Tag Archives: Music

Born Without a Face – Michigan Hardcore Given the Deluxe Treatment

Ever see a box set so amazing, and for a band you might have never heard of, that you need to know how it happened?

That’s the case with Born Without A Face – the complete sound recordings box set: 1984-1986.

To call this set obsessive and complete is kind of an understatement because big labels don’t treat major bands this well.

The set features an artfully handmade box with a magnetic clasp. The band’s name is silk screened across the front. Inside there are three posters, a sticker, 1-12” 33 1/3rpm record featuring the “Freakshow” album, 1-12” 45rpm featuring “The Unbecoming” & “Worship” eps and a CD collecting all the tracks from the vinyl. The inside of a box includes another art piece, some notes and is part of a hand numbered edition of 300.

From a re-issue standard, the vinyl is beyond 180 gram (so called “audiophile editions”). These records are 210 gram. They are thick like dinner plates or, probably more accurately, 78rpms which the label design seems to invoke.

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Year End Treat from Detroit’s Eddie Logix

Always with a cap on, I’ve had the chance to hang out with this “bespeckled, smart looking guy”, as Doc Waffles called him, over the past year & have had the honor to soak up much of his saucy sounds.

Eddie Logix

Most days Eddie Logix can be found in the Eastern Market penthouse twisting the knobs, creating beats & producing albums for a laundry list of some of Detroit’s finest gents creating hip-hop today. But unlike a lot of producers, who seem more comfortable with their faces buried in a laptop, Logix has a strong stage presence as well as part of Progress Report with D. Allie, MidCoast Most and as hype man to Doc Waffles.

So, just in time for your Janus view on the 2012-2013 cusp, Logix offers you a free taste of his “Gregorian Mixtape” – a compilation of his work over the past year mixed by DJ Dante LaSalle.

Gregorian Mixtape (A Year In Review: 2012)

Who’s on the set? A lot of voices you might know – Doc Waffles, Danny Brown, Passalacqua, DUENDE!, COLD MEN YOUNG, Josef Coney Island, Progress Report and more.

The artwork is by Dial 81 who tapped Logix to help him with some of the mixing for the “Detropia” documentary soundtrack earlier this year.

At the low, low price of $0.00, give it a listen. Then pick up the albums by all the cats involved because it only makes logical sense that a man named Eddie Logix would be presenting the leading edge of the Detroit sound!

Doc Waffles Extends Metaphors with “Ambulance Chasers”

Accidents happen, but great work is thoughtfully, artfully executed.

Such is the case with Doc Waffles latest,  “Ambulance Chasers”, out today on bandcamp.

To hear Ben Ness tell it, Waffles’ given name, the album’s title comes from a combination of two events: 1.) while living in Southwest Detroit at the time he looked outside and noticed his apartment was surrounded, in 360 degrees, by billboards for personal injury attorneys & 2.) his friend suffered a dog bite and had a story to tell after going through a personal injury lawsuit.

Hip-Hop with a Novelist’s Approach

“Ambulance Chasers” opens with a sample from “The Aviator” of dialogue between Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchet) and Howard Hughes (Leonard DiCaprio) talking about golf. This continues several themes & references in Waffles’ work including golf and the pair in question. Mr. Ness is proud to tell you that he was the captain of his golf team in high school, loves the sport and that there is no finer piece of attire than a “Golf Shirt”. The dialogue between the Hollywood legends reference back to the pair’s starring role in a track on Waffles recent EP, “Seizure Suit Farms”.

The record is put together with the concept of a novelist. It’s not surprising considering Waffles’ day job as a rare book dealer. “Ambulance Chasers” extends his previous references from “Golf View Drive” through “How to Shoot Quail” to expand on his themes of misconnection, removal and self-reflection. Waffles’ appears to be looking at aging, at times, and asking new questions about the durability of the heart and the ideas of permanence.

The lead track “Hockey Fights” finds allegories to the flying fists of the Detroit Red Wings of yore, like Bob Probert, the physicality of relationships and the durability of out-of-date formats such as the trusty, dusty VHS tape.

A big highlight on the album, “Groucho Masks”, is a tale of longing, grasping for connection and trying to create a new paradigm from the latest shocks that is heartbreaking due to the use of multi-layered symbolic references to previous songs and themes that rewards faithful listeners to the Doc Waffles catalogue.

