MUSIC - MAY 21, 2003

Weekend brings music variety, “Movement”

MUSIC CHRIS WARDELL

The Temple Club had its fun last week with three great shows featuring Smokestack, Heiruspecs and Powerface. Now it’s time for Mac’s Bar to step into the spotlight with three huge shows of its own starting Wedensday with England’s Candyrag. According to their press kit, Candyrag’s music can best be described as “the sound of The Cramps, Daisy Chainsaw and Huggy Bear kicking the sh** out of each other in a dustbin.” Interesting. But, I’ve also heard comparisons to Motorhead as well. Hard, heavy, and never easy to swallow, this is the kind of music that packs more punch then slamming a couple Red Bulls back to back.

Another band that’s not easy to swallow, Lansing’s The Monokulators, will help open the show for Candyrag. Dr. Xeron and crew have been playing a slew of shows lately with new drummer Simon Toomey, and you know lead singer Hairy K. Harry will have something up his sleeve that night. Always an interesting mix mash of pummeling punk combined with outfit changes that range from a classical music conductor, a scuba diver, a drunk, and God-knows-what- else Hairy has in store.

On Thursday, Captured! By Robots will take over Mac’s. (See story.)

Friday night, look for the Relapse Records Contamination Festival to completely level Mac’s Bar to it’s foundation after Cephalic Carnage, Uphill Battle and Dysrthmia get done with it. Lansing’s metal giants Summer Dying have been tapped to open this show. Summer Dying just recently returned from a successful tour in support of their new album, “Beyond the Darkness Within,” and will also be a part of the hugely popular Milwaukee Metal Festival in July. This is often a springboard for bands of this genre, and most often go on to years of success.

On the completely opposite side, local bluegrass favorites Hot-Toe-Mitty will be playing their first show in a few months June 19 at the Green Door in Lansing. The band took some time off after a performance at the National Folk Alliance in Nashville last February so mandolin player Brandon Foote could study with the highly revered Joe Carr in Texas.

And I’m here to remind you yet again of Movement: The Detroit Electronic Music Festival in Hart Plaza Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The organizers of this year’s festival don’t own the rights to that name so they’re callling it “Movement.” Call it whatever you want, but it will still feature the best electronic music Detroit has, and always will be known for. Don’t miss sets by Juan Atkins, Carl Craig, Pole, Liquid Liquid, Theo Parrish, and the reclusive Jeff Mills. Get a full lineup and set times at the festival’s Web site at www.movementfestival.com.

Care to respond? Send letters to letters@lansingcitypulse.com. View our Letters policy.