Rising Musician, Poppy, has been on one hell of a ride ever since the recent release of her latest full-length album, ‘I Disagree’. Making her way to Detroit for an idiosyncratic and unique show at The Majestic, Poppy proved that her artistry continues to bloom as she took the stage with full force and an alluring, dark presence that was both captivating and magnetic to the infatuated crowd.
Playing a mixture of her tracks including “BLOODMONEY”, “Nothing I Need”, “Sick of the Sun”, “Play Destroy” and an unexpected cover of “All The Things She Said” by t. A. T. u., Poppy shined while keeping her idiosyncratic appeal in tact while concertgoers sang along to every note. Crossing over fluidly within her artistry to create her own comic book, Poppy is unafraid to break all of the rules to showcase the depth that she’s developed within. As a performance artist, musician, fashionista, YouTuber and more, Poppy has given her artistry her all and continues to empower fans with a sense of independence and freedom.
West Coast Hip Hop Musician, Warren G, stormed through Detroit to regulate the sold-out crowd ahead of his long-time friend and collaborator, Snoop Dogg.
Coming from the Midwest doesn’t automatically exclude you from the ability to make it big. Proving a point that hard work, dedication and extreme perseverance can get you further than you’ve ever dreamed of, Lauren Sanderson has dropped her debut independent album, ‘Midwest Kids Can Make It Big’. Opening up for Chase Atlantic at Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit, Lauren Sanderson brought the energy of a headliner with her hits such as “Electric”, “The Only One”, “In The Middle” and “Shut Em Up” which left the crowd singing along to every line. Taking the time to genuinely connect with each and every one of her fans that approached her after the show, Lauren’s character came forward and serves as a “goes to show” moment for musicians worldwide who are taking strides toward building a dedicated fanbase as such.
Lauren Sanderson took a shot of a lifetime by pitching TED for a TED talk back in 2015 which landed her a place in TED history as an LGBTQ member who openly spoke about the importance of simply loving other human beings no matter their race, sexual preference and gender. As a leader of the LGBTQ community, Lauren’s outreach continues to expand as she stands tall as a leader who has overcome extreme odds to shed light for all.
Pop Enigma, Poppy, represents the burgeoning of multi-faceted artists who are unafraid to break all of the rules to showcase the depth that they’ve built within. As a performance artist, musician, fashionista, YouTuber, comic book writer and more, Poppy has given her artistry her all and continues to empower fans with a sense of independence and freedom that is electric and magnetic.
Having rocked the ring with WWE NXT to perform “I DISAGREE” and “Scary Mask”, Poppy is dipping her feet in a variety of endeavors that continue to drive her artistic style and prowess home right into the hearts of her growing fan-base worldwide. The world is on the edge of their seat in anticipation of Poppy’s new metal-infused album, ‘I DISAGREE’, which is set to drop on January 10th, 2020.
Grab your tickets HERE for Poppy’s show at The Majestic in Detroit on Saturday, February 1st.
Formed in 1990, Los Angeles Rock band, Tool, brought their virtual Rock reality to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for a packed show abounding with metaphorical riches and spiritual jewels.
The three-time Grammy Award winners who are passionately revered by fans worldwide have incorporated an evasive, secretive and unmitigatingly cryptic aura reflecting abysmal depth within each and every one of their lyrically and visually hypnotic concepts. The band created an edge throughout the release of their first full-length studio album, ‘Undertow’, in 1993 on Zoo Entertainment which was dropped in the midst of the era of grunge shelling out apathetic lyrics over distorted guitars. Traveling to date to celebrate the release of their latest full-length album, ‘Fear Inoculum’, it is evident that through their live set, intricate drums, powerful bass tones and hauntingly furious vocals, listeners dive into an explosive journey full of agony and melancholia that articulates the inner workings of a human being traversing tortuous and spiritually enlightening paths at dizzying speeds. Throughout the live show, Tool strung together a perfect frenzy of musical bliss playing tracks such as “The Pot”, “Forty Six & 2”, “Parabola”, “Jambi”, and “Vicarious” which kept concertgoers at Little Caesars Arena in a naturally sedative trance.
