Hip in Detroit's Weekend Picks - September 6-8, 2024

We already told you about James Linck at Reware Vintage and Dally in the Alley! Here are a few more fun things happening this weekend! 

Saturday, September 7th - Dally with Detroit Contemporary: Before or after you Dally in the Alley, head over to Detroit Contemporary for more art, live music, and community! From 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. they will be hosting festivities, with open mic and jam sessions, as well as sets from some great acts, including Pepper & The Heavy Boys, Macho, Coxiopioxio, Glass Chimera, and more. There will also be a potluck and cornhole too!

Saturday, September 7th - The Suicide Machines @ St. Andrew's Hall: Saturday night, The Suicide Machines return to St. Andrew's Hall! The band is on a short tour with Hey Smith, Kill Lincoln and Bad Operation, who will also be joining them for this Detroit date. Tickets are close to selling out, but you might still be able to snag some here. All ages are welcome and doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, September 6th and Saturday, September 7th - Movies @ The Redford Theatre: The Redford Theatre is always a great place to catch a movie, but this weekend they have two classics showing on the big screen. Friday night, Dirty Dancing is the selection. Saturday night, Pulp Fiction will be shown. The movie starts at 8 p.m. each night. Get your tickets for just $7 here.

~C

Win Tickets to See The Suicide Machines @ St. Andrew's Hall

Who: The Suicide Machines w/ HEY SMITH, Kill Lincoln, and Bad Operation

What: Playing St. Andrew's Hall on Saturday, September 7th, 2024

Tickets are $41.75 in advance and they can be purchased here.

Or you can enter to win a pair!

How? Email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #SM

Tickets for this one are almost SOLD OUT! So if you don't want risk it, head over and purchase your tickets now instead of waiting to see if you won! The winner will be drawn the day before the show! 

~C

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: January 26-28, 2024

Friday, January 26th & Saturday, January 27th - Small's 25th Anniversary: We hate to start the list with a sold out show, but we can't help it! Our favorite bar is celebrating 25 years this weekend with two bangin' shows! The Suicide Machines and Negative Approach are co-headlining on both Friday and Saturday night. Friday, they will be joined by Macho and Saturday by Unabomb. Tickets are sold out, but keep an eye out on social media and be ready to sell your organs or first born and you might be able to get a ticket. Doors open at 7 p.m. each night and 18+ are welcome. 

Saturday, January 27th - "Dope, Hookers, and Pavement" Sale Launch @ Outer Limits: Celebrate the release of "Dope, Hookers, and Pavement" the real and imagined history of Detroit Hardcore this Saturday night at Outer Limits. DVDs and Blu-Rays of the film will be available and you'll even be able to chat with the cast. Doors open at 5 p.m. and admission is free. Swing by before you head over to Small's! 

Saturday, January 27th - Birthday Trifecta @ Outer Limits Lounge: Didn't get tickets to Small's for Saturday night? Outer Limits has an awesome show and it's a birthday bash! Celebrate Amado, Little Dave, and Helen's birthdays with Norcos Y Horchata, Dangerous Chairs, and Macho. Dougie Tangent will also be DJing throughout the night and there will be a cake & a piñata too! Cover is $10, doors open at 9 p.m., and 21+ are welcome. 

Saturday, January 27th - hillerkiller @ Polka Dot: Hamtramck is the place to be this Saturday night for good shows, because across town Polka Dot has another awesome one lined up! Hillerkiller will be hitting the stage along with Bad Faces and Joe Cardoso. The show is free and doors open at 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 27th - Happy Endings @ Eastern Palace Club: If dancing is more your vibe this weekend, head up to Hazel Park for Happy Endings! The dance party will take over Eastern Palace Club where you can dance the night away to Classic Alternative / Britpop / Dream Pop / Shoegaze jams. Cover is free and the party goes from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Saturday, January 27th - Winterfest @ Belle Isle Nature Center: Things are warming up a bit this weekend and it's the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy nature! What better way than to head down to Belle Isle for Winterfest at the Nature Center? Snowshoe through the trails, make birdfeeders, and have all sorts of winter fun! Admission is free and no registration is necessary. Winterfest goes from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

~C

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: December 1-3

We already told you about Detroit Urban Craft Fair! Here are some other fun things happening this weekend! 

