The Hard Lessons

The Hard Lessons are the latest in a seemingly endless line of fantastic Detroit groups with a knack for merging timeless mod, soul, garage, and hard-rock influences into something that's uniquely theirs. Having paid their dues in the college town of Lansing, the band made the move south and is now setting the Motor City aflame, having gigged relentlessly with pretty much everyone who is anyone in the scene, including the Detroit Cobras, Paybacks, Sights, Von Bondies, Outrageous Cherry, and the Dirtbombs.

More so than its compatriots, this intoxicating power trio digs deep into the Motown and Stax/Volt songbook, showing just the right amount of hedonistic, garage-rock fury. Keyboardist Ko Ko Louise and guitarist Gin have been billed as Detroit's modern incarnation of Ike and Tina Turner for good reason, while pint-sized drummer the Anvil, of Mini Me proportions, is just as much of a crowd-pleaser with his relentless, raucous beats. Their "Feedback Loop"/"Love Gone Cold," a limited-edition debut 45 produced by the legendary Jim Diamond, has been making the rounds to great acclaim; a full-length is due to arrive later this year. Don't miss their first of hopefully many Cleveland appearances.