The Muggs will celebrate the release of their new album, “Born Ugly,” at the Magic Bag on Friday. From left: drummer Todd Glass, guitarist-singer Danny Methric and bassist Tony DeNardo.
(Credit: Fabrizio Costantini)
related items
A batch of hot acts from the musical mitten celebrate in the...
Members of the Muggs, the self-described ugliest band in the world, have made some really good-looking music on the group’s third disc, “Born Ugly.”
Thirteen songs of amped-up blues-rock fill the self-released disc, which the band recorded at Ghetto Recorders in Detroit with famed producer Jim Diamond. “I think it’s our best record that we’ve put together so far,” says guitarist-singer Danny (Muggs) Methric. “It’s a fully realized Muggs record.”
The disc is being celebrated with a release party Friday at the Magic Bag.
The band’s first two albums were riff-driven and guitar-focused. Though the new recording still features those tasty chops, more emphasis was put on songwriting. “The songs are tied together thematically,” says Methric. The artwork, lyrics and song titles are connected, but the band is leaving it up to the listener to interpret the theme, he says.
The Muggs — which also feature bassist Tony DeNardo and newer drummer Todd Glass — have been hammering it out on the local scene since forming in 2000. But an appearance on Fox’s “Next Great American Band” reality competition in 2007 helped put the band in the national spotlight and took it around the United States and Canada and as far away as Spain. “We’re still getting requests,” says Methric, crediting the show with helping the band’s name continue to resonate.
Midwest summer tour dates are in the works to support the new disc. A vinyl version of the recording will be issued via local label Bellyache Records.
Opening the show are the Hentchmen and Magic Jake & the Power Crystals.
Doors at 8 p.m. Friday, the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward, Ferndale. 248-544-3030. $10. 18 and up. For more: www.themuggs.com.
Reunited for a cause
There’s a good reason the eclectic groove jams of Mudpuppy are returning after nearly a decade-long absence. Saturday’s reunion at Callahan’s Music Hall will benefit the band’s percussionist, Lorenzo (Spoons) Brown, who is suffering from complications related to diabetes, including kidney failure.
“He’s a special cat,” says Mudpuppy guitarist Mark Pasman, who hosts “The Motor City Blues Project” on WCSX-FM (94.7). “He just has a positive energy that was really one of the driving forces of the band emotionally as well as musically.”
In Brown’s early days, he recorded at Motown and toured with the Supremes, among many other notable acts. Brown is known not only for his impressive work on traditional percussion instruments but also for playing the spoons and an ice bucket.
Mudpuppy released three discs in the ’90s before quietly disbanding. It has been close to 10 years since the band performed. Pasman says he’s most looking forward to “the look on Lorenzo’s face when he sees a whole room of people who love him. It’s that and it’s the musical magic, which we got a little taste of at rehearsals. But to be up on that stage with cats that I not only love but really respect for what they’ve done with their careers is pretty cool.”
Joining Pasman and Brown will be bassist Paul Randolph, drummer Darryl Pierce and keyboardist Sean McDonald.
To raise additional funds, the band will donate proceeds from merchandise sales. “We’ve unearthed some classic Mudpuppy swag, which we didn’t even know we still had,” says Pasman.
Opening the show are Jeanne & the Dreams (featuring Pasman and Pierce).
The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Callahan’s Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd., Auburn Hills. 248-858-9508. $15 advance, $20 at the door. For more: www.wcsx.com.
Future Fest
A showcase of young, on-the-rise local rockers is set for Saturday at the Emerald Theatre in Mt. Clemens.
“There’s a whole underground movement of young bands,” says Mark Storks, editor of www.detroitrockreview.com and coordinator of the event. “We’re going to try to do this once a month to give these kids a chance to play at a big genuine concert theater.”
Heading up the bill are metal-rockers Shock Wave, whose members range in age from 14 to 16. Since forming in 2009, the group has opened for national acts and performed at several of the area’s big summer festivals. The group is working on its debut EP at the Loft in Saline with producer-engineer Tim Patalan.
Joining Shock Wave on the bill are Innocent Till Dark, the Fluke, No Quarter and the Make.
