MATTHEW MCR ELLISON II B.K.A MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO: PRESS

AYO!! READ THIS BEFORE YOU READ THE ARTICLE BELOW!!!!!!!!!! *(THIS IS A COPY OF A VERY BUTCHERED ARTICLE. MY NAME & A LOT OF THE INFORMATION IS INCORRECT. ANYWAY, IT'S STILL PRESS. SOMEONE ONCE SAID THAT BAD PRESS IS GOOD PRESS, I DONT NO ABOUT THAT. ALSO, BELOW THIS COPY IS A LINK TO THE ACTUAL ARTICLE. WELL READ IT AND LAUGH. IT'S BETTER THAN CRYING.) MCR/ELECTRIC OTTO


Electric Otto's Funk Factory


Web-posted Mar 27, 2005


The UpBeat

By GARY GRAFF
Of The Daily Oakland Press

Name: Electric Otto's Funk Factory.
Advertisement


Formed: January in Southfield.

Sound: "Neo Detroit Funk."

Members: Matthew C. "Electric Otto" Rellison on bass, joined by a revolving group of musicians that frequently includes his wife, Jacinta Shanae Rellison, on vocals and percussion; Charles Prophet Jr., on saxophone; and Steve Szajna on guitar.

Influences: James Brown, George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, Prince, Bootsy Collins, Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, Carl Craig, Kool & the Gang, Herbie Hancock and Red Hot Chili Pepper.

Day jobs: Rellison is a martial arts teacher in Southfield and is planning a summer program for the Howard Dell Center in Pontiac.

What's in a name?: Rellison, who's also a graphic artist (and comedian), created Electric Otto as a cartoon character who has special powers that allow him to discharge electricity from his body and also to create robotic clones of himself. "Electric Otto is kind of a protector of the city of Detroit," Rellison explains. "He faces a lot of monsters, rival forces, gangsters that try to take over the city for their own agenda, but he doesn't want Detroit to be destroyed or put in jeopardy. So he builds an army of robots to protect the city and increase his power."

So you wanna be a star: While EOFF plays live as a full band, it started mostly as a studio project, with the jazz- and classically trained Rellison playing most of the instruments himself. "I'm a very focused musician," he says. "A lot of times, we run into people who are not serious or professional. I have to keep the ball rolling, so I'll go into the studio, record a bunch of material, press it up, make copies, do the artwork and graphics, put it out. Then, when I do live shows, we do the same material but with a full band. There's people I work with around the country who are kind of on call for us."

Who knew?: Rellison holds black belts in two different martial arts systems, Ryu Kyu Kempo and Isshun Ryu karate.

Favorite gig: Rellison lists EOFF's performance at the D-F.U.N.K. show in February at Alvin's as a highlight of the group's still-young career. "It was good to see four bands come together and bring our audiences together in unity," he says. "It was a good vibe, a lot of fun and full of learning from each other because even though we're all funk bands, we have different approaches. But together, we just wanted to push this music and make people happy."

What's next: "My motto is, 'Matthew C. Rellison - the Future of Funk,' " he says. "My whole goal is to play all over the globe, become an established, famous musician, get involved in musical projects across the board - production, session work, live entertainment, collaborations, managing, promotions, the whole nine. I just want to take it as far as I can."

Hear 'em: Rellison has self-released three albums under his own name - "Detroit Funk-Jazz Fusion," "313 Funk" and the brand new "Motor City Raw Funk: Matthew C. Rellison is the Future of Funk."

See 'em: EOFF performs April 21 and 28 at the New Way Bar, 23130 Woodward Ave., Ferndale. Admission is $5 on April 21, $7 on April 28. Call (248) 642-1094.

Surf 'em: www.myspace. com/electricotto.

The Oakland Press will regularly feature a different band or musician in The UpBeat. To be included, send background information, a black-and-white nonreturnable photo, daytime phone number and current CD to: Gary Graff, The Daily Oakland Press, 48 W. Huron, Pontiac 48342.

Story last updated at 1:56 PM EST on June 12, 2008

GALLERY HOPPING








The second annual Summer Solstice Block Party will celebrate the start of the season with artwork from nearly 100 Michigan artists, kicking off from 7 to 11 p.m. next Friday at Biddle Gallery, 2840 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte.



This work, "Red Lady," by artist Sarah Burger, is among those to be exhibited at Wyandotte's Biddle Gallery.



Artists new to the gallery include Sarah Burger, Julia Stephenson, Matthew MCR Ellison II, Susan Crowley, Lisa Harrison and Kyle Raetz.

Short films by local independent animator Dave Moroski will be projected on the side of the building, along with short films based on paintings by Davin Brainard and sunsets by Elroy Grandy.

