Pulp Culture

This winter Indian Handcrafts, a highly energetic sludge metal duo, notable for its involvement with Sargent House in Deafheaven's tour to Canada and the American Northeast coastline in 2014 will once again head on the road in the United States. On January 17, 2015 the group will be hosted by Pulp Culture at the Loft in Lansing Michigan. Doors will be at 8:00 PM (EST). Music will also include Lansing's own The People's Temple and Fossil Eyes from Kalamazoo.

For the event Pulp Culture has also assembled a group of Detroit-based artists to build a maze inside of the venue, leading from the entrance to the stage. The Labyrinth, constructed of recycled cardboard, cable wire, and tapestries, will display art by Armageddon Beachparty Co., Rebecca Stroster, and AJ Kesler as well as a re-purposed 48-piece hanging wine bottle music composition by Alex Brown.

Tickets are available at http://www.flavorus.com/event/Peoples-Temple/277514 - Sound and Silence

This Saturday at St. Andrew's Hall, Pulp Culture invites you to The Motor City Masquerade - a concert donating portions of its proceeds to The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention.

The vociferous Beast In The Field will be headlining the event, with a lead in from Pulp Culture, the local prog/post-hardcore quartet that initially dreamt up this event. The Motor City Masquerade also features performances from pop/rock outfit The Midfield and a quirked-out glam/psyche performance art outfit from NY called Not Blood Paint. Attendees receive a gift bag at the door that includes a hand-painted mask.



Pulp Culture released their debut album at the start of this year and have, in their first couple years, demonstrated an enthusiasm towards philanthropic ventures with their lives performances. This group is keen on utilizing their concerts as a means for sending a message, promoting a cause or raising awareness.

Bassist/singer Alex Brown spoke with us about the event. (Tickets here)

DC: You guys have played charity shows before - can you talk about why that is important to you/this band
AB: There are a lot of reasons our benefit concerts have been so important to us. We are working with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention because it hits home; (guitarist/vocalist) Jake’s father submitted to his depression last year. This is a very crucial cause to us because we are all affected deeply by it. Charities are a great way to inform people about things that affect us all. We wanted to help and to involve people, so tying our music to not-for-profits that we think are doing awesome work in Michigan and the greater world seems to have invoked a positive response from those with whom we have worked at the very least. Plus, it feels just as good if not better than doing some stupid publicity stunt to get media attention.

DC: What are some of the other causes you've supported through concert/performance? AB: We started doing charity work back in March for the Greening of Detroit, which is an urban and suburban ecological development group. We did three benefits for them and planted trees on two occasions. Then we had a huge two-day event we called Vetfest; we sourced and roasted a pig and put on concerts at the Old Miami and the Blind Pig. The proceeds to both of those concerts went to Help for Our Disabled Troops, a retrofitting project that helped our drummer, Mike, move into his house after he was med-evacuated from the frontlines of the Iraq War. After that we did a benefit concert for Pesticide Action Network, raising awareness for honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder.

DC: What are your hopes for the show; what kinds of conversations do you hope to stoke between sets/performances?
AB: I think the most important facet of this show is the element of awareness raised for those suffering from mental illnesses of any kind. The whole effect of a masquerade can reinforce identity and implement the anonymity of a group, spurring a ton of different emotions. In promoting the event we’ve run into all sorts of people with their own stories regarding suicide and mental illness.
DC: What's the overall message of the Motor City Masquerade? AB: This is about communication and tolerance in dealing with indwelling stigmatism. The music we have lined up is seriously amazing. I am not worried about performance in the least. Turn out is the biggest issue. Ideally we would have had three whole months to promote the show, but we had one. That’s the breaks. No matter how I look at it this is going to be a helluva night, and we are so happy to be able to do it at one of the coolest venues in town.
DC: And, what's new with Pulp Culture, this year?
AB: What Do You Want? was a rock opera dedicated to a close friend of my family who passed away of an overdose in 2012. Since the release, Pulp Culture has transformed rapidly. We lost our first drummer to the American Dream. Then we hired in Mike, taught him all the music, got some new gear, and started hitting the Detroit scene as hard as possible.

DC: The FB page for the band talks a lot about the DIY ethos. AB: Yeah, we sort of redesigned our mission as a real grass roots group, trying to emphasize the importance of DIY ethics in Detroit. We’ve probably spent hundreds of times the amount we raised so far from the album on demos and posters to get people involved in our benefits, but that doesn’t matter; we do it because we care. We do it because we love music. There is such a positive, collective effort of artists in Detroit, but it’s something you don’t hear much about in the news. It can’t be helped because of huge infrastructural road blocks like the bankruptcy, but it’s pretty obvious that the main issues with the local music and art scene are the same on a national level: major labels, giant entertainment monopolies, and even some indie labels work together to inhibit public awareness by manipulating the media, leaving local rock musicians in the shadows of the typical dogmatism of venues where they'd rather have laptop DJ’s get people to dance until they’re forced to buy a $4 bottle of water.

