Michigan Indie Review

Music Review: A Heap O' Livin' by The Beggars Date: Thursday, April 10, 2003 @ 19:35:00 EDT Topic: Music Reviews Thanks to the impeccable taste of Kilkenny's Nick Woods, I had the good fortune to witness a last-minute performance by Royal Oak garage rockers The Beggars at the Frank J Calcaterra American Legion Post 386 in Eastpointe. From an ad-hoc set-up on the dance floor, The Beggars up-staged Kilkenny at their own CD release party (man, the nerve!). The show was great, but their debut ep, entitled "A Heap 'O Livin", is even better - the best thing I've heard since Kilkenny's ep. Click "Read More" for a quick, gushing review, applicable links and show dates. On their debut ep A Heap O Livin', The Beggars have distilled the essence of the garage movement in just four tracks of stripped-down, retro-fied, invigorated rock. The make the best use of vintage instruments like a Farfisa organ and Rickenbacker twelve-string electric to creat...

Music Review: Trailer Park Barbie's ''About Ready'' Date: Friday, April 04, 2003 @ 18:05:00 EST Topic: Music Reviews As Donald Rumsfeld has proven over and over again, you don't win many friends by assaulting people with your honest opinions (The truth? The Truth? You can't handle The truth!). Such is life for The Secretary of Defensiveness and a local music critic who finds it hard to love a band that reminds him of his dark and sticky past. With any luck, both of them will find some "Peace" and acceptance in the world. Read Mitch's review of Trailer Park Barbie's debut release "About Ready". Band: Trailer Park Barbie CD: About Ready (debut) Recorded and Mixed at: Laud Productions Engineer: Tim Lau Band Members: Erin Schultz (vocals/bass), Kevin Thomas (guitar), Todd Anthony (drums), J.R. Lamb (added bass and vocals for live performances). Compliments At some point, every red-neck, working-class cover-band won...

Music Review: ''The Real You'' by Chris McCall Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2003 @ 20:05:00 EST Topic: Music Reviews Almost a year to the month after he'd first received a copy of Chris McCall's debut EP "The Real You", Editor Mitch Phillips probably has the distinction of being the very last one to review this slick seven-track release. He writes... 'Now I've got three CD's, two promo packages...and the guilt of an entire year weighing on my conscience (You dropped the ball, boy-o). I pushed her CD to the front of my list.' Click "Read More" for his review and samples. Artist: Chris McCall CD: The Real You ep Produced by: Jason Kuehn & Chris McCall Recorded at: Harmonie Park Studios by Jason Kuehn Musicians: Chris McCall (vocals, keys), Jason Kuehn (guitar, keys), Don DiDinoto (bass, backing vocals), Ron Otis (drums), John Madison (viola), Johnny Evans (saxophone), Mike Martin (mandolin), Mary McCall, Don McCall, Maureen...

Music Review: The Process ''Blood and Bones'' Date: Saturday, March 08, 2003 @ 10:20:00 EST Topic: Music Reviews In the face of a probable war with Iraq, it's fitting to come across a CD with a political point of view that dissents from American realpolitik. "Blood & Bones" by The Process (their eighth full length release since '91's "Mystery Babylon") is thought-provoking in it's politics, reverent in it's spiritualilty and contagious in it's Jah-makin' back-beat. Editor Mitch Phillips goes off on a political bent in another one of his long reviews. Three song samples included. Click "Read More" below. Band: The Process CD: Blood & Bones Produced by: The Process & Gee Pierce Recorded at: U be U Production House, Saginaw, MI. Engineered by: Gee Pierce Musicians: Davide Asher - vocals; Garrick Owen - guitars; Bill Heffelfinger - bass, keyboards; Sam Metropoulos - drums. "Blood & Bones...

Music Review: ''The Upstairs Chronicles'' by Almost Famous Date: Saturday, February 22, 2003 @ 08:41:53 EST Topic: Music Reviews Almost Famous may not win a Grammy Award for their CD, "The Upstairs Chronicles", but they get my vote for "Most Patience With an Online Indie Publication While Awaiting a Stupid Review" (I'm afraid to even look at the post-mark on that envelope). In any case, this eight-song debut is the result of the trio's foray into pop music while matriculating at The University of Michigan - that liberal bastion of affirmative action and war protestations that I would donate my kidneys to attend. Is my envy showing? On to the review... Band: Almost Famous CD: The Upstairs Chronicles (debut) Released: November, 2002 Members: Ben Diesel (lead vocals and guitar), David J. Yu (guitar and noises), Charlie Naebeck (bass & vocals). Additional drumming: Lindsay Williams Management: Ruth Naebeck for Ntertainment Group, Inc. The ...

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...