Friday, September 30, 2016

Win Tickets to See Merchandise at Marble Bar

Tampa based Merchandise just released a new album last week, entitled A Corpse Wired for Sound. The album was released on 4AD Records on September 23rd and the band immediately embarked on a tour following the release. They are heading to Detroit this Sunday, October 2nd where they will play at Marble Bar. Check out Merchandise's brand new video for their song "Lonesome Sound" below.


Merchandise will be joined on Sunday by Detroit's own YOU. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance here or $12 at the door. Thanks to Party Store Productions we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to get your hands on those free tickets, send us an email with your name in the body and Merch in the subject. We will draw one lucky winner on Sunday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize! 


~C

24 Hour Ticket Giveaway: Porches @ El Club

This Saturday, October 1st Porches will be hitting the stage at El Club in Southwest Detroit! The band is currently on tour across the US and Canada with Japanese Breakfast and Rivergazer. The tour kicked off at the beginning of September and Detroit is lucky enough to be one of the stops before they wrap things up next week in Boston. All of this touring is in support of Porches' latest album Water that was just released a few weeks ago. You can check that out on bandcamp here. This is already the second album that the band released this year! Check out the music video for "Move Apart" off their album Pool that was released earlier in 2016.


Tickets to Saturday's show are $15. You can pick yours up here. Doors are set to open at 5 p.m. and the show will begin at 9. As always, all ages are welcome at El Club.

Thanks to our friend Virginia at Party Store Productions, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win those tickets, please send your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Porches in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Saturday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.


~C

All Praise To Saint Pablo

Photo Credit: Marc Nader 

To understand Superman you have to begin with his origin story. To understand Kanye West you have to take it back to the beginning. Kanye West started his career writing hits for some of the biggest artists in the game. This includes Jay Z, Nas, Little Kim, Janet Jackson and Talib Kweli. Despite his success, he couldn't get anybody to sign him to a record deal to write and record his own hits. In fact, legend has it that he was only reluctantly signed to Roc-A-Fella Records so they wouldn't lose him as a producer. Then, on October 23rd, 2002 everything changed. Kanye West was in a major car accident that left him with his jaw wired shut. Instead of taking some time off for his recovery, he went into the studio two weeks later and recorded what became his debut hit "Through the Wire" through the wires in his mouth. Kanye's verses were witty and showcased the fact that he wasn't your typical hip hop artists. Against all odds something clicked and Kanye West became a star.

His first full length album was released in 2004. It featured hits like "Through the Wire", "Slow Jamz" and "Jesus Walks".  He pushed the boundaries of hip hop and put out music that no one else was making, he was finally being seen as an innovator. He released his second album Late Registration in 2005. On this album he mixed big horns with hip hop verses and created music that you could dance to. Despite his success, he always saw himself as the underdog. the fighter, someone that had to prove himself. He returned to the studio in 2007 and recorded Graduation, an album that was heavily inspired by rock and roll. He wanted to write arena worthy hip hop songs and that's exactly what he did. For the first few albums he toured with live bands and a person dressed up in a bear costume. He rocked pink polos and turned every venue he played into a dance party. During his first two stops in Detroit he played Chene Park and The Fox and made the whole room move all night. He was cocky, but we all thought it was justified. After all, he had overcome the odds, spit verses through the wire, and changed hip hop music. He deserved to be a little cocky.

In 2008 he introduced auto tune into his music and recorded 808s and Heartbreak, a heartbreaking album that West created shortly after the death of his mother, Donda West. This album was a real turning point for Kanye. He stepped out of his comfort zone and showed that he was much more than a hip hop artist. Shortly after the albums release he embarked on the Glow in The Dark Tour. The live show featured Kanye West "crash landing" on the stage and trying to find his way home. There were lights, there were lasers, and there was a full orchestra supporting West on stage. He also wore a glove that controlled the way the stage moved and lit up. The show was visually pleasing and changed the way that I viewed live events. Unfortunately, by this point Kanye had become a public spectacle for his onstage antics at the 2009 VMA awards and everything he had worked so hard for was dismissed because the dude had a pretty big ego. That's when everything seemed to change. Instead of West being viewed as a cocky go getter who was fighting to get the recognition he deserved, he was perceived as a spoiled jerk who spent too much time talking about how great he was.
Photo Credit: Marc Nader
He followed up 808s with My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, an album that helped redeem him to the haters and was well received by the critics. It was so good that some of the songs were even being played on indie stations. It was in that moment that everyone collectively said, we don't like the fact hat he's so cocky, but he can write some damn good music so we can excuse some of his antics. He further sealed his superstar status by recording Watch The Throne and touring with Jay Z in support of the album in 2011. During that tour, Jay Z and Kanye created video screen stages that played videos of animals attacking each other in the jungle and went back and forth playing hit after hit. They also used lasers a lot and it was cool as hell. He played everything from his hits to his B-Sides and re-established himself as a real artist and innovator. The show was unlike anything I had ever seen before and once again changed the way that I viewed live events.

He followed up this comeback success with his seventh studio album Yeezus. This album featured songs where Kanye literally declared "I am a God". His ego seemed to have taken control and he was literally comparing himself to the savior. He saw himself as the savior of music and he wasn't afraid to let everyone know it. The tour mirrored the vibe of the album and strayed from all of the work he had done leading up to that point. He wore a mask for most of the show and then literally crowned himself with thorns by the end of the night. The show felt disconnected and turned a lot of his die hard fans, including myself, off. Something didn't feel right. This whole show was a mess and I left the room feeling conned.