DC: So that DIY tilt of yours is an acknowledgement towards bettering the situation or the opportunities of the local musician...? What's the key issue to address, here?
AB: Local musicians of all walks are left at the whim of smalltime agents who, in a similar situation as far as the politics of regional business, throw them into an endless loop of opening slots. And that forces musicians to pay up to thousands of dollars just to throw an event at esteemed clubs if they want to attempt something bigger, just like we are doing with Live Nation at St. Andrew’s. The same thing happens to visual artists downtown; they will only be commissioned if they will advertise and submit to the investor, changing the essence of their own hard work.

DC: It's a cycle...corrupted by money... Inevitable, sometimes. Changeable, though? AB: We’re trying to change this sort of thing, but look now, who wouldn’t want to play at a larger venue? Who wouldn’t want to play for more people? It’s a house of cards, and the big agents won’t protest about it out of profit alone. I wish they cared more about the music. The Fillmore Group should put local support on every show. It’s so simple, but it would help the local economy and potentially bring more people to concerts. People like new things, and Detroit's (music scene) has a lot to offer. Musically our scene is on the up, and it’s a privilege to be writing at this time.


For more information on the Motor City Masquerade follow this link or check up on Pulp Culture's Facebook. - Deep Cutz Music

This Saturday, September 20th Pulp Culture is throwing a masquerade. I am always intrigued when bands go out of their way to do something outside of the box. I like when a band adds in an extra element to give us more for our money and make sure that we leave having had an experience, not just having attended another show. I love the idea of a masquerade, it's a way to hide behind a mask and let your true colors show at the same time. The best part is that you do not need to go out and buy a mask to participate in this masquerade, everyone will be able to be part of the fun as the band is handing out the masks at the door and including it in your ticket price. They are also planning to do some giveaways, debut a new light display, and make sure that as many people as possible walk away with a download of their new music. They plan to show you a one of a kind experience and leave you wanting more.

Pulp Culture has recruited Beast in the Field, Not Blood Paint, and The Midfield to play alongside them this Saturday at St. Andrew's Hall. It promises to be a interesting night full of fun, mystery and music. Check out what Alex Brown from Pulp Culture had to say and head out to the show this weekend if you like what you hear.

HID- What kind of new lighting equipment do you have and how is this going to change your live show?
AB- "Andrew is going to kill me for divulging this because it’s still under wraps; he won’t even show us pictures. The scheme is pretty intense.

Our friend, Joseph Mellon, has a lot of experience welding. He and some friends have a little freecycling project, re-purposing scraps they find here and there downtown. Essentially we are creating a multi-special effects tower with four tiers, wrapped in stainless steel, with vents and pipes for fog machines, bubble machines, lasers, light cans, and a Jacob’s ladder tesla coil atop the entire thing. It will stand just over six feet, and he tells me the top is going to rotate.

The way he is talking about it makes it sound like we are adding another member to the band, so yeah, it’s definitely going to bring a lot more visually to our live show."

HID- What kind of Handmade masks will you be giving away at the show? Did you make them yourselves?
AB- "Paper mache masks are not very hard to make. We are presently in the process of finishing our first batch, and they are going to be badass! Keep in mind we have to make about 600 of them, so the designs are going to be relatively simple. We have borrowed some fan faces to mold plaster casts; this process only requires plaster gauze and a participant willing to subject themselves to 40 minutes of sensory deprivation. From the plaster cast we use PVA glue and gesso to seal the paper machete. Then they dry to be painted. Some artists, including the Armageddon Beach Party collective and Becca Stroster are going to help us paint separate series’ of masks that coordinate with the puzzle we designed for the event. People can get picture updates of the mask-making process on our Instagram @PulpCultureOfficial."

HID- Why did you decide to make it a masquerade party?
AB- "The masked gala event is something that communicates a confusion of identity. There is a certain thrill people get in maintaining anonymity in public places. In many ways the fun of a masquerade is in the disorientation of it. We feel that the question of identity has a lot to do with the charity that we are donating to for suicide prevention. Also, our good friends in Not Blood Paint have a history of sporting very theatrical performances and costumes. We decided that a masquerade would be very fitting for their time with us in Detroit."