Friday, December 1st - Ben Sharkey Holiday Soiree @ Willis Show Bar: If you're looking to get in the holiday spirit, look no further than Willis Show bar this Friday night! Ben Sharkey will be hosting a holiday soiree where he will sing some of your favorite holiday classics the way only Ben can. Dress up and head out for a fun night on the town! 

Friday, December 1st - Flamingo Vintage Five Year Anniversary: This Friday night, Flamingo Vintage Celebrates a half a decade of existence at their Five Year Anniversary Party! It seems like Flamingo Vintage was just the cool new vintage store in town yesterday, so it's crazy to think that five years has already passed! Come out and celebrate with them this Friday night because they will be throwing an epic party at the store with music from DJ Sheefy McFly and Detroit Party Marching Band! Sheefy will also have an art pop up, and there will be pop ups from Lockhart Designs and Sewical Anxiety Clothing. Plus, Flamingo Vintage will be holding a 30% off sale all day!

Saturday, December 2nd - The Idiot Kids Chapels Album Release Party: The Idiot Kids are celebrating the release of their new LP this weekend at Outer Limits Lounge. Chapels is out now on Jett Plastic Recordings and will be available at the show on CD and vinyl. Joining The Idiot Kids for the big album release party are The Cult of Spaceskull and Carmel Liburdi & Friends. Cover is only $10 and doors open at 8 p.m. Give Chapels a listen online here. 

Saturday, December 2nd - Noel Night: Noel Night takes over the streets of Midtown and the Cultural Center this Saturday evening for the 49th year! During this annual event, businesses, churches, and galleries open their doors to the public for a festive night of holiday cheer. There's live music, shopping, make & take crafts for the family, art, Santa, and more. Check out the map of all of the participating venues here. Admission is free and there are also free shuttles helping you get from place to place. Noel Night goes from 5-10 p.m. in Midtown and 5-9 p.m. in the Cultural Center. Head to NoelNight.org for more details. 

Saturday, December 2nd - The Suicide Machines @ St. Andrew's Hall: Talking about time flying, somehow it has been 20 years since The Suicide Machines released their album A Match and Some Gasoline!!! This Saturday night, the band will be celebrating this anniversary with a big show at St. Andrew's Hall with their friends Frank White, Kill Lincoln, and ska legends Against All Authority! The show technically is sold out, but there are resale tickets available starting at just $35.

~C

Win Tickets to the PUNK IN DRUBLIC FESTIVAL

Who: PUNK IN DRUBLIC FESTIVAL featuring NOFX, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, The Menzingers, The Suicide Machines, The Bronx, and Pet Needs.

What: Playing The Masonic Temple on July 9, 2022.

Tickets are $55-$120 in advance and they can be purchased here.

Or you can enter to win a pair!

How? Email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #punk.

Enter now, the winner will be drawn on July 8, 2022.

~S

The Suicide Machines are Releasing a New Split with Coquettish!

 

Today, two ska-punk bands from two different sides of the world have teamed up to drop some new music. Detroit's own The Suicide Machines and Toyko's Coquettish have come together to release a new split titled Gebo Gomi. We had to do a little Googling, but it seems like the translation for that title is either Vomit Garbage or Throw Up Garage, which makes sense once you see the cool artwork for the record. Gebo Gomi is being released by Bad Time Records and is 9 songs total, 4 from TSM and 5 from Coquettish. This split was mixed by Jon Graber (NOFX, Goldfinger, We Are The Union). It goes on sale today and will officially be released on 7/29/2022. 

The new tracks are heavy, angry, and somehow still catchy as hell. The Suicide Machines have always been able to capture the perfect amount of anger and joy, something that makes their songs and their energy special. Give The Suicide Machines' new single "Awake" from the split a listen below. 

You can purchase your copy of the new split here. You can keep up with everything The Suicide machines are doing here, you can follow Coquettish here and you can follow Bad Times Records here.

The Suicide Machines photo credit Rae Mystic

~S

The Suicide Machines are Throwing a Masquerade

Traditionally we have to wait until the holiday season to see The Suicide Machines perform at their annual Michigan gathering, but this year Detroit's favorite ska-punk legends will be taking the stage a little early to throw a masquerade instead of a holiday party. That's right, for 2021 they are saying goodbye to Black Christmas and hello to a Halloween Masquerade. This also means that this Thursday is the only time to see Jay, Justin, Ryan, and Rich perform in Metro Detroit this year. It also means they are going all out for the party. 

