Motor City Rocks » Curtis McGuire

Album Review: Know Better Learn Faster – Thao with the Get Down

Curtis McGuire — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:00:13 +0000

Last May I reviewed a concert of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. They played with Sister Suvi and Samantha Crain. During the show, Thao invited members of the other bands into their set and played several songs along with them, making for an astonishingly wild and active stage. What an amazing performance! With as many as 9 people crammed onto the tiny stage within the Beachland Tavern, I found myself torn between taking photos and dancing. Seeing Thao live and with the caliber of energy that they presented to that crowd seems to have carried over into their new album Know Better Learn Faster – specifically with “Cool Yourself” and my favorite on the album “When We Swarm”, a dashingly slick song that begs you to dance like Ben Afleck in Chasing Amy (You know, in the bar when he’s rubbing his chest and swaying awkwardly). Anyway . . . I also seem to be hearing slight influences from Sister Suvi throughout the album. In Thao’s previous albums they have been, by and large, almost comedic and definitely upbeat with their musical juxtaposition. Know Better Learn Faster does bring some more serious themes to the table. These new elements and change to their already stellar style only solidifies the album’s place within Thao Nguyen’s discography and it comes highly recommended.

Folk Rock Lovers – Eat your heart out.

Don’t miss their upcoming show at the Magic Stick this coming Halloween night!

Curtis McGuire

The Avett Brothers @ City Fest

Curtis McGuire — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:24:00 +0000

The Avett Brothers just released an EP featuring three songs from there upcoming album I and Love and You. I finally got to listen to the recording of their song “Laundry Room”, which I have heard live twice (and is one of my favorite new songs), but had not been released yet. I was slightly disappointed with the recording. Not because it wasn’t well done, but it just wasn’t as good as the live performance. It just felt like it was missing some of that energy that is always present at their live shows. On the other side, both of the other songs on the EP exceed expectations. The title track “I and Love and You” is freekin amazing.

At anyrate, they remain to be one of my favorite bands. Check out the new EP.

Curtis McGuire

Concert Review: Avett Brothers @ Fredrick Meijer Garden

Curtis McGuire — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:06 +0000

I’ve seen the Avett Brothers once, and now I’ve seen them twice – but I won’t stop at three, or four, or five. I’ll return time and time again to witness the passion and energy that never fails to leave Scott Avett dripping with sweat by the end of the show.

They just do not hold back anything at all. They played to a small crowd the first time I saw them, and to a lawn-chair-toting, middle-aged crowd at Frederick Meijer Garden last Thursday evening in Grand Rapids, but they compromised none of their soulful intensity. Nine strings were broken and they had us in the front row looking for a wayward bolt that had sprung from their cymbals. These moments of instrument failure afford opportunities of glorious improv when the band keeps the beat going and the audience contributes clapping to buy time for Scott Avett to trade his banjo for a restrung one. Seth Avett merely says to all this, “We could just get new instruments, [but these work just fine.]“ So instead of new instruments, a mysterious man sits on stage equipped with spares and tools to keep the show going. With their much anticipated release of their forthcoming album, I and Love and You, on September 29, the show was a winning mix of their older super energetic songs and their eyes-closed, hips-swaying, mature endeavors.

They left us with a smashingly rowdy encore (which they always do) played with a chemistry between the four that is a testament to a line in Murder in the City, “Always remember there is nothing worth sharing than the love that let us share our name.” That song is still stuck in my wee brain, and I’m still jealous of the baby next to me they all waved to. He just isn’t old enough to appreciate a gesture like that.

In the three hour drive it took me to get home after the show, I could not listen to any music for fear of tainting the experience that is a live Avett Brothers show.

So don’t miss their FREE show at the upcoming CityFest on Thursday July 2nd at 9pm in Detroit’s New Center Area.

Show recap by Angela Pham
Photography by Curtis McGuire

Curtis McGuire

SpaceWalk Detroit 6/13/09

Curtis McGuire — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:40:56 +0000

I know its last second, but I only just found out about it.

So heres the deal: A van will slowly creep from location to location from about 11:30am to noon the following day, playing from which will be live music from a verity of musicians and performers, some are planned but there is a large amount of space for anyone who just wants to show up and play.

locations and schedule:

Opening Ceremonies – Belle Isle near Aquarium/Conservatory on river side of island.

11:30 – Stunt Kites – Windjammers

11:55 – Aerial Hoop Performance – by Ms. Chantal and Lady Fuschia

Noon – Opening ceremony – a Nigerian offering ceremony dedicating event to the Felicity of Detroit

12:30 – Superhero Soap Opera begins it’s rendition of: “Warrior Girl’s Bubbling Baffling Bailout” featuring hourly “dramatizations”throughout Spacewalk, see the story told, interact and be aware!