Then, this February Kanye West released his eighth studio album, The Life of Pablo, a musical masterpiece that reminded me why I fell in love with him in the first place. He introduced me to my new obsession, Chance the Rapper, on the albums intro track "Ultralight Beam" and it only got better from there. I knew that despite feeling so let down by the last tour I had to give Yeezus a chance to redeem himself. I arrived at Joe Louis Arena with an open mind last Wednesday night and left two hours later smiling from ear to ear and covered in sweat. Saint Pablo did more than redeem himself, he resurrected my faith in the marriage of music and art and reminded me why I fell in love with him as an artist so many years ago.

I have read a lot of reviews of his show and it seems that other people perceived  this setup a bit differently than I did. They saw Kanye's innovative floating stage as a way that he could literally put himself above his followers, but  I didn't see it that way. Yeezus may have been a bit too full of himself and robbed his fans of a real experience, but Saint Pablo has came back and paid for his sins in full. I saw Kanye's floating stage as a way for him to connect with his fans. Because it keeps moving throughout the night, there is literally not a bad seat in the house. And, if you were lucky enough to be one of the people standing on the floor, you may have had a moment where you felt like Kanye was looking right at you while he was performing. I heard a lot of people saying that they felt like he was interacting with us as he moved around the floor. The lights and the smoke rising from below us only added to the magic of the night. This time around Kanye played a variety of the new stuff but mixed it up with a few bangers, like my personal favorite "Touch the Sky" towards the end of the night. After two hours, I left wanting more. I bought a $65 shirt with Kim Kardashian in a bikini and left laughing about it all.

Yeah, Kanye might be full of himself, he might sell shitty fancy clothing, and say stupid shit in front of camera, but he has written 8 of the most innovative albums of my lifetime and impressed the hell out of me by changing my perception of what is possible during a live show. He also got my ass moving and dancing for two hours without a care in the world.  The Life of Pablo isn't so bad.

Kanye returns to Metro Detroit for a second round this coming Thursday, October 6th.  If you want to experience something different, something special, and something  magical, get a ticket. Thanks to Saint Pablo, there is no front row and their isn't a bad seat in the house!


~S

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Take a Tour of The Detroit Library Tonight!

Tonight the historic and beautiful Detroit Library will be opening its door for a late night tour of the space. A docent will walk you through the building and show you all of the things that make it special. If you are a sucker for history and architecture, you will love this chance to see the library in a whole new light!

Tickets are donation based, they can be purchased here. All proceeds from tonight will go to the HYPE Teen Film Festival on October 15. This is a great way to get an inside look at the beauty of Detroit!


~S

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Win Tickets to See Leon Bridges at The Fillmore

Leon Bridges may be young, at just 27 years old, but he has a classic sound and look that is reminiscent of a different time. He mixes R&B and soul to create a sound that will take you back to the '60s. He released his debut album Coming Home last year on Columbia Records. To stick to the "old" sound, the album was recorded using vintage equipment. The title track was played on radio stations and was even featured on an iPhone commercial. In addition to making his own album, Bridges has also collaborated with many big name artists, like Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. Check out the video for the song "Coming Home" below.


This Friday, September 30th Leon Bridges will be hitting the stage at The Fillmore in Detroit. Joining him for the evening is Lianne La Havas. Tickets for the show start at $29 and can be purchased in advance here. Thanks to our friends at Live Nation Detroit we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show. If you would like to enter to win those tickets, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Bridges in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner the day before the show and will send them details on how to claim their prize. 


~C

Win Tickets to See Flowers Bloom's Last Show for Awhile

The Painted Lady in Hamtramck has always been a bar that you're pretty much guaranteed to have a good time at. From the pink walls to the strong drinks, it's hard to not enjoy this place. The awesome bartenders make this place even better. And if those three things aren't reason enough to get you in the door, a good show will definitely get you there!

This Friday, September 30th The Painted Lady is having one of those shows. Flowers Bloom and Blakdog will be hitting the stage along with Garbage Greek from Ohio. These are three great bands, which should be reason enough to head to the show, but this will also be Flowers Bloom's last show for a while. Front man Miles Hubbell (who you might also know from The Vonneguts) is heading to Guatemala to work for the Guatemala Solidarity Project. So make sure you head out and wish him well on his travels before he heads off to do good in Guatemala.

Admission to Friday's show is only $5 and things are set to kick off at 9 p.m. If you want to save that $5 for a drink, you can also enter to win a pair of tickets to this show. We will be giving away a pair of tickets to 3 lucky winners this Friday morning. To enter to win, just send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Bloom in the subject line. We will draw our winners the morning of the show and they will get to attend this awesome show with a friend for free.

Take a few minutes to get ready for Friday night with this music video from Flowers Bloom for their song "Yeah They Told Me".



~C

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

A Hip Chat with The Basement Punk Ryan Allen

When I was younger I tried to write a song. I carried a pad of paper around for months and tried to put together lyrics and a tune. I didn't play an instrument so I was literally trying to write a basic melody with some words and I failed miserably. I couldn't ever figure out how to get past the chorus and in retrospect the lyrics didn't really hold up. I cannot imagine actually creating a piece of material that someone else would want to hear or sing along to. When someone is able to write, record, and perform their own music I am always impressed, especially when they write something that catches my ear.