The band has teamed up with Detroit City Distillery to create a special Suicide Machines' "Well Whiskey Wishes" bourbon that will be sold and served at the event. They have also invited some great bands to play at the party, this includes Mephiskapheles, Ringworm, Bars of Gold, and Rough Patch. DJ Mean Dean will be spinning in between acts and Slay Inc.'s Jezebel, Mia Cole, and Lucy Fur will be performing Drag sets throughout the show. Imperial and Renegade Kitchen will also be at the party serving up food. Costumes are mandatory and the show is being held outdoors. So, keep that in mind when choosing your costume.  

Tickets to attend the show are $30 in advance, they can be purchased here. You can also preorder your whiskey for pickup at the event here. Doors open at 6 p.m., 21 + are welcome, and the Detroit City Distillery Factory is located at 1000 Maple Street in Detroit. 

~S

TONIGHT - Benefit Show for Food Not Class

If you're up for a night out this Tuesday night, the Garden Bowl is the place to be because The Suicide Machines will be playing! Yep, you read that right, The Suicide Machines are playing at the Garden Bowl! Joining them on the bill are Carmel Liburdi and Norcos Y Horchata. Plus, the Detroit Party Marching Band will even be making an appearance. Can that lineup get much better? The show is a fundraiser benefitting Food Not Class, an amazing group that "recovers and shares free reclaimed/donated food and goods with the public".

Cover for Tuesday's show is a $20 suggested donation. Tickets are not available in advance, so you need to just show up and hope you can get in the door. Doors are set to open at 7 p.m. and all ages are welcome. In an effort to keep everyone safe, The Suicide Machines ask that you don't come to the show unless you are vaccinated and masks are encouraged. For more info on this show, visit the Facebook event page here. To learn more about Food Not Class, what they do, and how you can help, head over to their Facebook page here. 

~C

Hip in Detroit's Picks for the Weekend: February 7 - 9

We already told you about Jax Anderson, New Year New Music, and Winter Blast! Here are some more fun events happening this weekend!

Friday & Saturday, February 7th & 8th - Hedwig and the Angry Inch @ Ant Hall: This play is a must see! We had a chance to see the preview on Thursday night and it was amazing. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is being presented by Detroit Public Theatre at Ant Hall in Hamtramck. You will be mesmerized by this two person show with a live band. Whether you've seen Hedwig before or you are new to this show, you will love it! The show will be on the Ant Hall stage Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights throughout February. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased here. 

Friday & Saturday, February 7th & 8th - The Dirty Show: Get in touch with your kinky side this weekend at The Dirty Show at The Russell. This is the 21st anniversary for the show that puts all kinds of erotic art on display. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased online here. 21+ are welcome and the show runs from 7 p.m. - 2 a.m. both nights. Can't make it this weekend? Don't worry, it's going on next weekend too!

Saturday, February 8th - The Suicide Machines @ Trumbullplex: The Suicide Machines have a new song out and are about to drop a new album! Come sing along to your new favorite song and your old favorites at Trumbullplex Saturday night. This is a benefit for Food Not Class and cover is $10. The Suicide Machines will be joined by Fishgutzzz & His Stinkin' Orchestra, WOMB, and Pocket Sounds. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 8th - Signs Galore! at KO Studio Gallery: Chances are, if you have seen a hand painted sign that you love at a restaurant or store in the Detroit area, Kelly Golden probably painted it. Her work is amazing and this Saturday night, she has curated a show of her favorite signs from sign painters in the area. The show will take place at KO Studio Gallery in Hamtramck. The show opens at 7 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m.

Black Christmas is Coming Early this Year

Drop what you're doing and start getting ready for this weekend because the legendary BLACK CHRISTMAS is coming to Detroit a little earlier than usual this year. The Suicide Machines will once again be gathering all of their friends to take over The Majestic Complex for the night. This year's lineup includes The Suicide Machines, Esham, Anti Flag, Mustard Plug, Koffin Kats, Death Before Dishonor, The Homeless Gospel Choir, The Code, The Lippies, Counterpunch, Gallows Bound, Extinction A.D., Suburban Delinquents, The Lowcocks, WEST GRAND Detroit, Fishgutzzz & the stinkin’ orchestra and The Purps. All 17 bands will be playing back to back sets on three separate stages at The Majestic, Magic Stick, and Garden Bowl. There are 7 different bars to get a drink at and Sgt. Pepperoni's will be serving up slices and full pies all night long. You can even bowl a round in the alley if you are smart about it.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the show. We suggest scooping them up before Saturday to avoid the lines the night of the event. We also have one pair of tickets to giveaway to the show courtesy of Black Iris Booking and AEG. If you would like to enter to win the passes, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #blackchristmas. We will draw one lucky person the morning of the show and they will get to come to hang out at the show with a friend.

