Detroit: Rust, Resilience, and Really Weird Weather
okay, so detroit. i didn't plan on detroit, honestly. it was a last-minute thing, a detour after a gig in *cleveland fell through. and honestly? it’s kinda stuck with me.
let me preface this by saying i’m a touring session drummer. which means i spend a lot of time in bars, a lot of time hauling gear, and a lot of time relying on the kindness of strangers (and the wifi at dodgy motels). detroit had all three in spades. the music scene is…raw. like, genuinely raw. not “ironic raw” or “trying-too-hard raw,” just…real. i played a set at a place called The Magic Stick, and the energy was insane.
i just checked and it’s…a damp sort of gray out there right now, with a breeze that feels like it’s coming straight off the lake. the weather report said something about seven point nine four degrees celsius, but honestly, it feels colder. like five point four six, maybe? the air pressure is kinda heavy, too - one thousand and nine, apparently. makes your ears pop a little.
people here are…direct. i was asking for directions to a good record store (priority number one, obviously) and this guy just pointed and said, “down that way. don’t get stabbed.” charming. i found Hello Records, though, and it was worth the potential risk. seriously, check it out: Hello Records Yelp.
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i overheard someone at the bar saying that Slows Bar BQ is totally overrated. “It’s just hype,” they said, “go to Lafayette Coney Island instead. Real Detroit.”
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that’s the thing about detroit. everyone has an opinion, and they’re not afraid to share it. i also heard, from a very drunk guy nursing a beer, that the Heidelberg Project is “a waste of space” but “kinda beautiful in a sad way.” i went. it is both of those things. Heidelberg Project TripAdvisor.
my accommodation was…interesting. a tiny airbnb above a laundromat. the walls were thin, and i could hear everything. but the host was super nice, and it was cheap. if you get bored, ann arbor and toledo are just a short drive away. i spent a day wandering around Eastern Market, which is a total sensory overload. fresh produce, flowers, spices…and a lot of people yelling. Eastern Market Website.
*Gear I brought: My trusty snare drum (obviously), noise-canceling headphones (lifesaver), a portable charger (essential), and a really good pair of walking shoes.
*Pro-tip: Learn a little bit about the city’s history before you go. It adds a whole other layer to the experience.
*Another pro-tip:* Don’t be afraid to talk to people. Detroiters are surprisingly friendly, once you get past the initial gruffness.
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someone warned me about parking downtown. “It’s a nightmare,” they said. “Just take the bus.”
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and the humidity? sixty-nine percent. it’s clinging to everything. the sea level is one thousand and nine, but the ground level feels like nine hundred and eighty-three. it’s…a vibe. honestly, detroit isn’t pretty. it’s gritty, it’s rough around the edges, and it’s definitely not for everyone. but it’s real. and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. i’m already thinking about coming back. maybe for Movement. Movement Detroit Website.
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