Michigan Indie Review

It was way back in January of 2003 at Radiocraft's [IN STEREO] CD release party at The Magic Bag where I was twice surprised by Tripper. First, that they had delivered such a sizable following (who promptly dispersed after their set), and two, that they closed with "Lets Go Crazy" by Prince. I admit to being a bit mystified by both occurrences. But Tripper's modern acousti-pop vibe was tight and "Yesterday, Today and Friday" is radio-ready - which isn't necessarily a compliment. Click "Read More" below. Band: Tripper CD: Yesterday, Friday & Today Produced by: Dave Feeny, Jim Kissling & Tripper Recorded at: The Tempermill, Ferndale Band Members: Frank Buscemi (vocals, guitars, harmonica, mandolin, keys), Steve Marvicsin (guitars, vocals, keys), Ken Thomas (drums, vocals, percussion), Steve "Sky" Walker (bass, vocals) Guest Musicians: Aaron Berch - piano on "One Summertime"; Jill Jack - backing vocals on "My Ang...

Band: The Wrenfields CD: "Seconds" Producer: Tyler Brown Recorded at: The Compound, Dearborn, MI. Year: 2002 From Pioneers to Patriots If the Wrenfields' debut "21st Century Pioneer" represented the bold trek of former rockers into the undiscovered alt/country, their follow-up release, "Seconds" (as in another heapin' helpin') shows they're now bonafide settlers on the Americana frontier, unapologetically staking their claim in the heartland which they both praise and defend on this record. Straddling the fence between pop-rock cool and home-cooked country corn, The Wrenfields lean towards the latter on this record without abandoning the vibe they established on their debut. The whimsy of "Gonna Be Happy", the head-bobbin' rhythm of "Lovesick" and the breathless imagery and optimism of "Carried Away" prove the band hasn't lost any of their '21st Century' appeal, but rather have evolved into a...

Band - Red September CD - Wake Up Call Label - - Static Records Produced by: Peter Schorn Recorded by: Roscoe at Roscoe's Recording, Detroit. Mastered by: Tim Pak at Woodshed Studios. If you were introduced to local indie rock in the early eighties like I was, you'd remember the new-wave power-pop that emerged in the Detroit area from bands like Rhythm Corps, Toby Redd, The Cadillac Kids, The Look and even The Rockets . Red September (Peter Schorn, Paul Brown, Frank Greenhalgh) sound like hold-overs from that era in Detroit indie rock that brings back memories of skinny ties, spiky hair, polished patent-leather shoes, parachute pants (that's pre-acid-wash), cotton blazers in pastels and memories of "Jaggers" lounge in Waterford where many, if not all of these bands, played at one time or another. Well, Jaggers is extinct and, thankfully, so is this particular flavor of Detroit pop - that is, with the exception of Red September. They are the o...

Band: Twitch CD: "Long Ride on a Short Bus" Label: - Static Records Produced by: Twitch Recorded by: Roscoe at Roscoe's Recording, Detroit. Mastered by: Tim Pak at Woodshed Studios. Since their slogan caused me a convulsive guffaw ( "Remember, weirdos are your best entertainment value!" ), the latest, and unfortunately last "Twitch" release had to be the first thing I listened to from my Static Records "Care Package" (Thanks Sue). The trio of Rob Bullock, Tim Taebel and Scott Lemanski formed in 1990 and twelve years later offer "Long Ride on a Short Bus" as their brilliant swan-song (how come I never find out about these great, quirky bands until they break up? Same thing happened with Fez ...). To stir your aural imagination and get you as close as I can to their sound in words, I offer this: If I were to describe Twitch as a gourmet meal, they'd be an entre' of Frank Zappa served on a bed of fresh Pr...

Song: And So On I feel like a naked, dancing wood-nymph after listening to "Celestial Harp & Flute," the instrumental duo of DL Turner (harpist and composer) and Nancy Ruth Holtzman (flautist). Although the sound sample's only forty seconds long, for a half-minute there I was prancing through a field of daisies and pondering the transcendent beauty of God's creation. Specializing in weddings and formal occassions, "Celestial Harp & Flute" can make your special occassion, as one happy customer put it, 'sound like the angels (are) descending from heaven.' I wish I'd had 'em at my wedding, but I'm not sure Elvis would have appreciated it. - Mitch Phillips

Editor Mitch Phillips takes you on yet another seedy adventure; this time to watch The Love Junkies help the locals indulge in some "Nasty Little Pleasures" at The Hamlin Pub in Rochester, MI. "Johnny Love spins, crawls, jumps and climbs nearly every available platform in the room; the floor, the tables, the chairs, the speakers and, at one point, a barstool and lets the barkeep fill his mouth..." The Love Junkies @ The Hamlin Pub 6-22-01 review by Mitch Phillips Free At Last Napoleon K is a free man. After thirty days in the hole, another ninety with an electronic dog collar bungied to his ankle (add fourteen to that for blowing a piss-test), months of therapy, weeks of court dates and thousands of dollars made out to “The State Of Michigan,” K has finally been remanded to my care - provided he stays away from baseball bats and minivans. It’s a long story. He celebrates his newfound freedom by demanding I take him to see a live band. I celebrate by let...

Loadstone warms you up to their precarious mood with an innocuous groove and understated complaints, then slams your head against the garage door again and agian until you admit, to God and all present that "Nobody Notices" or really gives a damn when you're having a lousy day. Band: Loadstone Song: Nobody Notices After reading Loadstone's influences (Ailce In chains, Silverchair, Creed, Goo Goo dolls, Rage Against The Machine, Fuel, Korn, Papa Roach, Weezer, etc..) I was pleasantly surprised to hear the tone of this cut. Loadstone's "Nobody Notices" is much snottier than their listed influences (with the possible exception of Weezer). And it's not nearly as slick, polished or overproduced as those nationally distributed acts. This leads me to the conclusion that Loadstone's real influences are the sympathetic vibrations of the garage door at 120db, too much alcohol, too little sleep and just being really, really pissed-off at the world. "No...