In recent months, some of West Michigan’s most promising bands have turned their songs into visually fetching videos. Here are nine to ogle, courtesy of Local Spins, from rock to hip hop to folk.
Vid Kids: Bangups unleashed a video for “Imposter” to accompany their new album. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Despite the demise of what was once MTV’s calling card, the art of the music video hasn’t been lost.
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In fact, music videos in the hands of West Michigan filmmakers and the bands they spotlight may be more inventive and fetching than ever.
To prove the point, in no particular order, here’s a roundup of nine recent videos released by some of West Michigan’s most promising bands covering a startling breadth of styles and genres. Enjoy — and don’t worry, there’s more to come.
1. Stepladders, “This Isn’t What It Looks Like” – Earthwork Music collective manager Bill Chesney fronts Stepladders, a Grand Rapids-based alt/indie-rock project that released its self-titled debut earlier this fall.
2. Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, “Johnny Appleweed” — Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Nicholas James Thomasma and his band released the full-length “Tall Tall Tales” earlier this year. Their rollicking tribute to a certain, uh, plant unfolds in entertaining cartoon fashion in this video directed and animated by Matt Rasch.
3. Bangups, “Imposter” — After recording their latest project, “Candy Cigarettes,” with the legendary Steve Albini, Grand Rapids rockers Bangups (aka, guitarist Joey Dornbos and drummer Brent French) uncorked this rousing video for the single, “Imposter.”
4. Red Tail Ring, “A Ghost Whispers” — Michael Beauchamp and Laurel Premo may have created Red Tail Ring’s crowning glory with the album, “Fall Away Blues” — and the single, “A Ghost Whispers,” brilliantly showcases the duo’s melancholy acoustic beauty.
5. The Great Ones, “On Another Planet” — Joining forces as The Great Ones for their debut recording, Grand Rapids hip hop artists J Rob and Lady Ace Boogie (with DJ Dean Martian) also created a fun, retro-flavored and distinctly spacey video for the single, “On Another Planet.”
6. Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, “Here Be Dragons” — Joe Hertler and his crew have not surprisingly become one of Michigan’s most popular exports, and this video for a single from the band’s latest album was directed and produced by Lizz Cardwell and Aaron Stinson, and filmed around the shores of Lake Michigan.
7. The Accidentals, “Sixth Street” — It’s simply impossible not to embrace Traverse City’s ever-engaging and lovable The Accidentals: Just ask folks who’ve attended the mammoth South by Southwest festival/conference in Austin, Texas, the past two years. The indie-folk trio made a splash there, and the event had such an impact on the band that it inspired this song and video.
8. Kari Lynch, “Sweetheart” — Collaborating with songwriters in Nashville was a big part of West Michigan country singer Kari Lynch’s new album, “Little Games,” with this poignant lead single co-written with Brian Donkers. Oh, and the video was filmed at Michigan’s Clare High School, where she was once a student.
9. The Outer Vibe, “Rose Colored Shades” — This is the latest video from Grand Rapids rock/pop band The Outer Vibe, which recently relocated to Nashville. The video for the song (which appears on the “Full Circle” album) was directed by Grant Holub and filmed in South Dakota.
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
