Friday • 30
Charketa Glover Fashion Show
FASHION
Detroit's fashion scene has come into its own over the past few years, thanks in no small part to the innovation, outreach and vision of the Pure Detroit Design Lab and its former director, Sarah Lurtz. And though Lurtz has left the helm to concentrate on her own line, Wound menswear, Pure Detroit's new head honcho Samantha Bullock hasn't missed a beat. This week, Bullock introduces her first featured designer, Eastpointe's Charketa Glover — a self-taught designer whose hobby of converting thrift store finds into one-of-a-kind pieces has blossomed into a full-fledged business. Artist reception and fashion show from 8-11 p.m., 158 W. Congress St., Detroit; 313-961-8320.
Friday • 30
Jamie Phillips-Fox Memorial Benefit
COMMUNITY
In memory of the recently deceased transgender community leader, Jamie Phillips-Fox, Just4Us variety store in Ferndale will host two days of concerts. Fox-Phillips, who died suddenly at 53 of a heart attack, will, among other things, be remembered for hosting, along with her wife Michelle, the annual Day of Remembrance, an international event that honors trans men and women who are murdered each year. Michelle Phillips-Fox will speak at this event, which will also include a performance from trans singer-songwriter Stephanie Loveless. 211 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; 248-547-5878. The second concert will take place on Friday, July 7. There will be no cover charge, but contributions are encouraged.
Friday-Sunday • 30-2
Holy Shit!!! Fest
MUSIC
It's no secret that a lot of revolutionary music walks a fine line between high art and noise pollution — and an esoteric coalition of local art-rock musicians is tapping into this very miracle. It just might be the most interesting rock 'n' roll being made round these parts of late, in Night & Day's humble opinion. Hosted by former Detroit Art Space dude Ben Hernandez, the Holy Shit!!! Fest is a weekend-long showcase of some of the most thoughtful yet damaged experimental rock we've ever heard. Highlights include: Odd Clouds (spastic, disjointed improv), Static Static, Tyvek, Bad Party (ex-Tamion 12-inch), the Terrible Twos, the Frustrations, Viki and many others. At the Contemporary Art Institute of Detroit (CAID), 5141 Rosa Parks, Detroit; 313-899-2243. Tickets are $8 per night, $19 for the whole weekend (sold first night only).
Saturday • 1
Reopening of the Ritz
MUSIC
Its Hollywood equivalent was Gazzari's or the Cathouse. It went lengths to showcase bands that sported pointy axes, multiple kick-drum kits and Marshall stacks in a haze of smoke and megawatt light shows more appropriate for an arena. There was no shortage of Johnny Thunders and Joan Jett hair, Roth-era Halen worship and dweedleedee-dweedleedee guitar solos. There was no shortage of Kelly Bundy clones swaggering across the bow of the stage. In its mid-'80s heyday, crowds snaked out of its front doors, and its blue-collar-cum-glam scene even birthed shoulda-been-bigger-than-Kix Seduce. Besides, who doesn't get teary-eyed for those Halloween-Animyl double bills? Maybe the Thunders-Jett hairlines have made a beeline for the beehive, and the midriffs are extended and squishy, but that's no reason not to let a gnarly pickslide sound the return of the "new" Ritz. It's in a new location at 24300 Hoover, Warren; 586-756-6140 — with, um, a vengeance, and just in time for summer. Grand (re)opening is July 1, headlined by Halloween, in support of their new CD Horror Fire.
Saturday •1
Tumbao Bravo
MUSIC
Percussionist Alberto Nacif and saxophonist Paul Vornhagen joined forces three years ago to put their ideas about Latin jazz into action: strong compositions, room for heated solos and a tight combo sound to support it all. The emphasis on the Cuban roots they put down is right in their name. A "tumbao" is a bass or conga pattern that forms the spine of full-bodied piece in the Cuban style. And "bravo" — that's the way they play it, bravely. Vornhagen has made a rep for leading his own groups; Nacif, in addition to his past groups and sideman stints, was the host of Cuban Fantasy on WEMU-FM for a decade. Tumbao Bravo celebrates the release of its second CD with a gig at Baker's Keyboard Lounge, 20510 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-345-6300.
Saturday • 1
Queenacopia
MUSIC
The frenzy Queen frontman Freddy Mercury left in his wake has never subsided. It probably never will. Seriously ... who understood pageantry like Mercury? Who — before or after — could sing with such bombast and control? No one, that's who. And since the rock 'n' roll badass can no longer jam for us, we must pray at his altar and give thanks for the memories. Enter Queenacopia: an all-night tribute to the man behind the teeth. There will be Queen-themed karaoke, an art exhibit filled with Queen-inspired works, a Freddy Mercury impersonator contest and a performance from the Fat Bottom Girls Dance collective. Dig out the purple spandex, it's time to party. At the Belmont, 10215 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck; 313-871-1966.
Saturday and Monday • 1 & 3
Electronic Showcase
MUSIC
Gonna need some respite from TasteFest? Why not take a musical load off at Cass Cafe's Electronic Showcase? This free event is open to all techno enthusiasts ages 21 and up — DJs milieu, Mike Clark, Adjust, GODANDHISBITCHES, Punisher, Detroit Techno Militia, Colin Zyskowski, Andy Toth, Rob Barrett, Matt Caputo, MD! & Bombscare, Greg Mudge and Vox Pop will rock the house until 3 a.m., at 4620 Cass Ave., Detroit; 313-831-1400.
Ongoing
Up North-Down South
ART
It's good to move around a bit, to rearrange your furniture or take a different route to work, just to shake things up. Looking at art by non-Detroiters has the same effect; it's like visiting a far-off city without traveling the distance. Up North — Down South is a mixed-media exhibit by artists of the nonprofit Oasis Gallery in Marquette, including the exquisite photographs of Bill Sampson. The CCS alumnus is a fine artist who's perhaps better known as a commercial photographer with a client roster including Estée Lauder and Pepsi Cola. This time, Sampson celebrates nature as his subject in panoramic Irish landscapes. In exchange, Paint Creek Center for the Arts has sent works by metro Detroit artists to Oasis Gallery, so they too can breathe some fresh air. The exhibit goes up on Friday, June 30, and the artist reception is 8 p.m. on Friday, July 7, at Paint Creek Center for the Arts, 407 Pine St. in downtown Rochester; 248-651-4110. Ends Aug. 5.
Eve Doster is the listings editor of Metro Times. Send comments to [email protected]
