Machine Shop Digital Lounge

Bands get booked, travel all over, and play to fans across the globe.  There are countless people involved in the process, from agents and managers, to legal and label reps, to publicists and the crew that makes a show happen.  One thing people forget about is the venue.  The venue is important, as the show simply cannot go on without a stage.  If you are from anywhere near Flint, MI, the first words out of anyone’s mouth when you mention a concert are The Machine Shop.

When it comes to the music world, we all want to make friends with the celebrities we love to see and hear. One of my favorite friends out there is The Machine Shop. How can a venue be a friend you ask? First, if you have to ask – you clearly haven’t been there. Second, just ask any band that has played there more than once and you’ll get a better understanding. Just uttering the name elicits different responses, but almost every one of them falls into line with the other. Since 2002, Kevin Zink and his staff have created a safe haven for those who love music of all types and genres. Hitting a show at The Shop has become not only a mainstay for music fans and musicians alike, but for some a rite of passage.  From Edsel Dope, who proclaims: “Do I tell my agent make sure we’re at The Machine Shop? Yeah, of corse I do.” To Five Finger Death Punch’s Jeremy Spencer who once told me “It’s great because there were really enthusiastic crowds. We played there several times and every time it was sold out and was a great time every time.” Even Jesse James Dupree said “You could be out doing an arena tour and you’re going to make time to go by and play The Machine Shop.” So many bands love to visit their friend The Machine Shop whenever possible. According to Scott Stapp, “It’s unique in that it’s like you’re one with the audience. You’re right there, so there’s a real connection.” To put it all into perspective, Shop friend Kid Rock told us, “The Machine Shop is simply awesome; a truly great American outlaw rock-n-roll juke joint.”

We have all seen the website and the tagline, but for those of you who might skip the basic info trying to get tickets, merch, or learn about their branded beer: The Machine Shop Concert Lounge is located in Flint, Michigan and has been booking the best live music entertainment in rock, metal, and outlaw country since 2002. The Machine Shop is one of the TOP concert venues in the world. I know this because I have seen shows from coast to coast in the US and have seen shows abroad, having traveled to Europe on occasion to see a show. From owner Kevin Zink’s vision back in 2002, The Shop, as it is lovingly referred to by bands, staff, and concert goers, has grown to seemingly have a life of its own. So many of Kevin’s favorites have been through the place including one of his personal faves, Clutch. Recently, he was able to book another band that, “on a personal level, I just really enjoy their music; I know the words to their songs, I’m a super fan.” – Crash Test Dummies. The venue is so welcoming for bands and fans to mingle after the show. “When it’s unexpected, people are filing out, and the band decides to hang out with the crowd, it’s really cool when they do that.” As time passes and shows come and go, there are a ton of memories we each take away, but being on the frontline and in the back office, Kevin has been able to have some phenomenal personal moments including one evening sitting backstage with Darryl McDaniels [Run DMC]. “He sat and told us early Run DMC stories. I am getting goosebumps now. I listened to “King of Rock” until my tape wore out. It’s pretty wild to be able to call him a friend.” But what about the bands that come back year after year? “Over the years, we have built that relationship and I consider them friends.” On the one vision he had when he opened the venue: I wanted people to get what I enjoyed in the late 80’s and early 90’s. That club feeling that disappeared. I want people to feel what I felt when I saw L.A. Guns or Faster Pussycat in that small club setting.” The Machine Shop has been one of those clubs that helped bands cut their teeth and hone their craft as they worked towards theaters, concert halls, arenas, and even stadiums. “It means more when bands get to that level and still make it happen to come back.” When it’s all said and done, When all is said and done, these parting words from Kevin as he reflects on The Machine Shop, the last 19 years, and it’s awakening as we come out of the pandemic, “It’ absolutely my life. There wasn’t any option but to go back, to someway get through it. I can’t let everybody down. I can’t give up that easy.” I could go on and on, but a few friends of The Shop and Kevin want to make sure you understand how important this venue is to music and musicians… – Todd Jolicoeur, from the forwards of Jeff Mintline’s books: 15 Years of The Machine Shop and The Pictorial History of The Machine Shop