10 Blowouts…
Taking one look at this and one can infer that the annual Hamtramck Metro Times Blowout has celebrated it’s final year. Especially when taking into consideration Detour Magazine’s publisher/co-founder is none-other-than Anthony “Tony Blowout” Morrow.
Either that, or it’s going to be a head-to-head battle royal (if you get the joke, you’re more intelligent than most)…
Metro Times’ website say that the Blowout is still on. This is just a juvenile snit created by a dude (Anthony Morrow) who’s pissed that he was fired by the Metro Times. Those dates were piggybacked upon in order to blackmail the MT. It’s sad more than anything…putting musicians in such an unneccessarily awkward position. More elevation, less diminishing PEOPLE! The Blowout has been a tradition that has not only been great fun for musicians and music lovers, it’s huge for the city of Hamtramck. Why anyone would want to do this? Using artists to fulfill a personal grudge?
C’mon. They actually STOLE those dates and the entire concept. Blowout was created by Brian Boyle and Chris Handyside ten years ago. This is lame.
One thing for sure. The Blowout was/is about exposing new artists to new fans. I’m guessing Detour’s Rock City is aiming to invite the top 60 Detroit artists, based mostly on draw. And instead of coupling those artists with newcomers to increase the discovery potential for fans (ala Blowout) they’re cutting the newcomers out entirely. Of course, only time will tell. They may be planning a great “discovery” based event.
Thanks for the heads up on the Blowout still being on…
All the “big guys” have finally caught up*
I Already Feel Sick (Motor City Rocks)
oh come on (Web Vomit)
‘Rock City’ fest tries to edge out the Blowout (Detroit News)
The Indie New Round Up (It Came from Culture City)
All the Kids At School Are Talking About It!!! (RecordReviews.org)
Double trouble. (Five Three Dial Tone)
Here’s the announcement from Metro Times “Blahg” that yes, the Blowout is happening…
*sarcasm
Juvenile dude who’s pissed he got fired? Isn’t this guy known around town as Tony Blowout and ran it for the last 8 years? Sounds to me like music festivals are what he does best! I have had a blast at Blowout. I’ve gone the last 5 years and clearly he knows how to put on a good festival. In fact, the only good shows I can remember that I’ve recently seen at The Majestic were part of the Detour Launch Party. Good for him! A local guy launched an online mag and is doing his own thing. I’m going to the Rock City festival. Its about time a local guy instead of some Times Shamrock Corporate newspaper did something in our city!!
8 years? What!? Nope. Try 4…and dude, he had TONS OF HELP. How dare anyone take that away from the people who played, spent money at and worked their asses off at 10 years of Blowout! It’s the brainchild of Brian Boyle and Chris Handyside…two men who NEVER act as if it their own. He got that misnomer nickname from Eddie Sights and decided to keep it for himself. Blowout has been a success due to the participation of musicians, music fans, Hamtramck bar owners and about a hundred volunteers. Trying to take credit for its success is more proof that he’s an deluded egomaniac.
Blowout does not belong to Morrow — that’s absurd — get over yourself. It belongs to the community, not an intern-coordinating, talent-booking (though MANY bands were booked by other Metro Times employees) guy with an ax to grind.
Who the fuck cares about Times Shamrock or whatever? Morrow sells out MUSICIANS for revenge. People were duped. They innocently agreed to play–totally unaware of the politics.
Go to Rock City. (Oh yeah…THAT was an event created by a guy named Jason SHUSTERBAUER). Detour should come up with their own ideas, not piggyback on other people’s already-successful ones.
Does anyone know for sure if Detour already booked the 60 bands? Seems quite a task to have already accomplished this early…
Oh, and the 8 year time-on-job estimate Michael cited is probably from Melody’s Det’ News article.
Not sure, but my band and many of my friends bands were creeped out when approached.
