October 2013 Print Edition by Cliff Frantz

OCTOBER 2013

NEWS SATIRE YOU CAN TRUST

Recoil

Montpelier, Vt. – Area hipster Max Brown vocally expressed shock and disappointment upon discovering that the bar at which he’d agreed to meet friends Friday night for a drink had only two craft beers available on draft, if you can

Every Single Tupperware Lid Too Goddamned Small

“Sam Adam’s Fall Blend – you have got to be kidding me, right?” Brown questioned in disbelief of an indifferent bartender who probably wouldn’t know a Founders Pale Ale from a Miller Lite.

Flint, Mich. – At least seven teenaged boys were rushed to Hurley Medical Center Friday night after being violently thrown by the revelation that singer Madonna was once universally revered as a sex symbol during the 1980s. The group of teen friends – whose individual reactions ranged from prolonged nausea to vomiting and seizures –

believe such shit. “Isn’t this town, like, the craft beer capital of the entire world or some shit like that?” Brown questioned in disbelief of an indifferent bartender who probably wouldn’t know a Founders Pale SEE BREWS PAGE 6

Hospital administrators confirmed that although all of the psychologically traumatized youths had been treated and released Friday night, several of the boys were readmitted after exposure to a local radio station’s “Madonnathon” weekend programing.

Blimp Pilot Develops Inflated Ego Area Toddler, Congressional GOP To Compete For “Tantrum of the Year” Deadly Spoonerism Ruins Football Clinic On Punt-Catching Religious Audiences Anticipate Film The Bourne-Again Identity Aluminum Foiled

reported learning of the aging artist’s sexual appeal from one of the teens’ fathers, who was taken aback by the boys’ reaction. “[My son] Troy turned white as a sheet. He asked me: ‘Madonna? You mean that left-wing lady who’s like, eighty, right?’” recounted father Marty Foreman. “I could tell he was having trouble comprehending how the Madonna he’s familiar with was once the world’s version of Beyonce.” Hospital administrators confirmed that although all of the psychologically traumatized youths had been treated and released Friday night, several of the boys were readmitted after exposure to a local radio station’s “Madonnathon” weekend programing.–Drew Miller

Seattle, Wash. – Illustrator Amanda Lizborn responded to an email inquiry in a timely manner early Friday afternoon shortly after waking and just before Lizborn had a chance to get stoned and put off responding to the electronic query for a few days. “I must have been half sleepwalking or something, because normally I would never do something as responsible as that,” said Lizborn after realizing the email from one of her clients made its way into the artist’s inbox only minutes earlier. “I usually scan the first few

New York, N.Y. – Citing safety concerns, logistical problems and lack of international support, CBS programming director Glenn Geller announced Monday that the network has pulled the plug on production of the Syrian iteration of CBS’ long-running reality

“Normally I would never do something as responsible as that,” said Lizborn.

Survivor: Damascus was intended to document the activity of 30 Americans relying solely on their wits, teamwork and survival skills to endure on terrain that’s currently considered one of the least inhabitable areas of the world.

lines of my emails with my phone, then respond to them from my a computer whenever I’m home and get around to it. In my field it’s important to maintain a consistent relationship with your clientele, and that includes getting back to them at least three to five days after they initially contact you. That’s what’s expected from a professional artist.”–Michael Edwin Martin

series Survivor. Originally set to premiere this fall, Survivor: Damascus was intended to document the activity of 30 Americans relying solely on their wits, teamwork and survival skills to endure on terrain that’s currently considered one of the least inhabitable areas of the world. “We were prepared to move [our production SEE SURVIVOR PAGE 6

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volume 13 issue 10 october

HEALTH

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WORLDWIDE HEADLINES

Drug-Addled, Suicidal Comic At Peak Of Career

Hollywood, Calif. – After deciding not to kill himself in a backstage dressing room over of his inability to resolve an escalating substance abuse problem, professional standup comedian Dennis Diderot, 45, stumbled onstage at The Improv and absolutely brought the house down, sources said Saturday. Diderot, whose

Diderot’s popularity has only risen during the well-publicized battle with alcohol, painkillers, cocaine and heroin that’s clouded his perception of happiness for nearly two decades. Flint, Mich. – Longtime heroin abuser would happen if you tried heroin,” said Jimmy Bush, 32, wondered aloud Friday Bush. “At the time I thought that actor did whether or not the anti-drug Public Service the video because he needed the work or Announcements “[It’s] exactly like what that disgraced was court ordered he dismissed as a or something, so actor who starred in that cheesy anti- I didn’t pay much kid might actually drug video kept was saying would have been onto attention to what happen if you tried heroin,” said Bush. he was talking something. Bush admitted to having personally experienced about at the time. But [it] turns out he many of the negative effects of the very actually knew what he was talking about same drugs warned about in a video he was with drugs being nothing but a one-way required to sit through during ninth grade ticket to a dead end or whatever.” Bush health class while stoned on marijuana. coughed uncontrollably for at least 30 “My family, my friends, my house: [heroin seconds before adding: “And I think those has] robbed me of my entire life – which, PSAs also said something about health having said that out loud, sounds exactly concerns, but lately I’ve been pretty like what that disgraced actor who starred careful about only sharing needles with in that cheesy anti-drug video kept saying dudes who look pretty clean.”–Drew Miller

popularity has only risen during the wellpublicized battle with alcohol, painkillers, cocaine and heroin that’s clouded his perception of happiness for nearly two decades, is currently being lauded by industry media as one of the best standup comedians working today. “Diderot leaves his audience gasping to breath as they wipe away the tears of pure joy – a joy of which his own life is desperately void,” wrote Variety columnist Keith Sanchez in an October article. “Audiences can expect Diderot to be in top form until the exponentially deteriorating state of his dopamine receptors inevitably drive the perpetually troubled entertainer into ending his career in dramatic fashion. See Diderot soon.”–Drew Miller

Varsity Senior Batting .297 With Hands In Scoring Position

Traverse City, Mich. – In what friends, teammates and coaches are enviously calling a “milestone season,” varsity senior high school baseball standout Joe Shin, 17, has been “getting the job done” with female classmates nearly once out of every three attempts when his hands are already in scoring position. “[Hitting coach] Paul Thomas has really taken Joe under his wing and taught Joe a lot about how to swing,” said Traverse City Trojan

Shin scored poorly during his junior season while battling a wrist injury as well a terrible case of acne, striking out frequently and rarely getting beyond first base. varsity baseball coach Max Benning, explaining Shin’s development into a seasoned veteran. “Joe has no doubt learned a lot from working with Joe – as well as by hanging out at Paul’s bachelor pad all summer, which I’ve heard has a hot tub that’s rarely empty, if you know what I mean.” Shin scored poorly during his junior season while battling a wrist injury as well a terrible case of acne, striking out frequently and rarely getting beyond first base and within position to score. “Joe has gone from a minor leaguer to becoming a major player overnight. But then again he also just got his braces taken off.”–DM

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WALL STREET

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MEDIA

Study Reveals You Probably Won’t Read This Whole Headline, Jerk

College Station, Texas – A study released Thursday revealed that you, like many of today’s distracted readers who are on a quick search for immediate visual stimulation, will read only the first few words of the above headline before – ah, hell, what’s the point of even closing this sentence; it’s not like you’ll have read this far. The Texas A&M probe, which noted your embarrassing fascination with the brightly colored pictures featured on magazine pages, went on to suggest that the wide majority of readers rarely actually finish reading whatever the hell would go right here if you even had the slightest bit of interest. “Given today’s drastically reduced attention spans, most sentences longer than four or five words will only be skimmed, and anything with words longer than six letters are ignored entirely,” said lead researcher Rich Montaigne. If anyone could be expected to still be reading at this point, an important fact would wrap this New York, N.Y. – U.S. Securities and weirdoes who spend more time at home convicted, probably won’t mind the years shit show of a story right up, but fuck it. Exchange Commission officials confirmed talking to their cats than pressing industry of isolation implicit in their jail terms, they Jerk.–Drew Miller Thursday that Wall Street’s governing colleagues to leak undisclosed business will undoubtedly feel the sting of the steep body would seek“They will undoubtedly feel the sting of theinformation for fines that will no doubt be cutting into their indictments for financial gain are hording budgets.”–Drew Miller steep fines that will no doubt be cutting 14 ostracized not above federal s t o c k b r o k e r s into their hording budgets,” said White. securities laws,” suspected of engaging in the prohibited said agency executive Mary Jo White. DATING practice of outsider trading. “Even reclusive “Although these fourteen creepy loners, if

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Phoenix, Ariz. – Local praying mantis Edna and horrifying brutality. “I guess I’m just Mandibles admitted Sunday that after becoming more mature. I’m ready to find years of living the wild, unfettered lifestyle that special someone and spend the rest of her youth, the female insect is finally of his doomed life with him.” Mandibles ready to settle down with the perfect mate, admitted that while she has yet to find Mister fall in love with him and then gruesomely Right, she knows her Prince Charming devour him. could be lurking “You never know when you’ll meet “The single life just around the has been great, somebody who makes you want to hold him corner. “Love is but it’s time to close, murder him and swallow his head, a difficult thing grow up. I’m have a few children, eat as many of those to predict. You finally ready to children as you can catch, and then proudly never know take the next watch the survivors grow up to start the when you’ll steps – ready meet somebody whole terrifying cycle all over again.” to meet the who makes you perfect male, marry him, rip his head off want to hold him close, murder him and and consume it in a pitiless display of swallow his head, have a few children, eat nature’s essential depravity, find a nice leaf as many of those children as you can catch, or branch to live on, and maybe even start and then proudly watch the survivors grow a family,” said the insect whose species up to start the whole terrifying cycle all over is known for their iconic barbed forelegs again.”–Adam Levine

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recoil Publisher

Brian Edwards

brian.h.edwards@gmail.com

Managing Editor Cliff Frantz

cliff.frantz@recoilmag.com

Entertainment/Music Editor Eric Mitts

eric.mitts@recoilmag.com

Creative Director Kim Kibby

kimkibby@revuewm.com

Advertising Molly C. Rizor

616.608.6170 sales@revuewm.com

Writers

Mike Church Sherrie Coke Ryan Cunningham Wes Eaton Kimberly Frantz Naomi Goedert Adam Levine Michael Edwin Martin Dr. Steve Mikulak Drew Miller Eric Mitts Mark Ritzema Sheila Streeter Brent Velting Andrew Watson David Zann

Distribution

Randy Hughes Megan Dooley Reverend Charles Preston Smith

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EDITORIAL

It’s not you, it’s me – and your crippling gout Sweetie, I’ve been thinking for a long time – ever since your official medical diagnosis three months ago, really – and I think we need to talk. I’m afraid I’m starting to sense a distance growing between us, and I think we might want to consider breaking up before this relationship goes any further. This is not about something you did – not on purpose, anyway. In fact, I know it’s a cliché to say, but it really isn’t you at all – you’ve got to believe By Rodney Earlwright that I mean that. You’re great. It’s me. And your crippling gout. I know all of this might come as a shock. But I pray to God it isn’t the burning, itching kind of shock that you’re used to when you get those flareups between your toes as we’re trying to take a romantic walk down the beach. Breaking

This is not about something you did – not on purpose, anyway. up like this might hurt, but I’m hoping it won’t be the same kind of hurt that inflames your knee and wakes us both up six times every night. In short, don’t want this to burn too badly like your thick, viscous urinations caused by all the urate

crystals in your kidneys. So please just know that this is not your fault. Your rheumatological difficulties are just more than I can handle, baby. I know you try to bite your tongue whenever it feels like you have tiny rodents feasting on your joints, but if I hear the phrase “synovial fluid” one more time I might just drive off after dinner some night. And neither of us want it to come to that. Sweetheart, this isn’t a situation we can change

If I hear the phrase “synovial fluid” one more time I might just drive off after dinner some night. And neither of us want it to come to that. or “work on.” You’re already popping NSAIDs like Tic-Tacs. You named our dog “Pegloticase” after the name of your medication. And if I have to trek down and pick you up off the basement floor one more time because you’ve fallen and can’t get up, I’m just going to just end up buying you a Life Alert. And then I’ll hate myself for doing it. I don’t want us to end up being “that couple.” And, sweetie, no matter how many famous individuals you compare yourself to, your uric acid buildups still gross me out. I know Benjamin Franklin dealt with gout, but calling it “a disease of kings” doesn’t change the fact that all I see is a Floundering Father whenever you fall down the stairs. Sweetheart, don’t feel bad. It’s not you, baby, it’s me. And all that uric acid.

Safety Officer Dick Bill

Recoil

65 Monroe Center Suite 5 Grand Rapids, MI 49503 Ph: 616.608.6170 info@recoilmag.com

MISSION STATEMENT Recoil offers a humorous and provocative reflection of the state of modern society through the use of satire, in an effort to maintain awareness of our culture’s imperfections. PUBLICATION INFORMATION Recoil uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases when public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental. The content of this publication is © Copyright 2013 by Blue V Productions, LLC, and may not be reprinted or retransmitted in whole or in part without the expressed written consent of the publishers and a pretty goddamned good reason. Recoil is free to the West Michigan community, but please, one per person. Anyone removing issues in bulk will be promptly executed. MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are available for $25 for one year (12 issues). Mail check or money order payable to: Revue Holding Company

65 Monroe Center Suite 5 Grand Rapids, MI 49503

SOLUTION TO PAGE 8 CROSSWORD FROM BREWS PAGE 1 Ale from a Miller Lite. “Sam Adam’s Fall Blend – you have got to be kidding me, right? That crap tastes like Busch Light with a jar of cinnamon dumped in it.” Brown publicly repeated his discontent, insisting

After reluctantly settling for an Oberon – even though “[the bar didn’t] even have orange slices to go with it” – he began an excruciatingly unlistenable conversation about how the bar wouldn’t even let him park his bicycle indoors.

that if he owned a bar, he would carry “at least seven craft beers at all times.” After reluctantly settling for an Oberon – even though “[the bar didn’t] even have orange slices to go with it” – he began an excruciatingly unlistenable conversation about how the bar wouldn’t even let him park his bicycle indoors.–MEM

FROM SURVIVOR PAGE 1 [our production team] into place in Syria with or without the support of the U.N. or the international community,” Geller read from a prepared statement. “However, the location scouters who made it back to the States alive strongly suggested we hold off on starting production until we at least see how other networks approach exploiting Syria’s booming popularity for the purpose of entertainment.” Geller’s decision to cancel production of Survivor: Damascus surprised many CBS executives who have routinely looked for war-related opportunities to drive viewer share. “What’s the difference between [Survivor: Damascus] and CBS’ coverage of the Iraq War? It’s basically the same premise: sending a bunch of greedy, overconfident Americans into the Iraqi desert without proper resources, knowledge of the countryside or any concrete plan.”–Drew Miller

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TIPS

A page from the Recoil handbook...

CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN Halloween is one of America’s most important and inspirational holidays. Here are some tips for celebrating Thursday, October 31 the way the gods originally intended. • A quick and cheap way to get a costume is to roll a geek behind Ye’ Olde Turkeye Legge at the Renaissance Festival – although good luck finding one that isn’t XXL and wreak of Mountain Dew and desperation. • Halloween isn’t just for the kids. If your costume isn’t 10 times more obnoxious than your sevenyear-old’s Twilight costume, you’re not trying hard enough. Add more glitter, and maybe some flashing lights. • Candy is not an entitlement: it must be earned. If trick-or-treaters don’t have the resources to build themselves a decent costume, you shouldn’t have to give them anything more than an obscene gesture. Vote Republican. • Respect different cultural interpretations of Halloween. If you have Latin American neighbors, be sure to spend time preparing to dress up as their deceased relatives. • Candy has been done – think outside of the box. Get creative: hand out medical gauze, soiled napkins, and prescription drug samples. Prozac is a fan favorite. • Make your yard the scariest on the block. If you have pets, now is the time to begin hanging up the dead birds, squirrels, and rabbits they bring you throughout the year.

• Practice the dark arts. If you’re unable to brew a level 22 affliction potion by October 17, you might as well give up and start planning for Christmas. • Parents are vulnerable to the scariest tricks of all. Share the Halloween spirit by citing statistics showing how many kids move back home after college. • A million pumpkins isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? A billion pumpkins. Now you are cool. • Halloween is the perfect opportunity to dress up as your favorite M*A*S*H* character and sit by yourself in the dark. • Children dressed as doctors on Halloween are legally permitted to write prescriptions and perform surgery. Be sure to take advantage. • Last year, someone tried to give me free eggs, but when they threw them at my house they broke. This year, please place the free eggs gently on my porch and I’ll bring them inside later. • In order to appear hip and with it, it is important to be up-to-date on the most popular costumes the kids will be wearing this year. This year’s top costumes are Norm from Cheers and Slutty Ray Romano. • If you ask a ghost if he is real, he has to tell you. It’s the law. Can you believe that shit? Is that not a total break or what? • If you throw eggs at a man’s house, he gets egged for a day. If you throw chickens at a man’s house, he gets egged for a lifetime. • Be better than Charleston Chew. • Limit your trick-or-treating to houses. Passing cars usually have terrible candy, or even no candy sometimes. • Political correctness demands that witches are no longer the dark old crones will long noses and pointy hats. To encourage this, only give candy to the new more correct ‘slutty-witches.’ Encourage girls dressed up as the old type witch to go doll themselves up a bit. • The only thing that will scare a modern 12-year-old is losing their smart phone. Set up jammers in your yard and reset the password on your wireless router. Let the terror ensue! • Remember half of a dead squirrel is actually more frightening than an entire dead squirrel. • Anyone dressed like a Japanese cartoon character should get kicked immediately in the balls. Except college girls – then it’s hot.

CROSSWORD

I WRITE THE SONG CLUES ACROSS 1. Ronnie _____ Dio 6. Comedian/actor Sandler 10. Mike Patton’s record label 12. Type of strong cotton 13. “No problem” in e-mail shorthand 14. Metallica ballad 15. _____ The Rainbow 16. Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s ___ It On” 18. Water passage where tide meets river current 20. Wild animal den 22. Cigarette ingredient 23. “Rubber Ducky” singer 25. Collapsible shelters 29. Posthaste 31. Seldom found 32. Pretended 36. Offer 37. Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews (Latin abbrev.) 38. Tony Bennett’s “Song of the

crossword by kimberly frantz

Jet ____” 40. Rap group ___ Nam 41. Pop-rock artist ______ Cosmonaut 42. ____ Hill (saddle company) 44. Marc Anthony’s “You ___ To Me” 45. En Vogue’s album, Funky

DOWN 1. “I’ve Got Spurs (That ____ Jangle)” 2. Roseanne Cash’s “Closer Than I _____” 3. Pop band Kick ___ Kate 4. Medieval mystery author Umberto 5. Type O’s “Who Will Save The _____” 6. A person who transfers wine from bottle to glass 7. Annie Lennox album 8. ___ Picon: a bitter cordial made with orange and gentian (for more info, see drinkboy.com)

9. Name of girl in Operation: Mindcrime 11. ___ la vie 17. ___ Man (Oz, not Ozzy) 19. Tit for ___ 21. They Might Be Giant’s “The Bell Are ____” 24 Largest division of geological time 26. Seize suddenly 27. The Thermal’s “It’s _____” 28. Nondescript four-door automobiles 30. The Escape Club’s “Wild, Wild ____” 32. Type of evergreens 33. New age artist _____ 34. Country on Bush’s list 35. Alternative artist ____ Can Dance 39. Greek prefix meaning three 43. German techno record label

THE SOLUTION FOR THIS PUZZLE CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 6

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volume 13 issue 10 october

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C O N T E N T S

recoil 10.01-10.31 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2013

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

Columns

Page 24 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29

Ryan Cunningham – Recording Dr. Steve Mikulak – Health Wes Eaton – Food & Drink Mike Church – Food Jen Moshpit – Metal

Interviews

Page 15 Page 17 Page 22

Bassnectar Five Finger Death Punch Langhorne Slim & the Law

Local acts

Page 24 Page 28 Page 29 Page 31

Ultraviolet Hippopotamus Chuck Whiting & His Rowdy Friends Danger Damsels Grand Rapids Comic Con

Features

CDs DVDs

Pp. 33,34 Page 34

Entertainment Guide Venue guide Event guide

Page 38 Pages 38-48

ADVERTISING INDEX Avenue of the Arts................................................12 Barfly......................................................................11 Billy’s Lounge........................................................20 Bobarino’s.............................................................35 Danger Damsels...................................................32 Diabetes Trial........................................................22 Drop 35.................................................................30 Erica’s...................................................................48 Fork Fest................................................................2 Founders...............................................................19 Hominian...............................................................40 Halloween On Ionia...............................................11 Intersection............................................................25 Lady Godiva’s.......................................................48 Lemonjello’s..........................................................39 Meanwhile Tavern.................................................37 Monarchs’.............................................................44

BASSNECTAR Bassnectar is definitely enjoying the sweet taste of success now, but he hasn’t forgotten his underground roots. Since starting out as a DJ in San Francisco’s rave scene during the ‘90s, Bassnectar – a.k.a. Lorin Ashton – has toured constantly, playing everything from illegal warehouse shows in his early days, to massive music festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Electric Forest, more recently. His light show the stuff of legend, and his wobbling lowend dropping to decibel-demolishing depths, Bassnectar has amassed more and more loyal “Bass Heads,” with every performance, allowing word of mouth, rather than media hype, to build his following. A highly-sought-out remixer and collaborator, he’s had an undeniable impact on dubstep’s ascent into the mainstream, while keeping his own music – released mostly online through his own Amorphous Music label – completely independent. Just before the launch of his massive “Immersive Music Tour” last month, Recoil talked with Bassnectar via phone about his early days playing death metal, the “Ultimate Nerd Server” at the core of his new live show, and his chances of returning to Electric Forest next summer. Page 15 The views and opinions expressed by Recoil columnists do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of this publication.

