The weather has changed dramatically, so heat up with these hot images from another week of sizzling live music across West Michigan.
Ah, yes, the snow has arrived in West Michigan and so has the first blast of holiday musical hoopla.
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Take the Brian Setzer Orchestra which has taken its swingin’ holiday show on tour for the past 13 years. The ensemble made a Kalamazoo tour stop at State Theatre on Wednesday and Local Spins photographer Derek Ketchum called it “a perfect backdrop” for the near sell-out show, which delivered “a cheery, fast retro swinging time for sure.” The mix of music included songs off from all three of Setzer’s holiday albums (“Boogie Woogie Christmas,” “Dig that Crazy Christmas” and “Rockin’ Rudolph”), not to mention classic Stray Cats tunes, BSO non-holiday hits and a three-piece rockabilly set in the middle of the concert.
“Listening to Brian Setzer play his Gretsch guitar was a Christmas treat in itself,” said Ketchum. “When you add the talent of his orchestra members, you definitely have a magical night.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Brian Setzer Orchestra at State Theatre
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: The Soil & The Sun at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorff
Elsewhere, My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel and Trampled by Turtles’ Dave Simonett packed the house at Founders Brewing on Thursday, the International Wine, Beer & Food Festival filled DeVos Place (with performances by Valentiger, Steve Hilger Jazz Quintet and others), The Zannies played Mulligan’s Pub in Eastown, Brad Fritcher’s MOODs with special guest Olin Clark lit up SpeakEZ Lounge for Local Spins Wednesdays (with groovy improvisational jazz), Protomartyr cranked it up at The Pyramid Scheme on Friday, and The Moxie Strings staged the CD-release show for their new “Outlet” album at Founders Brewing on Saturday. (Read more about The Moxie Strings, listen to their music and watch a video online here.)
In Kalamazoo, meanwhile, Chicago bluegrass/roots/jam band Cornmeal and Grand Rapids outlaw country act The Bootstrap Boys go things rolling Friday at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe, followed by the return of Ann Arbor blues guitarist and “The Voice” star Laith Al-Saadi on Saturday (with Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish opening).
WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY
Brad Fritcher’s MOODS, Broemel & Simonett
Wine, Beer & Food Fest, The Zannies photos by Anna Sink
Protomartyr photos by Katy Batdorff
The Moxie Strings photos by Anna Sink
Cornmeal, Bootstrap Boys, Laith Al-Saadi photos by Derek Ketchum