HID- How many digital downloads of your album will you be giving away?
AB- "Presently I have about 80 download stickers available, so while supplies last we will be giving them away. Our album can be streamed for free online, but this gives our attendees a chance to bring something physical home and hold close to them at night."

HID- Why did you decide to donate some of the proceeds to suicide prevention?
AB- "Manic depression is hell. Suicide is no solution for that. I would never call suicide an act of weakness, but to commit suicide is definitively to concede short of the ability to live. It reflects the spirit of someone giving up, mustering all of their will into nothingness. Committing suicide requires more of the world than someone can understand at the mercy of their depression. Even one noble act of reaching out can turn a whole life around, and resources to do so can be made more prevalent through the programs of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Last year, Jake’s father submitted to depression. Just a month ago, a friend of my family committed suicide. Now, Robin Williams has passed, and it is obvious that the social awareness of suicide prevention is significant to our country and the way people treat mental illness. This cause is one of the most important things we have ever supported."

HID- Why did you choose Beast in the Field to play this show with you?
AB- "First we booked the Dillinger Escape Plan, but they were planning on coming off of tour with NIN and Soundgarden and would need us to provide backline for an isolated date, which made them exceedingly expensive. After contacting every national agent we could find, we decided it would be cost effective and helpful to their hometown to book a well-known local group that was preparing for the tour. As a strong recommendation from Chad Nicefield of Wilson, we pitched the concert to Against the Grain, striking a deal to have them headline and kick off their tour with Guttermouth.

With just a month and a half, the event was confirmed through Live Nation, so we started promoting and played five shows around Southeast Michigan, opening for Patrick Sweany at Magic Stick, hitting the New Way Bar in Ferndale, dealing with heat exhaustion at the Last Erection of the Hegelian Monolith Festival in Lincoln St. Art Park, and finally braving the floods to play the Diesel Lounge.

After all the rain we got word from Against the Grain that their studio flooded. So they told us they were unable to perform at St. Andrew's with us. With no available acts to fill in the slot and time slipping away, we motioned to reschedule the event with the possibility of having to pay even more fees through cancellation.

As the rescheduling was about to be finalized, an e-mail came from Jamie of Beast in the Field and the band was added to the bill in time to have the show go on as planned. Personally, I am even more excited to play with Beast in the Field than I was to play with Against the Grain, but that’s just me: I really fucking like doom metal."

HID- Anything else that you would like our readers to know?
AB- "Chocolate covered pretzels are a scam, people. You know that the Flipz pretzels are straight enriched flour and corn syrup. I used to be addicted to MSG via Flaming Hot Cheetohs too, but wake up; Frito-Lay and PepsiCo want your blood! Also, I want to remind everyone reading that I wasn't responsible for the goat sacrifice in the Russell Industrial Center last week, but you can see me naked at the Russell Bazaar on the first weekend of every month, making pithy frog sacrifices to the eternal spirit of John William Murray (then I cook the frog legs in typical Detroit fashion; it’s delicious).
Lastly, please come to the Motor City Masquerade at St. Andrew’s Hall on Sept. 20th! This event is raising awareness for suicide prevention at the benefit of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and it’s going to be a great show."


Doors for this event are at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19 in advance and can be purchased here. We also have a spot on the guest list with a plus one to giveaway to one lucky fan. To enter to win FREE admission to the masquerade, please email your full name to hipindetroit@gmail.com with Masquerade in the subject. We will draw a winner a few days before the show and give them details on how to claim their prize.

St. Andrew's is located at 431 E. Congress Detroit, Michigan. - Hip In Detroit

Music, masks and awareness will be featured at this Saturday event at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit. It was assembled by Alex Brown, front man for the progressive rock band Pulp Culture. Band members created this event to help raise awareness about suicide prevention.

Guests can bring their own mask or wear one provided. Masks that are provided will have a clue attached to them, and guests who solve a puzzle will gain access to the afterparty.

On tap is music from Pulp Culture, the Midfield, Not Blood Paint (Brooklyn) and Beast in the Field.

Doors at 7 p.m. 431 E. Congress, Detroit. 313-961-6358. $15 advance, $20 doors. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. For more: www.pulpculturemusic.com. - Detroit Free Press

We have big news. For the past five months we have been ironing out details to a masked gala and concert that we are holding upstairs at St. Andrew's Hall in Detroit on Saturday, September 20th at 7PM. Tickets are $15 presale with $1 per ticket going to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

The bands playing include Detroit's ever popular two-piece Beast in the Field and Not Blood Paint, a progressive indie project from New York that sounds like David Bowie and Queen had a baby.
We are hand painting and plaster-casting all of the masks ourselves, and they will be included at the door of the event. On top of that, each mask will coordinate in color scheme with a puzzle that leads participants to the location of an after-party and show after midnight.

