presents All Hallows Eve @ Trumbullplex - 10/31:
The Detroit Party Marching Band has "Party" in their name, so you know this is going to be an awesome party! They will be joined by Jefferson St. Parade Band and DJ Dr. DOOM. It's Trumbullplex so it's BYOB and you get a deal on admission if you wear a costume.

Halloween @ PJ's Lager House - 10/31:
Another great show! This one features The Zotz, 3D Invisibles and Circus Boy. Wear a costume if you want, but you don't have to. Just come out and have a good time!


We're sure we missed a few, but whatever you decide to do, we hope you have a safe and spooky Halloween Weekend!



~C

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Looming “B”

Photo credit to Christopher Everhart

Twice a year I sit in a hospital waiting room with women twice my age. I’m there because I have a gene mutation known as BRCA1. Because of this mutation, my risk of breast and ovarian cancers is considerably higher than the average woman’s. I wonder if the women who sit in front of me are walking through my deepest fear. Do they have cancer? Have they had cancer? Are they just being screened like me? Are they wondering what I’m doing here? They must think I have cancer, being here so young. They filter us though two different waiting rooms. The main waiting area is where all of the women sit with a significant other. The other room, where we wait after we’ve changed into our hospital gowns, has coffee, age-appropriate magazines, and a television projecting daytime talk shows. Twice a year I sit and flip through Country Living and wait my turn for my MRI or mammogram…

Welcome to a glimpse into my life, my fears, and my hopes for my future years, as a carrier of the BRCA1 gene mutation. Read on to find out what the BRCA1 gene mutation is, how it affects women (and men), how it affects me, personally, and what can be done about it.

BRCA1 is a human gene that produces tumor suppressor proteins. These proteins help to repair DNA. When the gene is mutated, or altered, DNA damage may not be repaired properly. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.

What that mouthful means is that because my BRCA1 gene is mutated I have an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. By the age of 70, I have a 55 to 65 percent chance of developing breast cancer, and a 45 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer (these percentages seem to fluctuate with sources. I have always been told 80 percent chance by time I’m 80 by my doctors. Cancer risks increase with age). In comparison, about 12 percent of women in the general population will develop breast cancer sometime in their lives and 1.3 percent of women in the general public will develop ovarian cancer sometime during their lives. It is important to note that there is also the BRCA2 mutation which increases one’s breast cancer risks, although not as significantly as BRCA1: comparably a 45 percent chance by the age of 70. Additionally, carriers of the BRCA1 mutation tend to have more aggressive, faster growing cancers.

As for men, research shows that if they are carriers they have escalated percentages of breast and prostate cancers.

Heavy, right? I think it’s a difficult thing for people who do not have a condition such as mine to understand the impact it has on my life. It still is a difficult thing for me to understand. It’s not something that can be seen. It’s not like I am currently ill. It’s like an invisible force that has a control over my life- or at least my mind at times. It’s a strange thing that I feel like I am supposed to be optimistic about. I’m supposed to live my life and not obsess about it, but still be mindful of it. The older I get, the more difficult that balance proves to be.

When I saw my gynecologist last year for my annual, we spoke a bit about BRCA1. Before each exam he greets me in his office and we sit down at his desk and chat. During our conversation, I reached for some reassurance that if I continued to get tested, stayed on schedule with it, and did my home breast exams, if there was ever anything to find we’d find it early and take care of it, and I’d be good. He sat silently and let me finish my declaration. Then looked down at his hands folded neatly over my file, and took a breath. “I had this patient, younger like you, BRCA1 carrier as well. And we did find a lump. Early, very early. As early as it could have possibly been found. And it just didn’t end well.”

I stared at him for a moment. It felt like he just broke my heart. Broke my person. Broke things I really thought I could control. It is still one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to hear. But it is also reality. The doctor wasn’t trying to scare me; he was trying to be honest. To really convey that even if I do the biyearly screening that I’m supposed to be doing, it may not ever be enough. I think that was the moment that it all truly set in. It took ten years, but it finally set in.

In my early 20s, my doctor visits consisted of talking about screening. Now, at 31, they consist more of talking about surgery. There are two preventive surgeries that can be performed: the first, a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, the second, a prophylactic oophorectomy. The former involves removing both breasts, which may lower my risk of breast cancer by at least 90 percent. The latter, the removal of the ovaries, may lower my risk of ovarian cancer by 70 to over 90 percent. Additionally, it may lower my risk of breast cancer by 50 to 70 percent.

