Local Spins today spotlights the West Michigan heartland rockers along with debuting tracks by Feeding Grizzlies, The Temperances, Supo, Zudocks, Luke Winslow-King and more. The story and radio podcast.
American Rust: Writing and embracing ‘fun, catchy, powerful rock ‘n’ roll songs about real-life stuff.’ (Courtesy Photo)
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Often times, the pull of writing and performing new songs with other musicians is too strong to ignore.
Hence, the dissolution of one band, or two, just leads to formation of another — a familiar outcome amid Michigan’s collaborative music scene.
Take American Rust, a new Grand Rapids heartland rock and Americana outfit propelled by singer and guitarist Kevin Langeland, who once fronted the regionally popular, country-hued Paradise Outlaw.
“Paradise Outlaw kind of ran its course officially and it left me without a band to play in, and it didn’t take long for that to kind of wear on me,” Langeland recalled.
“I needed a band, needed a musical outlet. So, I started kind of kicking around with some of the guys that I know from the music world … and ended up getting a good group of guys together who were all interested in making original music.”
The resulting American Rust — Langeland, guitarist Alex Cegalis (Rusty & The Razorblades, Blue Jay Bridge), drummer Matt Murphy (Murphy Brothers) and bassist Adam Estes — not only clicked for its bandmates, but fairly quickly released a self-titled EP last summer.
On-Stage Energy: American Rust makes its SpeakEZ Lounge debut on Jan. 30. (Courtesy Photo)
“Our brand of middle-of-America rustbelt rock is built on real life: workin’ hard, chasin’ dreams, havin’ fun, family, friends, growing up, looking back and where we came from,” Langeland offered. “Our goal is just to make fun, catchy, powerful rock ‘n’ roll songs about real-life stuff and just make refreshing music from the heart, if you will.”
The band — which plays Local Spins’ Live Music Fridays series at SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids on Jan. 30 — also has its sights set on recording its first full-length studio album later this year. Get details about the SpeakEZ Lounge show online here.
Inspired by artists such as Eric Clapton, Shania Twain, Goo Goo Dolls and Rolling Stones, Langeland suggested that American Rust’s sound falls into the category of Jason Isbell, Tom Petty and Blackberry Smoke, with “powerful, relatable, good-time original songs.”
Langeland conceded there are similarities to the disbanded Paradise Outlaw, though American Rust “might be a little bit more rock ‘n’ roll than country. We’ve got some pretty good guitar power in this band and might have a little bit more of a classic rock feel than the last band.”
Fans can expect to hear the live debut of new material at the Jan. 30 SpeakEZ Lounge show.
“I think we bring a good energy, a fun energy,” Langeland said of the band’s performances. “The songs are fun live and I think fans will enjoy listening to the stories, the content of the songs. I think they’re relatable. People will be able to listen and kind of nod along and give a little fist-pump like, ‘Yeah, that’s me, too.'”
This week’s episode of the Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase featured two tracks from the self-titled American Rust EP — “Golden Hour” and “Being Good Today” — along with new songs from Feeding Grizzlies, Zudocks, Luke Winslow-King, Mar in Color, Hot Girls, Supo, Perren, The Temperances and Signal Quartet, as well as a classic retro track from Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels. Listen to the interview and full radio show podcast below.
The Michigan Music Showcase airs at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org, and on Interlochen Public Radio at 7 p.m. Saturdays.
PODCAST: Michigan Music Showcase (1/16/26)
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