~S

We're Dreaming of a Black Christmas

It seems like everyone is counting down the days until Christmas, but here at Hip in Detroit we're counting down the days 'til Black Christmas! This annual event put on by Black Iris Booking, is always one of the best shows of the year, hands down. The lineup is always amazing and you get to see a ton of friends all under one roof. This year's show will take place on Saturday, December 29th and will once again take over The Majestic Complex. And, when we say take over, we literally mean take over. There will be bands in The Magic Stick and The Majestic Theatre, and organizations and vendors in The Garden Bowl, including yours truly.

This year, Black Iris Booking has put together another amazing lineup for all of us. As always, The Suicide Machines will be headlining the show. Other highlights include local favorites like The Goddamn Gallows and Mustard Plug, and the return of King for a Day and Frank White. Check out the full bill below.

Black Christmas 2018

The Suicide Machines

Gangster Fun

The Lillingtons

Mustard Plug

The Goddamn Gallows

Easy Action

Gallows Bound

CounterPunch

Worlds Scariest Police Chases

Rebuilder

eclectics

S.N.A.F.U.

Sweat

King For a Day

Rebel Spies

Frank White

Extra Arms

The Mizzerables

Reuther

Cabin 7

Tickets for Black Christmas are $25 in advance or $30 the day of the show. You can purchase your tickets here. Thanks to Black Iris Booking, you can also enter to win a pair of tickets to the show. Just send your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackxmas in the subject line. We will draw one lucky reader the day before the show and will send them details on how to claim their prize. 

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and all ages are welcome! For more info and to stay in the loop leading up to the show, check out the Facebook event page here. 

~C

Win Tickets to Black Christmas 2017

Around the world people are dreaming of a White Christmas, but here in Detroit we’re looking forward to Black Christmas. The annual event put on by Black Iris Booking will once again take over the Majestic Complex this year, on Saturday, December 30th. The event will feature about 20 bands, mostly from the Detroit area. Think of it as the family Christmas party for Detroit’s Punk Rock & Metal family. Some of us will drink too much, some of us might get a little inappropriate, but at the end of the night, everyone will have a great time!

This year’s Black Christmas has another stacked lineup. It includes The Suicide Machines, Negative Approach, Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Iron Reagan, Mustard Plug, Direct Hit!, Squirtgun, Koffin Kats, Elvis Hitler, We Are The Union, Cold As LiIfe, Temple of Void, WOMB, Small Stresses, Bastardous, Bruiser Queen, Suburban Delinquents, Come Out Fighting and RAWDOGS. Bands will play throughout the Majestic, in the theatre, cafe and Magic Stick. There will also be awesome local companies and vendors on site slinging merch, including yours truly from Hip in Detroit.

If you want to attend this year’s Black Christmas, tickets are only $25 and can be purchased in advance here or at the Garden Bowl. You can also enter to win a pair of ticket to the show by emailing your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackxmas in the subject line. We will draw one lucky winner the morning of the show and they will get into Black Christmas with a friend for free that night!

Doors are set to open at 6 p.m. for this event and all ages are welcome. For more info, head over to the Facebook event page here.

~C

Warped Tour Brings Some of Your Old Favorites to Town

Growing up, Warped Tour was always one of the highlights of the summer. It was your chance to see a bunch of your favorite bands in one place, discover some new bands, and get sun burnt with all of your friends. One of our favorite memories is going to Warped Tour at the Phoenix Center and swimming through the flooded parking lot after there was a downpour in the middle of the day. It’s something we would never do now-a-days, but we also don’t really go to Warped Tour now-a-days. Well, if you’re like us and you seem to think that you’ve outgrown going to Warped Tour, this year’s lineup might change your mind.

Vans Warped Tour 2017 is bringing out some of your favorite bands and making it feel like you’re a teenager again. This year’s lineup includes bands like Anti Flag, Hatebreed, Sick Of It All, The Ataris, Save Ferris, Silverstein, Big D & The Kids Table and even GWAR and The Suicide Machines. Some of the other highlights on this year’s lineup include Valient Thorr, BadCop/Bad Cop and Municipal Waste. You can check out the full lineup here. We guarantee there will be at least one band that takes you back to the good old days and one or two bands that you dig now too.

