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

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Edgy bluegrass, rockabilly at Mac’s

Cletus Got Shot has been bridging the gap between folk protest songs and punk rock since the band formed in 2007. The Fayetteville, Ark.-based trio has performed hundreds of shows across the Midwest, playing songs blending edgy bluegrass, gospel, country, folk and even some classic union-organizing songs. In keeping with the band’s unconventional nature, the band’s bassist uses a homemade bass made out of a gas tank.

The band plays Mac’s Bar Saturday. Opening the show is a roster of locals, including The Devil’s Cut (folk/bluegrass), and Chaz Brackx & the Tight Teens (rockabilly). Also performing is the Klaw Mark Kittens, a local “burlesque wrestling” troupe that features women wrestling in vintage lingerie — as in the risqué 1950s films by Irving Klaw.

Another highlight of the night is the Rock N Rummage sale, which will be happening throughout the night. The in-bar rummage sale includes clothing, vinyl records, nostalgic items and more. 

Saturday, Aug. 6 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over. $5, 9 p.m.

A binary hip-hop star at The Loft

One Be Lo (a.k.a. One Man Army) has been a Michigan hip-hop fixture since he first started getting noticed for his storytelling rhymes back in 1998; that was when he co-founded the rap duo Binary Star.

This Saturday he performs a record release show for the mixtape “Laborhood Part 1” at The Loft. Born Raland Scruggs in Pontiac, he would later change his name to Nahshid Sulaiman after he embraced the teachings of Islam.

While the bulk of his songs has been released on his own label, Subterraneous Records, his socially conscious lyrics landed him a deal with Fat Beats Records in 2005, which released his “S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.” album.  

Opening the show are Lansing hip-hop artists Philthy, J-Young the General and Fowl.   

Saturday, Aug. 6 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., $7 advance, $8 day of show, doors 9 p.m.


Black Mass Sunday features goth, industrial music

Black Mass Sunday at Mac’s Bar is a new and dark edition to the underground music scene in Lansing. Jay Fellows, an organizer of the weekly event (held each Sunday), said the night is dedicated to various under-the-radar genres.

“In addition to traditional Goth, industrial, Batcave music — particularly from the late ‘70s and ‘80s — we are exposing people to genres they may not be as familiar with in Lansing,” Fellows explained. “Genres such as witch house, minimal synth, coldwave, post-punk and grave wave.

“We are planning some upcoming live acts that would likely be unlike anything Lansing has seen but may be more familiar to Detroit and other larger cities. We’re really working to put Lansing on the map and bring back stylish music with a dark aesthetic.”

The Sunday show features Kaustikutt (from Ann Arbor) and resident DJs Ein Sof Goyle (Fellows), MindControlFreak and Craves Case.

Kaustikutt (a.k.a. Nikolas Vudu) is a self-described “sound-attack machine.” He’s influenced by old-school industrial and electric body music acts like Skinny Puppy, Coil, and Klinik, as well as post-punk and death-rock. Kaustikutt’s music has a post-industrial, corrosive sound. The lyrics are often political, covering topics of censorship, animal rights, the “(in)justice” system and war.

Sunday, Aug. 7 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over. $3 cover after 10 p.m. (free before 10 p.m.). Show runs from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.


Summer Concerts in the Park series continues

Lansing Parks & Recreation presents local blues-rock veterans Frog & the Beeftones Aug. 10 at the Southside Community Center. The free Summer Concerts in the Park series is hosted at various parks across the city on Wednesday nights. For more information, visit www.lansingmi.gov/parks, or call (517) 483-6019. 

Wednesday, Aug. 10 @ Southside Community Center, 5815 Wise Road, Lansing, all ages, FREE, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.


Great Lakes Folk Fest is approaching 

Hosted by the Michigan State University Museum; the Great Lakes Folk Festival draws thousands of people to downtown East Lansing to enjoy nearly 100 performers. The fest showcases music, dance, food, story tellers, crafts people, a community sing and more.

The three-day outdoor fest runs Aug. 12-14. There are four performance stages (including one with a 2,400-square-foot dance floor), children’s hands-on activities, crafts demonstrations and a “green arts” marketplace. The fest is also meant to promote cross-cultural understanding through many forms of expression. 

This year’s fest includes many returning acts who performed at past fests. Performers will include Johnnie Bassett (Detroit blues), Cats & The Fiddler (bluegrass), Calvin Cooke (sacred steel guitar/gospel), Nadim Dlaikan (Arab-American nay), Feufollet, (Cajun), Gao Hong (Chinese pipa), Elizabeth LaPrelle, (old-time ballads), Dudley and Jacqueline Laufman (New England traditional barn dance) and Téada (Irish Celtic). For a complete list, visit www.greatlakesfolkfest.net

Friday, Aug. 12- Sunday, Aug. 14 @ Downtown East Lansing, FREE (donations appreciated), visit greatlakesfolkfestival2011.sched.org for times

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

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