Grand Rapids’ live music options abound as ArtPrize kicks into gear this week, ranging from Rise Against and Stepdad to West Michigan’s best bands on display.
Rise Against plays the Orbit Room on Monday night.
If you’ve been living: A) under a rock, B) in a cave or C) in that underground bunker you excavated in your backyard to protect yourself from alien attacks, you probably don’t know that ArtPrize kicks off in Grand Rapids this week. As for the rest of you, here’s the lowdown on the wealth of concert options around town this week.
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Rise Against, The Gaslight Anthem, Hot Water Music
7 p.m. Monday
$30
The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
Chicago hardcore/punk-rock band Rise Against headlines this show, which was moved from the DeltaPlex Arena to the cozier confines of the Orbit Room. But there may be just as much interest in rock/pop/punk’s The Gaslight Anthem, a much-celebrated New Jersey band touring behind its new album, “Handwritten.” Doors open at 6 p.m.; get more details at The Orbit Room website.
Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear, Cursive, Caspian
7 p.m. Tuesday
$20 advance, $23 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
Ever-inventive Seattle indie-rock/pop band Minus the Bear just released its fifth studio album, “Infinity Overhead,” which spotlights the group’s knack for meshing pop melodies and vocals with prog-rock-styled rhythms, interludes and guitar effects.
On this CD, the five-piece band shifts its emphasis back toward guitar-driven songs. More information about the show here. http://sectionlive.com/events/minus-the-bear/ (Video below.)
The Outer Vibe will be hanging out — and playing — downtown again on Wednesday at lunchtime.
The Outer Vibe, Delilah DeWylde, Edye Evans Hyde
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday-Friday
Free
Rosa Parks Circle, Grand Rapids
With WOOD TV8 and its eightWest show setting up at downtown’s Grand Rapids Art Museum for the duration of ArtPrize, the station has decided to spotlight lunchtime weekday concerts with some terrific local bands. The Art Van Concert Series kicks off Wednesday with rock/pop’s The Outer Vibe and continues Thursday with honky-tonk/country’s Delilah DeWylde & the Lost Boys and Friday with jazz singer Edye Evans Hyde & Friends.
The following week, it’s The Crane Wives, Alexis, Kari Lynch Band, Kris Hitchchock & Small Town Son and Annabelle Road, with the week of Oct. 1 featuring La Famiglia, Funktion, Valentiger, Four Finger Five and The Verve Pipe. Get more details here.
Pianist Steve Talaga helps kick off the ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase on Wednesday.
The ArtPrize Musicians’ Showcase
4-8 p.m. Thursday, 3:30-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon-6:20 p.m. Sunday
Free
St. Cecilia Music Center, Grand Rapids
In spite of my obvious music orientation, I sincerely doubt whether a song will ever win ArtPrize. But that doesn’t mean music hasn’t already become an integral part of the ArtPrize conversation. There are 79 musical entries in this year’s competition, a significant increase from 2011, and folks get to experience more than 50 of them during the four-day St. Cecilia Music Center showcase.
(You can read more about the showcase later this week right here at Spins on Music, with a complete schedule of all the artists who’ll be performing.)
Some entries come from outside the state and country, but the lion’s share still represent the crème de la crème of West Michigan’s music scene, from jazz composer/pianist Steve Talaga, singer-songwriter Lucas Wilson and rootsy/folky/bluegrass acts to the rock of The Water Clocks, Chasing the Sky and The Mines, the last of which will be my musical guests this week on a special ArtPrize edition of Local Spins Live at 10 a.m. Wednesday on News Talk 1340 AM (WJRW).
Sister Sparrow and company
Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds
9:30 p.m. Thursday
Free
Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
This nine-piece modern soul ensemble from Brooklyn professes influences ranging from Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder to Bonnie Raitt and Etta James, but Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds’ sound really emanates from the lungs and vocal cords of Arleigh Kincheloe, aka Sister Sparrow, who leads this horn-fed group through melodic R&B laced blues-rock. (Video below.)
And on Saturday, Founders brings in Ann Arbor-area singer-songwriter Chris Bathgate and The Devil Whale, $5.
The Crane Wives are sure to rev up fans at their CD-release party Saturday at The Intersection.
The Crane Wives CD-release Show
With Special Guests The Fauxgrass Quartet, Lucas Wilson & Band
7 p.m. Saturday
$6 advance, $8 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
I can think of few other Grand Rapids bands whose second studio album has been so “highly anticipated” (which happens to be every rock critics’ pet-peeve most overused promotional phrase). The Crane Wives have created this buzz by following up their highly praised award-winning debut, “Safe Ship, Harbored,” with delectably energetic stage shows that ignite fans with their infectious folk-rock/Americana songs and those hair-raising female harmonies.
