STELLAR DRIVE

Thursday Night Live from The Emerald

Our second Thursday Night Live from The Emerald Theater event went well beyond our wildest expectations with over 600 local music supporters through the door for what was nothing short of a spectacular night of music capped of by an unusually "foamy" after party! Rolling on into The Emerald around 8pm, it was immediately obvious that this night would be rocking as the crowd inside was already near the few hundred we had at the first Thursday Night Live the prior week, with nearly every table in the place already filled while the standing room only crowd was in full mingling mode, what an awesome sight to see, on a THURSDAY!

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Track Fighter came all the way from Sacremento, CA to play.
In an unusual twist, the first band up tonight was not even a local band? No, this 5 pc, Track Fighter hails from Sacramento, California but has taken quite the liking to our mitten state as they've been touring across the country with a heavy presence in just about every venue between Detroit & Grand Rapids, leaving our great state just long enough to hit up a number of other states before finding themselves back in Michigan for a few shows. We know a lot of bands that should take credence in what these guys are doing as their local following just keeps growing!

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Curbstone Beauty is a local band that has made the transformation from just another band to, "wow, Curbstone Beauty!", not only packing in the fans but delivering the goods with their blend of rock & roll that even features the guys doing the "unplugged" thing, stools & all! Certainly a 180 degree turn since we first seen them a few years back! Be sure to keep an eye on these guys as they've recently jumped back into the studio recording a full length CD with all new material. At this point of the night we were pleasantly amazed that there were over 600 local music fans inside The Emerald Theater, giving this Thursday Night Live a look that far out paced some events we've attended here on a Saturday Night!

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Akrylik Sun Rocked The Emerald
With a full house on board, it was Akrylik Sun's turn to take the stage in front of a crowd that just kept swelling in size, dropping the most visual set of the night with a pair of go-go dancers on top of each sub, not unlike what you would see at a Kid Rock Show! Blazing through a 45 minute set, Akrylik Sun gave their fans exactly what they came for, hot babes, hot music, and an extremely rabid crowd that rocked the floor of The Emerald! Look for their debut album, currently being recorded over at Metro 37 Recording Studio, in early 2010!

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StellarDrive brought the Emerald down!
StellarDrive can only be described with one word, Stellar! What more can be said about this group who doesn't settle for the status quo, but rather defines it, recently adding a 2nd guitarist to fatten out their sound. The move has not only changed their sound, but added that extra visual that has this group at the top of their game every time they set foot onstage, bringing with them hordes of fans both old & new! Driving through their 40 minute set, StellarDrive has the knack of switching up their sets just enough to keep it fresh, whether dropping your favorite song first or last, you're always in it till the end! Check out our look at their latest, Where We Are over in the Dr2 Views!

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When most shows are over, things wind down, people head home, not with Thursday Night Live! Once all the bands are done "Playing like Rock Stars", then it's time to "Party like Rock Stars" just down the street at The Hayloft FREE with your wristband! This week featured the Hayloft's infamous After Foam Party, believe us it was off the hook, lots of foam, plenty of bodies, and some pure insanity ensued as sirens sounded during some smoking hot contests went down with disbelief! Remember, every Thursday Night Live features an After Party inside The Hayloft with the wildest After Parties in The Clem, and be sure to mark your calendars for November 12th, when Ashlely from VH1's Rock of Love & Charm School stops by after Thursday Night Live to play in The Foam!

Be sure to check out all the photos from this event over in the Dr2 Photo Gallery, then head on up to the Emerald Theater this coming Thursday as we host Thursday Light Live from The Emerald Theater wsg Imagine Nation, Detroit Pony Express, Electric Playground, & Kardia, and of course don't forget the After Party! DetroitRockReview.com - The Only Place for Local Music News & Reviews!
- Detroit Rock Review

