The Big List’s big shows means running shoes may be in order to keep up this week, and that doesn’t even count the Heavyweights heavy metal finals, Reverend Raven’s blues and some fab under-the-radar picks.
Lighting It Up: Lotus rolls back into The Intersection on Tuesday night.
Lotus, Moon Hooch
8 p.m. Tuesday
$17.50 advance, $20 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
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The Harbaugh Bowl is over which means it’s now Grammy Week at Spins on Music, so look for some exclusive coverage right here after Sunday’s awards show. But before that, there’s a passel of monster concerts to mull and embrace, from electronic jams to classic rock anthems.
With a brand new album, “Build,” set to be released later this month, Lotus brings its inventive electronic-infused, prog-rocky, jazz-funk jamming to The Intersection this week. Hard to believe, but this band originally hailing from Indiana has now been around for almost 14 years.
And if you never seen ‘em live, you’re in for a treat. Listen to the first single from that upcoming album online here. And ticket info online at The Intersection website.
Action Item
Action Item, Before You Exit, Hello Highway
6 p.m. Tuesday
$12
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
Ok, this is not exactly New Jersey’s version of Hanson. But five handsome dudes delivering pop-rock with more than 57,000 “likes” on Facebook will earn comparisons ranging from Disney Channel fodder to punk-pop fare. Action Item just released a brand new album, “Resolution,” which cracked the top half of the Billboard 200 chart. Get more information about the band online here, with ticket details at Ticketweb.
Still Carrying the Alt-Rock Torch: Candlebox plays The Orbit Room this week.
UPDATE: CANDLEBOX RESCHEDULED TO 7 p.m. SUNDAY
Candlebox, The Last Good Year, The Outer Vibe
7 p.m. Sunday
$20 advance, $25 day of show
Big Gigantic, Kill Paris, Manic Focus
9 p.m. Friday
$20 advance, $22 day of show
The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
Note: Candlebox initially was scheduled to perform at The Orbit Room on Thursday night. But due to the winter storm warning, organizers have now moved the show to Sunday evening.
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Seattle’s Candlebox has been playing its debut album in its entirety on tour. The alt-rock band has five highly successful albums under its belt, including its most recent release, 2012’s “Love Stories & Other Musings.” Read Nick Manes’ full story about the band in the latest issue of REVUE Magazine here. Grand Rapids’ very own The Outer Vibe opens the 16-and-older show.
The Orbit Room on Friday will host a Colorado outfit that you might say has gotten big, gigantic even. Yes, Big Gigantic’s funky, jazz-fueled livetronica will keep hordes of fans mesmerized and the dance floor gyrating. Get ticket information about both concerts at The Orbit Room website, with free downloads of Big Gigantic’s music at its official website.
Trucks and Beer: Kip Moore plans to rev up a country crowd in Grand Rapids this week.
UPDATE: THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT
Kip Moore, Joey Hyde,
Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys, Kris Hitchcock & Small Town Son
7:30 p.m. Thursday
$17.93 advance, $20 day of show
With four acts on the bill, this is like a mini-version of the B93 Birthday Bash, a real country hoedown.
MCA Nashville recording artist Kip Moore tackles popular country subject matter (“Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” “Beer Money”) and Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys and Kris Hitchcock and crew rank among West Michigan’s most popular country acts. Get more information at The Intersection website.
40 Years and Counting: Los Lobos plays the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center this week. (Photo/Drew Reynolds)
Los Lobos
7:30 p.m. Friday
$32, $34, $38
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, Grand Rapids Township
Having seen Los Lobos unfurl its bluesy, Tex-Mex-rooted rock wizardry on stage countless times, I can honestly say it never gets old and always puts a smile on my face.
The Grammy-laden band from East L.A. also happens to be celebrating its 40th year and the 20th anniversary of its classic “Kiko” album, with release of live DVD/CD and a remastered and expanded version of the original.
As one of rock’s most influential, simmering-below-the-surface iconic bands, it’s likely that this concert in this fine venue will be a special experience. Get ticket information at the FHFAC website.
