THE 24 “MUST SEE” PUNK AND HARDCORE BANDS OF THE METRO DETROIT IN 2024

Metropolitan Detroit has been breeding excellent underground Rock acts for well over 50 years. Many bands in that time made their small contribution and then faded away into obscurity. Many had a 7” or maybe a full length recording that still may be found in someone’s record collection. Many bands had large followings in the city yet were little heard of outside of Michigan. A fortunate few even reached legendary status: The Stooges and The MC5 in the late 60’s, Death in the mid 1970’s, Negative Approach in the early 1980’s and The Suicide Machines in the late 1990’s.

Below is a short list of 24 “MUST SEE” Metro Detroit bands that fall into the genre of Punk and/or Hardcore. I have seen or played with each band; all are very good and worth your time. For availability check out their websites, Facebook pages and download their music!!

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Bands are listed alphabetically:

1. Bad Assets: A mixture of punk, Oi and Hardcore. Several full length releases. Songs are very Detroit related. I’m a big fan.

2. Bang Shifter: Even keeled punk rock in the vein of Social Distortion. They also have a podcast called Detroit State of Mind…check it out!

3. Break Anchor: Reminds me of early Rise Against or maybe Off With Their Heads. Fronted by Jay Navarro (Suicide Machines/Hellmouth).

4. Bullet Wound: Old school hardcore/street punk. See them February 26 @New Dodge Lounge in Hamtramck.

5. Choking Susan: Female fronted punk rock band that’s been around for many years. Have toured extensively and have a quality full length release. Reminds me a little bit of Neighborhood Brats or The Lunachicks.

6. Come Out Fighting: Intense hardcore done right! Somewhere between Minor Threat and Sick of it All.

7. Cynecide: No introduction should be necessary. This band has been at it since 1976/77. If you haven’t seen them over the past 40 years then you need to get out more often. They still play regularly.

8. The DDTs: Adrenaline fueled old school punk. If UK Subs, Circle Jerks and early Bad Religion had a threesome. New full length due out this summer.

9. Death In Custody: Old school hardcore…been around for years. One the BEST drummers I’ve ever seen. Fronted by Ralph Smith of Bad Assets.

10. Detroit 442: Old school punk. Veteran musicians of many now defunct Detroit acts. They have several excellent releases.

11. Duk Butter: Punk and hardcore mix. Been around a long time. Great guys. A staple at most big hardcore events.

12. EKG: Street punk/Oi with a dash of hardcore. Detroit’s answer to 86 Mentality.

13. Fabulous Disaster: A talented group of veteran musicians that play an entire set of Sex Pistols covers! Always fun and entertaining.

14. Hydrogen Jukebox: Kinda post punk with a Flipper, meets Contortions, meets Count Five, meets…., vibe. Entertaining and slightly different (in a good way) from other straightforward punk acts.

15. Keep Away: Intense old school hardcore. Think Negative Approach meets Agnostic Front.

16. Killing Pixies: Female pop punk band (with male drummer) that remind me of a cross between Go Betty Go & The Soviettes. Very talented and energetic. Youngest band on the list.

17. The Randy Bastards: Great pop punk band that I was recently reminded of. Think somewhere between The Mr T Experience and Ruth’s Hat.

18. Rebel Spies: Punk Rock. Been around for several years and have opened for a few national acts. They have a couple really good full lengths available.

19. Spitvalve: Punk rock n roll veterans that seemingly play everywhere/all the time…they’re that good. Great guys. They have several full lengths available.

20. Side Effects: Old school punk rock three piece group; have a couple good fist pumping/two finger in the air full length releases.

21. The Strains: Punk rock n roll. Another really good band that seems to be playing out quite a bit…pandemic be damned.

22. The Zotz: Really fun three piece pop punk/rock n roll band. Imagine if The Ramones and Cheap Trick met Alice Cooper at a recording studio and played fun, catchy riffs.