07.08.08 'B & G Sides' (Quack Media)

Hot Young Blood: The Hard Lessons don't suck in a way that can make the most jaded cynic care about something new again. Their instantly memorable neurotic rock-indie (in The Hard Lessons case, “Rock” comes before “Indie”) keeps self-conscious scenesters singing and dancing well past last call.

Somewhere between the rawness of the White Stripes, the power of the Foo Fighters, and the hip factor of Death From Above 1979, is Detroit's most promising new act, The Hard Lessons. Fronted by Detroit’s modern incarnation of Ike and Tina, The Hard Lessons come on like an unexpected face-slap.

Their sweaty live show rendering crowds and critics across the country “vanquished and sated,” and a critically acclaimed debut album, ‘Gasoline,’ The Hard Lessons continue to out-play, out-work, and out-rock expectations.

Critics consistently hail the band’s live performances as the best in town, no matter what city they play, prompting the Austin American Statesman to say “Vampire Who?” after their performance at the 2008 SxSW Festival.

Performed with: Iggy and the Stooges, Wolfmother, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Ok Go, Brendan Benson, Tally Hall, The Dirtbombs, Hot Hot Heat, Motion City Soundtrack, New York Dolls, The Killers, Sum 41, Von Bondies, Electric Six, The Gris Gris, Social Distortion, The Detroit Cobras.