Lately, with all of the fear-mongering being thrown our way by government officials and media hacks, it’s easy to get life’s priorities confused. In that spirit, perhaps it’s time we focused on what we can readily control (i.e., our immediate mood and environment) before collapsing under the weight of the exponentially growing cesspool of doomsday neurosis. Nobody’s suggesting you tune out, but wallowing in it is pointless.
Every few weeks, Metro Times will use this space to offer up diversionary suggestions for those still able to channel a grin and a groove in true Motown fashion.
Envy us
Take the yuppie-chic spot Envy (234 W. Larned, Detroit), put Transmat at the wheel in the “living room” upstairs every Thursday, stock it with residents such as Stacey Pullen, Marcellus Pittman and Derrick May, and what do you get? An Advil-proof Friday. Despite Envy’s magnetism for a cologne-as-deodorant clientele, recent weeks with Stacey Pullen and Philly mainstay King Britt have mixed some class in with the club’s pretense. It is, after all, called Envy. (Do they have to knock you over the head with that shit?)
Oh, well … Envy’s curlicue decor is nothing that Hennessy and house music can’t unwind.
From Bump Wednesdays at Foran’s Irish Pub to Instant Vintage Sundays at Fifth Avenue downtown to Thursday’s at Envy, Transmat’s no-Derrick May-album-yet stalling tactics are pacifying us nicely.
Off da applicator
In just its second lunar cycle, Jan D’s Flow event — which regularly takes place, um, once a month — is getting rather heavy. Happening this Thursday at Foran’s, Flow is a chance to celebrate Detroit’s female talent with rotating DJs and visual art. This installment finds Korie at the decks with Shyena as a guest MC. Rumor has it that big-grinning underground soul house producer Bill Beaver (and yes, he was invited because of his last name) will host Flow to celebrate his birthday this time around. Be sure to check out the art upstairs compliments of Naheed Choudhry, Luba Gudz and Chrissie Clees.
Positively shocking
This week, Citypeople Music is pulling the plug on its Positive Fridays night at Corktown Tavern (1716 Michigan Ave., Detroit). Thanks to enthusiastic-yet-unsteady support (even after renovating the top floor and having Burst wire the sound), Citypeople is burned out on the weekly game. With two levels of great local music and insane drink specials, it doesn’t quite add up. Maybe Detroit’s spoiled by events like this.
Friday’s sure to be unhinged thanks to Positive’s all-star squad. Craig Gonzalez, Mazz and Shaun Reeves handle things upstairs at The Joint with techno and house. Downstairs at the tavern itself is funk, rock, hip hop and who-knows with eclectic techs Todd Osborne (pictured), DJ Munk and Brian Gillespie. If $5 cover is too steep for this much fun, you should probably just rent Beaches … again.
Think globally
With all of the weekly beat happenings these days, venue-hopping is the key to some sort of happiness. Just down the block from Corktown Tavern, The Works (1846 Michigan Ave.) is now the final destination spot of choice for Fridays. Kevin Saunderson’s Global night is up and bouncing again. Last year, Global Mondays played host to the likes of Doc Martin, Gene Farris, Carl Cox, Richie Hawtin, Boo Williams and more. Deep House guru Ron Trent graced the decks a few weeks back, so surprises are definitely (cringe) in the works. This week, New York’s Club Shelter resident, Timmy Regisford makes his Detroit debut. Next time around is a record release party for Saunderson’s second Trust the DJ mix.
Thanks to its restaurant license, music at The Works goes so late you’d think you were in a state free from outdated, puritanical laws.
Robert Gorell writes about club life for Metro Times. E-mail [email protected]
