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Detroit Concert Events

Pete Yorn with Ben Kweller

March 4, 2011  |  6:30 PM  |  $24.99  |  Clutch Cargo's  |  248.333.2362

Pete's new record titled "BACK AND FOURTH" will be released on June 23rd, 2009. It was produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes/Cursive). More details to come soon regarding the record and tour. Pete has been writing and recording a respectable amount of new material to be released in 2009. The producers are Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes) and Frank Black (The Pixies). Two new songs have been released, on various fan pages including here on MySpace, that are expected to be included on the new albums; "Shotgun"and "Sans Fear," respectively. "Can't Hear Anyone" is also available on the MySpace player. It was recorded during the Nightcrawler sections and was released as a very rare B Side.

Pete will be appearing on Canadian artist Matthew Good's upcoming album ''Vancouver'' performing backing vocals. The album is expected to be released summer 2009.

In 2008, Pete Yorn recorded and released a new song, entitled "American Blues Vol. 1." A music video was shot for the single, and the mp3 is available free HERE

Concerning the song, in a pre-election message, Yorn said "I wrote American Blues Vol. 1. on the 4th of July 2008 after reading the morning paper. It's unlike any song I've ever written. I was moved by how much negativity I was reading about and how even groups were boycotting Independence Day because they were so disgusted with the state of our Nation. I was hoping things would improve...they obviously haven't yet...but I know they will in time."

The Pogues with Titus Andronicus

March 4, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $45.00 - $50.00  |  Royal Oak Music Theatre  |  248.399.2980

The Pogues are an English punk/folk band founded in 1982 by Shane MacGowan (vocals, songwriter), James Fearnley (accordion) and Spider Stacy (tin whistle), in London. Their name comes from the Anglicisation of the Irish saying for "kiss my arse", póg mo thóin or pogue mahone. Although the band have put out seven studio albums it is their 1987 album If I Should Fall from Grace with God which saw the bands' greatest success producing the stirring, frank Christmas song "Fairytale of New York". The track which is considered one of the best Christmas songs of all time, in the UK and Ireland, is about two Irish immigrant lovers whose lives and young love were crushed by drugs and alcohol. The Pogues are also famous for their notoriously drunken and toothless frontman Shane MacGowan and his intoxicated antics on and off stage. He is also considered one of the greatest Irish song writers and poets of the last 30 years. (SoundUnwound)

Spring Break Banger starring Rick Ross with Fabolous and Yo Gotti

March 5, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  CANCELLED  |  Fox Theatre  |  313.471.3200

Rick Ross commanded the hop-hip spotlight with the hit single “Hustlin” from his debut album, Port of Miami. The track went on to receive gold status from RIAA in 2006 and sold over a million ringtone units before the physical album release. His follow-up, Trilla, was released the following year, prefaced with the Cool & Dre-produced title track. Early 2009 saw the release of Deeper Than Rap, an album greeted with numerous positive reviews in the hip-hop press. In early 2010 Ross released his latest album, Teflon Don.

Glassjaw

March 5, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $20.00 - $25.00  |  Majestic Theatre  |  313.833.9700

Glassjaw is a four-piece experimental/post-hardcore band from Long Island, New York. The band is fronted by vocalist Daryl Palumbo and guitarist Justin Beck, and have undergone numerous line-up changes since their inception. The band has been influential in the progression of the underground music scene in the eastern United States and United Kingdom and on the post-hardcore genre, and are known for their intense live shows and constant line-up changes.

Railroad Earth

March 5, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $20.00 - $25.00  |  Royal Oak Music Theatre  |  248.399.2980

Railroad Earth is a roots and Americana-based jam band from Stillwater, New Jersey. Their name was borrowed from the Jack Kerouac short story "October in the Railroad Earth," to which the band also has a song by the same name. Railroad Earth's music combines elements of bluegrass, rock and roll, jazz, celtic and more, and the group is also known for its extensive live improvisation and lyrical songwriting within an acoustic base. (Wikipedia.com)

