As per usual, there’s a lot of rad shit going on tonight in the D (and elsewhere), from Javelins playing for FREE at the WAB (early show, doors are at 7:30), to another mothafuckin’ FREE show starring one of the most badass noise-pop bands to ever exist ever — Parts and Labor — at PJ’s Lager House.

Free is cool and all, but let’s not forget that sometimes it actually feels good to pay 5 bucks to see a show — especially when said show is being delivered by Knoxville, Tennessee’s Royal Bangs (that five spot, hopefully, will go straight to them). Maybe you saw them open for the Black Keys not too long ago at the Royal Oak Music Theatre? No? That show was too expensive? You liked them better when they played at the Lager House?

Either way, 5 bucks isn’t too much to ask, considering how goddamn excellent Royal Bangs are, and how addictive their new album We Breed Champions (out on Black Keys drummer Pat Carney’s Audio Eagle label) is. If you’re not familiar, think Broken Social Scene-esque progressive pop with a dose of Warp Records-ish electronica, rounded out with a sudsy beer-rock vibe ala the Replacements and Crazyhorse. We know, it sounds like it totally isn’t going to work, but it totally does. It’s loose, it’s adventurous, and it’s hooky in all the right spots.

Don’t take our word for it, though. Watch some clips, and decide for yourself. Total weirdos Benny Stoofy opens the night. — Ryan Allen

“Take On Me” — literally. — Ryan Allen

I ventured out to Pontiac last Thursday to see Deerhunter, whose newest release Microcastle is nothing short of amazing. First up was Disappears, who sounded like Ikara Colt if they were a shoegazer band. It was good, but slightly underwhelming. Hailing from the “blue state of Ohio,” Times New Viking took the stage by storm, reminding us that we were at a live show and that I should probably not fall asleep on my date. Although TNV’s albums are considered lo-fi, their set was anything but. I expected my eardrums to be pierced by feedback, but I was pleasantly disappointed. By the time Deerhunter got onstage, The Crofoot was packed. Bradford Cox noted that Michigan was up to this point, the best stop on their tour. I’m thinking he says that in every city. Cox asked people to throw things on stage at him, while the bass player humbly begged for a cigarette, and got one (and a hat!). Awesomeness.

– Elle Sawa

p.s. did anyone get pics of this show? send some our way…

Last week, I had the privilege of seeing the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson live in concert. He played some wonderful stuff (the cuts from Pet Sounds being my personal favorite), and of course, the classic surfin/sunin/funin/lovin/doo-run-runnin hits of their early years (not a personal favorite). While it was all pretty amazing, I couldn’t help but think of this David Lee Roth video the entire time Wilson and his band trudged through “California Girls” — mostly because I watched a insane amount of MTV as a kid, and because this particular video freaked me out for a number of reason: gigantic boobs, a cast of maniac-looking extras, Diamond Dave’s chest hair, etc. Fasten your seatbelts, sign post up a head…a zousy zousy bop, diddly bop! — Ryan Allen

We made it out to Girl Talk on Tuesday but found ourselves having a sweaty make-out session with some chick from Waterford in the balcony through most of the set so we don’t really have a solid review of the show. But one dude did sent this in (he actually commented but did so on an earlier Girl Talk show review from last year). Sounds like he would’ve rather hung out with me and my gal in the balcony…

From “Matt”:

“This show sucked! Kidtronic sounded like a bunch of 15 year olds screaming into their dad’s microphone about being wasted and having fun. They sucked. The Death Set was the best act all night. Kinda a Sum 41 with an electronic back. This was the only band that had instruments. They were fast and keep my head moving. They were OK. Girl Talk sucked the worse. I barly recognized anything that was played. The genius of Greg’s style is the multiple samples that keeps you rattling off the original artist one after the other. That was absent all night. The set consist of “boom, boom, boom” for a minute long, one random sample, back to ‘Boom, Boom, Boom.’ He was completely unprepared and seemed totally lost all night. I was thoroghly disappointed.”

Were you there? Do you agree? Are you that chick from Waterford?

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Monday night shows in the D are tough. Combine that with a shitty economy and chilly temps and you get a quarter-filled Stick regardless of a stellar lineup. Didn’t matter though; each act swung for the fences but we couldn’t help but wonder what this would’ve been like in the cozy confines of the Garden Bowl. The evening started out with Ann Arbor’s Charlie Slick and co. playing a glittery, confetti-filled set, warming up the crowd and perhaps pissing off the people at the Magic Stick who have to sweep after shows. Best Fwends left me talking with a bit of a speech impediment, not only because of their name but because I got smacked in the mouth with an inflatable gargoyle. They reminded me of Champions of Breakfast, minus the ridiculous CONTINUE READING

The Raconteurs "Old Enough"

Song = Awesomeness. Video = Meh. You decide…

– Harry Caul

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Seriously. They just called on our secret red batphone and said to put you and a friend on their list for the show Monday at the Stick. Small problem; they don’t know your name. They remember you from Rock City, though. Medium height. Freckles. Pseudo-hot. Got a thing for pudgy bloggers. Email us and let us know if you want in; we promise not to stalk you: info@detour-mag.com