Fame, blame and shame

Irresistible Peaches

“Spot the Celebrity in Detroit” — my new favorite game to play! What with Pamela Anderson bouncing her plentiful silicon-enhanced bosom about town with her new beau Kid Rock, and Eminem drawing all sorts of people into town who just want to kick his ass, Detroit is becoming quite the little hotspot for occasional star spotting. And last Wednesday, Marilyn Manson turned up at the Peaches show at the Magic Stick. The maestro of morbid spent the entire night huddled in a dark corner to the left of the stage — most people in the audience knew he was around, but no one was compelled to track him down and demand an autograph. I would have taken a picture, but I feared the über flash on my camera would cause a blinding reflection off his pasty white pallor. And as soon as Peaches, a saucy, half-naked, gravel-voiced minx, took the stage, everyone in the crowd was thinking “Marilyn who?” Peaches manages to be both frightening and irresistible, with her sexed-up one-woman estrogen assault of rap and pseduo-industrial beats, with lyrics that might even make DJ Assault blush. Detroit’s own diva of devilish décolletage, Karen “Queen Bee” Neal, even jumped up on stage to join Peaches at one point. Also present: Wendy Brandon and Scott Sprague, Greg Baise, Becki Hall, and a slightly grossed-out Justin Clark — who was just as tweaked out as I when Peaches threw up on stage. Wow. Wonder if Mr. Manson is gonna swipe that little schtick for his next show.

No tech

In other news, a handful of techno fans got quite the disappointment last weekend, when it was announced the entire mekka tour — a nine-city all-day festival featuring an eclectic mix of hip hop, drum ’n’ bass and techno — has been cancelled. Quite the bummer, actually, since the lineup looked quite promising and much more interesting than Area:One, and many were looking forward to Carl Craig’s special live performance as Paperclip People. Rumor has it the entire tour was cancelled due to lackluster ticket sales — although it seems the majority of attendees would buy their tickets at the door for this sort of thing, no? In any case, the message on the hotline promises that promoters are working to get a few of the featured artists over to the Motor, including Danny Tenaglia of New York.

Bunny bites

So with no mekka, it was off to CPOP for the opening of graffiti artists Crash and Freddi Cerasoli. As gallery-opening vultures sucked down the free food and booze, I chatted with Lori Penyon, owner of two Niagaras, Jamie Latendresse (the real one, not the artificial one), as well as Dani Walker, Owen Matson, DJ Ginger Snapp, and emerald-haired artist Dethany, whose latest fascination is documenting the bunnicular slaughter of her two demon cats, who managed to completely devour a sweet and fluffy little bunny. Mmmm, bunny entrails!

Last Dollar

From there it was off to the Gold Dollar, to catch Eight Ball Grifter and the self-proclaimed industrial strength trashabilly of Psycho Charger, a wacky group of guys from New York with a penchant for performing dressed only in plastic-wrap diapers, Mexican wrestling masks and a healthy dose of fake blood. No Saran Wrap this time around, but drummer Scott McBone was especially happy to play the show as a sort of homecoming, as he hails from Lincoln Park. Despite the disappointing absence of Shinygoth (who was home nursing a fat lip after some Veronica Lake lookalike socked him in the jaw) much merriment was had by all, including Dagnabit from the now-defunct Killbillys, Mack (like the truck) Macross of IPM Radio, Janel “Bad Ass of the Bar Elite” Sparks and Robin Goodfellow.

Alas, nights like this one will soon be a distant memory, as the Gold Dollar is sadly closing its doors for good on Aug. 18. Both Detroit old-school bar veterans and burgeoning scenesters are deeply distraught by the loss of this cozy little dive that oozes character and charm, which has become an institution over the years. So be sure to come out on the 18th and raise your glass in memory of the Dollar.

Skin, skin, skin

And after you’ve drained that glass, cheer your drunken depressed ass up by hustling it over to the Magic Stick for a slew of half-nekked sassy succubi! Revel in the phenomena of Drag Strip — a risqué yet classy burlesque show that has been organized by the masterminds of SPAG Industries. If you were at SPAGtease last year, you’ll know what to expect — a classic 1950s-inspired striptease show with lots of camp, lots of skin, lots of modern pinup girls shaking their hourglass silhouettes, and lots of dollar bills stuffed into fishnet stockings and garter belts. Some of the white-hot impishly sexy performers will include Danielle Arsenal of Crud, Goldie Amore, Popeye the Punk Rock Sailor Man, and yes, yours truly. The show will also feature live performances from the aforementioned Psycho Charger, the Intoxicats and Dangerville — and as a bonus, the ’Ville’s saucy upright-bass player Delilah DeWylde will do a naughty little number before the band’s set. Meow!