The psychedelic Grand Rapids rock band pared back its sound in an in-studio visit for Local Spins on WYCE, which also debuted new tracks by London & Rome, Eric Engblade and more.
All-Enveloping Sound: From left, Trevor Goldner, Ben Weissenborn and Sean Stearns of Coffin Problem. (Photo/David Specht)
THE BAND: Coffin Problem
THE MUSIC: Psychedelic, drone rock
WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE BAND: 6:15 p.m. Saturday as part of Music for Miles at Spoke Folks, 221 Logan St. SW, Grand Rapids
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Leave it to Coffin Problem to venture into “uncharted territory” by attempting acoustic renditions of songs that usually envelop fans at live shows amid a wall of sound, special effects and psychedelic wonder.
The Grand Rapids band’s appearance this week for Local Spins on WYCE uncorked an impressive pared-down display of the group’s lugubrious music courtesy of two acoustic guitars and some light percussion – an usual set-up that nevertheless spotlighted Coffin Problem’s hypnotically appealing vibe. (Listen to the entire podcast here, with a video of their in-studio performance below.)
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with Coffin Problem
The relatively new “drone rock” band – guitarist-singer Sean Stearns, guitarist Trevor Goldner, drummer Ben Weissenborn and bassist Billy Bartholomew – hasn’t been afraid to blaze its own musical trail, something that’s earned them a fast-growing audience of fans, a cover story in Revue Magazine and a citation among Local Spins’ “West Michigan acts to watch.”
Wall of Sound: Coffin Problem on stage at Founders Brewing. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
With associations and roots in other West Michigan groups (Shores, Haunted Leather, The Howlers, Heavier Than Air Flying Machines, Shane Tripp), Coffin Problem set out to create an all-encompassing milieu with its loud and mesmerizing rock – something that propels its full-length, self-titled debut album on dizzybird records.
“It’s not about theatrics,” insisted Stearns, noting that group members’ musical influences are “all over the place” and cover a wide range of styles. “It’s more about just the bigness and the sound kind of wrapping everybody up in the experience. That’s what we hoped for anyway.”
For live shows, the band accomplishes that with an ample supply of sound gear and “lots of pedals,” thereby capitalizing on the current “psych wave” that’s taken the region and many rock fans by storm in recent years.
“A lot of groups are doing some great stuff so we were really surprised by the response,” said Goldner, “so we were like, ‘Ok, we have to keep cranking it up loud every time.’ ”
Cranking It Up: Coffin Problem during its album-release show at The Pyramid Scheme. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
The band will be “cranking it up loud” at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at Music for Miles outside Spoke Folks, 221 Logan St. SW, in Grand Rapids. The day-long event runs from 2-10 p.m. Saturday, with The Bootstrap Boys, I Believe in Julio, JOE and several other acts also on the bill. Tickets are $8 advance, $10 day of show.
Coffin Problem aims to continue performing locally in coming months, with hopes for eventually mounting an out-of-state tour as well. But band members also remain committed to bolstering the Grand Rapids music scene.
“There’s a lot of great vibes through the music scene,” Goldner said, point to local showcases at clubs such as The Pyramid Scheme which mixes acts from different genres to create vibrant nights of music. “There’s a lot of collaboration … It’s been getting better and better year by year. There’s a lot of great folks in the music community in general that make it just fun to be a part of.”
Celebrating its two-year anniversary, this week’s edition of Local Spins on WYCE also featured an interview with Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles, who hosts a special “Ralston & Friends” show at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Tuesday in the final Tuesday Evening Music Club concert of the summer.
The show also featured the premiere of new music by London & Rome (aka Marie de la Vega), The Muteflutes and Eric Engblade, as well as tracks from I Believe in Julio, Channing & Quinn, Boy From School and Karisa Wilson.
VIDEO: Coffin Problem, “Song No. 2 (Untitled),” Local Spins on WYCE
Video by David Specht
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For last week’s episode of Local Spins on WYCE featuring Steve Hilger & Charlie Hoats, plus the debut of new music by The Concussions, Red Tail Ring and more, click here.
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