This year Warped Tour will once again take over the parking lot of The Palace for their Detroit date on Friday, July 21st. Tickets for the show are $40.50 plus fees and can be purchased in advance here. Gates are set to open early at 11 a.m. To stay in the loop the day of the show, make sure you head over and RSVP to the Facebook event here. There you will find out everything you need to know and you can even check out the Warped Tour app. It's all listed right on the Facebook event page.

~C 

Meet Radkey and Win Tickets to See Them Open Up for The Suicide Machines and The Descendents!

This Friday, April 22nd the legendary Descendents will be playing The Fillmore Detroit. They have asked Detroit legends The Suicide Machines to support them for the night and Missouri born three piece Radkey to open up the night. We have been reaching out and interviewing a lot of the more interesting opening acts lately because who wants to keep talking about the same bands we have been covering for years! So, we reached out to Radkey to learn a little but more about them before the show. Check out what they had to say and read below to find out how to win tickets to the event.

HID- How did you get your hands on your first instrument?
Radkey- "Our dad bought us our first Epiphone SG after we saw the movie School of Rock for the first time. It was pretty much a must have after that."

HID- What age were all of you when you started creating music together?
Radkey- "Solomon was 12, I was 14 and Dee was 16"

HID- What is the most annoying part about being in a band with your brothers?
Radkey- "We actually got along really well. We were home schooled so we were super close, and being in a band is super easy."

HID- Your Instagram leads us to believe that you are big video gamers. What's your current favorite game to play?
Radkey- "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild!! It's the best game that we've played in years. We can't even believe how amazing it is. We've sank a stupid amount of hours into it."

HID- What's the best part about opening for a big iconic band like Descedents?
Radkey- "It's really cool because if you can win over an audience for such a cool band, that means that you put on a worthy show. And that's a really fun challenge to have."

HID- When is the last time you washed your jeans? Be honest!
Radkey- "It's been about 3 weeks actually."

HID- Anything else you want Detroiters to know about Radkey?
Radkey- "We love anime! Our song Romance Dawn is about one called 'One Piece'."

You can check out some tunes from this three piece biological brothers here. Tickets to attend this show this Friday are $25 to $45 in advance and 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 these tickets please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #rad. We will draw one lucky person and they will get to attend the show for free this Friday, just make sure to get there early so that you can check out Radkey! 

~S

Get Ready for Black Christmas with The Suicide Machines!

It's no secret that we're super excited about Black Christmas. The lineup is great, with bands like The Black Dahlia Murder, Cheapshow, Bison Machine, and the Koffin Kats. But, the band we are most excited about seeing is The Suicide Machines! The "main event" for every Black Christmas, The Suicide Machines are at the top of a lot of people's lists of favorite Detroit bands. They always put on an awesome show, they don't play very often, so it's always a treat, and every SM's show is like a reunion! You see friends that you haven't seen in years and you dance and party like you're a teenager again. We absolutely cannot wait!

Photo Credit: Camera Jesus

Our friend Ryan V. from The Suicide Machines was nice enough to answer our 12 days of Black Christmas questions. Check out what he had to say below, then read ahead to find out how you can enter to win tickets to Friday's show.

HID- What other band are you most looking forward to seeing during this year's Black Christmas

Ryan V- "I'm looking forward to checking out some the bands I haven't seen yet like Bison Machine, The War Between, and Municipal Waste. Black Iris has done another great job of organizing a cool variety this year."

HID- What did you ask Santa for this Holiday Season? 

Ryan V- "Nothing! I have a car that runs, a warm house, and an awesome boyfriend. I don't really need much more. Unless of course, Santa wants to stop by and clean my house...he does windows, right? Either that or maybe a little help getting the new Machines record finished at some point in 2017."

HID- What’s the most memorable gift you got as a child? 

Ryan V- "My first guitar! It was a piece of shit and never stayed in tune but I absolutely loved it. So much in fact, that I traded it for a crappy drum kit years later!"

HID- What's your favorite food around the holidays? 

Ryan V- "Mostly bourbon and champagne, but sometimes you need a little Great Lakes Christmas Ale to kick the season off right."

HID- Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 

Ryan V- "Not one particular song, but I usually play the entire Vince Guaraldi Trio Charlie Brown Xmas album on repeat for most of December. I did make the mistake of watching the Mariah Carey Christmas special this year...yeowza"

HID- What does Black Christmas mean to you?