Ryan Allen's work has always been able to peak my interest. He constantly pushes himself forward to create something new. On top of that, he creates new music and gets albums recorded fast. In fact, I don't know anyone that can put together an entire project and execute everything as fast as he can with the passion that he does.

His latest album Basement Punk is the third album that he has recorded and released as Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms in the last five years. In that time frame he also released two full length albums with Destroy This Place. I am not sure how someone can create this much music so quickly, but I truly look up to Ryan for expressing himself so beautifully. I really dig his poppy hooks and gritty jams.

This latest album is his best work to date, you can pick up a copy of the new album this Friday at the New Way Bar where Ryan will be performing alongside Fawnn and Lawnmower. But first, check out our latest interview with one of Detroit's hardest working rock and roll vets, Ryan Allen.




HID- Your latest album is called Basement Punk, is there a meaning behind that title? If so, what is it?
Ryan Allen- "There is a song on my record called "Basement Punks" that is somewhat specifically about my friend Sarah Zeidan  who tragically passed away when were all in our early 20s. She was in a ton of awesome bands, an amazing musician, and probably the most positive person I've ever met. I wanted to write something that was a dedication to her, and the setting I most frequently associated her with was gleefully bashing away on the drums (or bass) at basement punk shows (places like the Vegan Grocer in Pontiac or at our friend Chad Miller's house out in, like, Clinton Township). So the song is basically about that whole scene, one Sarah fully embraced and to me - as I was kind of on the fringe of it all - seemed like the cheerleader of it all. She had this magnetic pull to her personality, and had a free-spiritedness to her that came out fully when she was playing music. I didn't know her extremely well (though her and I did jam together once, just 2 days before she passed), but she left a huge impact on me and so many others that she came in contact with. I wrote something on Facebook about her on the 15th anniversary of her passing, talking about some of the things that would later end up in the song, and my friend Scott Stimac commented on it saying something along the lines of "basement punks", in reference to the people and places of that really important time in all of our lives. I just sort of locked that phrase in my brain as something to maybe mine for a song later on (also, thanks Scott!). So all of that kind of ignited the initial idea for everything, really.

Then after the album was recorded, I was texting back and forth with my buddy Nick Piunti (a great power pop artist that I collaborate with from time to time) trying to figure out what to title the album and he suggested "Basement Punks". Then I said, "How about 'Basement Punk'...no 's'?". I liked the way it sounded as a title, but then I had to dig into my brain a little bit to figure out what other kind of meaning I could attach to it. I really quickly identified with the idea of being a "basement punk" at this point in my life, as well as what it meant to be one 15 years ago. Basements have always played this pivotal role in my musical evolution, from being 11 and 12 years old, just going in the basement of my parents house and plugging my dad's guitars in and making noise, to actually learning how to play guitar and having my first band practices there. From there you start to figure out what's going on in the world around you, and start going out to see and play shows of all sizes. Some of the most intense and impassioned ones I saw and played were in basements. Now, at 36, and hell, for the past 10 years, I've been writing songs and demoing them in my basement, recording them on a pretty crappy set up that works for me. So even now, when I'm not necessarily going to shows in basements, I'm still connected to the idea of having to kind of go underground to find inspiration and create new and exciting things. And attaching the word "punk" to the whole thing...I mean, it's not about the genre "punk rock"...it's more about the idea that to be "punk" or to be a "punk" means you are doing what you want to do and you aren't going to let anybody tell you that you can't or shouldn't. So yes, this is a long explanation for a pretty straightforward question, but in essence I wanted to create a label for myself and for the album (and maybe other people out there) that I would be proud to wear, and "Basement Punk" is it."

HID- How do you write and record albums so fast?
Ryan Allen- "Writing songs is just something that comes extremely natural to me. It's embedded in my DNA, and I'm always working on various little things that end up becoming more fleshed out tunes at some point. What I try to do is not talk myself out of things. I usually end up finishing songs in some way shape or form, but some of them never make it out of my head or the basement. I'm always workshopping and whittling down, playing around with ideas and trying to keep my songwriting muscle strong. I love writing words and melodies, and the best moments are when I don't have to try very hard; when things come together really easily that's when I know I'm on to something good. Fortunately for me the well hasn't run dry, so I plan to keep doing this for as long as I can. I'm always listening to music, finding inspiration in new and old bands, keeping my ears open for little phrases and jotting down things I read for lyrical inspirations. Writing songs is kind of like a scavenger hunt, and I really enjoy the process of taking all these things from various places and then trying to connect them somehow in the context of a 3-minute pop song. It's always been a fun thing for me, so I'm just going to keep on having fun!"

HID- Who shot the photos for the album cover and where were they taken?
Ryan Allen- "All the photos were taken by Alicia Gbur. She's an incredibly talented person, and I feel extremely lucky that she was able to squeeze me into her very busy schedule (she's got a wedding photo business that is very much in demand, and she also just released a fantastic new record with her band FAWNN). We took the photos in - surprise! - the basement of my house. My wife, my son and I made the stenciled backdrop that's used on the front and back cover of the album, hung it up, Alicia came over, we took some pictures of me jumping around for about an hour, and that was it! It was pretty simple and easy and I think it came out great. My awesome friend Amanda Barker laid out the whole thing for me and 2 months later 500 CDs showed up on my front porch. Now to figure out how to get rid of them..."