It seems like surgery is the way to go, right? My risks would be lowered substantially. This is where things get complicated. This is where my age has been coming into play more and more. I want to have children. I want to be able to breastfeed those children. I want to be able to continue on with my current relationship without pressuring any of those points. But the pressure on me grows heavier each year. Doctors recommend having the ovaries removed between the ages of 35 and 40 (or after one is done having children). So, just for a moment, let’s go into my neurotic head:

I’m 31. The earliest doctors are recommending is 35. Ok, so four years (really like three and a half years). I would ideally like to be married before I have children. I’m not engaged. Crap. Ok, ok, say we got engaged tomorrow and had a wedding in a year or so, maybe I’m 33 by then? Ok, then we start to try to have kids. What if there are complications?

I could go on. And on.

Right now, my reality is that this mutated little jerk of a gene is putting pressure on something that I already feel pressure about due to my age. It just amplifies things and puts even more restrictive time limits on potential life events (none of these time limits are exact, they are all recommended time lines for a carrier. Recommended being the key word).

I try to remind myself that I do not have to tackle all of these things right now. I do my screenings, I exercise regularly, I eat well, and I don’t smoke. But deep down I’m just preparing myself for what is to come in the relatively near future; in a small way preparing myself for the chance of having cancer one day.

Some days BRCA1 feels like this looming shadow. It follows me around, dictating to me in small ways. Other days, it never crosses my mind. I have tried to make a staunch effort in the 11 years that I’ve known about it to not let it run my life and to realize that obsessing and imagining every worst-case situation is in no way helpful. That is not to say it doesn’t happen.



Notes & References:
It is important to remember that breast cancer risk is not exclusive to the BRCA1 club, and you should be having annual screenings. It is recommended that women have an annual mammogram starting between 40 and 45 (Ed. Note: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends routine mammography for women starting at age 40 and the American Cancer Society recommends starting at age 45 - See more at: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastCancerScreeningforWomenatAverageRisk.html#Mammography-for-women-ages-40-to-49).

Need a breast exam or mammogram? Start here...
Komen’s How to find a Mammogram flowchart: http://www.komenmichigan.org/mammogram/

Your local Planned Parenthood Health Center offers breast exams and mammogram referrals too.
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/MI


To find out if you qualify for a free or low-cost mammogram and pap test, and where to get screened, call the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) in Michigan at 1 (800) 922-6266.


Listen to:
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/09/22/442343578/surgeon-seeks-to-help-women-navigate-breast-cancer-treatment


Read:
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet#q1

http://www.npr.org/books/titles/442343703/the-new-generation-breast-cancer-book-how-to-navigate-your-diagnosis-and-treatme


Reference:
http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/genetics/brca-fact-sheet#q2

http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BRCA1andBRCA2.html#riskloweringoptions


~By Jenna Stanek

Covenfest Serves Up a Star Studded Lineup to Raise Money for a Great Cause

Halloween is all about cover shows and this Friday, October 30th Covenfest offers up a solid night of great cover bands, including Party Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin), Tres Hombres, Tankini Kill (Bikini Kill), Glamzing (Misfits Danzig),and  The School of Rock as Black Sabbath.

This Halloween party is special, it also has a purpose. Proceeds from the night with go to Enough Said aka enough sexual assault in Detroit, an organization that is seeking justice. In 2009 it was discovered that there were over 11,000 untested rape kits in Wayne County and to date the foundation has helped get over 10,000 of those back logged kits processed. There are still more to go and sadly more coming in every day. 

There is a $10 minimum donation to get into the show at Small's Bar in Hamtramck and the fun starts at 8 p.m. 16+ are welcome to attend. Costumes are encouraged.  


~S

Spend Devil's Night with The Twistin Tarantulas and Broadzilla

The Twistin Tarantulas are celebrating the release of their latest record The Subtle Sophisticated Sounds of the Twistin Tarantulas. They have invited Broadzilla and The Jeff German and the Blankety Blanks to join them on stage at The Magic Bag this Friday, October 30 aka Devil's night. It is the perfect night for these three bands to unite for an evening of good ol' rock and roll. The TT have already released the first single of the new album. It is called "Stage Divin' Fat Kid" and you can check it out here before you hear it live this Friday.

