Metro Detroit Concerts: Jesse Palter in Michigan, Old Main Records Inaugural Show
CultureShift’s Jeff Milo runs down local concerts and shows to catch in metro Detroit the weekend of Jan 17 to 18, 2020.
Welcome to “Milo Minute,” delivering all you need to find a local show or fest to attend this weekend in about 60 seconds, give or take. And we mean ‘local.’
Longtime Detroit music journalist Jeff Milo has been plugging ears into the Detroit scene for years with some prolific blogging, starting in the mid 00’s with Deep Cutz, and continuing with his new site and ongoing podcast, “Ideas Adrift.” Here, he gives us his rundown for what music to catch this weekend.
Friday, January 17
EP release for Red Electric Shark at Ziggy’s
What: Red Electric Shark are a Hamtramck-based band, but they’ll be in Ypsilanti at Ziggy’s for their EP release party.
Who’s playing: They create this groovy, but minimalist, comforting quirk-pop, with rock instrumentation. It feels a bit dadaist to me.
Sounds like: We’re going to check out a track called “Runner Runner.”
Old Main Records Launch Party at Saint Andrew’s Memorial Episcopal Church
What: Patrick Norton, local music enthusiast behind the grassroots arts organization known Nice Place Detroit, has planned a multimedia event with a great lineup of local bands. It’s the start of a new record label known as Old Main Records, a project from Wayne State University.
Who’s playing: There will be music by the experimental indie/electro-rock band Dirt Room and rock group Mac Saturn, but also artwork on display by a wide array of local visual artists. Two other bands and musical artists of note on the lineup are the high-energy garage-punk powerhouse known as the Stools, who notably just put out a record on Jack White’s own Third Man Records, called “When I Left;” and indie-folk side of things with Craig Garwood, who makes these tender, lo-fi ballads, and, along with Dirt Room, is committed to working with Old Main Records in the near future.
Sounds like: Craig Garwood’s “Chore 2”
Saturday, January 18
Jesse Palter Performs at 20 Front Street
What: Jesse Palter, who recently relocated to Los Angeles, has quite a musical pedigree; she grew up doing musical theatre, and was a multi-instrumentalist, piano, trumpet, oboe and is an alumnus of the University of Michigan’s School of Music, where she established herself as a jazz singer, and went on to win three consecutive Detroit Music Awards in the jazz vocalist category. She’s on her way here to her home state, a bit north of Detroit, at 20 Front Street, an intimate listening room that truly celebrates the craft of song and the beauty of vocalists in the jazz, folk, blues, and Americana genres.
Sounds like: Jesse Palter’s “Paper Trail”
Billy Davis’ Mighty Rhythm Machine at Bowlero Lounge
What: Bowlero Lounge has been booking some great legacy acts into their cozy space within the Bowlero Bowling Alley, having recently featured Ultimate Ovation, and now they have Billy Davis, with his band, Rhythm Machine.
Who’s playing: Davis is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, who worked with Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and is a celebrated solo singer/songwriter of blues-rock.
Sounds like: This track by Billy Davis’ Rhythm Machine is called “I’m All Alone.”