HID- What is your favorite track off this album and why?
Ryan Allen- "It's hard to narrow that down, because I have an attachment to all of them for various reasons. Some I like because sonically it captured what I was going for; others stick out to me for the lyrics. Some I just like the production, or the way I played drums on it, or whatever. So it's tough to just say one...but for the purpose of this article, I'll go with "Alex Whiz". I've always wanted to write a shoegaz-y pop song, and I made an attempt at it with my last record, but I think I really nailed it with "Alex Whiz." The lyrics are, at least I think, pretty interesting and creative (it's about a super unique kid I knew growing up, and how all the bullying in the world can't stop him from still being awesome and unique), and the track just kind of has this woozy, melodic sway to it that I love. So yeah, today, right now, that's my favorite one. It'll probably change tomorrow!"

HID- What’’s your son’s favorite track and why?
Ryan Allen- "He really likes the first song, "Watch Me Explode" because it's fast. If we're listening to something and it's slow, he always says "Turn this off! It's too sloooooow." His favorite band right now is Black Flag, if that gives you any indication of where his head is at."

HID- Why did you pick the New Way Bar for the album release show?
Ryan Allen- "The New Way, to me, is the perfect place. It's a great location in Ferndale where lots of people live, they let you pretty much do whatever you want, it's the perfect size, it sounds good...there's really nothing to not like about it. Jamie, the owner, and I have become friends over the last year, because our kids went to pre-school together. So that's another reason to want to support them. Good people. Good bar. Good times."

HID-Who are you listening to these days?
Ryan Allen- "I feel like I'm always kind of listening to my main standbys - Teenage Fanclub, Big Star, Elvis Costello, Beatles, Superdrag, Dinosaur Jr., Sloan, Buffalo Tom, Superchunk... I've been listening to a lot of Lemonheads records lately, especially "Lovey" and the self-titled one with the guys from the Decendents playing on it that came out in 2006. I just finished reading "Trouble Boys", a really great bio on the Replacements, so I've been re-connecting with a lot of those records lately, and especially digging into "Don't Tell a Soul", which I never really checked out until reading the book. I've been digging through Doughboys catalog, ever since J Navarro from the Suicide Machines/Break Anchor/etc. said my stuff sounds a bit like them; "Crush" is a great record and I've been enjoying that one a lot lately. In terms of some newer stuff, I've been really liking a band called Smiles from San Francisco, who have a short EP online that is really great (kinda Posies/Teenage Fanclub kinda power pop). I've been listening to a band called Fury Things from Minneapolis and a band called Hurry from Philly that do the jangle-y pop thing really well. Big Eyes and Tancred are both female fronted poppy punk bands that I've been liking a lot. I finally got into the Cheap Girls record from last year. The new Lees of Memory album (John from Superdrag) is really great. Wild Stab by the I Don't Cares is really cool (Paul Westerberg and Juliana Hatfield's new thing). My friend Nick Piunti's new album is really wonderful (I play and sing on a lot of the songs on it). I love the new Nada Surf, Teenage Fanclub, Bob Mould and Dinosaur Jr. albums (the 90s are alive and well in 2016!). I'm looking forward to the new Beach Slang that comes out later this month. I'm probably forgetting stuff, too. There's just too much damn music to dig through. Thanks Spotify."

HID- You’ve been playing music and touring for most of your life. What’s your favorite thing about playing a live show? What’s your least favorite thing?
Ryan Allen- "Playing live, I just love the sheer physical and mental rush that comes with playing loud rock songs in front of people. I sometimes get anxiety about people actually being there, and promoting shows now really isn't as fun as it used to be. I still try and make fliers and go hang them up at record stores and stuff, but I don't have it in me to go to 10 shows a week and pass them out to people like I did back in the Thunderbirds Are Now! days. But still, at the same time, it's not about having a packed house or whatever (though that would be nice); I pretty much perform the same way no matter how many people are there, and give it my all every time. There's also something really cathartic about singing into a microphone, and pushing your voice in a live setting, almost demanding to be heard. I like doing that, and it's fun to push that muscle harder live than I might in the studio, trying crazy things, messing with the melody or just screaming something a little more than I would sing it. I dunno, you get kinda lost in the moment and for me at least, that's what comes out. I love that."

HID- Favorite place to see a live show in Metro Detroit?
Ryan Allen- "10 years ago I would have said the Magic Stick, but now there's so many more options. I like the Loving Touch because it's close and it sounds good. I like UFO because it's small and their hot dogs are pretty wicked. Marble Bar is really awesome, but I've only played there and haven't seen a show outside of that. Ol' boy here doesn't get out like he used to, ya know?"

HID- Favorite venue to play at in Metro Detroit?
Ryan Allen- "All of the aforementioned are great places to play. I'll always dig the Lager House. The Majestic Cafe is actually really cool and sounds pretty great, but I don't know how often they are really doing shows there. And of course the New Way is probably my favorite."

HID- Favorite guitar that you own and why?
Ryan Allen- "I feel like I kind of have the perfect collection of guitars, and have something at my disposal depending on the song and the feel that I'm going for. I have my Rickenbacker for my jangle-y stuff, I've got my Stratocaster for my Big Star-ish stuff, my double cutaway Les Paul Jr. for the more aggressive stuff, and my Jazzmaster when I need to do bendy, shoegaze-y stuff. So I really love them all for their diversity."

