July 24
I am writing to express my deep concern for events I witnessed Saturday, July 19th in the village of Port Sanilac at the Port Sanilac Summer Festival. The following is documentation of the events as they happened. As a concerned citizen, writer, and performer at the show, I was shocked and appalled by the Port Sanilac police in the way they handled this matter. What I witnessed was a gross misuse of power, and overreaction to a very non-confrontational situation that could have been handled in a civilized manner. I believe the civil rights of the musicians and audience members involved have been violated and consider this a very news worthy event. Thank you very much for your time.
Sincerely,
Tonya
Burton, MI
www.myspace.com/girlscouthandgrenade
girlscouthandgrenade@hotmail.com
Heavy Metal Under attack
Saturday’s Rock the Docks sure didn’t rock for the seven bands hired to play the Port Sanilac event. Only two bands were able to perform at the July 19th celebration before police were called. The band, Girl Scout Hand Grenade (Flint), had just finished up their 30 minute set when rumors began to fly that the show had been “shut down.” No formal announcement was made over the PA by anyone associated with the event or police, however, allegedly Police Chief Rod Jaskowski found it necessary to tackle, assault, and arrest an innocent drummer who unintentionally began to warm up for what he thought was the next performance. Tazers drawn, police announced that if everyone “in a band” did not leave the premises in ten minutes they would be arrested. No reason was given for the shut down of the event though, some suspect a select few of the beer tent patrons, were unhappy with the type of music being played (Heavy Metal). Girl Scout Hand Grenade bass player was arrested for asking officer Jaskowski, “What are the charges?” as Jaskowski placed the drummer in handcuffs. He was later charged with disorderly conduct for asking.
Of the bands that were hired to entertain at the celebration, a few were compensated, but five were robbed of the opportunity to perform. The events coordinators attempted to quell the chaos and prevent the musicians from being arrested to no avail. After being invited into town with the intentions of drawing a younger crowd to the festivities, all seven bands, some having traveled over two hours to get there, were ran out by police because of the music and art they choose to share with the world, heavy metal.
Prior to police invasion, there were no known disturbances, or altercations, as everyone in front of the pavilion appeared to be calmly, and soberly enjoying the show. Dissatisfaction was expressed very vocally however, from the beer tent located right next to the pavilion stage. Heckles and jeers were heard from the fenced in area where many patrons appeared quite intoxicated prior to the shows demise. No illegal activity, violence of any kind, rude or disrespectful behavior took place prior to the police disruption.
We are asking that anybody that was at the show on Saturday in Port Sanilac to come forward and share what you saw, and also how you feel about what happened. We need to raise our voices in defense of the first amendment and also raise our voices against excessive force from police officers. This violence should not be tolerated and can not be tolerated. Justice must be served and freedom protected.
so please leave a comment on our myspace page or send us a message: www.myspace.com/girlscouthandgrenade
or even if you were not there and you just want to help us in our fight to protect our rights let us know.
Thank You.
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July 12
awesome show at jamestown hall. if you missed it then sorry for your loss. it was off the fucking chain. all the bands were great and everybody that came out thank you so much. it was great to be back in saginaw. a big thanks to 2nd System for putting it all together. it was good to share a stage with you again. cant wait for tomorrow at the ritz with devils club should be another amazing time.
seriously though. thank you to every person tha came out and roasted in the sweltering heat. every band that played (2nd System, I decay (FDS bitches!!!! reprazent!!), Mechanism of Misery, A World on Strike, capacitor, and Apocaliptic Omen (if i forgot anyone it is just becuase i'm an asshole sorry)).
we appreciate everyone of you that rocked out with us, talked with us, hung out with us,and just made it a fantastic show. we will be back!!!
-mike grenade
ARM THE CHILDREN
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June 26
We won the first round of the Rock 'n' Roll Rumble at the Cinema Hollywood theater in Birch Run! What a crazy show on a Wednesday night! We have the best fans in the World
We hope to see you all July 23rd for Round Two the semi-finals
And if you can't wait until then
Come See us July 11th at Olde Jamestown Hall with 2nd System and I Decay
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June 22
Saturday night at the Machine shop (www.myspace.com/themachineshop) is always the best party in Flint and this Saturday was no exception. Devil's Club (www.myspace.com/devilsclub) opened the night and threw down Brutal metal almost as a challenge to the other bands of the night – chest puffed, hands up "what you think you're metal enough?" --- luckily it's all in brotherly fun as they are the Newest members of the Flint Death Squad (www.myspace.com/flintdeathsquad), what a badass induction show.
