It’s never been a competition, but if there were one for most endearing band in Michigan, it might be The City Lines! I say “endearing,” but I also mean charismatic in an unapologetically kind and wholesome and down-to-earth sort of way.

Oh, and they can also rip: this is a band that blends power-pop melodies with gritty punk rock distortion and propulsive tempos, laced with lyrics that can, yes, be inspiring and heartwarming, but also cut-in with serious social commentary, reflections on life, and poignant self-revelations.

The City Lines started from the poetry that singer/guitarist Pat Deneau was penning while sitting in the front seat of a fire truck during quiet periods of his day job at the Ann Arbor Fire Department. You can hear the whole story about how he and drummer Bob Zammit, developed this band over the last five years after Zammit relocated here from Seattle, and all the “work” they’ve been putting in as they’ve advanced through their 30’s and became fathers.

Along with a touching and eloquent summary of the inspiration for their album title, we shoutout the crucial addition of Detroit-based musician and songwriter Megan Marcoux. Marcoux  also performs/records with the band, Twin Deer, who’s currently fundraising for public radio with their merch!

“Prescribed Fires” is The City Lines’ 2nd full-length album, following up 2023’s “Analog Memories”. As you’ll hear in the episode, Deneau and I already have a solid rapport, and there are some easy laughs interwoven with substantive discussions around the lyrical inspirations of the album.

“Precribed Fires” is officially out on September 19. During our show, we listened to a brand new song, “Do It All,” and were treated to a live in-studio acoustic rendition of a deep cut from the album titled “Out Loud.”

Speaking of “Do It All,” the group has just released a music video to accompany the single.

This week’s episode was heavy on indie-rock and punk vibes, with premieres from long-time locals like Norcos y Horchata, who have a new album titled “The Precious Little Album” coming out. We paired that with an intense medley showcasing a new song from the Lansing-based Rot Knot from their self-titled album, along with one of two new singles from the brand-new Detroit group, Twin Freaks.

Also, we heard the lead single “Horses Were Orcas” from Jesse Shepherd-Bates‘ forthcoming solo album, “Extra Texture”, and we got a sneak-preview of the new album coming from avant-indie-punk group Tin Foil, from their new album Chicken Sandwich. The latter has an album release party at the Outer Limits Lounge this Saturday night.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode on-demand for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

MI Local Playlist for August 26, 2025

• “Halos” – Absofacto
• “Tenspeed (Shallows)” – Racing Mount Pleasant
• “All I Can Do” – Ricochet The Kid
• “Horses Were Orcas” – Jesse Shepherd-Bates
• “Here to Stay” – Electric Huldra
• “Frayed” – Rot Knot
• “I’m Cured” – Twin Freaks
• “Lake Ave. Traffic” – Norcos Y Horchata
• “Sadonka” – Tin Foil
• “50 Miles” – Perren
• “Do It All” – The City Lines
• “Out Loud” – The City Lines – live in WDET Studios
• “Blood and Smoke” – The City Lines  

In this week’s episode of Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music, some cool music from and around the 50th anniversary of Springsteen’s “Born To Run” album. It turns 50 on Monday, August 25.

Also, Chance the Rapper with Jazmine Sullivan, The City Lines with new Motor City Music, Jack White punches back hard and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for August 23, 2025

HOUR ONE:

• “Finest Worksong” – R.E.M.
  
• “Daria” – Toro y Moi
  
• “Everybody Scream” – Florence & The Machine
• “‘Running Boy” – Mon Rovia (at The Ark 11/19)
• “That’s How I Feel'” – Jack White
• “Born To Run” – Bruce Springsteen
  
• “Thunder Road” – Matt Nathanson
  
• “So Young And In Love” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Moody” – Royel Otis
• “Sushi & Coca Cola” – St. Paul & The Broken Bones
• “Found A Friend” – Southern Avenue (at The Leon Loft, Ann Arbor)
• “Gethsemane” – Ian Gillan (turned 80 this week)
  

• “Lisztomania” – Phoenix
  
• “Old Me, New Wig” – Molly Tuttle (9/11 at Masonic)
• “Speed Of Love” – Chance The Rapper w/Jazmine Sullivan
• “People” – Patrick Adams
• “Do It All” – The City Lines
• “Janey Needs A Shooter” – Bruce Springsteen
• “Jeannie Needs A Shooter” – Warren Zevon
  
• “You Were Wrong” – Roomful Of Blues
• “Walking The Dog” – Rufus Thomas
• “Watch Me Go” – Lord Huron
• “She’s The One” – Bruce Springsteen

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

An echo-splashed guitar rises, a tender and melodic voice sails in, and a steady driving beat starts to pick up. You can feel something building, as if you’re heading to a glowing horizon that is simultaneously ominous and alluring, and that ballad-like vocal picks up into a weary yet hopeful lilt, residing perfectly between feelings of woe and uncertainty, offset by defiant optimism.

It’s “Blood and Smoke,” the new single from Ann Arbor-based power-pop group The City Lines, from their forthcoming album, “Prescribed Fires.”

Watch the music video below, capturing the band performing live, where you can see all of their signature ebullient, bright energy on display. Those visuals are mixed with vibrant imagery of The City Lines hanging out around Lake Tahquamenon, during a tour up to the Upper Peninsula to perform in Sault St. Marie. Watch until the end to see a minute-plus of candid, unscripted banter and rapport, particularly featuring the group’s frontperson, guitarist/singer and songwriter Pat Deneau.

“We wanted (‘Blood and Smoke’) to sound and feel like a rush of uncertain emotions,” Deneau confirmed. “Big questions call for big reverb, and in this case, some down-the-middle alt-rock power chords through the chorus.”

Deneau is a proud member of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and he consistently imbues his propulsive ballads with unvarnished, punk-protest-inspired poetry, looking back to a troubling past of broken bonds, unfulfilled dreams, and so many hardships endured by Native Peoples, including climate catastrophe, mental health issues and coping mechanisms — all with the intent of bettering our present and the future.

Deneau, who also works as a firefighter in Ann Arbor for his day-job, maintains an optimistic disposition, powered by a passion for music. As an environmental stewardship tactic, prescribed fires involve intentionally igniting areas that must be destroyed to allow new life to thrive. That’s precisely the goal of the messaging and energy of their new album, which is set to release in September. 

“This tune,” Deneau said, “is about reckoning with a thinning native blood line. How do I pass down Indigenous culture to my daughter as time and distance work against me?” After a pause, he concluded, “I feel like (‘Blood and Smoke’) is an all-encompassing ‘City Lines’ song…in all the good ways!

The City Lines, as you can see in the video, also features Megan Marcoux on bass and Bob Zammit on drums. In this particular video, you’ll see Megan’s husband, Bill, performing on stage, and while Bill’s not officially a member, he’s part of what Deneau deemed an artist collective — welcoming other players into the band when they are available.

The City Lines just played here in town at the Lexington, and they continually book new shows, so follow them on Instagram for more, @thecitylinesmusic. Stay tuned for updates about an inevitable album release party in September! Meanwhile, you can check out previous releases, including the uplifting full-length “Analog Memories” and the powerful single “Erased,” on their bandcamp.