HID- Favorite guilty pleasure band and why?
Ryan Allen- "I don't really believe in guilty pleasure bands...like what you like, you know? With that said, bands like Soul Asylum, Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls, even Nada Surf, that people kind of equate with certain singles or whatever all have great albums with awesome deep cuts that in my mind overshadow whatever "hit" they may have had. I mean, Gin Blossoms wrote some really great songs that sounded like Big Star and later-era Replacements, but maybe it wasn't as obvious to people back in the 90s when those records came out. It's more obvious to me now, and I enjoy it more now than I would have admitted then.

I also really like the Faint. I don't know if that's a guilty pleasure or not, but I think "Wet From Birth" rules; it's a great one to run to. It's probably because I also love Duran Duran. Again, nothing to be ashamed of, even though they are kind of outside of my "jangle-y guitar" wheelhouse."

HID- Favorite band you have ever shared the stage with?
Ryan Allen- "Sheesh. Almost impossible to say. I've been lucky to play with SO MANY amazing bands. I can say that the best live band I've ever played with is Les Savy Fav."

HID- Anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Ryan Allen- "Just that they can order my new album here and if you've ever checked out my music at all, even for a second, thank you! Oh, and come to the New Way Bar on 9/30 to see the show. FAWNN and Lawnmower are playing and they both rule. And I've got an awesome band playing with me, with Sean Sommer (Destroy This Place) on drums, Mike Gallacher on guitar and Ryan Marshall (Palaces) on bass. We're fired up and ready to play!"


Ryan will be releasing the album at the New Way Bar this Friday, September 30th.  $10 gets you in the door with a copy of the album, $15 gets a couple through the door with a single copy of the album!


~S 

Win Tickets to See Tobacco at The Shelter

The Shelter has always been and will always be one of my favorite places to see a show.  It is the sister venue of St. Andrew's, the smaller cooler little sibling that keeps catching onto the latest thing before anyone else. It is a room that births new acts and hosts up and comers right before they become household names. When you walk down the stairs you are sucked into another dimension, there are no windows and there is no outside world. There is just you, a few hundred like minded people, and if you have a few dollars, a few good drinks. We would personally recommend stopping by and catching a show at The Shelter as soon as you can, because the venue itself is worth checking out. But, if you're into dancing you can enter to win a pair of tickets to catch Tobacco there this Thursday, September 29th.

Tobacco, also known as Thomas Fec, is an electronic musician that records a lot of his music using analog synthesizers and tape machines. His latest album is called Sweatbox Dynasty, you can check it out here.  The High Tides  and Odonis Odonis will be opening up the night and tickets to attend the show are $15 in advance. They can be purchased here. We also have one pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Live Nation Detroit. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #tobacco.  We will draw one lucky winner this Thursday!


~S 

24 Hour Giveaway: Win Tickets to See The Bronx!!!

This week one of the most rockin' bands in the world of music is headed to Detroit. The Bronx will be hitting the stage at The Shelter this Wednesday, September 28th. The band is currently out on tour hitting a handful of cities throughout the Midwest and up the East Coast. Detroit is lucky enough to be one of those cities. If you've never seen this band live before, they are one of the most energetic bands out there. They don't have a fancy stage show or crazy antics. They just get up on stage and rock the fuck out! You can get a preview of what you can expect on Wednesday night by checking out The Bronx's new live album below.


The fact that this band is playing an intimate venue like The Shelter is insane! If you liked what you heard or are already a fan of The Bronx, you definitely do not want to miss this show! The Bronx will be joined on stage by their tour mates Dead Heavens and Pounded By The Surf as well as Detroit's own Golden Torso. Tickets to this awesome show $20 and can be purchased in advance here. All ages are welcome to attend and doors are set to open at 7 p.m.

This amazing show is being brought to you by the fine folks at Black Iris Booking, Vile Company and Live Nation Detroit. Thanks to Live Nation Detroit, we are giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with The Bronx in the subject line. If you want to up your chances to win tickets to this one, tag us on social media (@hipindetroit) and tell us you want to go to the show! We will draw one lucky winner the morning of the show and will send the winner details on how to claim their prize. Good luck!


~C

Monday, September 26, 2016

24 Hour Giveaway: Win Tickets to See Diarrhea Planet

I hate bands with shitty names and Diarrhea Planet has to be one of the shittiest band names I have ever heard. But, if you can get past it, you can discover a pretty great band. The Nashville based band is keeping garage rock alive and making it their own at the same time. They recently released their third album called Turn to Gold, if you haven't heard it you can check out the first single "Life Pass" here.

But, this is not one of those bands that needs to be seen and not just heard. They made a name for themselves by tearing up the stage at SXSW this year. Their on stage antics caught the eye of everyone and made people listen to what they had to offer. 

So, if you are looking for an experience and not just a live show you should check them out tomorrow night at El Club. They will be playing alongside Western Medication. Tickets to get into the show are $10, you can purchase them here. Or, you can win a pair by emailing your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #elclub. We will draw one lucky winner tomorrow morning and will let them know how to claim their prize.


~S 

Friday, September 23, 2016

Win Tickets to See Russian Circles at El Club

This Sunday, September 25 Russian Circles will be hitting the stage at El Club in Southwest Detroit! The band is currently out on tour in support of their new album Guidance that was released in August. This is the sixth album from the Chicago based trio. Give it a listen below.