The Get Up Kids with Miniature Tigers and Brian Bonz

March 10, 2011  |  6:00 PM  |  $23.50  |  Saint Andrews Hall  |  313.961.6358

Kansas City's Get Up Kids play melodic, pop-inflected emo similar to the Promise Ring and Braid, with whom the band released a split single in 1998. The influential group -- vocalist/guitarist Matthew Pryor, guitarist/vocalist Jim Suptic, bassist Robert Pope, and drummer Ryan Pope (Robert's younger brother, who replaced Nathan Shay early on) -- debuted in 1996 with a slew of 7"s, including Shorty on the Huey Proudhon label and All Stars on Doghouse Records. Both the Woodson EP and their debut full-length, Four Minute Mile, the latter which they recorded with Shellac's Bob Weston, were released in 1997. The well-received albums started a growing buzz around the indie rock scene, even causing the band to field offers from major labels, which they ultimately turned down. In 1998, the Get Up Kids toured extensively with bands like the Promise Ring and Jimmy Eat World and released more singles, including "I'm a Loner, Dottie, a Rebel," which also appeared on their classic 1999 album, Something to Write Home About. Released through Heroes < Villains/Vagrant, Something to Write Home About featured newly added keyboardist James Dewees and focused the scrappy energy of their promising debut into a visceral and intelligent collection of highly introspective and melodic songs that would go on to influence countless bands; the album garnered high critical and fan praise and made the Get Up Kids heroes of the emocore scene.

The band resurfaced two years later, re-releasing some of its early works as the album Eudora and hitting the road with Green Day, Hot Rod Circuit, and Weezer along the way. It wasn't until 2002 that a new album, On a Wire, surfaced, featuring more sparsely arranged and somber songs different than the stirring emo-pop of before. The relatively more upbeat Guilt Show, the band's fifth album and third effort with producer Ed Rose, appeared in spring 2004. The concert album Live @ the Granada Theater surfaced a year later, marking the band's tenth anniversary together. But 2005 also marked their final set of tour dates, as the guys announced around the same time that they would be calling it quits -- the last Get Up Kids date was held at their hometown's Uptown Theater on July 2, 2005. The bandmembers continued on with various individual projects, including Pryor with the New Amsterdams and his kids' music project, the Terrible Twos; Dewees with Reggie and the Full Effect; Suptic with his own Blackpool Lights; and the Pope brothers with Koufax.

~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide

Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark

March 11, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $20.00 - $25.00  |  The Crofoot  |  248.858.9333

Beginning in 1978, Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey launched their own unique style of catchy electronic melodies that helped form OMD's reputation for intelligent pop. Back then, to burden your band with such an unwieldy name as Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark might have seemed somewhat unwise, but the obvious commercial appeal of their music provoked enough interest that it eventually led to Factory Record's supremo Tony Wilson offering them the chance to cut their debut single 'Electricity' on the Factory label. From the beginning, OMD have managed to occupy that rare space between the alternative and the commercial, writing classic synth-pop songs about such diverse subjects as airplanes, oil refineries, religious icons and movie stars.

The History of Modern tour is now officially heading stateside this March with North American stops including the Crofoot Ballroom! It will be the group’s first US outing with the original line up since their 1988 stadium tour with Depeche Mode. After three years of critically acclaimed sold- out concerts in the UK and Europe these dates will feature the band mixing their most celebrated and classic hits; ‘Enola Gay’, ‘If You Leave,’ ‘So In Love’ and ‘Souvenir’ with new songs, creating a distinctly contemporary live show. The tour is back to basics - OMD just really wanted to get to North America and start playing so it will be like the old days... band, audience and songs!

Tommy Castro Band

March 12, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $22.00 - $35.00  |  Callahan's Music Hall  |  248.858.9508

R&B singer, songwriter and guitarist Tommy Castro is one of the most popular and creative roots artists to emerge in recent years.

Castro, winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award for Entertainer Of The Year, is famed not only for his hard-hitting, impassioned vocals, soaring guitar work and his blues-infused, rocking R&B sound, but also for his striking, original songwriting and exhilarating stage show. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, “Castro navigates seriously funky Southern soul, gritty big city blues and scorching rock…his silvery guitar licks simultaneously sound familiar and fresh.” Castro, booked by the famed Rosebud Agency, will be hitting the road hard — kicking off his Hard Believer tour in Duluth at the Bayfront Blues Festival — playing festivals and clubs all across the U.S. and Canada.