Doors at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut, Mt. Clemens. 586-913-1920. $10. All ages.
Rachel May, Metromix editor, is also a member of local bands Black Beauty and the Difficulties. Send local music news to her at rmay@metromix.com
Thirteen songs of amped-up blues-rock fill the self-released disc, which the band recorded at Ghetto Recorders in Detroit with famed producer Jim Diamond. “I think it’s our best record that we’ve put together so far,” says guitarist-singer Danny (Muggs) Methric. “It’s a fully realized Muggs record.”
The disc is being celebrated with a release party Friday at the Magic Bag.
The band’s first two albums were riff-driven and guitar-focused. Though the new recording still features those tasty chops, more emphasis was put on songwriting. “The songs are tied together thematically,” says Methric. The artwork, lyrics and song titles are connected, but the band is leaving it up to the listener to interpret the theme, he says.
The Muggs — which also feature bassist Tony DeNardo and newer drummer Todd Glass — have been hammering it out on the local scene since forming in 2000. But an appearance on Fox’s “Next Great American Band” reality competition in 2007 helped put the band in the national spotlight and took it around the United States and Canada and as far away as Spain. “We’re still getting requests,” says Methric, crediting the show with helping the band’s name continue to resonate.
Midwest summer tour dates are in the works to support the new disc. A vinyl version of the recording will be issued via local label Bellyache Records.
Opening the show are the Hentchmen and Magic Jake & the Power Crystals.
Doors at 8 p.m. Friday, the Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward, Ferndale. 248-544-3030. $10. 18 and up. For more: www.themuggs.com.
Reunited for a cause
There’s a good reason the eclectic groove jams of Mudpuppy are returning after nearly a decade-long absence. Saturday’s reunion at Callahan’s Music Hall will benefit the band’s percussionist, Lorenzo (Spoons) Brown, who is suffering from complications related to diabetes, including kidney failure.
“He’s a special cat,” says Mudpuppy guitarist Mark Pasman, who hosts “The Motor City Blues Project” on WCSX-FM (94.7). “He just has a positive energy that was really one of the driving forces of the band emotionally as well as musically.”
In Brown’s early days, he recorded at Motown and toured with the Supremes, among many other notable acts. Brown is known not only for his impressive work on traditional percussion instruments but also for playing the spoons and an ice bucket.
Mudpuppy released three discs in the ’90s before quietly disbanding. It has been close to 10 years since the band performed. Pasman says he’s most looking forward to “the look on Lorenzo’s face when he sees a whole room of people who love him. It’s that and it’s the musical magic, which we got a little taste of at rehearsals. But to be up on that stage with cats that I not only love but really respect for what they’ve done with their careers is pretty cool.”
Joining Pasman and Brown will be bassist Paul Randolph, drummer Darryl Pierce and keyboardist Sean McDonald.
To raise additional funds, the band will donate proceeds from merchandise sales. “We’ve unearthed some classic Mudpuppy swag, which we didn’t even know we still had,” says Pasman.
Opening the show are Jeanne & the Dreams (featuring Pasman and Pierce).
The show starts at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Callahan’s Music Hall, 2105 South Blvd., Auburn Hills. 248-858-9508. $15 advance, $20 at the door. For more: www.wcsx.com.
Future Fest
A showcase of young, on-the-rise local rockers is set for Saturday at the Emerald Theatre in Mt. Clemens.
“There’s a whole underground movement of young bands,” says Mark Storks, editor of www.detroitrockreview.com and coordinator of the event. “We’re going to try to do this once a month to give these kids a chance to play at a big genuine concert theater.”
Heading up the bill are metal-rockers Shock Wave, whose members range in age from 14 to 16. Since forming in 2009, the group has opened for national acts and performed at several of the area’s big summer festivals. The group is working on its debut EP at the Loft in Saline with producer-engineer Tim Patalan.
Joining Shock Wave on the bill are Innocent Till Dark, the Fluke, No Quarter and the Make.
Doors at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Emerald Theatre, 31 N. Walnut, Mt. Clemens. 586-913-1920. $10. All ages.
Rachel May, Metromix editor, is also a member of local bands Black Beauty and the Difficulties. Send local music news to her at rmay@metromix.com
