Concert Review: Under My Heels @ Magic Bag
Do you remember where you were on Friday, May 8th? No matter what your answer, you should have been at the Magic Bag for Under My Heels – A Detroit Rock Extravaganza. Very rarely can you see five great acts in one evening, and apparently a lot of people did – the bands played to a sold out crowd. If you passed the show up, here’s a re-cap of what you missed:
First up, The Hard Lessons, an East Lansing-based band. The trio has a Motown/R&B/rock sound, something that few groups in the area can pull off. Unfortunately, I arrived after their set, but have been fortunate enough to catch them before. With Augie (Gin) Visocchi on guitar and lead vocals, Christophe (The Anvil) Zajek-Denek on drums and Korin (Ko Ko Louise) Cox on keyboards and vocals, The Hard Lessons bring the soul back to Motown. Ko Ko’s powerful vocals stand beside some of the strongest Motown tracks.
Next, Los Coronados took the stage while Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! played on a screen behind them. Comprised of members from The Avatars and The Sirens, the trio has a pure rock n’ roll sound – even singing in Spanish for a song or two. Playing only their second show…ever, Los Coronados rocked the Magic Bag to its core. The group, originally formed in Argentina, showed their South American roots when drummer Claudia Leo abandoned her sticks for maracas. Los Coronados includes Charlie Lorenzi on lead vocals and guitar, Claudia Leo on drums and Melody Liscious on bass and backing vocals. I think it’s safe to say Los Coronados are well on their way to becoming a rock favorite.
The Avatars took the stage next. The Ann Arbor-based group has a poppy, catchy sound that keeps your feet tapping. Probably one of the best-dressed groups in the city, The Avatars light up the stage whenever, and wherever, they play. With Mariah Cherem on lead vocals and tambourine, Chris (Box) Taylor on lead guitar and backing vocals, Charlie Lorenzi on guitar, Theresa Kiefer on bass and Claudia Leo on drums, the quintet kept everyone in the venue movin’ and shakin’ through their entire set.
With their new album Birth of a Lover for sale, The Nice Device shimmied up to the stage next. Fronted by Alicia Gbur (vocals, guitar), the band – not quite “garage rock”, not quite “mainstream” – weaves a sound that can knock you off your feet. Catchy song writing, driving rhythms and Gbur’s pop vocals are a great combination. Matt Lannoo (guitar, vocals), Matt Hatch (bass, vocals) and Nick Gerhardt (drums) round out the quartet and fill out the sound.
The Sirens, headlining Under My Heels – A Detroit Rock Extravaganza, took the stage around midnight. Never failing to impress, with their music or fashion sense, these five talented ladies rocked the sold out crowd – hard core. With a red, white and blue, Evil Knievil inspired ensemble, The Sirens did what they do best…rock out. Deanne (drums), Michelle (bass), Melody (guitar), Aran (guitar), and Muffy (vocals) thoroughly entertained the crowd – as they always do. Always a fan of surprises, The Sirens brought a special guest saxophonist on stage for their Alice Cooper and Aerosmith covers – the last two songs of the evening. Kelly Argyle of the Afflictions added an element to the show that’s not normally seen in Detroit. Her sassy saxophone playing provided a wonderful end to a rock packed night. -Jacquie Trost
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