  Lowell (Admin) |
In a era of yearning for community, for 'cool hip' cities, of the pathetic creation of faux 'village' centers in soulless suburban sprawl towns, the very thing that is sought after was destroyed in Rivertown. Add your memories. If you are new to this and wish to add a memory, simply scroll to the bottom and write your memory. Put in a name for the the username. A password and and email address are not required. | ||
LuvHifi (Gannon) |
Rivertown 1981-1991 I spent this decade a virtual fixture at the Rivertown Saloon, not so much due to the Guinness Stout that Jim and his partner had on tap (very much ahead of their time, actually, since only the Gaelic League and the Tipperary Pub served it then in my perception), nor to the excellent team they had working there (I had a strong crush on an adorable brunette barkeep that I was never quite able to make good on, but did date a wonderful red-headed waitperson for a short while), nor even for the fun and rowdy crowd that happened every Friday and Saturday night (a snapshot of the Detroit I wanted the city to be, diverse in every way—age, race, attitude)…but rather for the excellent music. A small collection of native-Detroit artists held forth on-stage for nearly the entire decade—calling themselves The Three of Us, although they filled the small stage with at least four talented musicians most of the time. Led by Kenny Mobley, the closest human approximation to the Energizer Bunny that I’ve ever known (albeit with hormones and pheromones and all that other good sexual stuff—I’ve never known a smoother, more genuine lover of women), this group began existence as the Seven of Us. According to stories heard through a drunken haze, seven brothers from two families followed the parade of talent down to a large house on Grand Boulevard in the sixties, and performed as studio backup for Motown Records—all before any of them turned twenty. I’ve never investigated this story, but have no reason to disbelieve it. Over the years, a few of them got married, a few found religion—and unfortunately their chosen ones drew them away from secular performing—so the Seven was gradually whittled down to Three. I met Kenny, then-guitarist Richard Smith, his brother—current lead singer and percussionist Satchemo Smith, and bassist Billy “Z” when I was working at the old Tech Hifi. Actually, I can directly credit Billy for the career that has kept me playing with electronic toys since 1981, since he insisted that his manager hire me—very ‘green’ just out of high school, and only 17—one year too young for Tech Hifi’s hiring rules. As far as I know, I was only one of two people they hired INTO their flagship Royal Oak store, but who cares about that. Kenny and Satch still play, the drum machine is now human, and you can catch them most Fridays way up in Clawson at Ted's Pub on Main Street--we've GOT to get these guys back into the city! Back in the 1980's downtown…in the time when Orange Lake drive was smoking stages in the old Alexander’s and that joint on Jefferson with the upstairs open stage (currently Tom's Oyster Bar); a new, technically perfect sound—Jazz Flute—came from across the river out of the golden tool of Alexander Zonjic; and we met a perky girl on violin named Regina Carter…the Three of Us kept all comers entertained in Rivertown by their Motown-flavored R & B, Pop and Blues music. The dance floor was never empty for long, and it was always a great time. God I miss those days. When the band took a break, all we had to do for a change of pace was walk out the door around the corner to the old Woodbridge Tavern. The crowd there was always a bit raunchier, and I never had the same comfort level…but it was a welcome change of pace after the 400th time seeing Kenny sing Popsicle Toes. Occasionally we'd walk across the tracks to the Soup Kitchen for some earthier blues. The only time in the ‘town that I hated was when that trendy dance club opened up across the street and we had to wrestle testosterone meatheads over the limited parking...they ALWAYS clogged up the street at closing time with their rude quadruple parking. Luckily, my ol' GTI never paid attention to one-way signs and Detroit's finest had greater things to worry about. I remember one night, a young fellow walked up to the stage and grabbed Kenny’s microphone after they started playing the Rolling Stones’ Beast of Burden. Much to the surprise of everyone who knew the band, they didn’t immediately bust something over this brash kid’s head—which was a good thing, turns out the guy’s father is an attorney in town. But that amazement was quickly eclipsed by the performance he gave us—mimicking the now SIR Mick Jagger. He had it all—the lips, the strut, the attitude, THE VOICE—it was obvious that he had spent way too much time in front of his bedroom mirror. Think Tom Cruise in Risky Business doing Michigan’s Bob Seger…and add pants and a good deal of liquor…you’ll get the idea. Many of you might know this guy…I see him at least EVERY year on the course of the Detroit Free Press Flagstar Bank Marathon…passing out glasses of beer to amused but weary runners in front of his house on Seminole in Indian Village. Trust me; BEER is the best source of carbohydrates at that time in a long race. Next year, he’d better have Guinness for me, I just can’t drink clear beer. Perhaps I’ll meet my wife at one of his parties. But I saw good old Willie O’Brien during his first taste of fame…or rather infamy?! Rivertown Saloon and the Three of Us in the decade of the 80’s, God I miss those days. John J. Gannon | ||
KET (Unregistered Guest) Posted From: 66.152.228.6 |
