From the dubstep mania of Datsik to the funky, political hip hop of The Coup to the indie-rock of North Atlantic Drift to a Tom Petty tribute, Grand Rapids boasted a busy Thursday and Friday of music, compelling Local Spins to post this special batch of images.
Lights, Dubstep, Action: Datsik ignited a hyper-enthused crowd at The Intersection on Thursday night. (Photo/Eric Stoike, On the Run Photography)
Welcome to a special edition of Local Spins’ Weekend Photo Gallery.
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Nathan Kalish played a laid-back show at The B.O.B. on Friday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
With so many riveting and rambunctious concerts blasting away the winter chill on Thursday and Friday, we couldn’t resist getting these photos to you early.
It started with Canadian DJ and dubstep producer Datsik, aka Troy Beetles, igniting jam-packed fervor for his EDM strains and unique stage design at The Intersection on Thursday night, captured in rollicking images by photography Eric Stoike of On the Run Photography.
AN ‘INSANE’ CROWD
Stoike said the crowd was “insane” and his photos seem to prove it. The “awesome light show” continued until the vortex projector that Datsik was using stopped working, though fans continued to frolic.
The same night, California’s veteran hip hop/funk/punk act The Coup played an energetic set for a small but devoted cadre of “dancing and head-bobbing” fans at The Pyramid Scheme, with Grand Rapids’ own The Bangups and A.B! opening the show, photographed by Anthony Norkus. Also on Thursday, Luke Warm and the Not So Hots brought their unique brand of country to Rockford Brewing Co. in Rockford.
Friday brought:
• A night of original alt-country music from singer-songwriter Nathan Kalish (along with some fresh covers of John Prine and Waylon Jennings tunes he learned while touring Europe) at The B.O.B.;
Datsik (Photo/Eric Stoike, On the Run Photography)
• Claire and Dan Fisher’s “An Evening with Fishers and Friends” benefit for the LGBT Network of West Michigan at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill (which also included performances by Part Time Warriorz, North Atlantic Drift, Jonny Bruha and Kyle Colter);
• The American Heartbreakers’ Tom Petty tribute show for a standing-room-only crowd at River City Saloon, which danced and cheered Jack Leaver and company’s renditions of “I Won’t Back Down,” “The Waiting” and plenty more, with video highlights below;
• Much-acclaimed Pacific Northwest singer-songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps at Spring Lake’s Seven Step Up, a performer described by photographer Kevin Reedy as “a cool cat” who took the audience “to a place out of this world with his music.”
• The weekend continued with a sold-out concert Saturday by Chase Rice at The Intersection and an appearance by emerging singer-songwriter Grace Pettis at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up.
And check out Local Spins’ special West Michigan musicians’ tribute to The Beatles on the 50th anniversary of their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show — including a chance for you to comment and win a special gift — in this story online here.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