Abounding with the cold-hard facts and brass tacks, listeners are sent down an entrancing expedition through insane shred solos and lyrical extremes within Tool’s latest release, ‘Fear Inoculum’, which sends listeners down a virtuosic, maniacal and addictive mind confronting the power of denial tendencies and irrational rationalizations that sweep through our nation. The immaculately curated musical exploration of consciousness pushes the envelope of what Maynard perceives that he knows while reminding listeners to live in the now and accept their fate as mortal human beings. The lyrical level truly parallels the instrumental state of euphoria delivered through a lengthy and explosive blend of personal power and personal confrontation that leads listeners toward belief within themselves beyond the self-conceived interpretations of power from oppressive forces stifling their abilities and sense of tranquility. ‘Fear Inoculum’ serves as a healthy retreat away from the bullshit that floods the lives of the deprived and inauthentic values of society.
Tool’s live performances defy all conventions. Singer, Maynard James Keenan, has been known to face away from the audience to psychologically influence fans to pay keener attention to their screens full of psychedelic and internally enriching visuals that serve as Maynard’s reflection of his personal journey while residing comfortably in the shadows. Abounding with light shows and varied stage settings by revered artist and long-time art partner, Alex Grey, Tool’s live performances attest to the emotive power of their music and artistry.
Tool’s discography and musical entity betrays commercial ambitions while influencing listeners to dive deeper into their personal emotional crescendos and the neurotic workings of the mind. Tool is one of the few existing acts today that send a message through their music and inherent eccentricity that stands the test of time while being full of unvarnished truth and dignity. Grab your tickets HERE for the remainder of Tool’s 2019 Tour while you still can.
Legendary Rockers, Incubus, made their way to the Midwest in celebration of their iconic 1999 release, ‘Make Yourself’, that carries a special place in a variety of hearts and souls around the globe.
Brandon Boyd has nurtured his vocals over the years to provide a space of serenity over hits such as “Drive”, “Make Yourself”, “The Warmth” and “Stellar” as concertgoers didn’t skip a word and made their voices heard amongst the beautiful atmosphere that the Fox Theatre in Detroit provides.
Grab your tickets to the remaining dates along the ‘Make Yourself 20th Anniversary Tour’ HERE and stream Incubus’ new single, “Into The Summer” to celebrate that the band is still going strong into 2020.
Soulful Musician, Actor and Philanthropist, Common, let his light free in Detroit for a night to remember in celebration of the release of his latest album, ‘Let Love’. Taking long-time lovers of his music back to the days of “The Light” while introducing new tracks such as “Hercules”, “Memories of Home” and “Forever Your Love”, Common continues to embody the aura of a seasoned artist that carries out wisdom, class and honor through his every move and lyric.
Naturally treating the stage as though it were a movie set, Common not only puts on a concert, he brings forth a soulful experience that leads concertgoers in a state of awe. Catch Common on the remainder of his ‘Let Love’ tour dates and don’t forget to pick up a copy of his new book, ‘Let Love Have The Last Word’.
Southern California Rockers, Of Mice & Men, came through the Midwest for another round while joining Sum 41 on their ‘Order In Decline’ Tour. In celebration of ‘EARTHANDSKY’, the guys played a string of new jams including “Gravedancer” and “Taste of Regret” amongst some old classics such as “Defy”, “Mushroom Cloud” and “Would You Still Be there” which got the crowd riled up in several mosh pits that proved that Of Mice & Men are back and aren’t hanging up their hat anytime soon.
Metalcore Rockers, The Plot In You, stopped in Detroit for another round of screaming fans and heavy guitar riffs as they joined Sum 41 at The Fillmore in Detroit. Playing tracks that got the crowd going such as “The One You Loved”, “One Last Time”, “My Old Ways” and “Not Just Breathing”, The Plot In You once again proved that they are in their groove while spilling a mixture of intricate lyricism and an electric stage presence into a memorable show.
