Vigilante Sidekicks part of the vanishing local music scene

December 4, 4:55 PMDetroit City Buzz ExaminerWendy Clem

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Vigilante Sidekicks are part of the vanishing local music scene in the Detroit area.

The buzz is out: One of Detroit's more accomplished rock bands will be no more as 2008 comes to a close. And it seems to be only one of a vanishing breed.
 

Finalists in the Detroit News' 2005 Sonic Summer Battle of the Bands, the Vigilante Sidekicks have played for enthusiastic audiences throughout the metro-Detroit area since then. Born in late 2004, the band encompassed talent from homegrown Detroit bands like Down Doggy, Choking Susan, and Moose Knuckle.
 

Early recognition of not only their musical performance and composing talents, but also their public appeal led to highly popular forums such as Pontiac's Arts, Beats and Eats. 
 

Comprised of two best friends from Roseville High School -- drummer Paul Clem and bass player Adam Badalamenti -- they were joined by guitarist and vocalist Cheryl Prano of Warren. Guitarist Todd Clem, Paul's younger brother, joined the group in 2008.
 

Having decided that its goal would be "to write music that would appeal to the members," the band nevertheless found a niche in the hearts and ears of area followers. That helped encourage them to bring the band back after a two-year sabbatical earlier this year.
 

The raw energy Vigilante Sidekicks exudes delivers its characteristic "swift kick in the nuts on behalf of rock and roll." Styles that have influenced the group are blues, rock and underlying punk, but identifying their genre has been a problem.
 

 "We refuse to label ourselves into a pigeon-hole," said Paul Clem. "We play just old-fashioned, riff-driven rock 'n' roll."
 

Paul Clem has played with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Maynard Ferguson and others.

But, the group is experiencing the same problem seen on Detroit's band scene for the last three years: the gradual end to live music in the Motor City.
 

"People don't go to see bands anymore - other than musicians' loyal families, their girlfriends, or members of other bands," he said. "The local scene, the city music scene, is dead. Any hope for it died after Detroit was recognized for Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker. Today, Detroit bands need to go elsewhere - like Europe - and get big. Then, they can return here, and the U.S. will grab onto them as hometown talent."
 

The Clems, originally from Roseville, live in Dearborn for the time being. Paul has a bachelors in music performance from Oakland University, and Todd holds a bachelors in computer networking from Ferris State. Both hold day jobs technically supporting Ford Motor Company, Paul with the Sync system and Todd with Fordstar.
 

Badalamenti, now of Warren, is employed at Binson's Medical Supply, and Prano works as a veterinary assistant.
 

Clem blames the prevalence of TV shows like American Idol for the demise of fresh musical talent and the band scene. He recalls the recent appearance of the top Detroit group, The Muggs, on the reality show Next Great American Band, and how badly they were treated when submitting to such a gimmicky show. As great a group as Clem says The Muggs are, the TV show hurt their chances of the true fame they've really earned. He says their subsequent return to Detroit led to shows in the suburbs and even those have been poorly attended.
 

"The Muggs is a band who's paid its dues, and should be on top," he said. "Typically, people don't like to attend live shows inside the city, but when they don't even come out to suburban shows, music's dead. The music didn't change; the people did, and right now it's not trendy enough for them. People do whatever they're told is cool, and DJ music is more popular than live bands now."
 

Cheryl Prano has a punk Janis Joplin appeal.

He adds that the age when rock musicians became millionaires is over. Most bands are being slotted into playing cover songs at bars or weddings.
 

"'Dinosaur bands' like Led Zeppelin will do whatever they want to do because they have been around so long and will sell no matter what, but they are not really doing anything innovative," he said. "Even groups like Journey, who recently signed a new lead singer to replace former member Steve Perry, only have him employed for minimum wage - like a studio musician."
 

So-called reality TV has also been blamed for the lack of new songs by area music producers. One long-time producer from the east side cites shows like American Idol for the karaoke-type mentality prevalent today, and for the lack of fresh talent and new song writing in favor of canned, prepared material geared to make promoters a quick buck.
 

Looks like it'll be a while before the garage band era emerges again. Not very good news for the overall Motown talent pool, given our impressive original history.
 

Adam Badalamenti is also a U.S. Navy veteran. 

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