Doors open at 8 p.m. and Jeff G hits the stage first. Tickets are $10 in advance and you can purchase them here.


~S

Nerds Unite!

Jeff Sanguis is inviting all the nerds out there into his world.  You may know Jeff from his days as the lead singer of Telegraph among other bands, but behind closed doors he is the man behind The Jeff Sanguis Show, a weekly show bringing you all things nerdy.

This week he's taking his show on the road and broadcasting live from Small's Bar in Hamtramck on Thursday night. He will kick the evening off with an acoustic performance by fellow nerd Chris Johnston, then he will interview comic book artist Dave Acosta. He will follow that up with an interview with Scotty Hagen from Bellyache Records, and he will finish off the night with live music from Detroit's own Bastardous.
This promises to be a healthy dose of great music and a nerdy time. It's only $3 to get in the door for 21 and over ($5 if you're 18 - 21) and there is no cover if you come out before 10 p.m.

Cool show, cool dudes, cool music. Cool way to spend your Thursday night.  

~S

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Win Tickets to See deafheaven at The Shelter

This Saturday, October 31st Black Iris Booking is bringing deafheaven to town. The band just released their new album, New Bermuda, earlier this month. Now they are out on the road with Tribulation playing those tunes for the people. Take a listen to the new album below.


Deafheaven will be hitting the stage in Detroit at The Shelter this weekend, also joining them for this date is Envy. Tickets for the show are $20 and can be purchased in advance here. We are also giving away one pair of tickets to this show. If you would like to enter to win, please send your full name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with deafheaven in the subject line. We will draw our lucky winner the morning of the show and send them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors for this show are set to open at 8:30 p.m. and you must be 16 or older to attend.

~C

Win Tickets to See Circa Survive this Halloween

Philly rockers Circa Survive will be coming to the Royal Oak Music Theater this Halloween.  They are currently on tour in support of their fifth album Descensus which was released last November. The band is currently on tour with one of my favorite acts, the RX Bandits.
Photo from theaudioperv.com

This is a pretty solid lineup and it;s somehow only $25 dollars to get in the door.  This show is going to sound amazing inside the ROMT.  If you are into either band this is a do not miss event.

The show will start at  7 p.m. on Saturday October 31st and we have a pair of ticket sto get one kucly reader in the door courtesy of our friends at Fusion Shows.  If you would like to enter to win please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #fusionshows.  We will draw one lucky winner this Friday and email them details on how to claim their prize!


~S 

Win Tickets to See Joe Hertler with Nigel and the Dropout at The Loving Touch

Detroit's own Joe Herlter and the Rainbow Seekers has teamed up with Nigel and the Dropout to bringing you some good tunes this Friday, October 31st.  Both bands are known for their amazing live shows that incorporate a lot of fun visual aspects into the show. The bands are encoraging everyone to get in to the fun of Halloween by wearing a costume to the show.  Joe is always dressed up so the least you can do is join in for the day!

Tickets to attend the show are $12 dollars in advance and they can be be purchased here.  We also have TWO pairs of tickets to giveaway to the show courtesy of Fusion Shows.  If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #rainbows.  We will email one lucky winner this Friday morning and give them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors for the show open at 8 pm this Friday and The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. Ferndale, MI.

Monday, October 26, 2015

An Amazing Kickoff of Detroit Unplugged with The HandGrenades

This past Thursday night Hip In Detroit hosted our first edition of Detroit Unplugged, a new series we are working on with InkAddict and with support from Blumz by JRDesigns. The HandGrenades were our first Unplugged band and they definitely set the bar high for all of the acts that are going to follow. It's no secret that we already love this band, but hearing their songs performed acoustically in this intimate setting was awesome, to say the least. In case you missed the event, check out a few videos from The HandGrenades' set below.





We hope that everyone that came out to this show had a great time and liked the InkAddict Flagship location. We love calling this place our home and can't wait to bring more people and more events into this space. To stay in the loop on our next Unplugged event, keep an eye on hipindetroit.com and make sure you "like" us on Facebook.

Huge shout out to The HandGrenades, InkAddict, Blumz and everyone that attended our first show at the Flagship! We can't wait to party with everyone again soon!