Page 26 Page 31 Page 36

Vault of Midnight Suicide Girls Film: Beyond The Dark

Reviews

Five Finger Death Punch has taken their share of knocks while fighting their way to the top of the charts. The Las Vegas-based metal band now has three gold records – 2007’s The Way of the Fist, 2009’s War Is The Answer and 2011’s American Capitalist – and their latest, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1, debuted at Number Two this summer while they co-headlined the massive Mayhem Festival. But none of it has come easy. Battling their way out of Los Angeles’ cutthroat rock scene, where each of the band’s founding members saw multiple past projects fall by the wayside, 5FDP have always made music about toughness: physical, emotional, spiritual and financial. Yet even with all their success the band’s demons aren’t behind them as frontman Ivan Moody recently publicly revealed his ongoing struggles with alcoholism right as the band prepared for the release of their second new album this year: The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 (due out Nov. 19). Just days after the band launched their fall headlining tour, Recoil talked with 5FDP drummer Jeremy Spencer about why the band decided to release two new discs this year, why he decided to write an autobiography about his own history with addiction, and why our troops overseas throw down some of the craziest mosh pits he’s ever seen. Page 17

Moshpitnation............................................................18 Mulligans....................................................................27 New Holland Brewing Company.................................30 The Orbit Room.........................................................14 Parkway Tropics.........................................................32 Planet Rock...............................................................21 PotatoeBabies..............................................................9 Pyramid Scheme........................................................23 Quaker Steak & Lube................................................46 Rocky’s Bar & Grill......................................................42 Sensations..................................................................47 Studs..........................................................................48 Take Hold Church.......................................................36 Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival........................................33 TipTop Deluxe Bar & Grill..............................................3

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INTERVIEW

Bassnectar is definitely enjoying the sweet taste of success now, but he hasn’t forgotten his underground roots. Since starting out as a DJ in San Francisco’s rave scene during the ‘90s, Bassnectar – a.k.a. Lorin Ashton – has toured constantly, playing everything from illegal warehouse shows in his early days, to massive music festivals like Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and Electric Forest, more recently. His light show the stuff of legend, and his wobbling low-end dropping to decibel-demolishing depths, Bassnectar has amassed more and more loyal “Bass Heads,” with every performance, allowing word of mouth, rather than media hype, to build his following. A highly-soughtout remixer and collaborator, he’s had an undeniable impact on dubstep’s ascent into the mainstream, while keeping his own music – released mostly online through his own Amorphous Music label – completely independent. Just before the launch of his massive “Immersive Music Tour” last month, Recoil talked with Bassnectar via phone about his early days playing death metal, the “Ultimate Nerd Server” at the core of his new live show, and his chances of returning to Electric Forest next summer. Recoil: Just to start things off here in our neck of the woods in West Michigan, you played at last year’s Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury. What do you still remember from your Electric Forest experience? Lorin Ashton: Oh, I thought we were going to talk about The Intersection! [Laughs] Well yeah, I remember Electric Forest back when it started in 2008 and I think it was called Rothbury, and that was a massive show for me, both in the area and in general. We kind of let the audience up onstage and take over the stage, and it was just this epic outdoor [show]. Perfect weather. Then it took a couple years to get back, not last year, but the year before, and that was outstanding. I got to kind of close out the festival, and the one thing I always hate about playing outdoor festivals is when there’s another stage on during you, and there’s kind of competing sound signals, it prevents you from being able to go into a peak or a valley. You’ve gotta just bludgeon people incessantly, and I really like peaks and valleys; I like taking people on a journey. So for that Electric Forest show I really got to go on a deeper side, sort of like I do at a normal Bassnectar show, so it was super fun.

interview by eric mitts photo by douglas wojciechowski

from Detroit when we play outside of it, so I just think that Michigan has a really interesting fan base or following. R: That leads right into this upcoming fall Immersive Music Tour. What would you say to someone who has maybe seen you at a festival, or anyone who has even seen your own headlining shows, what would you say to prepare them for what’s in store this time? LA: You know I’m not trying to top myself; I’m just trying to do my thing, and I’m having a lot of fun doing it. [Laughs] So the Immersive Music kind of concept was just one to take it as deep as possible, make as deep of an impact as we could from every angle. That means the best possible sound system that anyone has ever heard in that room, that means the most overwhelming multimedia experience they’ve ever seen, or felt in that room, it means me playing my heart out with the most creativity possible, and it means a lot of little extras, in terms of how we make people feel that the show is coming out of the stage and surrounding them, and how they can become a part of it, both energetically and literally, just in terms of creating that atmosphere in the room. R: I’ve read that you’ve got visual components that you can trigger with every sound. What do

Usually if you see a DJ performing and their hands are up in the sky the whole show, and there’s a CD player in front of them, it means that they’re doing very little, and that’s not necessarily good or bad; it’s just not what I do.

R: Yeah, since you mentioned The Intersection, I know you’ve had a long history here in West Michigan, playing just about every level of venue that we have, from club shows at The Intersection to the State Theatre, and now doing an arena show at the Deltaplex. What has it been like evolving your live experience through all those different size rooms? LA: Well, you know, that’s kind of been the defining aspect of my career in America, has been adapting the vision I have for an event into thousands and thousands of different rooms, and that vision really started in San Francisco in the underground rave scene in the nineties, and kind of small, makeshift, illegal house parties, or out in the forest with, like, full moon parties, as well as underground death metal shows, and really trying to capture the essence of that sick, DIY, underground experience and bring it all over the place and into large rooms. I know we had a killer show in Plymouth, we had a cool show in Kalamazoo, where actually a lot of my family is from, and I feel like, for some reason, people in Michigan seem really road-trip-happy. So every time we play at one place we’ve got people popping up from all over. Even if we play in Detroit, of course we get people to travel there, but we have people travel

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you like most about being able to control every aspect of what’s going on live? LA: This tour is a kickoff tour of a brand new technology that we’ve coded and created from the ground up, and we call it the UNS, which stands for the Ultimate Nerd Server, and it is [laughs] an unexplainable massive and robust computer system that does allows me to trigger any sound, or sample, or song, to have its own synced-up video loop or piece, and to blend those together, and keep it synced to tempo in a way that I’m not aware of any other program or artist is able to do, because it’s all about maintaining the flexibility while maintaining the tightness. Usually if you see a DJ performing and their hands are up in the sky the whole show, and there’s a CD player in front of them, it means that they’re doing very little, and that’s not necessarily good or bad; it’s just not what I do. Oftentimes in those shows the videos and the lights

“I feel like I’m representing a lot of people’s dreams when I get to go do things, and I want to live it for them as well...” will be extremely well-synced to the music, because the artist isn’t doing anything except for throwing cakes at people, or whatever, while a CD plays, and we’re going in the opposite direction, where I’m working every microsecond, working until I’m almost dizzy, and yet we’re still able to have that same kind of syncing between the music and the visuals. It’s immensely exciting for me. I’ve been working with my video team for well over a year on the video content, and it’s just a huge part of the show. R: I know that as a live performer, you’ve always approached performing more like a live band than what people typically think of DJs. What does it mean to you as an artist to have that more physical, visceral give-and-take of energy up there while you’re performing? LA: My goal is really to take people on a journey and to provide the highest level of experience possible. I’m definitely an overachiever, and I really care about each person’s individual experience and heightening that as much as I can. It definitely, to me, is not a night club experience, or a DJ playing some tracks, but it also is not just about what I’m doing. It’s about, like I said, the atmosphere we’re all working very hard to create.

death metal, except several of my friends. So we would go approach the librarian of the community library and ask to rent out the community hall for our band to rehearse, and then we’d invite our friends and put up flyers, and have full-on little micro-concerts. And I remember there was a band called Exhumed at the time, and all of the guys were like four or five years older than me, and I remember watching them perform with such intensity, and it was so raw, and so honest, and so vicious and powerful, and then hanging out with them later in their rehearsal space and watching them rehearse with the same intensity, and realizing that it’s okay to let yourself go and freak the fuck out to the music that you love, and that isn’t some schmaltzy performance. It’s just like getting to let go, and I don’t think we get to let go enough in this life, so it’s a really precious experience to be able to do that. R: I’ve read that you’ve thought about not releasing albums at all anymore and just focusing on creating music for tours. Is that still sort of the direction you’re leaning in now? Like with the release of the Immersive Music Mixtape [Side One, last month]?

“It’s okay to let yourself go and freak the R: I’ve read that metal was fuck out to the music that you love.” a very early influence on you growing up, and you started out in music with your own death metal band, Pale Existence. How much do you feel like those experiences in the death metal scene still influence you today? LA: Yeah, that was so massive, partly because there was nowhere for us to play and nobody to play to, because nobody wanted to listen to horrifying Satanic

LA: So there hasn’t necessarily been a strategy first, and if you look back you can see that there was maybe a strategy in hindsight, but I’ve just been working fulltime on making music for my shows and my tours for years now, and every now and then I’ll wind up with such a large amount I’ll feel like, ‘Oh, I should put this out as an album.’ But I haven’t really been making concept albums; I’ve just been making collections of releases. I’ve been both re-mastering all my old music in ways that I could never get to hear it sound; I’ve gotten my hands back on old songs and been able to change or re-tweak them, and I’ve also been able to do the same thing to my record collection, and beginning to rework or re-master old bangers that used to work so well back in the nineties, and now they sound kind of strange and forgotten about, and I can kind of breathe new life into them, and I can release it on a mix-tape or keep it exclusive to the show, or I can put it on an album. I don’t know; I’m kind of excited about doing all of that. R: What do you have planned for after this tour for next year? Is a return to Electric Forest possibly in your future? LA: I would say there’s a pretty good chance of that. Bassnectar’s Immersive Music Tour hits the Deltaplex Oct. 5. To read Recoil’s full interview with Lorin Ashton, check out recoilmag. com. To hear his new single, “Take You Down,” or for more info, click over to bassnectar.net.

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volume 13 issue 10 october

RECONNAISANCE

Music, beer will overflow at Kalamazoo Oktoberfest/ Beerfest Oct. 12

A harvest of flavors for the taste buds and ears, Kalamazoo’s Oktoberfest/Beerfest will have lots to savor at the Arcadia Creek Festival Site Oct. 12. Beerfest will start off at 11 a.m. and run until 3 p.m. with more than a dozen Michigan craft brewers each bringing two to four beers (or hard ciders) to the event. Area food and craft vendors will also be onsite, with WIDR DJs Bat Guano and Bowser spinning records. The Oktoberfest event will then kick off at 3 p.m. Organized by the Vine Neighborhood Association and Kalamazoo music collaborative Double Phelix, Oktoberfest will add live music to the event with such Michigan artists as Benjamin Riley, The Appleseed Collective, Andru Bemis, Lasso, Birdfingers, Cobalt Mexican Wolves, Who Hit John? and others taking the stage. Admission to Beerfest is $20 and includes 15 tokens for beer portions, as well as admission to Oktoberfest. Admission to Oktoberfest is $5. To purchase advance tickets, or for more information, click over to kzoooktoberfest.com.

Thriller! Chiller! Film Fest Returns to Wealthy Theatre Oct. 24-26

With the days getting shorter, autumn always brings out the best of the dark side in everything – especially movies. Now in

its eighth year, the Thriller! Chiller! International Genre Film Festival will continue its annual October celebration of genre cinema (horror, action, scifi, suspense, cult) by bringing in over 60 movies made by independent filmmakers from all around the world – and right here in Michigan. The event will run Thursday evening, and all day Friday and Saturday at the Wealthy Theatre. A total of $1,000 in cash prizes The Appleseed Collective will perform at Kalamazoo Oktoberfest/Beerfest Oct. 12 will be awarded to winners in five categories: Best information, click over to thrillerchiller. seven acts from around the Midwest. Chicago shoegaze band Airiel will Feature!, Best Short!, Best Thrill!, Best com. headline, with Grand Rapids’ Helical Scan, Chill!, and Best FX!. The festival will also Detroit’s 800beloved, Chicago’s Whales, host special presentation premieres of Kalamazoo’s glowfriends and Crash City Michigan-made movies America’s Most Saints, and Milwaukee’s Brief Candles Haunted and Devils In The Darkness, and and DJ Erik Void all supporting. This will a screening of George Romero’s classic be the first time that Louie’s has hosted the Night of the Living Dead. Owned and event, with previous Kalamashoegazer operated here in Grand Rapids by festival having taken place at the Old Dog Tavern, founders Anthony Griffin (of UnSAFE The Strutt, Grange Hall, and Kraftbrau. Film Office) and Chris Randall (of Fulvew Productions), Thriller! Chiller! was named Celebrating its seventh year, the Doors for the all-ages fest are 3 p.m. with one of the Top 20 Horror/Sci-fi film fests Kalamashoegazer Festival will host seven music starting at 4 p.m. Advance tickets by Moviemaker Magazine earlier this year. Passes to the Thriller! Chiller! International Genre Film Festival are available online for $40 in advance. Single day passes, and individual event tickets will also be available at the Wealthy Theatre box office. For a full festival schedule, or more

Kalamashoegazer 7 to fill Louie’s Trophy House with Sound Oct. 12

glowfriends will be part of Kalamashoegazer 7 at Louie’s Trophy House Oct. 12

bands at Louie’s Trophy House Grill in Kalamazoo Oct. 12. Founded by April Zimont and Mark Morris of Kalamazoo band glowfriends – who coined the term “Kalamashoegazer” when describing their own mix of shoegaze, post-rock, and dreampop – the event has featured bands with a mutual appreciation for effectsladen guitars, loud-soft dynamics, and nuanced performances. This year’s Kalamashoegazer will feature

and admission at the door is $10. Advance tickets also include a limited edition cassette featuring unreleased music from all seven bands, and are available for purchase now at Louie’s Trophy House Grill, the Corner Record Shop in Kalamazoo, the Corner Record Shop in Grandville, or at brownpapertickets.com. For more on Kalamashoegazer 7, check out facebook.com/kalamashoegazer.– Eric Mitts

volume 13 issue 10 october

INTERVIEW Five Finger Death Punch has taken their share of knocks while fighting their way to the top of the charts. The Las Vegas-based metal band now has three gold records – 2007’s The Way of the Fist, 2009’s War Is The Answer and 2011’s American Capitalist – and their latest, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1, debuted at Number Two this summer while they co-headlined the massive Mayhem Festival. But none of it has come easy. Battling their way out of Los Angeles’ cutthroat rock scene, where each of the band’s founding members saw multiple past projects fall by the wayside, 5FDP have always made music about toughness: physical, emotional, spiritual and financial. Yet even with all their success the band’s demons aren’t behind them as frontman Ivan Moody recently publicly revealed his ongoing struggles with alcoholism right as the band prepared for the release of their second new album this year: The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 (due out Nov. 19). Just days after the band launched their fall headlining tour, Recoil talked with 5FDP drummer Jeremy Spencer about why the band decided to release two new discs this year, why

Recoil: You guys just kicked off your headlining tour. After doing the Mayhem tour this summer, how does it feel to be out doing your own tour now? Jeremy Spencer: It’s really great. When it’s your show you get to have all the production that you want, more set time; stuff like that, so we get to play more material, and new material off the new record, which is cool. So, so far so good. Last night was sold out. Tonight is sold out. Everyone’s enthusiastic, and we’re trying to continue this thing, and get it rolling. R: You’ve announced that you’ll be releasing your new album, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2, on Nov. 19. How much do you plan to premiere from that disc on this current tour? How much will you balance material from both of your new discs this year with all the material you have to pull from now? JS: Yeah, like you said Vol. 2 comes out November 19, and we are playing a song, which is the first song and single off the record, a song called ‘Battleborn,’ and we are playing some songs off Vol. 1 as well as some of the older hits. We just try to keep it well balanced. We don’t want to bombard people with too much new stuff. They’re there because of the songs that they’ve already grown to like, from the past or whatever. So we try to balance it. We definitely get some stuff off the new record, but you don’t want to focus solely on the new record because people will be disappointed that they didn’t get to hear songs that they came to hear.

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studio really focused and hungry to record, and then we got up to twenty-four, twenty-five songs. So then it was tough deciding which ones were going to make the record. We didn’t want to take any of them off because we felt they fit so well together, and they’re so well-rounded as a body of work that we decided, ‘Hey, you know what, let’s make it two albums.’ So that’s what we did. R: What did it mean to you as a band to have Vol. 1 debut at Number Two [on the Billboard 200] when it came out in July? JS: Oh, it was awesome. Any time heavy music gets recognized on that kind of a scale, it helps to open the door for all kinds of other bands that are heavier and stuff like that. For people to buy our record in this day and age, when people really aren’t buying records – they’re either stealing them or downloading them for free or whatever – it’s an honor, we’re grateful, and we don’t take it for granted. I’m just thrilled that people are into the band. It’s given me a career. It’s awesome. R: With all three of your previous records going gold and Vol. 1 doing sell, what do you say to all the people who say that nobody buys albums, especially metal albums, anymore? Clearly your fans have proved that wrong. JS: Well, I mean if they want to look on my wall there’re a couple big plaques hanging, so somebody’s buying our record [laughs]. Overall sales are down for everyone, without a doubt, and the internet has done that to the industry. But you have to adapt, and it is what it is, and you just try to make the best record that you can, and the records that you make are honest, and hope that people buy them. Get out there, get in their faces, do shows, interact with them. Do whatever you can to sell your record. It’s tough, but you’ve got to do it.

“All of us were in different bands before Death Punch, trying to make a breakthrough, and it finally happened for all of us in Death Punch, and I don’t take any of it for granted. I wouldn’t change one second of the journey because it was all part of the process that led me to where I am right now.” he decided to write an autobiography about his own history with addiction, and why our troops overseas throw down some of the craziest mosh pits he’s ever seen.

R: You guys have built a lot of personal connections with our troops, having done two tours with the USO, playing shows in Iraq and around the Middle East. What did it mean to you personally to do those USO shows and be able to support the troops in that way? JS: That was awesome. A lot of people don’t really know what happens over there, and what those guys and gals go through. They sacrifice a lot for us, so when we went there to play it was like they were so excited because they don’t get a lot of entertainment. Those are some of the craziest mosh pits I ever saw! [Laughs] People were jumping into the pit with like their guns on; it was crazy! I had a blast. We really enjoyed the whole process, and I’m sure we’ll do it again. We’ve done it a couple of times, and any time we can we do it, so I’m sure it will happen in the future as well.

R: Since we’re based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I also wanted to ask about how I’ve read that you grew up out here in the Midwest, in Indiana, and you guys have always made a point of playing not just the big cities, but places like Grand Rapids. What does it R: When you first started writing for these albums, mean to you I’ve read that you guys wrote more on the road to play “For people to buy our record in this day in smaller and age, when people really aren’t buying towns? I love records – they’re either stealing them or JS: it, man. I downloading them for free or whatever – it’s love the little It’s an honor, we’re grateful, and we don’t take towns. fun to just it for granted. I’m just thrilled that people are walk around and soak into the band. It’s given me a career.” up the vibe, and the weather’s leading into this album than you had before. How perfect right now. do you think writing on the road led you to coming I like playing up with so many songs and give them the kind of everywhere, but energy they have? there’s just a vibe JS: I don’t know if they’re more energetic or whatever. about small towns. We wanted to keep our creative muscle going, I grew up in one, because when you stop using that, it’s tough to rev it and everyone’s real up again. And then when you have album deadlines… nice and respectful, we always want to be prepared. And then there’s a lot and some of the of down time on the road, when you’re not doing press smaller markets and stuff, or playing the shows, you’ve got hours to sit are great shows around, so we figured we might as well put it to good for us. use, because we always like to be working. So if we’d ever get inspired we’d get in the portable studio and R: Even though the band started in L.A. and you’re lay down ideas, and when we came off the road we based out of Las Vegas now, how do you think had a handful of good ones. And then we went into the

growing up in the Midwest influenced you as a musician? JS: It made me grounded. It made me hungry, because I worked really hard practicing and stuff. And then I had to ultimately just make a decision about what I wanted to do with my life, and I gave up everything and moved out West where I thought the music scene was. It took a lot of years of struggle to finally have a breakthrough. [I was in] a lot of bands that didn’t go all the way, and finally Death Punch happened and we learned a lot along the way. All of us were in different bands before Death Punch, trying to make a breakthrough, and it finally happened for all of us in Death Punch, and I don’t take any of it for granted. I wouldn’t change one second of the journey because it was all part of the process that led me to where I am right now.

an inspirational story for anyone that’s decided to be a musician, or anyone that’s struggled with addiction, basically my whole journey of my whole life of trying to become a successful musician while struggling with addictions and things like that, and how I’ve overcome them and dealt with it, and had a breakthrough with the band. So it basically covers my whole life’s journey. R: Ivan has also recently revealed publicly that he’s also struggling with addiction. How much have you been able to support him with what he’s been going through with that? JS: We all try to do what we can, but ultimately it’s up to the individual in whether they want to do the work, and if they’re really serious about doing it or not. You can’t really make anyone do anything. All you can really do is offer your support and be as respectful as you can and be as encouraging as you can. You know, some days are better than others, and I think we’re in a pretty good place right. I think that we’ve all grown stronger as people, and we’re where we are, and I’m grateful to be where we are.

