Local indie pop band Trait was supposed to open this show, but a family emergency forced them to cancel. Up steps Zombie Jesus & the Chocolate Sunshine Band, or half of them anyway. This being a last minute show, two of the band members were unable to play, but that didn’t stop front man Jheremie Jaque and guitarist Helmut Aretz from stepping up like the saviors of the day that they are, and rattling through a set of barbed cutesy tunes. Jaques told us that he and Aretz have played as a two-piece a ton of times at open mics, so this wasn’t an unusual setup for them. He’s an interesting front man too; his demeanor suggests that he’s on the verge of sleep, yet he delivers one witty line after another between songs. “This song’s about Helmut’s battles with addiction,” Jaques says, as the conservative-looking German shrugs. “Love Song” from the debut EP is the pick of tonight’s tunes, an oldie but goody. “You’re a filthy little slut,” Jaques croons. “Look at you playing with my balls on the first night.” Awwwwww. Bailiff are here from Chicago. This writer knew nothing about the band before the evening got underway. […]

The post City Slang: Zombie Jesus, Bailiff and He-Bops at the Lager House appeared first on Metro Times Blogs.

Detroit sportswriter Dan Ewald pays homage to his old friendGeorge “Sparky” Anderson in this book. Ewald recounts his last visit with Sparky only days before the death of the baseball legend. The two old friends spent most of the three day visit at the kitchen table in Anderson’s Thousand Oaks, Ca. home. There, they took turns telling the stories of their time together. One of the best just may be in the preface where Ewald describes an unlikely scene at the airport when he happened to have Anderson’s dental bridge in his pocket. He goes on to tell of his conversation with the befuddled security guard about why he has Anderson’s teeth and of the fellow passenger who offered to buy them. Ewald was the public relations director for the Detroit Tigers when Sparky was hired as manager early in the 1979 season. The two soon became fast friends. When Sparky’s agent committed a breach of faith and was released he asked his friend Ewald to assume the responsibilities. They did not sign a contract; they shook hands to seal the deal. They did not like the titles agent or representative, so they termed Ewald’sjob as “friend.” Their close working […]

The post Reviewing: Sparky and Me appeared first on Metro Times Blogs.

Workers at fast-food restaurants across Michigan are again on strike according to ClickOnDetroit, as they continue to seek a $15/hour minimum wage and the right to form a union. This morning, vans dropped workers off outside McDonald’s on Detroit’s East Side, with signs that read, “We’re Worth More.” Rev. Charles Williams II of the Michigan chapter of the National Action Network was quoted as saying, “McDonald’s alone is a billion-dollar, multi-billion-dollar corporation. They’ve been making high profits for a very long time, and not spreading the wealth.”

The post More fast-food strikes appeared first on Metro Times Blogs.

When the Michigan State Spartans square off against the Ohio State Buckeyes this Saturday in the Big Ten Championship game, there will be a lot on the line. And I’m not just talking about winning the Big Ten — obviously that’s the first and foremost important part of Saturday’s game. You see, I’m talking about the peripheral aspects. The things that could be determining factors for both team’s post-season hopes. Though nothing in college football is ever a certainty (all in thanks to a little thing called the BCS), the outcome of Saturday’s game makes what will happen next for both teams damn near a certainty. As the situation stands, barring any more craziness — I don’t think this coming weekend can get any crazier than last weekend — Ohio State is in line to play in the National Championship game; they’re currently No. 2 in the BCS standings behind Florida State. Auburn and Alabama are a close third and fourth, respectively, but since they both have one loss apiece, undefeated Ohio State and Florida State are the favorites. Though the Buckeyes might not have the strength of schedule that an Alabama or… (Enter any SEC team) has, an undefeated […]

The post 12th Man Report: Sparty hopes to play spoiler appeared first on Metro Times Blogs.

This Saturday, December 7, Trinosophes will host the Nakatani Gong Orchestra. The band features Tatsuya Nakatani, Dave Shettler, Marko Novachcoff, Jay Rowe, Joel Peterson, Josh Ferrel, Clara Hardie, James Baljo, Clem Fortuna and others. The venue says, “Every time Tatsuya comes to town it’s an event, but this time the virtuoso percussionist has put together his most ambitious ensemble yet. The first time he assembled his Nakatani Gong Orchestra, we were instructed to provide non-musicians mostly- “teacher, baker, artist, scientist- all are good” was the request. This time out he has expanded the size of NGO and is using a full line-up of musicians with backgrounds in bowing things- strings or otherwise.” Doors are at 8pm, suggested cover is $10. The following night, Sunday, December 8, Dave Bixby fronts a band also featuring Matthew Smith, Dave Shettler, Greg Beyer, and Bill Corrigan. “Having grown-up outside Grand Rapids, Dave Bixby first became involved in music around the 60′s Michigan folk and garage-rock scenes. By the end of the decade, he had a religious conversion and began making acoustic concept records that were religious in theme, but incongruently dark and lonesome sounding. His late 60‘s/early 70‘s releases, Ode to Quetzcoatl and Harbinger’s […]

The post City Slang: This weekend at Trinosophes appeared first on Metro Times Blogs.

The 11th annual Home for the Holidaze songwriter showcase and charity drive will be held at the Corktown Tavern on December 20. The show starts at 9, and cover is $6, or $5 if you bring a can of food. Performing that night will be Patrick Davy, Don “Doop” Duprie, Alison Lewis, Emily Rose, Matt Dmits, and Jackie Stahl. According to Static Records, “The donations and proceeds from the event go towards purchasing food and winter clothing items that is distributed to the homeless thru our selected charity, Outcry Youth & Street Ministry. Brother Joe Hicks has been helping the homeless and youth in Detroit for over a decade. His nights are spent on the streets of downtown helping those less fortunate with the donations he receives. Find out more here. “Pet food donations are also collected each year and donated to a non-profit animal rescue shelter. Hater Kitty Rescue Army (www.HaterKitty.com) is a local cat rescue group who takes care of strays, gets them health checked, and places them in forever homes.” Follow @City_Slang

The post City Slang: Home for the Holidaze at the Corktown Tavern appeared first on Metro Times Blogs.