danny kroha

Danny Kroha is best known as one-third of seminal Detroit garage punk band, The Gories, which he formed with fellow Detroit residents Mick Collins and Peggy O’Neill in the mid- 1980s. When The Gories’ rudimentary internal infrastructure eroded in the early ‘90s, Kroha moved on to a series of projects, most notably the more theatrically-bent Demolition Doll Rods.

In 2015, Kroha took a step sideways and back in time with his first solo record, “Angels Watch Over Me”, a collection of predominantly covers of old blues, folk and gospel recordings, laid down using an eclectic collection of DIY instruments. Initially reluctant to put the album out, Kroha has returned to the well for a follow-up, “Detroit Blues”, again mining the rich history of the American folk, blues and gospel songbook. Kroha joined PATRICK EMERY at the Bar from his hometown of Detroit to talk about the album.

You’ve spent your entire life in Detroit. What is about Detroit that keeps you there?

[Laughs] Once I saw this fortune teller and she was reading runes and Tarot cards and she said ‘Why do you still live in Detroit?’ She could tell I was doing something with music, maybe I might have mentioned it. She said ‘I’m seeing something in my cards, a place where you should move, that would be better for you and your musical career’.

I don’t know man, it’s just my home, for better or for worse. It’s an interesting place. Really hip places, like New York City, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, are great to visit, but I don’t want to live in any of those places. I don’t like generally being a place that’s lousy with hipsters. I kind of like being the only one on the block!

Danny Kroha, founding member of highly-influential Detroit minimal garage rock trio The Gories, has today released his second album of acoustic folk-blues entitled “Detroit Blues” via Third Man Records, and has premiered a performance video of the title track.

Kroha will be performing songs from Detroit Blues and more on a Bandcamp Live performance slated for February 20 at 11am AEDT (February 19 at 6pm CT in USA). Tickets are priced at $10. Find more details here.

Kroha spent the late '80s and early '90s playing alongside Mick Collinsand Peggy O'Neill in seminal Detroit garage-blues combo the Gories. The Gories, who were championed and produced by Alex Chilton and who released hugely influential recordsjack whiteon labels like Crypt and In The Red, were the prime influence on the subsequent blues-influenced garage rock scene in Detroit, out of which came Jack White and the White Stripes. 

It will be a gathering of the faithful when some of Michigan’s most respected and enduring rock and roll acts take to the stage at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor for “A Tribute to The MC5” on June 9.

A fundraiser for the late Wayne Kramer’s Jail Guitar Doors Foundation that uses music to rehabilitate jail inmates, it was instigated by former Scott Morgan’s Powertrane bassist and current Mazingamember, Chris “Box” Taylor after the recent passing of the Five’s last man standing, drummer Dennis Thompson.