If you've spent enough time in the Gem, you'll have heard The Detroit Cobras on regular rotation in their garage rock playlist.
It’s fair to say that owners Rusty and Rhys are long-time, dyed-in-the-wool fans, along with Kit Atkinson, their new booker.
For the uninitiated, The Detroit Cobras were icons of the Michigan garage punk scene. Led by frontwoman Rachel Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez, with a rotating cast of support musicians, they smashed out albums of popular 60s hits, – a classic rock ‘n’ roll energy, by way of a 90s garage sound.
The Gem’s tribute to The Detroit Cobras
- Songs The Detroit Cobras Taught Us
- Sat 17 Dec – from 8pm
- Plus DJ Shauna Ceratops.
- The Gem, 289 Wellington St, Collingwood
- Free entry
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Since Rachel’s passing earlier this year, The Gem have been looking for the chance to honour her life and music in true rock style. When they discovered Shannon Cannon of Juliette Seizure & the Tremor Dolls was also a huge fan and ready to lead a tribute band for the night, the plan finally came to life.
Songs the Detroit Cobras Taught Us will be a Gem-hosted celebration of the life and legacy of Nagy. Frankly, there’s no better place for a Detroit Cobras tribute event than this wood-panelled oasis of retro Americana and Big Memphis Energy right in Collingwood.
And there’s no better time than Saturday December 17 – what would have been Nagy’s birthday weekend. It’s free entry, all are welcome to gather and commemorate this badass legend of rock ‘n’ roll in the way she would’ve wanted: a rowdy party with good booze, good food, a good crowd and a Cha Cha Twist.
But it’s not just an event for fans. Even folks who don’t know the Detroit Cobras will be able to get in on the raucous fun of a garage rock night out at The Gem. Rusty and Rhys, who also run The Curtin, have been doing a killer job of delivering good times and great vibes at The Gem consistently, with bands, DJs and residencies spanning from punk to country and electro.
The Gem is no stranger to tribute events either, holding annual Patsy Cline and Hank Williams shows and the Grand Final Eve Johnny Cash Karaoke Night featuring The Boys Named Sue ensemble band. Every rock-lover in Melbourne knows The Gem can throw one hell of a hoedown.
So what can you expect from this particular shindig? A raucous good time with two sets of live rock ‘n’ roll classics belted out with love by a band of Nagy superfans. A high-energy crowd tearing up the dancefloor (perfect time to bust out the choreography, if you’ve got it).
For eats, you’ll be chowing down on the purest flavours of Americana: Sonny’s Fried Chicken and Burgers will be grillin’ and fryin’ up a storm in the kitchen – “damn fine food”, according to The Gem team – complete with the slaws, fries and sides you need to power through the party. For bevs, they’re slinging house cocktails, craft froths, and all the usual booze (and booze-free) suspects. And when the tribute act is done, DJ Shauna Ceratops takes over and keeps the vibe going long into the night.
The tribute band is a killer ensemble of Detroit Cobras fans: Shannon Cannon (vocals) and Graeme Coles (guitar, JS & The T-Ds), Kit Convict (guitar, Blowers), Shannon Driscoll (bass, Blowers, JS & The T-Ds, The Reprobettes), and Kate Alexander (Ute Root/ Party Pest/ Mightiest of Guns/ The Hot Blood). It is a labour of love for all involved. And Nagy was hugely influential on Cannon in particular.
“I think the first time I listened to Detroit Cobras I was about 17 working at Big Star Records and I put the Life Love & Leaving album on in the shop because somebody had recommended it to me for the Ronettes cover,” Cannon said. “I was instantly in love and just wanted to be Rachel. I would have settled for being even marginally as cool as her.”
Of course, the influence of The Detroit Cobras was far greater than the aura of Nagy’s irrepressible ‘cool’. She left an incredible musical legacy to rock ‘n’ roll women carving out their musical space.
“The 60’s girl group revival thing has definitely been a major part of Juliette Seizure & the Tremor-Dolls,” Cannon said. “Pretty much everything I write has backing vocal parts that I treat as integral instruments in the band – a main ingredient, not just a garnish.”
The ensemble will be keeping their covers faithful to the Detroit Cobras sound. Although, if you want to hear a killer version of Hotdog, check out Juliette Seizure & the Tremor Dolls’ version of Hotdog from their Seizure Salad album. Even if you’ve never heard of The Detroit Cobras, chances are you’ll catch tunes you recognise in the set of greatest hits.
Whether you’ve memorised every line and riff of The Detroit Cobras tracks, want to pay your liquored-up respects to a powerful woman of the genre, or you’re a complete newcomer to the garage punk scene who just loves a damn good party, this promises to be a brilliant night of music, booze and great food at The Gem. Swing by, party hard, rock on and make Nagy proud.
A tribute to Rachel Nagy and a celebration of the music of Detroit Cobras. Musicians inspired by the iconic rock’n’roll band come together to perform a greatest hits selection of the Detroit Cobras catalogue. The live band features members of Juliette Seizure & The Tremor-Dolls, Blowers, Grindhouse, Ute Root, Party Pest, Mightiest of Guns and The Hot Blood.
Rest In Peace Rachel Nagy
December 15, 1973 – January 14, 2022 x
For more info, check out the Facebook event here.
This article was made in partnership with The Gem.
