Guitarist, Dobro-meister and mandolinist Mark Lavengood brought his solo version of the Bluegrass Bonanza to Local Spins on WYCE, with Scott and Molly Schultz of Vox Vidorra adding soul to the radio show.
Solo and Band Man: Mark Lavengood in Studio X at WYCE-FM. (Photo/Anna Sink)
With his infectious, upbeat, wide-grin mentality, Mark “Huggy Bear” Lavengood is quite unlike anyone else roving through West Michigan’s music scene.
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On the Air: Scott and Molly Schultz with Mark Lavengood and John Sinkevics during Local Spins on WYCE. (Photo/Anna Sink)
That makes his Bluegrass Bonanza solo project quite unlike anything else gracing Michigan stages, with the band of top-notch players jamming gleefully over a solid foundation set by Lavengood on originals and compelling covers.
Indeed, Lavengood’s all-inclusive nature was evident in the eclectic show he’s assembled tonight (9 p.m. Friday) at The Pyramid Scheme, with Scott and Molly Schultz of soul-rock’s Vox Vidorra and hip hop’s March Forth with Bedrock.
Lavengood displayed that diverse and collaborative musical approach in his appearance during this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, with Scott and Molly kicking things off with a poignant new ballad (“Heaven’s Door”) inspired by last year’s church shooting in South Carolina and Lavengood following up with “We’ve Come Along.”
Check out the full podcast of the Friday radio show here — including an interview with Scott and Molly Schultz about their duo project — with a video of Lavengood’s performance below.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Mark Lavengood, Molly & Scott Schultz
Between recording a new solo album with the Bluegrass Bonanza, a new studio project with Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys and continued touring in the United States and overseas, Lavengood has a hectic 2016 lined up.
Firing Up the Bluegrass Train: Lavengood during Local Spins on WYCE. (Photo/Anna Sink)
And for this talented musician, jamming with his buddies in the Bluegrass Bonanza has offered an opportunity to stretch out musically and add various layers with his “extended bluegrass network.”
Lavengood views it “like what the Grateful Dead did with their acoustic projects. … They introduced jamming into bluegrass. That’s what I like to try to focus on in the show so that it makes it a little more unique and offers exploratory times and improvisation within the bluegrass realm.”
Expect that and more during The Pyramid Scheme show, which will kick off with Scott and Molly Schultz, continue with the Mark Lavengood Bluegrass Bonanza and finish up with March Forth and Bedrock.
The 72nd episode of Local Spins on WYCE also featured new tracks by Stovepipe Stover, Trodden Embers, S. Martin, Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe, Kathy Lamar, Big Dudee Roo and Less Is More.
VIDEO: Mark Lavengood, “We’ve Come Along” (Local Spins on WYCE)
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