Boyz II Men – Harmonizing Motorcity Casino Hotel

For the music world Boyz II Men represent a unique mixture of Hip Hop and R&B. The decision to give everyone in the group a leading role has had a big effect on their career and it’s rather unfortunate that their big bass voice, Michael McCary, decided to call it a day due to medical reasons. Nevertheless, Shawn, Nathan and Wanya still has some magic to spread and on Friday, 21 November, they will be spreading that magic in the Motorcity Casino Hotel, Detroit. Given that their new album “Collide” is set for release in September, fans can expect to hear mostly new material.

Looking back over the years Boyz II Men has definitely made an impact on the music industry. More importantly, they find themselves among record holders like Elvis Presley and The Beatles. These three were the only artists capable of replacing their own number one spot on the Billboards Top 100 with their own songs.  Boyz II Men also managed to beat Elvis’s record by staying in the top position for 13 weeks with the cover single “End of the road”. As if that isn’t impressive enough they went on to break their own record with the hit written by Babyface called “I’ll make love you to”, which stuck to no.1 for 14 weeks. However, a collaborative song with Mariah Carey, namely “One Fine Day”, still holds the record with 16 weeks.

The reason why Boyz II Men is so successful is because they are able to harness fans across musical borders. Instead of keeping to the typical boy-band guidelines and covering the strong hip-hop beats with more harmony, they captured the attention of just about everyone. Another unique aspect can be seen in the lyrics for some of the songs, for example “Water Runs Dry” and “Four Seasons of Loneliness”. Even though they didn’t play a huge part in writing the songs, they used writers who sought to break away from mainstream R&B image. This has garnered a lot of respect for the group and the covers they did outside of their genre also made them stand out. For those who don’t know, the song “Yesterday” that featured on their popular “II” album is in fact a Beatles song.

Times have changed and they have yet to produce so much success as they did at the start of their career. However, they are still doing very good and fans still love the harmony they deliver. The R&B and Hip-Hop scene is very unforgiving and new the talent only gets a couple of years, if they are lucky, before they are forgotten. Unlike Rock where there is a place for veterans in the classic section, guys like Boyz II Men have a much tougher time staying in the business. Well guess what, they have managed to do it quite elegantly. Their voices still flow perfectly together and they still contribute something different to the music industry.  To get your taste of old-school harmonizing then book your ticket for 21 November at the Motorcity Casino Hotel in Detroit. 

Twenty One Pilots Live at The Filmore, Detroit

Creating something that is truly unique in the music industry today is a rare commodity, and it seems Twenty One Pilots has done exactly that. In fact, their style is so different that it’s classified under “Schizophrenic Pop”, which is yet to be established as a pop genre. Detroit fans who are already familiar with their songs, and those who have yet to discover it, can enjoy their performance on Thursday, 2 October, in The Filmore.

Even though Twenty One Pilots is no stranger to the popular MTV channel, they are still relatively unknown to the rest of the world. It took 2 self-recorded albums and a sold out show to get the attention of big labels, and in 2012 they signed a contract with “Fueled by Ramond”, a sub division of Atlantic Records. The band originally formed in 2009 with 3 college friends namely, Tyler Joseph, Nick Thomas and Chris Salih. Joseph derived the name of the band from a play he was studying, and it represents the moral dilemma of the human condition.

The first self-recorded album they released was in 2009 and simply called “Twenty One Pilots”. This was followed by a second self-recorded album in 2011 by the name of “Regional at Best”. Up until that point the three guys generated a stable fan base, but it wasn’t enough to convince Thomas and Salih to keep going. Tyler on the other hand decided to stick with it and was joined by Josh Dun, better known as the live drummer for “House of Heroes”, and this is the duo that currently makes up Twenty One Pilots. The regret Salih and Thomas had about leaving must have stung bad, because only a few months later Joseph and Dun played for a sold out audience and received various offers from popular labels.

Defining the type of music they fall into is a very difficult task. Their blend is one of the most creative compositions today, and they have no problem flowing between Rock, Pop, Indie and even Rap if the lyrics are too long for the melody. The songs are typically piano driven, although the type of piano differs from time to time. It also consists of drums, synthesizers and every now and again a ukulele is thrown into the mix. Tyler is in charge of the lead vocals and the lyrics are poems that he writes.

For a two man band Twenty One Pilots is very entertaining and interesting. They might be new to the scene, but they contribute heavily to the expressive side of music as supposed to creating sing-a-long pop songs fit for commercial radio. Their sound is distinct and will help them greatly in reaching new heights. Make a note Detroit, they are coming your way and you don’t have any excuse not to be there. This particular tour dominantly promotes their debut album since signing with a label and it’s called “Vessel”. These guys are the future of the music world, so take a listen. 

