First of all, no discussion of Detroit is complete (at least by me) without the inclusion of this video:
Now that I have that out of my system, let us rejoice in the making of history! Detroit has just hosted its first US Air Guitar competition since 2008! Hopefully this marks the rebirth of competitive air guitar in Detroit. I mean, you can't very well call yourself "Rock City" and then NOT have air guitar competitions.
They started out miles ahead of everyone else by having both a trophy for the winner and a questionnaire for signups. Clearly these things need to be implemented across the board. Like Chicago and Boston (so, in good company), there weren't a whole ton of competitors - 7, by my count - but clearly they made every single one count. They had one Rosie the Riffer in rolled up sleeves and a kerchief, which, why hasn't anyone thought of that before? Perfect. Although if someone's going to come up with that idea, it's best in a city like Detroit that's so tightly bound up with the US's industrial history. So: well played, Detroit. And well played me, for being a history major even here. You're welcome.
Detroit almost made history in another way - they almost had an all-female roster of competitors. They did have one man join, after all, though, so that honor is still elusive. An all-male slate of air guitarists is, on the other hand, not historic; that has happened, but I'm glad women are joining the ranks all over the country so the all-male competition can become historic in that it is history and doesn't happen anymore.
In the end, three winners advanced on to the Midwest Semifinals in Chicago this weekend: 3rd place, Lady Madonna (does not require air guitaring to Madonna songs); 2nd place, walk-on Rockin Rachel; and your 2014 Detroit champ, Kasey Killswitch! Can't wait to see what these ladies do onstage at the Metro on June 13th, and I hope this is the beginning of a new air guitar tradition in Detroit!
Rosie the Riffer photo by Amy Bayes.