“Get out there, get in their faces, do shows, interact with them. Do R: I’ve read that you’ve written and are going to whatever you can to sell release an autobiography that celebrates your your record. It’s tough, sobriety that you have now. For you, how do you look but you’ve got to do it.” back on that experience, and what was it like going through those times again when you were writing the book? JS: I basically started writing the book right after I got out of rehab, kind of as a therapeutic thing for me. I just started writing every day, and it started to shape up into something that was actually pretty decent. [Laughs] And then it caught the attention of Harper Collins Publishing Company, and they decided that they wanted to release it. So it’s basically kind of like

Five Finger Death Punch will hit the Orbit Room Oct. 6 and The Fillmore in Detroit Oct. 8. The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 2 comes out Nov. 19. Vol. 1 is in stores and online now. To read Recoil’s full interview with Jeremy Spencer, check out recoilmag.com. For more, click over to fivefingerdeathpunch.com.

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INTERVIEW

it works, and if not, we move on to the next one.

The guys in The Lonely Forest definitely spend a lot of time alone. And, no, they’re not hiding out in the woods somewhere, drawing inspiration from the trees – although their picturesque Pacific Northwest hometown of Anacortes is perfect for that. Instead it’s the time the rising indie-rock band has spent driving on the road, or trapped in record label purgatory, that’s left them feeling isolated and led to the title of their new album, Adding Up The Wasted Hours [due out Oct. 8]. Since starting in drummer Braydn Kruger’s parents’ garage in 2004, The Lonely Forest has steadily grown, becoming the first signee to Death Cab For Cutie guitarist/ producer Chris Walla’s label Trans Records in 2010, and releasing their major label debut, Arrows, in 2011, through Trans/Atlantic Records. Label shake-ups left them hanging in the wind, before signing with Chop Shop/ Trans for the release of the band’s new album. Preparing for their first ever national headlining tour, guitarist Tony Ruland talked with Recoil about why he likes living in a small town, why touring isn’t the 24/7 party people think it is, and why his band isn’t scared anymore. Recoil: You guys have said that your live show is something of a completely different experience – more energetic and louder – than your past records. With this new album [Adding Up the Wasted Hours, due out Oct. 8], did you try to bring more of that energy into the studio? Tony Ruland: There’s still a lot of the live energy… We can get a little hyper sometimes… I wouldn’t say it’s an energetic record, but we channeled it much differently this time. I’m actually really curious to hear what it’s like, because there’s so much going on at certain parts, that I’m curious how that will affect the overall album. I don’t know if there’s gonna be more like concentrating on playing, or if there will be more rolling around and knocking shit over. [Laughs] I’m curious how we’ll play it. We’re having to bring all these extra keyboards and stuff out with us, and I have a bad habit of knocking things over, so I’ll have to be more careful.

R: With the album title being Adding Up The Wasting Hours, is that something of an allusion to that down time you had when you were switching labels? TR: Absolutely. Yeah. It is definitely a direct reference to what happened between labels, and kind of feeling like maybe we had our time wasted by some people that weren’t being straight up with us. Like it took way too long to figure out what was going on with the deal. So yeah, it was a lot of wasted time where we felt like nothing was happening. It’s also a reference to just being on tour and we travel for like a minimum of four hours on a short day, but we usually travel for like eight hours every day, for this one hour of glory at the end of the day where you have a lot of fun playing, and then back to travelling. Just thinking of all that time… maybe we could be doing something more constructive in that eight hours, but instead we’re just driving a van down the highway. R: This is your second album with [producer] Chris Walla [of Death Cab For Cutie]. With everything that was going on, how reassuring was it to be able to continue working with him? TR: Yeah, it was great working with Chris the second time around. I think the first time it was a learning experience for both of us. Like he figured how we process things, and we figured out how he processes things. [Our first album 2011’s] Arrows, if it was a painting we only used primary colors and like very broad strokes, and this one is definitely – like it’s not our art record or something, but there is more happening, because we weren’t scared to mix things up, or whatever, mix the paint and come up with new colors. So working with Chris is always a

“We usually travel for like eight hours every day, for this one hour of glory at the end of the day where you have a lot of fun playing, and then back to travelling.”

R: Did these songs take longer to come together than your other songs? TR: We had a long time to work on this record. Some of these songs were written a couple of years ago, and then we changed labels last year, and that left us with a lot of free time on our hands, and I guess, to cure our own woes we kept writing songs and writing songs, and I think by the end of last summer we had something like forty-six demos, or some ridiculous number like that. And then we just whittled it down to like fifteen that we all sort of had our hearts set on, and then from then whittled it down to just eleven songs that were on the record. As far as putting it all together, we had a long time to do it, but the songs came very fast when we were working on them. We definitely approached writing this record a lot differently than the last one. I think we finally figured out how to write more cohesively than we ever have. But just a lot of sharing demos and a few days later we’d meet up and try to play in the garage, and if it works,

pleasure and he’s a total sweetheart and I can’t imagine working with someone that’s easier to deal with. Not that he wouldn’t tell you when something was a bad idea... But sometimes our accidents would turn into some of our best material. It’s funny because we made it in half the time that we made Arrows in, as far as actual recording time. We took three weeks for this record, and Arrows we were in the studio for like six weeks straight. There’s a lot more going on, on this record. Part of it I think was just a comfort level thing, and just us both knowing how each party worked. We recorded it in a tiny, tiny studio (Chris Walla’s Hall of Justice in Seattle) and last time we were in Sound City [in Los Angeles], which is gigantic. R: I’ve read that part of the inspiration of the new song ‘Warm/Happy’ was the feelings you guys have of not being able to relate to other people outside of music. What do you think it is about touring, or making music, that is isolating? Do you feel that the longer you’ve been a band, you’ve felt more and more isolated in some ways?

volume 13 issue 10 october

THE LONELY FOREST

TR: Yeah, there’s a weird thing that goes on, like sometimes when we get home from tour, people think it’s just this party all the time and it’s awesome. I mean I love touring, but it’s not the 24/7 party that people think it is. It’s more like, today I’m really tired because I only slept three hours last night, and I’m so sick of staying hotel rooms. I just want to stay in my bed. I mean I guess that’s the nature of rock bands or pop music or whatever. People want things to be all sparkly, and it’s not. I’m sure like with making a movie being on set all day probably sucks, especially like shooting the same scene fifty times in a row. And sometimes touring feels like that: like haven’t we done this scene before?

beers, and playing the songs, I don’t know – it just feels so good. It feels just as good as it did when we started. The first time we played together was like October 2004 and we just played at Braydn’s parents’ [garage]. And we were just messing around, and we’ve just been in that garage ever since. The one time we talked about getting an actual practice space, Brandon’s parents freaked out and were like, ‘You guys can’t leave. Just ‘cause you guys signed a record deal doesn’t mean you have to leave the garage.’ And we were like, ‘Oh we thought we were bugging you this whole time.’ And they said, ‘No, if anything we’d be offended if you leave.’ Who knows, we’ll be like forty and playing in Braydn’s parents’ garage. [Laughs.]

R: On the flip side of that, what does it mean to you to be able to come home to the Pacific Northwest and all the natural beauty there that you all grew up with? How much does that re-inspire you? TR: We live in a small town (Anacortes) just north of Seattle and it’s a huge part of the songs we write. When we demo live or whatever, we’re all just a bunch of dorks, playing in a garage, or going out in the woods on a hike. So yeah, we are lucky enough to live in a pretty place, and it’s nice to come home to, especially when you’re in big cities every day. I like cities, but I don’t see myself as a city person, like I don’t think I’ll ever live in a big city. Eventually I might move to Seattle, but even then I’m there so much already, I like going back to a tiny little town and recognizing everyone at the grocery store. We’re just small town boys.

R: Do you feel like you’ve matured as a band? TR: I feel like we’ve absolutely matured as a band. Trust me there’s stuff if you’d hear it… It’s a little embarrassing. [Laughs] Not that we were ever… I just think we’ve grown up a lot, and I think this record is a true testament to that. I think the growth between Arrows and Adding Up The Wasted Hours is huge. I’m really proud of it, and I think we’ve finally settled into it, and for the four of us I think this is the record we’ve been wanting to make. And I don’t think we could’ve said that about Arrows, in hindsight. Maybe during the process I think we would’ve told you so, but it wasn’t how we wanted it. Especially since we were under a lot of pressure of going from a really tiny label in Seattle to having this weird Atlantic deal that was also tied to Chris’s label, which was kind of scary. And I think we’re done being scared. There’s a lot of references to that lyrically on the record. Even the end of ‘Warm/Happy,’ that’s like proclaiming that we’re not scared anymore.

R: You mentioned just playing in the garage; it’s been said that you can take the band out of the garage, but you can’t take the garage out of the band. Do you still feel like you have that part of yourselves that you had when you first started rehearsing? TR: Absolutely, yes. We’ve been rehearsing a lot this week, and since we recorded the album in January, we’ve done a couple of one-offs, but we haven’t actually seen each other that much. So being back in the garage, drinking a couple

The Lonely Forest will play The Pyramid Scheme Oct. 17 and The Pike Room in Pontiac Oct. 18. Adding Up the Wasted Hours is in stores and online Oct. 8. To read Recoil’s full interview with Tony Ruland, check out recoilmag.com. To listen to new single, “Warm/Happy” or for more info, click over to thelonelyforest.com.–EM

volume 13 issue 10 october

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volume 13 issue 10 october

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NATIONAL ACT

volume 13 issue 10 october

LANGHORNE SLIM & THE LAW we’ll get the take.’ And then, unfortunately, or fortunately, I’m adventurous and have a bit of an adventurous spirit, I’m sure, but I’m also a creature of habit, and being that I’d done it like that for so long, even though some part of me knew that that wasn’t the right way for us to do it, I was nervous and maybe insecure about how it would be to not do it the way that we’d always done it. There are a lot of superstitions that go into it, like I’ve always heard about pitchers in baseball and boxers and quarterbacks and stuff being freaks with all these superstitions, and I’m definitely chock full of ‘em, going into recording and going into shows and things like that. But once we got going, then it was clear, like, why hadn’t I done this already, and so much clearer that this was the way I wanted to do this from here on out.

A rambling man from an early age, Langhorne Slim has found himself – and his sound – on the road. A decade into his singer-songwriter career, he has settled, somewhat, in Nashville, and recorded a breakthrough: last year’s The Way We Move, with his lockdown band The Law. Yet it’s the restlessness and the rawness of his life and his music – not the long-term perfection of his craft, or Internet buzz – that’s made Move such a standout of Slim’s six releases, and the band’s live show in such high demand. Friends and former tour mates with similar spirits The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, Lucero, and countless others, Langhorne has simply logged the hours, and loved every minute, earning the almost overnight online attention he’s gotten thanks to prominent placement of the album’s title track in commercials for Windows 8 and elsewhere. Talking with Recoil over coffee, and via phone, Langhorne discussed why he draws from such a wide range of influences, why he will always record live in the studio from here on, and why finding the right guitar is nothing like finding the right woman. Recoil: I know that you’ve embraced the whole travelling lifestyle – right from the beginning, going from Pennsylvania, where you grew up, to New York, and then out to the West coast. Does the road feel like it is home at this point? Langhorne Slim: Yeah, and not just at this point, for a while now, for sure. I actually struggled with that, and I have been my whole entire adult life, I have been travelling way more than I have ever been still, or in one place, and that just suits my personality. I have a lot more fun as I get older, and I think that’s a big part of what allows me to live in a way that I feel like my soul and spirit always have needed to exist. When you’re younger you can’t kind of make your own rules and schedule and do the kind of shit that I’m able and fortunate enough to do now. And so being in one place and sitting when I was told to sit, I never was very good at it, and kind of rebelled against that existence as a child and I would get into trouble, and thank goodness I have some sort of an ability to write songs and play guitar and perform, so it allows me a pretty fun, exciting travelling lifestyle. But I feel more at ease in motion than I do standing or sitting still. I used to feel like there was

something wrong with that, and now I just kind of embrace it. I’ve realized it takes all kinds to make the world go ‘round, and some of us were meant to ramble. R: I’ve read that you guys recorded your latest album, [2012’s] The Way We Move, live in the studio, and it was the first time you had ever recorded live. How much did you let that feeling of it just all coming together happen while you were simultaneously recording it? LS: Yeah, man, that’s the way to do it. We’re a live band and when we’re playing we’re feeding off of each other, and I feel like that’s where the goal lies in our band. Not to smooth out the imperfections. Our imperfections are where the soul of the band is. So to edit those things out doesn’t make much sense. And like I said, there’s nothing wrong with making a record with studio guys and the studio’s all dressed up, that’s one way of doing it, and that’s the way that works for lots of people. But we’re a band that plays these songs together almost every night of our lives, so to break it down piece by piece when we’ve gotten good at it playing live together; it ceases to make any logical sense. So to record live as a band, that’s so much fun. Unless I was writing in a totally different way, or going for a totally different sound, because what we’re up to now, it’s the only way it makes any sense. R: Why do you think it took you so long to record live? LS: Umm, I think what happened was... It was on my mind for a long time. People [who] have followed and liked our band for a long time have always said that they like the records, but how much they really love the live show. And so I had gotten that criticism – which wasn’t a hurtful criticism. It was a criticism I had agreed with that, and that I didn’t fully know how to conjure up that same sort of sound. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize this was how to do it. In fact, even going into this record I don’t think it was what I had in mind. I think that Kenny Siegal, the guy that co-produced it with us – I think I was nervous about what if I don’t nail it vocally and the band’s going to be hitting it – and he’s just like, ‘Dude, just sing your ass off. We’ll do it a few times if you need it, and

sold some of it off, or put them in storage. What’s your guitar of choice now, and how important was it for you as a songwriter and a performer to find the right guitar? LS: Oh I still have a guitar collection, and I still have a bunch of shit in storage, and I’d like to get it out. I’m going to do that hopefully the next time I go through Brooklyn – get my shit out of the storage unit. But the guitars that I record with primarily are the same ones that I play onstage. So I’ve got a Martin D28 and a Martin D35 that I primarily record with, unless we’re going for a different kind of sound, and any studio that you’re going to go into there’s going to be just miscellaneous instruments laying around, so it’s inspiring to pick up something that isn’t yours and play that. Sometimes you can get a different sound than something you’d typically get. But yeah, man, for me the importance of having different guitars around me is more important for my writing because each one is going to write differently. Even though they’re all guitars each one is a different instrument and contains different sounds. So that’s why, other than me just loving instruments and loving collecting old things. I’ll write a lot on a little guitar that I probably wouldn’t record with. I never really thought about it to be honest. It’s where you can find inspiration for the song.

R: You draw influence from a lot of different genres that people don’t consider to overlap, like soul, folk, blues, and punk… Do you think more than any genre or style that it’s rawness and honesty that certain musicians bring to their music that really inspires you? LS: Yeah, you’ve got it. That’s exactly it, and that’s why I love all kinds of different styles of music, is because there are always the beginnings of every style of music, and that tends to be where I fall in love with the music, is R: Is trying out guitars almost similar to, or the beginnings of rock ‘n’ roll, or like early R&B as awkward and difficult, as say dating? or early soul, early blues. I love all that kind of LS: Oh, hmm. No, I think dating is a lot harder. stuff because it’s so raw. It’s so pure and dirty. I You know, I don’t feel rejected by guitars. guess I’m not inventing a style of music, I would [Laughs] If anything maybe I’m messing say, but I’m taking from the up with a guitar “Our imperfections are where something styles that I love and putting and I can just take that them together, and trying to the soul of the band is. So to responsibility, but no, a share what made me fall in edit those things out doesn’t guitar doesn’t tell me I’m love with music in the first messing it up. I just know it make much sense.” place, and that’s that raw inherently, and then I feel a and dirty and honest and soulful way. So yeah, little bit bad, but yeah, it doesn’t bum me out I love all styles of music because there is that quite as much. So I’m not dating anyone at passion, that grit, in every style of music. In my the moment, but I’m feeling pretty good about opinion, it gets lost sometimes with some bands guitars and women. and some records, and that’s fine. There’re so Langhorne Slim & the Law will play many other records out there, you can’t dig Shakespeare’s Lower Level Nov. 2 and The everything. But there’s truth in every style of Loft in Lansing Nov. 3. The Way We Move is music I’ve ever heard, that’s for sure. in stores and online now. To read Recoil’s full interview with Langhorne Slim, check R: I’ve read that you had built up something out recoilmag.com. For more, click over to of a guitar collection, and relatively recently langhorneslim.com.

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

INTERVIEW

volume 13 issue 10 october

ULTRAVIOLET

HIPPOPOTAMUS

Already masters of “onstage musical alchemy,” Grand Rapids’ Ultraviolet Hippopotamus hope to decipher the language of music on their new album, Translate. The improvisational jam band set their sights on bringing both the high-energy feel of their live shows, and the limitless textures of the studio to their fourth full-length release. They returned to West Michigan for the making of the record while taking a break from the road, where, for the last nine years, they’ve won over fans all across the country with an endless number of live shows, ranging from jazz/funk/ prog-rock jams, to fun cover sets, to all-night dance parties. Outside of the state, music festivals, like this year’s Summer Camp Festival, have helped expand their audience, while their last album, 2011’s Square Pegs, Round Holes, earned them new ears online in Europe and elsewhere. Recoil fired a few questions by all five members of UV Hippo (Brian Samuels, Joe Phillion, Russell Olmstead, Dave Sanders and Casey Butts) last month to find out the real meaning behind Translate, why the band will release the new disc Oct. 5 at Bell’s Brewery, and why Justin Verlander inspired the album’s closing song. Recoil: Spending so much time on the road now, what did it mean to you to record your latest album, Translate, here in West Michigan? Casey Butts(percussion/vocals): It’s funny, because when we are in the studio we don’t really see the outside world to even notice we are in West Michigan. We’d go from sunrise to sunset and basically eat, sleep and live in the studio for days on end. However, starting the process at home, everyone went into the session well rested, relaxed and focused. The first session we recorded out at Redwall North in Grand Haven. [The second was at River City Studios in Grand Rapids.] We were putting in twelve- to fifteenhour days, go home afterwards, sleep in our own beds, wake up, eat a good breakfast and start it all over again. We got more done in ten days than we have in a month in the past sessions. Russell Olmsted(guitar/vocals): People don’t realize how much musical talent there is here in Michigan, especially in West Michigan. It’s an honor to be able to record here and help put out the word that there are world-class facilities, engineers, producers and musicians in our home state. R: With so many genres and sounds in your repertoire, how much do you want to always keep pushing your musical boundaries? Or how much do you want to hone in on having your own signature sound? Brian Samuels(bass/mandolin/vocals): We will

RECORDING Capturing the feel of a live recording in the studio is a cruel bitch for two reasons. First and foremost, the lack of audience really cocks things up as far as the band’s raw energy is concerned. Second, which is the focus of this article, is that when you’re watching a band play music, you respond to all sorts of cues that just aren’t present when listening to a recording. If the guitarist messes up a chord, you might see a smirk and a nod to by Ryan Cunningham the rest of the band, letting you in on the joke, and making you feel more personally connected to the band. When you’re only listening to a recording, little things like mistakes and ad-libs can really be distracting from the experience, as the continuity and interpretation of the song is the only thing you can possibly pay attention to. Enter the wonderful art of digital dishonesty. Dishonesty in audio is certainly nothing new, as any tape jockey with a razor blade will tell you. But it’s certainly entered a new era of ease and seamlessness. For right now we will ignore the fact that you can tune a vocal into sounding as pitch perfect as your keyboard, and that you can quantize a drummer into being no more human than your Boss Dr. Rhythm (possibly less). We will focus on being the most honest liar possible. Specifically, doing hundreds of takes in order to get things right. Eddie Van Halen famously did his shredfest “Eruption” in one take, but that certainly doesn’t mean you have to. In fact one might argue that because you have a real job outside of music, and by that point Eddie had been able to focus all his attention

always be pushing our musical boundaries. It is so easy to get sick of doing the same thing over and over again. We’ve honed in on a sound that is mostly high-energy, fun and danceable. Because we have so many different genres involved, it always leaves the audience wondering what we will do next as well as keep it fun for us. Dave Sanders(keys/vocals): If you could ever categorize Ultraviolet Hippopotamus into one or even two music genres, then that might be the day I leave the band. I love the fact that you can’t just say that we’re ‘this’ type of music or we appeal to ‘this’ type of crowd. We’re like a smorgasbord of many, many, many different influences. It’s very exciting and full of energy, a sound like nothing you’ve ever heard before and tastes slightly like chicken. Though if I had to take one word and describe what kind of music we play, that word, that style of music would be awesome! [As in] Question: ‘What kind of music do you play?’ Answer: ‘Awesome!’ RO: We don’t want to be in the situation where someone brings a song to the table and we have to say, ‘Well, that’s a great song but it’s just not what we do in this band.’ Instead we want to say, ‘Wow, we’ve never played a song like that one before, let’s give a try.’ It keeps us hungry to improve our craft and keeps the creative juices flowing.

“The entire [West Michigan] scene is far better than many cities across the country.”

R: Why did you decide to title the disc Translate? What does that word mean to the band? CB: The title refers to us as a group, taking our ideals, stories and personal experiences and translating them into musical form. That there are deeper meanings and something being said in every part that is being put onto the album, whether it be a guitar line, a lyric or a triangle hit. On the flipside, it also refers to the feelings and interpretations that people will get from listening to the album and how it may be completely different than how we perceived it when we wrote it. In a sense, it is more about the music being a language to decipher than a bunch of notes and words. R: Over nine years together as a band, how would you say your live ‘onstage musical alchemy’ has changed? Joe Phillion(drums): Our nonverbal communication is constantly evolving on stage. There are moments of

musical ecstasy, mathematical thinking, recovery and improvisation. One thing I’ve personally noticed is we truly have fun on stage; we’re not fakers, showboats or divas. BS: It is always changing because we are always pushing ourselves to get better and to be creative. Playing together as often as we do, there are many moments while we are improvising that we all know what to do without a look, word or gesture.

roommates that are housing bands, street teaming and bringing people out to the shows for bands coming through from out of town and supporting them the same way that our fans are supporting us in their cities. The entire scene is far better than many cities across the country.