I’m going to have to agree with Mike here. What seems like a great idea set off on its own during some other time period only seems like dickishness when run the same weekend as the Blowout. No one can do this and not mention it AT ALL when spoken to. It’s common psychology to know that if you’re not talking about the 800 pound gorilla in the room, then you’ve most likely brought the beast in.
Ultimately, its selfishness and an unmitigated move for some sort of revenge.
Also, to shed a little light on the trivial nature of this erupted feud, allow me to elaborate where this stand-off takes me to. I used to see scene-fights (a small level up from bum-fights) of this caliber and nature erupt as I casually lurked around the Michigan Hardcore message boards almost a decader ago. Now, if that doesn’t shock people into believing the utter childishness of this, then I have no idea what will.
More discussions going on here: dangblog
Sarah, you seem to be very close to the situation. Does anyone know why he was fired from Metro Times? And if former Metro times employees were so eager to join him, maybe that is saying something. And if Metro times is so concerned about local bands, why wasn’t there any coverage of the 30 or so bands that played the Detour launch party? Isn’t it important to report about the Detroit music scene? Sounds like Metro had an “axe to grind.” I can understand people being pissed about it happening on blowout weekend….I was myself initially. I’ve been a metro times reader for about 13 years. But what is going on over there? Am I the only one who has noticed how crappy a paper it has been for the past year? I care about Times Shamrock or whatever. Its my city. And I’m ready to see more local weeklys, webmags and overall coverage. Someone dropped the ball at Metro to be sure. clearly they were caught off guard.
How could someone drop a ball on a 10-year tradition that everyone knows is happening? Detour tried to sabotage. That’s not the same as competition. Nice try. I am close to situation. All Detroit music fans are. It ain’t Detour that’s the problem– viva new voices– it’s their tactics and divisiveness.
How could somebody drop the ball on a ten-year tradition? oh, I dont know…..maybe by making not making sure the Majestic dates were reserved for the dates they needed? Maybe by throwing together an announcement for blowout after the announcement for rock city? Apparently before the announcement some of the bar owners in Hamtramck hadn’t even known whether blowout was dead this year or not….10 years everyone knows is happening? guess some people didn’t know……..way to keep them informed…that ball dropped like a cinder block….Glad you are close to the situation,,,,,thankfully the only situation I am in is choosing which festival to go to…….hopefully the best bands will be at the venue with the best parking.
keep suckin’ the detour nozzle there michael lansky.
As a former MT employees, “detour fan”, they knew exactly when Blowout planning always begins and they pre-empted it. Why were we asked to keep the invitation to play confidential and why were we asked to not play 4 weeks prior and 2 weeks after? Don’t insult people’s intelligence.
I also welcome a new festival. Suckin the detour nozzle? wow….that was really a good one. Wow.
I dont understand the statement, “as a former MT employees,”detour fan”,,,,,but I won’t insult your “intelligence” in regards to your grammer.”Why were we asked to keep the invitation to play confidential and why were we asked to not play 4 weeks prior and 2 weeks after”?
Cool, so you and all the other bands have a choice of which to play. Ah, freedom of choice. I will do both festivals I’m sure after I see which bands are playing when. I’m really going to do it. I’m going to make a choice. I’m a little nervous about taking that step. But I think I can do it. I hope everyone finds the courage to do so.
I actually thought the MT had the best stage at CityFest. But please don’t accuse me of “sucking their nozzle too.
The det news atricle….
Still, Metro Times’ Rudy believes the Blowout will stay strong.
“The spirit of it and the success of it have been directly related to the individuals who participate in it from a musical talent standpoint, the venues who provide the environment, the people who show up to see the bands, and the paper who supports those individuals on a yearly basis,” she says
“The thought of Blowout not happening because the 100th new event came to town is ridiculous.”
The 100th new event? She doesn’t sound at all concerned. And I don’t blame her. There are always new festivals with 60 bands playing. She is so right.
