Cadieux Cafe Presents: Twistin' Tarantulas

4300 Cadieux Road,Detroit MI 48224

27 June, 2021

Description

Twistin' Tarantulas Outdoors at the Cadieux Cafe's Mussel Beach The time: Fall 1993 The place: The former Dispatch Laundry Co. and home to one "Pistol" Pete Midtgard, located in a Detroit neighborhood it's residents affectionately refer to as, "Ghetto Heights" The result: The formation of the Twistin' Tarantulas, a hard-edged, roots-driven, Rock n' Roll band with the intensity of a five-alarm blaze, the conviction of a sinner at the gates of heaven, and an attitude of, well, a band from Detroit! Since their forming, the band has gone from a Sunday night side project to a full-time nationally touring act with four CDs of all original material. They've been north to Alaska, south to Key West, east to Helsinki, west to L.A. and everywhere else in-between. They have sold records throughout the world without the aid of a record label and have had their music used for MTV's "Real World" and "Road Rules," two movies, and several other TV and radio shows. Musically, the band journeys across the American musical landscape, playing mostly their own material. They play a hybrid of Jump-Blues and Rockabilly with a old school Punk edge, avoiding most of the cliché associated with Rockabilly bands. (This is no 50s dog-n-pony show) When they do cover songs, expect the unexpected. On any given night you'll hear: Elvis, Bill Haley, Johnny Cash, Tom Waits, Bauhaus, Misfits, Motörhead, AC/DC, Ramones, and even Kiss. What started out as a band with a mission, has ended up being a man with a mission. Pistol Pete Midtgard, the lead singer, upright bassist, and main creative force is also the sole survivor of the original line-up. Like his idol, Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister of Motörhead, Pete's name and his band's name have become synonymous. For 25 years, Pete has maintained a standard of intensity and musicianship through death (RIP Ready Freddy Spencer, Brad Helner, Mickey Stevens), desertion, and even his own battle with cancer. -Like the old man and the sea, he refuses to give up. All the aforementioned information becomes apparent when you see the band live. Every year of experience, every twist and turn of their sordid course, and every tear of joy or sadness ever shed comes through in their performance. No wardrobe stylist, no make-up artist, no choreographer, and no gimmicks, -just three men telling their story and expressing themselves through their music. Featherbowling, steamed mussels, more than a dozen beers from Belgium... at the Cadieux Cafe, as the bumper sticker on the wall says, “It’s Beautiful To Be Belgian.” Since its days as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, the Cadieux Cafe has been a social hub for Metro Detroit's Belgian population. Flemish culture flourishes at the Cadieux, which is or has been the unofficial headquarters for an array of clubs promoting pastimes from across the pond, including pigeon racing, archery, bicycling, darts and, of course, feather bowling. The Michigan Traditional Arts Program awarded the Cadieux the Michigan Heritage Award for “continuing family and community cultural traditions with excellence and authenticity.” They’ve been careful to maintain the place’s old-world charm and traditions, but they've also made it more accessible to the masses – particularly the 21-35 year-old demographic – by bringing in live musical acts and staying open until 2am daily. It’s still beautiful to be Belgian at the Cadieux Cafe, but you’re more than welcome to pretend. Reservations for dinner are accepted for groups of eight or more. To reserve featherbowling lanes, please call (313)882-8560 to reserve your time in advance.