Giving thanks for Seth Bernard, Rick Chyme, Big Dudee Roo, more: West Michigan musicians hail their inspiring comrades

In what’s become a Thanksgiving tradition, Local Spins asked some West Michigan musicians to cite what they’re thankful for and the artists who inspire them.

 

Every Thanksgiving, Local Spins asks some Michigan musicians to acknowledge the holiday by letting us know what they’re most thankful for this year, along with which artist (national or local) they’d most like to thank for their contributions and impact.

It’s a feel-good, often poignant exercise, and it seems, regional acts are inspiring many other regional acts these days. Bravo.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all from Local Spins!

IAN GORMAN (Red Sea Pedestrians, La Luna Recording in Kalamazoo)

Most Thankful For: More than ever, I’m thankful to be surrounded by so many artists, musicians, poets, and truth-tellers in this wonderful scene we have here in Michigan. Brave creators and commentators, helping us all interpret, react and cope with some pretty frightening recent events. People fighting the good fight against fear, prejudice, and hatred.

Band/Artist He’s Most Thankful For: Along that train of thought, I’m especially thankful for the music, words, friendship and community leadership of Seth Bernard. Seth is at the center of so much of the creative original music going on in Michigan right now. A phenomenally prolific songwriter and producer, Seth has inspired countless musicians and holds up a light in the darkness for so many. And he does it all with grace, humor, and killer guitar riffs!

LADY ACE BOOGIE (LINDA TELLIS)

Most Thankful For: This past summer was one of the most challenging times in my life personally. From personal relationships, career changes, and the feeling of wanting to give up. I was able to get through all of that because of my strength. So, I am thankful for my father for showing me what strength looks like. He is a prime example.

Band/Artist She’d Most Like to Thank: I would truly like to thank Big Dudee Roo for their latest EP “Dudee Free.” Those six songs played over and over in my car this entire summer. The melodies, the lyrics, the instrumentation, and the riffs were heart felt from start to finish. I can honestly say that this CD was my life in the form of a playlist. Although I had nothing to do with the creation of it, I feel like it is a part of me.

THE ACCIDENTALS

Most Thankful For: We couldn’t be more grateful for our families, our friends, our fellow collaborators, Famgrove and you – the backbone in our music community.

Band/Artist They’d Most Like to Thank: We’d like to thank Rick Chyme for his deep, genuine care for human beings. He is a superhero to everyone who knows him. He reaches out to see how we’re doing, unprompted, and has given so much encouragement and love to us in the past years we’ve known him. He’s also been a huge role model for kids interested in music, teaching them to embrace their artistic and creative ideas. We are glad we know him. We are thankful for people who are open and real about their struggles and who help us stay grounded and healthy.

JUSTIN “STOVEPIPE” STOVER

Most Thankful For: I’m worried. I wake up way too early, hours before either my wife or myself are supposed to get up. I wake up worried, scared about next year. About the direction our country takes. Worried that people who look different, who think different, who love different will be treated different. That we’re all gonna love each other less and hate each other more. I’m seriously not trying to sound pompous or Bono-like…I’m worried, scared even. When you’re scared, it’s hard to be grateful. To be thankful. But every day I do wake up. I know that in few hours I’ll read about someone sticking up for somebody else. I may hear something horrible said about somebody who has had enough horrible things said about them already. And believe me, I have. I bet the people reading this have also. But I also wake up knowing I will see, with my own two eyes, a friend or a family member or a stranger refuse to let somebody be mistreated, or threatened, or mocked. As bad as I feel things could become (and I do believe they could become bad) I do know that, this holiday season, as we wait for the world to end and then begin again in a way that we are uncertain about, I honest to god have seen people coming together, in good and generous and courageous ways, more than I’ve ever seen before in my 36 years. For that, I am thankful. I’m thankful for the strength of the human spirit that witness every day, even in the face of sadness and worry and racism and sexism and homophobia transphobia and you-name-it-phobia. I’m thankful that, even though I’ve been waking up way too early, at least I’m waking up next to the love of my life. To a day that I spend with friends and family that I’ve known for years, doing brave things for each other out of the goodness of their hearts. For THAT I am thankful.

Band/Artist He’d Most Like to Thank: There’s a song that the great Tom Waits, my all-time-favorite singer-songwriter, sang for David Letterman near the end of Dave’s TV career. It’s called “Take One Last Look.” That song has helped me through this year. The world isn’t gonna look the same. But it’s worth fighting for and our small victories are worth the gratitude that we have for them. “Take One Last Look.”
“Leave the cards on the table/Leave the bread on the plate/Put your hand on the gearshift/Put your foot off the brake/And take one last look/At the place that you are leaving.”

DAN FISHER (I Believe in Julio, Mavericks & Monarchs, North Atlantic Drift)

Most Thankful For: Of course, I’m always so thankful to all local music supporters but during Thanksgiving I like to take the opportunity to thank all of my band mates. The people I play music with are the best people I know. They accept me for who I am and enable me to become a better person everyday. Through them I’m able to express myself creatively and escape all hardships. I’ll be forever indebted to them and look forward to our futures together.

Band/Artist He’d Most Like to Thank: I’d like to thank The Hotelier (Worcester, MA). This band has really been essential to bringing light to a music genre that has a somewhat messy past, emo. It’s a genre of music that I grew up with and have recently fallen in love with again. Outside of that, The Hotelier produce some outstanding music that I think any music lover can enjoy and relate to. This band has gotten me through some of the most difficult periods in my life and I urge everyone to give them a listen. If you do like them, please reach out to me so we can hang out and geek out about them together.

ERIN LENAU (Hollywood Makeout, Lambo)

Most Thankful For: I’m most thankful for the people around me on a daily basis. I have great friends, family, and co-workers. They push me to be better and help me realize who I am as a teacher, musician, and human.

Band/Artist She’d Most Like to Thank: The musician that inspires me the most is probably Tunde Olaniran. He has a story to tell, an amazing group of dancers, and his music makes me jealous (in a good way).

HANNAH ROSE GRAVES

Most Thankful For: Thankful for my family and friends. The fact that I am surrounded in so much love.

Band/Artist She’d Most Like to Thank: The musician that I am the most thankful for is Eric Engblade. For his courage to write about things that matter. For his intelligent poetic lyricism and his genuine passion and love for music.

JESSE RAY (Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish)

Most Thankful For: This year I’m thankful for family, and I ain’t just talkin’ blood family. I’m talking about Dingo. My brother in arms, my compadre and closest friend. For a year now, we’ve taken the stage together. He’s the best.

Artist He’d Most Like to Thank: I’d also like to thank Tommy Schichtel. He’s done so much for the local rock ‘n’ roll scene, and he helped to make our third release sound the way it should. He’s a man that pushed us to do our best and shared our vision. I loved working with him, and he’s recharged my emotional batteries for the long rockin’ road ahead.

Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC