Denise, DJs, and Detroit

I have a new blog. It's way cooler.

2011-01-29T00:00:00.003-05:00

I'm not going to be writing over at the DDD any longer. I have a new site calledschoolcraft waxIt's all very exciting, I know. I have been wanting to move off of blogger for quite a while. It pains my eyes to work with it. I decided I wanted a blog where I could more easily include downloadable pdf's of select publications of mine and other documents. I also wanted to move past the fieldwork blog

EMA CCM LTD and I Like Ypsilanti

2011-01-04T20:39:00.018-05:00

I’m going to write some music reviews here. I don’t typically do this, for a vast array of reasons. Yeah, I have philosophies, you know this. First of all, I’m not a music critic. That’s not my role as an ethnomusicologist and music scholar, I’m talking for me personally. I know, many academics who research and write about music also write record reviews for popular media, both online and print.

New Stuff Added!

2010-11-29T22:56:00.003-05:00

I have finally added my Master's Thesis and my curriculum vitae to this blog. My thesis documents the Roots of Techno conference that I organized at Indiana University in 2006. You'll find my thesis and CV in the upper right corner near the Heidelberg Project image. Enjoy. And, as always, I really want to get your feedback. So let me know thoughts you'd like to share!And that bike has nothing to

Cultural Anomalies, Ethnomusicology, and SEM 2010

2010-11-16T21:23:00.008-05:00

Broadway and 5th Street, Los AngelesI just recently returned from a fabulous trip to Los Angeles for the Society for Ethnomusicology's annual meeting. Last year was Mexico City, next year is Phili, I'm totally suggesting Detroit to the SEM Board! Seriously. The conference was excellent. There were over 1,000 people registered and in attendance. It's crazy big, even if you've never heard of

Aaron Carl, August 19, 1973 - September 30, 2010

2010-10-01T21:09:00.002-04:00

I'm so pleased I knew Aaron-Carl Ragland and got the chance to interview him ... in a Bob Evans in Warren eating up some waffles together! I'll be writing a bit more about him next week when I get back home from this brief weekend trip. In the meantime, check these.http://www.littlewhiteearbuds.com/podcast/lwe-podcast-48-aaron-carl/

Busy Weekend in Detroit

2010-09-20T22:06:00.010-04:00

I started the weekend off with a fun night at New Center Park in Detroit. Michael Geiger and Mike Huckaby were playing. It was a free event from 8pm-midnight. I was happy for the early evening since I had big plans for the next day... I'll tell you in a minute. It was cold too, but that didn't bother me much. I danced enough to fog up my glasses a few times. Speaking of dancing, Gehrik Mohr and

Sonar Chicago

2010-09-05T00:34:00.002-04:00

So you're going to Chicago next weekend for Sonar? You know, that Barcelona festival that is implanting onto Chicago this year. I just saw that Ron Trent is giving a lecture at 4pm Saturday, September 11. And Appleblim is lecturing the day before. So reading about this makes me actually regret not going to the festival. But I've got some Indiana brews that are just waiting anxiously in my

We Like Music Festival

2010-09-04T22:54:00.005-04:00

This ought to be great!Saturday September 18 20102pm-10pm The Old Miami 3930 Cass Avenue Detroit, MI9pm-2am The Magic Stick 4120 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MIMusic:Jimmy EdgarMux MoolEliot LippKraddyJames T. CottonMadis OneJohn ArnoldKyle HallMobilKevin ReynoldsAetherPerilelleIntricate DialectLeo123DJ DeadlinesBobby DolonospectacleGreen MeadowsA.M. ArchitectKadenceSlufterVisual:Broken City LabVJ

Mike Huckaby, Maschine Demo at YouthVille Detroit

2010-08-18T22:01:00.007-04:00

Just spent the evening at YouthVille Detroit, a not-for-profit community center for Detroit youth, ages 11-19. Here's a bit about YouthVille:YouthVille Detroit is "a youth development center (not just a recreational facility) based on the belief that young people need: • A Safe Space • Responsible, caring adults engaged in their lives • To be intentionally involved in their own

Arthur Russell

2010-08-08T11:22:00.004-04:00

Watch this please: Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur RussellExcellent film about musician Arthur Russell.Then you can read this: Hold On to Your Dreams: Arthur Russell and the Downtown Music Scene, 1973-1992 by Tim Lawrence.From the Duke University Press website:Hold On to Your Dreams is the first biography of the musician and composer Arthur Russell, one of the most important but least

