Artist Spotlights · Features · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts · Upcoming shows
Tonight’s four-band show at The Pyramid Scheme will also be a CD-release party for indie-rock’s JOE led by frontman and event organizer Joe Rodriguez. Brother Adams, Dead Eye Zack and Emma Loo & Sam are also on the bill.
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Despite chilly temps, thousands crowded Calder Plaza for HOT FM’s annual party, with hundreds more celebrating at SpeakEZ Lounge, Founders, Tip Top Deluxe and Wealthy Theatre. (Photos, review)
Commentary · Features · Top 10 Lists
Once again, Local Spins asked music writers and West Michigan musicians to submit picks for the year’s best albums and songs – and they came through with a truly diverse mix, from Future Islands and New Pornographers to Snarky Puppy and Against Me! to The Go Rounds and Heaters. Submit yours and you could win a special gift package
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
The post-Christmas celebration in the Grand Rapids area boasted musical revelry at The Intersection, Founders, Billy’s Lounge and more, plus The Hard Lessons final concert ever and some intimate acoustic shows, too, captured in Local Spins images.
With fellow ’90s stars Domestic Problems sharing the bill, Saturday night’s annual holiday show delivered nostalgia and just plain fun for a near-capacity audience. (Review, photo gallery)
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
Mentored by veteran musician and producer Mark Lamm, the teen already has opened for a national act and is working on songs for a follow-up album. (Story, podcast, video)
Local Spins on WYCE · Photos · Podcasts
For the year-ending edition of Local Spins on WYCE, Brian Vander Ark of The Verve Pipe chats about the band’s holiday show with Domestic Problems and performs a couple of songs in-studio. Host John Sinkevics also uncorks tracks from bands who delivered some of the year’s most compelling live shows.
Saturday’s spectacle at The Intersection reunites two of West Michigan’s most popular rock bands from the ’90s for a fresh, post-Christmas affair that has both groups pumped up.
Breaking music news · Concert reviews · Features
The pre-Christmas music news update at Local Spins checks in on Seger’s “Ride Out” tour, takes a gander at a plucky banjo project and finds more local albums nominated for honors.
Rock, country, bluegrass, folk, jazz and hip hop unfolded in a host of West Michigan venues, from Jon Pardi to the Appleseed Collective to The Beat Suite to Sharkanoid and more.
Breaking music news · Features · Podcasts · Videos
After playing 230 shows in 2014, the teenage indie-folk phenoms from Traverse City continue to tour and record ceaselessly as a break-through act. They return to One Trick Pony tonight. (Videos, podcast)
Artist Spotlights · Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The acclaimed, Cadillac-bred singer-guitarist returns to Michigan where he cut his teeth. Read the back story about this celebrated artist and his journey.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
Grand Rapids radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) reveals the roster of local and regional acts nominated for top honors during February awards show at The Intersection; 88-plus acts will vie for album of the year.
Some of West Michigan’s most compelling concerts didn’t feature arena-sized superstars, but inventive bands in their respective genres: jazz, psych rock/garage rock, hip hop, EDM and more.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
The Local Spins on WYCE show podcast from Dec. 12, 2014 with special in-studio guest, Grand Rapids hip hop artist A.B, who talks about his new album with host John Sinkevics playing two tracks from the “Layer Cake” CD on the air. Also: on-air song debuts from Midnight Cattle Callers, Dear Tracks, Dale Wicks and more.
The second concert in the Acoustic Café Folk Series had the singer-songwriter regaling an audience of 400 with tales and laid-back, old-timey-hued musical travails.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The guitarist and singer has focused primarily on his solo career while performing across Michigan, but he’s eyeing a full-band project, too. (Story, video, podcast)
The former Silver Bullet keyboard player is now an award-winning Wyoming recording and mastering engineer who toured and recorded with Seger during the ‘golden years.’
Another eclectic week and weekend, from Channing & Quinn to Jackyl to Elephant Wrecking Ball to the B-Side Growlers and some bittersweet goodbyes, captured in photos by Local Spins.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
WYCE has revealed its final performance lineup with Legacy Award winner The Verve Pipe, Micah Ling, Nicholas James Thomasma, Tom Hymn and more now part of the evening-long entertainment on two stages. Dozens will be honored with awards in several categories. See the full list of performers.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
This week’s Local Spins Artist Spotlight shines on a harmony-driven, young and happily ‘weird’ Grand Rapids band releasing its second EP at The Pyramid Scheme on Friday.
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
The Grand Rapids jam band’s final Michigan show before a long hiatus takes place Friday at The Intersection with three full sets and special guests. And might the break spawn an Electric Light Orchestra tribute band?
Breaking music news · Upcoming shows
After years on Monroe Avenue near Rosa Parks Circle, the New Year’s Eve party settles on the roomier Calder Plaza with Grand Rapids’ The Outer Vibe adding to the celebration.
Breaking music news · Features
Two veteran Grand Rapids bands are losing key members in coming weeks, with the acoustic groups planning to continue performing without them.
