Janet Jackson and Of Montreal brought their touring spectacles to Grand Rapids on Friday, but there were plenty of other fascinating shows this week to ogle as well — captured in photos at Local Spins.
Unbreakable Hit Parade: Janet Jackson brought her first tour in years to Grand Rapids on Friday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
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No two ways about it: Football season is in full gear, which means there are plenty of reasons for folks to be distracted from late summer’s live music flurry.
No worries though, Local Spins has documented some of what you may have missed this past week, starting with Janet Jackson’s early-tour stop in Grand Rapids on Friday, where Local Spins contributor Jonathan Beatty and photographer Anthony Norkus were on hand.
JANET JACKSON AT VAN ANDEL ARENA
Friday night was a trip down memory lane for Grand Rapids fans as Janet Jackson’s “Unbreakable” tour rolled into Van Andel Arena.
The evening got warmed up with a DJ playing remixes of Janet Jackson songs, which came across as weird and kind of pretentious, but seemed to get people ready for a night of dancing and singing.
Dancing With a Star: Jackson on stage with her troupe. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Jackson was greeted with a raucous ovation from the crowd on her opening number, “BURNITUP,” the lead single from her upcoming album, “Unbreakable,” as footage of Missy Elliot’s parts were played on huge LED screens on either side of the stage.
But most of the set’s first half read like an old-school fan’s dream lineup, weaving in and out of iconic hits from “Control” and “Rhythm Nation 1814.” The songs still sounded as great as they ever have, and reminded me of how great the production duo of Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam Harris really were on all of these old tracks. Slinky bass riffs and sexy drum beats made even the most timid of attendees move to the music, supplied by a band that remained mostly in the shadows.
Jackson did a great job of interacting with the audience and taking them on a sonic journey with her through the ’80s and ’90s.
About 14 songs into the set, Janet walked off the stage and out came the DJ, again playing more Jackson remixes. Perhaps the older crowd needed a bathroom break, but this seemed odd because all of the momentum Janet had spent building almost seemed lost with this move.
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Adding to the weirdness of the intermission, Jackson came back out to the same screen images and same spot on the stage — an unimaginative way to restart a show (though this is early in the tour so kinks likely are being worked out).
The second half started with a slow burn of some of the more sultry songs in her discography, from “Again” to “Let’s Wait Awhile.” The highlight of the night came when “That’s the Way Love Goes” kicked in. The building had been simmering with a sensual vibe and the crowd boiled over into a sea of slow dancing and singing.
If anything, the night’s impressive set of 30-plus songs fully displayed how Jackson is one of the few women in pop music, aside from Madonna, who can reinvent her image and sound — never straying too far from what she’s done, but enough to sound current and keep her old fans happy while garnering new ones. — By Jonathan Beatty
JANET JACKSON: PHOTOS BY ANTHONY NORKUS
OF MONTREAL AT THE PYRAMID SCHEME
Athens, Ga.’s ever-inventive and colorful experimental rock/pop band Of Montreal returned to Grand Rapids for a sold-out show Friday at The Pyramid Scheme that showed off frontman Kevin Barnes and crew’s psychedelic persona as they tour behind their latest album, “Aureate Gloom.” As photographer Katy Batdorff put it: “What a feast for the eyes! That show was a photographer’s dream.”
OF MONTREAL: PHOTOS BY KATY BATDORFF
CHASE RICE AT THE INTERSECTION
Country singer Chase Rice uncorked a memorable show for The Intersection’s ‘Rock the Lot’ summer series on Saturday, regaling a sold-out crowd in the parking lot next to the nightclub. Photographer Eric Stoike was there to capture the action.
CHASE RICE: PHOTOS BY ERIC STOIKE
