Detroit techno producer and DJ Marcellus Pittman can completely alter the chemistry of a song with an understated melody. This is part of what made him such a good collaborator in 3 Chairs, a defunct Detroit supergroup that also featured Theo Parrish, Rick Wilhite, and Kenny Dixon Jr. (aka Moodymann). Pittman brings subtle flamboyance to his recent Eastside EP, released in March by Adeen. He transforms the feel of the insistent percussive thump on “You Always Hank Bank One Time” by adding sideways accents or pattern-breaking flourishes to its sneaky, tiptoeing keyboard vamps—or by flat-out replacing them with 20 seconds of glassy oscillations.
Marcellus Pittman Father Dukes, CtrlZora, and Vitigrrl open. Sat 11/16, 10 PM, Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark, $20, $15 with student ID, $15–$20 in advance, 21+