That’s one of the rare and risky things about Doc Waffles’ work. He doesn’t create a self-contained piece that lives in its own bubble. His albums are like Venn diagrams that stack upon each other at skewed angles and offer more with each connection to past work and each additional listen. This is something most artists are not willing to consider from song-to-song let alone album-to-album in our “just download the best tracks, forget listening to the record all the way though” world. Single tracks or albums do not begin to tell the untold riches that await the listener to Doc Waffles. A broad, inclusive approach is needed in order to wring out nuance, humor and, ultimately, understanding from Mr. Ness’s novelistic approach. His concepts take time to develop within the ear and the mind.

Sonically,“Ambulance Chasers” is also noteworthy for the solid production by Eddie Logix and textured cameos from SelfSays, Passalacqua, Josef Coney Island and J. Walker.

To celebrate the release, Doc Waffles and friends are hosting an “Ambulance Chasers” release party on Saturday August 25th. The details are below:

Saturday August 25th, 2012 – Doors at 9pm

1440 Gallery

1440 Service St.

Detroit MI

All Ages. BYOB.

$5 cover includes copy of “Ambulance Chasers” and coupon for “accidental nap” or “strip-the-bride bear-trap” of your choosing.

Passalacqua: Detroit Hip-Hop Heads South and East

Look out NYC, Philly and even Toledo – a traveling side show of death-defying rappers is coming your way and its doing it Detroit style. That means, of course, only one thing: it’s “BETTER MADE”.

The “BETTER MADE” tour sends Passalacqua, one of the key groups in the Detroit hip-hop scene, out of the road for the very first time. After several years of great shows & building a fan base in Detroit, the team of “Mister” and “The Blaksmith” will be infecting folks south and east of the Motor City with their laidback style and a touch of humor.

Although funny, at times – such as rapping in spacemen helmets, Passalacqua hits some hard topics on their albums. For example, “Ms. Washington (Bridge Card Hustle)” on “Zebehazy Summer” features a smooth flow and tasty beat with a female vocal chorus on the topic of welfare fraud and trying to make it day-to-day. Other tracks like “Sunset City” (check out the video below) offer odes to the Motor City. Because, you’ll learn quickly, these cats are steeped in Detroit and wear it proudly.

Among the tour guests are the Anonymous, who I wrote about before, who will head out to play shows with Passalacqua in Philadelphia and Brooklyn.

While Passalacqua is out bringing some new Detroit sounds to the you – they are offering a fresh take on their most recent release, last fall’s “Zebehazy Summer”. This special remix album features many respected local producers like Eddie Logix twisting the nobs and breathing new life into the beats & ideas.

Oh, and that remix record - it’s a free download on the band’s site come Friday June 22nd. So, there is no excuse  for you not to be studied up to see Passalacqua when they come through your town over the next two weeks.

 

Come sample some Detroit “BETTER MADE” flavor near you:

6/21 — Detroit, MI (Northern Lights Lounge)

6/22 — Toledo, OH (Ottawa Tavern)

6/23 — Nashville, TN (Exit/In)

6/24 — Knoxville, TN (Relix Theatre)

6/25 — Raleigh, NC (The Pour House)

6/27 — Richmond, VA (Balliceaux)

6/28 — Brooklyn, NY (Spike Hill)

6/29 — Philadelphia, PA (Level Room)

6/30 — Brooklyn, NY (Fifth Estate)

The Anonymous is Unknown (to me) No More!

It was about two months ago that I first heard of the Anonymous. I went to this Doc Waffles show; you know how I feel about him, at a space in Woodbridge. After Waffles’ set, I left. But because I paid to get in – I rarely use my “guest list” privileges – I was handed two recordings: a 7” split of Noman/Summer Pledge and a CD of “Why Am I Grinding My Teeth” by the Anonymous.

It sat in my car for a few weeks before I got to it, but once I started listening to the Anonymous – it’s been pretty much a daily part of my rush hour rotation.

The first thing that will attract any born and bred eastsider to “Why Am I Grinding My Teeth?” is the cover – the iconic bull’s head hamburger stand on Mack north of Conner.

It’s closed now, but the bull’s head still holds guard over that section of the eastside.

