Diversity reigned around Grand Rapids during April’s opening salvo: singer-songwriter intensity (Josh Rose), heavy alt-rock (Uncommon Road), indie-rock (Desert Noises), Celtic charm (An Dro) and more, captured in images.
Through the Glass: An Dro performed a special concert at Stone House Recording on Saturday, part of a video taping and possible live CD session. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
For some reason, Bob Dylan crept into my very soul this weekend, his mesmerizing catalog of music racing through my brain at every turn.
Maybe, with the Wolverines in the Final Four and now headed to Monday night’s NCAA championship game, I was “Tangled Up in Blue.” Perhaps, with spring in the air and baseball unleashed, it was a matter of “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” Or it could just be anticipation, with Dylan returning to West Michigan to play Wings Stadium on April 20.
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Of course, it’s also true that traces of his influence show up in performances by a host of artists everywhere I turn, from the lyrics of pensive singer-songwriters to the power of indie-rock bands.
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But enough about that. The weekend of live music in the Grand Rapids area featured some special nights, including a Local Spins Live encore performance by Josh Rose and The Koh Kohs at One Trick Pony (a week after the final Local Spins Live/Fresh Folk series concert at St. Cecilia Music Center and the Koh Kohs first-ever appearance at One Trick) which raised more than $330 for Access of West Michigan, the first-ever WGRD Rocktagon Throwdown finals at The Orbit Room, featuring six hard-rocking local bands (Red Legs, Devin & The Dead Frets, Silent Lapse, Uncommon Road, 6 Prong Paw and Pass Of Aggression) in a competition eventually won by the crowd-pleasingly lively Uncommon Road, and a video recording of instrumental Celtic/world music band An Dro’s Saturday night playing the intimate Stone House Recording (which might result in a live CD).
(You can check out video highlights from the Rocktagon Throwdown here as well.)
There was more: The Crane Wives, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys and Antrim Dells firing up The Intersection (the night after Antrim Dells ably filled in for a cancellation at Founders Brewing Co., playing along with Utah’s indie-rock-cool Desert Noises), Grand Rapids’ own Jimmie Stagger and Hank Mowery opening for rising blues star Ana Popovic at The Stache, Honor By August’s Michael Pearsall playing Spring Lake’s Seven Step Up, Katzenjamer and Jaik Willis at Holland’s Park Theatre.
And stay tuned: More photos will be added to the roundup by Monday.
Congratulations also are in order for photographer Katy Batdorff whose name was picked at random from March contributors to the Weekend Photo Galleries to receive a $25 gift certificate to Rockford Brewing Co. Thanks to all the photographers and Rockford Brewing for taking part. You, too, can be a winner: Just submit photos from live music events during April weekends and send them to jsinkevics@gmail.com (listing the band name, venue and photographer). If we use the photos, your name will be tossed into the hat to win a $25 gift certificate to HopCat. So snap away.
Blues Power: Hank Mowery and Jimmie Stagger played The Intersection’s Stache on Thursday, opening for Ana Popovic. (Photo/Adelina Kajtazovic, L.A.C.K. Photography)
Guitar Hero: Jimmie Stagger at The Stache. (Photo/Adelina Kajtazovic, L.A.C.K. Photography)
Getting Blue: Blue Molly also tore it up, opening for Ana Popovic. (Photo/Tim Richards)
Guitar Siren: Ana Popovic in The Stache at The Intersection. (Photo/Tim Richards)
All Smiles: Ana Popovic. (Photo/Tim Richards)
Local Spins Acoustic: Singer-songwriter Josh Rose of Ada played to a full house at One Trick Pony on Thursday, along with The Koh Kohs. (Photo/Anna Sinkevics)
Sweet Vibe: The Koh Kohs, led by Joshua and Alexis Kohns, had a memorable debut at One Trick Pony. (Photo/Anna Sinkevics)
Top-Drawer Fill-Ins: Antrim Dells at Founders Brewing on Thursday. (Photo/Spins on Music)
Adventurous Indie-Rock: Utah’s Desert Noises delivered bracing rock late into the night at Founders.
Flatbellied Bluegrass: Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys helped pump up a humongous crowd at The Intersection on Friday. (Photos/Anna Sinkevics)
Lavengood Good: Mark Lavengood, left, and the Flatbellys were joined by members of The Crane Wives for part of their show.
Folk-Rock Faves: The Crane Wives included covers of “The Sound of Silence” and “Dog Days Are Over” in their set.
On the Mark: Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives.
Purple Haze: Banjo player Tom Gunnels of The Crane Wives.
Winning Combination: Uncommon Road, with Kala Chantelle on lead vocals, impressed judges with their energetic stage show at The Orbit Room. (Photo/Spins on Music)
Alive and Well: Devin & the Dead Frets during the Rocktagon Throwdown.
Celebrating Victory: Uncommon Road was all smiles on stage with personalities from WGRD and judges after winning the inaugural Rocktagon Throwdown on Friday.
Video highlights of all six bands at Rocktagon Throwdown
Mind-Blowing Music: Katzenjamer played Holland’s Park Theatre on Saturday, along with Jaik Willis. (Photo/Courtesy Park Theatre)
Powering Up: After going acoustic on Thursday at One Trick Pony, folk-rock’s The Koh Kohs made their Founders debut on Saturday. (Photo/Courtesy of The Koh Kohs)
Stepping Up: Singer-songwriter Michael Pearsall of Honor By August played Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up on Saturday. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
New Material: Pearsall played songs from an album being released later this month. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Ready, Set, Action: Jim Spalink and Carolyn Koebel of An Dro were part of a Saturday session being filmed by Mike Knorr of Silent K Studio and recorded by Stone House Recording. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
Man at Work: Peter Fox of Stone House Recording during Saturday’s An Dro session. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
Into the Strings: Michele Venegas of An Dro. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
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