GET NOISY: Noise for the Needy 2011, a raucous, rockin', Real Change-supporting musical extravaganza, begins tonight. With shows all over the city from now until Sunday, NFTN is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for slacktivists like you to have fun, drink and support a damn good cause. Kick off the killer weekend with tonight's show at Neumos, featuring Detroit Cobras, Girl in a Coma, and the Fucking Eagles. more ›

The Detroit Cobras make hard-rocking versions of R&B and soul classics utterly devoid of irony. On their latest album, this year's Tied and True, the female-fronted Motor City five-piece run the gamut, covering such greats as Bettye LaVette, Leadbelly, Tammi Terrell, The Equals, and Little Willie John. more ›

The Detroit Cobras, from the selfsame city, mix the old and the new, combining the sounds of Motown girl groups with raw garage rock. With their tough chick singer Rachel Nagy (and female guitarist Mary Ramirez), the Cobras are kinda like a certain big-haired British trainwreck minus the trackmarks. LA Weekly said it loud and clear: "No offense to Amy Winehouse, but it was the Cobras [and] Rachel Nagy who first reinvented the 60s soul-pop diva as a boozy, punk-informed, smart-mouthed chanteuse in the late 90s." more ›

There's often a snobbish stigma attached to cover bands. Some such outfits focus on a specific genre, or era, or simply the lowest-common denominator. Others pay tribute to a single band or individual. Transcending 'em all are the Detroit Cobras, who, Tuesday at Chop Suey, will surely kick some election-night ass. more ›

While growing up on the streets of Detroit, we used to love the sounds of the city, with hip-hop mixing with rock mixing with Motown. The city was like a sonic melting pot where each walk to a Tigers game was an education in the music of the late 20th century. Okay, that's a lie. We've never actually been to Detroit, but it sure sounds neat. The band that best embodies the Detroit sound is the Detroit Cobras who bring a rawk sound played with righteous fury to standards from the 50's and 60's. This may sound a little weird and frankly it is, but these classic sounds are so flawless that they translate amazingly well into something very compelling. more ›