Especially Good

2010-08-07T20:42:00.003-04:00

Especially Good is a band from Detroit consisting of Julio Efrain Dominguez, Paul Kiry, and Joseph Flis. I saw them play for a lousy 20 minutes last night at Savoy in Ypsilanti, MI. They are especially fucking ridiculously excellent. I know, total cheese that I'm using half their band name to describe them. Or steeze, your choice.There's clearly no lack of funk going on here. The reason I only

Gary Springs Hunting Club, Detroit, America

2010-07-25T21:25:00.004-04:00

Click on that title up there. That website is so horribly awesome. Anything GSHC related cracks me up in a serious way. Their party last night, Lazer Tan, was fantastic. One of my favorite parties ever - I have a growing collection of those, most of which have been in Detroit. I danced so much, I sweated my upper underclothes green (...cause I had a new green shirt on...). It was a hot hot

Writing with words.

2010-07-08T08:56:00.002-04:00

So I'm heavily entrenched in writing this dissertation. I've got two versions of chapter one almost complete. The dissertation version is not totally done, but the other version is for the second edition of an anthology on African American music titled African American Music: An Introduction edited by Portia K. Maultsby and Mellonee V. Burnim, published by Routledge. The first edition is dated

Pansies

2010-07-05T14:31:00.002-04:00

I was sitting in the Ugly Mug, champion espresso house in Ypsilanti, MI, making wonderful progress on chapter 2 (!!!) last Friday (and yes, that means chapter 1 is pretty much done), and I overheard two delicate little guys talking on the couch about traveling across Michigan. I'll call them Frances and Hortense (I know, Hortense is a lady name, but it sounds funny to me, so just keep reading).

WCBN

2010-06-17T23:01:00.004-04:00

Driving home this evening after spending some hours reading Michael Veal's Dub: Soundscapes and Shattered Songs in Jamaican Reggae. I turned on the radio and went immediately to WCBN, Ann Arbor's fabulous radio station. I heard some lovely something and kept it. A few moments later, I exclaimed, aloud, hands in the air, with my windows open, driving through Ypsilanti, "IT'S CARLOS!!" Aloud.

Meatballs for everyone!

2010-06-16T20:15:00.003-04:00

If you are looking for some nighttime activism, check this.http://plutoisaplanet.info/The following is taken from their website:Our next event is our yearly gala which we have bestowed the honor of hosting upon the City of Detroit. Details of the event: P.L.U.T.O. Solidarity Rally: 9:00pm Friday, June 18th (tentative time) which is to be held in Campus Martius Park. Location: Detroit, America

Movement 2010, Day 2 & 3

2010-06-05T20:31:00.006-04:00

Shit Show was on Sunday. I had my tickets early and really wanted to spend some time there. But sleep and other interests got the better of me. We got down there in time to hear Kyle Hall's set, about 10:30. He was scheduled to end at 11 and then Todd Osborn for the next hour. Sadly, I missed Darkcube live and Derek Plaslaiko earlier in the morning. Todd played a banging set that kept my tired

Movement, Day 1

2010-06-03T22:17:00.010-04:00

Saturday started off pretty nice for us. Went straight to Submerge and down to Somewhere In Detroit. Had a nice talk with Mike Banks. Bought some choice records from John Collins. Saw Ed DMX there. Such a nice way to start off the weekend. We headed down to Motor City Brewing Company for lunch and a Ghettoblaster, of course. Then on down to Hart Plaza. I really wanted to catch Patrice Scott, but

Movement Festival, 2010, Happiness

2010-06-02T20:28:00.011-04:00

This was a really happy festival for me. Just joyous. And not because every single sound or set was fabulous, but the whole weekend, both inside, and especially outside of Hart Plaza, was filled with great things.I'll start you with this message from Peaches. Not the pink electro fuck Peaches.Outkast Peaches. I have loved this album since high school and this intro expresses how I feel about

Ya Digg Records

2010-05-18T21:33:00.004-04:00

Coming to Detroit? Looking for records? Make a trip to Ya Digg.Whodat runs it. Real name is Miss Terri McQueen.The mission of Ya Digg Records is to deliver the best in independent and underground music by providing quality products on vinyl and other relevant formats for the true music enthusiasts worldwide.1610 Clay Ave#210 Bldg 2Detroit MI 48211313-285-9988MAPTuesday 11am-7pmWednesday 11am

It's May!