Moving on to the music, the Anonymous have had some time to work on this album and their craft. According to their facebook page, the group started almost ten years ago in the suburbs with Goldzilla! (Kwesi Akaah – the mc) and Some Kid (Paul Wilson – the dj & engineer) starting out in freestyle events and basement parties. In 2005, the duo put out an ep titled “Love is Not an Orgasm” in 2005 and, another, “God’s Day Off” in 2006.

This new record brings together tracks from 2007 to today. One would that it could be a messy production affair – varying quality, no real through line – but that is not the case. If you sample and purchase “Why Am I Grinding My Teeth?” you will find it high polished but not antiseptic.

Among the key tracks to my ears is the opening, “Searching for Kid Calamity”. Not only is the flow smooth and the beats bounce funky, the end of the track showcases the time these cats put into building their ideas. A montage of references to “anonymous” in other songs and culture even includes Howard Stern giving a shout out to “the Anonymous” – the hackers group, of course – but it’s still great fun.

If you are not sold on them by the time you listen to the second track, “Hammerhead Shark”, hang it up. Because if you can’t pick up what Goldzilla’s throwing down, you might want to reconsider your interest in hip-hop in general. Especially when he’s preaching the truth:

“Since when did vampires go from Nosferatu to asexual teen heartthrobs? You see, back in my day they would have got bombed.”

Goldzilla’s themes range but frustration – sexual, professional and even at McDonald’s – seems to take center stage. Even though he seems frustrated by circumstances, Goldzilla’s voice is bright, fun and seems to be winking at you – letting you in on the joke – and that’s evident with his references. Goldzilla’s piles on geek troupes like comic books, Star Wars and video games, but never heads into nerdcore. He also can spin a great couplet out of current affairs – equating one’s inability to be sneaky to the President of Iran:

“Like Ahmadinejad in the synagogue trying to get it on on krypton with nothing but slippers on.”

Great images, funny and true.

Some Kid’s simples and engineering style is quite tasty – preachers, off kilter beats, Goldzilla play hype man and counterpoint against his own flows. I also especially like Some Kid’s delightfully twisted use of earworm chart toppers like Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”  and Modest Mouse’s “Float On”.

The Anonymous played at the Magic Stick on Thursday, May 24th. I was there for the show and captured the set. Take a listen:

The next Detroit show for the Anonymous is in early June. Details pending. But stay in touch through the Anonymous facebook page. Also, the group is heading out on the road this summer with other Detroit favorite Passalacqua. Dates and cities beyond Detroit – possibly near you – are coming soon.

From my perspective, if the Anonymous continues on with the recipe found on “Why Am I Grinding My Teeth?” they won’t be unknown beyond Detroit for long.

“Praise Bob” for the Amino Acids – the Band that Wouldn’t Die!

The spokespeople for The Amino Acids are liars, cheats and charlatans – and I couldn’t be happier about it!

 

See, back in late 2010, two of the men possessed by the surf-punk aliens, took off their masks, talked to the media and said the Aminos were done. They said the band was played out. In about a decade, the group managed to hammer their sound into our heads through about 500 shows.

So, I talked to Dave Taylor & Scott Boyink – so sexy, just like “Star Search” spokesmodels – about “the end” of the Aminos. The story worked out so well that some fellow journalists give me a few awards for it. Thanks, guys!

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Anvil – Getting Another Chance to Rock!

“It’s a struggle to make it. It’s a struggle once you do make it, to stay there and it’s a struggle to survive even if things go down. It ever ends. And all I want to do is just keep doing it. I’ve been living the dream and I’m so grateful and every moment is being appreciated ten times to the level it might have been if I had made it when I was young.” – Steve “Lips” Kudlow, guitarist/lead singer of Anvil (quote from the interview)

AnvilYou have probably never heard of Anvil. But, if you take the time, the story is amazing.

See a few years ago, a former roadie of the band decided to tell the tale in a documentary, a film that is an inspiration to never give up on your dreams and to always keep your best friend nearby.

That film is “Anvil: The Story of Anvil”.

Anvil is a Toronto-based heavy metal act that goes back to the 1970s. For a time in the early 80s, Anvil was expected to be the next big thing. Their shows and records were popular with fans and even other hard rock bands such as Slayer, Guns n Roses and Metallica.

