Reply #38: Detroit (and surrounding)

[Susang]

Clutch Cargos, new wave & punk, existed in various incarnations, first in an old unheated building in the Cass corridor that used gigantic industrial kerosene heaters whenever they had an event. Later they moved to St. Andrew's Hall in the Greektown section of downtown Detroit, sometime in the mideighties, I believe. I saw the Cramps, Lone Justice, Duran Duran, Iggy Pop, X, the Violent Femmes, the Smiths, Adam and the Ants, and Siouxie and the Banshees there, among others.

Lilis 21 (in Hamtramck, a mostly Polish city that is actually inside of Detroit), small family run club with mostly local bands and some cool national acts. Saw Was not Was there, as well as a lot of other Detroit bands that no longer exist. Seminal Detroit band Destroy All Monsters featuring Niagra played there regularly.

Hamtramck Pub, hardcore punk and punkabilly scene. My friends Snake Out and Elvis Hitler used to play there a lot.

Old Miami, Cass Corridor Vietnam veterans bar that hosted bands. Lots of local acts played there, nobody famous. Very surreal vibe, with vets hanging out with kids with mohawks. Surprisingly, not many fights.

Todds, A gay bar most nights, on Monday's it was "new wave night" and drinks were two-for-one. They had a basement bar that the punks hung out at. Occasionally hosted shows. I saw the Violent Femmes, the Pogues (both with Shane MacGowan and with Joe Strummer)and Divine there. One of my favorite bars ever and probably the most influential bar in the scene. Many House and Industrial DJs got there start there.