2010-05-06T11:34:00.004-04:00

I am getting so excited about this year's Movement Festival in Detroit. It's Detroit's electronic music festival. It's been going on for 11 years now. It has a long fascinating history in Detroit. I went to the second one in 2001, it was free. Inner City and Saul Williams were highlights for me. De La Soul were there too, and would have been a highlight had they not done a MEDLY. A medly. Really?

Paxahau and the Underground Stage

2010-04-30T19:39:00.004-04:00

This post is inspired by Tom Cox and the Infinite State Machine blog:Dear Paxahau,We sincerely appreciate the work you are doing and have done to keep DEMF/Movement happening every year. However, it is unacceptable to put the Detroit stage in the Underground where there are so many problems. Especially considering how many black Detroit artists are playing there, this seems like an odd way to

I'm Done...With That.

2010-03-31T08:20:00.007-04:00

Ethnomusicologist, Jaap KunstLast night I finished transcribing my final interview! I'm elated, although nowhere near done. I've still got the whole thing to write, you know! I've been devoting so much time to transcribing, I almost feel like I'm not sure what do to now, sitting down at my desk. I know what to do, and I'll dig into it as soon as I finish this little update. I have a bit more

Terre Thaemlitz on why music is not universal @ RBMA 2010

2010-03-22T22:54:00.002-04:00

Moodymann RBMA Interview

2010-03-13T20:24:00.009-05:00

Photo by James M RotzHouse Music Picnic, Belle Isle, Detroit, MIAugust 2008Moodymann did an interview for this year's Red Bull Music Academy in London. He has been releasing music since the early 1990s, and has done three interviews to date, that I know of. The first was for Real Detroit Weekly in preparation for the first Soul Skate party during the Movement Festival weekend in 2007. It's the

I love Indiana

2010-03-11T20:26:00.006-05:00

Took a trip down to Bloomington, IN last weekend to visit friends and then up to northwest Indiana to visit family and then back up into Michigan and across to my lovely home in Ann Arbor. I love Indiana. It's a really fascinating, weird, beautiful state. I hated it growing up in North Judson, IN, population 1,800 when I was a kid. Apparently the population has gone down. Yes, Indiana is full of

RBMA Lectures 2010

2010-02-28T22:30:00.002-05:00

This is what I'll be watching over the next day or so...

Post-Black

2010-02-18T20:49:00.002-05:00

Thanks to my ethnomusicologist friend Fredara, I have a new book to read.Post-Black: How a New Generation Is Redefining African American IdentityBy Ytasha L. Womack

Lost Landscapes of Detroit

2010-02-11T18:59:00.010-05:00

I went out to the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) last night to see a film by the Prelinger Archives titled Lost Landscapes of Detroit. The following is a blurb by archivist Rick Prelinger:For the past four years I've been putting together bits of archival footage (especially amateur and home movies) that show vanished places, people and events in San Francisco. The past two

Sweet Shit

2010-02-02T20:26:00.005-05:00

I haven't posted any Detroit events in a long time, so here you go...DISKO-RAW at Vain with Dr. Disko Dust and DJ RAW-WAVE (aka Joe Gize)Bi-weekly Thursdays at Vain 1500 Woodward Ave., DetroitClick here to see the flyer. IT'S SO WORTH IT.And next...I'm excited about everyone in that lineup, but Judy Adams!? I didn't know who Judy Adams was before seeing this flyer and hearing word of this event.

Butterflies Twice in One Day…who knew

2010-02-01T23:23:00.001-05:00

Two wonderful things happened today. The first is sort of an update to you on what I've been doing. I can't believe this is my first post of 2010. I've really missed writing on this blog, but my silence here does not mean my keyboard and pen have been neglected. I've been busy writing in other ways. Anyway, this morning, I was gathering up dirty laundry to put in the wash, and as I walked down

Halloween and November in Detroit

2009-11-17T00:59:00.007-05:00

I have recently experienced some beautiful and moving sounds in Detroit. I miss Detroit, I live about 40 minutes away now. It's a tearful reality. Halloween in Detroit was fantastic, and yes, the babysitter did give me the typical warning about October 31st in Detroit (she's white and from Oakland County – whatever). You know, the warnings that you hear about fires, crime, car jacking, ETC in

Can you stand it??