During the past year, StellarDrive has been taking the local music scene by storm, recently releasing their eagerly awaited debut album, "Where We Are", has really solidified it's presence on the local circuit. Born from the ashes of many area bands, the boys are no strangers when it comes to meshing screaming riffs with bombastic backbeats to create some hard driving melodies that embody the unique sound that is StellarDrive. Building on an extraordinary rhythm section that features Dylan McCarty (drums), whose father is none other than the Detroit Legend, Jimmy McCarty (Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Cactus, The Rockets), and Doug Brooks (bass), StellarDrive pushes it over the top with the screaming fretwork of Robbie Fraser, pulling it all together with the incredible vocals of eminent frontman, Eric Deluca (who, by the way, was asked to audition for Fuel). The culmination of all this talent is, we believe, one of the top local albums of the year. Not lacking in confidence, StellarDrive brings it out of the gate, slapping you across the face with the ferocious, hook-heavy masterpiece, Last One, which could have easily been named "StellarDrive" as Deluca wails...." I got this Stellar, I got This StellarDrive...." evoking memories of decades past (think Bad Company). Continuing the onslaught, the next track, Wasted is yet another example of the musicianship these guys possess, displaying their genuine knack for writing exceptional hooks as Wasted will have you singing along after the second spin! Dr2's favorite, and quite possibly the best track of the disc, Bed Of Nails is an instant classic that undoubtedly could be in regular rotation on any of this cities airwaves, drawing you in with it's catchy chorus. At this point in the disc you start to realize what a gem this collection is, with StellarDrive further defining what is a clean, melodic, post-grunge sound with the songs, "Nothing Gained", "Lakeside", and the very somber, "Gray". On the heels of these are two defiant, hard-edged tunes, the title track, "Where We Are" followed by the militant, "Free", which begins with the chant "Left, Right,..Left, Right" (which always rallies the StellarDrive devotees to join in live). Next, is the delightfully playful ballad, With You, which features Dylan McCarty stepping out from behind the drums to play guitar with his legendary father Jim McCarty, infusing a bit of that familiar McCarty blues to the track. Closing out the disc, is a hidden track 12, a superb live rendition of Grand Funk Railroad's, I'm Your Captain, that was recorded live during the "Kick Out The Jams, 40 Years To The Day" show at the Crofoot in Pontiac, celebrating Detroit's, no pun intended, "stellar" musical heritage. All-in-all, StellarDrive has accomplished something very special here. They have made it very clear who they are, what they are capable of, which is not an easy feat for your first disc. We here at DR2 are excited to see what's next for this band, but in the meantime, "Where We Are" is available directly from StellarDrive during all of their live performances; in fact they'll be playing later today outside of Comerica Park for the Kid Rock Weekend Block Party, or just check out the Dr2 Gig Calendar for an upcoming show near you! Of course you can always find them in the Dr2 Links, or hop on over to the Dr2 MySpace Page where you'll find them listed in our "Top Friends". DetroitRockReview.com - The Only Place For Local Music News & Reviews! - Detroit Rock Review

There's a lot of new music to celebrate in the D this week, plus news about the queen of blues and a concert at the zoo for moms who rock. Here's a look:

Oh so stellar
For a band that's been together just more than a year, east-side rock outfit StellarDrive is quickly climbing the local ladder. Airplay on local radio and a party-rock vibe are helping it draw a slew of devoted fans to shows.

The band features drummer Dylan McCarty, son of the legendary Rockets guitarist Jim McCarty, who threw down some licks on the group's debut disc, "Where We Are."

The disc is being released independently, and a party is planned Saturday at the Hayloft in Mt. Clemens. Also on the bill: Pillar of Autumn, Soul Circus and Overtow.

Doors at 8 p.m. Admission is $5, $10. The Hayloft, 140 N. Main, Mt. Clemens. 586-933-3503.

For more: www.myspace.com/stellardriveusa.
- Detroit Free Press

Mt. Clemens Music Festival
The Beginning Of A Tradition

This weekend, the streets of Mt. Clemens will be littered with hordes of music lovers, packing in for the Mt. Clemens Music Festival (MCMF).

Stretching over four days, the MCMF is promising more than 100 bands performing at various bars and venues in the city, including the Hayloft, the Bank and Madison’s Pub (a sort of South By Southwest mentality right here in Mt. Clemens). Interestingly, kicking things off is a panel discussion Thursday night at the Emerald Theatre, where local bands and performers are encouraged to come and pass out the fruits of their labor in hopes of achieving something greater. Music industry professionals (ranging from band members, journalists, booking and publicists) will set up shop for questions. Meaning if you're a musician and need help with the business side of your art, there will be pros there to help. Afterward, strap yourself in for three days of music, mayhem and drunken stupors. It starts the 17th, with Crud, Hush, Stellar Drive, Cody Stagefright and Band With No Name at the Emerald.

