Featured for this week’s Local Spins on WYCE show, get the back story on this Festival of the Arts performer and listen to new music from a host of Michigan bands, including Prior Noon and Potionseller.
Born Out of ’80s and ’90s Rock: Hand of Giants. (Courtesy Photo)
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Hand of Giants’ brand of “Northern rock” has taken more than a decade to evolve.
Initially hatched by veteran guitarist and songwriter Michael Kreple in Los Angeles as a fundraiser for his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatments, the Big Rapids-based band shaped by the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen, Journey and REO Speedwagon didn’t finalize its lineup until late last year with the addition of guitarist Paul Kwant.
But it’s already found fresh energy and collaborative charm on stage and in songcraft, with a much-anticipated closing set on the Clocktower Stage at Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts on Saturday night and plans for recording new music by the end of the year.
“Our music is really born out of the ’80s and ’90s, but also heavily steeped in the Southern rock genre, too. Cool riffs and grooves with catchy hooks,” said Kreple.
Loving the Live Vibe: The full band playing recently at The Stray. (Courtesy Photo)
Added Kwant: “I would have to say if you’re a fan of AC/DC, Lynyrd Skynyrd, with big singable choruses. This is your band. Blackberry Smoke is a great example of what I feel represents the sound. But there’s a lot of influences that are from all of us in our music.”
The band – Kreple, Kwant, keyboardist Randy Curioso, drummer Brian Arnold, bassist Troy Baldwin and singer Jacky Kreple – released a full-length album in 2017, followed by a series of singles written by Kreple, though he insisted that all of the band members are now contributing to the song creation process.
“Everybody else is very actively a part of deciding if we should go back to the chorus after the solo or if we should break it down or you know what I mean? I would be an idiot to not include these other folks’ ideas,” he said.
VIDEO: Hand of Giants, “Take Me Down to the River”
The payoff comes during live Hand of Giants shows and band members are tickled to strut their stuff for a big crowd at Festival on Saturday.
“I’m still from the hair-band energy; I love big stages,” said Baldwin. “We love to get people energized and it’s really fun music for me to play.”
New Music to Come: Band members in Kreple’s studio. (Photo/Local Spins)
Playing mostly original music, the band does weave a few classic covers into its sets, including versions of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.”
“We’re just happy to get in front of people, let alone do something pretty big like this show,” Kreple said. “It’s so much fun for us to just get it together and get on stage. There isn’t a moment when we’re not looking at each other with just big smiles on our faces.”
Beyond Saturday’s 9 p.m. Festival appearance, Hand of Giants will play Catch 120 Grill in Howard City on July 27 and the Tie Dye Festival at Burley Park Antiques Flea Market in Howard City on Aug. 24.
After a long musical journey, Hand of Giants now “stands out as a dynamic and tight rock ‘n’ roll band,” Kreple insisted. “Our songs are memorable, relatable, inspiring and full of energy that translates to our shows and make it fun for everyone.”
This week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE featured two tracks by Hand of Giants — “Take Me Down to the River” and “I Don’t Need Your Love” — as well as new music from Potionseller, Pablo Eskobear, The Wild Honey Collective, fellow Festival performers Prior Noon, Gianna Stansell and Kyle Brown & The Human Condition, Carolyn Striho, Lexie Blue, NorthLand, Jessica Wolfbird and MaRynn Taylor. Listen to the full radio show and Hand of Giants interview below.
Local Spins on WYCE spotlights Michigan music at 11 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Sundays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (6/7/24)
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