ROCK IN DETROIT’S
APRIL 2026
ARTIST OF THE MONTH:
RALPH WILLIAMS
Ralph William (a.k.a Ralph Smith, a.k.a. Ralph Power) resides at the core of Detroit’s hardcore scene. Rock in Detroit recently spoke to him about that scene and his place in it.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Before we get to Detroit, I know you’re from Brooklyn. My parent are from there, as am I (in a sense). When were you there? Were you involved in the Brooklyn/NYC music scene at all?
RALPH: I grew up in Brooklyn in the 70s and 80s. Starting in the 90s, I used to go to shows at CBGBs, Wetlands, Coney Island High and other clubs/bars in New York. I started my first band, Profits of Misery in New York in like 1997.
ROCK IN DETROIT: How does the Detroit hardcore scene compare the with Brooklyn/NYC scene?
RALPH: The Detroit scene is smaller, but in some ways more united. In big cities like New York, the “metal scene” the “punk scene” and the “hardcore scene” can be three different groups of people. You see the same people at a lot of shows in Detroit.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Tell us a bit about the bands your currently involved in. I know one is called Stacked Deck. Is that social commentary? Do you think of you bands as “political” (whatever that means).
RALPH: I am Currently in Death in Custody–going for 20-plus years now–Bad Assets and Stacked Deck. Stacked Deck is actually my “new” band, been going for about 8 years now. Stacked Deck is named after a Death in Custody song. All of my bands are fast and loud with generally short songs. Bad Assets is an Oi band, but still plays pretty fast, usually.
ROCK IN DETROIT: What if anything do you feel sets your bands apart from other Detroit bands?
RALPH: A lot of hardcore bands are obsessed with being “heavy” and “hard” and having “sick” mosh parts. All of my bands are fast and angry, the way hardcore was back in the day.
ROCK IN DETROIT: Could you name-drop some? Your own bands excluded, who do you consider some of the leading hardcore bands in the area?
RALPH: Oh boy. Ha-ha. Bad Beat, WMD, Self-Absorbed, Cemetery Girl, Come Out Fighting, H8 Inc. There’s a lot of great bands
ROCK IN DETROIT: Beside playing shows, I know you book them. Tell us a bit about Ralph Powers Booking. What venues to you book at? Are you looking for new bands to book?
RALPH: I’ve been booking shows since the mid-90’s. I started Ralph Power Booking because at one point someone told me I needed to have a “booking page” on Facebook, and here we are. I book at different venues in the Metro Detroit area, like Sanctuary, Small’s, the Regal Beagle in Ypsilanti and more. I take pride in paying all the bands that play my shows. I’m always looking for new bands to book.
ROCK IN DETROIT: My impression is that hardcore shows often have more bands on the bill than “regular” rock shows, Do you think this is right? Any theories as to why?
RALPH: Hardcore bands usually play short sets, anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. So there’s usually more bands than a regular rock show. I think it’s cool
ROCK IN DETROIT: Any show coming up you particularly would like people to know about?
RALPH: I’ll let you know!
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