Tommy Castro and his brilliant band have captured a hold of legions of fans and critics alike around the world with their mesmerizing blend of rock, blues and Memphis soul. On the next release – Painkiller – they continued to explore the boundaries of American roots music. On this CD, Castro teamed up with producer John Porter, renowned for his work with a Who’s Who list of artists such as Los Lonely Boys, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Santana, B.B. King, Elvis Costello, adn Buddy Guy. Said Castro, “When I started looking for a producer, I realized that John had produced some of my favorite records of the last ten years. After working with him in the studio, I understand now why that is. With John, everything just seems to be right; all the parts work and flow together.” With the Tommy Castro Band anchoring the sessions, Porter fashioned a most tasteful album from the many talented parts of Castro’s patented rock ‘n’ soul music. Special guests Coco Montoya, Angela Strehli, David Maxwell, and Teresa James join the fun.

Charlie Wilson with Ledisi

March 12, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $59.00 - $89.00  |  Fox Theatre  |  313.471.3200

Timeless. It’s something every artist wants to be, but few earn the distinction. Charlie Wilson’s name is on that short list.

From his breakout as a member of the Gap Band (“You Dropped A Bomb On Me,” “Outstanding”) in the ‘80s to his revered solo recordings (2005’s certified gold Charlie, Last Name Wilson, 2009’s Grammy nominated Uncle Charlie), Wilson has sold millions of albums, inspired a throng of artists who modeled their vocal stylings after his (most notably Aaron Hall and R. Kelly) and cemented his status as a musical icon with accolades from Billboard and BET, among a host of others.

Now, with his third Jive Records solo album Just Charlie, Wilson is on a mission: to teach people how to respect, treat and speak to women. It’s about respect and total commitment, something Wilson puts on full display with the lead single “You Are,” produced by Wilson and P Music Group producer/songwriter Wirlie Morris.

“The first time I heard the song I knew it was going to be timeless and probably one of the best Charlie had recorded in his career so I immediately thought to add an extra layer of distinction and bring in a live orchestra,” stated Michael Paran, of P Music Group, who has managed and guided Wilson’s successful solo career for the last 13 years. “So we reached out to Larry Batiste, Musical Director for the Pre-Grammy telecasts who did the orchestral arrangements which took the song over the top.”

Already a radio hit on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart, “You Are” features a warm, elegant soundbed that serves as the backdrop for Wilson to showcase the love and admiration he has for his wife, Mahin. After Wilson’s years of battling drug abuse and homelessness, Mahin was the one who helped guide him back to personal and professional greatness. “I didn’t have a reason to love,” Wilson says. “I didn’t have anybody to trust, to be there for me. To find someone like Mahin is the reason that I can love. She taught me how to live.”

That radiance carries over to “Once And Forever,” an elegant, piano-accented ballad where Wilson describes how his lady inspired him to be a better man. Both “You Are” and “Once And Forever” are likely to be featured at weddings for decades to come, thanks to their lush orchestration and uplifting lyrics.

Elsewhere, Wilson details how his woman is a “Dime” in every way (not just physically) and celebrates his life with his lady (and shows off his impeccable vocals with daring runs and adlibs) on the feel-good “Lotto.” Then, on the breezy, reggae-influenced “Life Of The Party,” Wilson makes a point to treat his lady to a memorable night on the town, where the sole focus is to enjoy themselves. “As adults, when we start getting older, we start losing our youth because of Father Time,” he explains. “I think we should have a good time in life until the clock stops ticking. I think you should continue to have fun, never stop enjoying yourself, and never stop giving up on your dreams.”

And for millions of people, their dream is to be in love. That’s why Wilson chose to remake his good friend Roger Troutman’s “I Wanna Be Your Man.” This stellar cover features Fantasia and depicts the type of yearning people have before their love is reciprocated. For others, it’s a love past that makes them realize that maybe they “Never Got Enough” of that person. This cut contains classic funk elements and lively keyboards, sounds that work well with the intensity in which some reflect upon a love lost.

But it’s triumph that truly defines Just Charlie. After navigating through exhilarating highs and unspeakable lows, Wilson found redemption, a journey he documents on the driving, empowering “Where Would I Be.” “I went from rags to riches, riches to rags, rags to the curb and from the curb to being homeless,” he reveals. “Now I’m back to being a No. 1 artist and I couldn’t have done it without my woman. To have a woman who stands by your side no matter what you’re going through, the ups and the downs and the in-betweens, where would I be without her?”

