Saturday, July 21st, was an incredibly busy and music-filled day for me.

I worked 8-4 and then rushed home to get ready for a local show in my brother’s friend’s backyard. I made it in time to see Peter Buhr again. His solo act is really good; he knows how to entertain the audience and fill the stage with his presence. His beats and lyrics are really catchy; I find myself humming his songs for days after seeing him perform.

Next on the bill was my brother’s band, American Sea Creatures. Because their guitarist/lead vocalist is moving, this was going to be their last show. Hopefully they’ll get back together in the future, because they’re legit. It’s strange seeing my brother in a serious band; while they’re all incredibly talented musicians, my brother and his friends have a sense of humor that few truly appreciate. I happen to be one of those few, so I always have a great time at his concerts.

Thursday, July 12th, my friend Liz and I drove down to Columbus to see Mind Fish open for YouTube-famous singer Julia Nunes at The Basement. You’d think that, after an 11 day road trip across the country, I’d be used to long car rides and that three hours would be nothing. However, Ohio makes any time spent within its borders unbearable; it seems like each minute turns into (at least) an hour. 180 hours is a bit much to drive in one night, but these Ohio natives never disappoint. Her music really wasn't my thing, but Mind Fish continues to knock them out of the park. If I wasn’t sure Mind Fish would put on a great show, I wouldn’t have bothered.

Friday, July 15th, I got out of work early and hustled to downtown Trenton to see Mitch Ryder at the Midsummer Festival. I only saw part of his set because of the heat and how crowded it was, but what I did see was really good. I can see why he's considered an icon in the Detroit area.

Here's a quick count of all the bands I've seen live. I'm probably missing some, but this is the majority of them. Pretty cool, especially since all but 7 of these shows were within the past 7 months. Blog post for the past week coming soon...

Thursday, June 21st, PJ’s Lager House hosted a benefit for musician and artist Eric McNary, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. There were tons of people there to support Eric, countless items donated for a silent auction, and numerous bands providing entertainment for the night. My dad and I arrived a bit late to the show, but did manage to catch the Gardens/Sugarcoats hybrid performance and Don Duprie’s solo act. Though we were united under not-so-great circumstances, the atmosphere was positive and upbeat. I didn’t know Eric prior to the benefit, but it’s obvious how many people love and care about him. Best wishes to Eric for the future.