Founders marches to beat of a different drum: New taproom’s grand reopening lively, eclectic affair

Cabildo, Punksuhate, AOK and more contributed to a diverse musical assault amid an expanded, refurbished Founders Brewing environment that sports a new sound system and an eye-pleasing outdoor beer garden. (Video, photos)

 

With patrons pulled into the parade to help keep the beat, Cabildo’s percussion brigade wound around the outside of Founders Brewing Co. on Thursday night before filing into the expanded taproom from the back and making its way to the foot of the newly elevated stage for a rousing kickoff to its Latin-fired set.

The West Michigan ensemble’s lively midnight entrance was the perfect, appropriate topper to an eclectic evening of music during the grand reopening of the refurbished venue and taproom — a rhythmic tour of an impressive renovation and the region’s varied musical offerings.

Just strolling into the revamped Founders is a feast for the eyes and ears. The enormity of the new facility, which boosts capacity from about 440 to 742, allows patrons the freedom to choose different environs for their beer-quaffing, including a striking outdoor beer garden with fire pits and a separate bar and a rear seating area that features the bar from the old Founders on Monroe Avenue NW.

The stage has been raised to offer better views of performers from all areas in the taproom, and on Thursday, those performers seemed absolutely geeked about getting a chance to christen that stage and the new digs.

They included The Boogiman’s soulful DJing before and between sets and Hundo’s solo metal riffs, followed by the Grand Rapids duo AOK, which tore it up with Kyle’s aggressive, electronic rock assault and Angela B’s soulful, tear-out-your heart vocals. The sweat, the searing guitar, the throbbing dance beat made for a terrifically entertaining set.

The guys in Punksuhate, meanwhile, proved their mettle as one of Grand Rapids’ most innovative hip-hop duos, meshing acoustic guitar-driven beauty and resonant vocals with slashing raps … and guest poetry slamming by fellow members of Diatribe (which is also performing next week as a “spoken word” entry in ArtPrize.)

And finally, Cabildo’s “cumbia machine” — an audience-pleasing, dance-inspiring approach that continues to gain a foothold in West Michigan.

Frankly, the jury’s still out on the new sound system, partly because not all of the speakers extending to the back of the room have been activated (a large new subwoofer in front of the stage eventually will go under it) and partly because sound technicians are still adjusting to changes in the room and the new system, which includes the ability to wirelessly mix sound and lights from anywhere. Founders will likely tweak things as they go, and perhaps I hope, consider even more acoustic treatments as they hone sound in the fresh surroundings.

It’s probably more about the impressive new environment anyway — an environment that allows patrons to embrace live music in the main taproom or chat outdoors around a roaring fire.

And the expanded capacity proved to have another benefit: no hefty lines of folks waiting to get in on a Thursday night. Now, if only something could be done about the parking …

Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music