We took a ride on the thrilling sonic highways of the Dirk Kroll Band and amplified our experience with a magical meal at Edo Lounge in Royal Oak.
Dirk Kroll Band at Edo Lounge
I’ve seen several shows happening at Edo Lounge in Royal Oak and was intrigued. How would a concert at a restaurant go over? While putting together my event listing for the Life In Michigan newsletter, I happened upon a show announcement for the Dirk Kroll Band playing at Edo Lounge (aka Edo Ramen). I ran it by Brenda, who was keen to see the Dirk Kroll Band for the first time. We texted our pals Kristin and Eric, who live nearby, and we made a date for dinner and music in Royal Oak.
Edo Lounge
Edo Lounge is located at 4313 W 13 Mile Rd in Royal Oak, just east of Greenfield Rd. Entering from the back parking lot, you are first greeted by a gallery of art. Featuring iconic as well as up-and-coming artists, the gallery is a relaxing space if you have to wait for a table.
I heeded the notice on Dirk’s Facebook event, which recommended reservations, so we didn’t have much time to linger. When we arrived at 7 p.m., the inside of Edo Lounge was bustling and filling fast. Paying attention to the host directing us to our table was a little hard, as there was so much to take in. The walls are festooned with iconic photos and other outstanding artwork. You can sit at a table or belly up to the bar to watch the chefs prepare sushi.
For several years running, Edo Lounge has been voted one of the best in Detroit. It specializes in sushi and Japanese fusion dishes. We started with spring rolls and a special, which was sort of like an Asian-inspired buffalo cauliflower. Both were fantastic,, and the cauliflower was an unexpected hit.
For dinner, I ordered the Burning Hammer special. I’ll admit that I ordered it mainly because of the name. It was a kimchi fried rice dish featuring spam, chicken, and fried egg. Before you curl up your nose on spam, this dish was fantastic. The spam was nicely fried, the chicken tender, and spiced just right. It was also a ridiculously large portion. Brenda’s Korean Beef bowl was also huge and outstanding. Needless to say, we left with lunch for the next day.
In addition to great food, we enjoyed some excellent beverages. Edo Lounge has a full bar with an extensive whiskey selection and craft beer from Japan. I tried out the Yuzu Lager by Hitachino Nest, a super crisp lager with a bit of lemony citrus notes thanks to the yuzu fruit included in the brewing. It’s a great beer to enjoy while listening to Detroit rock music.
Dirk Kroll Band
I stumbled upon the Dirk Kroll Band at the Funky Rivertown Fest in Ypsilanti a couple of years ago. Dirk is a phenomenal songwriter, and the music he’s crafted captures the vital heart of classic rock music. If you can imagine the sounds of Credence Clearwater Revival, Bob Seger, and Born To Run-era Bruce Springsteen, that will give you a taste of where Dirk’s music is coming from. He infuses rock with soul, funk, and Latin influences to create his unique and evocative sound.
Of course, you need a stellar band to truly deliver the melodic and harmonic layers woven into the fabric of Dirk’s music. Helping Dirk out on the stage was his wife Marcie (backing vocals/tamborine), Dave Roof (electric and slide guitar), Paul Price (drums), David Uricek (bass), George Canterbury (keyboards), and David Michael O’Brien (sax).
Together, the Dirk Kroll Band played two solid hours of sensational music. There was the sultry swagger of “Black Velvet Elvis.” Funky with a bit of Latin soul, we grooved to “Living in the Right Place.” The fiery “Blazing Red” had a hint of Allman Brothers Southern rock, with Dave Roof laying down some fine guitar. And then there was my favorite song, “In Flight,” the title track off Dirk’s most recent album. There is something about the melodic hooks in the chorus that gets me every time.
Supper Club of Yore?
I’ll be honest; I wasn’t sure how a live show at a restaurant would turn out. I wondered if folks would ignore the band or be put off by rock music while enjoying their sushi. It turns out everyone loved it. I guess this is like the old supper clubs back in the day (less the mobsters). A place that serves great food and combines it with excellent music for a complete experience of sound, sight, and taste. Thanks to the Dirk Kroll Band and Edo Lounge for a hell of a night with friends.
Pictures
There are more pictures of the Dirk Kroll Band at Edo Lounge in our gallery.
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