Tori Amos will be lighting up the Fox Theatre, Detroit

If there ever was a solo female act who managed to bridge the troubled waters of music industry politics in order to keep her music expressive, it’s Tori Amos. As the youngest pupil to be awarded a full scholarship to the Peabody Institute, at the age of 5, she was also the youngest pupil to rebel at this prestige Johns Hopkins University at age 11. On Wednesday, 6 August she will be rebelling at the amazing Fox Theatre in Detroit.

This tour is based on her 14^th studio album called “Unrepentant Geraldines” and it sees Tori coming back to her roots in terms of style. Since 2009 she had taken a very experimental route, seeing as she needed to find some inspiration to break the barriers of whatever kept her creative juices from flowing. She went from classical influences to more modern, wave sounds; only to come back to what made her so enchanting in the first place. Fans can expect to hear bright melodies, very personal lyrics and her wide vocal range for this show. More notably, fans will get to hear Tori explore a variety of subjects that cover women’s rights, politics and stories from her life, or snapshots as she likes to refer to them.  

Hardcore fans won’t find it hard to remember her first breakthrough album called “Little Earthquakes” which was released in 1992. The reason I mention this is because Tori has transformed rather differently compared to most veterans. While it seems like so many great artists either lose their edge at some point, or try frantically to hold on to it, she has made a graceful transition into adulthood without any compromise. The only people who can really be compared to her are artists like Fiona Apple and Mazzy Star, both of whom are very unique entities.

Since she started her musical career Tori has always been true to herself and fearless in her repertoire. She is one feminist guys tend to like, and if you are like me, you listen as well. It’s simply not possible to ignore her energy. What makes her live shows even better is the sheer quality. Every pitch is perfect and every sound is crisp. If you close your eyes you won’t be able to tell whether it’s an album that’s playing or a live performance.

Ticket sales start at $51 and it doesn’t matter where you sit. Just being in the same theatre with the one and only Tori Amos is enough to take you on a spiritual journey from which you don’t want to return. In other words, if you are in the Detroit area on 6 August, then you have no excuse not to be inside the Fox Theatre. Just imagine the envy of all your friends when you tell them about the magnificent Tori Amos, and witnessing her ability to still send goose bumps up your spine.  

The Black Keys & Cage the Elephant Breaks Down the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit

Before you get too excited, they haven’t broken down the Joe Louis Arena yet, but after 12 September it will be a miracle if the stadium survives. What a spectacular concert this is going to be, because you’ve got your good old fashioned garage rock on one side, and some modern garage rock on the other. If this isn’t a garage rock revival I don’t know what is. Watch out Detroit, September is going to be a month to remember.

Let’s start with The Black Keys, a two man band who’s been working their fingers to the bone in order to get some attention. Dan Auerbach (guitars and vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums) didn’t exactly walk in the same social circles in school, but music brought them together and thank heavens it did. College dropouts and broke, these two started jamming since high school. Using Carney’s basement as a recording studio, they recorded a quick demo to start promoting themselves for gigs. A small Indie record label by the name of “Alive” was the only company that was willing to sign them at that time.

These two truly had a slow start, given that their first album released in 2002 called “The Big Come Up” didn’t generate many sales. However, it did create a solid fan base which took them to the next level. Mowing lawns to fund their first tour and recording every album in some kind of basement, even after signing with “Nonesuch Records”, placed them in a league of their own. Their 5^th album “Attack & Release” was the first album to see the inside of a professional studio and critics regard it as a masterpiece. The live and raw sound they produced is what makes garage rock such a unique genre.

Cage the Elephant is somewhat of a different story. This 4 piece band came together in 2006 and two years later their debut album “Cage the Elephant” was released and their success grew quite quickly. Just like The Black Keys, they use a mixture of indie, funk and blues in their sound, but their albums are just a little more polished. They also decided to start their careers in the UK which seemed to have helped in their quick shot to fame. Nevertheless, Cage the Elephant sounds great. They have great control over their electric sound and they are breathing new life into garage rock. In 2013 they released their third studio album entitled “Melophobia”.

When these bands come together it’s sure to produce a climax of a different kind. Detroit fans who was so eager to see a decent garage rock show can start lining up, because the walls of the Joe Louis Arena will come down once they start. You don’t get a lot of chances to experience a revival such as this one so don’t miss it. Friday night, 12 September at 8 p.m. history will be made. 

