Set the Hype Machine to Detroit Cobras

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 18, 2005 6:41PM

Saturday night the Detroit Cobras will be playing at the Double Door. Tickets are only $12 to see this swaggering rock and soul quintet.

The Detroit Cobras take obscure soul and R&B songs engrained into their subconscious from an early age growing up in the Motor City and give them another chance at life. It would be easy to dismiss them as just another cover band, but they infuse the standards with a new beauty and celebrate them through Rachel Nagy’s voice, a voice that conveys deep feeling and spirituality. Something unexpected from a former butcher with man hands (that’s for you Tankboy!) who has no formal training except hoisting a few and gaining liquid courage.

They’ve been getting a lot of attention recently with their first release on Bloodshot, Baby and also because of their songs gracing commercials for Diet Coke (“Cha Cha Twist”) and Budweiser (“Ya Ya Ya Looking for My Baby”). This is the time to see them live before it costs more and the venue is larger.