From the standpoint of a venue owner, Mitchell — who owns The Hayloft — sees more in the festival than just music. While he admits his own establishment will fare well from the festival, his hopes are much greater.

“Our goal is to put Mt. Clemens on the forefront of everyone’s minds when they think about where they’re going any weekend,” explains Mitchell. Most people know downtown Detroit's hotspots — and Royal Oak's — and Mitchell is working to see that Mt. Clemens gets the same recognition. It has already gained attention for its nightlife over the past five-plus years and the festival is designed to give the city an extra push.

“It’s bigger than just the bands. It’s about bringing people here, having people walk to 10 different bars in five minutes, getting a different experience every time they walk through a different door, having a great time and wanting to come back.”

And there’s no doubt that people will come back. The festival boasts rising stars such as Richy Nix, who Mitchell is especially looking forward to and knows will draw a large crowd from all over the area.

Other bands include Shotgun Soul, Jiva, Monkey Grinder, Schram, The Electric Playground and more.

“I’ll be at every single one this weekend — I can guarantee you that,” laughs Mitchell when asked if he’ll stick to the Hayloft or meander the premises. Of course, there are plenty of reasons to wander each bar, pool hall and concert venue on the roster and fingers are crossed that enough people will come to support the talented musicians in the area to make the MCMF become a yearly late-summer staple.

With such a diluted mainstream music industry, MCMF’s local roster gives concertgoers a much-needed dose of real rock. Whether it be modern rock, alternative rock or metal, every genre will be represented. Dylan McCarty, drummer for the band StellarDrive, is particularly excited about the weekend’s festivities.

“We’ve been working really hard on our new material and we just added a second guitar player,” explains McCarty. “All our puzzle pieces are there; we finally have our band complete.”

Though his band is performing, McCarty doesn’t put too much emphasis on himself. Looking to all the bands coming, McCarty’s wish is for everyone to come out and “support the talent that we have around us.” However, he doesn’t stop with just the concertgoers. “All the other bands need to support each other as well, whether or not it’s a different genre.”

Whether you’re already cruising the streets of Mt. Clemens or just want to rock out — just get a wristband, chill at one of the many establishments hosting the MCMF and enjoy some of Michigan’s most talented bands, all for just 10 bucks. It’s pretty hard to get a sweeter deal than that. | RDW - Real Detroit Weekly

Tune Town Brings the Party and the Music to Downtown Detroit Streets -- April
3-5

Local artists to perform throughout downtown Detroit districts all weekend

DETROIT, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- To enrich the party atmosphere for this
weekend's expected crowds in Detroit (April 3-5), the downtown business
community is sponsoring Tune Town, a music festival designed to bring live
music directly to the streets of five of downtown Detroit's most vibrant
areas.

Bands and music artists from a variety of genres will bring the party outside
by playing in the streets. More than 90 performances by local bands will be
featured at one of five locations: Campus Martius, Paradise Valley (formerly
Harmonie Park), Hart Plaza, Greektown, and Grand Circus Park. A complete band
schedule is available at www.DowntownDetroit.org.

Longtime Detroit radio legend Jim (JJ) Johnson, who graced Detroit's airwaves
for more than 30 years, will emcee many of the local musicians playing
throughout the Motor City's hotspots. He will make rounds at all Tune Town
stops and personally introduce the talented Detroit bands.

Tune Town locations will open at 11 a.m. on Friday and continue until
midnight. On Saturday, bands will perform from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and then
from 10 p.m. to midnight. On Sunday, the music starts up at 11 a.m. and lasts
until 10 p.m. at all locations.

"We have an incredible lineup of bands from all over Metro Detroit and as far
away as West Michigan," said Paul Childs, COO of the Downtown Detroit
Partnership. "We believe Tune Town will raise the party atmosphere downtown
and encourage both local residents and visitors to share in the celebration
during a special weekend in Detroit."

The Campus Martius area will house rock bands. On Friday, Red Star
Redemption, The High Strung, Bear Lake, Lucky Brown, Brien Patrick and more
take to the streets. Then over the course of the next two days more heavy
hitters such as Stellar Drive, Guitar Army, Broadzilla, The Reefermen, Band B,
Robin Horlock, Twin Pigs Nuroksol and more will play at that same location.

Paradise Valley (formerly Harmonie Park) will feature singer/songwriters,
jazz, and soul artists like as Brandon Calhoon, Pato, Sky Covington, Half
Whacked, Back to Back and more.

