Get the Fuck Out

This past summer, 2005, was my first full summer being back here in Michigan after living out of state for the five years prior.

While I was gone, I would usually spend my rare visits home with friends and family, mostly just visiting at each other's houses. So I hadn't seen much of the city until I moved back last year. As I settled into life and got this magazine together, I began reacquainting myself with my home.

I think the thing that shocked me the most was all the people jogging around downtown. Whenever I was downtown in the afternoon, I'd be amazed to see tons of people jogging. It blew my mind. A lot of streets-- Broadway, Gratiot, Washington--are nicely paved now. But these people were even jogging on cracked, decrepit back street sidewalks. These people are dedicated, I've never seen joggers leaping over potholes.

There are brand new condos and lofts, but the population of the city is plummeting. That hasn't changed. And of course, the Cass Corridor has been renamed the elegant-sounding Midtown. (Helps to sell all those condos you know.)

Yeah, it seems the primary feature of Detroit's "comeback" is that it's contained to the downtown area, and has nothing to do with any type of overall improvement in city living.

But one thing that is impressive amid the tax payer funded stadiums is all the new bars that have opened up downtown. And that's not just because I like the sauce. It's because most of the bars that have opened have live music.

Lager House, Northern Lights and 2500 Club to name a few. Even Honest John's now has music on Sunday nights.

And something that will help to really revitalize this city is small independent businesses. Especially little corner bars.

Bars get people out of their houses and bring people together. How many friendships have been forged over pints of beer? Zillions. How many new people have you ever met in a Best Buy? Probably not many. And no one's getting laid at Best Buy. You hand over your cash and you leave. Thank you, come again.

But these are places that feature live music on a regular basis. The more bars we have offering live music, the more our music scene will thrive. And the best thing is that it's all different types. Different bars are getting to be known as being a home to blues, or punk, or funk, etc.. The Hub's booking list includes jazz, rap, rock and DJs.

I've been told by people, mostly those who've moved away, that this area is a "cultural wasteland." Well, music is our strong spot, and anything that showcases that, in all it's forms and styles is helping to make things better.

Overpriced condos are nice, but they won't do anything for the community.

Enjoy our paper,
Joe Giuliani
Publisher

Only five more months until No Pants Day!

Send comments to DetroitRecord@yahoo.com.