R: What does it mean to you to be hosting the release party for Translate at Bell’s [on Oct. 5]? JP: We are extremely proud to be from West Michigan. We’ve been playing Bell’s Brewery for eight years and know most of the taproom staff on a first-name basis, so we feel right at home every single time we are there. Since they built the Backroom venue, it has become one of the best places to play in the Midwest. The sound is so fantastic in that room, especially onstage, that we seem to play our best shows there. It is always a pleasure to be hosted by one of the elite breweries in the world. DS: I spent a lot of time in Kalamazoo while going to school and playing in previous bands so it holds a very special place in my heart. Among the most special places is Bell’s who have always treated Hippo very well. They’ve given us countless opportunity to grow in West Michigan and the joy it brings me to have our CD release party there is immeasurable.

R: Of course I’ve got to ask, what’s the story behind the new song ‘Verlander,’ and how do you think the [Detroit] Tigers are looking heading into October? DS: I’m a huge Detroit sports fan across the board, but on top of that list, I’m a Detroit Tigers fan. Now you may ask who my Tiger is and you’d be silly for asking because it’s JV, Justin Verlander. I originally wrote it for his first no-hitter. Then once it was written and started to get played live he got his second nohitter against Toronto and the whole MVP/CY Young thing. So now it’s for both no-hitters, his MVP and Cy Young award and the fact that he’s a workhorse of a pitcher. Plus he can saw a bat in half with his fast ball on a check swing which is pretty sweet. Now I have no idea what Justin Verlander will think of it, but I think it is a good musical interpretation of a JV-pitched game. As for the Tigers come October I see nothing less than World Series Champions. It would also be awesome to know that [Miguel] Miggy [Cabrera] will be winning the triple-crown again at that point...but to have both, now that’s the dream.

R: With how much time you spend on the road, how connected do you all still feel to the West Michigan music scene? CB: Surprisingly, we stay very aware of what is happening with the local scene even when we are out of town. We have friends, significant others and

Ultraviolet Hippopotamus will release Translate at Bell’s Brewery Oct. 5. The band will also play The Intersection Nov. 16. To read Recoil’s full interview with UV Hippo, check out recoilmag.com. Look for Translate online starting Oct. 1, or find more info at uvhippomusic.com.–Eric Mitts

Recording your band responsibly: loop recording on playing, that the deck is stacked against you, and you should take any opportunity possible to step up your game. Rationalization aside, when you’re trying to make a recording that represents your ideas of how things should sound, chances are you’re not going to be able to nail a complicated song from beginning to end up to your own standards.

Enter the wonderful art of digital dishonesty. Dishonesty in audio is certainly nothing new, as any tape jockey with a razor blade will tell you. But it’s certainly entered a new era of ease and seamlessness. The standard approach is to do what is called a “punch in,” named, I’m assuming, because you used to have to punch physical buttons to make it happen. In any case, the idea is that you start playback before the section you want to replace, play along with it matching tone and energy levels, hit record during the nasty bits, then stop recording while you’re still playing along. As a result, assuming you didn’t change anything about your instrument or microphones, you should have a seamlessly fixed recording. Alternately, a new digital-style technique has come around called “loop recording.” Essentially, you select a measure or four of music (or entire section), making sure to make it cycle back on itself as if you were making a hip-hop loop. You set your DAW (digital audio workstation, for those who don’t remember) to do loop recording, and set it off. Now you can spend as much time as you need getting these measures perfect. If you’re AC/DC, this technique doesn’t really apply, because your parts are simple. But if you’re writing a 10-minute epic virtuoso suite, each note really should be pretty perfect in order to get across

your original idea. Again, in a live situation, nobody really gives a shit if you miss a few notes here and there. But if you’re doing your engineering bit right, this guitar will be in everyone’s faces, and any slipup will be immediately noticeable and pull you out of it. Obviously, the best solution is to just practice the shit out of the thing and be able to play it perfectly one take through – but seriously, unless you’re independently wealthy, then you don’t have that kind of free time. And even if you did, do you really want to be that guy? You could be writing more music instead of rehearsing the same thing over and over. If it takes you that long to

get it correct, maybe you should just hire somebody else to practice what you write, and get on with your life. It’s not uncommon. Frank Zappa hired an entire band to play stuff that was humanly impossible. In any case, in the modern climate of cybernetic musicians (half musician, half pro-tools, all radioready), even if your schtick is musical integrity, there is no shame in focusing on a song section by section, or even measure by measure, to make sure your recording (which is not a live performance anyway) stands up to your personal tastes as a performer.

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

COMICS

Seriously, many of you readers are suffering from a massive lack of sleep (myself included)? Ever wake up groggy? Get sleepy after a meal? Hit the snooze button ten times? Ever splash coffee on your face in the morning? (Please use iced coffee.) Did you know that the average person should sleep anywhere from sevenand-a-half to nine hours every night? For some, especially those with little ones, that amount of by Dr. Steve Mikulak sleep sounds like a sublime fantasy only attainable while dreaming. So what’s the big deal? Why is sleep so important? Ever try to go without sleep for an extended period of time? How’d that go for you? Sleep deprivation affects millions of people every day. Sleep deprivation doesn’t discriminate, either: workaholic, student, athlete, mother, father, thin, fat, short, tall, etc. – everyone goes through bouts of sleep deprivation. We make excuses, think we’re rock

Go to bed! and everyone else but guess what, it caught up to me, just as it will catch up to you. I gave every excuse in the book, dealt with crappy fatigue day after day, fell asleep in class, stayed up too late way too often working on projects, homework, building a business or just wasting time on the internet. My health declined and I got depressed. Plain and simple, it sucked. Sleep is an essential part of living a healthy life! All of the body’s healing process work on full tilt when we sleep. Not just napping, but actual deep sleep. The body shuts down all of the daytime functions then goes into healing mode when we reach that point of true deep sleep. All of the internal functions take over and the healing begins. If you don’t get proper sleep, your body is unable to restore and heal the daily damages of stress that we encounter when we’re awake. When the amount of stress we deal with is greater than our body’s ability to adapt, things break down. The effects may not be immediate, but trust me, they are in the post and it’s only a matter of time before the symptoms start to rear their ugly faces. Lack of sleep affects relationships, hormone levels in women and men, decreases performance and alertness, memory and concentration are affected, and memory and concentration are affected. The heart is overly stressed which can result in heart attacks. Sometimes the added stress leads to obesity, anger issues, high blood pressure, psychiatric problems, ADD, increased risk of motor vehicle accidents, and other health concerns. One study found that reduced sleep time has a greater mortality risk (it kills you faster) than smoking, high blood pressure, and heart

When the amount of stress we deal with is greater than our body’s ability to adapt, things break down. stars, supermom/dad, pretend like everything feels okay, but how things are functioning is the real question that often remains unanswered until it’s too late. I always thought I didn’t really need sleep, and I had many years of college to prove it to myself

Now, after more than a decade-and-a-half later, it is time to expand, and Grand Rapids is where they have landed. But Sullivan didn’t just want to put a store just anywhere so he and several others put together a list of why they thought Vault of Midnight has been successful

Vault of Midnight is a comic book shop that opened on Main St. in Ann Arbor in 1996 – a period owner Curtis Sullivan described as “the end of the Their list of requirements [for a second location] boom years” and the included proximity to good food, good beer and good beginning of coffee, and had to be a college town with a love of the Dark Ages for comic art. Even GR naysayers would have to admit that books. They considering such criteria, it would be hard to find a succeeded by being not your better location than downtown Grand Rapids. typical comic book shop; Sullivan wanted to make sure his in Ann Arbor. Their list of requirements included store was clean, brightly lit, well stocked, and proximity to good food, good beer and good had a helpful and knowledgeable staff. coffee, and had to be a college town with a love of art. Even GR naysayers would have to admit that considering such criteria, it would be hard to find a better location than downtown Grand Rapids. Rather than look for a space on the outskirts of town (as many storeowners do), Sullivan was thrilled to find a spot open right in the heart of downtown on Monroe Center where the foot traffic is high and their bright blue building will definitely attract attention. When asked about Grand Rapids’ existing comic book stores Curtis said, he feels that there is more than enough customers for everyone and is hoping to attract a whole new crowd of comic book fans. He really hopes to expose people to comics who may

HEALTH

volume 13 issue 10 october

have never thought of buying one before. With the store seeming to carry just about everything from the small independent publisher books to the standard Marvel/DC fare, it is easy to see how he might hope to do so, but it is not just comics and graphic novels: Vault of Midnight also has an entire 90-foot wall of board games and a huge section of toys and T-shirts as well. As the store becomes more established in Grand Rapids, Sullivan hopes to start creating satellite events with many local retailers to help cross-promote each business, going by the old

adage that a rising tide lifts all boats. Vault of Midnight opened its doors for the first time in Grand Rapids Sept. 17 at 95A Monroe Center at 10 a.m. and they hope to keep opening up every day for a long time for the hard core and casual fan alike. Vault of Midnight is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information about their first store in Ann Arbor or the new store in Grand Rapids, visit vaultofmidnight. com.–Mark Ritzema

disease. Sleep disturbance is also one of the leading predictors of institutionalization in the elderly, and severe insomnia triples the mortality risk in elderly men. In other words, if you’re a high stress older guy, go to bed early. Ladies, join them. So how do you know if you’re getting enough sleep? Check yourself. Pay attention to what

about how tired you are anymore and you’ll be more productive during your awake hours. It’s a win-win for everyone. I realize it is not that simple for some people. However, when you’re making every excuse in the world why you can’t get more sleep and then complaining about how little sleep you get to those round you, everyone will just think you’re a cranky jerk. Do yourself a favor and go to bed an hour early, bring your lady or fella with you and get it on and then go to bed!

The body shuts down all of the daytime functions then goes into healing mode when we reach that point of true deep sleep. you consider your “daily routine.” Slow starter in the morning? Staying up until 2 a.m. when you have to be at work by 8 a.m.? Napping on the bus ride home? Your body will tell you if you’re not getting enough sleep, you just have to be more aware of how things are feeling. You may find that the things you consider normal may actually be signs of sleep loss. There are some cool new techy gadgets out there as well to make tracking your sleep a piece of cake. Check out the Fitbit Flex or the Jawbone Up, which are actually stylish wristbands that track your sleep patterns, quality of sleep, calories burned, daily steps, and even a silent alarm which is supposed to be an alarm which only wakes you and doesn’t disturb your partner. The information syncs to your smart phone or computer so you can literally track how well you sleep every day. Also, there are apps available that can assist in monitoring your sleep patterns. Check out the app “Sleep as Android,” “Sleep Cycle” or “sleepbot.” So now you don’t have an excuse: you know that you probably need more sleep. You have to be the one to adjust your schedule, make time, and make sleep a priority! Your body will thank you. Your co-workers will thank you because they don’t have to hear you whine

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

FOOD & DRINK

Revisiting the cumulative texture of place

Michigan’s craft beer, wine, and increasingly it is shared, culture takes not only a symbolic, cider industries are increasingly popular. Much or subjective form, but a material presence; of this can be attributed to a higher level of and it is the later especially that he argues general awareness of these industries, which accumulates. His next move is to argue that in turn was generated by not only word of the “meaning” of such evident culture is more mouth, but by ever-increasing media coverage often than not a discussion for academics as well as attention from policy makers who and other “experts” – in other words, this is have successfully not what’s important. Instead, he tells us that managed to sidethe importance of cumulative cultural artifacts step influential anti“lies less in their capacity to express mass alcohol groups (i.e. sentiments than in their ability to elicit them.” Mothers Against Altogether, urban spaces are constantly shifting Drunk Driving) by repositories of material/symbolic culture that focusing attention are not only shaped by people, but in fact shape on successful the people who live, work, and play there. e c o n o m i c In his writings, Suttles is not, of course, developments and discussing craft beer, wine, etc., specifically, but investments. Yet is addressing the nexus of cultural accumulations while capital is in place. However, on consideration of the being generated, cultural changes we have seen in places such I argue something as Traverse City, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, and by Wes Eaton else too is taking Grand Rapids, we cannot help but attribute this place, a cumulative buildup of creative culture to both food culture as well as craft beverages. that is broadening and enhancing the appeal, In other words, it can be argued that the character, and attractiveness of some Michigan notability of the local culture in these places is communities. I want On consideration of the cultural changes we have seen to explore this first by introducing some in places such as Traverse City, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, concepts from and Grand Rapids, we cannot help but attribute this to urban sociology both food culture as well as craft beverages. on the ways culture becomes situated in place, and then tightly linked with the successes of craft beer. by arguing, from my own lived experience in Places such as “Founders” and “Bell’s” have “Beer City USA,” how this might be happening become namesakes of these communities, in some communities across Michigan. leading to stronger notoriety which, in the long Where others have given explicit attention to run, generates a kind of resilience against the economic development, by invoking culture, exodus of the creative class. These are place I want to broaden this conversation to include builders, hailed by students, municipal workers, experiences and social forces that are less apt executives, and musicians alike. While all of to be quantitatively substantiated. this is completely transparent for most readers Let’s begin with the insight that places, such of Recoil, this becomes more complicated in as cities, are in constant flux, although some the light of Suttles notion about the dynamic fluctuate more slowly or quickly than others. processes of place. Specifically, much of what Still, during times in our lives when we visit a we are hailing here simply was NOT here new city or new place for the first time, we come 10, five, or even three years ago. Coming

The cultrual contribution of breweries is apparent here in Brussels. to imagine that place as existing in perpetuity. In other words, unlike the places we have spent years living and working within and changing with, new places come to us constants in that we assume they have been like they are well before we arrived. We take for granted what the Chicago Sociologist Gerald Suttles has called the “cumulative texture of local (urban) culture.” Tackling the elusive (in that it is difficult to “measure scientifically”) concept of culture, Suttles argues that local culture does not arrive all at once, but accumulates over time. For Suttles, culture is constituted by both “high” (i.e. performative arts) and “popular” (i.e. bumper stickers) notions of culture. Moreover, in that

to these places now, it’s easy to forget that these bright spots (in otherwise unequal urban development) are emergent. I believe Suttles can yield an additional insight. Again, he points out that meaning is less projected by people onto shared culture as cumulative culture implicates all of us. I believe this spoils the assumption that people fill brand new taprooms and beer halls solely because, as individuals, we changed our minds on preference in beer. Rather, this is the place we live, interact, work, and play, and in being here in Grand Rapids, or in other great beer cities, our personal identities are all the more intertwined with these cultural successes.

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LOCAL ACT There’s a whole lot of spitting going on whenever Chuck Whiting gets together with His Rowdy Friends. And not the kind that involves a mouthful of chaw and a spittoon – although both would feel right at home with the trio’s take on Western swing and Hillbilly blues. Spitting is just the way the band jams on ideas and turns conversations into songs. “Our biggest strength as a band is that we’re all friends,” vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chuck Whiting told Recoil on one of his few free

“Our biggest strength as a band is that we’re all friends. And I think you can tell the difference between a band, where all the members are tight, and a band that’s just a lead singer and his hired hands.” Friday nights. “We hang out even when we’re not playing music. We play Mega Man together, we go to strip clubs. And I think you can tell the difference between a band, where all the members are tight, and a band that’s just a lead singer and his hired hands. Our dynamic is definitely dynamic, even though I do all the songwriting, none of our songs would exist if it weren’t the three of us together.” Together with his brother, bullfiddle player Andrew Whiting, and lead guitarist Nick Lancaster (who joined the band in 2012) Whiting has wrangled a wide variety of influences into a sound he’s proud to call their own. Growing up with a dad who loved The Beach Boys – and discovering punk rock bands like The Mr. T Experience, Screeching Weasel, Descendents, and The Queers, as a teenager – Whiting started playing guitar and writing songs at 14. Over the last 13 years he’s performed in Michigan, Tennessee and Texas, where he spent four months in Austin playing open mics and going to Dale Watson shows. “I decided to form a string-band trio because of my love for Wayne Hancock and Hot Club of Cowtown,” Whiting said about why he started the Hastings/Kalamazoo-based trio in 2010. “I think there’s something really punk rock about not having a drummer. That and drums can be

FOOD Chili is just one of those meals that warm you to the core. Chili gets your mind and body to dance in unison, to the thought that everything will be okay. Is it the euphoric endorphin-rush feeling from the capsaicin in the spices, or is it the “home cookin’” feeling from childhood winter nights with the family? October’s a great time to use up that garden harvest creating a nice pot of good ol’ Chili! “Wish I had time for just one more bowl of chili.”–Alleged dying words of Kit Carson (1809-1868), by Mike Church Frontiersman and Mountain Man I was recently part of a team competing in this year’s 32nd annual chili cookoff next to the Cottage Bar in downtown Grand Rapids – my first time competing in a chili cook-off. And I leaned a lot. But there is one thing about that day that keeps nagging me… I don’t know crap about chili! So I decided to do some research. According to the International Chili Society, chili was designated as the official dish of

volume 13 issue 10 october

CHUCK WHITING & HIS ROWDY FRIENDS a huge pain in the ass. We can fit our entire band and all our equipment in my van.” Individually the band members are all over the musical map, with Lancaster listening to more rock, funk, and blues, Andrew Whiting bringing in bands like Radiohead and The Strokes, and Chuck Whiting taking influence from traditional roots music like Hank Williams, Bob Wills and Jimmy Rogers. They take it all in within the premise of a Western swing band, and just spit out their own sound within that context. “My biggest source of inspiration as a songwriter? Honestly...women,” Whiting confessed. “Whether it’s a stripper I dropped eighty bucks on, some girl I made out with at a party, or a co-worker I’ve had a crush on for five years, nothing inspires me to sit down and actually finish a song quite like girls do. And I think that’s pretty deep.” The band will release their new album, Sex, Drugs, and Western Swing, at Tip Top Deluxe Oct. 18. The 10-song set is the follow-up to 2011’s Calamity, a Jammie Award nominee heard on community radio stations WYCE and WIDR. “Tip Top is my favorite bar in the world,” Whiting said, adding that it’s where they opened for such influences as Wayne Hancock, Lucky Tubb, Eilen Jewell, Tom VandenAvond, the Bellfuries and others. “[Tip Top co-owner] Ted Smith has been one of our biggest supporters and we wouldn’t think of debuting our new album anywhere else.” Besides their range of influences and Texas experience, Whiting said what makes them stand out in the strong West Michigan music scene is their element of humor. “I try to write songs that, if nothing else, will make people laugh, and I try to be relatively

zany onstage,” said Whiting, who occasionally goes by the nickname, The Honky Tonk Buddha. “Nick and I both do stand-up comedy on the side, and I think this band’s emphasis on humor is another thing that sets us apart. Most people aren’t usually expecting a honky-tonk band to go for the laugh. But, at the same time, we’re not a comedy act.” They are “super tight” with the other area bands like JukeJoint Handmedowns, The Tony LaJoye Trio, and Midwestern Lull, and got guitarist Mark Lavengood of Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellies to play on two songs on their new album. “I think my favorite Michigan band at the moment is Black Jake & the Carnies,” Whiting said. “To me they represent that crossroads of punk and roots music that I love and I always get super wasted at their shows and get up on stage and sing with them.” Besides looking forward to playing the next

“My biggest source of inspiration as a songwriter? Honestly...women.”

It’s chili in here Texas in 1977. Most of what you’ve probably heard about chili came from this state. Back in the day cowboys would drive their cattle along

Chili doesn’t really have a birth land, it’s a stew. It’s almost impossible to trace back its lineage. the plains and around dusk they would fire up that pot and cook a bowl of chili. There are even stories of men who would plant tiny gardens of peppers, garlic and herbs along the cattle drive paths to harvest the chili ingredients for dinner. Genius! But of course there are plenty of different stories of origin. Some might say, “Chili Queens from San Antonio were the first!” others might say, “Hell naw, it wasn’t! It was old Leathermouth Bill in Arkansas; he was fixin’ to blow up some rock with a stick of dynamite but on accident he threw it into the cow pasture instead!” Look, chili – a.k.a. “bowl of red,” “bowls of blessedness,” “Soup of the Devil” or whatever you want to call it – doesn’t really have a birth land, it’s a stew. Think about that for a second; it’s a pot of stewed food and that’s almost impossible to trace back its lineage. You can, however, see the different influence from Spanish, Mexican, North and South American peoples. Stews have been made since ancient times

Buttermilk Jamboree – where the band played some of their most memorable shows the last three summers – Chuck Whiting & His Rowdy Friends hope to play as many music festivals as they can next year. “I imagine after the album is released, we’ll all take a huge collective sigh,” Whiting said. “Then I have a bunch of new songs that I want to make into a solo album. Nick and I will focus a little more attention on our stand-up comedy for a while. And then we’re planning a small, un-ambitious East coast tour for next spring.” Chuck Whiting & His Rowdy Friends will release Sex, Drugs, and Western Swing Oct.