Ryan V- "It's become an end of the year reunion to see friends and family and celebrate some cool music that happens to be in the middle of a killer party. I like how it has kind of morphed into a mixture of older bands stepping out for reunion sets, newer bands that are keeping things fresh, and bands coming to Detroit from out of town to join in the chaos. It's a perfect way to close out the year. Oh, and a massive hangover the next day."

HID- Have you ever caught your parents having sex when you were looking for Santa on Christmas Eve? 

Ryan V- "I never looked for Santa. I met him at the mall a few times and he always smelled weird."


Black Christmas is happening this Friday, December 30th. That means that there is only one day left to win tickets to the show from us and Black Iris Booking! To enter to win, email your name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with #blackchristmas in the subject line. Since there's only one day left, you can get a second entry in if you hit us up on social media (@hipindetroit). Tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and let us know that you want to go to #blackchristmas. You can also purchase tickets here for just $35! We will draw our final winner on Friday morning and will send them details on how to claim their prize.

Doors are set to open at 6 p.m. on Friday. For more details and to stay in the loop the day of the show, head over and RSVP to the Facebook event here.

~C

We Wish you a Merry Black Christmas!

Some people look forward to Thanksgiving, some people look forward to Christmas, and in Detroit some people look forward to Black Christmas! This yearly gathering of all things great about our local music scene is the place to be this holiday season. So, spend some time with your family and friends over Christmas and Hanukkah and then spend some time with some of Detroit's best musicians at this event on Friday, December 30th.

The multi-stage festival will once again take place at The Majestic Theatre complex and this year's show will feature performances by The Suicide Machines, The Black Dahlia Murder, Municipal Waste, Fucked Up, Mustard Plug, Koffin Kats, Flamingo Nosebleed, HiFi Handgernades, Tart, Bison Machine, Dirtwolf, The Idiot Kids, S.U.B., Cheapshow, MadHouse, Rebel Spies, The War Between, J. Navarro & the Traitors and more! Local companies like Suck It Suicide, Vile Company, PRTY Crew Collective and Haus Cat Media will also have tables up at the event.  

Tickets to get into the show are $30-$35 in advance and $40 the night of the show. All ages are welcome to attend and the fun kicks off at 6 p.m. on the 30th. We will be celebrating Black Christmas by interviewing a few of the bands throughout the next two weeks! We will also be giving away a pair of tickets everyday until the show starting tomorrow morning! So, if you would like to enter to win to attend the show for free with a friend please email hipindetroit@gmail.com with the subject line #blackchristmas. We will pick someone to win tickets everyday until the 30th! Check back for our interviews and we will see you at the show! 

~S

Help The Suicide Machines Help Flint at Zeke's Rock & Roll BBQ!

This Saturday, March 26th one of the best bands to come out of Detroit is playing a show for a great cause! The Suicide Machines will be taking over Zeke's Rock & Roll BBQ to help out the people of Flint. At first, we were going to be selfish and not tell people about this show. After all, Zeke's isn't a very big venue. But, this is such an awesome thing that The Suicide Machines and Zeke's are doing, that we had to do the right thing and help spread the word.

So, here are the details. Saturday's show will feature The Suicide Machines, SUB, Braided Veins and Unsinkable Molly Brown. Admission to the show doesn't cost you much, a case of water or $5 (we suggest doing both or at least bringing a couple of cases). There's no way to buy tickets ahead of time. You just have to show up and hope for the best. But, even if this sells out (and we're sure that it will), don't be a jerk. Leave the water that you brought with you. The people of Flint need it more than you do.

There have been mixed messages on what time things will start and when you can get in the door, but we think we finally have it narrowed down. Doors are set to open around 9 or 9:15 p.m. Since Zeke's is one of the best restaurants around, they will be serving food up until shortly before the event. It sounds like you can swap your water for your ticket starting at 8 p.m. Just wait out back until the fine folks of Zeke's tell you what to do. Better yet, show up early and get some dinner, then head out back and grab your case so you can get in line!

The venue holds approximately 200 people, so it will probably sell out, but a good amount of people will be able to get in the door. 21+ are welcome to attend this show. Zeke's is located at 240 W. 9 Mile in Ferndale. For more information on this show and to stay in the loop the day of, head over to the Facebook event page here. If you can't make it to the show, but you still want to do your part to help out, you can stop by Zeke's Rock & Roll BBQ to make a donation during regular business hours.