~C

Win Tickets to Spend Halloween with The Goddamn Gallows

If you aren't planning on hitting the pavement trick or treating this Halloween, perhaps you'd rather hit up a great show! Black Iris Booking has put together a super fun night of music this Saturday, October 31st at The Loving Touch. The bill includes The Goddamn Gallows along with Devious Ones and CbJ. In case you haven't seen The Goddamn Gallows before, we are here to tell you that you are in for a treat! Check out some footage of them playing live in Nashville below.


Tickets for this great show are only $13 in advance or $15 the day of the show. We are also getting one person into this show with a friend for FREE. Thanks to our friends at Black Iris Booking, we are giving away one pair of tickets to this show. If you would like to enter to win, just send your name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Gallows in the subject line. We will draw our winner the morning of the show and send them details on how to claim their prize. 

All ages are welcome to attend this show. Doors are set to open at 8 p.m. Make sure you get there early, you don't want to miss any of these bands! For more info on this show head over to the Facebook event page here. 


~C

Conjuring the Perfect Costume

Be your fabulous '50s self in this sheer eyelet darling dress ($70), cat eye glasses ($60), and "Barbie" clutch ($34).
Photo courtesy of The Getup Vintage in Ann Arbor
Last weekend, I found myself in a sea of poorly constructed synthetic wigs and politically incorrect costume kits looking for a skirt to complete my 1950s ensemble for a Back to the Future party. Then it hit me, why am I spending $30 on a piece of felt with a sequined poodle glued to it? Years have proved that I am anything but handy with a sewing machine, so handmade fashion isn’t an option. Thankfully, metro Detroit is home to many vintage and resale clothing shops where quality and authenticity hang from every rack; I don’t think you will find either at Halloween USA or Spirit Halloween.

Check out the stores below to conjure your perfect costume in time for Saturday night! Please note that on the days a store is closed, they may take appointments. Call to confirm.
Be a '60s mod maven! Just add tights, knee-high boots, and hoop earrings to a mini-dress like this one.
Photo courtesy of The Getup Vintage in Ann Arbor

The Getup Vintage
Location: Ann Arbor
Hours: Mon-Sat: Noon-8pm Sun: Noon-5pm
Phone: 734-327-4300

Hips Resale Boutique
Locations: Clawson, Detroit, and Roseville
Clawson Hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-7pm Fri-Sat: 11am-5pm
Phone: 248-435-2130
Detroit Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm
Phone: 313-965-9587
Roseville Hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-7pm Fri-Sat: 11am-5pm
Phone: 586-944-0780

Leah’s Closet
Location: Royal Oak
Hours: Wed-Sat: Noon-6pm
Phone: 248-629-9659

Lost & Found Vintage
Location: Royal Oak
Hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-7pm Fri-Sat: 11am-8pm Sun: Noon-6pm
Phone: 248-548-6154

MF Vintage by Mother Fletcher’s
Location: Ferndale
Hours: Tue-Sat: Noon-8pm Sun: Noon-7pm
Phone: 248-398-4816

Regeneration
Locations: Clawson and Pleasant Ridge
PR Hours: Mon-Sat: 11am-7pm Sun: Noon-5pm
Phone: 248-414-7440
Clawson Hours: Sun-Mon: Noon-5pm Tue-Sat: 11am-7pm
Phone: 248-589-0500

Showtime Clothing
Location: Detroit
Hours: Thu-Sat: Noon-8pm
Phone: 313-875-9280

~KT

The Tangent Gallery Hosts a Three Day Celebration in Honor of the Damned

For the eighth year in a row The Tangent Gallery will be hosting an array of celebrations in honor the the day of the dead. They are inviting patrons inside to eat, drink, dance, and enjoy the art of the damned. The gallery will feature 174 artists from across the world showing 183 different pieces of art. This will be a three day celebration and each night will be different from the others.

The fun will kick off this Thursday, October 29th with "The Darkness". The kick off night will feature a VIP artists reception, an Absinthe tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and experimental aerial and butoh-inspired performances. Tickets to attend Thursday night's show with the tasting are $40 in advance, $30 for VIP without tasting and $15 general admission.

Friday night, aka Devil's Night, is "The Enlightenment". This night will feature internationally-inspired tapas, a flavored mead tasting courtesy of B Nektar, and exotic fire, aerial and experimental performances. Tickets are $40 for VIP entrance with the tapas tasting, $30 for regular VIP and $15 for general admission.

