An unseasonable chill and even a bit o’ rain didn’t deter revelers from Allegan to Grand Rapids this weekend, with Guided by Voices, Taking Back Sunday and Wavves heating things up indoors.
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Talk about a backyard party.
The second annual Perrin Backyard Beer Bash drew thousands to the field behind the Comstock Park brewery to revel in beer and live music from Particle,Joe Hertler and the Rainbow Seekers, Jesse Ray and the Carolina Catfish, Thickest Thieves and Grand Rapids Soul Club.
Although the evening temperature felt more like late October than late summer, folks partied deep into the night as L.A. prog-rock/jam/electronica band Particle fired up its highly proficient, instrumental dance machine fresh from a performance in New York. Check out some video highlights and photos below.
That was just one of several outdoor events getting attention this weekend, starting with an exuberant crowd enduring some light rain at the Allegan County Fair on Friday to cheer on country music heartthrob Hunter Hayes, who lit up the night and made folks forget about the weather. And like the title of his most recent album, that was, indeed, the “Storyline.”
However, Friday’s first-ever BeneFest — benefiting the organization 20 Liters and its efforts to provide access to clean water — moved indoors at The Intersection due to the chill and rain, with a star-studded Michigan lineup on two stages.The Crane Wives, Vox Vidorra, Ralston Bowles, The Accidentals and more entertained about 330 people, who also visited a photo booth, bought T-shirts and otherwise supported the cause. While the turnout wasn’t what organizers had hoped, likely due to the weather, it was a good start and the bands involved certainly put their heart and soul into their sets. For more about the organization and to donate to the cause, visit the official 20 Liters website. (Duo Channing & Quinn also performed after playing the “Lpcal Spins on WYCE” radio show earlier in the day)
Meanwhile, just down the street at The Pyramid Scheme, Ohio’s Guided by Voices returned to its favorite Grand Rapids haunt (one that it christened with two nights of shows when The Pyramid Scheme first opened) to churn out its edgy, irreverent, alcohol-soaked indie-rock.
The same night at Lansing’s The Loft, meanwhile, California’s Wavves uncorked its unique pop-hued punk and Taking Back Sunday came roaring back to Grand Rapids to energize an excitable crowd at The Orbit Room.
On Saturday, the 33rd annual Cottage Bar Chili Cook-Off literally warmed things up downtown on LaGrave Avenue with teams of chili chefs stirring up their potions while DarlenYa, Fauxgrass and Vox Vidorra performed on stage.
In Eastown, the much-beloved Eastown Street Fair combined art, crafts, kids’ activities, the WYCE-FM (88.1) record sale and sets by 16 bands on two stages, including the aforementioned Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Asamu Johnson and the Associates of Blues, the Eastown Jazz Ensemble, Jes Kramer, Sext Farm and more.
All in all, it was a yeoman effort to keep the fast-approaching fall at bay.
LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY: Sept. 12-14
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Hunter Hayes photos by Eric Stoike
BeneFest photos by John Sinkevics
Cottage Bar Chili Cook-Off photos by Tori Thomas
Wavves photos by Anthony Norkus
Guided by Voices photos by Katy Batdorff
Eastown Street Fair photos by Tori Thomas, Brad Miller and Anna Sink
Taking Back Sunday photos by Anna Sink
PERRIN BACKYARD BEER BASH 2014
BENEFEST 2014
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music