We cannot wait 'til Saturday! This show will be a blast and it's a great way to help out the people of Flint! See you there!

~C

A Very Merry Black Christmas to All and To All a Good Night

This past weekend Black Christmas reminded me how much I love this City and Detroit's music scene. Black Iris Booking brought together some of the best bands from Metro Detroit and some great touring acts for a night of music, family and partying. This annual event has become the do not miss party of the year and a chance to see all of your friends and pretty much everyone from Detroit's punk and metal scenes under one roof.

Things were a little different at this year's event, with the Garden Bowl stage moved to the lanes, leaving more hang out space in the bar area. Plus this was the first glimpse many of us got at Populux, the revamped version of the Magic Stick. There were giant light up pillars throughout the room, a couple new bars, and the bathrooms confused people throughout the entire night, but when you fill that room with a couple hundred metal kids, it still feels like home.

Bands like Temple of Void and Empathy lead up to the headlining act in the Stick, The Black Dahlia Murder. These guys played an awesome show at The Loving Touch a couple months ago, but this set was even more amazing. Multi-Grain played their last show ever over in the Garden Bowl, Against the Grain and Koffin Kats packed the Cafe, Jeff Sanguis took to the stage in the Theatre with some of his musically talented friends, with the entire night of shuffling from room to room while high-fiving and hugging passerbys, ending with The Suicide Machines in the Theatre.
Somehow over all of the years Jay, Ryan and the guys still manage to put on an even better show than the time before. This is one of those few bands that I've seen more times than I can count and yet there are still a ton of noteworthy performances that stick out in my head. And after a set that left the fans covered in beer and sweat, somehow Jay still had the energy to hit the stage back in the cafe with Break Anchor. This time around Break Anchor's crowd was a little more mild than Black Christmases of the past, but this is still one of the best bands to grab a beer and sing along to with your friends. Plus drummer Dan Stover got engaged during the set, which was just about the most adorable thing ever.

All in all this year's Black Christmas was definitely a notable one. In case you missed out or want to relive the night, here are a few videos from the Koffin Kats, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Suicide Machines, and Break Anchor's sets. Props to the ladies over at Black Iris Booking and everyone involved in this show! Once again, a great time was had by all.

~C

Win Tickets to the Hippest Christmas Party Around, Black Christmas!

Detroit's Black Christmas has become a highly anticipated yearly delight. Every year this event features a solid lineup of Detroit's most iconic punk, metal and rock bands playing alongside The Suicide Machines, who close out the show. This year's lineup boasts an electric mix of local music, including The Black Dahlia Murder, BIGWIG, Mustard Plug. Koffin Kats, Counterpunch, War On Women, Break Anchor, Worlds Scariest Police Chases, Temple Of Void, Against the Grain, Empathy, The Lippies,Bastardous, Braidedveins (Record Release), Multi-Grain (final show), DEAD CHURCH, GLITTER TRASH, Suburban Delinquents  and Thin Skin.
For the Love of Punk,  The Jeff Sanguis Show, PRTY Crew Collective , Painted Lady Trashions
Signature Tattoo Big Top Tattoo, and Suck It Suicide will also have booths set up during the event.

For the Love of Punk is running a series called "The 12 Days of Black Christmas", we highly recommend checking it out if you would like to know about any of the acts playing this year. 

This years show will once again take over The Majestic Complex in Detroit. Tickets for this year's party are $27.50, they can be purchased here. Doors open at 6 p.m. We have one pair of tickets to give away to this year's celebration courtesy of the event's creators, Black Iris Booking. If you would like to win tickets to the show you must add us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and post on the wall of one of theses social media sites, We will choose one lucky winner at random early on Saturday and they will be able to come out and party with a friend for FREE! See you on Saturday! 

~S 

Tips for Touring Bands from Touring Bands

To any of us that are not in a band or that have never gone on tour before, the whole idea sounds pretty awesome. You get to travel, meet new people, go to shows every night, and share your music with people across the country, or even the world. Although there are of course great things about being on tour, sometimes it's not all that it is cracked up to be. You're away from home for days, weeks, or even months. You're stuck in a van for hours on end with a bunch of other people (usually a bunch of dudes, and dudes can get smelly). You're stuck in a van for hours, period. You sleep on floors a lot and don't always get to shower. And you're at shows every night, which is pretty awesome, but we're sure can also get pretty tiring.