Psybient DJ/Producer, Bluetech, has an uncanny way of chiming into the unknown to reach into the soul which translates into his otherworldly musical delivery. Ahead of his upcoming show in Detroit at Deluxx Fluxx on Thursday, October 3rd, I caught up with Bluetech to discuss being proactive about anxiety, the upcoming release of ‘Holotrope’, the importance of meditation and more.
Congrats on the upcoming release of ‘Holotrope’. Tell us about the message that you intended to portray throughout the new album.
Thank you! ‘Holotrope’ is a travelogue of sorts, a document of a self moving into more connected states of being, dissolving a bit of the control of the ego consciousness into more expanded awareness. That all sounds a bit obtuse, but there is a definite repeatable series of experiences when you begin to look on the inside for answers, whether that’s through meditation or contemplative practice, or other modalities for exploring the inner nature. Holotrope is a map of that journey.
Though a broad question, what have you learned about yourself and what skills have you developed through working in the music industry.
I’ve learned how to sleep on planes, no matter what! Sometimes I’m up for the next city on tour after only a few hours at the hotel, so putting myself into nap zone on the plane becomes an essential skill.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I pretty regularly struggle with anxiety, which is one of the reasons I’ve been exploring meditation and quiet time just looking at my own thoughts to see if I can make some peace with all of that. I have lots of challenging thoughts, I think everyone does! The “practice” is learning to not identify with them as definitions of who you are as a person. Im learning to recognize when my anxiety pops up, and treat it like a little gremlin buddy. Like “Hey anxiety, I’ve got some work to do. Heres a lollipop, pull up a chair and color in your book so I can focus ok?” Taking the sting out of it definitely helps, recognizing and honoring that its real, yet not surrendering to self limiting or negating productivity by getting stuck in a loop about it.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I’m not actually a huge fan of social media. Seems to be more and more studies coming out suggesting that social media and obsession with checking smart devices is contributing greatly to a sense of unease and insecurity. Anxiety and depression seem to be the malaise of the modern age, like our inheritance for all the “convenience” of technology. I definitely use it, and am trying to come to a place of peace with social media, and limit my usage. It’s amazing how many less books I read since facebook, instagram, twitter the like take so many cycles of my awake time. I’m learning how to step away and not feel like I’m missing out.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
I feel pretty proud of the fact that I’ve discovered an athletic lifestyle later in my life. A few years ago I was looking at my 40th birthday coming and realizing I was very overweight and not really happy. So I’ve gotten into working out and running, which I love. Just finished my 6th half marathon and 3 more planned for 2020. Not only have I trimmed up, but I have so much more energy and life force flowing through me!
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health when you’re out on the road?
Meditate. Meditate. Meditate. Whether its a formal sit in the hotel room and really getting a proper session in, or just counting my breaths to 10 repeatedly while standing in line for security at the airport. Even 5 minutes is enough to quiet the racing thoughts and let go of _whatever_ is going on for me, and just have a moment of peace and remembering the stillness. I don’t mean to evangelize, but meditation is really the only thing I’ve found in my life that brings some peace and awareness and allows me to deal with the stress of being on the road. And I’m like a baby beginner newbie meditator, and yet still…. It works.
You have toured with a wide variety of musicians over the past years and have played at some major festivals. Tell us some words of wisdom that you collected along the way.
I won’t claim to have any special mystical knowledge or inherited wisdom, though I have learned that being aware of and open to the unexpected brings a particular opportunity for magic. Sometimes its a conversation with the lady making my coffee, or a fan who reminds me how powerful music can be, or a late night bus ride to the next city with a gorgeous landscape passing away. Another reason to disconnect from the phone, there is such wonder and awe available in every moment if we just slow down and notice.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for your fans?!