1pm – Enjoy the Belle Isle Aquarium & Conservatory

2pm – Belle Isle Scott Fountain

Bellydance performance then travel to …

3pm – Dequindre Cut at St Aubin & Lafayette

Stop along Detroit’s Underground Railroad historical site

Non-motorized parade from Jefferson to Gratiot along the newly opened Dequindre Cut paved activity trail

4pm – Eastern Market gazebo at Russell/Riopelle

5pm – Travel from Eastern Market to Artists Village

Art Car parade

6pm – Artists Village and Detroit Dream Project Temple

City-wide chorus singing Amazing Grace

Tour of Artists Village and the Motor City Java House opening

8pm – Artists Village

Pre-show for Creative Juicez held weekly on Saturdays – connect through spoken word and performance

9pm – Travel from Artists Village to downtown Detroit, Capitol Park / Campus Martius

10pm – Campus Martius surrounding area

Street performances of all types – people painting, poetry slams, acoustic street jams, juggling, stilt walking, sidewalk chalk art, and more… are you an artist? Bring your art – interactive is even better!

Emergence Theater

12am – Times Square Area – Superhero Soap Opera Episode you dont want to miss!

2am – Comerica Park gathering outside

Slow movement of activities to Comerica Park

3am – Comerica Park to NSO (Martin Luther King Blvd and 3rd Ave, up Woodward)

Tip-toe parade – with glowing outfits, umbrellas, stilt walking, winged humans, colorful glowing fun – Quiet for fun, peace, celebration, and play

4am – Neighborhood Service Organization at MLK Blvd & 3rd Ave, vacant lot neighboring – Dj starts

Meetup with Spacewalkers Club from Su-Casa – Projections – Dj

5am – Visit Su-Casa

Location is 2903 14th at Temple – Projections – Dj

6am – Su-Casa

Sunrise ceremony with visual projections continuing – dj – Start movement toward Heidelberg

7am – Heidleberg Project

Visit community and invite for feast – Sing happy birthday

9am – NSO vacant lot

Feast for the homeless and needy

Distribution of clothing, eyeglasses, books, toiletries, and other donations

Art work with those present

noon – NSO vacant lot

Closing ceremony giving thanks

Curtis McGuire

Concert Review: Thao with the Get Down @ Beachland Tavern

Curtis McGuire — Mon, 18 May 2009 01:51:45 +0000

A couple of months ago a friend and I came across a band previously unknown to the both of us - Thao and the Get Down Stay Down. With so much music out there it is difficult to find a band that really syncs with you, really catches your ear and stays with you. Well Thao did this for us. Excited to hear them live we drove to Cleveland last weekend to see them play. Ended up being one of the best shows I’ve been to in quite a while. Not only did Thao rock the fucking house but the two bands they were touring were freekin amazing. First up was Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers, who shares a record label (and a southern inflection) with the Avett Brothers. Second up was Sister Suvi, with more of a folk-meets-punk take.

My top songs from each band

From Sister Suvi’s album “Now I am Champion”: Desolation

From Samantha Crain’s album “Songs in the Night”: Rising Sun

From Thao’a album “We Brave Bee Stings and All”: Swimming Pools

Listen to that shit. and dance.

Samantha Crain will be in Grand Rapids warming up for the Avett Brothers at the Fredrick Meijers Gardens on 6/18/09.

Sister Suvi said they planned on coming back to Detroit in the fall (they played at the Magic Stick a couple months ago).

I’m hoping Thao gets their ass in gear and makes it to the Motor City on their next tour, cause damn are they good.

Curtis McGuire

Rock Lottery @ the Magic Stick: a Night in Photos

Curtis McGuire — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:06:11 +0000

All in all it was a very entertaining night. Many of the bands were very good, worked really well together and had a great sound to them; however, there were the bands that sounded just like what they were – a bunch of people playing together who are in actuality in other bands. Which lead to many awful covers, but also constant surprises and plenty of laughter. Kudos to Virginia and the Magic Stick for pulling the night off . . . but next time get some new MCs (the worst ever). I for one had a good time. Check out the photos.

photos by Curtis McGuire

Curtis McGuire

Petal Shop @ Donovan's Pub

Curtis McGuire — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:38:08 +0000

Curtis McGuire

Petal Shop @ Donovan's Pub

Curtis McGuire — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:58:45 +0000

check out their music here

Curtis McGuire

Opening Night of 'Wonderland' @ the Russell Industrial Center

Curtis McGuire — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:58:51 +0000

A modern retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” through music and burlesque

April 3&4, 10&11 at The Russell Industrial Center
Opening night $10
All other showings $15
Doors @9 Show @10

Curtis McGuire

Saul Williams and John Clayton @ the African American Museum

Curtis McGuire — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:34:50 +0000

Thursday, April 2nd at 8pm Hip Hop Artist and poet Saul Williams played a free show at the Museum of African American History. It was a fantastic show. Saul Williams, accompanied by John Clayton (bassist) played a fine duet of jazz and stunningly slick, fast-paced and poetic vocals by Saul.

Photos by Curtis McGuire