Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power is a comprehensive exhibition at the Henry Ford Museum that contains over 250 artifacts from 70 female artists. This stellar exhibit was curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Get up close and personal to things you would never otherwise have the chance to see. It’ll give you goosebumps.

The selected pieces range from the extraordinary to the “ordinary.” Highlights include everything from handwritten notes and lyrics to recognizable ensembles from stage performances and album covers. Every musician I've ever dressed up as for Halloween [so far] is represented here! Every. Single. One!

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the full scoop...         ↓↓↓

Gunfire exploded throughout the building. Two rival gangs exchanged bullets. Some musicians ran into an elevator for cover...

A night with Diddy Dirty Money? No- it was Daryl Hall and John Oates. And it was on that evening in Philly, in the freight elevator, circa 1967,  that they discovered they rocked the same style of music. A far cry from the usual suspects with street cred, Hall & Oates built their rep on melding classic soul, rock, and pop to create a unique style. 

Innovators of an irresistible blend of music that remains influential to current artists,  Hall & Oates originality  has kept them relevant.  Just look at the line-up of Live from Darryl's House, the critically acclaimed performance series featuring music and banter with Daryl and an array of his musician friends. The list includes Mayer Hawthorne, Todd Rundgren, Grace Potter, Gym Class Heroes, Minus the Bear, Neon Trees and Sharon Jones. 

There's also no denying that Hall & Oates have a plethora of hits. In fact- the musicians you listen to most likely listen to Hall & Oates. The hits are numerous and have earned them countless awards.   Their music is continuously sampled by everyone from the Wu Tang Clan, Kanye West, and Amerie,  to Young Jeezy, De La Soul, and Tony Yayo.

Hall & Oates sometimes tour. Their live show should not be missed for the sheer radiance of the performances. And although the bouffant hairstyles, exaggerated attire, smoke machines, and that obscure devil- a la the She's Gone video, are lacking, the show was definitely worthwhile. 

The velvety voice is still there, the indespensible sidekick is still indispensible.  You will hear the hits, as well as a few gems thrown in. And, as you listen to the music, you'll still wish your name was Sara.

The Roosevelt Park Fest 2013 featured all the things that make a festival great. DJS spinning live music, crafts from 555 Gallery & Studios, Firefighter Chili Cookoff!, killer cornhole tournament, a bounce house and beer. Did I forget to mention the most awesome thing ever... Roller Skating!!!! Because WHO doesn't LOVE skating? The Grinch perhaps. 

The festival was held under the stoic watch of Michigan Central Station, our massive treasure that will most likely be restored soon (call it a hunch) Anyway- what better way to spend the first day of fall than at a neighborhood picnic... roller skating! 

Skaters raced around a oval-shaped track. (aka: the street) Some were total pros, performing tricks and stunts that definitely were the result of some hardcore practice, while others were on skates for the first time ever. Groups formed when a bangin' song came on- think Stevie Wonder, Snoop, Hall & Oates and swayed to the beat with moves that cannot be replicated by yours truly, nor will any attempt be made. Ever.  

It was an excellent way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends and family all chillin' at the park. Friends were made & fun was had by all. 

Laneway happened. St. Jerome's Laneway Festival brought a unique feeling to the rolling hillsides of Meadow Brook Music Festival. The low key festival with a chill vibe kicked off its first North American event in the Detroit area. The scene was set with large sculptures, hammocks, artwork and bales of hay that were scattered on the festival grounds. The fresh atmosphere was made even better since there were no expectations. 

The laid back vibe extended beyond the fans themselves and seeped into the ones that they had come to see- the musicians themselves. From the lead singer to the hardcore drummer, the band was there to scope out the scene and become part of music history- watching it unfold from the stage and as part of the audience when they were done with their set. 

Bands performed. The music was well-curated, displaying a wide range of styles which merged together to create a cohesive roster of raw talent. It was decidedly different with a sense of familiarity all at once. Meander around to discover someone you never heard of or catch your fave band as they tear into their lyrics with a new vengeance.  

From the Pavillion stage to the Movement stage, all the artists seemed excited to be at Laneway Detroit. Down to their bones. From the synthy whispers coming from Chvrches to the bombastic bravado spewing out of Run the Jewels, an El-P + Killer Mike collab, there was definitely something for everyone, with lots of in-between to check out. 

All the bands that graced each of the five stages killed it. Heathered Pearls christened the Movement stage in the early afternoon, while Matthew Dear closed it out as the sun was beginning to fade. The Roscoe stage was home to Deerhunter and Frightened Rabbit, while the Meadow stage played host to the sexy BAMF singer from Alunageorge, flanked by media-fave Chet Faker and crowd-fave Run the Jewels.

The Derrick stage was the setting for the avant-garde Savages followed later that evening by the frenetic musings of The National. The Pavilion stage featured the impeccable CHVRCHES gave way to kinetic duo Icona Pop, who burst onto the scene until Solange staked her claim and made it her own, creating an edgy soul experience through her lighthearted yet sultry throwback sound. 

The musical factory of event crashers that is the Detroit Party Marching Band, spilled out everywhere wearing their signature flashy DPMB garb. Horns raging through the air, clanging their way with unabashed bravado from stage to stage, crowds erupted like hot magma around a volcano.

Coming at you live- it's the Rolling Stones and their Rock & Roll Circus! The Stones themselves are created from clothespins, while the big top circus tent [with removable lid] is a project we did last week, and is made from plastic containers covered with papier mache.