The band is currently heading across the US before they head over to Europe on tour. Joining them for the US dates are Helms Alee, who also just released a new album. You can check that out here. Tickets to Sunday's show in Detroit are only $16 in advance and you can purchase your tickets here. All ages are welcome to attend. Doors are set to open at 5 p.m. with the show beginning at 8. 

Thanks to Black Iris Booking we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with RC in the subject line. We will draw our lucky winner the morning of the show and will send them details on how to claim their prize. 


~C

Win Tickets to See Metric

This weekend 89X, 93.9 and Live Nation Detroit are bringing Metric to the stage at The Fillmore. The band released their latest album Pagans in Vegas last year. Over the span of their career, they have released six studio albums, collaborated with legends like Lou Reed, and even played for the Queen of England. This weekend they will be playing for you.

Metric will be joined on stage by Detroit's own Moonwalks this Sunday night, September 25th. Tickets for the show start at just $20 and can be purchased in advance here. All ages are welcome to attend and doors are set to open at 6:30 p.m. Thanks to our friends at Live Nation Detroit, we are giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky reader! To enter to win, just send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Metric in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner this weekend and they will get to attend the show with a friend for free!

In the mean time, get ready for the show by cranking up your speakers and hitting play below on the video for Metric's song "The Shade".



~C

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Win Tickets to Party with The Hood Internet Friday Night

Mash up masters The Hood Internet are heading to town this Friday night! The Chicago based duo got their start playing in indie band May or May Not, but now they are making their music from other people's music. They take some of your favorite songs and mix them together to make new songs. It's a concept that has become pretty popular over the years, but every mash up artist still has a sound of their own. Check out The Hood Internet's latest mixtape below.


If you want to dance the night away with The Hood Internet, head to Marble Bar this Friday, September 23rd. They will be joined for the night by Showyousuck and Detroit's own James Linck. This will be an amazing show and an awesome dance party for sure! Tickets for this show are $15 and can be purchased in advance here. The party is set to start at 9 p.m. and 18+ are welcome to attend. 

Thanks to the always amazing Party Store Productions we are getting someone into this show for free! If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, just send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #hood in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Friday morning and they will get to attend the party with a friend for free! 

Get ready to start the weekend right and dance the night away at Marble Bar Friday night! 


~C 

Win Tickets to See HEALTH at El Club

This week HEALTH kicks off their North American tour in Montreal and they will be making a stop in Detroit this weekend. The band will make their way across the US and Canada throughout the fall, and will even hit Alaska later this year. The LA based trio has been playing their own version of noise rock for over a decade now, releasing three studio albums and two remix albums during that time. They recently released a new song as part of the Adult Swim Singles series. You can give that a listen below.


Health will be hitting the stage at El Club this Saturday, September 24th. The Imaginatron and the Something Cold DJs are also on the bill for the evening. Tickets are $15 in advance and can be purchased here. Doors are set to open early, at 5 p.m., and the show will begin at 8. As always, all ages are welcome at El Club. 

Thanks to Party Store Productions, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with HEALTH in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Saturday morning and will email them details on how to claim their prize. Good luck! 


~C 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Don't Miss Eastern Market After Dark

Once a year the artistic community of Detroit comes together at Eastern Market After Dark. This one night only event encourages local galleries to stay open and fills the tents of the 175 year old space with art, artists, and interactive experiences. EMAD is basically a massive art inspired party in the streets.

This year's even twill feature over 30 open galleries throughout the district as well as art, art installations, interactive experiences, and designers inside  Sheds 2, 3, 4, and 5. There will also be lots of cool one of a kind items for sale and food trucks throughout the space. You can get a full map of everything at Shed 2. This will also be a great opportunity to see all of the new murals that have been painted in the market during this year's Murals in the Market.

This year's party kicks off at 7 p.m. on Thursday and goes until 10 p.m. It is free to attend and check out all of the galleries, sheds, and designers! Eastern Market is located at 2934 Russell St. in Detroit.


~S

Win Tickets to See Protomartyr's Tour Kick Off Show

The Detroit based band Protomartyr is about to embark on a two month multi-continent tour that includes stops all across the US and Europe. The band formed in Detroit in 2008 and is signed to Hardly Art Records. They released their third full length album called The Agent Intellect last year. If your not familiar with them you can check out some of their music here.

To celebrate the start of another adventure Protomartyr are kicking off this tour with a hometown show before they hit the road. They will be playing to an all ages crowd at El Club alongside Oh Boland and Feelings this Friday, September 23rd. Tickets to get into the show are $15 and they can be purchased here.

We also have one pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Party Store Productions.  If you would like to enter to win please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #elclub. We will draw one lucky winner this Friday morning and will email them details on how to claim their prize. This will be the last time the band plays Detroit for awhile so don't miss your chance to wish them well on their travels!

~S

Win Tickets To See The Dear Hunter at The Loving Touch

The Dear Hunter has released seven full length albums throughout their career. Their latest album Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional was just released a few weeks ago. There has also been a lot of rumors that the band might be breaking up. but they haven't confirmed anything. They did name this tour "The Final Act Tour" so they are either breaking up or screwing with all of us!

