HELPING HEARTS

It’s another case of an all-too-familiar tale that nevertheless hurts like hell to hear each time it has to be told. Too few working musicians have adequate health care; many have none at all. Such is the case with Rick Hudson, the man behind the drum kit providing the funk for Detroit acid-groove jazz septet, Jazzhead. While performing two weeks ago at Jazzhead’s weekly Monday night gig at Fifth Avenue, Hudson suffered a brain aneurysm onstage. He was rushed to the hospital where he is making a good recovery and, according to Jazzhead guitarist John Arnold, won’t have to undergo brain surgery. That’s the good news; the bad news, as always, is the cost. To aid their friend and bandmate, the other Jazzheaders are organizing a benefit performance this Monday night, July 26, at Fifth Ave., 215 W. Fifth Ave. in Royal Oak.

In addition to a Jazzhead performance, says Arnold, "There’s gonna be a ton of muthafuckas playing," including DJ sets and guest jams from a cadre of the Detroit music community’s finest players.

There’ll be a cover charge in the form of donations, and anything above and beyond is welcome. If you can’t make it out Monday night for the show but would like to help out, Arnold can be reached at 248-616-0721. –Chris Handyside

ROLL’D GOLD

While changeling NYC roots-rockers the Silos may not be rolling into town for a rare live area gig (they had orignially been scheduled to perform this week), they are, however, O local music reader, rollicking into town to record. Word is that head Silo Walter Salas-Humara is producing Ann Arbor singer-songwriter Jim Roll’s upcoming, as-yet-untitled follow-up to his excellent ’97 album Ready To Hang (on Chicago-though-they-have-a-preponderance-of-A2-artists-onboard label, One Man Clapping). Better still, the current incarnation of the Silos will also be backing Roll and providing sonic support for his recording effort. The project is set to be released on fresh indie New West Records (according to Salas-Humara, about half the record’s done). For those who seek singing and songwriting of the inspired, countrified, rule-breaking variety, keep your eyes and ears peeled for Roll’s autumn release date. –Chris Handyside

STORM THE STEREO

That hypnotic rumbling coming from the not-so-distant future isn’t a storm – it’s Stormy Records, a new record store that opens this weekend under the proprietorship of Windy Weber and Carl Hultgren. If those names seem vaguely familiar, it’s because Weber and Hultgren are better known as Windy and Carl, the mesmerizing Dearborn drone duo. Stormy Records will be a specialty shop, heavy on the modern space, psych and other out sounds, as well as all sorts of new and used obscurities and collectibles. You’ll find this music emporium at 4717 Horger, (just north of Michigan between Greenfield and Schaefer in Dearborn, inside Dearborn’s rock ’n’ roll hair salon, the East End Barber Shop. Stormy Records is the latest addition to quite a happening pocket of alternative retail activity, with musical instrument stores, antique shops, comics retailers and coffee shops all within walking distance. Stormy Records will celebrate its arrival this Friday from 6 to 11 p.m. Their phone number is 313-581-2589, but that number won’t be active until early next week. In the very short meantime, you can reach them through the East End number, 313-581-4577, for more info. And stop by the lawn of Dearborn’s City Hall, on Michigan just west of Schaefer, at 11 a.m. this Saturday to see Windy and Carl perform as part of the Motor Town Music Fest.
–Greg Baise