We have busted out in Detroit in a big way of late, opening for Patrick Sweany at the Magic Stick, playing the Hegelian Monolith Festival downtown, favoring the Old Miami, and hitting Ferndale at the New Way.

This event Motor City Masquerade will be one of the last events to see us play this year, and it is going to be HUGE.

Please join us for this momentous occasion, and if you have any inclination to help with the mask-making process or have special requests such as a custom mask, old merchandise, new demos, or a simple reminiscence with friends, then please respond to pulpculture999@gmail.com

Call (248) 694-1020 for ticket delivery to the Motor City Masquerade or catch the link online. We'll see you there! - Detroit Rock N Roll Magazine

A masked event is happening at the iconic St. Andrew's Hall on September 20th, 2014. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 DOS. $1 of each ticket will be donated to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention . Performances will be hosted by Pulp Culture (Detroit) , featuring the talents of The Midfield (Detroit), Not Blood Paint (Brooklyn) , and Beast in the Field (Midland).

Pulp Culture is a progressive rock band with a strong dedication to grassroots activism. Their hand-painted, face cast masks, collaboratively created by local artists, will being given to all Motor City Masquerade attendees. Additionally, a challenge with secret prizes has been organized in conjunction with the masks.

The band has faced personal and family problems with suicide and sees the masquerade as a cultural intent to accomplish a pivotal goal in social awareness. "We have had so much holding us back even with this event. We want to show people the importance of life through the symbolism of establishing one's identity with themselves. It's cool to be working with so many artists to create such an important event." Says frontman, Alex Brown.

Reserve tickets now via Live Nation at http://concerts.livenation.com/event/08004CEFEEED3B49?camefrom=ramya_8e1 or contact Alex Brown at(248) 694-1020 for VIP information. - Sound and Silence Magazine

Yep, HAVOC IN HAMTRAMCK is another summer street fair, but it promises to be a bit edgier than most of its warm-weather peers. (We wouldn’t expect anything less from those hipsters in Hamtramck.) Art and music are the key elements of the July 23 affair, which kicks off at 2 p.m. with painters working live on the block of Caniff near Paycheck’s Lounge. They’ll be accompanied by a mime, a fire-breather on a unicycle and acoustic musicians who will be performing throughout the afternoon. At 7 p.m., the fun moves indoors for a concert ($8 cover, all ages) at Paycheck’s featuring local prog rockers Pulp Culture, whose debut full-length disc, “What Do You Want?,” arrived early this year. Also on the bill: Dharmapala, Lume, Mover//Shaker and Shy, Low. Proceeds from the event benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Afternoon and evening of July 23, starting at 2 p.m. on the block surrounding Paycheck’s Lounge, 2932 Caniff in Hamtramck. - Detroit Free Press

In a Harvard study that was released on March 27, 2014, scientists and researchers confirmed that the application of pesticides known as neonicotinoids results in a 50 percent collapse compared to roughly a 17 percent collapse in controlled colonies. To avoid grave consequences, including the inability to naturally pollinate one third of Earth’s most nutrient dense flowering plants, there are imperative actions that we as a society must take.

Beecome An Activist

One course to a solution is that of the Activist. In Detroit, musicians in the band Pulp Culture are raising public awareness about the surmounting concerns of CCD by participating in a concert event that calls for people to sign a petition for the “Save America’s Pollinators Act.” Proceeds will be donated to Pesticide Action Network, an organization with a poignant account of scientific resources and active petitions that have been published to change the dangerous agricultural practices responsible for CCD. Pulp Culture has also worked on restoring the ecology of the city through the volunteer program The Greening of Detroit, an organization that provides urban farming and reforestation of the Metro-Detroit area.

Members of Pulp Culture also take part in organic gardening—one of the most important contributions to the sustaining health of local honeybee populations.
“In the wake of honeybee decline, this year I am growing more flowering plants: okra, eggplant, strawberries, green beans, carrots, onions, heirloom tomatoes, oregano, and thyme, as well as potted flowers like Echinacea, marigold, and lavender,” says lead vocalist and front man, Alex Brown.