“Drums can be a huge pain in the ass.” 18 at Tip Top Deluxe. The band will also play the Hastings Harvest Festival Oct. 5 and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum Oct. 11. For more, click over to reverbnation.com/chuckwhiting.– Eric Mitts

need (any kind will do, but beef is probably best) in pieces about the size of a pecan. Put it in a pot, along with some suet (beef fat, enough so as the meat won’t stick to the sides of the pot, and cook it with about the same amount of wild onions, garlic, oregano, and chilies as you have got meat. Put in some salt. Stir it from time to time and cook it until the meat is as tender as you think it’s going to get.” It sounds pretty simple to me, and I kind of love how open that is to interpretation: your own.

all over the world. Hunters would kill an animal, cut up the meat, stuff the meat and some water into its own punch (stomach) and boil it over the animals burning bones. Sounds kind of morbid, like a Game of Thrones scene, huh? Well, they had to eat, and that seems like an efficient allin-one-package way to do it. The word “chili” comes from the Nahuatl, Aztec word “cilli” which is the name of a pepper native to the land. And since Texas is pretty darn close to Mexico…. well, you get the idea, it continued north and Texas wants to claim it. I say let them have it; I’d rather think of Texas for its chili creation than its ex-President creation. Some of the oldest chili recipes all have Church’s chili team at the 32nd annual chili cookoff next to Cottage Bar. the same things in common: meat, herbs and Seriously, give it a try! We used curry paste, spices, and liquid. Here is a believed-to-bebacon and a little whiskey with our beef and 1800s Texan chili recipe from the trail. tomatoes. Give it your best shot; make it “chili” “Cut up as much meat as you think you will in your house.

volume 13 issue 10 october

BURLESQUE Cassie Truskowski has been influencing the West Michigan scene as it’s evolved for quite some time. Starting off performing at rock shows and small venues around the area, Truskowski’s blend of circus arts and burlesque has turned her passions into a full-fledged, thriving business; she’s appeared on national television, headlined events, taken the stage with major artists around the world – all while paving the way for others in the local scene. Due to some of the progressive thinking Grand Rapids has done during recent years, Truskowski has been able to bring her craft to a level that she has always wanted – one that doesn’t necessarily need to push boundaries

as much as bringing quality, feel-good entertainment to her audience. Her troupe of

METAL SCENE Let’s take a short tour of the best venues in Michigan for heavy music. There are some great shows coming up, and it is your duty as a metalhead to make it to one or 10. Check the clubs’ webpages for upcoming shows, or hit by Jen Moshpit them up all in one place at MoshPitNation.com.

GRAND RAPIDS

The Intersection www.SectionLive.com Regularly brings fantastic shows to their main room. They also do some smaller local and regional shows on the front room stage inside The Stache. Head there for these upcoming shows: We Came as Romans, Mushroomhead, The Devil Wears Prada, GWAR, Monster Magnet, The Black Dahlia Murder and Devil Driver. The Pyramid Scheme www.PyramidSchemeBar.com Kickass shows from bands you’ve probably heard of like Obituary, Saint Vitus and Agent Orange coming up. And they do a superior job of bringing you amazing bands you may not have heard of like Orange Goblin, Holy Grail and Gates of Slumber, which all on the upcoming docket. Mulligan’s Pub www.Mulligans-Pub.com Always-free shows in Mulligan’s Otherside, bring you the best of local and underground metal, rock and indie music. Mulligan’s has been the best local bar for consistent metal in

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DANGER DAMSELS

burlesque performers, The Danger Damsels, has sold out every show they’ve booked. The Danger Damsels are comprised of six core members, including Truskowski co-producer Marian Ward, and supported by a varying number of Stage Kittens, who are typically Damsels in training. The response has been so great for each show that the Damsels typically end up holding auditions for new members frequently. The show’s focus is about providing quality entertainment through classic burlesque, song and dance numbers, comedy and guest performances from local and national burlesque performers. Each Damsels show not only has a unique theme but also has a charity tied to it. Their last show featured a traditional USO-patriotic theme with portions of the proceeds going to local veterans. The act’s Nov. 2 show at Billy’s Lounge is partnered with a local animal shelter. Truskowski wants these shows to not only be entertaining but be focused on giving back to the community. Each performance showcases classic burlesque while providing an empowering experience for

the females who attend. It’s also a show you the Downright Daddies. The theme: monsters can bring your significant other to, a girls’ night and other Halloween characters. out or even bachelor/bachlorette parties! Outside of bringing an amazing retro-feel burlesque show to West Michigan, the Danger Damsels’ Halloween Danger Damsels are branching out next Hootenanny will feature Redrum, year to fill some of the typical needs that one of Chicago’s biggest names in the pin-ups of the past were famous for, including auto-show modeling and Halloween-style burlesque, along with providing song and dance numbers with live rockabilly/swing music from Cash themed costuming at events for people who love classic Burlesque style. O’Riley & the Downright Daddies. Catch the Danger Damsels at Billy’s Danger Damsels’ Halloween Hootenanny will Lounge Nov. 2. Doors open at 8 p.m. You’re feature Redrum, one of Chicago’s biggest advised to get there early to grab a good seat!– names in Halloween-style burlesque, along with Richie Lampani live rockabilly/swing music from Cash O’Riley &

The best Michigan venues for heavy music GR for a couple of years. And they have cheapas-hell, strong drinks. The Orbit Room www.OrbitRoom.com A mainstay of GR for big national shows, The Orbit Room’s back in action this fall with the likes of Five Finger Death Punch, Danzig, Coheed & Cambria, Asking Alexandria/All That Remains/Sevendust/Emmure and, of course, Lamb of God/Killswitch Engage/Testament. See you in the pit! The DeltaPlex www.DeltaPlex.com For the occasional giant show, The DeltaPlex delivers. For instance, Rob Zombie and Korn shows were just announced for November. Check out their calendar online.

LANSING

Mac’s Bar www.MacsBar.com Mac’s hosts the occasional regional touring band, and also regularly features local metal.

They’ve run OgreFest in April for several years featuring the best of local Michigan metal bands. Uli’s Haus of Rock www.facebook.com/pages/Ulis-Haus-Of-Rock Uli’s runs metal and rock shows on most weekends, and is a favorite “corner bar” in Lansing. Occasionally they host touring bands, but usually keep it about the local party.

MUSKEGON

Club Envy www.ClubEnvyMuskegon.com Bringing some touring bands through, and putting on bigger local shows regularly, Club Envy has brought the metal back to their stage. They are going to host a killer Halloween party with local bands covering your favorites like Slayer, Killswitch, Parkway Drive and more.

KALAMAZOO

The 411 Club www.facebook.com/pages/The-411-Club

Regularly featuring hard rock and metal from around Michigan, the 411 Club is Kalamazoo’s best spot for a show. The sound is great, and they have great food too!

BATTLE CREEK

Planet Rock www.PlanetRockBC.com Kicking it back into high gear, Planet Rock has some great shows on the docket, including Sevendust, Dope, Eye Empire, Taproot and more.

FLINT

The Machine Shop www.TheMachineShop.info A foundation of metal in Michigan, The Machine Shop has delivered amazing touring bands for years and years. The sound is awesome, the atmosphere is ideal and the drinks are cheap. Upcoming shows include Hatebreed, Mushroomhead, Blue Felix, Kill Devil Hill and Motionless in White.

DETROIT AREA

If you’re up for a road trip and want to see some shows that don’t come through West Michigan, check out what Detroit’s got going on at these fine venues. The Fillmore www.TheFillmoreDetroit.com St. Andrews Hall www.SaintAndrewsDetroit The Shelter (in the lower level of St Andrews) The Majestic Theatre / The Magic Stick www.MajesticDetroit.com The Token Lounge www.TheTokenLounge.com Harpo’s www.HarposConcertTheatre.com The Crofoot / The Pike Room www.TheCroFoot.com Royal Oak Music Theater www.RoyalOakMusicTheatre.com DTE Energy Music Theatre / The Palace www.Palacenet.com

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volume 13 issue 10 october

COMICS It seems the title “Comic-Con” has been rolling off the tongues of more and more people during the past few years. No longer just a place for what some deem as geeks and nerds, the world of comics, video games and fantasy movies has become a staple in our popular culture. With attendance at conventions across the nation skyrocketing, it’s clear this is a movement that is not going away anytime soon. With television shows centered around comic conventions popping up, movies featuring the pastime and even documentaries exposing the behind-the-scenes atmosphere, it’s clear we love these events and are trekking to them in packs. Where else can you meet up with artists and characters you’ve come to love, or see the latest video trends. It’s a fantasy world to get dressed up for and escape in. Well, hold in your excitement, folks: this year, West Michiganders don’t have to travel far to get a taste of all the fun. This is the inaugural year of Grand Rapids Comic-Con, a comic book and popular arts convention and trade show. “This year is the first year doing the Grand Rapids Comic-Con, and we are expecting

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a lot of growth in this event,” hopes co-event coordinator Mark Hodges. “When done right these events have tremendous growth potential and we are hoping that the Grand Rapids Comic-Con will become one of the marquee events on the West Michigan calendar for years to come.”

comic illustrators. Included on the docket is legendary illustrator Allen Bellman, who illustrated Captain America during World War II. Another treat is Robert Pope, currently the head DC Comics artist for the Cartoon Network as well as titles such as Scooby Doo and Peanuts. There will even be children’s book illustrator Dan Monroe, who had the tremendous task of illustrating Dennis the Wild Bull, written by famed NBA legend and eccentric personality Dennis Rodman. Other notable guests include: Chris Yambar, lead artist for The Simpsons comics (and he drew Popeye); Mr. Beat creator Jon Alderink, colorer for Hi-Fi Colour Designs for DC Comics titles such as Justice League: Generation Lost, Superman, Firestorm, and T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents; and Arvell Jones, an illustrator whose work includes All-Star Squadron, Thor, Daredevil, Iron Man, The Avengers, and Kobalt. Aside from interacting with these scheduled guests, there will also be plenty do, lots to explore and lots to play with. The event will have a vending room, an anime room, a video gaming room operated by Nintendo, and a card and board gaming room. In addition to opportunities to play, there will also be opportunities to observe with an Artist Alley filled with 20 independent artists for discovery, an art show featuring an extraordinary display of some of the biggest names in comics, and a film festival sponsored by Compass College

of Cinematic Arts. For those looking to broaden their knowledge and gain some insight, there will also be panels and seminars for participants to enjoy. Don’t forget to dress in your best cosplay attire; there will also be a costume competition with cash prizes. Grand Rapids Comic-Con will take place Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the HSB Building (5625 Burlingame Ave. in GR). Tickets are $5 at the door. If you would like to show generosity

Included on the docket is legendary illustrator Allen Bellman, who illustrated Captain America during World War II.

illustration by jon alderink For this premiere year, organizers have brought in many special treats. In attendance will be some pretty spectacular nationally recognized

you can also purchase and early bird ticket at 9 a.m. for $10, with half of the proceeds going to benefit local philanthropist chef Tommy FitzGerald’s children’s cooking program, Kitchen Sage. “We wanted to contribute to the West Michigan area,” says Hodges. “We wanted to represent a charitable organization that gave specifically to Grand Rapids and would be a partner in our efforts as well. Kitchen Sage and Chef Tommy FitzGerald fit the bill perfectly.” Also, as a token of gratitude toward our local heroes, all officers from the Wyoming Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office and Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office will be let in for free – just show your badge at the door.–Naomi Goedert

BURLESQUE SuicideGirls have for more than a decade (nearly 13 years!) been redefining what our society considers a beautiful, sexy and strong woman – celebrating all things furthest from the norm, seeking out the quirky, the unconventional, the rebellious, all representing the alternative lifestyle of so many underrepresented beauties. These girls hold their middle finger up to the standards our culture has put on them and push past the stuffy attitude and stigma associated with anyone who bucks the establishment. At this point, popularity for the SuicideGirls’ worldwide organization has soared; they receive even more submissions than Playboy and are careful to select just the right girls to officially exemplify SuicideGirls’ ideals. “Our community carefully chooses the most unique, beautiful women from those submissions and invites them to join our sorority of badass bombshells and geek goddesses,” boasts the website SuicideGirls.com. “We consider ourselves the sexiest, smartest, most dangerous collection of outsider women in the world.” And they are; with thousands of SuicideGirls representing from all over the world, the collection is proving every day that they have staying power and are breaking the mold. More and more, SuicideGirls’ visions and examples are popping up in our mainstream media: in commercials, music videos, everywhere people are being exposed and drawn in to the beauty that is that uniqueness. There are a lot of assumptions that you have to be tattooed, pierced and provocative to be a SuicideGirl, and that it is what the organization promotes. That’s simply not the case. Candidates can be of any style,

SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque walk of life and demeanor. The important thing is that they are unique, have an aura of fierceness and don’t fall into the trap of cookiecutter beauty. These are true indie beauties that embrace an alternative lifestyle. Touring as a burlesque show in the early 2000s, the SuicideGirls developed a show that opened for such musical giants as Guns ‘n’ Roses and Courtney Love. Now after a six-year hiatus they are taking their message on the road once again with their SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque tour. October 12 at The Orbit Room, West Michigan will be put on the edge of excitement and witness some of the sexiest

Choreographer Manwe Sauls-Addison’s credits include working with such powerhouse clients as Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and Beyonce.

and fun – not to mention barely clothed – entertainment to tour this country in the form of burlesque greatness. After narrowing the cast down to its best seven girls, SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque will take audiences

These are true indie beauties that embrace an alternative lifestyle. on a tongue-in-cheek ride through some fun and energetic routines filled with lots of sexy appeal. To elevate their performance, they have tapped famed established and accomplished choreographer Manwe Sauls-Addison, whose credits include working with such powerhouse clients as Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga and

Beyonce. Oh and yeah, these girls are not just sexy, they can dance too. Watching some of their rehearsal footage, I quickly gained an appreciation for the physicality the ladies are putting into the show. This will not only be well danced, it will tell fun stories in a sexy way. More than some sexy hip-shaking and grinding, this show will also have a bunch of humor thrown in. Some routines are built around such popular culture references as Kill Bill and Game of Thrones. Other subjects working their way into the piece will be The Big Lebowski (which I am dying to see), Planet of the Apes, Dr. Who and more. SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque will be performed Oct. 12 at The Orbit Room. Show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20.–Naomi Goedert

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volume 13 issue 10 october

GROUPLOVE

SPREADING RUMOURS CANVASBACK/ATLANTIC

7.5/10

“I’d rather be a hippy than a hipster,” sings Grouplove lead vocalist/guitarist Christian Zucconi (on “Hippy Hill”). That’s the thrust of the alterna-rockers’ second album, a set that at its best moments follows the band’s free spirit rather than the latest indie-rock trends. More synth-centered than their 2011 debut, Spreading Rumors still keeps plenty of ‘90s rock guitars at the ready (“Borderlines and Aliens,” “News To Me”) while giving Zucconi’s howl the disc’s loudest moments. They lose their way on the “break-it-down, break-it-down” of the Coachella-baiting “Shark Attack,” and vocalist/ keyboardist Hannah Hooper still can’t carry lead alone on “Didn’t Have To Go,” but her playful interplay with Zucconi on lead single “Ways To Go” is what proves that the band has arrived, and continues to make Grouplove so easy to like.–Eric Mitts

THE NAKED AND FAMOUS IN ROLLING WAVES SOMEWHAT DAMAGED

8/10

With an international hit off their debut now under their belt, The Naked and Famous softly cover up on their follow-up effort. Where 2010’s Passive Me, Aggressive You laid everything out, with full-blown, sky-high synthpop hooks – and vocalist Alisa Xayalith shrilly singing against the band’s dance rhythms, Waves works more with subtleties and layers, washing over listeners with the ebb and flow of each successive track. Xayalith’s voice has a noticeably gentler quality, pulling back from that edge, making the crescendos crest more gradually, and more completely, especially the drum-kick close of album opener “A Stillness.” The band still unabashedly reaches for the stars with the wide-eyed idealism of their previous smash “Young Blood,” on lead single “Hearts Like Ours” and the mid-album standout “I Kill Giants,” but it’s the surprising soft touches, often found on acoustic guitar, or in Xayalith’s shared harmonies with vocalist/guitarist Thom Powers, that gives the entire record an inescapable tidal pull.–EM

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REQUIRED LISTENING MGMT MGMT

9/10

COLUMBIA Few bands in recent memory inspire such strict polarization amongst their own fans as MGMT. In 2008, the band released their debut album Oracular Spectacular. Buoyed by three irresistible faux-disco pop singles (“Time to Pretend,” “Kids,” “Electric Feel”) the record went platinum, and the band soon found themselves at the center of all that they felt was unholy, being courted by corporate vultures and beholden to squealing MTV tweens. This, they decided, was not what they had in mind. In 2010, they released Congratulations, an ambitious and eclectic collection of anti-pop that seemed expressly designed to kick the Kids off the bandwagon. For Ben Goldwasser and Andrew Van Wyngarden, the goal is not to collect adoration and accolades (though to be fair, they were incredibly fortunate to have been in that position right off the jump) and their willful decision to move towards a more challenging and, in their eyes, honest representation of their art is certainly admirable. Congratulations did a bangup job baffling everyone it was supposed to baffle and introducing a more experimental, more heavily psychedelic MGMT to the masses. MGMT concerts became divided affairs: highschool kids in bandannas clamoring for hits and jockeying for space next to acid-heads, gear dweebs and other members of the psychedelic tribe. That Congratulations sold a fraction of the units its predecessor sold was of no matter to MGMT, let alone Columbia, who has not only supported the group’s increasingly strange excursions, but seems to have doubled-down on them for this latest release. The result is amazing. Opening track “Alien Days” is half-fairytale, half-fever dream, acoustic strums leading you down, down, down the rabbit hole until the ground gives way and you float gently to the bottom (top?) and begin again. Intentionally disorienting yet easily digestible, the song is a perfect introduction to the delightful strangeness that follows. The band’s cover of Faine Jade’s “Introspection” is the record’s high water mark, rolling snares and low-burbling bass bubbles hold hands with hovering keys as Van Wyngarden’s simple verse and even simpler chorus create a lovely, uncluttered headspace. It is on moments like this where the band’s mass appeal and their propensity for the strange combine to make something totally unique. “I Love You Too, Death” appears near the album’s close, an eerie and twisting six minutes of space that stays with you long after it’s come and gone. VanWyngarden mumbles quietly into a mic about crickets and echoes, a door hinge creaks, high-pitched frequencies blip in and out, until eventually all these disparate sounds gel into a soft cushion of sound. Without speeding up or slowing down, the song assembles itself into something astonishingly supple. Being weird is harder than it seems, but MGMT make it sound natural.–Andrew Watson

AVENGED SEVENFOLD HAIL TO THE KING WARNER BROS.

7/10

Reaching for the throne of heavy metal’s most immortal – Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica – Avenged Sevenfold honor their obvious influences here with imitation more than innovation, rarely reigning in a riff or rhythm they can completely call their own. But that’s not to say that the set is lacking in powerhouse performances, particularly the pounded-out rhythms of new drummer Arin Ilejay, who lives up to the legacy of beloved deceased drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, and guitarists Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance, who shred the shit out of the intro to the title track, and command the gravitational pull of “Planets.” Muddled in the mundane mid-tempo march of their mainstream successes, frontman M. Shadows can’t quite move the band from axe-wielding torchbearers to heavy metal heir apparents, yet, but their importance to the genre’s next generation remains unrivaled.–Eric Mitts

KREWALLA GET WET COLUMBIA

6/10

Call it the cult of Ke$ha. The larger-than-life pop pull of Lady Gaga, and others, has drawn some of EDM’s most debauched party starters out from the darkness and onto the charts, completely unexpectedly, especially for relative newcomers like Krewella. The young Chicago trio of sister/singers Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf, and producer/DJ Kris “Rain Man” Trindl, never thought their debut EP, last year’s Play Hard, would have a platinum hit in “Alive,” so now, less than a year later, it’s strange to look at the group as a pop product, still playing into an Andrew W.K.-like party all the time lifestyle on their full-length, but battling expectations and comparisons (especially to similar sounding Swedish EDM/pop duo Icona Pop, who released their debut the same day as Get Wet). The set hits hard, repeating the best bassdrop bangers off Play Hard, as well as “Dancing with the Devil” (featuring guests Patrick Stump, SAVOY, and Travis Barker), but it all bends on obligatory “Alive” clones (like “Enjoy The Ride”).–EM

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REQUIRED LISTENING VOLCANO CHOIR REPRAVE

volume 13 issue 10 october

NEW DVD RELEASES NOW YOU SEE ME

9/10

JAGJAGUWAR It seems like Forever Ago that Justin Vernon came crawling out of the snowy Wisconsin woods with those For Emma tapes. A lot has gone down since then – Grammy wins, Kanye collaborations – a guy could be forgiven for losing his way when all those people start throwing cheddar at you. Vernon, it seems, is made of different stuff. I don’t think anybody knew who Volcano Choir was in 2009, most probably wrote it off as Vernon’s buddy project; Unmap, the group’s debut, arrived so quickly on For Emma’s heels that most people didn’t even catch on to it. It was a mostly scattershot effort anyway, a sort of odds and ends thing with a few nice moments, but lacking the cohesive caliber of Vernon’s Bon Iver project. Repave arrives five years later with an entirely different agenda and bearing a strength of melody and tone that was completely lacking on the debut. At the very least, these eight songs represent some of the finest and most inviting work in Vernon’s canon. The album opens with “Tiderays,” a gradual buzz gives way to a calming acoustic guitar figure before Vernon’s familiar falsetto tiptoes in, pleading “Wake up,” urging the listener to rapt attention. It’s apparent from the start that you’re in for something special. Some records just do that. Right before your ears the track morphs into jagged guitar stabs and crashing percussion. “Acetate” finds Vernon singing at his normal register, with the band crafting a tight, pulsing beat around him as a cacophony of voices call an echo from deep within the mix, “Shout it! Sing it louder now!” He seems relieved, almost, to be leaving the musical bits to his bros, to concentrate wholly on the words and sounds coming out of his mouth, and as listeners, we are much the better for it. Like him or not, the guy’s got phenomenal pipes, and it is a treat to hear him dip his baritone into tracks like “Byegone” or “Comarade,” putting the full weight of his concentration into his vocal. Standing ovation, please, for guitarist Chris Roseneau and Thomas Wincek, the two gents most responsible for the elegant arrangements and pitch-perfect performances that give life to these songs. I am truly struck by this album.–Andrew Watson