Fans of the blues and country should stop by Hart Plaza to see artists like
Luther Keith, The Mickeys, Skin & Bones, Christy Howard, Whitey Morgan & The
78's, Doop & The Inside Outlaws, Tom Esperaza & The Boa Constrictors, Paul
Miles, Erich Goebel and many more.

In Greektown, featured bands will play jazz, R&B, funk, and soul music.
Artists include The Fffellaz, Third Coast Kings, Chris Ams, Four Finger Five,
JStokes, 3 Of A Kind, Greta's Dream and many more.

Finally, the Grand Circus Park area brings everyone together with a variety of
different artists from SKA to country, soul to funk, and rock to R&B,
featuring artists and bands like Superdot, Nadir Distorted Soul, Righteous,
Ultra Violet Hippopotamus, J Legardy, Great Divide, Whack The Mole, Tom Butwin
and many more. - Reuters

* What’s this?



Think of it as a volcanic eruption of sorts. A molten crop of local sounds will spill into 10 downtown venues as part of the Mt. Clemens Music Festival, tonight through Sunday.

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More than 100 bands are scheduled to perform, including tonight's kick-off party at the Emerald Theatre with music by Crud, Hush, Band With No Name, StellarDrive and Cody Stage Fright.

This is also the night when all participating bands will gather to pick up their event packages -- making it a premiere networking and socializing event.

"I've been wanting to do this for a while," says Mike Mitchell, event organizer and co-owner of the Hayloft. "We wanted to do something that was a cross between the Hamtramck Blowout and the Motor City Music Conference."

Both the Hamtramck Blowout and the (now-defunct) music conference showcased local music, while MC2 offered workshops and panel discussions.

As part of tonight's kick-off party, an open forum discussion will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m., featuring record label folks, members of the news media, radio program directors, booking agencies, PR firms and more.

Afterward, "the whole mezzanine level will be dedicated to the bands and sponsors, where bands can further their discussions with panel members," Mitchell says.

At the core of the event is the music, with band showcases set for Friday-Saturday at venues scattered throughout downtown Mt. Clemens. Things wrap up Sunday with the final day of music showcases at the Hayloft.

Music by Shram, Matt Austin, Richy Nix, Pillar of Autumn, JTX, Jiva, Wall Clocks, Dismantle, Black Irish, Soul Circus, Bad Side, Ray Street Park, Don (Doop) Duprie, Frequency 54, Tyranny, 60 Second Crush, Detroit Voodoo, Ghosts of August, Seasons of Eden and more is on the bill.

Many of the bands represent the east side, a scene that hasn't been much of a presence at the Blowout, which is considered the year's premiere local music showcase. "We didn't make it exclusively east side bands," Mitchell says. "There are bands from all over."
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"There's such a strong musical community here and we needed a stage to showcase not just the bands but the community as a whole -- people that live in this community, people that support not only the music but also the economy," he says. "This reaches far beyond the point of an excuse to throw a concert. We have a meaning behind it."

The $10 wristbands are good for entry to all participating venues throughout the weekend. You can pick them up any night of the festival at all venues, including the Hayloft, Fritz's Pub, John Barleycorn, Madison's, Orleans Billiards Cafe, Johnny G's, Little Loraine's, the Bank and Detroit Pub.

Venues are within a 5-minute walk of each other; that should make it easy for fans to park and walk around. For more: www.myspace.com/thehayloftvenue

Tribute & Fund-raiser: Friends and fans will gather tonight at Hamtramck's New Dodge Lounge in tribute to R&B great Kenny Martin, who passed away Sept. 6.

One of Martin's many music endeavors was with the Motor City R&B Pioneers that included his friends Joe Weaver and Stanley Mitchell, both of whom preceded him in death.

Martin's longtime backup band, RJ's Rhythm Rockers -- led by his manager and drummer RJ Spangler -- will perform. So will many of Martin's friends, including singer and former Stax songwriter Sir Mack Rice, Alberta Adams and Martin's most recent backup band, the Party Stompers.

Party Stompers bassist Adam Stanfel will DJ, playing Detroit soul and R&B. Willy Wilson will host the event.

Money raised will help cover Martin's funeral expenses.

New Dodge Lounge, 8850 Jos. Campau, Hamtramck. 313-874-5963.