I Once Was (www.myspace.com/ioncewas000) then hit the stage and threw up their middle fingers to metal and brought forth their indie-prog-jazz as Krista caressed the crowd with her soulful voice occasionally taking a drag on a cigarette and passing it to the crowd.
After I Once Was, the crowd was all smiles as Jacob the Drunken Hillbilly (www.myspace.com/jacobselfdrummer) wowed the crowd with his Hillbilly comedy; Time for Girl Scout Hand Grenade (www.myspace.com/girlscouthandgrenade) .
We took the stage with electricity in the air and the crowd swarming to the front. We started the night with Avoid Embrace and it felt good to be back on the rostrum at the Machine Shop. It was promising to be the best show since Girl Scout Hand Grenade's return. We charged into our newest song Ophelia Takes the Crown and just as we hit the first verse DISASTER strikes as my Fodera bass string explodes under my finger, no time to do anything about it I stumble my way through trying to transpose the tune on the fly. Damn it I wish I had my Ibanez Soundgear 406 fixed. We then charge immediately into The Patriot as Mike and Tahir are caught up in the electricity of the moment, the crowd was ecstatic my bass string flailing as we tear our way through the tune. I then got Mike's attention and we paused before flying into The Consequence of Breathing, I reached into my backpack of tools and tried to change the string on the fly, tragically I grabbed the wrong string which was way too thick but in my haste I did not notice so I tuned it up the best I could, I would have to finish the night with this huge ass string resting on top of the nut… This is rock 'n' roll if you were there you know how amazing the rest of the night turned out if you weren't you missed out on a moment in rock 'n' roll that will probably never happen again! Baby, you can't DoWnLoAd THIS!
Hi8us finished out the night and blew the lid off the place, they sounded so tight and through the PA at the Machine Shop with Tanor behind the soundboard, you not only hear all of the finesse in the band's music but you feel it in your chest as well, Hi8us is an amazing must see everytime they're at The Machine Shop!
Thank you to The Machine Shop Staff, Kevin and Craig Zink, and Tanor the Sound Nazi keeping the Flint Music Scene alive and for having Girl Scout Hand Grenade and the Flint Death Squad out once again.
Come be apart of the mayhem as Girl Scout Hand Grenade takes the stage at the Machine Shop again September 6th as part of the project independent showcase. For tickets email girlscouthandgrenade@hotmail.com or go to www.myspace.com/girlscouthandgrenade
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June 18
Like the United States storming the beaches of Normandy Girl Scout Hand Grenade slaughtered in Michigan's German Heritage town of Frankenmuth. "It was the loudest, rawest show of my life," exclaimed an excited fan. From being engulfed in the mind blowing lights to the rumbling Ampeg Bass stack, to the thump in your chest every time Tihir kicked the bass drum, or the power of Mike's Marshall cabs cranked to ELEVEN, not to mention all the blood sweat spit and raw emotion. YOU CAN NOT DOWNLOAD THIS!!!
Justin drummer of the band 1876 "Girl Scout Hand Grenade was sick!!!"
"Girl Scout Hand Grenade was insane!" Guitarist of Mayor West
"Thank you to everyone that came out and supported us, from the Hand Clap Along during the Consequence of Breathing to the lighters blazing at the end of Dialysis, it was amazing."
"Also thank you to all the bands, what an amazing diverse night, from 1876 (if you are into Fall of Troy you need to know about this band (www.myspace.com/1876music), Mayor West all the way from New Jersey with their metal flourished upbeat Punk (www.myspace.com/mayorwestmusic), Desiring Dead Flesh bringing back the old school Hardcore punk and rocking the Frosty the snowman (www.myspace.com/desiringdeadflesh), and Dia De Los Dangerous my God that shit was HEAVY! (www.myspace.com/diadelosdangerous)"
"Thank you To Traveling Kid Productions www.myspace.com/travelingkidproductions) for putting the show on and promoting like crazy, Thank you to Brain from Ripped Hear Productions for Putting on Sound"
– Girl Scout Hand Grenade
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view all 6 posts
Maddie
hi I finally found you guys after hearing you on the
BANANA! like forever ago. Yer sic and I love it!
righteous, though.
posted Jun 17
_NvrEngDarns_
u guys rawk and u should come to the intersection in
grand rapids sometime.....i would love to see u
guys...............
posted Jul 29