Thursday Night Blowout Hits

By Doug Coombe

Mar 7, 2009 at 6:34 pm

Audio By Carbonatix

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Started out by checking out the amazing guitar heavy pop of Citizen Smile at Small's. Reminiscent of early Teenage Fanclub and bass player Adam Padden is arguably the Paul McCartney of Detroit. Besides, any band with a singer named James Brown is cool with me.

Keeping the ridiculously good guitar pop alive at Small's was Eric Weir's new band Solitary States which did a killer version of "Ever Fallen In Love" by the Buzzcocks. Both bands have an album in the works. I can't wait.

One of the things I love about Blowout is when you get to see a heavily hyped band and they wind up being all that. Case in point: Millions of Brazilians, who are easily one of the most high-energy acts in Detroit. Consider me a big fan.

Went to the Painted Lady to catch the Pizazz who practice a more lo-fi yet psychedelic form of pop. They just finished recording a new album with the Go's frontman Bobby Harlow. Can't wait to hear that one, either.

Ran back to Small's to catch Mick Bassett & the Marthas. I don't understand why Mick isn't bigger. He's one of the best songwriters in Detroit, backed up by one the D's best bands.

Finished the evening at the Belmont catching Timmy's Organism...which is what happens you strip Human Eye of its (awesome) punk and performance art aspects. What's left? A balls out full-throttle rock band.