Written by Mel Says The World Wide Web is a place of infinite opportunities for musicians if they can figure out a way to break through all of the “Listen to my band” clutter that floods every avenue of social media each day. Whether by luck or strategy, Captain Ivory were able to catch our […]
Search The City Is Back To Remind Us Of Detroit’s Secrets Written by Mel Says & Nathan Ryall Everyone knows that empty feeling that anchors itself in the pit of your stomach when a band that holds a special place in your heart and has probably gotten you through some tough times, has decided to […]
We Really Hit Our Teenage Angst in Our Late 30’s; An Alleyway Chat with Sean & Shawn Of Child Bite Written by Nathan Ryall & Mel Says If the heavy melodic rock band Mastodon were a 6-foot-3 piece of Rock & Roll man meat, punk rock sensations The Dead Kennedy’s were a sexy little red head with rockin’ tits, […]
Flint Eastwood Gets Their Bolo Tie On at The Loving Touch Written By Mel Says & Nathan Ryall BackRoads with Phyllis just spent the weekend partying at The Loving Touch in Ferndale with some of Michigan’s more notable bands from both sides of the mitten. Fresh off of a Friday night hardcore show at the […]
A Bathroom Quickie With Jason Stollsteimer Of The Hounds Below Written by Mel Says and Nathan Ryall “The first thing I do when I get to a venue, like five hours before we play when nobody is there, is just go in the women’s bathroom and sit on the couch,” Stollsteimer says as we are […]
Written by Mel Says and Nathan Ryall It is very easy to forget the breadth of Detroit music when we are sloshing around in back rooms of cramped bars, listening to the thrilling sounds of high flying guitars and slamming bass drums But when we can take a step back from that explosion of energy, we remember […]
Written by Mel Says and Nathan Ryall If Gotham City has Batman, the state of Michigan has Joe Hertler and his band of Rainbow Seekers. No, they don’t fight crime or have an underground lair (I don’t think), but they do have the same passion and pride for the state they call home. Throughout their […]
The Scenery’s Story Of The Road By Nathan Ryall and Mel Says When you first hear The Scenery, it is easy to tell this band has something different to offer. It’s not their sound, which is an incredibly infectious fusion of indie, pop and rock; and it’s not the amazingly talented and unique vocal styling […]
Written by Mel Says Photo by Nick Fracassa If you were to ask any of the guys in the Warren, Michigan post-hardcore outfit Mayor Mayor just how they decided to reform after their disbandment in August 2012, you better have some time on your hands as the story is quite complicated, long-winded and full of […]
Written by Nathan Ryall and Mel Says Photo by Nathan Ryall and Mel Says The moments before Bars of Gold lead singer Marc Paffi belted out his first bit of vocals would be the last his legs would move at a reasonable rate. These moments would also be the last few that the Friday night […]
Smoking Unlit Cigarettes: A Parking Lot Hang with Cadaver Dogs By Nathan Ryall and Mel Says It was apparent early in Cadaver Dogs’ set that drummer Lex Vegas did not conform to the typical 3-piece outfit where the drummer sits in the back and simply keeps time. Even with frontman Mat Franklin’s overwhelmingly prominent sexual […]
Shoe Gaze, I Love That Genre: A chitchat with Dryvel By Nathan Ryall and Mel Says I drink beer and rock out to Dryvel, reads the beer coozie that drummer Matt Marriott tosses our way; and we can tell without even hearing this band that we are going to like what they have to offer. […]
Photo By: Nathan Ryall Written By: Nathan Ryall and Mel Says “This one’s called ‘Better Off (Strictly Doods)’, except for this chick right here,” said lead singer Chad Nicefield in almost a mumble, pointing at Backroads with Phyllis’ Mel Says. This would be the least audible Nicefield would be for the rest of the night. […]