Beyond sellouts by Todd Rundgren, Rhiannon Giddens and Andrew W.K., the week was a musical marvel: Packed shows for Vox Vidorra, Jon Spencer, Joe Louis Walker, plus Mayer Mawthorne at Ferris Fest.
Special Moment: Molly Bouwsma-Schultz led Vox Vidorra’s CD-release show at Founders Brewing. (Photo/Anna Sink)
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The buzz has been growing for Grand Rapids soul-rock band Vox Vidorra and its full-length debut album, “Promise Land,” for quite some time.
‘Promise Land’ Quartet: From left, Theo Ndawillie, Scott Schultz, Molly Bouwsma-Schultz and Ryan K. Wilson. (Photo/Anna Sink)
And as lead singer Molly Bouwsma-Schultz put it at Founders Brewing Saturday night, all of it has been building “just to get to this moment.”
That “moment” — a CD-release show in front of nearly 1,000 people and one of Founders’ biggest crowds ever — proved to be one of the most unique sets of music to ever grace the Founders stage (with a four-piece string section and special guests). It was a triumphant, passionate display of gripping songs performed with ultra-dynamic fervor by Bouwsma-Schultz, along with her multi-instrumental bandmates Scott Schultz, Theo Ndawillie and Ryan K. Wilson.
After an opening set by four-sevenths of Kalamazoo hip hop ensemble Maraj (plus special guest Fiona Dickinson), and an introduction courtesy of Lady Ace Boogie, Vox Vidorra delivered the material from “Promise Land” with intense sincerity — as well as singular covers of Radiohead and The Beatles — bringing guests such as djembe player Leah Ivory and producer-guitarist Tommy Schichtel to the stage at different junctures.
Vox Fans: A large throng jammed Founders.
As Emilee Petersmark of The Crane Wives put it: “It blew my mind. They get better and better every time I seem them. It’s unreal.”
More than anything, perhaps, the set showcased a room full of love, with the band thanking its exuberant supporters and vice versa. It was an evening that ended with plenty of hugs, high-fives and fist bumps from fans and fellow musicians — a fitting, satisfying reward for all the work in getting to that “moment.”
And that was just the end of a surprisingly hectic and eclectic week of live music. Check out full photo galleries and roundups of sold-out shows by Todd Rundgren, Rhiannon Giddens and Andrew W.K. in this separate Local Spins package of reviews.
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But there was more:
Blues Icon Joe Louis Walker at Tip Top Deluxe. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
• The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion kicked off a busy fourth anniversary week for The Pyramid Scheme on Tuesday;
• Renowned bluesman Joe Louis Walker delivered the goods for an enthused, capacity crowd during an early show at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Saturday;
• Ann Arbor neo-soul artist Mayer Hawthorne and Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T., plus Through the Crowd, Heavy T & The Woodiez, Flint Eastwood, DJ Choff, D’Arin and Balsam Brothers powered up an audience of 700-plus during Saturday afternoon’s Ferris Fest at Wink Arena in Big Rapids.
• Singer-songwriter Seth Glier played two sold-out shows at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up, accompanied by Joe Nerney and Mark Seedorf.
WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY: April 26, 2015
Vox Vidorra photos by Anna Sink
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion & Joe Louis Walker photos by Anthony Norkus
Ferris Fest photos by Tori Thomas
Seth Glier photo by Gary Hanks
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VIDEO: VOX VIDORRA AT FOUNDERS BREWING
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
