Ice Cube Taking Over Detroit
Modern Rock
By Kristi Kates | Aug. 11, 2018
A big night for hip-hop is set to take place at The Takeover in Detroit on Sat., Sept. 29: Ice Cube is coming, and bringing him performers Too $hort and Spice 1. Ice Cube hasn’t been to Detroit since 2016, but with his 10th album, Everythang’s Corrupt, heading out way this year, he’s hot on the promotional road. The 97.9 WJLB event will be hosted by Detroit Goon Squad founder and hip-hop artist Trick-Trickw …
Dance-pop artist Billie Eilish is kicking off a North American tour this fall, launching on Oct. 23 in Portland, Oregon, and staying on the road through the end of November. Eilish’s latest single, her collaboration with Khalid, has been included on the soundtrack for season two of 13 Reasons Why. Eilish is also currently working on her first full-length album, which will serve as the follow-up to her debut EP, Don’t Smile at Me. On the trek, she’ll make appearances at events like Osheaga and Outside Lands, as well as headline dates at the Metro in Chicago and Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theater …
In what’s reportedly an Orbison-estate-approved production, a hologram of the legendary, late Roy Orbison is set to embark on a 28-date concert tour through North America. Using digital laser technology and live theatrical stagecraft, Orbison’s vocals have been digitally remastered for a set of 16 songs, and his hologram image to be accompanied by live musicians. The trek, called In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert will make music history as the first worldwide hologram tour. The show starts Oct. 1 in Oakland, California, and will make a stop at Detroit’s Fox Theater on Oct. 20 …
Another late legend, Tom Petty, will be the subject of a box set heading to stores this fall via Reprise Records. The tunes on the set were put together by Petty’s wife, Dana, and his daughter, Adria, its four CDs will include 60 tracks — a mix of previously unreleased studio tunes, live tracks, and alternate visions of his hits with the Heartbreakers. One single, “Keep a Little Soul,” has already been released to radio. The box set, An American Treasure, will arrive Sept. 28 …
LINK OF THE WEEK
Photographer Anthony Norkus has long been a fixture in the pit of Michigan stages, having shot The Pixies, Jack White, Mustard Plug, Jesse Ray, and dozens more. Now, you can see what he sees: Check out his band and solo artist photography at his official Facebook page, facebook.com/anthonynorkusphotography …
THE BUZZ
Another Wheatland Music Festival is heading your way this fall, with the 2018 edition slated for Sept. 7–9 in Remus. wheatlandmusic.org …
Also in September, check out the Michigan Bluesfest in Lansing, running Sept. 15–16. More details at michiganbluesfest.com …
Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Brian Koenigsknecht has just released a new uptempo album, Roswell, which features contributions from members of The Crane Wives and other well-known West Michigan musicians …
The Tuesday Evening Music Club has begun at Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids, with coming performances from Grand Rapids rock/funk/jazz fusion band Desmond Jones (Aug. 21) and G.R. O.G. Ralston and Friends (Aug. 28) … and that’s the buzz for this week’s Modern Rock.
Comments, questions, rants, raves, suggestions on this column? Send ’em to Kristi at modernrocker@gmail.com.