Fun and Success in Motown

Moe BEATs and I headed up to Detroit, MI (Detroit Rock City, Motown, The Motor City, or Shittown depending on your background) yesterday. At the request of Thunder Audio (after I sent several unsolicited emails with a friendly letter and a resume) I made the 3 hour trip to meet and interview with them and discuss the possibility of gigging with them in the future.

The meeting lasted all of 5 minutes at the end of which I was offered a chance to join up with them by contracting my audio services. Thunder is one of the largest production companies around, once they see what I can do at a festival, touring is not far off.

After a 5 minute meeting and a 40 minute shop tour it was off to meet a friend of Moe's, have some lunch and head home. Lunch in the 'hood, in Detroit, is a fucking adventure!

My Dayton, OH friends are oblivious to the 'hood. Oh they think they've seen it, they might even think they live in it, but they are really clueless. The area we were in seemed to thrive on only 4 legitimate markets:

1. Liquor Stores
2. Gun Stores
3. Churches
4. Check Cashing

Most of the time these establishments will be occupying one of each corner of an intersection with boarded up buildings surrounding them. Any businesses that are still open not only have bars on the windows but 10' fences with razor wire on the rooftops to keep potential robbers from breaking in from above. My guess is that the unseen markets of Drugs, Whores, and Fencing Stolen Goods are the dominant economic forces around there.

My lack of ebony was becoming VERY apparent as we drove deeper into the 'hood. Just when I was about to speak up we arrived at our destination. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but I think I was on a very short list of white people that had ever eaten there.

The faire was "Soul". A Soul Food buffet with nothing left out. Every drop of every succulent dish was guaranteed to give you an immediate nap and eventual heart attack and the meals are priced according to weight. I loaded up my plate with meatloaf, ribs, greens, corn bread, bbq pork and chicken, green beans and peas and headed to the register. $10 for what seemed like 2 lbs of food. I don't know if it was a good bargain or not, but I was full and sleepy after eating and ready for the long drive back to the safety of boring ol' Dayton, OH.

So I got a gig, filled my gut, and met some new people. not a bad way to spend a Monday.