Thursday’s groovy benefit for Well House features six one-time bands led by Eric Kehoe, Molly Bouwsma-Schultz, Jason Roy and others covering The Beatles, The Supremes, David Bowie, Sly Stone and more.
1969 Revisited: Molly Bouwsma-Schultz has assembled a special set for the tribute. (Photo/Kristine Carpenter)
By Mary Mattingly
LocalSpins.com
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It’s time to experience the days of Woodstock all over again.
The Pyramid Scheme on Thursday night will host six new bands featuring local musicians from familiar bands such as Valentiger and Blue Molly playing the music from a pivotal year for rock and pop: 1969.
The show will benefit a local Grand Rapids nonprofit organization that provides housing for the homeless.
“There have been a couple of different tribute shows in Grand Rapids that I’ve seen: a tribute to the Beatles, to Weezer,” said Eric Kehoe, the show’s organizer. “My friends and I talked about getting one together ourselves: 1969 was an incredible year for music.”
Kehoe got the idea for the show after talking with Molly Bouwsma-Schultz, a local musician who fronts Blue Molly and serves as a Well House board member. Through Bouwsma-Schultz, Kehoe got in touch with Tami VandenBerg, executive director of Well House and co-owner of the Pyramid Scheme – a perfect fit.
“[The show] was about collaboration and having fun,” Bouwsma-Scultz said. “[Kehoe] thought it would be a cool musical concept. So much awesome music came out of that time.”
“They decided to do a benefit and asked about doing it at the Pyramid Scheme,” Tami VandenBerg said. “I said, ‘That’d be marvelous.’”
Kehoe then got to work contacting every musician he knew in Grand Rapids by email to see what musicians would be interested in playing. “I got the ball rolling. A lot of people were excited,” Kehoe said. “I looked for five other people willing to lead a band.”
Each band is “a one-off,” created just for this show. The show, which features more than 30 participating musicians, features several musicians who spearhead other well-known local bands, such as Bouwsma-Schultz with Blue Molly and Jason Roy with Flashing Blue Lights.
Once band leaders were set, Kehoe left the responsibility of putting together their own band up to them. The bands then got to choose which songs and artists they wanted to cover.
“It was a first-come, first-serve basis,” Kehoe said. “Fortunately, there were enough songs to choose from.”
The set list ranges from rock ’n’ roll to Motown and R & B. Artists such as James Brown, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Sly & The Family Stone and Dusty Springfield will be covered.
“We’re doing a cover of the Jackson Five’s ‘I Want You Back’ (from the group’s debut album),” Bouwsma-Schultz said. “We’re adding some choreography. We take for granted the way music used to be put together. It’s catchy but complex.”
“It’s a one-night event only,” VandenBerg added. “(Thursday) is the only opportunity to see this line-up.”
The Well House is a local nonprofit organization that provides housing for the homeless of Grand Rapids. The houses are community houses, with both shared space and individual rooms that people can rent for $250. (Get more information about the organization at its website.)
Eric Kehoe
“First and foremost, the show gets the word out about what [Well House] is doing,” VandenBerg said. “Raising money is always needed for nonprofits.”
“People should get involved with Well House,” Bouwsma-Schultz added. “[Well House is] trying to change people’s lives who’ve been pushed out of society.”
Local businesses have reached out. Marie Catribs, Barfly Ventures and Short’s Brewing Co. all are helping sponsor the event. The Pyramid Scheme will also feature a Short’s “Tap Takeover” during the show, showcasing 16 beers including Anniversary Ale, Carob Stout and Hopstache.
“Judging by the response, it would be cool to do it again,” Kehoe said. “The music community in the city is close-knit, which bodes well for the future. We have a good community down here.”
“There is something that everyone can offer to make the community better,” VandenBerg added. “These guys are using music. We are really grateful that these folks are donating their time and skills.”
For more information and to buy tickets, visit The Pyramid Scheme website.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