Even though we just listed a bunch of cons, touring definitely has its appeal, otherwise bands wouldn't continue doing it. There are upsides and downsides, but it's an amazing thing to be able to experience.

Well, touring season is upon us and a ton of bands from Detroit and elsewhere will be hitting the road soon. Some of them will be heading out for the first time, while others have been doing it for years. We decided to check in with some guys and gals from Detroit that have done the touring thing a time or two in the past to get some tips from them. Find out what a few of our favorite rockers had to say about life on the road, surviving the tour thing and making the best of it.

"1. Let things slide. if it doesn't directly harm you, it's none of your business. 2. Fast food = shitty feeling. Shitty feeling = shitty playing.  3. Party after you play." 

- Rob Nowak (Against the Grain)

"Gold Bond and don't be a dick - ever." 

- Jason Spencer (Wilson)

"When in doubt, get a side salad. And if your singer downloads a beat machine on his phone make sure you crank your radio loud enough to drown it out."

- Louie Badalament (Axe Ripper, Crumble, Rawdogs)

"1) Be early for everything! You never know when there’s going to be an unexpected set back or if the person who’s supposedly navigating happens to be slacking off. A wise man once said, “if you’re 10 minutes early, you’re already late” (that wise man is Shades, our tour manager). 2) Go to every record store and bookstore possible and bring a record player! One of my favorite parts of touring is going into brand new record stores and finding new albums you’d never find otherwise. I always bring my portable turntable because we get really excited about our finds and don’t want to wait until we get home to listen to them! 3) Always be kind and respectful to the people you’re touring with. There’s nothing worse than being stuck in van all day with people that don’t get along! Eric Allen, the bassist, Kyle Schanta, the drummer, Shades, tour manager extraordinaire, and I are a power team. We have so much fun together and love being around one another, which makes touring the best time! 4) Set aside some time to explore the cities you’re playing whenever you can. Being able to see new places is one of the best parts of touring. It gets tiring only seeing the inside of bars, hotels, and the van! 5) When loading equipment in and out of the van, remember S.F.W.E.F.T.: same fucking way every fucking time (more wise words from Shades). 6) The final and most important rule by far: If somebody needs to break wind in the van, it’s their responsibility to say “window” so everyone else can roll down their windows as quickly as possible. Don’t wait until the genie is out of the bottle!" 

- Blaire Alise & The Bombshells (Blaire Alise & The Bombshells)

"Sometimes when you're out there for a while it begins to seem like a waste of time, playing to no one, getting screwed over, leaving your loved ones at home. Then you start to think about all the other squares back at home working the jobs they hate and it makes it all worth it." 

- Kyle Davis (Against the Grain, Rawdogs, Her Dark Host)

"Headphones, tooth brush, deodorant are most def luxurious items we can all afford that would make your trip better not only for yourself, but the other van residents as well. Odd item that makes everything 100 times better: an inflatable pool raft. One big enough for one person. It works the same as an air mattress, cost $5, and you can easily break it down and get it out of the way. We also utilized it at a seat in a van with only two captains chairs. Other than that, you're fine. If you have $200 and aren't an idiot with you're money, you can be out for 10 days and be a okay."

- Vincent Troia (Cheapshow)

"Tip one, if you are touring to become rich and famous then you are in the wrong world. I only say this because it's for the adventure! The drive! God I love long drives anywhere, mountains, deserts, forest, cities sunsets and a sunrise from an overnight drive. Do it to meet people and to open your eyes to the rest of the world. Hear awesome music chances are you would have never gotten to hear. Make a best friend or friends! To learn.... It may keep you forever young, but it really does make u grow as a human if you let it." 

- Jason Navarro (The Suicide Machines, Hellmouth, Break Anchor)

Definitely some good advice from some great people! You'd be wise to take their advice. If you're heading out on tour this spring or summer, our tip is to have fun, but be safe! We want you to spread your music to the masses, but we also want you to make it back to Detroit! And, we know the people listed above aren't the only ones from our area that have spent some time on the road. If you have some advice to give, feel free to comment below! We imagine heading out on the open road can be pretty intimidating, so why not spread your knowledge and help out other bands? 

A huge thanks to everyone that shared their input with us so far! We here at Hip In Detroit have certainly never been on tour and really can't imagine what it would be like and don't know how we would survive. So, we hope these words of wisdom come in handy to a few of you out there! 

~C