Dead Squirrel Detroit, trying to revive Detroit's local music scene.



M.J., Dave, and Evans
Photo by Jason Moultrie



Detroit is known thru out the world as the “Motor City” for its reputation in producing some of the world’s finest and innovative automobiles. If this city truly is a motor city then music would be the fuel that keeps its engines running. For as much metal muscle Detroit has pumped out into America’s streets it has produced the same amount, if not more, in musical talent.  Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, and Eminem are just a few artists that have made their way from the city to the main stream spotlight. However for every Kid Rock that makes it big there are thousands of unknown singers, bands, and musicians desperately searching for a way to achieve their dream as well. Even in a city that is in the musical spotlight as Detroit is, it can still be a big uphill battle for a band to get their music out to the people and be heard live.

                As hard as it is for a band to have a chance play in front of a live audience there are lights of hope here and there to help guide them and give them a hand. In 2010 a small group was formed in Roseville Michigan, who’s main goal is to get people to listen to local music from around the Detroit area, they call themselves “Dead Squirrel Detroit” or “DSD” for short. David Leidlein, M.J. Lawson, and Evans Tasiopoulos make up DSD and they have jumped down in the trenches with local bands trying to help them be heard. The group acts almost as a promoter for these young bands who normally would have a hard time playing at bigger places like Saint Andrews or The Shelter. They have also put on shows at venues like Smalls in Hamtramck and The Hayloft in Mt Clemens.

                All three of the members of DSD are not major promoters and rarely get paid for the shows they put on. They all work day jobs, but still somehow dedicate their own money and free time to the cause. After a long day at work it’s not uncommon for them to pack out and head to a venue and hand out flyers for one of their events themselves. Evans and M.J. tackle the artistic end of the group by designing flyers themselves for each show DSD puts on, while David looks for talented local bands in need of help, and finds them a good stage to be heard on. Each of them have grown up listening to Detroit bands that have made it, and watched them become a part of music history and it is their passion to be able to help more local bands achieve this goal.

                If you are interested in hearing bands from the Detroit area I ask you to please check out Dead Squirrel Detroit, and they will lead you to great local music. You can find them on Face Book or out at one of their shows. They are always there so stop by and say hello!