And where would music be without Charlie Wilson? With The Gap Band, Wilson and brothers Ronnie and Robert helped define and popularize an upbeat form of funk that was equally infectious and lasting. “Outstanding,” “You Dropped a Bomb On Me,” and “I Don’t Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops Up Side Your Head)” were among their immense catalog of hits and are among the most sampled songs in music history.

Although Wilson struggled with alcohol and drug addiction that consumed him once The Gap Band broke up, his music resonated with generations of musicians and rappers, many of whom clamored to recreate his soaring vocals, to collaborate with him or to just achieve the level of artistic quality Wilson maintained.

In the early 1990s, Wilson (who had already been identified as the blueprint on which Guy’s Aaron Hall and R. Kelly modeled their style) became friends and a regular collaborator with Snoop Dogg. This relationship provided Wilson with access to many of the artists that idolized him, as well as a fresh group of emerging talent who inspired him to continue pushing the limits of his own material.

“I had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest hip-hop artists in this business,” recalls Wilson, who has collaborated with Kanye West, R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx, T-Pain and Justin Timberlake, among others. “It allowed me to open up my horizons and be able to learn about different types of music. Working with these artists allowed me to not be locked in a time capsule. It opened the door for me to be a part of today’s contemporary music scene.”

Beyond music, Wilson remains committed to promoting awareness and testing for prostate cancer. As a survivor of a disease that afflicts one in six American men -- and one in three African American men -- Wilson in 2008 teamed with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. “When I learned that the PCF had helped to build a global research enterprise of nearly $10 billion and funded more than 1500 programs at nearly 200 research centers in 12 countries, I knew I wanted to support their efforts,” stated Wilson.

Today he continues to speak at events around the country, encouraging men to get screened for the disease. He also supports the PCF through the sale of his signature fedora hats at his concerts and on his website at www.unclecharliewilson.com/shop.

With music and his work to combat prostate cancer, Wilson has been able to sustain the passion and drive that have been hallmarks of his legendary career. “I’m still living this dream,” Wilson says. “I’m still going to the stage and I’m still having fun. I’m not there just to pick up the check. It’s about the passion and the respect that I have for the game. It keeps me going.”

No wonder Charlie Wilson is considered timeless. And no wonder Just Charlie will soon earn the same distinction.

Dave Mason

March 12, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $25.00  |  Majestic Theatre  |  313.833.9700

Dave Mason is a musician, singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Worcester, England, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. In his long career, Mason has played and recorded with many of the era’s most notable musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Russ McLellan and Mama Cass Elliot. Mason’s best known song is “Feelin’ Alright”, recorded by Traffic in 1968 and covered by dozens of artists, including Joe Cocker, who had a major hit with the song in 1969. For Traffic, he also wrote “Hole in my Shoe”, a kind of psychedelic satire that became a classic in its own right. “We Just Disagree”, Mason’s own 1977 solo hit, has become a staple of Oldies and Adult Contemporary radio playlists.

Good Charlotte with Forever the Sickest Kids and         This Century

March 13, 2011  |  6:00 PM  |  $39.50  |  Saint Andrews Hall  |  313.961.6358

Good Charlotte is comprised of vocalist Joel Madden, guitarist Benji Madden, guitarist Billy Martin, bassist Paul Thomas and drummer Dean Butterworth, who officially joined the line-up in 2007 and is featured on the cover of the November issue of DRUM! – has sold 10 million records, scored numerous mainstream radio hits (including “The Anthem,” “Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous,” “Hold On” and Girls and Boys”) and toured with everyone from Justin Timberlake to Third Eye Blind. They’ve appeared on the covers of Rolling Stone and Alternative Press, won an MTV Video Music Award and performed on such shows as “Saturday Night Live,” “TODAY,” “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.”