On Saturday Night the gallery will host "The Masquerade“. The last night will feature a formal mask-mandatory masquerade ball, an elegant seated 6-course aphrodisiac-inspired dinner, a fashion show, DJs, and an array of strolling cirque performances. Tickets for the final night are $35 for VIP and $20 for general admission. You must be dressed up and wearing a mask to attend the ball.
You can also purchase cash only tickets at Noir Leather in Royal Oak, Showtime Clothing in Detroit and V-Male Vintage in Dearborn Heights. These cash only tickets start at $10 for general admission, so you save a little money if you buy them in person beforehand.

For more details about the show visit their website here.

~S

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Win Tickets to See Danny Brown this Thanksgiving

Danny Brown will be returning to the Majestic Theater next month for the second annual Bruiser Thanksgiving on November 25th. This year's show will be bigger and better than last year's. If you haven't seen DB, you need to see him. If you have seen him, you know what you would be missing out on. Tickets will definitely sell out for this event! They are currently on sale for $22.50 and can be purchased here.

We also have ONE PAIR OF TICKETS to give away to the show courtesy of our friends over at The Majestic. We will be running this giveaway for one week and then we will draw a winner. That winner will get to attend the show with a friend for free. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #detroitvseverybody.

Watch this teaser and don't miss out on the fun!


~C

Friday, October 23, 2015

The Michigan Science Center Invites You to Get A Little Dressy & A Lot Messy at Colorosity

This Saturday, October 24th the Michigan Science Center will be hosting their annual benefit soiree, Colorosity. The Science Center already has great exhibits all year long, but this is a chance to visit the Center after hours and have even more hands on opportunities than during a regular visit. Several special interactive stations will be set up for the evening, all revolving around color. There will be experiences using a variety of scientific reactions to produce explosions of color, stations illuminating light and color, you can discover the science of human perception at stations featuring the interaction of our senses with our brain and the world around us, and more! There will also be speakers, a performance by the Detroit Windsor Dance Academy, and a presentation called Hair Lab Detroit. On top of all of this fun, you can also check out MiSci's newest exhibit, Toytopia, featuring some of your favorite childhood toys!

Colorosity is a family friendly event, but it will be fun for just adults too! Tickets for this event range from $50-$200 and can be purchased here or at the door. The event runs from 6-11 p.m and doors open at 5:30. This is a chance to see the Science Center like never before! For more information, click here.


~C

Your New Favorite Album: Flint Eastwood's "Small Victories" Released Today!!!!

Anyone that has ever met Jax Anderson knows one thing to be true, she is an amazing lady. It's easy to have a conversation with her and instantly feel like you are friends. She's smart, well spoken, and you can feel her emotions in her voice, especially in her music. Every time I get the chance to have a talk with Jax or see her perform, I walk away smiling. She constantly inspires me to keep being positive and keep creating, just like she does. But, this week I learned that being positive doesn't always come naturally for Jax. She chooses to be positive despite recently losing her mother, a women she calls "her best friend", on Flint Eastwood's new album Small Victories.
Photos by Andrew Miller

Tuesday night I had the honor of attending the Flint Eastwood album listening party at Assemble Sound. It's going to be difficult to find the words to explain the experience of attending this event, but I am going to do my best because what I experienced on Tuesday night was powerful and important.  

Seventy five people gathered at "the church" on Tuesday and took a tour of the new Flint Eastwood album Small Victories. Garret Koehler, owner of Assemble Sound, interviewed Jax about the process of making the album, recording the album, writing the album, and going through one of the hardest experiences of her life. Jax was more open and more honest than anyone I have ever seen. The reality is that losing her mother has changed her life and her music. Loss is one of those things that we simply do not talk about and Jax made it clear that we should. We expect people to take a week off, mourn, and get back to life, but it's not always that easy. 
Photo by Andrew Miller

Small Victories is nothing like anything Jax (and her amazing brother Seth) have ever done before. It's club bangers with heavy beats about real life. It's an album about going through hell and choosing to come out on top. It's a album about pain, suffering and celebration. Jax talked about the difficulty in finding meaning in life after losing her mother and then wrote an album that says fuck it, let's embrace the pain, get through it, and celebrate what matters, which is "community, friendship, and relationships", according to her. At the end of the day all that matters is the connection that we have with people around us.

