From Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, December rolled in with a musical wallop — from national touring acts to local stars playing a smattering of venues. View the photos at Local Spins.
EDM-Propelled Guitar Spectacle: Sullivan King at The Intersection. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
Without question, there’s no one quite like Sullivan King, which is why the rock guitarist and producer just played jam-packed, sold-out shows two nights in a row at The Intersection in Grand Rapids.
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The fact that the two-day run was dubbed “Reckless Rapids” says a lot about the approach of this Los Angeles-bred artist who marries electronic dance music with heavy metal guitar work and hardcore roars.
But it wasn’t the only show in West Michigan to draw a crowd.
On Friday, regional country/rock mainstay Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys pumped up Elevation in The Intersection with help from Drew Hale and Jason Cross.
Hip-Hop Hoopla: It was a night of stars at The Pyramid Scheme. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
And Friday night’s hip-hop spectacle at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids starring Apollo Brown, Bronze Nazareth and a host of hometown favorites lit up the stage, followed on Saturday by another roster of rock-driven regional acts: Ugly Flannel, Troublesome, Felon Class and Small Foreign Faction.
Meanwhile in Kalamazoo, the weekend started early with a sold-out Thursday show at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe featuring Cursive and 84 Tigers (which released its debut album in October). Bell’s followed that on Friday with its annual “Eccentric Day” party starring Andrew Rathbun and Jenuine, all while costumed attendees uncorked “their most eccentric side of their personalities for the day.”
Also on Friday, Kalamazoo’s ArtHop for December had the Kalamazoo Institute for the Arts hosting a show curated by Soul Artistry, with Yolonda Lavender & The Crerw, LoudFeli and Tone performing.
On Saturday, Papa Pete’s in Kalamazoo presented the return of Jake Simmons & The Little Ghosts after a hiatus of nearly three years, with surf-rock’s Shark Beach 2 as well as Basic Comfort and Katy Needs a Life also heating up the stage.
Browse photos from all of these shows below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sullivan King at The Intersection
Photos by Eric Stoike
PHOTO GALLERY: Apollo Brown, Bronze Nazareth and More at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorff
PHOTO GALLERY: Gunnar & The Grizzly Boys, Jason Cross
Elevation inside The Intersection
Photos by Eric Stoike