The band will be performing at The Loving Touch this Friday, September 23rd for what might be their last tour. They will be playing alongside Eisley and Gavin Castleton. Tickets to get into the show are $20 in advance and $23 on the day of the show. You can also purchase VIP tickets for $50. We have no idea what VIP tickets means at The Loving Touch, but we like the sound it!
We also have one pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Fusion Shows. If you would like to enter to win a pair of tickets to see The Dear Hunter for FREE this Friday please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #thefinalact. We will draw one lucky winner the morning of the show and will email them details on how to claim their prize.

~S

Monday, September 19, 2016

The Seth Bogart Show Comes to UFO Factory

This Friday Seth Bogart is bringing his show to Detroit! The artist is currently on tour in support of his recent self titled release. However, this will be a show like you've never seen before! Bogart has created props and an entire stage set up inspired by both this album and Pee-wee's Playhouse. There will also be a video playing behind him during his performance, bringing the audience into Seth Bogart's world. Get a feel for that world in his video for the song "Eating Makeup" off the new album. The song features the one and only Kathleen Hanna of Le Tigre, a band that Bogart sites as an influence.


Seth Bogart will be hitting the stage at UFO Factory this Friday night. Tickets to the show are only $10 and can be purchased in advance here. Also on the bill for the evening are Rebel Kind and Duane the Jet Black Eel. Thanks to Party Store Productions, we are also giving away a pair of tickets to this show! If you would like to enter to win, send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #Seth in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Friday morning and they will get to attend this amazing show with a friend for free! Good luck! 


~C 

Parlor 13 is Ferndale's Newest Place for a No Bullshit Haircut

Recently InkAddict teamed up with local hairstylist Jay Brown to open a barbershop inside their flagship store at the corner of Marshall and Woodward in Ferndale. The tattoo lifestyle brand teamed up with Parlor 13 to curate a cool place for a guy to get a no bullshit haircut. Jay Brown has been cutting hair since 2011 and after years of working for other barber shops, he was ready to go out on his own. InkAddict's unique retail location was the perfect place for him to launch his brand. The large room had more than enough space to add a table and a chair, so a chair was installed, a logo was put on the door, and a new barbershop that caters to stylish men who want an awesome haircut at a reasonable price was created.
We visited the flagship and chatted with Jay while he worked on one of his client's hair. Check out our chat and give Parlor 13 a chance the next time you need a good haircut!


The shop is currently open for walk ins on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.  He also works by appointment from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Jay had a pretty steady stream of clients while we were visiting, so make sure that if you go, you give yourself some time. You may have to wait! Or call him in advance and book your appointment on a Saturday! Parlor 13 is cash only, so don't forget to hit up an ATM before you visit! 


~S

Sunday, September 18, 2016

24 Hour Giveaway: Win Tickets to See Step Rockets wsg Kid Runner/ Go Tiger Go/ The Cowards

I love when national acts come through town and local booking companies like Black Iris Booking add a few good local openers to the show because then you have two great reasons to make a night out of it. This week Black Iris is bringing Step Rockets and Kid Runner to town to play alongside Detroit's own Go Tiger Go and The Cowards.  

We had a chance to chat with Step Rockets before the show. Check out what they had to say and read on to find out how to enter to win a pair of tickets to the show!

HID- How did the tour kick off show go? 
Step Rockets- "It was amazing! We have played the Deschutes Street Pub event the last two years, but this year was special. There were over 10,000 people in attendance and we helped raise over $100,000 for Second Harvest, one of the largest food banks in the nation."

HID- Describe Step Rockets in one word.
Step Rockets- "Exploration."

HID- What makes your live show special?
Step Rockets- "Our own unique blend of genres. We also aren't afraid to take a guitar solo or two and really dig into our instruments. There are many points during the set where we are straight up improvising."

HID- First thing that you think of when I say Detroit? Why? Step Rockets- "Rock City! So much great Mid-West music! We have great respect for history of Motown that continues to inspire and influence our sound."

HID- Why did you decide to tour with Kid Runner?Step Rockets- "Have you heard their new EP? These guys are after pop gold and our own hearts."

HID- Favorite character in Stranger Things and why?
Step Rockets- "It has to be Dustin! He is ultra-classic and really amps up the nostalgia just with his look, mannerisms, and incredible acting abilities. We hope to play D&D with Gaten Matarazzo someday."


Tickets to check these guys at El Club tomorrow night, Tuesday, September 20th are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the show. Doors at El Club will open at 5 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m. El Club is all ages all the time and they serve pizza until Midnight, so don't be afraid to come hungry!

Thanks to Black Iris Booking, we also have a pair of tickets to give away to this awesome show! If you would like to enter to win, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #rockets in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Tuesday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

~S

Win Tickets to See Psychic Ills, Moonwalks and Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor

Psychic Ills is a two piece psychedelic band that has its routes in New York, New York. They recently released their fifth album entitled Inner Journey Out on Sacred Bones Records. You can check out a track form the album on their website here. You can also see them perform live in Detroit at El Club this Thursday, September 22nd. The duo will be playing alongside Detroit's own Moonwalks and Sisters of Your Sunshine Vapor.
Tickets to attend the show are $12 in advance and $14 the day of the show. All ages are always welcome at El Club and doors always open at 5 p.m. if you would like to go have a drink or a pizza before the show. The space also has a great backyard that's really fun to hang out in.

We also have one pair of tickets to give away to the show courtesy of Party Store Productions. If you would like to enter to win, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #psychic. We will draw a winner early this Thursday and will email that person details on how to claim their prize.


