Metro Times Blowout – Finale

Whalebomb, from an email at 1:15pm: Tired. I’m not remembering much right now due to my confused state of mind resulting from the chaotic previous four days. It’s even hard typing in complete sentences.

Scotter was asleep at 1:15pm when this email was sent, and read it at 2pm. Scotter was still up at 4am, which was actually 5am, due to Daylight “savings.” Scotter was at a Hamtramck party text messaging friends and proclaiming to all that Blowout will continue at this house tomorrow. Scotter was calling bands to play his house. Scotter didn’t want Blowout to end.

Until he awoke this morning, hungover, but somewhat rational again, albeit with a headache.

Scotter received the following text message from Whalebomb last night: “I’m at Painted Lady, drinking like it’s my birthday.”

We had fun. We’re tired. We are not looking forward to work tomorrow. You too?

Here’s what we came up with for Saturday.

Electric Fire Babies (Knights of Columbus)

Whalebomb: Last night was fun, but not as good as the previous nights. I was pampered with energetic music for 3 days straight, helping to keep me awake and work through the pain. Last night worked against me. It seemed everywhere I went bands were playing dreamy music and adding to the feeling I had of wanting to cash in early and go to bed. This was unfortunate, because the night started at the Knights of Columbus-Lounge watching the Electric Firebabies who were fronted by Lo-fi Bri (Carjack) and was just as entertaining as his solo stuff, but even more dancey.

The next two time slots were spent wandering, trying to find something that would help me stay awake. It was the last night of Blowout. Play some loud music and go crazy, people!

Then to Baker’s Streetcar for The Dead Bodies.

Blase Splee (Painted Lady)
Everybody Needs A Way – From their self-titled EP

Blase Splee only had one CD for purchase at their show yesterday and I was the guy who bought it. It had this gooey, sticky stuff all over the sleeve and the jewel case, so I had to throw it away (the sleeve and jewel case, not the CD). Perhaps this gooey, vinegar-like substance comes free with all of their CDs, or perhaps it was a manufacturing mistake and the reason why only one CD was available. I’m sure others would have purchased it, because Blase Splee got the entire Painted Lady jumping, swaying, and dancing. The band had to set their keyboards and synths on the floor for lack of room on stage, and when I made my way to the front I saw one of the members of the band sitting at the keyboard only pretending to play while singing harmonies, brushing the tops of the keys without ever pressing any of them down. That’s fine, because their harmonies were so tight and full (I think they had a microphone for every member of the band) that they could do without extra instrumentation if need be–the sound would still be huge. The structure of their songs was extremely fluid and sophisticated–lots of stops, lots of chromatic climbs, and these odd time changes that took the band from bopping, toe-tapping velocities to lightning speeds then back to the original time of the song. Lots of reverb, lots of energy, and one great pop song after another, I’m hoping to see these guys again really soon.

I think that “fun” is probably a good word to describe Blase Splee, although it’s an overly simplified word that almost doesn’t mean anything unless put in the right context. Here’s a hint at that context. I heard a few people say “This is the band I would want to have play my wedding.” Well, any band that can out-do a wedding DJ with his endless mp3s of Motown, Billy Joel, Bob Segar, and whatever songs they’re playing these days for line dancing sounds like a fun band to me. This band has the ability to turn every performance into a party.

^{Blase Splee}

Stare Into the Sun (3141)
Henrietta from Whispers Turn to Howls

Stare Into the Sun is an extremely talented three-piece that creates a wall of sound so full that you’d think they were a six-piece. There is a lot going on in these songs–musically, lyrically, and emotionally–and they are almost as exhausting to listen to as are to play, at least by the looks of the band members after every song. You can tell that their blood is rushing at a thousand miles per hour and that they can feel every single note they play with an intensity I found in no other band at the Blowout. In this band, every note matters–there are no throwaways.

They debuted a great new song called “Your Winter Song” where guitarist and singer Kevin Murphy played one of the coolest slide guitar parts I’ve heard in a long time, and they played a fantastic version of Whispers Turn to Howls’s opening track, “Henrietta,” which, I aver, begins with the most intense opening 30 seconds on any rock record that I’ve heard.

^{Stare Into the Sun}

Lenny Stoofy (Baker’s Streetcar)

Scotter: I left Stare Into the Sun a little early to catch Lenny Stoofy at Baker’s, and got exactly what I thought I’d be getting: weird, artsy, and weird. I’ve spent a little time with the followers of Lord Scrummage and they’re really great and interesting people who don’t really care about the scene or about whether people like their artistry or not. I’m convinced that they don’t really believe too much in reality or the world, and this allows them to put their energy into projects with a solipsism that renders questions like “Where they a good band?” or “How was their show?” irrelevant.

