Hellen @ Comerica City Fest 2007- Pure Detroit Stage  

Hellen @ Comerica City Fest 2007- Pure Detroit Stage

Ok, let's get this straight right out of the gate. If you think an all girl 5 pc from Detroit named Hellen can't rock, YOU ARE WRONG! From the first time we stumbled across Hellen at Kelly's Bar in Hamtramck during the 2007 Blowout, we were hooked. On Friday afternoon, it was cemented into our minds that we need to keep a close eye on this explosive group of women. As we headed onto the streets of Detroit and into this years Comerica City Fest, the skies above grew gray and the winds became menacing. At the Pure Detroit Stage, crews were rushing to button down the hatches as the girls from Hellen rushed to get their gear up on stage and into safe haven. Mission accomplished as the skies opened up and the rain came down. Rain delay. For nearly a half an hour we huddled under the canopy of the New Center, awaiting the blue skies that could be seen heading our way. Finally, the crews began to open up the sound booth & get the stage back into shape, as the girls from Hellen quickly got set to go. Finally the moment we've been waiting for arrived, as the girls launched into their fast paced "Don't Need You". With Emily Schaller (drums) and Amanda Metzer (bass) providing the beat for the heavy guitar riffs that Becca Tyler (rhythm) and Charmain Azzopardi (lead) deliver, they set the stage for Katie Galazka's tantalizing vocals. Dressed in her trademark short skirt, Galazka demands your attention, and she gets it! The crowd started moving up as Hellen jumped into their foot stomping "Oh Johnny!", which features a blazing lead by Azzopardi that leaves everyone moving to this catchy tune. Even after having to cut their set in half, the girls delivered a powerful ending to the show with "Take Me Away" and two new songs, one of which is named "F.U.C.F.". Emily Schaller (on drums) is stricken with the terrible reality of having Cystic Fibrosis (although you'd never know with her killer performance on the drums) and this song, "F.U.C.F.", is written in recognition of her condition. These girls are charitable and should be an inspiration to all. Later this month, Emily will be organizing "City to City Ride '07" for Cystic Fibrosis in which participants bike from Detroit to Chicago all to raise money for the Rock CF Foundation in the fight for a cure. The man we'll call "Pink Shirt" shut the girls down even after the audience's pleas for "one more song!" After the show we went back stage to congratulate the girls on their killer show, and they welcomed our presence by posing for pictures and exchanging friendly conversation. Later we ran into them all over the CityFest tasting food and hanging out; Charmain had her mind set on some Under the Eagle Pierogis. It was really great running into Danny Mehtric, Tony Muggs, and Andrew Hecker and getting a chance to chat with them. On July 13 at the Detroit Brewing Company the girls are going to perform once again in a benefit show for an employee of DBC. The girls are working towards getting an EP out there sometime in the near future. What an awesome group of rock girls; check them out at www.hellenofdetroit.com. We would like to see a lot more of this rockin' group in our city (or your's)!!!! That's all for tonight, we're off to Da Club for Hell Rides North on Friday night. Hellen and Detroit Rocks!!!-DR2 Over.