OKKERVIL RIVER

THE SILVER GYMNASIUM ATO

8.5/10

Having long established his invincibility as a songwriter, Will Sheff has adopted his most personal challenge to date with his latest record, The Silver Gymnasium. As listeners, we are hurtled back through time to, of all places, Meriden, New Hampshire, (pop.347) circa 1986 or so, the place where Sheff whiled away his adolescence, and the geographic tug of consciousness that kick-starts all of his artistic endeavors. As Okkervil albums go, slot this one ahead of I Am Very Far a piece and maybe a notch below The Stage Names (Black Sheep Boy remains untouchable). The music here is buoyant and engaging, designed to awaken vibes of nostalgia in those of us who were born in the ‘70s, and it works unsurprisingly well. I’ve come to expect great things from Will Sheff.–AW

JOANNA GRUESOME WEIRD SISTER SLUMBERLAND

8.5/10

Ignore this band’s ridiculous name, laugh at it, whatever, just get past it and listen to these incredible songs! The skies may fall, the seas may boil, but there will always space on this Earth for pop-sloppy guitar hooks, carcrash percussion, and bittersweet vocal harmonies. And the brevity! At 4:02, “Candy” is by far this record’s longest cut – everything else spits by in a glorious 180 seconds or less, a delirious and deafening blur of crass and cool. If “Sugarcrush,” “Wussy Void” and “Secret Surprise” were any more lovable they’d be baby panda bears. The ability to convincingly play terrifying and tender is a rare and striking quality, particularly for the young. No bullshit silly band name can take away from that.–AW

JANELLE MONAE THE ELECTRIC LADY BAD BOY

7/10

My first exposure to Janelle Monae was watching her do “Tightrope” on one of those late-night shows; here was this pint-size, tap-dancing James Brown alien hybrid with pompadour to match and firepower to spare. I was totally gassed by that performance. Sheer brilliance. I was fully primed and ready to love her debut record, I even fake-loved it for a while… until I stopped listening. It was merely okay, when I was expecting genius. The Electric Lady is a perfectly fine follow-up (Prince Guest Appearance Alert!) but I’m still waiting for Monae’s recorded output to catch up to her dizzying talent. I can dig Janelle Monae, just not her records so much.–AW

Now You See Me is a film about four street illusionists who are brought together by a mysterious invitation delivered to each of them while they are working. One year later they are known as the Four Horsemen and are quickly becoming the hottest magic act in the country. They end a large Las Vegas show by apparently robbing a French bank of 3.2 million Euros and giving the attendees the money. As this does indeed happen they are brought to the attention of the FBI and Interpol. The FBI, in an effort to find out how they are stealing the money, try to enlist the aid of Thaddeus Bradley (played by Morgan Freeman), a former magician who now exposes how tricks are done. He attempts to help but is eventually paid by the Horsemen’s financial backer, Arthur Tressler (played by Michael Caine), to help bring the Horsemen down after he is robbed by the act. The film has a large set of characters and a number of big names to its credit, which is partially its downfall, as there are too many people to keep track of and the film keeps switching points of view from the magicians, to the FBI, back to the magicians and so on. Several of the plot twists are telegraphed and pretty standard for movies but the film is still enjoyable to watch. This is a fun heist film in the vein of the Ocean’s movies and in a way the television show Leverage.–Mark Ritzema

AT THE GATE OF THE GHOST

While the average modern remake seems to take the barest thread of the original plot and throw out the rest in favor of special effects and more action, At the Gate of the Ghost has remained faithful to the original material – the classic Akira Kurasawa film Rashomon. Both stories demonstrate how flexible the truth can be by detailing, through testimony at a trial, the demise of a Japanese nobleman as told by his assailant, his wife and his ghost. Two other witnesses, a monk and a woodcutter, meet afterward as a storm hits, and pass the time in an old tunnel, discussing the trial they both participated in, which made no sense to them. Each witness told different though similar stories, all ending in the nobleman’s death, and each claimed to have killed him. It’s only after all versions of the story are discussed that the actual truth comes out. The original was told in more of a narrative style, with the characters speaking to a never-seen magistrate and describing what’s happening during the flashbacks. The new version adds details to the flashbacks, which are completely acted out, and more fully fleshes out the characters. It also concentrates more on the monk, who was so disillusioned by the proceedings that he was considering leaving his order. If you’ve never seen either one, you’ll probably prefer the new version, as it looks better on current video systems (though it’s also subtitled). Both movies, however, are a fascinating look at human nature.–Sheila Streeter

PAIN & GAIN

Pain & Gain is based on a true story that takes place in Florida in the mid-1990s. The story follows a personal trainer/bodybuilder named Daniel (played by Mark Wahlberg) who decides that the only way to reach the American Dream is to take it from one of his clients who he feels doesn’t deserve it. He brings in two other bodybuilders to assist in his plan. One is a friend from the gym he works at, Adrian (played by Anthony Mackie), and the other is a former cocaine addict and parolee, Paul (played by Dwayne Johnson). As these three have more brawn than brain, nothing goes right – from the kidnap victim very easily figuring out who has taken him to when they decide they have to kill him, having to attempt to do it several times before they feel they pulled it off. Daniel starts living the life he feels he deserved, Adrian starts to create a life for himself, but Paul starts to self-destruct due to having so much money. This film could have been a drama but with the rampant stupidity of the main characters, it really works as the black comedy that it is filmed as. The movie has some issues – including giving everyone a chance to have an internal monologue, which can be jarring as whichever character is on the screen at the time has an opportunity to do voiceover. This film was directed by Michael Bay and is, surprisingly, mostly explosion free.–Mark Ritzema

STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS

If you hated J.J. Abrams’ reboot of Star Trek, this sequel won’t endear the new version of the franchise to you any further. However, if you’re able to reconcile the fact that this is a completely different timeline, which doesn’t diminish the original series one bit, you’re in for another interesting tale of the Enterprise crew. This time the action opens with Kirk and McCoy running from a mob of angry natives, while Spock attempts to neutralize a mega-volcano that could destroy the planet. Predictably, Kirk’s actions during the mission violate the Prime Directive, landing him a demotion, and blowing his chance to lead an upcoming five-year deep-space survey. Meanwhile, a mysterious man sets in motion a series of events that could change the face of the Federation forever. Full of action and intrigue, the film also contains plenty of humor, drama and emotional moments. There’s an additional underlying thread regarding the meaning of friendship, as well as what one would do to protect or save those friends. If you’re the sort who likes special features with your movies, there are plenty to be found. Unfortunately, you’ll have to carefully choose which version of the Blu-Ray you want to buy, as Paramount has split much of the features amongst several “exclusive” retailer-only versions, and there are none on the DVD version. Whether or not they actually believed fans would run out and buy all versions is unclear. Regardless, this is an excellent sequel, with hints of future sequels to come.–Sheila Streeter

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

POETRY Local film directors and producers Matthew Douglas Grzeszak and Randy Galaszewski, Sr., have been working diligently during the past year to bring their kickass thrills and chills film Beyond the Dark to West Michigan just in time for Halloween. “Just how this film starts off is going to punch you right in the face!” states Grzeszak. “There are eight depictions of pure horror wrapped into our film.” “It’s a twisted take on Tales by Sherrie Coke from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone. The difference is that our segments are very dark, gory, intense and serious,” said Grzeszak. We want to keep the audience’s attention from one story to the next. This is way all our stories are very different – we have zombies, vampires, psychos, cannibals, creatures and bizarre situations.”

“There are eight depictions of pure horror wrapped into our film.” The film has been in the works for well over a year and the crew has been working nonstop to pack the filming in during weekends and some weeknights. “Most of our actors and crew have jobs so we had to schedule rehearsals and filming into our off-hours,” states Grzeszak. “Everyone came prepared and we got right down to business during the shoots. Time was precious.” Using local actors, an on-set photographer, make-up professionals, set

volume 13 issue 10 october

Local film delivers scares just in time for Halloween builders and artists, the directors had all their bases covered. One of the film’s producers, Ross Scharphorn, visited Michigan several times from California to help with the movie as well. “Ross came in for a few weeks to help with some of the segments and to offer up his expertise and experience,” says Grzeszak. “Ross also came up during the last month of wrapping up the film to help with editing and producing. My sister Nancy Grzeszak is appearing in this film as well. She had to be a part of this. Nancy has been in all of my films since the very beginning, and there was no way I would have done this film without her making an appearance.” Filmgoers can plan on seeing allout horror in many different forms in this film. “With eight segments depicting eight different styles of horror, I think we have it all covered,” states Grzeszak. “There will also be a ninth hidden segment to watch for. Each story is about fifteen minutes on screen, but in filming, I have twentyfive to thirty hours for each, with time taking twice as long to edit.” The directors of the film are very happy with how the film is coming together. “Everything and everyone is On the set of Beyond the Dark humans fighting it out in the streets and other looking awesome,” states Grzeszak. public venues. “We closed off an entire street “Everyone involved brought their game to the for the filming of ‘Infection,’” states Grzeszak. set. In appreciation for everyone’s hard work “Ross was in from California for special effects, and professionalism, we are throwing a Wrap Party at the end of September for them. It is stunts and production. Some of our zombies were interviewed by local TV stations and going to be a big celebration to thank these appeared on the news. It was crazy.” talented people for making this happen.” The team plans on bringing Beyond the Dark to The efforts put into this film did not go unnoticed. many film festivals and have investors helping Three local TV stations arrived on the set for the with the cost. “Our investors believe in what segment “Infection.” In that segment, you can we are doing,” says Grzeszak. “We appreciate look forward to seeing numerous zombies and

their help tremendously.” Look for Beyond the Dark’s premiere at local theaters during the end of October. It will show for a continuous three days at Celebration North and the cast and crew will be on hand to greet you and speak with you after the film, along with many surprises for the public. Be ready for some big time scares! “The film is very intense and suspenseful,” states Grzeszak. “Sinister.” For more information visit beyondthedarkmovie. com.–Sherrie Coke

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

WEST MICHIGAN VENUES

GRAND RAPIDS

Last Chance Saloon

608 Bridge

Logan’s Alley

Bangers

616.451.9755

Bobarino’s 20 Monroe

(inside The B.O.B.)

616.356.2000

Bistro Bella Vita 44 Grandville SW 616.222.4600

Billy’s Lounge 1437 Wealthy SE 616.459.5757

The B.O.B. 20 Monroe 616.356.2000 thebob.com

Bull’s Head 188 Monroe 616.454.3580

Calvin College 3201 Burton St. 616.957.6282

Century Post Pub 203 E. Main St. (Lowell) 616.987.9188

Crush 20 Monroe

(inside The B.O.B.)

616.356.2000

Deltaplex 2500 Turner Ave. 616.559.8000

Division Avenue Arts Collective (DAAC) 115 S. Division

Dr. Grin’s Comedy Club

1132 Burton SE

Flanagan’s Pub 139 Pearl NW 616.454.7852

Founders 235 Grandville Ave. 616.776.1195

Gilly’s 20 Monroe

(inside The B.O.B.)

616.356.2000

Holiday Bar 801 5th St. 616.456.9058

Intersection 133 Grandville 616.451.8232

J. Gardella’s Tavern 11 Ionia SW 616.459.8824

The Landing 270 Ann St. NW

(inside the Radisson Hotel)

616.363.7748

Shakespeare’s Lower Level

449 Water St. (Saugatuck) 269.857.2888

KALAMAZOO

Mangiamo! 616.742.0600

The Annex 3645 Bannick Dr.

Monkey Bar

Bayview Gardens

1033 Lake Drive SE 20 Monroe

12504 East D Ave.

616.356.2000 thebob.com

Boomerang’s

Monte’s 438 Bridge NW 616.774.5969

Mulligan’s 1518 Wealthy St.

The Muze 438 Bridge NW 616.774.5969

Nick Fink’s 3965 West River NE 616.784.9886

One Trick Pony 136 Fulton St. 616.235.7669

269.731.4911

616.942.2335

The Pyramid Scheme 68 Commerce

Quinn & Tuite’s 1535 Plainfield NE 616.363.8380

Brickyard Pub & Grille 1290 M-89 W

616.451.0044

Rockwell’s 45 S. Division SE 616.551.3563

Rocky’s 633 Ottawa 616.356.2346

Root Gallery

1030 E. Vine 269.385.2028

Craftsman Chop Co.

Daisy Mae’s 2688 Patterson Rd (Wayland) 269.792.9426

District Square 269.389.9349

The Stache

M-43 & M-89 (Richland) 269.629.9460

404 S. Burdick 125 S. Kalamazoo Mall 269.384.6756

University Theatre

Gilmore Theatre Complex

1601 Beach St.

136 N. Whittaker St. (New Buffalo) 269.469.5800

Coral Gables/ Corner Bar 220 Water St.

Czars 506 Pleasant St. (St. Joseph) 269.983.4111

Foundry Hall 422 Eagle St. (South Haven) 269.767.5453

Itty Bitty Bar & Grill 1136 Ottawa Beach Rd. (Holland)

1903 W. Washington 616.399.5731

The Venue

Kirby House

3750 E. Kilgore Rd. 2 Washington St. 269.345.1608

Waterfront 315 Columbia Ave. 269.962.7622

Wayside West 3406 Stadium Dr. 269.375.1930

269.385.9359

(Grand Haven) 616.846.3299

Lakeshore Tavern 1963 Lakeshore Dr. (Muskegon)

Lemonjello’s Coffee 61 E. 9th St.

Wild Bull Saloon (Holland) Kalamazoo Valley 139 S. Edward St. 616.928.0699 269.978.8451 Museum Little River 230 N. Rose St. Y Bar Casino 269.373.7990 5301 Comstock Ave.

M-89 Sports Bar 129 E. Allegan (Otsego) 269.694.6970

Main Street Grill 3013 Oakland Dr. 269.342.5208

Monaco Bay

300 E. Michigan

133 Grandville

269.384.6044

616.363.7748

402 E. Kalamazoo

(inside the Intersection)

Captain Jack’s

Stage Coach Bar (Saugatuck) 269.857.2162

310 E. Michigan Ave. (Battle Creek)

2843 Eastern Ave. SE Main Street Pub 5462 Gull Rd. The Reservoir 269.344.7247 1418 Plainfield NE 616.451.0010

126 E. Michigan

The Union

440 E. North St.

616.676.9785

Sportsman’s

Corner Bar & Grille

616.454.0770

8124 Fulton St. E (Ada)

(Fennville) 269.561.5889

State Theatre

Louie’s Trophy House

45 S. Division

1590 56th St.

(Plainwell) 269.685.0333

106 Pearl NW

Raggs to Riches

269.342.7100

(Paw Paw) 711 W. Michigan Ave. 269.657.5615 269.373.1412

6905 Sears Dr. The Orbit Room (Portage) 2525 Lake Eastbrook 269.327.2000

Old Dog Tavern

2804 W. Michigan

LANSING

US-31 & M-22 (Manistee) 888.568.2244

Blackened Moon The Livery 190 5th St. Concert Hall 3208 S. MLK Blvd.

Colonial Bar & Grille 3425 S. MLK Blvd. 517.882.6132

Green Door 2005 E. Michigan 517.482.6376

Harper’s 131 Albert Ave. 517.333.4040

Impulse II

(Benton Harbor) 269.925.8760

Park Theatre 248 S. River Ave. 616.355.7275

New Holland Brewing Co. 66 E. 8th St. (Holland) 616.355.6422

Parrot’s Lounge 234 River

600 N. Homer

(Holland) 616.396.4577

269.370.1283

517.333.9104

Pint N’ Quart

Old Hat 114 N. Main

950 W. Norton 414 E. Michigan Ave. (Muskegon)

(Lawton) 269.624.6445

517.267.7898

Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill

Ouzo’s

Mac’s Bar 2700 E. Michigan

760 Butterworth

Paisano’s

HopCat Brewery Tavern on the 25 Ionia Ave. Square 616.451.HOPS

Boathouse

Side Track Bar & (Muskegon) 231.755.1555 Grille Casey’s

2401 S. Division

River City Saloon Karovas/ Lamplighter Fenian’s Irish Pub 1152 Leonard NW (Conklin) 616.899.2640

(Battle Creek) 269.962.2121

241 E. Kalamazoo

616.356.2000

19683 Main St.

(St. Joseph) 269.983.3455

1130 Wealthy SE

Riverbend Bar

(inside The B.O.B.)

616.774.VICE

191 Angell St.

Log Cabin

Republic

20 Monroe

53 Commerce Ave.

Planet Rock

616.458.1612

616.356.2000

Eve

Viceroy Wealthy Street Theatre

916 Michigan NE

20 Monroe

(inside The B.O.B.)

616.742.6600

100 Ionia SW

The Venue 4072 Lake Michigan

616.272.3910

Twisted Bull 3230 Eastern SE 616.245.0531

Van Andel Arena 130 W. Fulton

The Loft

266 E. Michigan Ave. 517.484.6795 269.373.6878 Moriarty’s 16 N. Main St. (Three Rivers) 269.278.8525

Papa Pete’s 502 S. Burdick 269.388.2196

Rosebud 100 Washington (Grand Haven) 616.846.7788

Rush Street

802 E. Michigan Ave. 760 W. Broadway Ave. 517.485.5287

(Muskegon)

LAKESHORE

Val-Du-Lakes Bar & Grill

Boathouse

600 Fishermen St.

1511 N. Wilson Rd. (Silver Lake) 231.873.4901

volume 13 issue 10 october

EVENT GUIDE TUESDAY OCTOBER 1

Center Stage Karaoke with DJ Ricky Acosta 411 Club (Kzoo) Open Mic, 7-11 p.m. Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Preservation Lounge Jazz, no cover, 21+, 7-11 p.m. Billy’s Lounge (GR) Poetry Begins with Azizi Hasani, 9-11 p.m. Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Korn The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit) Open Mic Night featuring Jason Heystek & Nicholas James, 9 p.m. Founders (GR) Music Lessons, 2:30-6 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Yellow Brick Road Dueling Pianos Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Black Squirrel University, 9 p.m. Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) Downtown Throwdown (half-off all booxe with food purchase), 6 p.m.-midnight HopCat Brewery (GR) Karaoke, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) ARTbreak, 12 p.m. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Mug Club, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Ray Cashman, 6-9 p.m.; Comedy Night, 9-11 p.m. Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Meanwhile Film Series, 8 p.m., Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile (GR) Toxic Trivia: Team Based Trivia, 10 p.m. - Midnight Mulligan’s (GR) Tom Northrup Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Open Mic Night with Brendan Mann, 8 p.m., sign up at 7 p.m.; Tom Duffield, 5-7 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Jeep & Truck Night, 6-9 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Acoustic Open Mic, 9:30 p.m. (18+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Comedy Tuesdays (Every other week), 8:30 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2

Open Mic Night with Adam Poling 411 Club (Kzoo) Campus Karaoke, no cover with college/ cosmetology ID Billy’s Lounge (GR) Tom Northrup Craftsman Chop Co. (Portage) Week of Wonders, The Burning Ponies, Me + The Ghost, Pete Dauphin The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Comedy Night presented by Gary Fields, 7 & 9 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Musical Open Mic with Adam Danis, 9 p.m. The Globe Theatre (Kzoo) Paul Krawl and the Kingsnakes Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Pitchers and Wings, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) We Came As Romans, Silverstein, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, The Color Morale, Dangerkids Intersection (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Team Trivia, 7:30 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) STFU Dance with DJ Tyler & Mr. Lee (18+) The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Open Mic with Jason Eller, 8 p.m. Louie’s Bar & Rockit Lounge (GR) Music Open Mic, 8 p.m. Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) The Meat Puppets, Enemy Planes, 8 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) Toe, Atu The Magestic (Detroit) Acoustic Reserve McFadden’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Karaoke Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Patricia Pettinga, 5-8 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Audition Night Parkway Tropics (GR) Sevendust Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Trivia Night Hosted By Sporcle, 8:30 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Wednesdays with Jim Prange, 9:30 p.m. The Rocket Lounge at Louie’s Bar (GR) New Holland Cabin Fever Promotion; Baconpalooza: free bacon night, 9-11 p.m. (or until out of bacon) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Longhorne Slim & the Law Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) The Red Elvises Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Open Mic Comedy & Acoustic Night The Token Lounge (Detroit) Front Studio: Point Eastown Meeting, 7 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) Temple House Jam with King Crabapple West Side Inn (Musk)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3

Thursday Night Blues Jam 411 Club (Kzoo) Appleseed Collective, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric

Cafe (Kzoo) 90’s Holla Back, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Tony Reynolds Blue Water Grill (GR) Rich Burkholder, 8-11:30 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) The Meat Puppets, Girl In a Coma, Krissy Krissy The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Comedy Night Czars (St. Joseph) Dave Dyer, 9 p.m., $5 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo)

CANDYE KANE @ TIP TOP DELUXE OCTOBER 6

Karaoke, 7-11 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Matuto, 9:30 p.m., 21+, free Founders (GR) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) FLEDfive Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Vinyl Thursday Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) $3 Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Three Buck Thursdays, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Langhorne Slim & the Law The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) No Bails, Pagan Piss, Buck Biloxi and The Fucks, Legendary Wings Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) The Fever Tongues, Wayne Lauder (all-ages), 8 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) Dead Ending, Hellmouth, From Hell, Shankewing The Magestic (Detroit) Wine School, on the lawn, 6-9 p.m. Mangiamo! (GR) North Atlantic Drift, Pewter Club, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Joe Seeley & featured guests Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Salsa Dancing Papa Pete’s (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Smile Empty Soul Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Quintron, Miss Pussycat, zzz Pyramid Scheme (GR) Jason Eller Ritz Koney Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Geto BOys, Slim C the Great, Ed Genesis, Knights of Mayhem, Willie D. Scarface and Bushwick Bill, 9 p.m., $20 adv, $35 dos, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Happy Hour, 4-6 p.m.; $5 Burgers, 6-11 p.m. Stella’s Lounge (GR) Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, 8-10 p.m.; Record Hop with Patrick, 7 p.m. Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Meanwhile Film Series: “Superman 2,” 8 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) College Night with DJ Creole, 9-2 a.m. (18+) Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4

