Grand Rapids’ hot concert picks of the week range from the historic partnership of Dr. John and the Blind Boys of Alabama to the indie-rock of The Mountain Goats, Pomegranates and Mr. Gnome to some worthy local benefits.
Who’d a thunk it? The Detroit Tigers have pitched their way into the World Series, drubbing the New York Yankees in the process and sparking jokes like: What has 18 legs, costs millions of dollars and has trouble getting to first base? The Yankees’ starting lineup, of course.
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Now, if only the Lions could make a joke out of da Bears on Monday Night Football, then we’d really have something to smile about … something other than these fascinating all-engaging live music offerings on The Big List, that is.
Chris Daniels
Hat Trick Concert Series
8 p.m. Monday
Free, with hat passed for Garfield Park Neighborhood Association
One Trick Pony, Grand Rapids
Talk about a colorful background. Not only did Chris Daniels once play in a band with New York’s David Johansen and earn a master’s degree in American history and folklore from the Berklee College of Music, but for nearly two decades he’s led the jump blues-pounding Chris Daniels & the Kings. Now, the Colorado-based musician has a new Americana-infused solo album, “Better Days,” which meshes bluegrass and country stylings with ‘70s-flavored country rock (with guest stars such as Richie Furay and Sam Bush).
More compellingly, the album heralds Daniels’ recent recovery from acute leukemia, and many of the songs were sparked by that, from the poignant (“Sister Delores”) to the funny (“Medicinal Marijuana,” which includes the line, “You can dress it up as Red Cross grass, but medical marijuana will knock you on your ass”).
At 60, Daniels has been nominated for induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. The href=”http://www.grcmc.org/index.php?page=events&event_id=3653″>Hat Trick Concert Series showed raised money for the Garfield Park Neighborhood Association.
UPDATE: Daniels regaled Monday night’s One Trick crowd not only with his own tunes, but some nuggets from other songwriters, including Lowell George’s “Willin’,” plus a special “Happy 25th Birthday to WYCE” tune. Sweet.
The Mountain Goats, Matthew E. White
8 p.m. Monday
$20 ($10 for Calvin students)
Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center, Grand Rapids
When I interviewed Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle last year before a show at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, he conceded the band’s rising popularity after more than a dozen years of studio and road work meant “playing bigger rooms” on tour. “I try not to think about it too much,” he insisted. “I try to focus more on what I’m doing.”
Well, that pattern continues with The Mountain Goats’ Calvin College appearance this week: Monday’s scheduled concert at the Ladies Literary Club was moved to the much larger Covenant Fine Arts Center due to strong ticket sales and fan demand.
It helps that the band’s brand new album, “Transcendental Youth,” is deservedly drawing the kind of rave reviews normally reserved for the crème de la crème of the indie-rock scene. With Darnielle’s plaintive voice delivering dusky, twisting and powerful lyrics, the bleak-yet-vibrant album qualifies as one of the best of the year of its ilk. Get tickets and more concert information here. And Matthew E. White is a pretty inventive fellow to have on board as the opener.
Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama
7:30 p.m. Tuesday
$39.50 and $49.50
DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids
Why this “Spirituals to Funk” tour has gotten so little media attention locally is completely mystifying. One of fall’s most intriguing tours and one of music’s most historic partnerships brings together the night-tripping New Orleans piano poobah Dr. John with gospel’s Grammy-winning godfathers of vocal inspiration, The Blind Boys of Alabama, in exploring connections between blues, jazz and gospel music.
These performers are true American treasures. They’re impressive enough on their own, let alone touring together. Read my recent interview with the ageless Jimmy Carter of the Blind Boys and learn more about the tour at GRNow.com here. Get ticket information at the DeVos Hall website.
Drew Nelson
Festival of the Arts Benefit
7 p.m. Thursday
$35
Grand Rapids Ballet Co.’s Wege Theatre, Grand Rapids
Weather can be cruel to summer festival organizers. Make that Festival organizers in particular. Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts depends on decent weather to boost art and food booth sales, so this past June’s chilly start didn’t help matters. Consequently, Festival organizers have enlisted Red House Records recording artist and Grand Rapids’ own Drew Nelson to play a benefit concert at the Wege Theatre, 341 Ellsworth Ave. SW, to help pump up coffers and keep Festival rolling.
