Artist Spotlight: The Idiot Kids

A weekly showcase featuring local musicians

Name: The Idiot Kids

Line up: Jon-Mikal Bartee, guitar and vocals; Nicholas Zambeck, bass; Andrew Maslowsky, drums.

Sound: Punk, garage rock and glam

History: Bartee and Zambeck founded the Idiot Kids more than a decade ago, just after high school. Maslowsky joined as the trio's drummer in 2017. Over the past several years the punk trio has played most rock clubs in town and has a handful of releases under their belt.

The latest: Frontman Bartee took advantage of downtime during the pandemic to learn how to record and mix music, and he used his new skills on their DIY album "Chapels." Recorded in both a Hamtramck basement and a cabin in northern Michigan, then mastered at Zach Shipps' RV Audio Lab in Ferndale, the project will be released on locally based Jett Plastic Records.

"The songwriting on this album is definitely a little more raw and introspective, but still keeping up with that high-energy punk feel," Bartee said. "The overarching themes of the album deal with how religious trauma affects queer people like myself at a very young age, and how that continues to shape and influence yourself well into adulthood."

To celebrate the release of "Chapels," the Idiot Kids will play a record release party Saturday at the Outer Limits Lounge, 5507 Caniff in Detroit. The Cult of Spaceskull and Carmel Liburdi & Friends are also on the bill, which kicks off at 9 p.m. following doors at 8 p.m. Cover charge is $10.

Visit linktr.ee/theidiotkids for more information on the band.

Melody Baetens