Art Hop: The Works of Ben Lyon, 5 p.m. 411 Club (Kzoo) Tashi’s Choice, 8 p.m., $25 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Decades American Legion (GR) Tea Leaf Green, Whitewater Ramble, 9:30 p.m., Meet and Greet Package: $50, $12 adv, $15 dos Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) The SEVENth’s Single Release Party, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Jack Leaver Blue Water Grill (GR) Glamhammer, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, free, 9 p.m. Chamber Bar (Whitehall)

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

EVENT GUIDE Hoosier Highway Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) Zion Lion, 10 p.m., 18+ Czars (St. Joseph) Dave Dyer, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Drop 35 Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) CP2 Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Jon Janssen H20 (Battle Creek) Sprague Brotherz The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) The Rock Show Little River Casino (Manistee) Matuto The Livery (Benton Harbor) Rick Chyme, Fried Egg Nebula, Off The Ledge The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Mustache-A-Palooza! 5: Flint Eastwood, I Am Band, Combat Corduroy, Small Parks, The Goldenrods Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Mitten Jam II, That Freak Quincy, Digeometric, Pleasant Drive, Desmond Jones, Kastanza Mac’s (Lansing) Smile Empty Soul Machine Shop (Flint) Hanni El Khatib, Bass Drum of Death The Magestic (Detroit) The Faultline, Bike Tuff, Tonya Bug, Monkey Robot War, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) ART HOP with Mary Jane Holcomb and Bernie Simpson; Re:Strung, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Violent Vessel Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Real Friends, Mixtapes, Forever Came Calling Pyramid Scheme (GR) Full Kontakt Karaoke hosted by Tracy Evans Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Night Quinn & Tuite’s (GR) Substance with DJ Brandon Hill, 10-2 a.m. Republic (GR) Dance with Colin Clive Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Control with DJ Colin Clive Rocky’s Bar & Grill Uppercut (GR) Reggae, 10 p.m. The Root Gallery & Studio (GR) Switchfoot, Fading West Documentary Screening Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) DJames and Friends The Score (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Kari Lynch Band, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo)

Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) Kreation The Token Lounge (Detroit) DJ LA, 11:30 p.m. Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5

Meet the Beetles, 8 p.m., $15 adults, $10 under 18 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Decades American Legion (GR) Drop 35 The B.O.B. (GR) Ultraviolet Hippopotamus CD Release Party, 9:30 p.m., $10 adv, $15 dos Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Thirsty Perch Blues Band, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) John Barbush Trio, 8:30-11:30 p.m. Bistro Bella Vita (GR) Tom Northrup Blue Water Grill (GR) Drop 35, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Lions Lions, Indirections The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Alan Turner and the Steel Horse Band, 10 p.m., 18+ Czars (St. Joseph) Bassnectar Deltaplex (GR) Hastings Harvest Festival Downtown Hastings (Hastings) Dave Dyer, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Rock Shop Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Deal’s Gone Bad, SOL, The Blind Staggers, 9:30 p.m., 21+, $5 Founders (GR) CP2 Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Crossroads H20 (Battle Creek) Devil Driver, Trivium, After the Burial, Sylosis Harpo’s (Detroit) Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, The Smith Street Band; Bassnectar Intersection (GR) Music Evolution Night with DJames JD Reardon’s (GR) Plain Jayne The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) The Rock Show Little River Casino (Manistee) Mustache-A-Palooza! 5: Narco Debut, Pro Con Pro, Crash City Saints, The Mushmen, Star Destroyer Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Veara & On My Honor, Way To Fall, Priorities (allages), 5 p.m.; Mitten Jam II featuring The Coop, Spankalicious, Dead Larry, Fried Egg Nebula, Kicking Sticks, 8 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing)

Howling Diablos Machine Shop (Flint) Title Fight, Balance and Composure, Cruel Hand, Slingshot Dakota The Magestic (Detroit) Flood The Desert, From Blue to Grey, The Kalki Incarnation, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Duffield Caron Project, 5-8 p.m.; Rootstand, 9 p.m.- 1 a.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Sherrif Scabs Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Touche Amore, Jowls, No Longer Bound Pyramid Scheme (GR) La Boutique with Sonnrize, Dawns on the Decks, 10 p.m. Republic (GR) Live Music Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Whitney Cummings, Matt McClowry Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Condemned Nation, Sucker Push, SXX, 9 p.m., $5, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) The Blues Airmen, Pandemonium The Token Lounge (Detroit) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Classes, 9:30 a.m.; Back Studio: AniJAM, 12:45 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) DJ Creole, 11:30 p.m. Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

Motown Monday with DJ Brandon Lawrence, 7 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Project, 5:30 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 8

Open Mic, 7-11 p.m. Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Preservation Lounge Jazz, no cover, 21+, 7-11

MINUS THE BEAR

@ THE INTERSECTION OCTOBER 16

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6

Harvest Brunch Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Thrift Store Triva with Drew Behringer The B.O.B. (GR) Bell’s Roll Out the Barrel Party, noon until the beer run out (or midnight whichever comes first) Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Revival: 80s Dance Night w/ DJ Hustlah, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Summer Sundays: American city themed events Blue Water Grill (GR) Thrift Store Trivia with Drew Behringer, 8 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Galaxy X with A.N.T., Dopamine Knights, M.A.F.I.A., Lucas Nieto, Rizzy, Weazel The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Industry Night Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 21+, free Founders (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) HopCat Jazz Jam, 7 p.m.; Industry Night, 9 p.m. close HopCat Brewery (GR) Sunday Night Funnies The Landing (GR) Mug Club, 2 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Bike Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) 7th Son Blues Jam, 6 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Blues Jam, 6-9 p.m. Old Hat Brewery & Grill (Lawton) Wrong Side Of Heaven Tour featuring Five Finger Death Punch, Escape The Fate, Miss Mayl, Gemini Syndrome (all-ages) The Orbit Room (GR) Car Crusin’ Sunday Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Ready, Set, Rendezvous!, Zerapath, Catch The Raven, Royale, 5 p.m. The Token Lounge (Detroit)

MONDAY OCTOBER 7

BassBin: Electronic Dance Night, no cover, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Phantogram, Future Islands The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) TipTopTails, 6:15-8:30 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Open Mic with John Sanger, 7-11 p.m. Gipper’s (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Michigan Monday, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Unplugged Open Mic, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) SIN: Service Industry Night, 7 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Open Mic Hosted by Gabriel James Monarchs’ Club (GR) Margarita Mondays Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Nine Inch Nails: Tension 2013 The Palace (Auburn Hills) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Monday Night Jazz, 8-11 p.m. Republic (GR) Free Bingo with prizes, 10 p.m. (21+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) The Features, Hollerado, Vega, 8 p.m., $7 adv, $10 dos, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo)

p.m. Billy’s Lounge (GR) The Features, Hollerado The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Poetry Begins with Azizi Hasani, 9-11 p.m. Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) The Wrong Side of Heaven Tour featuring Five Finger Death Punch The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit) Open Mic Night featuring Jason Heystek & Nicholas James, 9 p.m. Founders (GR) Music Lessons, 2:30-6 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Rock Shop Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Black Squirrel University, 9 p.m. Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) Downtown Throwdown (half-off all booxe with food purchase), 6 p.m.-midnight HopCat Brewery (GR) Alpha RV Intersection (GR) Karaoke, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) ARTbreak, 12 p.m. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Mug Club, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) A Great Big Pile of Leaves, Cave Needles, Snow, Good Day, Good Sir (all-ages), 5:30 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) Meanwhile Film Series, 8 p.m., Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile (GR) Toxic Trivia: Team Based Trivia, 10 p.m. - Midnight Mulligan’s (GR) Tom Northrup Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Open Mic Night with Brendan Mann, 8 p.m., sign up at 7 p.m.; Tom Duffield, 5-7 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Pistons vs. Maccabi The Palace (Auburn Hills) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Jeep & Truck Night, 6-9 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Acoustic Open Mic, 9:30 p.m. (18+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Tim Easton Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9

Wednesday Night Comedy 411 Club (Kzoo) Homebrewing and Bottling Demonstration, 6 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Campus Karaoke, no cover with college/ cosmetology ID Billy’s Lounge (GR) Ghost Town The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Comedy Night presented by Gary Fields, 7 & 9 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Musical Open Mic with Adam Danis, 9 p.m. The Globe Theatre (Kzoo) Tony Reynolds Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Pitchers and Wings, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Team Trivia, 7:30 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) STFU Dance with DJ Tyler & Mr. Lee (18+) The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Open Mic with Jason Eller, 8 p.m. Louie’s Bar & Rockit Lounge (GR) Music Open Mic, 8 p.m. Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Barnyard Stompers, The Devils, Cut Leper Colony Mac’s (Lansing) Streetlight Manifesto, Mike Park, Dan Potthast, Empty Orchestra The Magestic (Detroit) Acoustic Reserve McFadden’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Karaoke Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park)

recoilmag.com

volume 13 issue 10 october

EVENT GUIDE Alison Wonderland (Singing bartender), David Llyod, 5-8 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Audition Night Parkway Tropics (GR) Saint Vitus, Pallbearer, The Hookers Pyramid Scheme (GR) Trivia Night Hosted By Sporcle, 8:30 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Wednesdays with Jim Prange, 9:30 p.m. The Rocket Lounge at Louie’s Bar (GR) New Holland Cabin Fever Promotion; Baconpalooza: free bacon night, 9-11 p.m. (or until out of bacon) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Comedy Bang! Bang! Live! wsg. Paul F. Tompkins and Horatio Sanz Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Open Mic w/ Adam Danis, sign up 8 p.m. Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Open Mic Night hosted by Nathan Kalish, 9 p.m. Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Front Studio: Point Eastown Meeting, 7 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) Temple House Jam with King Crabapple West Side Inn (Musk)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 10

Thursday Night Blues Jam 411 Club (Kzoo) This Must Be The Band, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) 90’s Holla Back, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Monica DeSilva Blue Water Grill (GR) Drew Behringer & The Politician, 8-11:30 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Scream It Like You Mean It 2013 with Story Of The Year, Like Moths To Flames, Hawthorne Heights, Capture The Crown, I Am King The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Thursday Night Live: Open Jam, sign-up at 8 p.m., Topher & the Off Beats host, 9 p.m. Czars (St. Joseph) Ian Bagg, 9 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Karaoke, 7-11 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) The Claudettes, 9:30 p.m., 21+, free Founders (GR) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Vinyl Thursday Harmony Brewing Co. (GR)

$3 Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Three Buck Thursdays, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Lifted Thursdays The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) The Appleseed Collective, The True Falsettos (allages), 8 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) Hatebreed Machine Shop (Flint) Saint Vitus, Pallbearer, Zoroaster, The Hookers, Against the Grain The Magestic (Detroit) Wine School, on the lawn, 6-9 p.m. Mangiamo! (GR) Valentiger, Pistolbrides, C.A.R.E., Hounds Below, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Joe Seeley & featured guests Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Pistons vs. Heat The Palace (Auburn Hills) Salsa Dancing Papa Pete’s (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Dope, Soil Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Local H, The Cloak Ox, Decades Pyramid Scheme (GR) Jason Eller Ritz Koney Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) The Manhattan Project, DJ Short-E, 10 p.m., $5, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Happy Hour, 4-6 p.m.; $5 Burgers, 6-11 p.m. Stella’s Lounge (GR) Meanwhile Film Series: “Godfather 2,” 8 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) College Night with DJ Creole, 9-2 a.m. (18+) Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 11

Adult Education (storytelling), dance party, 8 p.m., $10 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Lindsey Lou & The Flatbellys, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Genetics, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Blue Concert Series featuring Joel Mabus & Ray Kamalay, 7 p.m. The Blackhawk (Richland) Don Bidell Blue Water Grill (GR) Jedi Mind Trip, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Twentyforseven with Shapes & Colors, Lights & Caves, Signature Mistakes, Jake Lemond & Joe May The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac)

COHEED & CAMBRIA @ THE ORBIT ROOM OCTOBER 26

Hoosier Highway Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) Ian Bagg, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Ani Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Jon Janssen H20 (Battle Creek) Savoy Intersection (GR) The Cones Jack’s Lounge (Spring Lake) Chuck Whiting & His Rowdy Friends Kalamazoo Valley Museum (Kzoo) Drop 35 The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Decades The Landing (GR) M.Sord, No Monster Club, Almost Free Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Dryvel Annual Homecoming Weekend Party featuring The Skylit Letter, Vandalay, Combat Corduroy, Overdrive Orchestra, 7 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) Uncle Kracker Machine Shop (Flint) Deer Tick, Robert Ellis The Magestic (Detroit) The Love-Hate, The Bright White, Red Legs, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek)

Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Eye Empire Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Turquoise Jeep, ConvoTronics Pyramid Scheme (GR) Full Kontakt Karaoke hosted by Tracy Evans Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Night Quinn & Tuite’s (GR) Substance with DJ Brandon Hill, 10-2 a.m. Republic (GR) The Moonrays Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Control with DJ Colin Clive Rocky’s Bar & Grill Uppercut (GR) Reggae, 10 p.m. The Root Gallery & Studio (GR) Citizen Cope solo acoustic Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) DJames and Friends The Score (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Crazy 80’s Party featuring Starfarm, 9:30 p.m., $5, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) DJ LA, 11:30 p.m. Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 12

Dopapod, Genetics, 9:30 p.m., $8 adv, $10 dos

volume 13 issue 10 october

recoilmag.com

EVENT GUIDE Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) BassBin: Electronic Dance Night, no cover, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Father John Misty The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) TipTopTails, 6:15-8:30 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Open Mic with John Sanger, 7-11 p.m. Gipper’s (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Michigan Monday, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Unplugged Open Mic, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) SIN: Service Industry Night, 7 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Watain, In Solitude, Tribulation The Magestic (Detroit) Open Mic Hosted by Gabriel James Monarchs’ Club (GR) Margarita Mondays Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Grooms, Haunted Leather, Helical Scan Pyramid Scheme (GR) Monday Night Jazz, 8-11 p.m. Republic (GR) Free Bingo with prizes, 10 p.m. (21+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Motown Monday with DJ Brandon Lawrence, 7 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Project, 5:30 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 15

Founders newly remodeled venue will host a very special (and free!) Halloween show Oct. 31. Don your costume and get there early for all the fun; opening the show is Black Bear Combo from Chicago, followed by Delilah DeWylde & The Lost Boys, with the Fuzrites closing out the night. As a special treat for all you rock ‘n’ roll fans, Delilah and her band will be traveling back to 1978 transforming themselves into the members of Cheap Trick to perform an entire set of classics off the Live at Budokan album. Delilah says, “I want you to want me!” OCTOBER 31 @ FOUNDERS Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Greg Nagy, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) John Barbush Trio, 8:30-11:30 p.m. Bistro Bella Vita (GR) Jim Wood Blue Water Grill (GR) Jedi Mind Trip, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Vince Miller Craftsman Chop Co. (Portage) To The Wind; Goblin, Secret Chiefs 3 The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) The Recent, 10 p.m. Czars (St. Joseph) Ian Bagg, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $15 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Bullet For My Valentine The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit) 10th Annual Harvest Party; The Appleseed Collective, Carrie Nation and the Speakeasy, Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys, Honky Suckle, 11 a.m. - 2 a.m., 21+, $8 adv, $10 dos Founders (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Trapped On Mars H20 (Battle Creek) Otep, Stolen Babies, New Years Day, With A Vengence Harpo’s (Detroit) Zappa Plays Zappa Roxy & Elsewhere; Dweezil Zappa Masterclass (The Stache) Intersection (GR) Music Evolution Night with DJames JD Reardon’s (GR) The Cones Jack’s Lounge (Spring Lake) Drop 35 The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Decades The Landing (GR) Kalamashoegazer 7: Airiel, 800Beloved, Helical Scan, Brief Candles, Whales, Glowfriends, Crash City Saints, DJ Erik Void Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Dirty Side Of The Moon II featuring Lunar Child, Double O, Sketch Mac’s (Lansing) Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys Machine Shop (Flint) Cyril Hahn, Ryan Hemsworth The Magestic (Detroit) Frank Booth, Cosmonaut, Good Day Dood Sir, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Gabrial James Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Duffield Caron Project, 5-8 p.m.; Ziggy and the Bitches, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) SuicideGirls: Blackheart Burlesque (18+) The Orbit Room (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Trills Stop Light Party Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Guttermouth, Agent Orange, Pinata Protest Pyramid Scheme (GR) La Boutique with Sonnrize, Dawns on the Decks,

10 p.m. Republic (GR) Knives Are Quiet, Sleepeater, Paucity Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Wolfgang Gartner and Tommy Trash, Charlie Darker and Bass Kleph Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Homecoming Day Party, 2 p.m., free before 4 p.m., $7, 21+; Sound Remedy, 10 p.m., $10 adv, $15 dos, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) The Alligators Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Raw Radio X presents Bristol Street, Motown Rage, Blackmail, Warhorses The Token Lounge (Detroit) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Classes, 9:30 a.m.; Back Studio: AniJAM, 12:45 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) DJ Creole, 11:30 p.m. Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

Open Mic, 7-11 p.m. Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Preservation Lounge Jazz, no cover, 21+, 7-11 p.m. Billy’s Lounge (GR) Poetry Begins with Azizi Hasani, 9-11 p.m. Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Open Mic Night featuring Jason Heystek & Nicholas James, 9 p.m. Founders (GR) Music Lessons, 2:30-6 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Great Scott Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Black Squirrel University, 9 p.m. Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) Downtown Throwdown (half-off all booxe with food purchase), 6 p.m.-midnight HopCat Brewery (GR) Karaoke, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) ARTbreak, 12 p.m. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Mug Club, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Comedy Night, 9-11 p.m. Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Meanwhile Film Series, 8 p.m., Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile (GR) Toxic Trivia: Team Based Trivia, 10 p.m. Midnight Mulligan’s (GR)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16

Cinema Fantastique Cult Film Night 411 Club (Kzoo) Campus Karaoke, no cover with college/ cosmetology ID Billy’s Lounge (GR) Cocorosie; Keep Shelly In Athes & Chad Valley, Flashclash The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Comedy Night presented by Gary Fields, 7 & 9 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Musical Open Mic with Adam Danis, 9 p.m. The Globe Theatre (Kzoo) Electric Red Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Pitchers and Wings, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Minus The Bear, INVSN, Slow bird; Michal Menert Intersection (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Team Trivia, 7:30 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) STFU Dance with DJ Tyler & Mr. Lee (18+) The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Open Mic with Jason Eller, 8 p.m. Louie’s Bar & Rockit Lounge (GR) Music Open Mic, 8 p.m. Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Delorean, Superhumanoids The Magestic (Detroit) Acoustic Reserve McFadden’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Karaoke Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Lovely Ladies Night with Steven Lee Pesch, 8 p.m. - 12 a.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Audition Night Parkway Tropics (GR) Obituary, Strong Intention, From Hell Pyramid Scheme (GR) Trivia Night Hosted By Sporcle, 8:30 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Wednesdays with Jim Prange, 9:30 p.m. The Rocket Lounge at Louie’s Bar (GR) New Holland Cabin Fever Promotion; Baconpalooza: free bacon night, 9-11 p.m. (or until out of bacon) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) The Piano Guys Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Open Mic w/ Adam Danis, sign up 8 p.m. Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Open Mic Night hosted by Nathan Kalish, 9 p.m. Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Front Studio: Point Eastown Meeting, 7 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) Temple House Jam with King Crabapple West Side Inn (Musk)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 17

Thursday Night Blues Jam 411 Club (Kzoo) Turkuaz, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) 90’s Holla Back, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Tony Reynolds Blue Water Grill (GR) Rich Burkholder, 8-11:30 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s

SUNDAY OCTOBER 13

Ben Sollee, $5, $12, $20 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Thrift Store Triva with Drew Behringer The B.O.B. (GR) Trivia Night Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Revival: 80s Dance Night w/ DJ Hustlah, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Summer Sundays: American city themed events Blue Water Grill (GR) Thrift Store Trivia with Drew Behringer, 8 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) The Moondoggies, Rose Windows, Old Empire The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Industry Night Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) HopCat Jazz Jam, 7 p.m.; Industry Night, 9 p.m. close HopCat Brewery (GR) Sunday Night Funnies The Landing (GR) Mug Club, 2 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Betweent the Buried and Me, The Faceless, The Contortionist, The Safety Fire The Magestic (Detroit) Bike Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Blues Jam, 6-9 p.m. Old Hat Brewery & Grill (Lawton) Car Crusin’ Sunday Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood)

MONDAY OCTOBER 14

Square Dance Kalamazoo! Sam Herman & Friends and Dot Kent calling , 8 p.m. Bell’s

THE MEAT PUPPETS @ MAC’S BAR OCTOBER 2

Open Mic Night with Brendan Mann, 8 p.m., sign up at 7 p.m.; Tom Duffield, 5-7 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Jeep & Truck Night, 6-9 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Acoustic Open Mic, 9:30 p.m. (18+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Pete Anderson Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR)

