Heart boasted the weekend’s biggest show, but there were more stars in the limelight, including local bands Moxieville, The Outer Vibe, Big Dudee Roo, Comments of Aether and HTAFM.
In the Light, About the Light: Lecrae invigorated a capacity crowd at Calvin College’s Covenant Fine Arts Center on Saturday night. (Photo/Tori Thomas)
Anyone doubting the pull of riveting live music offerings in the Grand Rapids area need only look at the flurry of concert activity (but let’s not talk about the flurry of weekend snow) on Saturday night:
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
Descensus Spring Tour: Anthony Green of Circa Survive. (Photo/Chelsea Taylor Strong)
• Several thousand classic rock fans nearly filled Van Andel Arena to catch Heart and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts for their final show together on the current U.S. tour (You can check out the review and scan the full Local Spins photo gallery by Anthony Norkus here);
• Christian rapper Lecrae fired up a jam-packed Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center (with DJ Vow opening) after giving a speech as part of the college’s wrap-up of its Festival of Faith and Music, a festival which also featured the likes of tune-yards, Will Butler, Phil Madeira and Afro Zuma earlier in the week;
• Droves of young fans flooded The Intersection for Philly alt-rock/post-hardcore band Circa Survive, with Balance and Composure and CHON also on the bill;
Official Sponsor of The Weekend Photo Gallery
• Founders Brewing attracted its usual Saturday night throng, this one for Boston indie-folk/chamber pop band The Ballroom Thieves, with Chicago bluegrass/folk outfit The Way Down Wanderers opening;
• Grand Rapids’ newest prog-rock phenoms, Comments of Aether, drew a hefty audience of fans to Eastern Avenue Hall for its impressive treatment of selections from King Crimson, Yes, Crack the Sky, Gentle Giant and Genesis.
Herd Favorite: Jeb Puryear of Donna the Buffalo. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Enthused crowds were the rule of the day earlier in the week, too, with:
• Kalamazoo duo Moxieville making its SpeakEZ Lounge debut for a solid crowd on Wednesday night;
• Country singer Eric Paslay playing The Intersection on Thursday, joined by and Michigan’s own Steve Rivers and Brian Lorente & The Usual Suspects.
• Grand Rapids’ The Outer Vibe starring in the intimate HopCat presents Local Spins Live at River City Studios podcast concert (check back with Local Spins in April for the video and story);
• The Bill Heid Trio showing off its keyboard-propelled chops Thursday at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill;
• Donna the Buffalo, with Grand Rapids’ Big Dudee Roo and Nicholas James & The Bandwagon, making a smaller-than-expected group of fans at The Intersection on Friday very happy and dancing;
• Heavier Than Air Flying Machines, Tyranny is Tyranny and The Real Lazy Genius getting things rocking on Friday at The Pyramid Scheme.
LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY: March 25-28, 2015
Click on photo to enlarge gallery; disable pop-up blocker if images won’t load.
Circa Survive, Balance and Composure, CHON photos by Chelsea Taylor Strong
The Ballroom Thieves, Way Down Wanderers photos by Anna Sink
Comments of Aether, Movieville photos by Anna Sink
Eric Paslay, Brian Lorente, Steve Rivers photos by Eric Stoike
The Outer Vibe photos by Anthony Norkus
The Bill Heid Trio photos by Tori Thomas
Donna the Buffalo, Big Dudee Roo, Bandwagon photos by Anna Sink
HTAFM, Tyranny is Tyranny photos by Katy Batdorff
Official Sponsor of The Weekend Photo Gallery
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