Andrew Le
Andrew Le
7:30 p.m. Friday
$10 suggested donation
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids
Originally, Bethlehem’s MAJIC Concert Series had booked pianist Minsoo Sohn, who had to withdraw from the show due to a “severe relapse of a previous tendonitis condition.”
But organizers found an amazing replacement: Andrew Le, head of the piano department at Hope College and graduate of the Julliard School. The highly acclaimed musician will perform selections from Debussy’s “Etudes” and the work “Images,” as well as Schubert’s “Sonata D. 960.” Get information online at the church’s website; donations support local organizations whose focus is social justice.
Conscious Rapper: Talib Kweli is liable to pack The Pyramid Scheme this week.
Talib Kweli, Mama Sol, A.B!
9 p.m. Friday
$20 advance, $25 day of show
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
Brooklyn rapper Talib Kweli is a thought-provoking artist who’s rightly earned a reputation for alt-rap that was described by Rolling Stone magazine as “skillful” and “unabashed conscious rap classicism.”
Originally a member of Black Star with Mos Def, Kweli’s now set to release his fifth studio album, “Prisoner of Conscious,” in April. You can watch a video for his latest single below. And get tickets online here.
By the way, The Pyramid Scheme follows this on Saturday with a rocking, psychedelically intriguing affair, starring Lansing’s Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers and Grand Rapids’ The Soil & The Sun, The Antrim Dells and Bennett. Tickets are $10.
A Miracle of Birds: Joshua Davis unveils his new album at a CD-release show at Wealthy Theatre.
Joshua Davis CD-Release Concert
7 p.m. Saturday
$10 advance, $12 day of show
Wealthy Theatre, Grand Rapids
Lansing-area singer-songwriter Joshua Davis took a life-altering trip to the West Bank last year and returned to record an inspiring folk/rock/Americana album. On Saturday, he unveils “A Miracle of Birds” for a West Michigan audience for the first time in a special concert at Wealthy Theatre.
He was spotlighted last week on Local Spins Live; read the full story, listen to the podcast and get a sneak peek into the new album by watching an exclusive video of his in-studio performance at Spins on Music here. Tickets and more information about the upcoming concert at the Wealthy Theatre website.
Traveling Back to GR: Journey plays a rescheduled show this weekend at Van Andel Arena.
SATURDAY UPDATE: Night Ranger is no longer on the bill “due to illness.”
Journey, Night Ranger, Loverboy
7 p.m. Saturday
$99.50, $65, $45, $30
Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids
Rescheduled due to Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda’s illness, classic rock’s Journey is back in Grand Rapids, with Loverboy in tow. What year is this again anyway?
For those who haven’t seen Journey in many years, rest assured that the energetic Pineda pulls off those soaring, dynamic Steve Perry vocals in fine fashion. Of course, some diehards “Don’t Stop Believin’ “ that Perry may someday be back. But for now, its Pineda and guitarist Neil Schon leading this musically nostalgic, uh, journey. Ticket details at the arena website.
Metal Battle: Aside the Ashes is among the Heavyweight finalists. (Photo/Anthony Norkus Photography)
Heavyweight Championship of Rock Finals
7 p.m. Saturday
$8 in advance, $10 day of show ($2 surcharge for minors)
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
The battle for West Michigan heavy metal supremacy has come down to this: The Severed Process, Seraphim, Divided They Fall, Flood The Desert, Burden of Ages and Aside The Ashes will face off on Saturday in this roof-rattling event hosted by metal maven John Serba and 101.3 FM The Fox.
Yes, it’s sure to pin the needle on the decibel meter all night long. Details online here. (Speaking of heavy metal, Mushroomhead plays The Intersection on Friday, along with Final Trigger, Gemini Syndrome, Society’s Plague and Six Prong Paw; $16 advance, $18 day of show.)
Hip Music: The Mother Hips play Founders on Saturday. (Photo/Jay Blakesberg)
The Mother Hips, Magic Box
9:30 p.m. Saturday
$5
Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids
This is one of those bands you stumble across and exclaim, “Gadzooks, how come it’s taken me this long to find these guys?” Or something like that, because they’ve been around for more than two decades. In any case, California’s The Mother Hips bill themselves as an “original California soul” band, but they’re mostly a rootsy San Francisco rock outfit with an amazing vibe and great musicianship.