I don't think Jax realized it at the time, but while she was telling her story she was connecting everyone in the room in a special way. We started out the night quiet, listening and learning and we ended the night almost caving in the floor because everyone in the room got up and danced. The dance party was organic, it wasn't created, it was almost needed after we took the journey with her. She took us through her pain and we wanted to celebrate her victories, small or otherwise.  
Photo by Andrew Miller

I have personally had a rough year. I didn't lose my mom, but there have been some really high highs and some really low lows. Jax made me realize that it's okay to feel that and to embrace it. She closed the night by saying, "be vulnerable, don't be shady". It made me laugh, but it's true. Being vulnerable is so powerful. This album is powerful because she opened up and let us into her pain.

Jax found a light at the end of a dark tunnel, this album will help you do the same. Small Victories is being released today, you must pick up a copy and give it a listen. Take in the lyrics, feel all the feels, and let loose and dance. I am looking forward to the release show, I cannot wait to bond with the crowd and see Flint Eastwood perform these songs live. This music is the kind of music that brings people together, so let's hang out November 14th at the show, I wouldn't miss it for the world! 

Flint Eastwood's new video for the Small Victories first single "Find What You're Looking For" has also been released, check it out!



~S

Creepy Cheapy 8 Takes Over The Crofoot This Friday!

For eight great years Creepy Cheapy has taken over the The Crofoot Ballroom, The Pike Room and the Vernors Room in Downtown Pontiac. The show features an eclectic collection of Detroit's best bands covering an array of well known musical acts. Every year the lineup switches it up and gives attendees something new to check out.

This year's lineup features some well known bands mixed with some small, more unique choices. I'm personally looking forward to seeing ANA as the Foo Fighters, My Pal Val and Audra Kubat as The Breeders, and Bevlove as Nikki Minaj. The show will also feature covers of some of my all time favorite acts, including Van Halen, Green Day and Marilyn Manson. The best part about Creepy Cheapy is that the bands take this shit seriously, they dress up, they practice, and they give the crowd a show.  

It's still only $5 dollars to get in the door. Costumes aren't required, but you'll look like an ass if you don't wear one. Doors open at 7 p.m. Make sure to get there early, this event has sold out in the past. If you are not there early, you might have to wait in a long line. So plan your outfit accordingly! 


~S

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Destroy This Place Gears up to Release Their Third Full Length Album this Friday


We've been following Detroit's Destroy This Place since the beginning of hipindetroit.com. In the last four years they have released two full length albums, a couple of music videos, and ventured out on a few short tours. They are on the brink of releasing their third album so we thought it was time to check in and get an update on DTP. This time we reached out to John Nelson, one of the quietest rock stars that we have ever met. He might play very loud music, but he is a very calm and soft spoken person.

The band will release their new album this Friday, October 23rd and they will have an album release party at The New Way Bar on November 7th.

HID- How does the band prepare for the release of a new album?
John Nelson-" This time we hooked up with Brixton Agency to do some promotion and help get the record out there. We'll do a release show in Ferndale a couple weeks after the record comes out and then we'll play shows in Chicago and New York. "

HID- Why did you name the new album Animal Rites?
John Nelson- "It sort of originated from a different title and artwork idea. There was a name we had in mind, but there was some potential of getting sued. Since we didn't want to deal with that we came up with something else."

HID- Why did you decide to put this album out on Forge Again Records?
John Nelson- "We've known Justin Wexler (FAR bossman) for a long time. He put out a split we did with Chicago band Hospital Garden a few years ago. He's also done records by some other Detroit bands we're friends with (Child Bite and Old Gods). When we sent him demos from the new record, he liked what we were working on and wanted to be a part of it. "

HID-Why are you releasing this record a few weeks before the show?
John Nelson- "It's just how it worked out. It should be a good thing. People will have a few weeks to listen to the new stuff and hopefully enjoy the show more."


HID- How does this new album differ from the last two?
John Nelson- "The first two were recorded at Russian Recording in Bloomington, IN. With the first record (Resurrect the Mammoth) we were trying to get a bunch of songs together as quickly as possible. Some of the songs were written before we formed and were probably meant for New Grenada or Friendly Foes. The goal was to capture our live sound so we recorded it pretty quickly.


The second record was more collaborative. We'd been a band for a couple years at that point and had played a lot of shows. We were more dialed in with each other and had more of a vision for what we wanted the record to sound like.