“I use only organic gardening practices. Companion planting is utterly necessary and transformative in creating a beautiful, self-sustaining garden. I plant marigolds to drive away cabbageworm and nematodes while attracting more bees and predatory insects that eat crop-damaging bugs. Basil drives away whiteflies, protecting tomatoes and peppers, eliminating the need for any pesticide. As far as optional repellents, organic Neem Oil is a perfect miticide and insecticide. Created from the Neem tree of India, it protects cucurbits and brassicas from pesky moths and beetles.”

If an organic garden is not an option due to living space or time and business, one of the most important things to remember is that how we spend our money is the ultimate way we cast our vote. Buying pre-packaged foods and factory-farmed meats supports industries that utilize hazardous pesticides and herbicides. Sourcing groceries is a crucial step for consumers to take in the battle for sustainable farming practices. Buy organic. Do it every time that you are faced with the choice. It is a huge opportunity cost and a responsibility we all share.

Most people do not realize that when eating at a restaurant there is a huge likelihood that much of the food served is not of the finest quality or in accordance with organic practices. The person who sprayed the zucchini on your plate may have had to wear a mask while doing so. The soy-oil they used to fry the chicken could be genetically modified (and the chicken may have been injected with antibiotics and then bathed in ammonia, after living in a cage so small that it couldn’t move,). Source your food. It will change the world.

A popular Detroit option for buying organic food is the Eastern Market. Vendors state-wide bring food to Russell Street in Detroit every weekend, exchanging fresh produce, organic-fed meats, news, and art. With community affairs such as Fresh Food Share and the Façade Improvement Program, the Eastern Market is a host to all sorts of options in constructing and affirming Detroit’s commitment to urban sustainability.

In partnership with the urban agriculture branch of the Greening of Detroit, the Detroit Eastern Market is now planning a Market Garden that features the adaptive reuse of a 30’ x 80’ garage as a functional office space, storage area, and on-site cooperative processing center. The Market Garden will include three solar passive greenhouses to grow food 11 months a year, one 30’ x 96’ heated transplant greenhouse to grow all plants from seed on-site, and a perennial edible forest and mushroom plot, designed to diversify the Market Garden’s product availability. Like many other programs, the Eastern Market boasts a volunteer extension to youths in the Detroit Public School system.

The Eastern Market isn’t the only way Detroiters are supporting sustainable cities. Other Metro-Detroit urban farms include Michigan Urban Farming Initiative, Earthworks, and Hantz Farm just to name a few.

As word spreads in the Metro-Detroit area, more people realize the detrimental effects that conventional, systemic pesticides have on our ecosystems and our bodies. People are becoming more aware and getting involved. The youth and activists such as Pulp Culture will continue to become prominent in the battle for America’s food supply from the grassroots up. Please remember to do your part, and give bees a chance. Go organic. - Honey Colony

Pulp Culture and Cthulhu Entertainment have collaborated to hold a community-supported, street Art Fair featuring a fire-breather on a unicycle, a mime, live-painters, acoustic musicians, and an electric performance in the evening at Paycheck's Lounge, 2932 Caniff Hamtramck, MI 48212. There will be free BBQ pulled pork sliders available. All proceeds and donations for the fair and performance are going to benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

"Fundraising for the AFSP is personally important to me. My father passed away last year after succumbing to a long battle with depression. He loved art and found solace in literature, architecture, music, and cuisine. I would love to see all of these cultural wonders gather with intent to accomplish such a noble goal," says Jake Van Loon of Pulp Culture. His father, Joseph Frank Van Loon was a Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps who passed away at the age of 46 in September 2013.



Pulp Culture believes artistic expression can bring the sense of worth to an individual that fosters a community which faces challenges in a creative, forward manner. The expression of a society itself may become immortalized in the songs, paintings, sculptures, and places that people enjoy on a daily basis. Though the individualistic traits of self-expression and communication through art may bring people to confront feelings of alienation, such traits reflect great strength when turning adversity into beautiful works of art that can inspire generations and teach people to overcome suffering.



With a good cause, great weather, delicious food, and live music/entertainment there's no reason not to attend. We'll see you there. - Sound and Silence Magazine

It has been all over the internet lately. The bees are dying. Some sites say it is from parasites, some from disease, others from stress, the environment, and worker bees just picking up and leaving their colony, as though they are on strike. Whatever the reason is, this is actually a very serious problem. Without bees, who will pollinate our plants?

There are many organizations working to solve this problem and save the bees. This weekend, a group of Detroit bands are coming together to draw awareness to this issue and raise some money for the Pesticide Action Network North America. Dharmapala, The Loveseats,Pulp Culture, The Means and The Static Dial are putting on a benefit show this Friday, June 20th at Corktown Tavern. Not only will there be 5 great bands playing, but there will also be some free BBQ! It's only $5 to get in the door, with 20% going to PAN and some proceeds also going towards Help For Our Disabled Troops.

