John “Speedo” Reis on the expansive influence of the Detroit sound: “Some of our favorite bands in the world came from Detroit, whether it be the obvious ones like the MC5 or the Stooges, or all the great soul music that came out of the city.” (So maybe we can blame Smokey Robinson for the matching stage ensembles?)

“A lot of the bands I really love are bands like the Saints and Radio Birdman [’70s proto-punk Australians], who really took the Detroit sound and changed it and made it into their own thing.”

What about what’s happening now? He mentions a few Sympathy for the Record Industry labelmates, including the White Stripes and the Come Ons, but it’s the Detroit Cobras who really get him coiled up: “I’ve never seen them play before, but their record is great. I really love that woman in the Detroit Cobras ... her voice, man. She can really sing.”

Karen Fisher is the Metro Times Web coordinator, and was a RFTC groupie when she lived in San Diego. E-mail her at kjfisher@metrotimes.com.