I Hate Rock & Roll

This weekend I'm going to be a part of a real community thing, an event called the Metro Times Blowout, f.k.a. The Hamtramck Blowout (guess they needed some visible backing). Here's a fact: the Metro Times is a real piece of shit. I don't care if it's free. I don't care if it's the only rag that spotlights area happenings. First off, like most things in this dead-ass city it's second rate and piss-poor. It has the hardest website to find anything on, & it's supposed to be this purveyor of all Detroit area activities. Anyway, the MTB is 30000 bands in 2500 venues, more or less. But the good thing about this event is that most of the acts are nobodies, or purt' near. You get some names you've heard of, but the only ones that your Aunt Fanny's heard of are usually has-beens or else they're church festival regulars The Polish Muslims. But the thing is it's a sense of community, and a big ol' party. There may be performances you remember for the rest of your life, but for the most part, it's a noisy crazy night out.

F'rinstance, I'm going specifically to see Powertrane, which is Scott Morgan's band, he of The Rationals and Sonic's Rendezvous Band, both of which were the best bands in town in their respective day. Hopefully they'll repeat last year's stellar performance (I was very impressed to say the least). Scott Morgan's older than me (wow!) but there's no nostalgia in his band. They really rock out. And this year he adds special guest Mitch Ryder. Now I've heard some of his stuff long after he was someone of importance (first time around with the Detroit Wheels and his hippie-based "comeback" with Detroit in 1971), & to be blunt he sucked. Maybe he's trying for real again. I'm kinda expecting disappointment, because that's the way it is. He used to have one of the best white soul voices in rock, and coupled with Scott Morgan (who also had that same distinction) it could be a real "moment".

Last year The Sights, who at one point were the Next Big Thing complete with raves from the UK press (a high watermark), were so drunk they couldn't finish any songs and in some cases couldn't even start some! I thought Hasil Adkins came back to life & got a band (look him up). I left after about 20 minutes of this. Pretty safe to say The Sights are now in BOTH the has-been and never-quite-was categories. A probable contributing factor: frontman Eddie Baranek's advanced stage of male pattern baldness! Maybe he should hire Scott Morgan as a consultant, because he is also losing his hair (he's 60, whaddaya expect) & he sports the requisite beret -"hey, I'm still cool"-It may be too little too late for ol' Ed. He never had a hit record that Aretha copied (yes, it was the Rationals' version of "Respect" that made the Queen Of Soul sing for her supper)

I understand this years act to catch is The Universal Temple Of Divine Power, a screaming guitar combo that worships at the alter of the High Energy god of old.

Scott Morgan, Mitch Ryder, High Energy - where are they playing, Tartar Field or The Kite In?