OT: Interpol/Clutch Cargo's and Michigan's music venues
At the Interpol show. They pulled the alcohol sales bait and switch so the 6:30 show means the opener just went on and main act is at 9 (for those mear and wanting to come theres still time!) Decent venue though not as solid as Saint Andrews or Michigan Theatre. What venues are your favorites? Like Interpol? Discuss.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:30 PM ^
I've been to Clutch Cargo's once, it was okay... nothing close to St. Andrew's of course. I am partial to the Shelter (basement of St. Andrews) for whatever reason, I feel like I'm at a show in a really large garage, and the sound holds really well because it's underground (literally, not just the music).
August 11th, 2010 at 8:34 PM ^
August 11th, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^
Nothing beats the Magic Stick.
And nothing on earth could be worse than the Majestic.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:05 PM ^
August 11th, 2010 at 9:16 PM ^
Interpol is my favorite band right now. Just got back from my golf trip or I would be there. Went to their show 2 years ago across from Comerica Park and that was incredible.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^
August 12th, 2010 at 1:32 PM ^
I listened to a song on the web and it just sounded like some far out experimental with no words that I didn't get so I just discounted it. If you're telling me it's good I'll go download it, because usualy I like a lot of the stuff out of the mainstream....I love Song 7 and The Specialist which never made it to their album much like The Smith's back in the day, but that song I heard was garbage.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:56 PM ^
which is just an intro'ish piece for most of albums. try out Only If You Run, Fun That We Have and/or Games For Days
August 11th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
I was also at the last show at the Fillmore but was a little bored by it to be honest, and I'm burned out from Lollapalooza so I'm sitting this one out, but I'd actually love a report on the crowd size and how the show goes. I think Clutch Cargo's is OK, I've seen Arctic Monkeys and Yeah Yeah Yeahs there so two amazing shows help it out, but I have to drive all the way out to Pontiac which sucks. I love the Magic Stick just because you can see some pretty big bands there up close and personal. St. Andrew's is nice too, but I don't like most of the bigger venues around town.
August 12th, 2010 at 1:25 PM ^
packed floor, 2-deep balcony. i'm never good at crowd numbers but it was full.
setlist available here:
Interpol at Clutch Cargo's, Pontiac, MI, USA
danced and sang the whole time. solid show.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^
except it's in a VERY rough area of Detroit (94 and Harper), so there's no real expectation of safe parking unless you pay off a couple of bums with firearms (true story) or park a little ways away.
I saw All That Remains and Dragonforce at Harpo's and I definitely want to go back.
I enjoy the Fillmore, but the Magic Stick has the best balance of high capacity and musical intimacy. I may be biased against St. Andrew's because the venue took all of our money when my band performed there.
August 11th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^
I've been to Harpo's a few times and have not had trouble parking in the open lot next to the building. But I don't recommend bringing/leaving any valuables in the car, as there is no fence and security consists of a big dude standing around
August 11th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
I enjoyed Clutch Cargo's on my few trips there, but mainly because I saw more topless girls there than anywhere else I've been (save Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario, for a music festival).
Other favorites:
1. St. Andrew's Hall
2. Magic Stick
3. The Blind Pig
August 11th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
The bait-and-switch is pretty much the norm ... the routine is usually, first opener comes on ~1 hour after doors open, headline act comes on around 9-10pm
The sole exception in my regular concert-going of the past 8 years is Blondie's in Detroit. It's an old metal bar that recently re-opened... in a desolate neighborhood with nothing on tap but Old Style, Old Style Light, and Blatz, but they had a bathroom attendant! Anyway, this show actually started around 6:00. Just in case you ever end up there.
My favorite spots in SE Michigan are Savoy in Ypsilanti, The Blind Pig, Harpo's, The Shelter, State Theater ("Fillmore"). Also dig The Intersection and Orbit Room in Grand Rapids.
And I despise this place called "I-Rock" ... as they canceled a show by one of my favorite bands (the night before, no less), due to said band not wanting the ubiquitous and generic local metalcore opening band, as they had a full contingent of bands touring with them from Europe, and one of those bands would have to be bumped for the SCHLOCK, FORMULAIC metalcore GARBAGE. Bah humbug. Kids, do the right thing: Don't start metalcore bands.
Also, CC's can draw a very despicable crowd. A friend of mine got caught in a nazi skinhead brawl in a parking lot near there... nothing to do with the concert he was at, the skins were just there because there were a lot of cars to smash up. So, keep your wits about you in Pontiac.
Also also, there is a place in Lansing called "Mac's" -- it is one of the worst places I've ever been in my life. On my most recent trip there, two bands were there on tour from around the country, but the idiot managers at the bar allowed the (very mediocre) local, opening bands to play until ~11:00, which forced the touring bands to cut their sets short. I did not pay to see those freaking amateurs! And it's a complete dive. Never go there.
August 11th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
cluth cargos is all right.
i'm not really a fan of the michigan theatre. seated shows make for much less excitement.
my favorite has to be the crofoot ballroom. they have a good thing going there with the pike room, eagle theatre and whatever that tiny little bar/cafe is next door.
i wish there was a venue more like the crofoot or saint andrews in ann arbor.
i was at lollapalooza too. it took a lot out of me. i pretty much slept all day monday.