2009-11-12T22:32:00.002-05:00

The following is from the Blank Artists blog:Scion is comprised of Peter Kuschnereit and René Löwe, both of whom are longstanding employees of Berlin’s legendary record shop/distributor Hard Wax. Also having produced on Moritz von Oswald and Mark Ernestus’ Basic Channel sub-label Chain Reaction, Scion’s revisionist aesthetic looks beyond the standard synth, 303, 808, and 909 sounds, which we

Friends and Blogs

2009-11-03T23:16:00.002-05:00

Two of my fellow ethno folks have started fieldwork blogs of their own. They are both colleagues of mine from the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University. Dave is doing research in Trinidad and Tobago on music and HIV/AIDS. http://daveintrinidad.blogspot.com/And this alien is in Atlanta working with the DJs.http://alienatlien.wordpress.com/Okay, now back to listening to

Number of characters exceeds comment limit.

2009-10-30T22:36:00.002-04:00

I tried to just comment on that previous post, but apparently I typed a bit too much for Blogger. Well, these words are in response to comments from Kent Williams and Pipecock of Infinite State Machine on my proposal post.Thanks for the thoughts, guys. I appreciate your continued interest and support. Tom: "almost exactly" ?? WTF, you mean it's not totally perfect! ;) And, if you want it, a

Some business.

2009-10-30T00:12:00.001-04:00

Getting more official tonight...I am working on cleaning up my dissertation proposal for a final grant application from the American Association of University Women. Since I'm getting busy with my words lately, I figured it would be appropriate timing to post my brief proposal (it's six pages, dissertations going to be 200+, I'm thinking) to my blog. I would LOVE feedback from anyone who is

RBMA Radio - Whodat (As The Point Turns, Detroit) - Train Wreck Mix

2009-10-26T23:25:00.001-04:00

So have a listen, and then listen again, and then listen again. I did, and it was a great day.RBMA Radio - Whodat (As The Point Turns, Detroit) - Train Wreck MixThis mix is by my friend, mentor, and research consultant, DJ Whodat (Terri McQueen). I have written about her alot on this blog. We've done three interviews together, she taught me the basics of playing records and using analog

Keeping on...

2009-10-25T22:26:00.000-04:00

I have been gone for a ridiculously long time, I know. Things have been busy, and not just with my family. I’m hard at work transcribing interviews and analyzing the research I have conducted and data that I have collected. And lucky me, I get to spend some of my time working with this stuff at the Elbow Room in Ypsilanti while Todd Osborn plays music. Seriously, how awesome is that!? If it

Return

2009-09-09T22:45:00.003-04:00

I'm slowly coming back from my long absence adjusting to major life transitions. Can you tell it's been a bit big? I'm homeschooling my kids full time now, transcribing...still, intending to catch up on a few straggling interviews and follow-up interviews, and getting ready for a year of serious writing. We're in Ann Arbor now, James is in the MFA program at the University of Michigan. He got

2009-08-13T09:56:00.004-04:00

There are so many things that I could go to in the next couple of weeks to hear good music, and yet, I'm having such a good time settling in to my new home, I hardly want to leave! I already missed the Ribs N' Soul Festival at Hart Plaza on August 1st. And then I missed the House Music Picnic on Belle Isle last weekend, August 8th. I missed Rick Wilhite, Jit Wiggins, Aaron Carl, Norm Talley,

Destroy This Birthday!

2009-08-06T10:40:00.004-04:00

This is my birthday gift this morning from my husband. It is just so delicious. Records for my birthday. Records for Christmas, records for our wedding anniversary, records for valentine's day, records for Halloween. What does James want for his birthday, oh...records. Turntables are not hooked up yet. What's on tonight's list of things to unpack and set up in our new awesome home?

Love What You Feel

2009-07-29T10:53:00.004-04:00

Such a pretty label for Love What You Feel's first release LWYF-001 by Disco Nihilist. This is a new record label by Infinite State Machine's Thomas Cox. I'm going to have to get my white label copy out when I get home tonight and listen to it again...right before I vacuum out my record bag and fill it with vinyl so I can transport it to our new house.And here's the Little White Earbuds review

Anthony Bourdain, Detroit, and Feather Bowling

2009-07-29T10:29:00.003-04:00

What you can learn about Detroit by sitting at work and reading shit on the internet (and no, I'm not spelling it teh intranets, t'internets, interwebs, or any other way. My typing is so straight edge.) First up, Feather Bowling.(Taken from Wikipedia):Feather bowling is a game played with wooden balls shaped like wheels of cheese. The balls are rolled down a dirt or synthetic alley towards a

Dam that's funky, and sweet, and cold...