For the new one we took a trip out to Sonelab in Easthampton, MA and recorded with Justin Pizzoferrato. He recorded Speedy Ortiz and some newer bands like California X and Pottymouth. He's also worked with Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth. The process was pretty much the same as the last record but we spent a little more time on this one. Justin was real positive and fun to work with and it was a really good experience overall."

HID- Tell us a little bit about the writing process.
John Nelson- "Usually Ryan or myself brings in a new idea to show the rest of the band. It could start with a rough demo of a song or just a riff or verse. We might spend several practices working it out. The end result might resemble the original idea, but a lot of times it will evolve into something pretty different. Everyone in the band has a lot of input and it takes time to get it right."

HID- There has been a lot of talk lately that rock and roll is dead, do you agree with that statement?
John Nelson- "Not totally, I think there are a lot of good new bands. I can see why people say that, though. It seems like the majority of big rock or metal bands that play larger shows and still sell records have been around for 20 plus years. On a positive note, there are way more festivals now than there were 10 years ago, lots of places to go for music online, streaming, etc. Vinyl seems to be selling really well. Record Store Day has been pretty successful. Rock isn’t dead, maybe just more underground."

HID- Who did your latest promo photos with the black and white background?
John Nelson- "Brian Rozman aka Carjack (brianrozman.com). We spent a few hours in Hamtramck and that mural was one of the spots he wanted to photograph. The mural was painted by Victor Reyes."

HID- Who have you been listening to lately? Got any sweet bands we need to check out?
John Nelson- "Locally, Malo Konjche, Monarchs and Braided Veins are all really good and worth checking out."

Check out the latest music video for "The Bees", the first single off the new album:


Mark your calendars, we will see you at the release show at The New Way on the November 7th! 


~S 

Win Tickets to See Awesome Jarvis & the Whales' Last Show!!!

This Saturday, October 24th Awesome Jarvis and the Whales will be playing together for one last time! The band went on a hiatus after they played back their last show back in November of last year. But since Whales' member Chris Tomko is moving away, the band decided to play one more time and officially make this their last show. Fans that come out to this show will hear favorites from the band's album Ride The Whale along with some previously unreleased material.

You can experience this night of fun and great music for the super low price of $5. Along with Awesome Jarvis and the Whales, you also will get to see performances by Remnose and Blakdog. It is all happening at the New Dodge Lounge in Hamtramck and things kick off at 9 p.m.

We are also getting 3 lucky people into this show with a friend for FREE. If you would like to enter to win one of the 3 pairs of tickets that we are giving away, please send an email to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Whales in the subject and your name in the body. We will draw our winners the morning of the show and send them details on how to claim their prize.

Don't miss this chance to see Amesome Jarvis one more time, and don't miss this opportunity to get in the door for FREE!


~C

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Win Tickets to See The Black Dahlia Murder at The Loving Touch

This Saturday night one of the best metal bands to ever come out of Michigan will be playing in Ferndale. The Black Dahlia Murder will be taking over The Loving Touch for what we are sure will be a crazy night. Although the LT isn't exactly a small venue, this is one of the smallest stages that BDM has played on in Metro Detroit in quite a while. We guarantee it will be loud, the place will be packed from wall to wall, and it will be one hell of a show!

The Black Dahlia Murder will be joined by Iron Reagan, Harm's Way and Maruta. These four bands have been on tour together for the last three weeks on the IndieMerch 10 Year Anniversary Tour. The tour has hit up towns throughout the US and Canada and will be wrapping things up here in Detroit.

Tickets for this show are $23 in advance or $25 the day of the show. You can pick yours up here. Thanks to the wonderful women at Black Iris Booking, we are also hooking up one lucky person with free tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets, just send your name over to hipindetroit@gmail.com with BDM in the subject line. We will draw our lucky winner the morning of the show and will email them details on how to claim their prize.

All ages are welcome to attend Satruday's show and doors are set to open at 7 p.m. The Loving Touch is located at 22634 Woodward Ave. in Ferndale.

Check out BDM's latest music video for "Receipt" off their new album Abysmal below.



~C

The Perfect Day to Watch Back to the Future II

The future is here! Back in 1985 when Doc and Marty McFly traveled to the future in Back to the Future II, the date they traveled to was October 21st, 2015. It's crazy to think that what seemed like a date that was so far in the future is actually here! We don't have flying cars, but The Cubs might make it to the World Series! Who knew that this movie was a prophecy!?!

