the Howling Diablos
This year’s River Days festival melds the traditional with the unique. For all the elephant ears, carousels, and carnival games on the riverfront this weekend, there will also be fire spitters, Coast Guard search and rescue demonstrations, and sand sculptures.
And then there’s the music.
Festival organizers have collected a diverse set of acts, from hometown heroes to international superstars. Some local highlights include Thornetta Davis, the Twistin’ Tarantulas, and Amy Gore & Her Valentines. Kansas and Boys II Men are two of the national acts booked.
Local favorites the Howling Diablos and the Infatuations are closing out the Michigan Lottery stage tonight. The Infatuations go on at 7:30pm and the Howling Diablos at 9:30pm.
The Infatuations are still high on the release of their music video for ‘Blame It on You.’ The song was released as an iTunes single on Valentine’s Day.
Christian Draheim is lead guitarist for the band.
“We did the video with Jennifer Champange’s Capstone Film Class at Madonna University,” said Draheim. “The video was nominated for an Emmy Award this year, too.”
“That was pretty bad ass.”
Draheim said the band’s set will feature mostly originals and a few cover songs mixed in. The cover choices–Michael Jackson, the Bee Gees, and Stevie Wonder–reflect the band’s sound. Fans can expect “an hour and half set of high energy funk/soul/pop/disco with a rock twist.”
The band is also preparing a special 70th birthday tribute for Paul McCartney.
After the Infatuations will be the Howling Diablos, a consistent highlight of many Michigan festivals.
Tino Gross, vocalist for the group, updated us on what his band’s been up to lately.
“The last year for the Howling Diablos has been really productive, but most importantly, a lot of fun,” said Gross. “Our new album Ultra Sonic Gas Can (Funky D Records) came out last July and we’ve kept really busy since. The album really reflects Detroit and we got help from some heavy hitters like Robert Bateman (Marvelettes), Uncle Kracker, Mike E. Clark, HUSH, and many others.”
The Howling Diablos will no doubt bring that Detroit sound to the river tonight, with enough energy to carry over to Canada.
“Our set at River Days is gonna be hot, funky, and rockin’,” said Gross. “Like a juke joint in a bait shop next to the Detroit River!”
Click HERE for the full Detroit River Days music line-up.
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