And not to tease fans too much, but it helps that their new album, “The Fool in Her Wedding Gown,” is a gem of a sophomore release and I know fans can’t wait to hear it all live. Oh, and having Lucas Wilson and the Fauxgrass Quartet on the bill, too? Priceless.
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus & Mary Chain, grrRoPoLis
7:30 p.m. Saturday
$26 advance, $30 day of show
The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
Anybody else surprised this Scottish alt-rock band is still around?
The Jesus & Mary Chain made quite a splash with critics once upon a time in the ‘80s and ‘90s with their dark and noisy pop-styled rock on albums such as “Psychocandy” and “Honey’s Dead.” Sure, they split up, but reformed about five years ago. Welcome back, boys. And I just found out that West Michigan’s own grrRoPoLis is opening the show.
Seth Glier performs in Spring Lake on Saturday.
Seth Glier
8 p.m. Saturday
$22 advance, $24 day of show
(Love Seat, Sofa and Table Seating also available)
Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake
Massachusetts folk-pop singer-songwriter Seth Glier boasts a simply amazing voice. And West Michigan fans will get a chance to hear that remarkable voice again this weekend when Glier returns to Seven Steps Up for a pristine Pin Drop Concert at the cozy venue. With four studio albums under his belt, Glier tours incessantly, building a devoted audience for his soulful music. His 2010 album, “The Next Right Thing,” earned a Grammy nomination for best engineered album, non-classical. Get tickets to see Glier here.
(BTW, at 8 p.m. Friday, Grand Rapids’ own The Fauxgrass Quartet will uncork its fresh-sounding bluegrass strains at Seven Steps Up, $7. Get ticket details here.)
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
Stepdad runs right back to Grand Rapids this week: Tuesday at The Pyramid Scheme.
Stepdad at The Pyramid Scheme – One of Grand Rapids’ pop kings, Stepdad, is back home after releasing their latest Passion Pit-styled album (“Wildlife Pop”) on a national label, playing the Warped Tour and mounting a national tour of their own. It’s time to give them a heroes’ homecoming at The Pyramid Scheme, along with The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt (8 p.m. Tuesday, $8). Check out Stepdad’s silly-fun video (recorded right here in Grand Rapids) for “Will I Ever Dance Again” below. And get tickets here.
Drew Nelson at The B.O.B. – Here’s something a little different for one of Grand Rapids’ Americana kings (following the lead of Stepdad above): Singer-songwriter Drew Nelson plays the St. Jude Summer Wine Down at Eve in The B.O.B. (6:30 p.m. Thursday, $25, benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; details here.)
Tribute to Tootsie Van Kelley on The Grand Lady Riverboat – Old-timers won’t want to miss this one: Tootsie Van Kelly was a local phenom performing her Vaudeville-styled music as the “Red Hot Mama” in downtown Grand Rapids to a devoted audience in the 1980s. Well, the late Van Kelly’s chums – Tom and Cherie Hagen, Mary Rademacher, and Steve Viening – will pay tribute to her in a riverboat cruise for fans, followers and those who used to work at Tootsie’s in the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Boarding begins at 6 p.m. Friday, with cruising at 7 p.m. Email Hagen for details at boogielynn@cablespeed.com or Rademacher at maryradreed@gmail.com. Get tickets here.
Three Blue Teardrops
Three Blue Teardrops and the Chupacobras at TipTop Deluxe – It’s two days of foot-stomping fun. First, Chicago rockabilly/psychobilly/garage outfit the Three Teardrops tear it up at 8 p.m. Friday at this West Side hangout with Gamblers Mark ($10), and then Grand Rapids’ own ChupaCobras will hold a dance clinic of sorts at 8 p.m. Saturday ($5) in an “Autumn Swing” show that also features Otis Blueswell Jr. and a special appearance by Sara Q. (Dance instruction at 8 p.m., music at 9:30 p.m.) Details here.
Grand Haven’s Salmon Festival – Here’s a lakeshore option more than worth exploring. This Friday-Sunday bash boasts a fish boil, kids’ activities, art fair, wine-tasting, grape stomp, salmon cookoff, beer tent and, of course, live music which includes the Westside Soul Surfers. Get the lowdown and full schedule here.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
