Weekend the Wright Way: Friday, August 12
Will Sessions at Cliff Bell’s: We want the funk. Nothin’ but the funk. And we’re in luck. The audibly eclectic instrumental nine-piece band Will Sessions is throwing together three sets of heavy funk tonight at one of the most sensory venues in town, the renovated 30s speakeasy Cliff Bell’s. With vinyl for sale, including Kindred: A Tribute To The Pioneers Of Jazz Fusion, Bobo Breaks, and their limited edition funk 45s on Funk Night Records, we can take Session’s soul home. First set starts at 10 p.m. Funk stops round in the mornin’.$10. More: cliffbells.com.
IDentity Festival at DTE Energy Music Theatre: DJ Shadow is one of the originators of and a preeminent force in electronic music. His new record on Verve, The Less You Know The Better is promised to be yet another masterpiece of experimental hip-hop. Also on the bill is Pretty Lights, who I just saw at Lollapalooza and they threw a party within a party. Good times. The enthralling longhair DJ Steve Aoki is and a slew of dub step dudes are playing, too. But I was done with dubstep before it got started. $50. Doors open at 1 p.m. More info at palacenet.com.
Awesome Fest at Majestic Complex: The annual throwdown at the Majestic Complex is upon us. Expect tons of bands, from Detroit and elsewhere, representing a stratum of genre, from punk to soul. Friday’s lineup includes the Likes of Melvin Davis as well as garage rockers The Sugarcoats. All ages. $15. Doors at 6 p.m. More info: majesticdetroit.com.
Weekend the Wright Way: Saturday, August 13
Awesome Fest at Majestic Complex: The tonal barrage continues with the likes of electro-indie dude Dentl, who is one half of Postal Service with Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie. Saturday is also Yacht, Phantasmagoria, Chapstik, and a Fierce Hot Mess dance party. Seriously, something for everyone. And the price is right. All ages. $15. Doors at 6 p.m. More info: majesticdetroit.com.
Chris Webber Collection at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: While there’s no rush to get there, because the exhibit is up till April 2012, I’m headed to Charles H. Wright to check out the majestic relics from American black history collected by NBA star and Detroit native Chris Webber. Documents and possessions once belonging to Paul Robeson, Booker T. Washington, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, among others, are on display . More: thewright.org.
Rise of the Basement Dweller: Fel3000FT at 323 East Gallery: After decades of standing in the shadows, ducking cops, building a legacy for his singular style while mentoring other graffiti writers, the truly underground Detroit street artist legend FEL3000FT (a guy who once had his own room in which to work inside the Michigan Central Station) emerges Saturday, in a gallery of all places, to finally be recognized for his immense talent. There’s an opening reception Saturday, from 6 to 11 p.m. and the show is up until Sept. 7. More: 323east.com.
Weekend the Wright Way: Sunday, August 14
CityBuild’s Roosevelt Park Party: Going down on Sunday’s in Corktown, in the shadow of that monolith that was once a train station, the community gathers for a day party in the park. The weather is going to be beautiful, and there’ll drinks, food, dodge ball and a slip & slide to enjoy while DJs and electronic producers the likes of Erno the Inferno, Coyote Clean Up, and Dial 81 provide the soundtrack. Party goes from 2 to 8 p.m at 2200 Michigan Ave., Detroit. More info: citybuild.us.
Weekend the Wright Way: Tuesday, Aug. 16
My Morning Jacket & Neko Case at Meadowbrook Music Festival: Closing in on their near-decade-long career, no My Morning Jacket record ever sounds like the last and their latest, Circuital, is no different. But their legacy lives in their live show, which is widely acclaimed as perhaps the best of all American bands. I’ve seen ‘em a few times, and I have to admit it’s hard to argue against that claim. It’s a real rock show. It’s loud, it’s long, the light show is a trip and almost every song is accompanied by a choir of thousands. Canadian maven Neko Case (New Pornographers) opens, which is a tasty little treat. $40.50 pavilion and general admission pit, $26 for a spot on the lawn. Doors at 7 p.m. More info: palacenet.com.
Chris Bathgate with Matt Jones and The Spinning Leaves: Can’t get out to Meadowbrook but your still feigning for soul shaking folk rock, eh? Dig it: Michigan’s premier indie folk artist, Chris Bathgate, is at the Magic Stick in Midtown the same night. Recently featured in Paste Magazine’s “Best of What’s Next” issue, alongside Generationals, tUnE-yArDs (my favorite new band), and My Morning Jacket guitarist Carl Broemel, Chris Bathgate, who’s band is comprised of intensely capable musicians, structures his songs around harrowing vocals and experimental, instrumental movements. Have you ever been experienced? All ages. $10. Doors at 8 p.m. More: majesticdetroit.com.