Crystal Castles

March 13, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $25.00  |  Royal Oak Music Theatre  |  248.399.2980

Crystal Castles is an electronic music band from Ontario, consisting of producer Ethan Kath and vocalist Alice Glass. Crystal Castles are known for their chaotic live shows and their lo-fi home productions. The duo have released many vinyl EPs between 2006–2007 and also two eponymous albums, in 2008 and 2010 respectively. (SoundUnwound)

Bright Eyes

March 14, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $25.00 - $28.00  |  Royal Oak Music Theatre  |  248.399.2980

Bright Eyes is an American indie/folk band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst and conisisting of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, trumpet and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating lineup of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene.[1]

Bright Eyes is signed to Saddle Creek Records, an American label also founded by Oberst and distributed by Sony Corporation. In 2004, the singles "Lua" and "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" took the top two spots of Billboard's Hot 100 Singles Sales chart within two weeks of their simultaneous release. (Wikipedia.com)

Cold War Kids

March 17, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $25.00  |  Saint Andrews Hall  |  313.961.6358

Cold War Kids is an American indie rock band formed in 2004. The current line-up is Matt Aveiro (drums), Matt Maust (bass), Jonnie Bo Russell (guitar) and Nathan Willett (vocals/piano).

The four friends built their reputation by performing live and the release of three EPs (Mulberry Street Up in Rags and With our Wallets Full) cemented their fan-base as did their increasing profile amongst the blogging community.

To date they have released one album, 2006's Robbers & Cowards which reached No.35 in the UK album charts and squeaked into the US Billboard charts at No.173. It reprises several of the tracks from their earlier EPs and has been well received by the critics. (SoundUnwound)

Tab Benoit

March 17, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $22.00 - $35.00  |  Callahan's Music Hall  |  248.858.9508

Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Tab Benoit makes his home near New Orleans in Houma, LA. Born November 17, 1967, he's one of a handful of bright rising stars on the modern blues scene. For most of the 1990s, he's been working each of his records the old fashioned way, by playing anywhere and everywhere he and his band can play. Unlike so many others before him, Benoit understands that blues is not a medium in favor with 50,000-watt commercial rock radio stations, so as a consequence, he's worked each of his releases with as many shows as he can possibly play. Since the release of his first album for Justice, Benoit has taken his brand of Cajun-influenced blues all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Nice and Warm, his debut album for Houston-based Justice Records, prompted some critics to say he's reminiscent, at times, of three blues guitar gods: Albert King, Albert Collins, and Jimi Hendrix.

Although the hard-working, modest guitarist scoffs at those comparisons, and doesn't think he sounds like them (and doesn't try to sound like them), Benoit doesn't appear to be one who's easily led into playing rock & roll in favor of his down-home blend of swamp blues and east Texas guitar-driven blues. Talk to Tab at one of his shows, and he'll tell you about his desire to "stay the course," and not water down his blues by playing items that could be interpreted as "alternative" rock. Despite the screaming guitar licks he coaxes from his Telecaster and his powerful songwriting and singing abilities, Benoit's laid-back, down-to-earth personality off-stage is the exact opposite of his live shows.

Benoit's releases include Nice and Warm (1992), What I Live For (1994), Standing on the Bank (1995), and Live: Swampland Jam (1997), all recorded for Vanguard. Benoit then moved over to the Telarc label for These Blues Are All Mine (1999), Whiskey Store (2002, with Jimmy Thackery), Wetlands (2002), and The Sea Saint Sessions (2003). In 2004, Benoit released Whiskey Store Live, recorded with Jimmy Thackery on the support tour for Whiskey Store. 2005 saw the release of Fever for the Bayou on the Telarc label. 2005 also saw Voice of the Wetlands come out on Rykodisc. Another album from Telarc, Brother to the Blues, appeared in 2006. Power of the Pontchartrain and Night Train to Nashville followed in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Considering that many of Benoit's records have surpassed the 50,000 mark, he's well on his way to a career that could rival the kind of popularity the late Stevie Ray Vaughan enjoyed in the late '80s. Richard Skelly & Al Campbell, Rovi

The Dirty Heads

March 18, 2011  |  6:30 PM  |  $23.00  |  Saint Andrews Hall  |  313.961.6358

Dirty Heads come from Huntington Beach, CA and this is showin in their perfect blend of acoustic, reggae and hip hop. Originally just an acoustic group, they now have added battle DJ champion DJ Rocky Rock to give them some more flavor in their music.

38 Special

March 18, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $35.00 - $40.00  |  MotorCity Casino Hotel  |  866.782.9622

Thirty Eight Special are the Southern rock band formed by Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes. They are perhaps their best known hits "Caught up in You" and "If I'd Been the One".