RACHEL MAY, a member of local bands Broadzilla and the Pickups, compiles the Free Press music listings. Send local music news to her at rmay@freepress.com.

- By RACHEL MAY FREE PRESS LOCAL MUSIC COLUMNIST

Downtown Mt. Clemens was rocking on Saturday, March 14, when a record crowd of over 900 people packed the Hayloft to see Michigan's own rock group Critical Bill.

The club just re-opened in October after having been turned into a piano bar. Members of Critical Bill teamed up with former General Manager Mike Mitchell to restore the club to its concert format. Since the club re-opened, it has played host to a number of local and national acts including most recently rock group In This Moment. Saturday's show set an attendance record breaking the one formerly held by Bret Michaels.


The show delivered from start to finish with a few local bands getting the crowd ready for Critical Bill. Stellar Drive opened up and got the crowd going with their pop/rock setlistincluding standout track Bed of Nails. They've been getting some local airplay and will be celebrating their cd release party at the Hayloft on May 2nd.

Lies Unknown was up next and kept the energy going with their brand of alternative Greenday-like music. Their singer's voice is a little thin but they did perform a great version of Mitch Ryder's It Was Alright.

Dismantle rounded out the set with hard core rock. Their set list was full of loud rock and roll anthems including opener More Rock & Roll. It's rare that all the acts on the bill put on a great show but this one did. The packed crowd all seemed to agree.

If you haven't seen Critical Bill live, they are a force to be reckoned with. It's a shame that they still haven't gotten the exposure they deserve. Each and every show they put on is guaranteed to be energetic and feature a wide genre of music. The group always makes sure their fans get their money's worth and often play free shows.

Saturday's set saw guitarist Michael Scott crowd surfing and singer Powerdise leaving the stage to mosh with the crowd. The set list comprised a little of everything including new single Beam Me Up, which was well received by the crowd. They performed a few of their favorite cover songs: Move Bitch, Mama Said Knock You Out and Jump Around, which had everyone in the place off their feet. Throughout the show they performed a number of their classics including This Is Critical, The Ride, and Downtown the World.

Critical Bill are currently in the studio working on the follow up to their last cd Downtown the World. They plan to film a video for Beam Me Up possibly at the Hayloft like they did their last video, My Suicide, which featured a number of local women - Helium/Tracy Heck

Formed: Summer 2007 in St. Clair Shores.

Members: Eric Deluca, vocals (Sterling Heights); Rob Fraser, guitar (St. Clair Shores); Doug Brooks, bass (Warren); Dylan McCarty, drums and guitar (Sylvan Lake).

Sound: Modern hard rock circa '90s Seattle, "but we're trying to put a bit more soul into it," McCarty says.

Influences: Gov't Mule, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Tool.

Day jobs: Deluca manages the Premier Salon in the Oakland Mall Macy's. Fraser repairs televisions and other electronics. Brooks installs glass blocks and McCarty is a real estate appraiser.

What's in a name?: McCarty credits guitarist Fraser with coming up with StellarDrive — "He likes to tell everybody he thought it up when he was in the shower," the drummer notes — but hopes it's not misunderstood. "We don't want it to come across in an arrogant way," he explains. "We're not talking about ourselves being stellar; it's that feeling you have in a stellar moment. That's what we were going for."

Born to bang: The son of rock guitarist Jimmy McCarty (Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, Cactus, Detroit, the Rockets, Mystery Train), McCarty was born into rock 'n' roll and says that from a young age "there was no question that this is what I'd want to do. My parents split when I was young, but my mom always let me travel with my dad's bands. Being exposed to all that and out on the road was all I ever knew. So it was different for me being in high school and talking about putting a band together. It wasn't a dream; it was what it was going to be for me. I didn't picture it any other way."

Hear 'em: StellarDrive just released its debut album, "Where We Are."

See 'em: The group celebrates the release of "Where We Are" today at the Hayloft, 140 N. Main St., Mount Clemens. Overtow, Pillar of Autumn and Soul Circus also perform. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for those 21 and older and $18 for those 18 to 20. Call (586) 468-1010 or visit www.myspace.com/thehayloftvenue. StellarDrive also performs 8 p.m. May 9 with guest guitarist Jim McCarty at the Oakland County Sportsmen's Club, 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston. Admission is $20. Call (248) 623-0444 or visit www.ocsc-mi.org. - The Macomb Daily