In the “D”: Lightning Love – Good Time (Video)
Posted on February 20th, 2010
Lightning Love are a new “party-pop”, power-trio from Ypsilanti, Michigan. It’s members– Leah Diehl, Aaron Diehl and Ben Collins– find a way to craft a sound that lives somewhere between The Postal Service and She & Him. Live, the three member band rotates positions on stage for different songs and have had the opportunity to open shows for such acts as Nico Vega, Chris Bathgate and the Von Bondies.
Last year, Lightning Love released their debut record, November Birthday and scored a digital distribution deal with Michigan record label, Quite Scientific. This year seems like it will be just as eventful for the band as they recently had their first video (for the track “Good Time”) debut on Pitchfork.tv. The video pairs the happy, pop sounds of the band and adds the gritty visuals of old, biker men doing old, biker men things (over-pouring whiskey, getting into scuffles, riding their bikes, ya know). Take a gander at the video below:
Full Disclosure (just in case on of the guys from QuiSci reads this, he knows my thoughts): At first, I was somewhat “lukewarm” on Lightning Love. After listening to the band and seeing them live a few times, they do create really catchy tunes. No lie. Get on this bus before all of your other, hip-er friends do.
More Lightning Love: MySpace | Facebook
Quite Scientific Records: quitescientific.com
Tags: In the D, lightning love, Music
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In the “D”: Holler At Ya Boys (Shigeto Remix)
Posted on February 18th, 2010
If you have spent any time in the Ann Arbor area, there is a good chance that you have heard the name Zachary Saginaw. If not, you might know him better by his alias’: the minimal techno juggernaut Frank Omura, or the abstract to ambient artist, Shigeto. Zachary had been showing off his skills for quite some time in and around the Ann Arbor scene until the hustle paid off and he was acquired by (his current label) Moodgadget.
Recently, Zachary has transplanted from Ann Arbor to (the uber-hip) Brooklyn, New York to be closer to a more accepting scene and label founder Jakub Alexander. The move might have been a good look if this recent remix is any peek into what is to come from Shigeto.
In this mix, Shigeto turns a laid-back beat into a mind/ear blender. With noticeable beat influence from the likes of Dabrye and Flying Lotus, Mr. Geto makes you wonder if you should be bobbing your head or jakin’ across the dancefloor. In his own words: “I took a little more rugged, minimal approach to it. Focusing more on the vocals and keeping the groove rather than throwing in a bunch of fancy shit.”
Get more Shigeto on his Facebook page.
Tags: In the D, Music, Shigeto
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In The “D”: Spur Studios / VG Kids
Posted on February 3rd, 2010
Opened in 2009, Spur Studios is a collection of private work spaces in Ypsilanti, Michigan for artists, musicians and other creative people who need a place to get things done but cannot afford a full-blown studio. The founder of Spur, James Marks, knows all about forming a creative vision and it’s up’s and down’s.
In 1997, James founded VG Kids. VG’s beginnings can be traced back to an all-vegan natural food store in Pontiac, Michigan. “The Vegetarian Grocer,” sold snacks and groceries in the front, distributed records and zines in the back, and hosted punk shows in the basement. The in-the-know kids that worked, volunteered and hung out at the grocer were quickly donned “VG Kids”. In 1999, the shop closed, relocated to Ypsilanti, and decided to focus on screen printing.
In the years that followed, VG Kids would hone their craft as screen printers. With their print quality on the rise, the DIY printers gained popularity via local band word-of-mouth and message boards. VG would open their new Ypsilanti storefront in 2007. Since then, VG has been growing their client base to include Ghostly International, Modest Mouse and (yours truly) The Blonde Collective (amongst many others).
With business becoming steady, James took a look at the city that surrounded him and noticed all of the emerging talent. Being in downtown Ypsilanti, he’d hear all the local bands playing in The Elbow Room every night and see the graphics that came into his print shop from local artists. Insert inspiration. Insert, Spur Studios.
Spur holds thirty studio units that can be rented out by bands (lower level) or visual artists (street level). All the leases are for one year and the spaces have 24-hour access, off-street parking and a locking interior door. The only rule (it seems) at Spur is that you can’t live in the unit that you are renting. Other than that, all bets are off on what your mind can create. Below, hear James Marks talk more about Spur Studios in his own words.
On the web: Spur Studios / VG Kids
Video from: Concentrate Media
VG Kids: Flikr Page
Tags: In the D, Spur Studios, VG Kids
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In the “D”: Ro Spit – Renaissance State of Mind (feat. Monica Blaire)
Posted on December 11th, 2009
If you hang around the Detroit/Royal Oak area long enough, it’s hard to not hear the name Ro Spit thrown around. Born in Pontiac, this rapper is not afraid to represent Detroit in all its facets. This has never been more prevalent than in his latest single and video “Renaissance State of Mind”. In his version of the Jay-Z bomb, “Empire State of Mind“, Ro rolls through the city in a slick, black Dodge Charger and reminds us of the things that make this city great: cars, the hustle, and that Detroit creates the “music the world lives and dies to”.
The video, produced by Vandal, is an amazing visual experience. It houses a host of tight shots of downtown Detroit, Burn Rubber in Royal Oak, Ro doing his thing and other places that you and I have probably passed multiple times in our lives. One would also be stupid to not mention the crazy stylish Monica Blaire who brings an ridiculous amount of heat to the hook of the track and makes you get goosebumps from the pride you have in being from the “D”.
Someone on Twitter the other day said it best, they said, “every city gonna have [a version of this track] in about a year NY and Detroit started the trend”. With all the pride still in this city, I think it would be tough for someone to top Ro Spit’s version.
Download Ro Spit’s latest mixtape, “The Oh S#!T Project” (featuring “Renaissance State of Mind”) here: rospit.bandcamp.com
Tags: Eminem, In the D, Music, Ro Spit, Video
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In the “D”: Revive
Posted on December 2nd, 2009
Officially open as of November 27th, The new Revive space is a boutique like no other. With its matte-black-pretty-much-everything ascetic, sparse (yet superb) merchandising and it’s boxing ring-esq seating, Revive is giving swanky Birmingham, Michigan a big signal… WE HAVE ARRIVED.
Revive, opened in 2006, was brought to life with the goal of bringing the New York and Los Angeles lifestyle to the suburbs of MI. Now, in 2009, the goal of the new space is to take that idea and run with it. By bringing in high-end gear to walk along-side the street/skate vibe and a custom New Era cap retailer known as DOME Fitteds (that create one-of-a-kind caps that can only be found inside Revive), I think they are well on their way to accomplishing those goals.
I was lucky enough to attend a soft opening of the boutique a week prior to the grand opening. It was just a small gathering of people checking out the goods and getting the vibe of the new space, but I must say that I was impressed. Among the racks in Revive you’ll find a smattering of clothing from local and indie designers as well as a host of great gear from noted brands like The Hundreds and Amongst Friends (who recently did a sweet hat/belt collab with the boutique that got them some love on High Snobiety). Whatever your style may be, Revive has got a little something for ya hidden in it’s mix and after talking with Aaron, the owner of the new space, I’d love to have some Blonde in there soon (if he’ll do us the honor).
Make some time to get out at see the folks in the new Revive space. If you aren’t blown away by the shoe wall or the VIP room lodged in the back, you might want to check your pulse.
A video walk-through of the boutique (produced by Revive, NSFW):
Revive is located at:
154 W. Maple
Birmingham, MI 48009.
revivemi.com
Tags: fashion, In the D, revive, Video
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