The band were formed by the brother of Ronnie Van Zant, founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd and had a similar, Southern rock sound. Their first two albums were not big sellers, but the introduction of a harder rock sound attracted a broader audience. An extensive touring schedule helped spread the word and when 1981's Wild Eyed Southern Boys was released to good reviews, fans responded by taking the album to platinum sales. This began a run of gold or platinum-selling albums and top forty hits, with "Caught up in You", "If I'd Been the One" and "Back Where you Belong" amongst them. Rock and Roll Strategy was the last of the run as the Eighties drew to a close and the band's sound fell from favour. They still tour, playing clubs in Southern states. (SoundUnwound)

A Day to Remember with Pierce the Veil, Bring Me the Horizon and We Came As Romans

March 22, 2011  |  6:00 PM  |  $25.00 - $27.00  |  Royal Oak Music Theatre  |  248.399.2980

A Day to Remember were formed in 2003 and mix emo, hardcore, and metal into a blend affectionately referred to by their fans as "pop mosh." Hailing from Ocala, FL, vocalist Jeremy McKinnon, guitarists Neil Westfall and Tom Denney, bassist Joshua Woodard, and drummer Bobby Scruggs financed their first EP themselves, then signed with Indianola Records for the release of their full-length And Their Name Was Treason in spring 2005. The record went on to sell over 8,000 copies through word of mouth alone, and a year later the guys were signed to Chicago powerhouse Victory Records. Work quickly began on their label debut; For Those Who Have Heart appeared in January 2007, featuring new drummer Alex Shellnutt. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide

Walter Trout & The Radicals

March 24, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $22.00 - $35.00  |  Callahan's Music Hall  |  248.858.9508

Walter Trout (born March 6, 1951, Ocean City, New Jersey, United States) is an American blues guitarist, singer and songwriter.

Trout began his solo career in 1989. He was immediately embraced by European audiences and released his first album, Life in the Jungle that same year. Despite his prolific recording schedule, Trout's first U.S. release was 1998's critically heralded Walter Trout, which immediately established him as a staple of the American blues scene as well.

And the rest is, quite literally, blues and rock history still in the making.

"In a sense, I've almost created my own genre," Trout says. "I've assimilated so many styles and so many influences from the great adventure of American music. I love Jeff Beck just as much as I love B.B. King. I believe in telling stories and honesty and searching for truth. And I have no interest in stifling my creativity. If I have a song in my head or I'm playing a solo and it gets a little outside of the box or off the beaten path, I'm going to let it flow and come out, or take me where it leads me. My quest in all of this is that I'd really love to be able to do it all."

Kem "Intimacy" Tour with El DeBarge and Ledisi

March 25, 2011  |  8:00 PM  |  $39.50 - $88.00  |  Fox Theatre  |  313.471.3200

A galvanizing live performer, who commands the stage with his soulful vocal ability and captivating stage presence, KEM promises to deliver a standout live experience not to be missed. In addition to revisiting popular classics such as “Love Calls” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” the Detroit native will also showcase new favorites from Intimacy, including the powerful lead single “Why Would You Stay,” which is nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, airing on February 13, 2011 at 8 pm ET/PT on CBS.

Named one of 2011’s “8 Great Grammy Nominees” by Entertainment Weekly, KEM released his third album, Intimacy, in August 2010. The album debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart and quickly soared to No. 1 on iTunes’ Top R&B Albums chart, No. 2 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, No. 6 on iTunes’ Top Albums Chart, and No. 8 on Billboard’s Digital Albums chart.

The first two singles from Intimacy have saturated urban AC airwaves at radio: “Share My Life” is currently ranked in the top 10 of the Mediabase Urban AC chart and is destined to become a wedding anthem for generations to come, while “Why Would You Stay” is holding steady on Billboard’s Heatseekers Songs chart and on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. “Why Would You Stay” also hit No. 1 on the Mediabase Urban AC chart for six weeks and was No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B chart for three weeks.

Volbeat

March 26, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $29.00  |  Saint Andrews Hall  |  313.961.6358

Volbeat are sick and tired of music purists wagging their finger at them. They refuse to be confined to the pigeonhole of a specific genre but throw off all fetters intended to keep them on the ground. In the past four years, this thoroughly honest attitude has made the four musicians from Denmark one of the hottest acts on the rock scene. Sold-out venues everywhere, celebrated festival appearances at the Rock am Ring festival, during the Sonisphere Festival Tour, and opening for Metallica and AC/DC – and now they’re about to release their latest album “Beyond Hell/Above Heaven”.

