By NICK DEGEL

Managing Editor

REVIEW 

If you have done little else in this city over the last two years, hopefully you have checked out The Hard Lessons.

Aside from holding the unenviable but accurate title of Detroit’s “next big thing,” The Hard Lessons have been about as close to a musical enema as one could ever imagine. Their high energy shows and unforgettable hooks remind even the most pretentious music fan to shut up and just have fun.

But behind the carefree attitude are some real chops. Singer/guitarist Augie (Visocchi), singer/keyboardist Ko Ko Louise (Korin Louise Cox) and drummer The Anvil (Christophe Zajac-Denek) combine to create a bluesy indie-rock sound that never spares the white-hot intensity.

On July 22, the trio will release “B & G Sides,” a packaging of four singles they have released since November 2007. The record gets its name from the arrangement of the singles with two songs each, one performed by Augie and the other by Ko Ko Louise (a boy and a girl, if you don’t see where this is going).

According to Augie, the band arranged the record as they did in order to provide room to explore their many influences. This gives the record both a sense of variety and a sense of cohesion.

Songs like “Come Back to Me” and “Don’t Shake My Tree” are shining examples of the band’s sound. This also includes “See and Be Scene,” a satirical look at the hipster crowd that deserves radio recognition.    

The Hard Lessons show their versatility with the aggressive “12345678” and the sweet ballad “I Like Your Hair Long.” They also showcase a new side with “The Sound of Coming Down,” adding a touch of country to the mix.

From front to back, “B & G Sides” is a solid representation of everything the band does well. From Ko Ko Louise’s larger-than-life vocals to the pure rock vibe, The Hard Lessons continue to display why they may not be Detroit’s best kept secret for much longer.