2009-07-24T10:00:00.003-04:00

Spent the evening yesterday giggling with Kyle Hall, I mean doing an interview... things got silly. We giggled about Dam Funk and his song titles, we like them, we like his music more. The interview started out with me being a half hour late...we discovered two kittens that were born in our basement. They needed a bit of care. So I headed to Kyle's, he welcomed me into his studio in his

LOVE

2009-07-23T09:56:00.004-04:00

Interdimensional Transmissions vinylPhoto by Erika Shermanthe pawn shop years, march 21 2009 @ bankle, detroit I am so in love with Detroit right now, I am just brimming with delightful happiness for this place, the people I know here, the music I adore here, and it's all courtesy of Brendan M. Gillen of Ectomorph. I met with him last night in his huge historic home in southwestern Detroit. His

Reality and then some fantasy.

2009-07-20T23:27:00.006-04:00

Ah man, do I really have to do this...okay so James and I went out to The Works on Friday to see DWynn and Nigel Richards. DWynn sounded good, as expected. As for Nigel Richards, I am content to remain an 18 year old fan in 1995. And I got to see Jit Wiggins play vinyl for about 5 minutes. Maybe he played some records before we got there, but while we were there, he played literally a few

I Love To Dance

2009-07-16T11:15:00.002-04:00

Heading out again tomorrow night... to The Works. Gabe Real, Nigel Richards, and DWynn - Oh I'm so excited, you don't even know. Saw DWynn spin last spring at Oslo with Minx. Minx had a monthly event going there for a while in the winter and spring called Vivid. It was the first time I had seen DWynn play, he was excellent and I'm so excited to see him again, hear him again! And Nigel

Parties and Sunshine

2009-07-15T10:52:00.005-04:00

Jersey City, NJSo today I have a little story for you all. While on my holiday "up north" on Lake Michigan with the whole big fam, yes there were 9 of us in a single house together, the adults stayed up one night to watch a movie that my brother brought along. Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. So it's a nice movie, I'm not going to write a review of it or anything. I'm mentioning it here

Producer School: Mike Huckaby and Brendan Gillen

2009-07-14T14:41:00.006-04:00

Okay, so I have been way out of touch, out of town, and out of internet access. But now I’m back. I meant to leave a “bye-bye I’m taking a little break” post before I headed out on my holiday, but I did not get to that. I’m sorry. I’m back and I’ve been busy.I’ll just start with what is fresh in my head: last night! I went to the Red Bull Music Academy Producer’s Session at River’s Edge, a

I knew it...

2009-06-26T16:16:00.004-04:00

I knew I was going to forget a few important women.Angie Schwendemann, owner and label manager for Detroit Techno Militia. And she documents the hell out of this town with her camera!Erika Sherman of Ectomorph. Here's her 24 hour radio site: erika.netZana Smith of Spectacles, long time promoter and supporter of Detroit house and techno music. She also owned multiple record stores in Detroit

The Detroit Ladies

2009-06-26T14:50:00.004-04:00

There was some dialog on the 313 list yesterday about the lack of women in electronic music. It started off with a question about a video interview of Jeff Mills on EQ Magazine website. ‘Where are all the girls in that club?’ I watched the video, footage of the crowd is in the first few minutes of the nice, lengthy interview with Jeff Mills. And really, there are hardly any ladies present.

So this is what you call heat.

2009-06-26T11:39:00.002-04:00

WhoDatTurning PointCheck out this week's show. 80s heat Detroit style!

Oh wow!

2009-06-19T12:01:00.002-04:00

Recloose and The Dennis Coffey QuartetWhaaaattt!?At Cliff Bell's in Detroit2030 Park AvenueSaturday, July 119pm-3amHere's the description I swiped from Facebook:Atlast! Detroit & Family Funktion proudly presentPart 2 of the Family Funktion reunion series.In case you missed the Memorial weekend party now you get another chance.If you did attend, we thank you for helping to make it a great night.

Electivism, I mean Eclecticism

2009-06-17T15:32:00.005-04:00

Alright, been listening to some radio again lately, been streaming/DLing some radio lately, that is. First off, Drew Pompa and Josh Dalberg have a new weekly radio show called Babes in Hi Def Wednesday nights on WDET. Here’s the link for their blog: Babes in Hi Def. Some enjoyable listening.And what, did you say that show is on the same night as WhoDat’s Turning Point on Netmusique.com?? Mama

Yeah, okay, nevermind.

2009-06-15T15:31:00.001-04:00

I did all that searching, and researching, and html code figuring out and then I don't really like it. So yeah, read it, like it, yeah.

I did it.

2009-06-11T14:58:00.004-04:00

I'm not cool enough to mess with my html...