Corktown Tavern is located at 1716 Michigan Ave. in Detroit. Doors open at 9 p.m. For more details, visit the Facebook event page here. - Hip in Detroit

One of the best things about doing this blog is the opportunity it presents to talk to bands and artists from all across a broad range of genres and scenes. This month I was sent the latest release from Detroit's Pulp Culture. Don't let the word(s) 'Math-rock' put you off, what these present is experimental, progressive and ambitious rock music, though the rhythm section has a pop sensibility which could spark the interest of a far more mainstream audience (if they wished to do so). - I Plug to You

What goes together better than pork sliders and pesticides? Pretty much everything, which is why Corktown Tavern is hosting a fundraiser to support the Pesticide Action Network North America, or PAN. It’s just as entertaining as it political, promoting the use of ecologically sound and socially just alternatives to the pesticides that are known to cause Colony Collapse Disorder in honeybees. Part of the night’s proceeds will go to PAN and a suggested donation gets you some finger-lickin’ BBQ. Featured bands include Pulp Culture, four-piece activist prog-rock band, along with Dharmapala, The Loveseats, The Means, and The Static Dial. - Metrotimes

As North America comes to realize that Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) of honeybee populations is a grave issue, threatening nearly 1/3 of the human diet, scientists at Harvard University have determined that pesticides known as Neonicotinoids are the presiding factor in the die-offs. Detroit band Pulp Culture is raising public awareness for this issue with a concert event. Proceeds will be donated to Pesticide Action Network (PAN), an organization with a poignant account of scientific resources and active petitions, aiming to change the dangerous agricultural practices responsible for CCD.

Preceding the event, Pulp Culture will join efforts with the greening of detroit to plant a tree, flower beds, and a memorial plaque in honor of a fallen soldier who served in Iraq with the band’s drummer, ornamenting the East side of the Corktown Tavern. The group has done numerous projects with the Greening of Detroit along with attending their tree-plantings and other benefit concerts.

At the concert event itself, Pulp Culture will be serving locally sourced, barbecued hand-pulled pork sliders for free with a suggested donation. The pork was slow roasted by the band itself in a series of benefits they did two weeks ago for Help for Our Disabled Troops.

We have recently become aware of this band and they keep blowing us away not only with their music, but with their engaging and activist positivity. Last time we posted about them was for their concert and benefit for our disabled troops. This time around, it’s for the benefit of our earth as a whole. Tip of the hat to Pulp Culture and their team.

The performance and event will be held at Corktown Tavern, 1716 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216, on June 20th. We’ll see you there for a great cause, good music and even better food. - HEAR Magazine

I know the tired hipster gripe that we have an abundance of “Fests” around here, be it in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor or in Detroit – but you can shut your mouth this weekend – this Fest is for Veterans. Actually, you can feed your mouth; show up on Saturday, show your support for local nonprofit Help For Our Disabled Troops and you can get a plate of roasted suckling pig compliments of charcuterie specialist, Chef Drew Dziewit. That’s right, a Pig Roast that leads to a night of music the Pig (…Blind Pig, that is). But this isn’t any all-meat-fest, there will be special vegetarian sliders and green bean salads. Food is served at Waterworks Park (398 S. 7th St) from 2pm until sunset (Vets eat free). After that, a fine line-up of bands keeps the Fest going from 8pm onward at the Blind Pig (208 S First St, Ann Arbor), featuring the atmospheric post-rock and ambient experimental pop of local outfits Truman and Northerner, the dazzling psych-jangle of indie-Americana rockers like Man Mountain, the more frenetic, post-punk-tinged bursts of Pulp Culture and Amanita or the space-rock splashed indie-pop balladry of Narco Debut. - Ecurrent

The Detroit-based band Pulp Culture has teamed up with Ann Arbor's Blind Pig, as well charcuterie connoisseur chef Drew Dziewit, to plan a charity concert and cookout for veterans in Ann Arbor on Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 17.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, Waterworks Park (398 S. 7th St. in Ann Arbor) will host a 3 course meal/pig roast, free for veterans and current servicemen and -women, $10 for donation plates. According to the event's Facebook page, "We are roasting a suckling pig with the help of charcuterie specialist, Chef Drew Dziewit, and using it for new sliders to accompany the side dishes from the first Vetfest event (http://on.fb.me/1nsFjY6), including pulled pork sliders OR homemade vegetarian sliders, homemade mustard potato salad, and a Mediterranean green been salad."

