Springsteen be proud — Detroit is still Rock City. In an era of electric eeks and zaps, two of the loudest downtown venues have yet to forget the splendid reverb of a bass in your gut. Here’s the word: Magic Stick (4120 Woodward, Detroit — 313-833-9700) and St. Andrew’s (431 E. Congress, Detroit — 313-961-MELT) are switching up their weekly schedule of musical offerings to make room for the boom. Starting with an ampful, Magic Stick will begin a weekly Wednesday rock-night, DJ-dance sort of evening in September. That’s all they’ve said for now, but details will be rock ’n’ rollin’ in soon.
Don’t sweat yourself out on Wednesdays though, because in place of St. Andrew’s Friday night “3 Floors of Fun,” the sacrosanct venue that has sat Bob Dylan and Patti Smith down will begin “Rock City” on Friday, Sept. 29. It’ll be three floors, with live up-and-coming bands in the Shelter, and guitar-and-bass rock on the other two. Each week will feature different artists with, oh, yes, national names checking in to host. The gig is a 10 p.m.-2 a.m. thing for 18-and-uppers. And to ice the cake, giveaways feature CDs, guitars, tattoos and trips (vacations), so you’ll always rawk away happy.
As part of the schedule starting on the 29th, hip-hoppers can bust into St. Andrew’s “Elektrik Kingdom” each Sunday for an additional corner of “Three Floors of Fun”-style rhythm.
Louder reasons to hang.
Rebecca Mazzei is Metro Times arts and culture editor. Send comments to [email protected]