2009-06-11T13:37:00.003-04:00

But I do try! I thought those last bulky posts about the festival got a bit long, and from looking at my sitemeter stats, so did you...I asked James last night, "do you think my blog looks nice?" Totally not fishing for complements, but actually wanting some magical insights into making my blog look better. And he said, lovely man that he is, that it looks good, but maybe those last few posts

Final day of Movement 2009

2009-06-08T13:55:00.014-04:00

Wow, two weeks later and I’m still writing. Way to stay timely!! Sorry for the delay, again, there has been lots of stuff going on, including illness in 4 of the 5 members of our family! And I really want to get down every detail that I can remember for the purpose of my documentation of my experiences here in Detroit. I will be going back to all these notes that I take and other things that

More photos

2009-06-04T23:11:00.007-04:00

All photos by "my man"Me and Carelton GohlzStacey "Hotwaxx" HaleNorm Talley & Delano SmithMike HuckabyOooh yeah, look at that vinyl...

More words, Movement 2009 Part 3

2009-06-04T22:57:00.014-04:00

On to day 2 of the fest. After a few hours sleep, we got up and hung out with our boys for a few hours. I missed them so much over the weekend, it was nice to be able to spend a bit of extra time at home with them on Sunday and not get down to the festival until after 2pm. I wanted to see Starski & Clutch and Minx. I wasn’t sure what time the dudes were going on, but Electrobounce took up a

Long Friken Post, Movement Part 2

2009-06-03T14:55:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the delay in writing. I was in San Diego for the weekend presenting with some friends from Indiana University at a conference on popular music. As I sat in the Detroit Metro airport Friday afternoon wondering why I was on a flight to Phili and then on to San Diego, I heard this dude blow a bunch of snot behind me. I thought, oh, that’s what I sound like! ...cause I was sick too. I

Movement festival weekend, 2009, Part 1

2009-05-27T11:43:00.007-04:00

I am just going to start at the beginning and plan to give you multiple posts about the whole weekend…there’s a lot to tell! First off, I’ll say thank goodness for mothers who drive up Friday night and stay through until Tuesday morning to help care for my three fabulous little dudes. There is no way I could have done this weekend without her help. Thanks Ma! Also, how awesome is it that both

Movement 2009

2009-05-26T10:35:00.004-04:00

This was the most fun festival yet for me! I've been to four so far, 2001, 2007, 2008, and now 2009. Favorite things of the weekend: my rental miniDV Sony video camera with an external mic and adjustable audio input levels! So awesome! Osborne's set at the Blank Artist's party at the Bo House Saturday night. Flying Lotus at the Red Bull stage on Monday. And freaking Octave One bouncing

Schooled by Kyle Hall

2009-05-22T09:35:00.007-04:00

So I wasn't sure if I would get this post up before the weekend or not. But I figured if I didn't do it now, I would get all bogged up in the festival notes and for my conference presentation in San Diego next weekend...on GENRE...that I would never get this up. I met Kyle Hall Wednesday night finally, and he is the shit. Let me tell you, he truly is. I met him at the Red Bull Music Academy

Weirdness

2009-05-15T09:59:00.002-04:00

Okay, can I just tell you something super weird? Last night, a woman who is going to be our new babysitter came over so we could all meet and figure out if she was going to work out as our babysitter. We found her through an online childcare service and when I contacted her, sometime last week, I let her know of a few upcoming nights that we would need someone to come over and be with our boys.

Lotsa Detroit

2009-05-11T09:54:00.006-04:00

Georgia Street Community GardenWonderful community garden in Detroit. Residents of the community have given new use to empty lots in the neighborhood. There are plans for a community orchard. This Saturday, May 16th, is a yard sale and bake sale to help fund the Building Project for the community center. And here's a nice post from the Sweet Juniper blog about the garden, and other great

I have been APPROVED

2009-05-08T10:52:00.003-04:00

So, sing this first part in your head, maybe in an opera - slash - lounge singer fashion. Or maybe you could sing it all funky like James Brown while there are horns playing in the background. Anyway:ApprovalI have approvalApprovalI have been approved!No issues with my study, no backtracking, no interruptions, no nothing."X Report represents MINOR noncompliance."Oh yes it does. I have been

IRB Approval for Study # blah blah blah

2009-05-08T10:51:00.001-04:00

Dear Denise M. Dalphond,I am pleased to inform you that your above named study has been approved by the IRB. Please find attached the documents listed below. 1. Signed Non-Compliance Report form 2. Non-Compliance letter 3. Signed Exempt Research Checklist form 4. Exemption Granted Approval letter 5. Signed Study Amendment form 6. Exemption Granted/

Vote for Detroit's next mayor!