I can tell you this: The set was very mellow, a little funky, and somewhat strange–like a Midnight Vultures-era Beck overdosed on Vicodin. A longer song included the singer delivering the line “Take your clothes off” in a scratchy and shaky-voiced whinny. I’ve never heard such a strong sexual provocation uttered with less bravado or confidence, and wondered if this line could possible work out for him. In the same verse, he sputtered out the line “There’s dog shit on the floor.”

The set ended strangely as well. The guitarist played a kind of dirge on his Fender Strat while the other members unhooked their keyboards and synthesizers and put away their laptop in a quick, workmanlike manner. Then the lead singer took the guitar and dedicated their final song to Lord Scrummage, the cultish band’s lord and master (long story), while the other members just sat on the floor cross-legged, waiting for the song to finish, one of the members tapping a tambourine at regular, droning beats.

And then it was done. The small crowd didn’t know whether to clap or just walk away.

^{Lenny Stoofy}

The Dead Bodies (Baker’s Streetcar)
Selfless Devotion – from Cock Cock Cock Cock Xanadu Xanadu

Scotter: The Dead Bodies were one of my favorite performances of the Blowout, even though they only played two songs off their new album, Cock Cock Cock Cock Xanadu Xanadu, which I’ve been listening to all week long, (you can download the entire album for free here). The new material from the album is sophisticated, with lots of subtleties and tones, to the point where it may be hard to reproduce some of these songs at the Blowout when you’re given only 10 minutes to set up, 45 to play your set, and another 5 to break down and pack up your equipment. But I really wanted to hear “Countless Sheep” and “Selfish Devotion” live—reason to see this band again when they play the Belmont on April 12 and Jacoby’s on May 2. Listen to “Selfish Devotion” above and agree with me that it’s an absolute tragedy that the song is less than two minutes long.

Nevertheless, The Dead Bodies’ non-CCCCXX stuff was really energetic and interesting and the band put on a good show, playing with lots of moxie. Their style of pop rock features very singable songs with lots of innovative music twists. They’re the kind of songs that make you want to learn the lyrics so that you can sing along when you see the band in concert.

Whalebomb: I got into them. They are swell and all…very interesting band. But I think the feeling I had for the past two hours put me in some kind of coma and poured over during The Dead Bodies’ performance.

^{The Dead Bodies}

Polish Muslims (3141)

^{The Polish Muslims}

Thoroughly satisfied by The Dead Bodies set, I figured, “what the hell?” and took Whalebomb’s advice to see the Polish Muslims at the ole Locker Room. Is there anything really more to say than that? I mean, I can’t describe the Polish Muslims. I don’t want to. I was there. I was buzzed. You were probably at Thunderbirds Are Now! Whalebomb was.

Thunderbirds Are Now! (Painted Lady)

Whalebomb: I struggled, and waited it out, heading to the Painted Lady at 1:00 to see Thunderbirds Are Now! Thanks TAN! What a show that was. It was a great way to end the Blowout with people dancing, singing along and a band that had almost too much energy. They brought on Smoke at the end of their set to rap with them. Best ending to a Blowout EVAR. I feel for those who missed it.

Final thoughts on the Blowout

Whalebomb: Sadly, this morning I’m having phantom pains from the Wristband…

Scotter: I refuse to cut off my wristband. What a great weekend. I wish it could go on for another few days, although my body screams “No!”

Thanks so much to Whalebomb for helping me cover as much of the Blowout as possible. Happy Birthday last night, and a quick recovery to you! Also, thanks to the Metro Times and Eve Doster for throwing this great event and for the wristbands. Thanks to all the bands. Thanks to Zoz and Meg for letting me use your rad camera. Bands, please use any photos we’ve posted at your will for whatever you want–no need to ask. Thanks also for all the folks who’ve been reading up on the Blowout on The Post-Rockist. I just found out our feed is f-ed right now, but I’ll fix it as soon as I learn the skillz to fix such a thing–please come back and sign up so we can feed you.

Here are other blogs who’ve been working ye olde Blowout. Czech ‘em out:

Metro Times Blahg
Webvomit
Five Three Dial Tone
Motor City Rocks
Melody at Det News
Deep Cutz

Go to these blogs at least 47 times every day at your stupid job.

I’m exhausted. Let’s do it again next weekend. Would you please put that together, Metro Times? BTW, I didn’t get a chance to go to my parent’s house to get an old bowling trophy for the Belmont. Don’t worry, Belmont. It’s coming soon.

–Posted by Scotter