~S

Friday, September 16, 2016

Do Not Eat At The Owl!!

Usually when I find a great place to eat I want to tell you guys all about it, but this time I really wanted to keep my mouth shut! Not because the Owl's food isn't great, but because I'm greedy and I want to keep this amazing new little space all to myself!
The Owl is a much needed 24 hour/6 day a week (closed Sunday at 10 p.m. until early Monday morning) space that recently opened up on Woodward just North of 696. It's a small diner with a few stools, a few small tables and out of this world food. Most small diners offer the same choices that all of the other Coneys in the area would offer, but the Owl isn't that kind of diner.

Their menu features a small selection of amazing items done right. Nothing is greasy and everything has a little twist that makes it special. They have the standard items like burgers and breakfast, but they also offer some unique choices like tacos and toast with avocados and tuna. Their food is much higher quality than your standard diner and they also have really great breakfast sandwiches. There is only one issue with the space, it is pretty small. So not a lot of people can eat there at once, which is why I want to keep it to myself!
This is the perfect place to stop on the way to work in the morning and the perfect place to stop when the bar shuts down at 2 a.m. I loved the tacos and would highly suggest them as the first thing that you try. Heading home from a night in the city, skip the fast food and hit up the Owl, your body will thank you for it!

The Owl is located at 27302 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, MI 48067.


~S

Win Tickets to See NAO at El Club

This summer NAO released her debut album For All We Know on Little Tokyo Recordings. The British singer describes her sound as "wonky funk". She recently joked on her Facebook about how shocked people are when they realize her voice isn't auto-tuned. Once we gave her a listen, we were shocked to learn that too. Give NAO and her amazing voice a listen in the music video for "Girlfriend" off her new album.


NAO is currently on tour making her way across the US and Canada. She will be making a stop at El Club this Sunday, September 18th. Tickets for the show are $15 and can be purchased in advance here. Party Store Productions is bringing this amazing artist to town and is also letting us give away a pair of tickets to the show! If you would like to enter to win, please send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Nao in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner on Sunday morning and they will get to attend the show with a friend for free! 

Doors are set to open early at 5 p.m. so you can grab some pizza or a drink before the show on Sunday. The show will start at 8 p.m. and as always, all ages are welcome at El Club. 


~C

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Hip In Detroit's Guide to DIY 2016

This weekend DIY will take over the streets of Ferndale for 3 awesome days! The street fair will feature live music, great food, and some of the coolest artists and vendors around. It all happens right behind The Loving Touch, The WAB and The Emory, right around East 9 Mile and Woodward. And it's happening this Friday, September 16th thru Sunday, September 18th.

Goober & The Peas - Photo from FerndaleDIY.com
The fest kicks off this Friday at 6 p.m. with music from the Ferndale High School Marching Band. The rest of the weekend features a very diverse lineup, with something for everyone. Check it out below:

FRIDAY
6:00 PM- FERNDALE HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND
6:45 PM - JILL JACK
8:00 PM - LE VOYAGE
9:00 PM - J ROSE

SATURDAY
12:30 PM - BILLY BRANDT
3:30 PM - KUNG FU LOVERS
4:30 PM - WARHORSES
7:00 PM - DUENDE!
8:30 PM - FAWNN

SUNDAY
2:30 PM -  LIBBY DECAMP
3:30 PM - BARELYON
4:30 PM - 1592
8:30 PM - STONE CLOVER

Glass Action! - Photo from FerndaleDIY.com
In addition to the live music, the fair will feature over 100 artists selling everything from jewelry to awesome prints for your walls. Keep in mind, this isn't your average art fair or craft show. Bring money with you because we guarantee you're going to find all sorts of amazing stuff! You can check out a full list of artists here

Last, but definitely not least, the fair is rounded out by great food and drinks. There will be craft beer, cocktails and win available, and there will be some great food trucks on site too! The Mac Shack, El Guapo, Treat Dreams, Shredderz, Jackson's Five Star Catering, Delectabowl, Detroit BBQ Company, The Pita Post and Rollin' Stone Pizza will all be there serving up delicious food! 

As if all of this isn't enough, there will also be a Kids Zone at this year's fair. It will feature bounce houses, crafts, and all sorts of activities. The Michigan Science Center, DIA, and more will all be a part of the Kid Zone. Plus there will a Corn Hole tournament that everyone can get in on! 

DIY Street Fair runs from 6 p.m. 'til Midnight on Friday, 11 a.m. until Midnight on Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday. If you're not done partying once the street fair is over for the night, you can head inside The Loving Touch for After Parties. The parties kick off around 10 or 10:30 p.m. each night and are free to attend. One might even say that the lineups for these parties are just as awesome as the musical lineup outside at the fair! Check out the schedule of bands here:

10:30 PM: Remnose
11:30 PM: Siamese

10:30 PM: Jerry Dreams
11:30 PM: Mic Phelps & The Plug

10:00 PM: DUDE
11:00 PM: Ryan Spencer DJ Set


This is going to be an awesome weekend that you don't want to miss! DIY is always one of our favorite events of the year, and one of the best parts of it all is that admission is FREE! Make sure you bring some dough to buy food, drinks, and pick up some cool art, but even if you're broke you can come hang out! 

For more info on this year's festival and everything you need to know about parking, artists, musicians and more, visit FerndaleDIY.com



~C