(found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Thursday Night Live: Open Jam, sign-up at 8 p.m., Topher & the Off Beats host, 9 p.m. Czars (St. Joseph) Moshe Kasher, 9 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Tech N9ne The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit) Karaoke, 7-11 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Paleface, Grrropolis, Pistolbrides, 9:30 p.m., 21+,

recoilmag.com

volume 13 issue 10 october

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EVENT GUIDE free Founders (GR) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Brena Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Vinyl Thursday Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) For Those About to Rot Tour featuring Cold Blue Rebels, Mortified Mortician Harpo’s (Detroit) $3 Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Bayside Motion City Soundtrack, What’s Eating Gilbert, State Champs; Kill Paris Intersection (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Three Buck Thursdays, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Lifted Thursdays The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Fidlar, Orwells; Doctor P, Matt Clarke, Kenneth Klas, Static Brothers The Magestic (Detroit) Wine School, on the lawn, 6-9 p.m. Mangiamo! (GR) Joe Seeley & featured guests Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Jeremy Porter and the Tucos, Branden Mann and the Reprimand, 9 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Salsa Dancing Papa Pete’s (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) The Lonely forest Pyramid Scheme (GR) Jason Eller Ritz Koney Bar & Grill (GR) Live Music Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Sandwich To Go Tour 2013 featuring Eugene Mirman, John Hodgman, Kristen Schaal Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Smallmouth, 8 p.m., free, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Happy Hour, 4-6 p.m.; $5 Burgers, 6-11 p.m. Stella’s Lounge (GR) Turk Tresize & the Graysmiths The Token Lounge (Detroit) Meanwhile Film Series: “Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Kahn,” 8 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) College Night with DJ Creole, 9-2 a.m. (18+) Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 18

Paleface, Joshua Davis, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Starfarm, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Drop 35 The Blackhawk (Richland) Damstra Spring Blue Water Grill (GR) Stone Thrown, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Two Door Cinema Club, St. Lucia, Peace The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Cadillac West Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) Moshe Kasher, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Crawlspace Eviction, 8 p.m. Farmer’s Alley Theatre (Kzoo) Last Train Out Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Guy Voss H20 (Battle Creek) Jon McLaughlin Intersection (GR) Hat Trick Jack’s Lounge (Spring Lake) Oregon Dreamchild The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Montage Little River Casino (Manistee) T Zank, strYve, Wulf Hogan, The FUnk muNKs, Timid Soul The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Sid Redlin, Dental Work, Forget The Times Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Masons Case, The Most Powerful Weapon, The Getout, Elliot Street Lunatic (18+) Mac’s (Lansing) Craig Morgan Machine Shop (Flint) Minus the Bear, INVSN, Slow Bird; Little Green Cars, El Dee The Magestic (Detroit) Remedy Blue, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys, free, 9 p.m. Odd Sides Ales (Grand Haven) Jazz preview, 5-8 p.m.; Ben Daniels Band, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.; Informal K College Gathering, 7 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Taproot Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Senses Fail, For The Fallen Dreams, Expire Pyramid Scheme (GR) Full Kontakt Karaoke hosted by Tracy Evans Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Night Quinn & Tuite’s (GR) Substance with DJ Brandon Hill, 10-2 a.m. Republic (GR) Dance with Colin Clive Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Control with DJ Colin Clive Rocky’s Bar & Grill Uppercut (GR) Reggae, 10 p.m. The Root Gallery & Studio (GR) Zappa Plays Zappa Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal

Krewella, Seven Lions, Candyland Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak)

MONDAY OCTOBER 21

KMFDM @ THE MAGESTIC OCTOBER 28 Oak) DJames and Friends The Score (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Eric Steward, B-Williams Experiment, 9:30 p.m., $10, 21+ Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) The DCR Experience The Token Lounge (Detroit) Afrodisiacs Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 19

Las Guitarras de Espana, 8 p.m., $25 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Brian Vander Ark, Steven Leaf, 9:30 p.m.; Bell’s to Bell’s Bike Ride to benefit the KRVT, 1-4 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Hip Pocket, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) John Barbush Trio, 8:30-11:30 p.m. Bistro Bella Vita (GR) Nick Foresman Blue Water Grill (GR) Risque, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Tom Northrup Craftsman Chop Co. (Portage) The Swellers, On My Honor, Hung Up, Left of the Dial, Secret Grief The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Work in Progress, 10 p.m. Czars (St. Joseph) Moshe Kasher, 8 & 10:30 p.m., $10 Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Crawlspace Eviction, 8 p.m. Farmer’s Alley Theatre (Kzoo) Dragon Wagon, 9:30 p.m., 21+, $5 Founders (GR) Last Train Out Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) The Skeletones H20 (Battle Creek) Misfits Harpo’s (Detroit) Sick Puppies; Matt Werz (The Stache) Intersection (GR) Music Evolution Night with DJames JD Reardon’s (GR) Hat Trick Jack’s Lounge (Spring Lake) Oregon Dreamchild The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Montage Little River Casino (Manistee) Soma, Jackpine Snag Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) The BLAT! Pack, The Finale, Jahshua Smith, James Gardin, Red Pill, Yellokake, Kuroitoto, JAE Musik Mac’s (Lansing) Filter, Red Machine Shop (Flint) Freedom Hawk, Gozu, Lo-Pann, Luder, The Brought Low The Magestic (Detroit) The Farewell to Grand Rapids Show: Momcat, Mavericks and Monarchs, Astro Bats, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Duffield Caron Project, 5-8 p.m.; Marci Lynn Band, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Meccabone Planet Rock (Battle Creek) The Tossers Pyramid Scheme (GR) La Boutique with Sonnrize, Dawns on the Decks, 10 p.m. Republic (GR) Flashing Blue Lights, The Project, Short Division Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Krewella, Seven Lions, Candyland Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Creepy Band, 10 p.m., free (donations will be taken for touring bands), 21+, Ben Sollee, 7 p.m.,

$10 adv, $15 dos, all ages Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) At the Hands of Victims, Crackjaw, Sycamour, False City, The Worst Of The Token Lounge (Detroit) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Classes, 9:30 a.m.; Back Studio: AniJAM, 12:45 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) Spazmatics Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 20

Thrift Store Triva with Drew Behringer The B.O.B. (GR) New Issues Poetry & Prose Reading, 2-5 p.m.; Trivia Night, 6-8 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Revival: 80s Dance Night w/ DJ Hustlah, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Summer Sundays: American city themed events Blue Water Grill (GR) Thrift Store Trivia with Drew Behringer, 8 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Grave New World, Maybe Next Time, Adrenaline, Abandon The Abyss, Notion, Boys of Fall, Sidelines; Hanson: Anthem, David Ryan Harris The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Industry Night Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) Feedback 2013: The Honeytones, Hannah Rose and the Gravestones, Blue Molly’s Molly B and Friends, 9:30 p.m., 21+, $5 Founders (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland)

BassBin: Electronic Dance Night, no cover, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) TipTopTails, 6:15-8:30 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Open Mic with John Sanger, 7-11 p.m. Gipper’s (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Michigan Monday, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Anberlin, The Maine, Lydia, From Indian Lakes Intersection (GR) Unplugged Open Mic, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) SIN: Service Industry Night, 7 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Dads, Drug Church, Small Parts (all-ages), 5:30 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) Open Mic Hosted by Gabriel James Monarchs’ Club (GR) Margarita Mondays Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) K.L.O.B. (Kalamazoo Libation Organization of Brewers) Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Monday Night Jazz, 8-11 p.m. Republic (GR) Free Bingo with prizes, 10 p.m. (21+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Motown Monday with DJ Brandon Lawrence, 7 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Project, 5:30 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 22

Open Mic, 7-11 p.m. Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Preservation Lounge Jazz, no cover, 21+, 7-11 p.m. Billy’s Lounge (GR) Butcher Babies, Ballz Deluxe; Watsky, Wax The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Poetry Begins with Azizi Hasani, 9-11 p.m. Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Open Mic Night featuring Jason Heystek & Nicholas James, 9 p.m. Founders (GR) Music Lessons, 2:30-6 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Entourage Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Black Squirrel University, 9 p.m. Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) Downtown Throwdown (half-off all booxe with food purchase), 6 p.m.-midnight HopCat Brewery (GR) Blue October; Wild Child Intersection (GR) Karaoke, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) ARTbreak, 12 p.m. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Mug Club, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Meanwhile Film Series, 8 p.m., Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile (GR) Empire! Empire! (I Was a Lonely Estate), THe Cardboard Swords, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Tom Northrup Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Green Drinks: Sustainable Discussions for everyone Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Pistons vs. Wizards The Palace (Auburn Hills) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Jeep & Truck Night, 6-9 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Acoustic Open Mic, 9:30 p.m. (18+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Comedy Tuesdays (Every other week), 8:30 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Josh Groban, 7:30 p.m. $29-$84.50 Van Andel Arena (GR)

TAPROOT @ PLANET ROCK OCTOBER 18 HopCat Jazz Jam, 7 p.m.; Industry Night, 9 p.m. close HopCat Brewery (GR) Cute Is What We Aim For Intersection (GR) Sunday Night Funnies The Landing (GR) Mug Club, 2 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Punk Rock Acoustic Show: 6’10”, The Hex Bombs, Heartside Hooligans, Noah Kindt Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Brett Michaels Machine Shop (Flint) Big D & the Kids Table, Red City Radio, 1592, Survay Says The Magestic (Detroit) Bike Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Blues Jam, 6-9 p.m. Old Hat Brewery & Grill (Lawton) North Lincoln, Cain Marko, Between Brains, Low Cloud Pyramid Scheme (GR) Car Crusin’ Sunday Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood)

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23

Open Mic Night with Adam Poling 411 Club (Kzoo) Dumpstaphunk, 8:30 p.m., $15 adv, $18 dos Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Campus Karaoke, no cover with college/ cosmetology ID Billy’s Lounge (GR) He Is Legend, Shogun, Crackjaw; The Smoker’s Club Tour: AB-Soul, Joey Bada$$ and Pro Era, The Underachievers, Young Jino The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Comedy Night presented by Gary Fields, 7 & 9 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Musical Open Mic with Adam Danis, 9 p.m. The

volume 13 issue 10 october

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EVENT GUIDE Globe Theatre (Kzoo) The Bigger Picture Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Pitchers and Wings, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Team Trivia, 7:30 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) STFU Dance with DJ Tyler & Mr. Lee (18+) The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Open Mic with Jason Eller, 8 p.m. Louie’s Bar & Rockit Lounge (GR) Music Open Mic, 8 p.m. Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Those Darlins, Gambles The Magestic (Detroit) Acoustic Reserve McFadden’s (GR) Karaoke Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Alison Wonderland (Singing bartender), David Llyod, 5-8 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Danzig, Butcher Babies, Texas Hippie Coalition, A Pale Horse Named Death (16+) The Orbit Room (GR) Josh Groban The Palace (Auburn Hills) Audition Night Parkway Tropics (GR) Orange Goblin, Holy Grail, Lazer/Wulf, Against The Grain Pyramid Scheme (GR) Trivia Night Hosted By Sporcle, 8:30 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Wednesdays with Jim Prange, 9:30 p.m. The Rocket Lounge at Louie’s Bar (GR) New Holland Cabin Fever Promotion; Baconpalooza: free bacon night, 9-11 p.m. (or until out of bacon) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Anthony Jeselnik Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Open Mic w/ Adam Danis, sign up 8 p.m. Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Open Mic Night hosted by Nathan Kalish, 9 p.m. Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Front Studio: Point Eastown Meeting, 7 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) Temple House Jam with King Crabapple West Side Inn (Musk)

THURSDAY OCTOBER 24

Thursday Night Blues Jam 411 Club (Kzoo) Singer-songwriter contest finals, 8 p.m., $10 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Royale, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) 90’s Holla Back, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Tony Reynolds Blue Water Grill (GR) Take Two, 8-11:30 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Wild Child The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Thursday Night Live: Open Jam, sign-up at 8 p.m., Topher & the Off Beats host, 9 p.m. Czars (St. Joseph) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Karaoke, 7-11 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Roster McCabe, 9:30 p.m., 21+, free Founders (GR) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Highway 22 Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Vinyl Thursday Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) $3 Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) twentyonepilots, Robert Delong, Sirah; Vanna Intersection (GR) Three Buck Thursdays, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Rookie of the Year, The Getout The Loft @ Harem Urban Lounge (Lansing) Full Frontal Cortez, Jake Kalmink, Decades, Brown Cow Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Wine School, on the lawn, 6-9 p.m. Mangiamo! (GR) Lake Timber, Long Box, Katy May, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Gabrial James Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Joe Seeley & featured guests Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Pistons vs. Timberwolves The Palace (Auburn Hills) Salsa Dancing Papa Pete’s (Kzoo) The Chariot, Glass Cloud Pyramid Scheme (GR) Jason Eller Ritz Koney Bar & Grill (GR) Fork Fest, 5-9 p.m. Romence Gardens (Kzoo) Anthony Jeselnik Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Comedy Open Mic hosted by MC Bob, 8:30 p.m. Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Happy Hour, 4-6 p.m.; $5 Burgers, 6-11 p.m. Stella’s Lounge (GR) Joanne Shaw Taylor Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio, 7:30 p.m., $19.50-$36 Van Andel Arena (GR) Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival; Meanwhile Film Series: “Troll 2,” 8 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) College Night with DJ Creole, 9-2 a.m. (18+) Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

FRIDAY OCTOBER 25

Carnival of Souls 3: Baron Morbid in 3-D Halloween Show 411 Club (Kzoo)

Roster McCabe, 9:30 p.m., $8 adv, $10 dos Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Grand Rapids Soul Club, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Tom Northrup Blue Water Grill (GR) Sprague Brothers, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) The Crofoot Creepy Cheapy Halloween Treat VI The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Stolen Horses Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) Decades Double Six (Stanton) Typo Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Drop 35 Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Guy Voss H20 (Battle Creek) Psalm One Intersection (GR) Classic Fix The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) Brooks Williams The Livery (Benton Harbor) King Khan & the Shrines, Hell Shovel, Radio Burns The Magestic (Detroit) Chip Fundy, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Stuart Shaw and the Valley Runners, Carrie McFerrin Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Sheryl Crow & Gary Allan The Palace (Auburn Hills) Halloween Party, noon-2 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Dorydrive Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Melt Banana, Brain Tentacles, Spit For Athena Pyramid Scheme (GR) Full Kontakt Karaoke hosted by Tracy Evans Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Open Mic Night Quinn & Tuite’s (GR) Substance with DJ Brandon Hill, 10-2 a.m. Republic (GR) The Moonrays Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Control with DJ Colin Clive Rocky’s Bar & Grill Uppercut (GR) Reggae, 10 p.m. The Root Gallery & Studio (GR) DJames and Friends The Score (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Montage Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) Terror, Counterparts, Powertrip, Code Orange Kids, Vehement Serenade The Token Lounge (Detroit) Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) DJ LA, 11:30 p.m. Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26

Hausfest Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) The Ragbirds, 9:30 p.m. Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Third Coast Kings, Chemical Edge, $5, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) John Barbush Trio, 8:30-11:30 p.m. Bistro Bella Vita (GR) Don Bidell Blue Water Grill (GR) Montage, 9:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Tom Northrup Craftsman Chop Co. (Portage) Masquerade of the Red Death; Bid Greedia, The Loving Touch The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Libido Funk Circus, 10 p.m. Czars (St. Joseph) Decades Double Six (Stanton) Halloween On Ionia 2013, 2 p.m.- 12 a.m. Downtown Grand Rapids (GR) Typo Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Up Until Now, 9:30 p.m., 21+, $5 Founders (GR) Kris Hitchcock and Small Town Son Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Drop 35 H20 (Battle Creek) Music Evolution Night with DJames JD Reardon’s (GR) Classic Fix The Kirby House (Grand Haven) Exotic Dancing, 11 a.m. Lady Godiva’s (GR) We Know Jackson Louie’s Trophy House and Grill (Kzoo) Super Happy Funtime Burlesque (18+) Mac’s (Lansing) Red Stone Souls Machine Shop (Flint) KMFDM, Chant; Trick Trick, GSM, Charlie Baltimore, Diezel, L Streetz, Cash P, Big Gov The Magestic (Detroit) HEAD, UTO, 10 p.m., 21+, free Mulligan’s (GR) Larry Lowis Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Duffield Caron Project 5-8 p.m.; 4WD, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Coheed and Cambria, Balance and Composure, I The Mighty (all-ages) The Orbit Room (GR) Rod Stewart The Palace (Auburn Hills) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Zombie Prom Planet Rock (Battle Creek) Super Happy Funtime Burlesque Pyramid Scheme (GR) La Boutique with Sonnrize, Dawns on the Decks, 10 p.m. Republic (GR) You’re Not Invited Presents: The Waxines, Yum Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) Battle of the Brains Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak)

Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) WIDR Halloween Show, 9 p.m. Shakespeare’s Lower Level (Kzoo) Male Dancing, 8 p.m. Studs Nightclub (GR) The Phantom Shakers Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) My Perfect Nightmare CD Release Party, Bloodline Riot, Nothing For Now, Eyes Once Mine The Token Lounge (Detroit) Thriller! Chiller! Film Festival Wealthy Street Theatre (GR) DJ Creole, 11:30 p.m. Wild Bull Saloon (Kzoo)

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27

Thrift Store Triva with Drew Behringer The B.O.B. (GR) Trivia Night Bell’s Eccentric Cafe (Kzoo) Revival: 80s Dance Night w/ DJ Hustlah, $2, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Lazy Blue Tunas Blue Water Grill (GR) Thrift Store Trivia with Drew Behringer, 8 p.m., 21+ Bobarino’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Industry Night Crush (found insde the B.O.B.) (GR) The Toasters, Sailor Kicks, 9:30 p.m., 21+, free Founders (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) HopCat Jazz Jam, 7 p.m.; Industry Night, 9 p.m. close HopCat Brewery (GR) Mushroomhead, One Eyed Dill, Xfactor1, The Members X Intersection (GR) Sunday Night Funnies The Landing (GR) Mug Club, 2 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Matt White, Stefanie Haapala, 7 p.m. Mac’s (Lansing) A Loss For Words, Handguns; Desaparecidos, The So So Glos The Magestic (Detroit) Bike Night Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) Crossroads Blues Jam, 6 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Blues Jam, 6-9 p.m. Old Hat Brewery & Grill (Lawton) Car Crusin’ Sunday Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood)

MONDAY OCTOBER 28

BassBin: Electronic Dance Night, no cover, 21+ Billy’s Lounge (GR) Melt Banana, Brian Tentacles, Old Gods The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) TipTopTails, 6:15-8:30 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Open Mic with John Sanger, 7-11 p.m. Gipper’s (GR) No Band Date Gun Lake Casino (Wayland)

& Grill (GR) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Sensations (GR) Motown Monday with DJ Brandon Lawrence, 7 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR) Warbringer, Hate Unbound, Halstatt The Token Lounge (Detroit) Front Studio: Hearts in Motion Dance Project, 5:30 p.m. Wealthy Street Theatre (GR)

TUESDAY OCTOBER 29

Open Mic, 7-11 p.m. Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Preservation Lounge Jazz, no cover, 21+, 7-11 p.m. Billy’s Lounge (GR) Atilla, Upon A Burning Body, The Plot In You, Fit For A King The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Poetry Begins with Azizi Hasani, 9-11 p.m. Dr. Grins Comedy Club (GR) Scott Herriman Eastland Bowl (Kzoo) Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage The Fillmore Detroit (Detroit) Open Mic Night featuring Jason Heystek & Nicholas James, 9 p.m. Founders (GR) Music Lessons, 2:30-6 p.m. Foundry Hall (South Haven) Oregon Dreamchild Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Black Squirrel University, 9 p.m. Harmony Brewing Co. (GR) Downtown Throwdown (half-off all booxe with food purchase), 6 p.m.-midnight HopCat Brewery (GR) Mayday Parade, Man Overboard, Cartel, Stages & Stereos; The Malah Intersection (GR) Karaoke, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) ARTbreak, 12 p.m. Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (Kzoo) Mug Club, 4 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Meanwhile Film Series, 8 p.m., Wealthy Theatre Meanwhile (GR) Toxic Trivia: Team Based Trivia, 10 p.m. - Midnight Mulligan’s (GR) Tom Northrup Nibi Lounge (Battle Creek) Open Mic Night with Brendan Mann, 8 p.m., sign up at 7 p.m.; Tom Duffield, 5-7 p.m. Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Jeep & Truck Night, 6-9 p.m. Quaker Steak & Lube (Kentwood) Acoustic Open Mic, 9:30 p.m. (18+) Rocky’s Bar & Grill (GR) The Head and the Heart, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Quiet Life Royal Oak Music Theatre (Royal Oak) Comedy Tuesdays (Every other week), 8:30 p.m., free Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (GR)

THE LONELY FOREST

@ THE PYRAMID SCHEME OCTOBER 17 WEDNESDAY Michigan Monday, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Jars of Clay Intersection (GR) OCTOBER 30 Unplugged Open Mic, 9 p.m. JD Reardon’s (GR) SIN: Service Industry Night, 7 p.m. The Livery (Benton Harbor) Toro y Moi, The Sea and Cake The Magestic (Detroit) Open Mic Hosted by Gabriel James Monarchs’ Club (GR) Margarita Mondays Nick Fink’s (Comstock Park) G.L.A.M.A. Jam (Great Lakes Acoustic Music Jam) Old Dog Tavern (Kzoo) Exotic Dancing, 11:30 a.m. Parkway Tropics (GR) Born Ruffians Pyramid Scheme (GR) Monday Night Jazz, 8-11 p.m. Republic (GR) Free Bingo with prizes, 10 p.m. (21+) Rocky’s Bar

Open Mic Night with Adam Poling 411 Club (Kzoo) War of the Worlds, 7:30 p.m., $10 Acorn Theater (Three Oaks) Campus Karaoke, no cover with college/ cosmetology ID Billy’s Lounge (GR) Jars Of Clay The Crofoot Pike Room (Pontiac) Comedy Night presented by Gary Fields, 7 & 9 p.m. Firekeepers Casino (Battle Creek) Jazz Night Gilly’s (found inside the B.O.B.) (GR) Musical Open Mic with Adam Danis, 9 p.m. The Globe Theatre (Kzoo) Azz Izz Gun Lake Casino (Wayland) Pitchers and Wings, 6-9 p.m. HopCat Brewery (GR) Yo Gotti, YG, Zed Zilla, Shy Glizzy, Ca$h Out; The