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
The long Thanksgiving weekend gave live music fans plenty for which to be thankful, including some rising EDM stars at The Intersection, a much-anticipated CD-release show at Founders Brewing and rockabilly fervor at the Tip Top.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE host John Sinkevics welcomes Grand Rapids rock band Ghost Heart to WYCE (88.1 FM) to talk about the new album, “The Effigy,” and upcoming CD-release show.[…]
Audio · Live at River City · Podcasts · Videos
Watch the video as the Grand Rapids rock band talks about its astounding new album, “The Effigy,” being released Saturday at Founders Brewing, with the group also performing several songs in the first ever Local Spins Live at River City Studios podcast.
West Michigan musicians, Fenian’s Irish Pub (as it winds down toward the end of an era) and yes, the Detroit Lions, rank high on this Thanksgiving Day roster for 2014.[…]
With his vintage soul ensemble playing a special night-before-Thanksgiving show at Fifth Third Ballpark’s Pepsi Stadium Club, Diego Morales offers up thanks to an eclectic roster of influential songs … including some true R&B classics.
Sunday’s feel-good anniversary show raised thousands for food and anti-poverty programs with lively, goofy rock sets by The FuzzRites, Domestic Problems and The Honeytones. (Photo gallery, video)
Videos · Weekend Photo Gallery
Winter roared in a month early, but that didn’t stop some popular local acts from roaring on stage at CD-release shows and elsewhere, including the International Wine, Beer & Food Festival at DeVos Place. All captured in images at Local Spins.
Commentary · Features · Videos
Local musicians gather Sunday for the 20th anniversary of Feedback to support Access of West Michigan. What a long, gratifying trip it’s been, involving dozens of bands since that first benefit at the old Intersection in Eastown.
From Hound Dog Taylor to Claudine Longet, the mad genius behind The Concussions, FuzzRites, B-Sides and Goon Lagoon pipes in with a deliciously retro, wonderfully “odd” playlist of favorite songs and ribald commentary. The FuzzRites play Founders Sunday.
Artist Spotlights · Features · Videos
In the Local Spins Artist Spotlight: The buzz about the fiery Michigan bluegrass duo keeps growing. They play northern Michigan this week, with December shows at Rockford Brewing and Founders Brewing.
Fans came out in droves for some hip-hop legends and a rock-fueled CD-release show, with plenty more on the docket across West Michigan, including concerts by An Dro, Heaters and more, all captured in images at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Local Spins on WYCE Show #12: (Brad Fritcher & Dutcher Snedeker)
Concert reviews · Photos · Videos
From Wealthy Theatre to the Tip Top to SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids’ Wednesday night was firing on all cylinders: The Local Spins roundup and photo gallery.
Breaking music news · Features · Upcoming shows
The November music news round-up at Local Spins focuses on area concert venues: an old one on the auction block, a new one firing up and a fresh local music series.
Also in this week’s images of West Michigan concerts: The Campanellis, Mac McAnally, Jonathan Edwards, Whitechapel, Sacred Strays, Mat Churchill, The Go Rounds, Lady Ace Boogie and a host of others.
Baby Iris recovering “like a champion” at home near Traverse City; May takes time off from the stage, with couple “inspired” by those helping out financially.
On Wednesday, the Nashville artist won CMA’s musician of the year for the seventh straight time. The ‘exclamation point’ comes Saturday when he plays a Pinnacle Center benefit for music education.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
The fun-loving bunch plays two high-profile shows this week, starting with Founders Brewing tonight, and has its sights set on releasing its sophomore album next year. (Story, video, podcast)
The creepy Halloween edition of the Weekend Photo Gallery is chock full of scary-good bands and just-plain-scary-looking fans who reveled in a holiday full of terror-ific music-driven parties.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Grand Rapids pop duo Alexis performs live and acoustic on the Fall Fund Drive edition of “Local Spins on WYCE.” [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/175139918″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Listen on iTunes:
Playlists · Top 10 Lists · Videos
The same day as the Halloween LP-release show for “Love or Temptation,” the lovable boys of Alexis unveil their current playlist of favorite tracks. And, yes, it includes lots of synth-pop sizzlers.
Artist Spotlights · Podcasts · Videos
With a new album on the way, the singer has re-established her music career in West Michigan after a long and successful run in Las Vegas. She plays One Trick Pony on Saturday night.
The Michigan State University grad who’s become a rising force in the Windy City will headline Saturday’s second annual Grand Rapids street party for thousands of costumed revelers.
Audio · Breaking music news · Features
Local Spins premieres brand new tracks from Kalamazoo’s Red Sea Pedestrians and Grand Rapids’ Murder Party. Both bands officially release new recordings on Friday but you can hear ’em here first.
The wild and woolly week started with hip-pop’s Aaron Carter, continued with the Acoustic Cafe Folk Series debut, some jazz and ended with true rock ‘n’ roll mania. All captured in images at Local Spins.
Local Spins on WYCE · Podcasts
Hannah Rose Graves joins host John Sinkevics for interview and live performance of two songs from her forthcoming debut album “Home on the Road.” Plus song debuts from Fred Knapp[…]