One-man blues/garage/ punk band Jawbone will perform from 8 to 9 p.m. in front of the gallery.

Beer, hotdogs and sushi will be provided by Biddle Avenue Florists, attorney Mike Trager and Downriver Stone Designs.

In keeping with the "going green" theme, no plastic cups will be provided. Purchase handmade tumblers by Peter Guerrier at Biddle Gallery for $10.

Summer Solstice also kicks off the 13th annual Climate Controlled Art Fair, running next Friday through Sept. 12 at the gallery.

Avoid the heat by shopping for handmade pottery, jewelry, handbags, furniture, paintings, glass, photography, home, garden and fashion accessories from a variety of local artists.

Call the gallery for more information at 1-734-281-4779.

"Collective Constructions," a collaborative exhibit from mixed media artist Valerie Mann and glass artist Barbara Thomas Yerace, is on display through June 27 in the Home Gallery of the Downriver Council for the Arts, 20904 North Line Road, Taylor.

The exhibit explores ideas about spiritual nurturing, potential, life transitions and humor.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and noon to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Call 1-734-287-6103 for more details.

River's Edge Gallery, 3024 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, is featuring "The Icon Show," a collection of works from 30 artists that define the word "icon." The show runs through July 5.

The creations range from artist SLAW's depiction of life in the 1950s to Mary Brombach's interpretation of Marilyn Monroe in glass and fur.

Other artists contributing to the show are Cass Adkins, Mark Arminski, Johnny "B" Badanjek, Amy Chenier, Joe Crachiola, Mary Ellen Croci, Nina Friday, Elayne Gross, Ryan G. Hill, Martin Hirchak, Patricia Izzo and Gwen Joy.

Also contributing are Rick Ruinner Lappin, Eric Lavoie, Adam Owen Layne, Marianne Letasi, Carl Lundgren, Mark Nischan, Niagara, Kate Paul, Nancy Pitel, Audrey Pongracz, Bob Pope, Elaine Redmond and Rudy Salazar.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information, visit www.artattheedge. com or call Patt Slack at 1-734-246-9880.


Spring classes and workshops continue at the Downriver Council for the Arts, 20904 North Line Road, Taylor.

Start Wednesday mornings off right with "The Art of Yoga" from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Home Gallery with instructor Cheryl Rudd.

Participants should bring a mat and wear comfortable clothes. There is a $5 fee for the drop-in class

"Life Drawing" for ages 18 and older runs from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow and June 21.

Instructor Mark Jackson will lead all levels in developing skills in the basic and traditional drawing regimen of the male and female nude model.

Artists must bring supplies, including easels. Each session includes three classes, and classes don't have to be taken consecutively.

The fee is $10 a class for DCA members or $15 a class for non-members.

For more workshop information, visit www.downriverarts.org or call the DCA at 1-734-287-6103.

Pioneers of the German Studio Craft Movement runs through July 6 at Pewabic Pottery, 10125 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit.

The exhibition, curated by Linda Ross, focuses on the careers of six artists who have been part of the German ceramic art scene since the late 1950s.

For more information, visit www.pewabic.org or call 1-313-822-0954.

"Look Close, Looking Far: A Survey of Artworks by John Torreano" runs through July 18 at the Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, 480 W. Hancock, Detroit, on the Wayne State University campus.

Torreano's colorful, three-dimensional paintings confront viewers with the incongruous and contradictory impulses of contemporary art and culture.

Call the gallery at 1-313-993-7813 for more information. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays.

The Detroit Institute of Arts is offering special programs throughout the month.

Families and aspiring artists can enjoy workshops, presentations, music, films and storytelling at such weekend events as "Friday Night Live!" and "Target Family Sunday."

All programs are free with museum admission unless otherwise noted. The DIA is at 5200 Woodward Ave., Detroit. For more information, call 1-313-833-7900.

Learn about the rise and fall of Detroit's rock 'n' roll legacy through the BBC documentary, "Motor City's Burning," at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit.

From Motown to the Stooges, the documentary tells the musical story of Detroit in the 1960s through archive footage and an eclectic soundtrack.

Admission is free and includes a post-viewing performance by Wolfman Freedom Rally.

Join a free drop-in workshop led by artist Warn Defever as he leads a symphony using thumb pianos from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Materials are provided and all ages are welcome.

"Considering Architecture: Sustainable Designs from Detroit," is running through July 28.

The exhibit includes the designs, architecture and products of several local architectural firms and highlights their projects that incorporate green practices.

Among the designs is a prototype of sustainable housing using discarded shipping containers created by architectural firm Steven C. Flum Inc. and Detroit developer The Power of Green Housing.

The museum is at 4454 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 1-313-832-6622 or visit www.mocadetroit.org.