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Posts tagged ‘Detroit’

25
Jun

Fresh Track: Odd Hours “Electric Soul”

What can we say about Mondays? [Insert lame description of the everyman office space, marked by sagging eyes, deficient attention spans and general malaise.] By the afternoon, our eyes begin to  wander to the room’s corners for what could be just a few seconds or tens of minutes, before a quick shudder snaps things back into focus. In this brief moment of clarity we realize that the better part of the last hour was spent retracing “The Fabulous Belding Boys” episode of Saved by the Bell. A quick glance at the time brings the harsh truth that much of the day’s business remains.

Enter Detroit’s Odd Hours with a bit of foot-stomping motivation. The band recently dropped “Electric Soul”, the lead single from their debut EP Solar Plexus Power of Babooshka. The album release party will be held this Saturday at The Old Miami. “Electric Soul” features the power pop sensibilities of The Black Keys latest release El Camino, with lead singer Natasha Beste providing an addictive chorus line that may serve as the pep that your step has so desperately needed.

Connect with Odd Hours via Facebook

Free Download of 3 demos via Bandcamp

Written by Rob Peoni

6
Jun

Video: Danny Brown “Grown Up”

Detroit rapper Danny Brown is an artist I’ve been on the fence about for a while.  While his rhyming talent and creativity is undeniable, his aggressive, shrieking delivery has always prevented me from becoming a big fan.  That has all changed with the release of his new video “Grown Up”.  Easily the most accessible song I’ve heard from Brown, “Grown Up” still keeps everything that’s great about his style intact, but his slightly toned down delivery makes it a song that will get a lot of play from me.  As great as the song is, the video (featuring an adolescent version of Danny Brown) is even better.

Connect with Danny Brown via Facebook | Twitter

Written by John Bugbee

23
Jun

Thoughts on MOKB Presents Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: White Rabbit Cabaret: Indianapolis: June 17, 2011

One of my biggest beefs with the indie music scene is the pretentious nature of many of the scene’s artists. We’ve all witnessed it—the teenager in face paint singing choruses in French over a backbeat of crying children. Vomit. In my experience, those that believe they reside at the forefront of an artistic revolution tend to be the last ones aboard the bandwagon.

Two pranksters from Detroit breathed some much-needed frivolity into indie music on Friday night. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.—yes, that is their name. And, no. You will not forget it.—brought their addictive hooks and body-moving beats to a packed White Rabbit Cabaret, in Indianapolis’ Fountain Square.

Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott, along with a drummer, took the stage in NASCAR racing gear only to shed it for three-piece suits. Think a reverse Clark Kent to Superman transformation. And super men they were.

Don’t let the band’s name and cheap gimmicks fool you, the sound is solid. Though Zott looks identical to Judah Friedlander from 30 Rock, he has the voice and energy that can move a room. Epstein would be a dream member of any band, navigating seamlessly from the keys to the synth to bass to guitar. His voice is stellar as well.

The duo turned trio offered the audience a premium blend of tracks from their debut release It’s a Corporate World, as well as a handful of covers. See the setlist here. By the time they played Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” for the first encore, the audience had worked itself into a frenzy. It was a full on party at the Cabaret that night.

Other high notes included the band’s raucous take on Gil Scott-Heron’s “We Almost Lost Detroit”, “An Ugly Person a Movie Screen”, “Simple Girl” and The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”

Download or listen to Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.’s recent Daytrotter Session: here.