Pearl Jam in Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI

What can be said about Pearl Jam that hasn’t already been said? Since the 1980’s they have been gathering fans and till today they still manage to deliver some of the most moving, powerful rock shows the music community has ever witnessed. Their latest album “Lightning Bolt” will be their focus point for this tour and the date to give Detroit fans what they so dearly crave has been set on Thursday, 16 October in the Joe Louis Arena.

It’s no secret that Pearl Jam takes their time when it comes to making an album and “Lighting Bolt” was no exception. Each member had their own solo project going on before getting together for their 10^th studio album and front man Eddie Vedder admitted that it helped everyone to grow a little bit. Jeff Ament (bass) recorded a solo album while Stone Gossard (guitar) spent some time with his existing side project called “Brad”. Mike McCready (guitarist) formed a new group called “Walking Papers” and Matt Cameron (best drummer on earth) rejoined long time band “Soundgarden”. Mr. Vedder did a solo tour, exploring folk style a little more.

The true beauty of the band is that they are all original members except for Cameron, who debuted on the “Binaural” album. Their ambition to inspire their fans instead of living a rock star lifestyle is known all around the world and even now their activism against all that is cruel is still evident. Every fan has a favorite album, a favorite member and a favorite song. My personal favorite is the “Riot Act” album and the single “I am mine”, but every fan knows that if one member falls away then Pearl Jam won’t be the same.

People who haven’t taken the time to go and see the best rock band in the world, there is no time like the present. Vedder’s voice is inspiring as ever, Gossard’s geeky posture compliments his flawless technique, McCready’s riffs make legends like Jimi Hendriks proud, Ament’s bass brings everything together and Cameron’s arms keeps on moving like a giant octopus behind his drums. Their versatility to switch between hard, aggressive rock songs to sincere ballads is astounding and flawless.

Ticket prices start from $79 and the Joe Louis Arena allows for some interesting seats. If you live in Detroit then grab this opportunity with both hands, because these guys play every show as if it’s their last. There won’t be any shortage of talent, spirit and good old fashioned rock music. Vedder might not be climbing high structures and stage diving like he has done so many times, he’s not so young anymore, but his performance along with the rest of the band is epic to say the least.  There is a reason why Pearl Jam has kept their fan base so strong. Maybe it’s because they manage to connect so deeply with the crowd, or maybe it’s their ability to share their passion openly and honestly.  

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Masonic Temple Detroit

On the 29^th of July, at 8 pm, the Masonic Temple in Detroit will be graced with one of the most influential rock bands the world has ever seen. I personally remember their contribution to the X-Files soundtrack with “Red Right Hand” and their latest album “Push the Sky Away” has been hailed as a masterpiece. Ladies and gentleman of Detroit City, prepare yourselves for the one and only Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.

The band originated from a group Nick Cave brought together in 1983 called The Birthday Party, but creative difference saw the members going in different directions. Since then The Bad Seeds have made some changes in terms of band members, but Nick’s vocals have kept the character of sound in check. I have yet to hear somebody perform a murder ballad like these guys do. Like all good rock bands they have experimented extensively over the years and even though their first few albums were mainly based on a post-punk sound, they didn’t stop there. Gothic, wave, blues and garage rock all started to become part of the experience and it’s safe to assume that they aren’t finish yet.

The big change in sound and style had to be in 1997 when Cave started to write more personal songs and piano driven ballads. How did the fans react to not seeing the aggressive band they were used to? Well they made the transition so well the fans could only love it. It goes without saying that Nick is an artistic being and has faced some internal troubles in his life, but it has definitely helped the band to grow. Now, more than 30 years later Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have reached a point where everything they touch is simply amazing. Their live performances have always been captivating and mind-blowing, which means the Masonic Temple can make some space in its history books.

Ticket prices range between $63 and $633, depending on how far you want to be from seeing the enigma that is The Bad Seeds. They have truly left a footprint in music, starting with Australia and ending with the rest of the world. If you haven’t had the liberty of seeing them live or listening to their album then people of Detroit, don’t let this chance pass you by. If you’re not scared to explore the dark side of romance this is definitely the show to see.

For those of you who are familiar with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, hopefully they will play some classics like “The Ship Song” or maybe they can even make everyone’s day by inviting the gorgeous Kylie Minogue to sing the murder ballad “Where the Wild Roses Grow”, although the latter is wishful thinking. Nevertheless, the band has 15 solid albums to their name and it doesn’t look like they plan on stopping. After Tuesday, 29^th July, Detroit will never be the same again.       

