Hit Singles believes that Gina Lynn ranks up there with Jewel D'Nyle, Belladonna, Taylor St. Claire and John Stagliano in porn chicks and dude(s) who delve to the depths of their sexuality to exercise their most base desires and in the process learn something about themselves and maybe teach the viewer a thing or two as well. Lynn's an example of how porn can actually be useful, how it can defy trench coat stereotypes and appeal to men, women and couples. But it's dirty stuff; utilitarian orifices abound in Gina Lynn flicks, which generally eschew any storyline in favor of hand-held vérité gonzo; and she's best in spitty lesbian trysts. She's blond, yeah (of Italian and Puerto Rican descent), but not like the Stepford wife template of Vivid contract girls and waxwork "starlits" common to snooty porn shot poolside at Hollywood mansions. See, Lynn understands the grit, grease and grind of human sexual guile; that level of sexual tension that elevates 5 percent of porn above the other 95 percent of tripe. Check her in Jules Jordon's winning Gina Lynn's Darkside on Evil Angel — her turn with evil-eyed Belladonna and monster-schlonged Lexington Steele is an eye pop. Also highly recommended are the amateur slam reels of Lynn's self-produced Filthy Hos series. Look for her interactive DVD Virtual Blackjack with Gina Lynn (as you win hands, she performs various sex acts, geddit?). Skip the aging and overrated pros like Jenna Jameson. Nah, for them it's all about the filthy lucre. Ms. Lynn does it because she loves sex. If you don't believe us, rent or download one of her shows. You'll also note that Lynn was an Em' squeeze of sorts; well, he stuck her in his SuperMan vid. What's more, Lynn's done a few mainstream parts including that of a "Bada Bing" chick on the Sopranos. Since Lynn is featuring four times in Detroit during dreaded Super Week (Feb. 1, 2, 3 and 5 at the Zoo Bar, 415 E. Congress St., Detroit; 313-961-5005), we thought we'd ask her a couple of things about the Motor City.
On what Gina Lynn digs about Detroit: "The first thing I think — and love — about Detroit is that it's Eminem's hometown. I was in the SuperMan video with him, which really set my popularity off. My good friend and photographer Sam Tang lives in Detroit; he's shot some great pictures of me. Detroit is closer to the East Coast, where I'm from, and there are a lot of cool clubs to party at in Detroit with great restaurants and casinos close by."
On what frightens her about Detroit: "The high crime rate, of course. Airport travel getting there for Super Bowl week, delays, etc. ... Not having enough security for the mass amounts of people in town Super Bowl week. The Super Bowl is such a huge event that Detroit can be a target for terrorist activity. Then there's the harsh weather conditions this time of year."
Nomo mojo
Our fave Ann Arbor Afro-funk ensemble Nomo sees its second album, New Tones, released May 9 on Detroit-adoring, Cali-based Ubiquity Records. (Actually it's Nomo's third release if you count a limited edition CD-R of sparkly live radio performances). Ubiquity, you'll note, is home to fellow Detroiters John Arnold, Jeremy Ellis and Platinum Pied Pipers. New Tones was produced by Warn Defever in Detroit at United Sound Systems and in Benton Harbor at Key Club Recordings. Highlights from the 11-song collection include a cover of Joanna Newsome's "The Book of Right On" and three cuts featuring Chicago avant-jazz flutist Nicole Mitchell. Nomo's as-yet-unrecorded third "proper" record is slated for release on Defever's newly minted Silver Mountain label.
Good show!
The Encore Recordings release party at Blind Pig was turned on its bleeding ear early. As Metal Dungeon, the duo of Wade Kergan and Davin Brainard, scorched with little more than an oscillator, effects rig and industrial lamps. One woman ran for the relative quiet of the 8 Ball downstairs, apparently driven mad by Dungeon's piercing high ends and busted low end sine waves. She might not agree, but their performance was fantastic. Beak Full of Rubies turned in a quieter but no less captivating piece, incorporating violin bows, percussion and a manipulated autoharp. Then Aaron Dilloway (Wolf Eyes) cranked the volume back up, laboring a large box of crazy onto the stage and proceeding to make it roar. As thrilling as the noise pieces were, Alvin Hill's mid-evening DJ set was a welcome grounding wire. Hill mixed fluidly through Afro-pop, Latin groove and vintage breaks, prompting one group of girls to bust a veritable guidebook to old-school hip-hop dance moves. By that point the crowd was well-lubricated, and so was Dykehouse. He took the stage with an impromptu beat box and proceeded to steal the evening, despite only singing over a prerecorded CD-R. It was messy and on the fly, but the crowd ate it up. Not bad for a guy who records everything in his bedroom. Hit Singles missed headliners Saturday Looks Good to Me — M-14 at 1 a.m. is dark and scary. But kudos to Encore for making ears ring and asses move in A2.
White Belts? Gone, daddy.
What does a band featuring Brendan Benson, Jackie White and two Greenhornes sound like? From the double A-side single currently spinning on the Raconteurs' fake-Fortran hokum Web site, a crackle-rock tingle with ego-leveling co-frontman vocals from White and Benson. "Steady, As She Goes" and "Store Bought Bones" both seem to make simplicity real again, in a year when we're probably going to see a lot of types try and fail to make the same sound happen. Here's to professional-grade songwriting.
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