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.
Conquering New York: Bob Seger, pictured here on stage at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena earlier this month, earned praise for his Madison Square Garden show on Friday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
BOB SEGER IMPRESSES NEW YORK WITH ‘REGULAR-GUY ROCKER’ EXUBERANCE
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When Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band headlined Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday night, it was a case of down-to-earth, Midwest heartland rock entering the home of Broadway glitz.
Seger didn’t disappoint, according to The New York Times, which gave a glowing review to the 69-year-old, Detroit-bred rock singer’s two-hours-plus set, part of his national “Ride Out” tour.
Veteran reviewer Jon Pareles praised Seger for a straightforward, heartfelt show “with his stalwart voice and vigorous band.”
“Mr. Seger has cultivated whatever the opposite of mystique is,” Pareles wrote. “Through the years, he has set out to be a regular-guy rocker singing from the heart. His voice on Friday was a strong as ever, a soul baritone with a rasp telegraphing enthusiasm and ache.”
Read the full review at nytimes.com.
Seger made a similar impression earlier this month in his return to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena. Read the Local Spins review by Brian J. Bowe, with photos by Anthony Norkus.
Banjo Babe: Lindsay Lou Rilko is one of 15 musicians featured in this year’s calendar.
LINDSAY LOU OF THE FLATBELLYS MAKES SPLASH IN ‘BANJO BABES’ CALENDAR
Once a maligned musical tool and the target of one-liners, the banjo is now pin-up material.
Well, actually, make that some fetching banjo players in the spotlight, including West Michigan’s own Lindsay Lou Rilko of The Flatbellys, who’s among 15 female banjoists featured in the 2015 edition of the “Banjo Babes” calendar and album.
The “fun, lighthearted thematic calendar and seriously good compilation album” showcasing the music of the featured musicians represents the second annual edition of the national project aimed at “promoting the music of women who play banjo.”
Lindsay Lou, of Ionia, who leads the popular Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys bluegrass band with her husband, Joshua Rilko, told Local Spins she was very pleased to be part of the project, organized by California banjoist and singer-songwriter Erin Inglish.
For $30, the calendar comes with a 15-track CD highlighting each of the banjo players, with Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys featured on the track, “Single Girl, Married Girl.” The band, by the way, will release a new album titled “Ionia” in February.
Other musicians in this year’s project include Allison de Groot, Susie Monick of Buffalo Gals, Maggie MaKay of Chasing Blue Band, Dani Aubert of Patchy Sanders and Laurie Michelle Caner of Hey Mavis. Get more information and purchase calendars online at banjobabescalendar.com.
Looking for a last-minute Christmas gift for that music maven on your list? This might be it, even if it arrives in that stocking a tad late.
Legacy Award Winner: Mustard Plug will play the Feb. 13 Jammies show. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
FINAL TALLY FOR JAMMIE AWARD NOMINATIONS: 132 PROJECTS UP FOR ALBUM OF THE YEAR
WYCE-FM (88.1) has updated its list of nominees for the 16th annual Jammie Awards, adding more than 40 titles to the roster of projects up for album of the year honors.
Initially hovering around the 90-album mark, WYCE music director Pete Bruinsma’s revised slate of recordings now stands at 132, covering a bevy of genres and projects from across the state.
Check out the full list at wyce.org.
The roster of 16 performers scheduled to play the Feb. 13 awards show at The Intersection in Grand Rapids also will be expanded in the near future, according to program director Matt Jarrells. Check out the performance lineup thus far in this Local Spins feature.
Through voting, critics and fans will get a chance to decide the winners of the special jury and listeners’ choice prizes for best album and best album by a new artist.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music LLC