I am so pleased to see something on this fantastic website about Rivertown. I had the pleasure to work for the Rivertown Business Association for a couple of years under quite possibly the most dynamic woman that I have ever met, Mary Hebert. Mary and a group of other local businessmen and women did their best to keep the faith and try to build businesses, maintain businesses and bring people to the area. I think the biggest fan of this area may have been Peter Stroh. It is so sad to see what happens to an area such as Rivertown when Peter and Mary poured their hearts into the area. I remember when the Atwater Block Brewery was in the stages of development. To have a brewery across from the Stroh headquarters seemed as strange as public transportation in Motown (well it seemed strange to some...not me!)! Not only did Peter Stroh welcome these guys with open arms, his family archivest (Peter Blum) donated local beer memoribilia to the Atwater folks that went up on the walls. It seems as though those feeling of warmth in just those few blocks on Joseph Campeau have long since gone away. Scott and the crew at Ren Cen Mechanical were top notch. After I left the Association, I still brought my car from the suburbs to Rivertown for oil changes. Even though I live in rural Vermont now, there will always be a piece of Rivertown in my heart. There need to be more people like Mary Hebert and Peter Stroh in this world with that kind of passion and devotion... (Message approved by admin) | ||
DG (Unregistered Guest) Posted From: 63.115.63.131 |
Rivertown today is just so damn sad! And it's mainly because former mayor Dennis Archer caved, offering casinos rivertown land after vowing not to. Then, after tying up businesses with options to buy, buying a few, the whole thing fell through, but only after most of the nightspots and bars in the area died. When I started working in the area in the mid-80s, there was a genuinely vibrant entertainment scene. The Rhino was a grown-up, racially mixed, cosmopolitan crowd listening to top-notch piano players like Alma Smith. The Woodbridge was a rock-and-roll rowdy party. The Soup Kitchen had a dual personality -- business lunches at noon, blues bar at night (Buddy Guy drinking shots and laying into amazing solos). What was interesting was that it grew up naturally. The bars were mixed in with small manufacturing shops, vacant lots and low-rent hotels on Jefferson. Rivertown (aka the Warehouse District) was kind of a secluded backwater by day, with pheasants buzzing around the overgrown lots -- a quiet place by the river. But it had a sense of history -- you'll find it mentioned in some of Loren Estleman's excellent historical crime novels, for instance. Places like the Soup Kitchen and the Woodbridge has colorful, rather shady histories as speakeasies, bordellos and the like -- and proprietors like Brian McDonald and Marcia Cron who knew their patrons and soldiered on in a tough city. Perhaps something can be done with the area, but I doubt that it will ever have the same feeling of history and authenticity. (Message approved by admin) | ||
Jeanofarc (Jeanofarc) |
Who watched the fireworks from the Rivertown's deck? There were a couple of tables on the riverside with a full up close view while experiencing Detroit blues and being served. Best place I ever saw them from and best time. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 4323 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.47.116.238 |
Ran into Jim Weylan (hope I spelled that right), one of the old owner's of the Rivertown Saloon this past Friday night...as HE sought out Kenny and the current version of the Three of US playing down at the Detroiter Bar. (thought that was a nice mobius link through time) He says HELLO to everybody who used to cross paths with him at his joint. He misses you, too. Cheers!! | ||
Mallory Member Username: Mallory Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 207.230.140.240 |
WOW! That's all I can say after viewing the pictures of what was once my "haunts." Sorry, but I just stumbled onto this website recently. I worked as the house DJ at the Tangerine Room/River Place from '88 to '90. I spun at John Salley's New Year's Eve party in 1989. Seems to me the Pistons won it all the following year! Spider was a great guy. The DJ booth was at the end of the upstairs part. There were two hi-tops and a back bar up there towards the back where I spun. I can still see Buddah, VJ and Spider all partying like crazy. Not bad for a white kid from the 'burbs! The balcony with its tarp-like cover offered an excellent view of the RenCen and the yearly fireworks. Rumor has it that Prince once partied there, but that was always club lore. I can attest to a party being attended by film director Spike Lee (a very cool guy), and sax superstar Najee. I know there were more, but my memory escapes me. I spun at the club on Thursday's , Friday's and Saturday's. Sometimes the club wouldn't be too busy on the weekday, so the staff would venture across to the Rhino, or sometimes around the bend to Club Taboo. Now THAT place used to jump. I left Detroit in 1991, moving to Lansing for three years. Actually haven't been back to CofD since 2000. At that time I drove by my beloved old club. It was closed, with the name "Feathers" on it. Don't know about that part of its history. The only names I know of were River Rock Cafe (?), "It's Only Rock & Roll (dumb name)" and the aforementioned. If anyone can fill in more of the blanks and now any of the changes, it would be appreciated. I live in SW Florida now, and my wife thinks I'm crazy, but I still miss my beloved city. Much love! DJ Dr. Chris Mallory |