13 September will see the arrival of the 13-track recording, and as they did on their previous four releases, the band has succeeded again in combing the sound of the Fifties with that metal flair. If you were to draw a picture of Volbeat’s sound, it would feature Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Metallica – all of them peacefully united, cool drink in hand. “Beyond Hell/Above Heaven” is a perfect mix of heavy riffs, country coolness and rockabilly hip swing. The result makes not only the heart of a headbanger, but also that of a quiff wearer beat faster. Fans of anthemnic oeuvres are likely to press the Repeat button to listen to “Fallen” again, those more into quiet sounds will love “Heaven Nor Hell”, while up-tempo buffs will get down to business listening to “A Warrior's Call”.

To cut a long story short: Volbeat have refined their highly original mix of passionate riffs and haunting melodies even more, getting straight to the point. Mind you, the band has pursued the idea of transporting the values and achievements of the Fifties into our times ever since the beginning of their career. Band mastermind Michael Poulsen may have been a member of death metal act Dominus, but has concentrated on Volbeat since 2001. The group’s success speaks for itself: their 2005 debut “The Strength/The Sound/The Songs” was still considered an insider tip, but the breakthrough arrived in 2007 with “Rock The Rebel/Metal The Devil”. The music press was delighted, showering the band with top marks. In addition, the quartet made the top of the Danish charts, even garnering a platinum award in their native country. This fact did not remain hidden from the giants of the rock industry. When Metallica were looking for an act to open their 2007 gig in Aarhus, they opted – at James Hetfield’s request – for Volbeat! This kick-started the band’s career – one tour followed the other, the venues becoming bigger and bigger.

2008 was marked by a brief break from the live circuit while the band recorded their third album “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood” at Jacob Hansen’s. The album arrived at the stores in September, making the top position of the Danish and Finnish charts. “Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood” climbed to no. 15 in Germany, and Volbeat embarked on another triumphal march, with tens of thousands of music fans going wild at the Rock am Ring and Wacken:Open:Air festivals as Poulsen & Co. performed hits such as “Sad Man's Tongue”, “Mr. & Mrs. Ness” and “Mary Ann's Place”. Volbeat are set to repeat this feat in autumn 2010, performing their latest anthems live all over Europe. Among the highlights are numbers such as the highly emotional “Fallen”, which Michael Poulsen has devoted to his recently deceased father and irresistible tracks such as “Evelyn” (featuring Napalm Death’s Barney Greenway on vocals) and “7 Shots” with Mille Petrozza (Kreator) and Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate) on guitars. This extremely well-balanced, highly exciting mix of uncompromising relentlessness and ever-present melodies makes “Beyond Hell/Above Heaven” a top-quality rock gem: dazzling, rare and infinitely valuable.

Yanni

March 27, 2011  |  7:00 PM  |  $28.50 - $68.50  |  Fox Theatre  |  313.471.3200

Yanni (born Yiannis Hrysomallis (pronounced Chrysomallis), (Greek: Γιάννης Χρυσομάλλης, classical transcription Giannis Chrysomallis), on November 14, 1954, in Kalamata, Greece) is a self-taught pianist, keyboardist, and composer.

He earned Grammy nominations for his 1992 album, Dare to Dream, and the 1993 follow-up, In My Time. His breakthrough success came with the 1994 release of Yanni Live at the Acropolis, deemed to be the second best-selling music video of all time. Yanni has since performed live in concert before in excess of two million people in more than 20 countries around the world. He has accumulated more than 35 platinum and gold albums globally, with sales totaling over 20 million copies. Yanni is considered to be one of the top fundraisers of all time for public television. His compositions have been included in all Olympic Games television broadcasts since 1988, and his music has been used extensively in television and televised sporting events. His music is frequently described as "new age", though he prefers the term "contemporary instrumental". (Wikipedia.com)

Dance Gavin Dance

March 31, 2011  |  5:30 PM  |  $23.00  |  Saint Andrews Hall  |  313.961.6358

Dance Gavin Dance is an American post-hardcore band formed in Sacramento, California in 2005. They are perhaps most well known for their frequent line up changes and the many publicized disputes between band members. To date, they have released three full length studio albums and one EP, with another full length record, Downtown Battle Mountain Pt. II that was released March 8, 2011.

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