Band frontman Tim Bluhm produced Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Lux Land’s first two albums and she calls this group “hands down” her favorite band. “They sell out massive venues back in California and it’s kind of a shock they will be playing Founders,” she says. Which means you should probably get down to Founders to check them out.
(Founders also has another California-related act, electropop/Latin dance’s Gallo, appearing in a free show at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, with Grand Rapids’ Cabildo opening.) Get details about both shows online here.
Reverend Raven
Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys
9:30 p.m. Saturday
$10
Billy’s Lounge, Grand Rapids
The West Michigan Blues Society’s Cabin Fever Blues Series kicks off at Billy’s Lounge in Eastown with Chicago’s Reverend Raven & the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys, an award-winning blues band that gets rave reviews for its scintillating live shows.
It’s a $10 cover to get in to this benefit concert co-sponsored by WYCE-FM (88.1). Coming up in the series later this month: Damon Fowler, Sena Ehrhardt and Peaches Staten. Get the rest of the lowdown at the blues society website.
North Carolina Phenoms: The Avett Brothers play The DeltaPlex Arena.
The Avett Brothers
8 p.m. Sunday
$27.50, $37.50 ($47.50 tickets sold out)
The DeltaPlex Arena, Walker
The first time I saw The Avett Brothers at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park three years ago, I’m guessing half of the audience knew very little about them. They left raving about the incredible show they had seen and I’ve since put it on my Top 10 list of the best Meijer Gardens concerts ever.
Now, this acoustically inclined, ultra-lively folk-rock trio out of North Carolina is selling out venues across the country and appearing on national television shows, as they find themselves at the leading edge of the rootsy folk revival movement that includes the likes of Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers. Get ticket information at the DeltaPlex website.
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
Dave Hardin Band at Fricanos Pizza at 6 p.m. Thursday and Nicholas James Thomasma at Rockford Brewing Co. at 8 p.m. Thursday, free — Two new free concert series and two exceptionally talented singer-songwriters. Take your pick or pick both. Details about the Fricano’s series online here; the Rockford Brewing shows here.
Genna and Jesse
Genna and Jesse playing opensource studio in Grand Rapids at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Grill One Eleven in Rockford at 6 p.m. Saturday — California indie-soul duo Genna Giacobassi and Jesse Dyen are literally setting up camp in West Michigan over the next couple of weeks, with shows from Grand Rapids to the lakeshore so you’ve got ample opportunity to check out their infections strains, including performances at The Grand in Grand Haven and Schuler Books & Music in Grand Rapids. Get the full show schedule at their website. By the way, they open for Nightcrawler on Friday at opensource, 235 S. Division Ave., No. 112. More about that here.
Ruth and Max Bloomquist playing Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up at 8 p.m. Saturday, $18 advance, $20 day of show — One of Michigan folk music’s royal couples, playing a listening room that should really highlight their stories and songs. Get ticket information at pindropconcerts.com.
Treehouse playing the Wealthy Theatre front studio at 8 p.m. Saturday, $12 (with discounts for seniors and students) – The Grand River Folk Arts Society hosts Chicago-area band Treehouse as part of its Acoustic Saturday Night concert series. Treehouse’s music ranges from prog-folk to indie-pop. Details online at the society website.
The Hangdog Hearts playing the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill at 8 p.m. Saturday, $6 – The rollicking folk-flavored music unleashed by Indianapolis’ The Hangdog Hearts is pretty darned catchy. Better yet, this show opens with Black Cat Bone, Uncle Don (of the Tosspints), Lou Shields and Zack Godi (of Circus Pig). Get more details at the Tip Top’s Facebook event page.
Dave Molinari Band playing One Trick Pony at 8 p.m. Saturday, free – Grand Rapids’ Dave Molinari has long endeared himself to area fans with his eclectic rock approach. He returns to the intimate confines of One Trick Pony, 136 E. Fulton St., on Saturday. Admission is free, but call 235-7669 for reservations.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
