Bricktown Station (a.k.a. The 5th Floor) have been mixing up their very own brand of Detroit "Loft Rock" since 2001 and are still, reportedly, going strong.  This tight-knit quartet (well, quintet if you count "Roxanne" - a beautiful set of classic Ludwig Vistalights that gets her very own bio page), consists of Phil Bolden on bass, Mark Ray on drums, Christina Morgan on vocals and John.....John....uh....John the guitar guy. The band released their debut album entitled "Home" in 2007 which is available both on iTunes and CDbaby. MB would like to welcome Bricktown Station as the latest addition to our Original Artists /  Funk & Soul category. Click "read more" below for the band's links.

Celebrate summer at the "Summerfest Songwriter Showcase" on Friday, August 6 at 9pm at The Corktown Tavern.
 
Performing will be six of Detroit's finest singer-songwriters playing solo sets or with their bands:

• Audra Kubat
• Timothy Monger
• Gretchen Wolff
• Patrick Davy
• Katie Grace
• Matt Dmits

Join us for a night of song in celebration of the season. These talented performers will each play a half hour set starting at 9:30. Expect to hear old favorites and new songs from their repertoire. 
 
Cover is $6 and 21 and over are welcome to attend. The Corktown Tavern is located at 1716 Michigan Ave. in Detroit. 313-961-5103.
www.corktowntavern.com
 
For more information or photos of the performers contact suestatic@aol.com or www.staticrecords.com

 Flint Michigan Indie folk rock band Morseville Bridge has just released two brand new tracks "Let Me Out" and "Thirsty Little Parasites" available for free download off of our  new album for late 2010.  These two tracks show a bit of a transformation in our sound. Still as raw as we have ever been, with our latest recordings we show our fans a more aggressive side with an album that better reflects the Morseville Bridge live show sound. Something that says to people who have not seen us preform, "just because there is an acoustic guitar being played, doesn't mean we cant make it scream!".  Click "read more" below.

Way down south (by Algonac way), where the harps hew a country tune and the tongues twang like the confederacy never lost the war of northern agression, you might find a little 'ole band known to the locals as Yankee Soil. And if'n yer in the mood fer some "Top Shelf Whiskey" or some "Tailgaitn" or you just want to be "Anywhere But Here", might I suggest you go visit for a spell, kick up your "Little Feet" and take in a tune or two. Go on now, "I'm Fine" with that. No one can "Blame" you fer being curious.

You'll find the links yer lookin' for by clicking "Read More" below.

About thirtty miles southeast of Grand Rapids in the small city of Hastings, a metal band called Culprit is busy cooking up "some new gold-flavored shit".  Singing bassist "Rabz", drummer Curt Vaughan and returning guitarist Jeff Bowen plan on being "knee-deep" in the studio for the remainder of 2010, working on a new release entitled, "Kill The Pain".  MB welcomes Culprit as our latest addition to the Original Artists / All Things Hardcore & Metal category.  And Culprit welcomes you to visit their MySpace page (click "read more" below for the link) to listen to the new material as it becomes available and to keep up with "all the other update shit."  There's already a track waiting for you that is literally, "In Your Face".

photo by Mat Dolinar (getmadbaby.com)

Drawing inspiration from bands such as Phish, Dave Matthews, Bob Marley, and The Grateful Dead, Lucky Brown has emerged from the Detroit undergound to create a potpurri of sound that will "... soothe your soul through a mixture of rhythmic vibes with reggae and jazzy overtones."  And that very organic recipe seems to be working out well for them, considering their busy summer schedule which will take them next to The Land Of Nod Art & Music Festival in Jackson, MI on July 25th.  I can't think of a better context in which to see our latest addition to the Original Artists / Jam Band category. Bring your guitar and your tent.  Leave your stress and hang-ups at home. 

Click "read more" below for links.

The Corktown Tavern located at 1716 Michigan Avenue in Detroit is pleased to host this show on Friday, July 30 at 8pm. Tickets are $15 and available in advance at the club and at Noir Leather in Royal Oak. 21 & over are welcome. 313-964-5103 www.corktowntavern.com. Opening the show are local funk- industrial rockers Haf Life (myspace.com/haflife)

Death rockers "Christian Death" make their only U.S. appearance of their "Necro Sexual Tour" in Detroit at The Corktown Tavern. Christian Death are thee founding fathers of American Goth Rock who were coined "One of the top ten goth bands of all time" by Rolling Stone magazine. The band's shocking cover art, lyrics and imagery- not to mention their controversial name-went on to influence Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Type O Negative and many other bands in the genre. VH1 declared "Christian Death take a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion and conventional morality, with an appetite for provocation that makes Marilyn Manson look like Stryper".

by Sue Static  (photo by Peter Schorn)

I just got back from my annual trek to Toronto for the NXNE Music & Film Festival and Conference (June 14-20, 2010).

This year's festival surpassed the previous years with its multitude of musical offerings and independent films. The 2010 version of NXNE hosted 650 bands from around the world, 40 films and thousands of attendees.

The highlight was the stellar FREE concert at the heart of the city in Yonge and Dundas Square that featured one of the first North American appearances by Iggy and The Stooges with James Williamson back on guitar, the seminal L.A. punk band X, Seattle grunge-masters Mudhoney and old and new favorites such as Sloan and The Raveonettes.  The square was the place to be! A music market was set up in the square daily and acted as a central meeting place for attendees and bands.

Seven free park and public stages held outdoor concerts along with two stages at the airport and even the train station! 50 clubs across the city were slamming every night from dusk till dawn with music fans checking out bands from across the globe. Performing bands included London's The Gin Riots and Comanechi to L.A. punks The Zeros and a special acoustic set by John Doe and Exene of X. The festival features an eclectic mix as all genres of music were well represented; rock, country, electronic to hip hop, singer-songwriters and metalheads could all be found on one of the stages every night. Most clubs hosted 3 a.m. shows with last call at 4 a.m. for a full night of entertainment.