At 9 p.m., the Blind Pig, 208 S. 1st St. in Ann Arbor, will present a concert, featuring Pulp Culture and up-and-coming bands from the Detroit and Ypsilanti areas, to raise money for homeless and disabled veterans. Bands include Man Mountain, Northerner, Amanita, Truman, and Narco Debut. Admission costs $10, though veterans and current servicemen and -women will be admitted free, and doors open at 8 p.m.

All profits will be donated to Help for our Disabled Troops.


Jenn McKee is an entertainment reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Reach her at jennmckee@mlive.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee. - MLive Ann Arbor

Music festivals such as Firefly, Outside Lands, Lollapalooza, Sasquatch and Bonnaroo have become synonymous with summertime. Music fans love festivals because they provide an opportunity to see lots of musical acts for one admission price. "If you think about it in terms of value per concert, you're potentially seeing some of the biggest names in music for under $10 an act," says Wyatt Minami, a 24-year-old New Yorker who's been attending music festivals such as Coachella, Lightning in a Bottle and Ultra Music Festival for five years. "One year I divided my ticket price by how many acts I saw, and I technically saw Paul McCartney – front row – for under $7."

Still, travel, lodging and admission costs can add up quickly. Here's a look at strategies for saving money at summer music festivals.

1. Share travel costs with friends. If you're driving to a music festival, gather a group of friends to carpool and split the cost of gas, parking and tolls. "Some festivals even offer carpooling options and can set you up with other like-minded individuals to help cut costs if the festival is quite a distance," says Andrew Zerbo, a musician who's toured music festivals with the band Pulp Culture.

If the festival is closer to home, then Tonya Rapley, founder and editor of the personal finance blog MyFabFinance.com, suggests arranging to get dropped off before and picked up after to avoid hefty parking costs. "Parking is a fee that a lot of people don’t factor into going to a concert," she explains.

[Read: How to Split Travel Costs With Friends.]

2. Camp near the festival. Many music festivals give attendees the option to camp overnight at or near the festival. This is often cheaper than a hotel room and gives music fans a more immersive festival experience as they pass around beers, swap stories or sing along to their favorite songs. Zerbo, who’s camped at some of the smaller festivals where his band has performed, recommends bringing clothes you don't mind getting dirty. "Going to a thrift store to buy a few articles of clothing for the festival can help you not only get more suitable clothing for the heat," he says, "but can also be way less expensive than replacing clothes that you wish you wouldn't have packed."

3. Bring your own food and supplies. Instead of buying food and supplies from vendors at the festival, bring your own. Depending on the festival, though, you may need to return to your car or campsite if your own food or drinks aren’t allowed inside. Minami packs weightlifting protein powder to mix with water instead of buying meals. "It can be an easy way to replenish nutrients without worrying about it going bad," he says.

Ice can be another expense for festival attendees, so Zerbo suggests freezing a pack of water bottles before you leave. "Use them as your ice for keeping your food and beverages cool on the way down and possibly the first day," he says. "Once they thaw, drink them!"

Some festivals charge for shower use. To avoid that cost, Zerbo suggests bringing baby wipes or a portable shower. "They come in giant, 5-gallon bags that cost less than $10 and are available at most retail chains," he says. "Just place them in the sun all day so when you use them, your water is warm." He also recommends storing a toilet paper roll on an empty CD spindle to protect it from water or dirt. "It stays dry and keeps it easily accessible," he adds.

[See: 12 Ways to Save Money on Food.]

4. Volunteer for the festival. Many festivals rely on volunteers to scan tickets, clean up between sets or sell merchandise. When they aren't working the festival, volunteers may have the chance to catch other acts for free or at a steep discount. "Many require a sort of security deposit, but so long as you follow your festival’s usually simple guidelines, you'll get it right back," Zerbo says. Skip a volunteer shift, though, and you might be on the hook for the full festival admission.

Your best bet for volunteer opportunities is likely a smaller festival with fewer people competing for spots. As Minami puts it, "everyone and their mother is trying to volunteer at Coachella." Sign up early for volunteering to secure your spot.

5. Buy a single-day pass (or sell tickets to extra days). If you can't stomach the full cost of the festival, consider buying a day pass instead. "You can still experience a taste of the festival," Zerbo says. "Many will argue that you're not getting the full festival effect, but you are likely able to cut your entry costs sometimes into thirds while experiencing a ton of music."

