If you've been living in a cave lately, at least as far as the virtual local music scene is concerned (a cave in itself for sure - one I've been meaning to escape for over a decade), you may have missed one of, if not THE the most active local music review websites happening out there. I'm speaking, of course, of DR2 or Detroit Rock Review. They've  been churning out CD reviews, live reviews and local music news items over the past several months. There's ton of pictures of live shows too.  If you have any interest in local music and have a MySpace account or a DetroitCity.com account, chances are you've already read at least one of their reviews. So go check 'em out if you haven't already and give 'em their props.  www.detroitrockreview.com

On his official website, David Nefesh says he's been compared to James Taylor and Michael Stipe - and for good reason; his voice is nearly the perfect mixture of those two distinctive timbres (ed: why is timbre pronounced tamber?), ripe with emotion and sensitivity.  But he's written over 100 of his own songs, released two CD's, the last of which, 2006's "Pureheart", was nominated for a Detroit Music Award, and he has another due to be released in 2009.  He's performed around the midwest and Canada and his music has been heard on the radio from North America to Eastern Europe.  So David Nefesh is well-seasoned and ready to deliver songs of love, loss, joy and transformation - that is, if you're ready to admit that's what you really need. 

Oh, and he's also our latest submission to the Original Artists / Singer-Songwriter category.   Welcome, David.

Click "read more" for the links.

Royal  Oak: Beloved local bass player Bill Koggenhop passed away last June after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Bill packed an enormous amount of music into his 55 years, and touched an extraordinary number of lives. Many of Bill’s friends across multiple musical genres are gathering on Tuesday November 11, 7:00 pm, at Memphis Smoke. 100 S. Main in Royal Oak, to honor his legacy with what promises to be one huge and juicy evening of Reggae, Blues, Latin and Jazz, topped off by a whale of a jam session with some of the region’s finest players. Bands and soloists thus far include Immunity, Bugs Beddow Band, Lynn LaPlante Latin Jazz Band, GEQ, Mikhal Caldwell, Kerry Lundquist and Chery Strubel.

Click "read more" below.

Detroit, MI: The world has gone mad, most agree. The burning question is…where are the musical voices of protest today? Where are the songs like those that have unified past generations and inspired people to create meaningful change? Behold one such notable new effort, Workin’ for the Man, from Nadir’s Distorted Soul.  All on its own, this fiery funk record just may launch a new musical genre---political outrage you can totally dance to! Don’t miss the fun and funky Workin’ for the Man CD Release Party, 9:00 pm Saturday, November 15 at the Jazz Café, inside the historic Music Hall Center for the Performing Arts, 350 Madison Ave. in Detroit.  $10 cover includes a copy of Workin’ for the Man.  Click "read more" below for more information.
 

Over the past year and a half, Josh, Matt, Eric, Adam & Charlie (i.e. Remi Greene) escaped once a week to a private studio in the tiny village of Armada, Mi (pronounced "Ar-May-duh") to write, record, create and generally incubate until they achieved "A Beautiful View From The Moon", the title of their forthcoming debut (due in 2009). Their goal wasn't just to add another drop to the ocean of indie rock out there, but to freely experiment with ideas and instruments, unhindered by outside pressure or expectations and find the mental space to tap into their collective creativity. As guitarist & uke player Josh Ua writes, "... (We had) no other motive than to please ourselves and find the collaborative respect involved in this kind of project."

  MB welcomes Remi Green as our latest addition to our Original Artists / Indie rock category in our band links sectioin. Click "read more" below for the links and video depicting part of Remi Greene's journey.

One of the best things about The Process Live: The Vassar Theatre, I think, is the fact that I didn't have to drive all the way to Vassar, MI to see it. That's right. Thanks to the wisdom of The Process and the fine production work of Big Bang Films the entire show was captured and released on DVD for you -  and lazy local music dorks like me who rarely leave the cave anymore.  But why spend the gas money when I can watch it from my couch?

Click "read more" below for a short review and all the relevant links.

Recently, the Detroit band Chain Reaction reminded me of the importance of album art with their latest release, Electric Playground. The cover art (at left) was designed by New York artist Richard Klemann. It's just the kind of album cover I would have loved as a kid - so many details to peruse.

That was my favorite pastime growing up in the 70's; whiling away the hours listening to music, locked in my room with a pair of headphones while I poured over every detail of the cover art.  I consumed everything on the inner sleeve and all the credits as well. It was an essential part of the listening experience for me. 

Click"read more" below to continue...

DarkGreene Entertainment celebrates the 40th anniversary of the release of The MC5's “Kick Out The Jams” with Detroit Music Revolution, a multi-band concert at The Crofoot in Pontiac on Thursday, October 30. 2008.  The event not only commemorates the MC5, but also fetes the release of “Detroit Music Revolution: Rock and roll Volume 1” (DarkGreene Entertainment), a 14 track CD featuring top contemporary Detroit rock bands covering classic Detroit songs from the MC5 era.

Confirmed performers (also appearing on the CD) include The Muggs, The Orbitsuns, Paper Street Saints, Powertrane, 60 Second Crush, Critical Bill, Lies Unknown, Overloaded, Ingray, Mazinga, Stellar Drive, Smoking Moses, Pillar of Autumn, and Duende. 

Click "read more" below for details.