A legendary Grand Rapids blues band performed live in-studio and an emerging instrumental rock band previewed new tracks for Local Spins on WYCE, which also boasted new music from The Outer Vibe, Bob Seger, The Fever Haze and Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions.
In Studio X: Asamu Johnson, center, and his Associates of the Blues during Local Spins on WYCE. (Photo/Local Spins)
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As the veteran blues and jazz musicians in Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues warmed up Friday morning in Studio X for Local Spins on WYCE, Steve Leaf and Ben Zito of emerging instrumental rock band Public Access listened in with some measure of wonder.
Playing Billy’s Lounge on Sunday Afternoon: Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues
“These guys are great,” conceded Zito, best known as the bassist for folk-rock’s The Crane Wives and owner of Centennial Sound studios in Grand Rapids, where the Public Access super-group recorded its upcoming sophomore album, “Unlimited.”
Indeed, the 168th episode of Local Spins on WYCE was nothing if not a dynamic example of the prodigious talent of vintage as well as fresh West Michigan talent.
First up, Johnson and his blues-making cohorts lit up the WYCE-FM studios with a live performance (previewing their shows at Billy’s Lounge on Friday night and again on Sunday afternoon in the Winter Fundraiser for the West Michigan Blues Society).
In the second half-hour, Leaf and Zito showcased two new tracks from the soon-to-be-released “Unlimited” and talked about creating this special project (featuring tracks named after national parks) with a who’s who lineup of West Michigan musicians. Get more info about the recording project online here.
In between, Local Spins on WYCE debuted new tracks by Michigan icon Bob Seger, The Outer Vibe, The Fever Haze (which plays its farewell show at Park Theatre in Holland on Saturday night) and Jack Droppers & The Best Intentions, along with music from May Erlewine and Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish (this week’s musicians’ pick).
Listen to the full podcast here, with a video of Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues’ in-studio rendition of “Devil Wind” below.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (12/1/17)
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VIDEO: Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues, “Devil Wind” (Local Spins on WYCE)
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