2009-05-05T10:08:00.003-04:00

Detroit Free Press articleRegistered voters get out and vote for Detroit's next mayor! This city needs strong leadership!Current Mayor Kenneth Cockrel:Mayoral candidate Dave Bing:

Some more ethnomusicology

2009-05-01T10:26:00.005-04:00

Microblogging, blogging, dialoging using virtual, online tools and venues can be so great sometimes. There's lots of people online blogging about ethnomusicology and their research and other fascinating things. Feeling lots more positive today about sharing and being "out there!" I added a few links to the ethnomusicology and art category of links. Check em out! Today I'm getting down with

Ethnomusicology & Academics

2009-04-30T11:03:00.004-04:00

Of course I post a message to SEM-L, the Society for Ethnomusicology email listserv, when I have the Institutional Review Board, Researchers Beware, skull and pirate swords post up as the first post. An ethnomusicologist sent a message to the listserv asking for people to notify her of ethnomusicology blogs so that she can compile a review of the blogs. I'm not sure what the intended outcome of

Institutional Review Boards and Human Subjects

2009-04-24T12:42:00.002-04:00

Fellow researchers, BEWARE!!I had an interesting and momentarily devastating experience this week. I have since gotten over it and am doing whatever I can to turn things around, but it’s not all in my hands. It has to do with the important matter of my research. In order for me to conduct this research with other human beings in which I am interacting with people, learning from them, and

Archer Record Pressing Plant

2009-04-24T10:21:00.002-04:00

Theo Parrish and Archer Record Pressing Plant in Detroit

Vinyl and Mojo

2009-04-23T15:47:00.007-04:00

I have spent the past two weeks getting rejected by multiple funding agencies to help fund my research and dissertation writing, again…, getting stoked about DEMF, buying records and receiving some more records, and compiling an xls file cataloging my modest vinyl collection. I actually have more than a milk crate now!! I would like to keep track of what records I got where, whether they were

Records!

2009-04-14T10:44:00.002-04:00

This Saturday, April 18th, is National Record Store Day. Hopefully I'll be able to get out to a few stores in town. Here's an ambitious list of places to find vinyl in the Detroit area:Detroit Threads10238 Joseph Campau StHamtramck, MI 48212(313) 872-1777Melodies and Memories23013 Gratiot AveEastpointe, MI 48021(586) 774-8480Record Time27360 Gratiot AveRoseville, MI‎(586) 775-1550‎Street Corner

Carlos Souffront, i.e. I love my interviews!!!!

2009-04-13T14:10:00.004-04:00

Cataloging, classification, and labeling are major forces at work for many techno and house producers and DJs in Detroit. Some of them might even secretly wish for a degree in library science, I know I do! Calling up seemingly endless lists of producers, DJs, events, places, labels, track/song titles, and other facts; referencing and cross-referencing just short of oblivion while maintaining a

Benny Benassi??

2009-04-03T12:21:00.005-04:00

Benny Benassi just popped up on my Pandora station that I made and love. Fucking Benny Benassi...you mean I created this eclectic station that I love to listen to and rarely lets me down, and you all think that Benny Benassi fits in there?? Fucking Benny Benassi.

Oh My!

2009-04-03T12:01:00.001-04:00

The birds were singing a sweet song this morning:Dan Sicko...Techno Rebels...2nd Edition...Where do I line up!!??

Aaron Carl, Vinyl, & Bileebob

2009-04-03T10:48:00.003-04:00

I was called a purist by Aaron Carl last Thursday! Meaning, a vinyl purist, someone who prefers vinyl records over any kind of digital format, like CDs or mp3s. And not only prefers, but actually fancies vinyl vehemently over the other options for playback and DJ performance. We were doing an interview at a nearby friendly pancake house and Aaron was telling me about his music, about his

Radio...again? Maybe this should be one of those regular features on this blog.

2009-03-25T10:17:00.002-04:00

Tonight's radio listening:Turning PointWhoDat on NetmusiqueEvery Wednesday 8pm-10pm and beyond...You can also catch up with her podcasts from this show on her very lovely blog: http://winwhodatblogs.blogspot.com/And here is her Facebook group: Have U Reached UR Turning Point????Enjoy!

