“Mad” Mike Banks and Jeff Mills, members of the techno super group X-102, will reunite at 2010’s Metamorphose outside Tokyo, Japan on September 4th and the 2010 TodaysArt Festival in The Hague, Netherlands on September 24 and 25.

X-102 reunion will feature a performance of X-102 Rediscovers The Rings of Saturn, a multimedia electronic music experience featuring footage of the planet Saturn and its surrounding rings.  In 1992, X-102, then featuring Robert Hood, first released the album X-102 Discovers The Rings of Saturn, which was a musical exploration of space. In 2008, Mills and Banks turned the album into a multimedia experience at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona, dazzling audiences with a combination of music and video.

Mills’ and Banks’ upcoming reunion will be the first time the X-102 duo has played together since those 2008 dates. 2010’s performance of The Rings of Saturn will feature newly released footage from outer space.

Boldly go and check out X-102!

So there’s all this talk about how Michigan is wooing the film and television folks with tax breaks and all, but some folks have been there all along.  Case in point, Stage 3 Studios, who have not only been there, but want to help folks who need it too.  To that end, this Saturday Stage 3 is presenting “Starring You Too”, an open house/benefit for COTS (Center On Temporary Shelter) in Detroit.  And what does this sweetness have to do with Alter Ego??  How about The Sugar People playing live as you nibble hors d’oeuvres and sip your drink?  Sounds sexy?  Yeah, we know!  They’ll be bringing their brand of playful drama set to music after an appearance at the People’s Art Festival at the Russell Industrial Center.  You know you want it!  See you there!

That’s right. The gentlemen of Especially Good have produced a 7″ vinyl EP containing the songs “Watch Out” and “Room Downstairs.” The EP is available at Stormy Records in Dearborn or via mailorder at Submerge.  Stream these songs on their myspace to get a taste of their particularly pleasant music.

There’s even a limited edition version of the record that comes with its own handmade leather vinyl jacket with the words “Especially Good” stitched on. I’m serious. It’s Especially Good we’re talking about here. You have to be prepared for anything.

Nadir and Distorted Soul kick some sweet soul music LIVE on Nick Austin’s New Soul Sunday August 22 from 5pm – 7pm EST. The guys will play new material from Nadir’s forthcoming album and some old favorites on Detroit’s best new soul music show. The band is: Derrick Benford (piano), Mahindi Masai (percussion), Tate McBroom (drums), Chris Spooner (bass) and Nadir (vocals & guitar)

Listen LIVE at wdet.org/listenlive or if you’re in The D, tune into 101.9 FM.

What a great way to cap off a soulful Sunday afternoon…

Sunday, August 22, 2010
Nadir & Distorted Soul
LIVE on Nick Austin’s New Soul Sundays
WDET Radio 101.9 FM
Detroit, Michigan
Showtime: 5pm – 7pm
LISTEN LIVE @ WDET

Alter Ego artist and Underground Resistance’s Bileebob’s is back with a brand new 12″ EP “Call Me,” which features the hot single “Get a Phone.” This beautiful piece of 12″ vinyl can be purchased online at www.submerge.com.

But BileeBob wasn’t satisfied to merely tell you to get a phone. Nope, the famed Detroit DJ made this fabulous video to state his case.

So check out the video, pick up the vinyl, and if you haven’t already, get a phone.

21st century blues man and funk artist, Nadir, and Underground Resistance DJ Mark Flash, and hip hop duo The Regiment will play the 2010 Dancin’ On The Street festival presented by the Heidelberg Project. The Heidelberg Project is a community organization dedicated to using “art to provoke thought, promote discussion, and inspire action and heal communities.” Every year the organization sponsors the Dancin’ On The Street festival, and this year, our good friends Nadir, The Regiment, DJ Mark Flash will be taking the stage.

When? Saturday August 14th, 2010.

Who? The Regiment performs at 2:15 PM, Nadir performs at 5:00 PM ,and DJ Mark Flash at 6:00 PM. Click here for a full schedule.

Where? The 3600 Block of Heidelberg St. in Detroit, MI. Check this map for more details.

Oh, it doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as you are there. So, come on, everybody, check out Nadir, The Regiment, and Mark Flash at Dancin’ On The Street!

While the combination of Nick Speed and UR seems like a natural fit, kids today may be shocked to find out that it wasn’t until the last few years that the two forces combined powers.

In an article for TheLoopDetroit.com, Speed chronicles how he worked with Detroit rapper on Danny Brown on the track “What Up Doe?,” which samples Model 500’s “Night Drive (Thru Babylon).” The track blew up, and this led to the meeting between Speed and Model 500’s very own Juan Atkins, and next thing you know, Alter Ego Management’s Cornelius Harris and UR’s “Mad” Mike Banks got involved.

Speed began working with the folks over at UR, and soon thereafter, Speed entered into the world of vinyl. The result is “Speed of Sound,” which is available NOW on Submerge.

Order this vinyl today for only $6.99! No really, do it. Here’s the link again.

Official US Premier of Parts 1&2 +world premier of part 2
Tresor Berlin - The vault and the electronic frontier Pts: 1&2
A documentary with a strong Detroit connection. Techno was built in Detroit but it took Berlin and Tresor to knock the nail home. In 2004 Mike Andrawis released the first independent documentary (now …part 1) concerning Tresor that goes far beyond the story of techno and electronic music and into the realms of social history. Tresor was the legendary music club in Berlin, based in a pre-war Second World War underground vault hidden for over 40 years until discovered by friends after the fall of the Berlin wall. This documentary shows with pathos, spirit and humour the musical connections between Berlin, Detroit and UK. Featuring Jeff Mills, Juan Atkins, Cristian Vogel and very rare archive of Timothy Leary and many great live performances. In the 2009 update part 2 documents and charts Tresor the 2005 closing and move to a huge new gallery space, a Tate Modern for Berlin.

Detroit Windsor International Film Festival
(DWIFF) www.dwiff.org
Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 7:10 PM (ET)
Detroit, MI

Wayne State Law School
421 West Palmer
Detroit, MI 48207

The only thing you need to know is that Alter Ego’s very own DJ Rhenalt just dropped his new track “G-Force,” which is available for download on iTunes. But unlike some boring physics babble, Rhenalt’s track “moves fast though out your subconscious while the rhythms resonates with in your creative soul.”

So log into iTunes and download “G-Force” by DJ Rhenalt for only $0.99. That’s cheaper than a bottle of Ting!

But don’t take my word for it! Check out this sweet cartoon video for “G-Force.”

And since activists like to get their jam on, there’s music too.  Check out the full schedule for all the performances from Tuesday to Friday.  There’s hip hop, spoken word, funk, traditional, and just about anything else you’d want to listen to.  Alter Ego artists will be representin’, and here are some dates and times you need to know to catch our peoples live.

• Tuesday June 22 5:00 PM - Nadir live at Cobo Hall, USSF 2010 Opening Session, Detroit, MI
• Thursday June 24 4:00-9:00 PM - DJ Konspiracy of UR, Mainstage, Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI
• Thursday June  24 5:00 PM - Illite, Pyramid Stage, Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI
• Thursday June 24 9:00 PM - The Regiment, Pyramid Stage, Hart Plaza, Detroit, MI

But, of course, you should check out everyone and everything at the Forum, not just the Alter Ego folks. See you there!