If you would like to celebrate this day by watching Back to the Future II and see what the world we live in is actually supposed to be like today, head to the Redford Theatre tonight. They will be showing the movie at 8 p.m. and tickets are only $5. If you can't make it down to the Redford, other select theaters throughout the area are also showing this film. Just check a theater near you to see if they are.

Don't miss this chance to watch a great movie from our past on the big screen. And who knows Maybe Doc and Marty will show up! For more information on tonight's showing and upcoming shows at the Redford click here.


~C

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Garbage at ROMT

Monday night Detroit celebrated twenty years of Garbage at The Royal Oak Music Theatre. The band rose to success in 1995 with their debut self titled album Garbage. They had some huge hits over the years, including "Stupid Girl", "Queer" and "I'm Only Happy When it Rains". The band played for about a hour and half and went through a tour of their songs, including the hits. Shirley looked and sounded as good as ever and Butch Vig held down the beat in a way that only he can. We had a great time and grabbed some cool shots of the show to share with you.



~S

VLOG #8 - Interview with The HandGrenades



For more info on The HandGrenades upcoming Unplugged show, click here


Win a pair of Tickets to See The Darkness at St. Andrew's

Photo taken from The Darkness' Facebook
We believe in a thing called FREE tickets and The Darkness believes in a "thing called love".  If you would like to win a pair of tickets to see The Darkness perform their hit "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" all you need to do is email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #IBelieve. The band will be performing alongside These Raven Skies at St.Andrew's Hall in Detroit this Wednesday, October 21st and we want to get one luck y winner in the door for FREE.

We will draw our winner early Wednesday morning so send your entry over now and check your email early on Wednesday to see if you are getting into the show for FREE!

~S

The Library Street Collective Presents Material by Hense

This Friday October, 23rd The Library Street Collective will open Material, a gallery by Alex Brewster aka Hense.
Hense is a street artist that works in different mediums with a assortment of materials, including plywood, ink, screws, graphite, house, acrylic and spray paints. The show is called Materials and it will feature an assortment of drawings and screen prints.
The show will run through  December 20th. The opening will take place this Friday from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. If you are not able to make it to the opening you will be able to catch Alex's work through December, but The LSC has very limited hours. So follow them on Facebook to keep up with their schedule.


~S

Monday, October 19, 2015

See Detroit Through the Eyes of Sal Rodriguez

Self Portrait by Sal Rodriguez 

A few week's ago 30 new murals were revealed in The Eastern Market.  This massive overflow of visual stimulation was the work of 1xRUN and Inner State Gallery. They brought national and local artists together to paint a new face on The Market.  The response has been overwhelmingly positive and there is a buzz in the air about street art.  It's clear that Detroit is becoming a contender in the street art game so I decide it was time for me to dig a little deeper.


I called local photographer Sal Rodriguez and spent two hours on the phone to get an abbreviated version of the history of The Detroit street art scene. I don't know about you but I don't usually spend two hours on the phone with someone. Surprisingly, in this case I could have easily kept chatting.  

 Mr. Rodriguez is a self made man.  A talented photographer with one hell of an eye that has established himself as one the Detroit's best.  He has had his work featured in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, Playboy, The Detroit News, The Free Press, and InkAddict.com.  He currently works for Local 4 Detroit, ClickOnDetorit.com, The Library Street Collective, Red Bull House of Art, The Inner State Gallery, Sugar House, General Motors and Wright and Company.  Basically, he's an all around bad ass with credentials to back it up.

More importantly, he is THE authority on local art, especially local street art. The best part is that he is incredibly passionate about what he does.  He loves the culture of street art and he travels to locations around the world to connect with new artists.  He is always there behind the scenes watching and shooting. Essentially, he is single handily documenting a new Detroit phenomenon.  Sal has exclusive access to these artists and he knows what to do with it.  The most interesting thing I learned during our conversation was that each artist has different ticks or behaviors when they work,  from the way that they shake to the can to the way that they stand he has learned how to capture what makes each artist special. Street art is a whole new world for me but Sal and his art are at the very center of it.

If you want to keep up with the ever changing face of the Detroit art scene you need to follow Sal.  I wish you could all call him and have a personal two our chat because you would be able to hear the passion he has for what he does in his voice. But, you can also see his passion in his photos, so do yourself a favor, add him on twitter or Instagram today and get hip to a whole new side of Detroit.


~S