To Make the Clothespin Stones:
5 Wooden Clothespins
Acrylic [or similar] Paint
Paintbrushes- All Sizes
Photo Paper + a Pic of the Stones from the Rock & Roll Circus Era

Paint the Circus version of the Stones using a photograph or movie poster for reference. Print out the photograph & cut their heads out. Glue each head onto the corresponding Stone. You are done and ready to recreate your own Rock & Roll Circus.

If you are really into it, add other cast members, such as Jethro Tull, John & Yoko, + Eric Clapton. Don't replicate The Who- unless you are looking to wage a Rock & Roll war- this is the rumored reason that the Rock & Roll Circus film was placed into the vaults until the 80s- Mick thought The Who's performance overshadowed the Stones. And you know the Ringmaster likes to share the spotlight with no one.

To Make the Rock & Roll Circus Big Top Tent:
Follow the Instructions here.

Stay tuned for more musical recreations- you should see what is next!

Now that the Stones are on tour- it's time to resurrect their grand musical extravaganza- The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus! The current tour is only hitting a select group of cities & probably not yours. So let's recreate the past, when Mick was the ringmaster- wearing glam makeup and holding a whip.

Let's start with the big top. Find an old ice cream container- the tub kind with the convenient handle. This is awesome because you- I mean the kids- can store the Stones inside when it's time to put everything away. Grab an old juice jug- the circular kind is preferable, but a rectangular shape will do. Carefully cut it off with a serrated knife. Cut an opening for the entrance into the big top. Place the juice top onto the ice cream lid, keep it in position with tape or hot glue. Now you are ready to begin the papier mache.

Use the recipe for papier mache listed here for the Skrillex Train project. Cover the lid with long strips of paper, keeping in mind that it should resemble a big top. Then cover the main tent. Allow to dry. Paint with acrylic paint. You can add a curtain to the entrance for added ambiance.

Next time we will work on The Stones themselves, well- clothespin versions of the Stones. Maybe a couple special guests will pay them a visit- Clapton, Tull, Lennon, did someone say Yoko- just like in the original Rock & Roll Circus.

Blowout was held in both Hamtramck and Ferndale this year! This weekend it was Ferndale's turn to host the awesome music event. Bands in both cities got down and dirty, but Ferndale managed to hijack the vibe once exclusive to Hamtramck alone.

Ferndale came ready to rumble. The Ferndale Public Library rocked it out. One witness of the Rogue Satellites performance- after Detroit Party Marching Band blasted through- emptied out of the venue exclaiming "that was so badass!" And it was. Ferndale was in your face. People were screaming "Blowout" at the tops of their lungs- from the sunroof while rolling through town, while walking down Woodward, from the mic as they performed on stage at the WAB.

Lively banter hit the streets. An opera singer randomly joined pop-up band St. Zeta for a session, someone dressed up in a Grizzly bear costume, people complained about Jack White. Now that is the Blowout I remember.

Blowout was held in Hamtramck this weekend, with a second bombastic weekend of music and mayhem slated for next weekend in Ferndale. Blowout ranks only behind Williamsburg as America's Most Rock & Roll City, and Hamtramck can out-rock BK simply due to the reverb alone.

Hundreds of indie bands are scheduled to appear in our favorite dives and all over Hamtramck and beyond. Imagine SXSW, Detroit style. Blowout gives you the opportunity to run around a musical playground of your own creation.

Check out the schedule to find when & where your fave musical treasures are performing. Whatever music you are into, it will be at Blowout. Talk about yeah!

Shot the musician the "Aoki" bunting is named after! How awesome is that?

The Verge Campus tour opened the season this Friday evening at Meadow Brook Music Festival, where Steve Aoki ripped into a packed house with his hardcore production skills.

Cold for April, and frigid enough for the entire crowd to wear coats, one lone fan wearing red velvet stilettos stole the show, until the the man of the hour, Aoki blasted onstage at full speed, attacking his DJM-900 Nexus mixers in an onslaught of color.

It was so cold you could see his breath. Aoki was dripping in scarlet red and electric blue, then Bombs Away! He transformed into a massive explosion of energy, detonating in front of the sold-out crowd of 8,000. They mimicked his moves, going wild, thrashing their arms in the air to the commanding beat.

It is shocking what a man standing behind a stationary block can accomplish. His sets are high energy house parties, with brilliant performance art arriving in waves throughout the show. Let's just say it usually involves birthday cake and navigating through thousands of people in an inflatable raft- treacherous and thrilling. Whenever he went wild, so did the crowd.

Later he did what any guy owning a fashion house would do, and performed a wardrobe change, shedding his jacket for a t-shirt featuring a deranged version of Mr. T. It's rumored he's scheming with his fashionista sister to introduce a new line, so be on the lookout for that collab on the horizon.

Aoki transforms everywhere he goes into a Wonderland; a place of hardcore enchantment with treacherous adventure at every turn. Maybe one day he'll arrive on the scene with an invisible cheshire cat and play some croquet using a flamingo- until then, he knows how to throw a raging Mad Tea Party, overflowing with champagne and cake. And if this curious Land includes buckets of mud, freezing cold temperatures, and riding the rapids- then this must be the place.

Lil Wayne is in the hospital. It is serious & my dad even texted me about it, seeming overly concerned about the musician's health. So I sent a message to his publicist regarding the health scare, occurring scandalously close to the date his next album is scheduled to drop. Best publicist ever!