Actually, there is an easy and obvious solution to this. Its a matter of who is willing to bend. And If either side does, then we all win.
nozzle….yep….nozzle….wow..
Sarah
“He got that misnomer nickname from Eddie Sights and decided to keep it for himself.”
You mean someone gave him that nickname? So strange. Usually people give themselves the nickname. Now I know it was given to him you are right. So weak.
People, people – do your research… Anthony was not fired from Metrotimes. He was laid off along with some other people because the paper was not doing so well. They knew they had to let him go way before blowout but waited until right after to inform him so he would still do their event. He didn’t have anything to do with the first blowout. He didn’t start it. But he did work on eight of them even when he wasn’t on staff at the Metrotimes. The blowouts done by Anthony made a ton of money for Metrotimes but he was hard to work with. They didn’t use to make money until he took over the event.
NO ONE knew if Blowout was happening. No bands, no club owners, sponsors or radio stations. The dates were open and Anthony jumped on them. Rumor has it they had been working on something huge that week and decided to book an event around it. Someone mentioned the Romantics but that seems lame. All of this far from vindictive. And, if he wanted to hurt Metrotimes why wouldn’t he go into hamtramck, book those bars and really kill blowout? He wanted to start a new tradition and grow it. The current way that Blowout works is tired. It needs a jolt of something to keep it going. People that i’ve talked to that claim to be close to the Detour people said that he approached Metrotimes about a plan to move the blowout to later in the spring and get Detour’s support. Clearly this is not going to happen but it would be cool.
Metrotimes freaked out and rushed into announcing their dates and maybe they have a right to. It’s clear that the Blowout wasn’t happening until Rock City came on the map. But both sides should figure out how to make both work. The city could use another reason to get the music scene together instead of this useless fighting.
Thanks for the info Hannah. What you say makes perfect sense.
Thanks a lot Hannah! But the whole “people, people – do your research” bit was a little off. This is most definitely the first anyone has heard this information. Even the most “official” coverage of this “controversy” (that being Melody’s Det’ News article) didn’t allude to anything you just stated…
I do agree that everyone has been jumping the gun. And what is usually the case when people are left to their own conclusions, they went straight to the negative.
“But both sides should figure out how to make both work.”
I couldn’t agree more…
Blowout happens every year and begins planning in early November. Bands: go back to your inbox and see when you were contacted to play last year. Those dudes knew it. Period. No debate needed.
P.S. If Blowout’s tired…and Anthony is organizer extraordinaire, isn’t the tiredness his fault? Hamtramck offers variety and charm. The Majestic Complex…4 nights in a row seems mind-numbing. And costly.
Many bar owners thoguht that Blowout was dead until yesterdays announcement. Go ask them yourself, I just did. Its true. Some even said that Blowout WAS dead and Rock City is what brought it back. Also some had said that the beer reps had been told by MT that Anthony was still running it this year. Thats hilarious. My curiosity has been satisfied at this point. Sorry its so personal for some. Now I just have to patiently await the band schedule at both festivals.
I’m trying to figure out who called him “organizer extraordinaire” besides you. Maybe he felt Blowout was tired too and thats why he didn’t do it in Hamtramck….who knows?
you also called him a “deluede egomaniac” trying to take credit for blowouts success…where has he come out anywhere and claimed any success or taken credit for anything??????
MT has commented though….you and that Lisa whatever…
It just seems to me that MT shouldn’t bother commenting here and there….and put that energy into making sure it is a blowout and not a blowup……
the MT website was just hacked. check it out. wonder how that happened?
It’s been that way nearly the entire weekend. Someone inserted some malicious JavaScript into the header include acting as a meta redirect (might even be a Flash file). If you disable JavaScript while visiting the site, it loads fine.
Actually, I just checked it again. Seems to be working properly now (at least with Firefox under XP).
The Majestic should just move the date to May. Everybody wins. Nobody gets put in the middle
Good call Eddie. 2 cool festivals. Hopefully it will work out.