Words by Dee Putman
I didn’t go to the first day of SummerFest because I’m a loser with a bad sleep schedule (it sucks I didn’t go because I heard my friends were snorting coke off my bass amp, classic rockstar style). I did, however, go to the second day at the Ham House (aka The Hamtramck Socialist Republic, aka The Pork Castle) and was blown away by The Hand & Space Skull. The Hand were great as usual, super loud and super stoney, psychedelic metal. But Space Skull was a different beast. I’d describe them as a horror acid rock band, complete with costumes, a chainsaw, and fake blood and guts. They also did a great cover of “I Will Survive”. After Space Skull’s set I was getting kind of bored but I wasn’t ready to go home just yet, I heard of an after-party at a different house so I decided to check it out; the “after-party” turned out to be a bunch of drunk people sitting on the floor in a very hot and dark house listening to some dude do Pat The Bunny covers. I usually avoid folk punk like the plague but I had nothing better to do so I stuck around and I’m glad I did because after the folk-punk dude I saw Shireen M.’s set, she did some great experimental electronic music with a bunch of cool space projections behind her. After her set I picked up the acoustic guitar and made a bunch of strangers listen to my shitty music. I did a cover of “Funeral Home” by Daniel Johnston, the song is only one verse repeated over and over and I tried to stretch it out as long as possible to annoy everyone. After I got done fucking around I talked with Brendan from the Toeheads and The Pontiac Stags (aka The Superbad Stags). I don’t remember exactly what we talked about but I think he said something about him starting an EDM project, much like folk punk I hate EDM (no offense, Brendan). EDM is music that you have to be high on sketchy research chemicals to enjoy. I felt bad for our Canadian neighbors for being subjected to that garbage during the Movement festival. I can imagine some Windsor bum having to plug his ears on his way to the Beer Store to escape the noise terrorism that those unbearable fucking people call music (once again, no offense Brendan). I don’t know, maybe I’m a hypocrite because I really liked Shireen M.’s set, and she does electronic music. But I enjoyed her set because it was completely improvisational. She took a risk and it ending up being really interesting. SummerFest inspired me to start my own music festival, I’m gonna call it the Midwest Shit Fest and I’m gonna have Hala and Legume headline, the cover will be $20. I’m gonna make so much money off those CCS kids, It’s gonna be great. I love “slacker rock”. So yeah, SummerFest was a good time. Not enough punk bands though.