Turn It Down: A survey of Lansing's musical landscape

The 78’s rock out country-style at The Loft

Whitey Morgan and the 78’s are a honky-tonk band from Flint, signed to Bloodshot Records. Emerging from the Detroit area music scene, the band has toured the country multiple times — playing around 200 shows a year.

Also set to perform is Lansing country rockers Dirt Road Logic.

Friday, April 22 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, $8 advance, $10 at door, 18 and over, Doors 9 p.m.

Ten Pound Fiddle gets Red Hot band

Ray Kamalay and his Red Hot Peppers, a throwback small-band jazz group, performs Friday at the Ten Pound Fiddle Friday. Dancers who enjoy the two-step and swing may want to check this out.

Detroit native Kamalay, the singer, guitarist and group leader, has been playing professionally since he graduated from the University of Detroit in 1974. Artists he has worked with include Joel Mabus, Betty Joplin, the Chenille Sisters and Howard “Louie Bluie” Armstrong. 

Friday, April 22 @ Ten Pound Fiddle – Unitarian Universalist Church, 855 Grove St., East Lansing, all ages. 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. show. Tickets are: public $12, Fiddle members $10, students $5, www.tenpoundfiddle.org

Detroit techno DJ spins into Mac’s Bar

World-famous DJ Paul Oakenfold recently called Kenneth Thomas “one of the most promising young DJs in the electronic scene right now.” Thomas, a Detroit techno superstar, spins his melodic dance music Saturday at Mac’s Bar. Beyond touring the world as a headliner and producing, Thomas is also a talent scout for Perfecto (Oakenfold’s label), promoting the renaissance of the renowned U.K. trance label.  

Opening the show is Rob Perry, a fixture in the Lansing electronic music scene. While he first started dabbling in electronic music in high school, it wasn’t until 2008 that Perry performed his first live show at Mac’s Bar, where he soon become a regular performer. He’s also a member of the Lansing Electronic Artist Kollective (L.E.A.K.), which hosts Neon Tuesday, a free weekly dance night at Mac’s Bar. 

Also taking the stage is Sarah B, an active DJ in the local electronica dance music scene, currently holding two weekly residencies in the Lansing area. Last year she performed a DJ set at Coachella 2010. She has also produced original music for films, radio shows, and live performances since 2003.

Saturday, April 23 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over, $10, 9 p.m.

Blackened Moon hosts All Ends Black CD release

All Ends Black releases a new CD at Blackened Moon Saturday. The Lansing band — which includes Adam Ray (vocals), Doug Horstman (guitar), and Damanimal (drums) — formed in 2007 and draws inspiration from metal bands like Pantera, Mudvayne and Hatebreed.

Also taking the stage will be Nineteenthirteen Massacre (from Pittsburgh), Gomorrahizer (from Mentor, Ohio), Junk Drawer (from Lansing) and To Kill a Mocking Bird (from Hartland).

Saturday, April 23 @ Blackened Moon Concert Hall, 3208 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing, 7:30 p.m.

Blues guitarist channels SRV and Albert King

The Green Door hosts the Paxton Norris Band, a blues guitar outfit, on April 27. Currently based in Indianapolis, Norris’ roots go back to Michigan in the early ‘90s, where he cut his teeth in blues clubs and blue-collar bars. His influences include Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King, B.B. King and Freddie King, so classic blues fans may want to check this out.

Wednesday, April 27 @ Green Door, 2005 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing, 21 and over, 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

If your band has an upcoming show, post it at www.facebook.com/turnitdown