Radio

2009-03-20T14:44:00.006-04:00

The primary focus of this post will be Bloomington, Indiana, but inspired by Detroit and peppered with references to radio shows and DJ mixes that I've been listening to lately. I regularly listen to things on Red Bull Music Academy radio while at work. One of my favorite things to listen to is Preset, Todd Osborn's 2 hour radio program. It's always great, lots of eclectic music selections,

Underground Resistance vid on Current TV

2009-03-20T14:21:00.002-04:00

I'm totally going...are you?

2009-03-20T10:57:00.007-04:00

Creative Arts & Antiques FestivalDetroit | March 20-29Russell Industrial Center / Russell Bazaarwww.RICDetroit.com / www.RussellBazaar.comFriday March 20 5:00pm FOOD COURT Performance: Detroit Tap RepertoryDenise Caston founded the Detroit Tap Repertory in 2008. Her credits are extensive, having produced the 1st Annual Motor City Tap Fest, www.motorcitytapfest.com, teaching credits

Divisions, differences, and diversity

2009-03-11T11:03:00.004-04:00

First stop along the way with this post, I hope you’ll check out this blog: Sweet Juniper. And pay attention to these posts with the abandoned places label.Then, read this passage from Amy Maria Kenyon’s Dreaming Suburbia: Detroit and the Production of Postwar Space and Culture (Wayne State University Press, 2004):“My central argument is that the changing fortunes and relations of city and

Spring surprises.

2009-03-11T10:29:00.003-04:00

Something wonderful happened when I hopped in the car this morning, but I have to set this all up with events of the preceding 24 hours just so you truly understand. Even though it is only March 11th, spring is creeping in. My neighbor’s bulbs are popping up, and if I remember from last spring, they are grape hyacinth. I have been smelling spring in the air for a few days now. I got to work

2009-03-10T15:19:00.004-04:00

From Submerge............................................................Hello Everyone!Once again, Detroit is at it. Another segment of important history has been destroyed without a hint of consideration. (Yes our city does love us - but its tough love). 2030 Grand River has been cleared for the newcoming Red Wings Hockey Stadium. We wanted to send out a request to you all - because we need you

Boundaries

2009-03-10T15:00:00.001-04:00

I was thinking last week about how my blog is reaching people outside of Detroit way more than in this area. I have some international readers and some readers who are bloggers and music writers as well. This new awareness has encouraged me to consider a potentially wider audience for my writing (blog, eventual articles, and [dissertation] book) than I had originally considered. I came here

Hey-O!

2009-03-05T15:33:00.000-05:00

http://www.mahoganimusic.com/

Nigel Richards!

2009-02-27T22:07:00.005-05:00

Did you see those comments from Nigel Richards on that last post??!! This is me after reading his comments... "hahahahahahahaha oh shit hahahahah! Whoooooooooo,... oh shit." Clap. Your. Hands. How exciting! It's like if I wrote a blog post about how my first cassette tape I ever bought was The Jets and then one of the band members connected with me and told me how awesome it was!!Thank you

Welcoming...

2009-02-27T15:12:00.003-05:00

"I notice the majority of your posts mention race. Is it the topic of your thesis? From my experience in Chicago and Detroit, most clubs that play old-school underground house or techno are fairly welcoming no matter your race or sexuality. While I'm sure race and economics and a variety of other factors inform the music (and especially affect music sales in America) it must be hard to draw

Ethnography and interviewing.

2009-02-26T16:25:00.003-05:00

So I've been spending some time with Pirahnahead doing some follow-up interviewing, listening to music and talking about it, talking some more about Detroit, racism and segregation in the electronic music scene here. First of all, I want to explain that I have been finally getting a chance to do some different kinds of interviews with musicians here. When I first interview a DJ, a producer,

A conversation...

2009-02-19T15:55:00.004-05:00

So, I've been having a conversation in my head for the past few days that is based on some reading I have been doing...email listserv discussions, message board dialogues, blogs, and the like. This is going to be a different post from what I normally put up here, but what good is a blog if it can't veer off into a bit of mild, fantastic self-indulgence and impetuous rambling, eh? What I have

Here's some photos from Elements

2009-02-16T23:47:00.006-05:00

Shake and Todd Osborn party, Continued...

2009-02-16T14:19:00.004-05:00

Okay, so back to Todd's set. He played some older electronic music – tracks that I know are important to Detroit, and that I have heard before, but I can’t name them or identify them other than sonically. I have a difficult time actually recalling artist and track titles and connecting them to most of what I hear during a DJ's set. So, sorry that I can't tell you more of what was actually

Shake, BMG, Todd Osborn and Chuck Hampton

2009-02-16T12:25:00.006-05:00