A week of series debuts, CD-releases, homecomings, national tour stops and an anniversary for Short’s Brewing, with Drew Nelson, GR Live, Protomen, Slumlord Radio, The Go Rounds and more captured in images.
April’s final week was chock full of musical chills and thrills.
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The week included the announcement of Paul McCartney’s first-ever concert in Grand Rapids and a record-setting day of sellouts for the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park summer series.
In between, regional and national acts pumped up stages in special ways starting early in the week:
• On Tuesday, Reverend Horton Heat uncorked a solid set at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, with Unknown Hinson (the voice of Early Cuyler on the Adult Swim cartoon series “Squidbillies”) joining the band for a handful of songs about midway through the nearly two hour show. During the encore, guitarist Jim Heath brought out Blaine Cartwright for a song in dedication to the late Lemmy Kilmister, revving up the crowd. Also during the encore, Reverend Horton Heat brought Lucky Tubb back to the stage.
PHOTO GALLERY: Reverend Horton Heat photos by Derek Ketchum
• Also on Wednesday, The Cadillac Three, who just released their latest single, “Drunk Like You,” made a tour stop at The Intersection in Grand Rapids, with Brent James & The Vintage Youth and Grand Rapids’ own Union Guns also on the bill.
• At lunchtime on Thursday, “GR Live” debuted in H.O.M.E. inside The B.O.B. in downtown Grand Rapids, a live WYCE-FM radio show hosted by Quinn Mathews and showcasing upcoming musical events in the Grand Rapids area. The first show was an impressive one, featuring short performances by Kalamazoo’s Michigander, Grand Rapids jazz pianist John Shea and Grand Rapids punk band Sleep Cheaters, playing in front of about 30 enthusiastic audience members.
• On Thursday night, Tennessee’s Protomen brought the band’s rock opera-like, “Mega Man” video game-inspired music and show to The Pyramid Scheme, the same night that Minnesota returned to The Intersection for a night of electronic dubstep and hip hop.
• On Friday, Watching for Foxes celebrated release of the Grand Rapids band’s full-length album, “Undone Bird,” with an expansive and elaborate indie-folk affair, following sets by Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Desmond Jones and Nordlund.
WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY
Drew Nelson photos by Anna Sink
The Cadillac Three photos by Eric Stoike
GR Live photos by Anna Sink
Protomen photos by Katy Batdorff
Minnesota photos by Eric Stoike
Watching for Foxes, Jesse Ray photos by Anna Sink
PHOTO GALLERY: The Outer Vibe, Red Legs photos by Anthony Norkus
Eliot Lipp photos by Eric Stoike
Tip Top Deluxe photos by Anna Sink