Tied Down Detroit 2026 Pre-Show #2 w/100 Demons, Rotting OUt, and more.
100 Demons at The Magic Stick for Tied Down Detroit 2026 Pre-Show #2. All photos by Paul Holstein.
The highlight of the second Tied Down pre-show would most definitely be Rotting Out, specifically seeing them play the song "Stones" live. Originally, the line-up also included C4 and Colin of Arabia, but after a couple of shake-ups (including adding and dropping Sin After Sin), the line-up settled on Escalation Of Force, Eskrima, Discontent, The Killer, Death Before Dishonor, Division Of Mind, Rotting Out, and 100 Demons.
What I didn't know was that they also moved the doors up from 6:00 to 5:00 and that the first band would start right when the doors opened. My plan to see all 40+ bands this weekend came to an end when we arrived just before The Killer took the stage (missing the first three bands). Katherine Nijmeddin of Tied Down Media did a great job with coordination for the photographers, as we were allowed to stand on the side stage (and out of the inevitably dangerous mosh pit). Unlike the lights-on, no-stage venue the night before, The Magic Stick was dark with fluorescent and multi-color stage lights, a large raised stage, and plenty of artificially generated smoke in the air.
The Magic Stick has made a lot of improvements over the years. They have a front and a back entrance/exit; dedicated parking ($20) if you don't want to park on the street; a patio area for fresh air and smoking; multiple dedicated merch areas; and a bigger stage and sound system. As always, downstairs there is great pizza at Sargeant Pepperonis, bowling, and your bartender, Amado Movado, serving drinks. Although we did use their parking this time, we skipped everything else and went directly to the stage for The Killer.
As expected, all of the bands were great, and the mosh pit was moving the entire time. There were a couple of crowd killers stirring things up, but for the most part everything went smoothly. Bryan Harris, vocals for Boston hardcore band Death Before Dishonor, was proudly wearing his Boston Red Sox hat and jersey even though it doesn't seem to be their season. Walter Delgado of Rotting Out was a force of nature onstage, bringing more energy than anyone else and sporting the physique you'd expect from a competitive bodybuilder. At one time he quipped that he wasn't sure that his body could take this anymore (hardcore shows), which was ironic being that he was the most physically fit person in the room (I was able to ask him about that the next day at the Tied Down Festival). Eventually, 100 Demons took over to end the night, and I would be surprised to find out the next night that singer Pete Morcey had also taken over vocals for Blood For Blood (since 2025, following an incident that caused founding member Erick Medina to be kicked out of the band). Two days down, two to go. I wouldn’t be getting any sleep again tonight.