Rapley bought a $115 day pass for the Governors Ball in New York City so she could see Outkast perform. "They were performing at Coachella, so I did a little research to find out when they were coming closer to me so I didn't have to pay to go all the way out to California," she says. Some festivals offer early bird rates if you follow the production company on social media or subscribe to its email list, Rapley adds.

Minami takes the opposite approach by buying tickets for the full festival and reselling tickets to days he doesn't want to attend through Craigslist or Facebook. This isn't feasible for every festival (some issue wristbands that are nontransferable), but in some cases, "if the demand is there, you can get back what you paid for the other days," he says. Keep in mind that some venues will not allow you to resell tickets on the premises (and there could be legal ramifications for doing so), so you may want to conduct business elsewhere if you choose to do this.

[Read: How to Find Live Entertainment for Less.]

Despite the costs, many music fans consider the experience to be well worth it, especially if you get to see your favorite Beatle for less than the cost of an album. - US News

U.S. ARMY VETERAN GIVES BACK: PIG ROAST & CONCERT EVENT
Vets Eat Free, Charity Concert and Cookout on Armed Forces Weekend
May 16th-17th

After med-evac flights, extensive surgery, and physical therapy for detonation wounds received in Iraq in 2010, Army veteran Mike Frizzell returned to civilian life in his home state of Michigan. It was the generosity shown to Mike by Dan Higgins (Help For Our Disabled Troops), Ron Jedwab (Lincorp Construction), and Home Depot of Lake Orion, MI, that allowed Mike and his wife to settle in and enjoy the home they had purchased. The dedicated group of companies and volunteers added much needed insulation to the home, as well as replaced the broken front porch, made repairs to drywall, and added a deck complete with outdoor furniture and a barbecue grill.

Mike is extremely grateful for the help and support that he has received and now it is his desire to serve again through music and charity, “It’s the only way I know how to give back […] with my talents and making art.” As the drummer for the band, Pulp Culture, Mike is able to ignite further generosity within our community through the benefit shows the band performs for local charities.

The rock group has teamed up with nationally acclaimed Ann Arbor music venue Blind Pig and Charcuterie Connoisseur Chef Drew Dziewit in order to raise money for a retrofitting project for homeless and disabled veterans by hosting a Pig Roast with a lineup of up and coming atmospheric rock outfits from the Detroit and Ypsilanti areas. The event will be held on Armed Forces day, May 17th, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Veterans and current servicemen and women receive a free three-course meal in Waterworks Park, Ann Arbor on 7th St. and will be admitted for free to the show at 9:00 p.m.

On May 16th, the day before, the group will be hosting a cookout to benefit Help For Our Disabled Troops at the Old Miami, originally established as a haven for veterans of the Vietnam War. They will sell hand-grilled steak-hoagies, veggie sliders, homemade coleslaw, potato, and side-salads. Doors are at 5:00 p.m.

For more information please visit the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/286308071529373/

For more information on Pulp Culture please visit Pulp Culture’s official website: http://www.pulpculturemusic.com/

For social media please visit: https://www.facebook.com/PulpCultureMusic - HEAR Magazine

Pulp Culture Live at WCBN Local Music Show in Ann Arbor, MI playing tracks off of their debut album, "What Do You Want?" - WCBN

If the per acre day knows, 2014 is gonna be another great year for contemporary progressive rock.
Pulp Culture is a 4-piece prog band from southeast Michigan. As it is about the contemporary prog aesthetic, Pulp Culture's music is awesome eclectic stuff; it's a fantastic mix of 70s prog in the vein of King Crimson, modern psychedelic rock, math rock and jazz-funk.
In January 2014, Pulp Culture released their crystal-line masterpiece, a concept album What Do You Want? - Prog Archives

Before it closes, Woodruff’s will host a fundraiser to benefit the Greening of Detroit, thanks to Pulp Culture, a four-piece band from Waterford that has a passion for Detroit, sustainability and music. The band will be joined by the Excommunicators, Amanita and Zombie Jesus Chocolate Sunshine Band playing sets at Woodruff’s, and the organizers will be donating 20 percent of door tickets and $1 of each piece of merchandise sold to the well-established nonprofit. There will also be free T-shirts for every donation of $20 or more. It takes place on March 14, at 36 E. Cross St., Ypsilanti; woodruffsbar.com. - Metrotimes

Local rockers Pulp Culture will perform at PJ’s Lager House for a charity event featuring “music against Detroit blight.” The group is donating 100 percent of door profits, and a minimum of $1 for each piece of merchandise sold to The Greening of Detroit, a nonprofit. 9 tonight. $20 donation (includes a free T-shirt). 1254 Michigan Ave. Call (313) 961-4668. - Detroit News