Coheed and Cambria & Thank you Scientist – Live at the Filmore, Detroit

The tour of Coheed and Cambria & Thank you Scientist can be described as the veterans mixing with the newbies. Audiences will be experiencing quite a mixture of sound between the two bands, especially when you look at Coheed and Cambria’s progressive rock approach compared to the fusion and jazz Thank you Scientist throws into their opinion of progressive rock. Tuesday, 30 September, Detroit fans can get a first-hand experience of what is going to emerge between these two in the Filmore.

The Coheed and Cambria project started in 1995, but it wasn’t till a few years later that the band changed their name to what it is today. Before the name change in 1998 the band was called Shabutie, originally formed by Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever. Unfortunately there was some internal conflict and Stever decided to break away, leaving Sanchez as the only original member. Thanks to Sanchez’s side project, which is writing a series of comic books known as “The Amory Wars”, the band decided to focus all their albums on this story. It was also where they got the new name for the band.

What is really surprising is that their first studio album was released in 2002 called “The Second Stage Turbine Blade”. This means they spent quite a lot of time experimenting with different songs and styles before making anything permanent. They dabbled with Punk, Acoustic, Funk, Indie and Heavy Metal, and this can be heard in pretty much all their albums. Coheed and Cambria reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins when it comes to troubles within in the band, but it seems they’ve managed to gather a group that really works well together. If there is one word fans will use to describe them it’s diverse. One moment they’ll be serenading you with acoustics and harmony, and the next song will hit as hard as a Slayer song.

Thank you Scientist on the other hand is still relatively unknown. This seven piece band hails from New Jersey and their live shows have become quite a discussion point. In 2011 they released their debut album called “The Perils of Time Travel”, although it’s an EP with only five songs. It’s nice to see young bands paying their dues before hitting the big market, and what better way to help them get a foot in the door then playing with the loved and respected Coheed and Cambria.  

The only plans you should be making for 30 September is buying a ticket to go and see these two groups perform. Ticket prices start from $45 and there is no doubt in my mind that the show is going to be as intelligent as it’s going to be entertaining. Given that both bands love to experiment and focus on the more undiscovered side of lyrics, it’s not really possible to predict what is going to happen. All I do know is that it’s going to be worth every second.

A Night with Counting Crows in Motorcity Casino Hotel, Detroit

Friday, 18 July is more than just the beginning of another weekend. In fact it’s one of the most awesome days of 2014, because Counting Crows will be jamming in Motorcity Casino Hotel at 7:30 pm. That’s right Detroit fans; it’s your turn to welcome a band who puts a lot of emphasis on live shows. This tour will feature songs from the new album called “Somewhere under Wonderland” and of course, favorites from the last 7 years.

As one of the rock bands who probably have the most members, it’s ironic that they only started out with 2 guys in 1991. These two are lead vocalist Adam Duritz and guitarist David Bryson. 23 years later they are still adored by fans across the world. Critics have described the band as masters of live entertainment and Adam always makes sure that there is one song that won’t sound the same. More specifically, he’ll completely change parts of a song to suite the mood. They’ve also been hailed for their acoustic performances, which is also how Adam and David started the two man band.

It’s been a long road since their first album “August and Everything After” made its appearance in 1993 and like so many other bands, a lot of changes were made in terms of band members. For example, Jim Boigios was the third replacement drummer. Nevertheless, Counting Crows kept looking forward and there is never a boring moment when they are on stage. An interesting mental note is that for a band that’s been in existence for more than 20 years, they have only made 7 studio albums, which include the latest one. It’s no secret that many artists wished they had kept their album numbers so low, because it usually means more thought and attention went into every single one.

What I really like about Counting Crows are the risks they take in terms of live performances. A particular risk they took was in 2009 with the “Saturday Night Rebel Rockers Traveling Circus and Medicine Show", which was a collaboration with two other bands, Spearhead and Augustana. Instead of following the typical concert routine, all three bands started the show together. Nothing was really planned out and they played each other’s songs. The band members literally ran to and from the stage, depending on who wanted to play. These are the type of shows that make history and presents true talent. It was such a success that they did it again the following year.

There are simply no regrets after attending a Counting Crows concert. It’s energetic, intimate and sentimental all at once. This is also why 18 July should be reserved in your diary, because it will kick off your weekend in the best possible gear. Ticket sales start at $141 and it’s pretty much a golden pass to what is going to be best concert the Motorcity Casino Hotel is hosting this year.