But by 2005 the band was hitting a rough patch. Gigs were hard to come by and the day jobs for the band’s two original members, Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner, were a serious drag on their creativity.

Then an old roadie who went on to have success as a Hollywood screenwriter decided to make a documentary about his old friends, Anvil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Yytxlv3ajDg

“Anvil: The Story of Anvil” was released a few years ago to receive glowing reviews. With a 98% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes review site, here’s what some of the critics have to say:

“Now THIS is Spinal Tap.” – Washington Post

“I don’t know if their music is any good. Their fans think so. The doc doesn’t show one song all the way through. But they swore a pledge when they were 14, and they’re still honoring it, and at 51, Lips knows he still has it and that Anvil will be back on the charts. Maybe there is hope for Susan Boyle.” – Roger Ebert

In September 2011, I had a chance to talk to Steve “Lips” Kudlow about the band, the film, life and previous gigs in Detroit (we haven’t been the best or biggest fans).

Listen to the Anvil interview here.

Anvil returns to Detroit this weekend with a show on Friday, February 24th at the Token Lounge in Westland. Doors are at 8pm – tickets are $10 in advance/$15 at the door.

Here’s one of Anvil’s best known tracks “Metal on Metal”.

“How to Shoot Quail” with Detroit’s Doc Waffles

Doc Waffles and his team of "lawyers"

What is it in the water here in Detroit? For some reason we seem to create the most critically loved (Eminem) and hated (ICP) white rappers in the world.

Detroit seems to be the place where a predominately black art form can mix with the over-culture and create something completely new & innovative.

Meet Doc Waffles – a man creating new ideas and attitude out of the mix.

Over the past six months, I’ve fallen in love with the sonic stretching and innovative word play of Ben Ness AKA Doc Waffles. I saw him earlier this month at the Magic Stick in Detroit. That’s where I made this bootleg of his show.

Doc Waffles throwing down at the Old Miami (Detroit) in September 2011

Waffles is a rapper who paints in colors not often used in the hip-hop palate. He goes into areas most other rappers would rarely, if ever, venture. As a genre, hip-hop seems limited. Those limits are usually self-imposed. Countless MCs maintain the conventions of braggadocio and maintaining a hard edged, cool persona. For Ness’s alter-ego, he brings a willingness to be funny, absurd and surreal all filtered through his experience of growing up in his “hood” – the exurbs of Oakland County – one of the richest counties in America.

Doc Waffles "Seizure Suit Farms"

 

 

The former high school golf team captain, and collector of antique books, released his latest EP in the fall of 2011. “Seizure Suit Farms” is a short, solid example of Waffles’s obsessions and observations. The record features odes to the sorrow that socks are “never quite the same” once you wear & wash them, the story of Billy Joel’s attempted suicide in the early 1970s & how “We Didn’t Start the Fire” was a milestone that “re-invented rap” as well as a story of a privileged & young “princess” who is totally irresponsible, not only with love but with her cat and her life.

But for me, Ness’s filtering of the suburban experience finds its height on “Golf View Drive”. Waffles’s 2006 album shows an almost autobiographical sense of the despair many have felt growing up in the suburbs. Couple the narrator’s despair with a parent who has given up and wallows in his own self-destruction and the record takes on qualities akin to David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet” or Sam Mendes & Alan Ball’s “American Beauty”. “Golf View Drive” introduces the listener to the great and horrible things lurking in the world of big houses and manicured lawns. Doc Waffles songs feature topics that can be as soul crushing and jarring as anything coming from a rapper who has lived in the streets of urban American decay. Waffles walks listeners through a world of alcoholic fathers & the concern of growing up to be just like the old man, working to strip away the fronts we all seem to live with and even having to put your mother in a nursing home & all the emotions that go along with it. These are not the typical fields rappers till. But for Doc Waffles, it is fertile ground – sonically and lyrically speaking.

Waffles’s latest effort is a follow up to the “Seizure Suit Farms” EP called “How to Shoot Quail” and, like his last record, it is offered free of charge.

 

So, this Valentine’s Day down load the latest from Doc Waffles “How to Shoot Quail”, and maybe “Seizure Suit Farms”, and fall in love with the sounds this Detroiter is putting down.