Considering Festival is a true – and free – celebration of local music, that’s a cause worth supporting. Read more in Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk’s MLive.com story. Call 459-1300 for more information.
By the way, Nelson follows up this performance with a Sunday night show with his band Highway 2 at Fennville’s Salt of the Earth ($12), a singularly intimate setting for his Americana strains. Learn more about that show here.
Keller Williams
7 p.m. Friday
$18 advance, $20 day of show
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
Sure, he’s billed as a “one-man band.” But Keller Williams is no ordinary solo act, incorporating live looping with a multi-instrumental attack to deliver a wildly entertaining, jammy mix of folk, alt-rock, funk, bluegrass, reggae, jazz and whatever. Having seen him perform at Rothbury, I can attest that he draws a devoted and, uh, interesting fan base to his shows.
By the way, on Thursday, The Intersection brings in rapper Yelawolf on his “Slumerican Tour,” with Rittz, Trouble Andrew and DJ Vadra ($18/$20). Get information about both shows here.
Antje Duvekot, Michael McDermott
8 p.m. Saturday
$18 advance, $22 day of show (with sofa/private table seating available)
Seven Steps Up, Spring Lake
Talk about another stellar pairing. Award-winning East Coast-based singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot brings her infectious vocal stylings to this Spring Lake listening room along with Chicago’s Michael McDermott, who last month released a new album, “Hit Me Back,” filled with “literate story-songs.”
Duvekot, a one-time grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, is touring behind her latest folk-pop album, the haunting “New Siberia.” (Check out one of her new videos below.) And McDermott – who boasts more of a rock approach – has been hailed by no less than best-selling author Stephen King as “one of the best songwriters in the world.” Now that’s a scary-good recommendation. Get ticket details at the venue’s website.
Mid-Life Crisis, Troll for Trout, Phil Biggs, Ralston Bowles in the Concert to Restore Michigan
7:30 p.m. Saturday
$15
Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, Grand Rapids
With proceeds benefiting Kids’ Food Basket and the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center, Saturday’s Concert to Restore Michigan spotlights a few of West Michigan’s most recognizable musical artists – Mid-Life Crisis, Troll for Trout, and singer-songwriters Ralston Bowles and Phil Biggs.
The evening will feature a traditional MLC “monster jam” at the end of the evening, with an after-show event at the new Bistro Chloe Elan in Ada. All in all, a rollicking evening of local music for a couple of worthy causes. Get tickets here.
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
A few amazing nights of music at The Pyramid Scheme (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday) in Grand Rapids — I can’t help myself: There are three concerts at this venue this week that defy description or, at the very least, demand attention. The first, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, benefits La Isla Foundation – an organization dedicated to stemming a kidney disease epidemic in Nicaragua – and features three rootsy, highly entertaining local musical artists: Creolization, Northern Skies and Benjamin Riley ($10).
At 9 p.m. Wednesday, it’s DFA Records electropop/dance outfit Yacht sailing into The Pyramid Scheme with a hefty assist from Grand Rapids’ own pop heroes Stepdad and Jes Kramer ($12). (Check out Yacht’s music here.)
And at 9:30 p.m Friday, the terrific Cleveland indie-rock duo Mr. Gnome returns to the club, with Trinket opening ($8). Get all the ticket details and the week’s entire lineup here.
The Pomegranates at 8 p.m. Friday at Park Theatre in Holland – This Cincinatti-bred pop and “space rock” band emits deliciously smart, peppy and vocally creative songs as evidenced by its latest album, “Heaven.” You can check some of it out yourself here at The Pomegranates’ website. On Saturday, the four-piece band rolls into Holland’s Park Theatre, 248 S. River, with opening act Lightning Love for what promises to be one of the highlights of the Hope College Concert Series. Tickets are $10 ($5 for Hope students); get more information at the theater website. Take a gander at a Pomegranates video below.
Just added: Michigan blues guitarist Greg Nagy at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill — As if you needed any more motivation to see Greg Nagy’s fine guitar work and blues savvy: He is offering a free CD (“Fell Toward None”) to anyone who mentions his Facebook page at the show. $5.
Halloween Party with Black Jake & the Carnies and Oracle at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Founders Brewing Co. — I had to add this to the list after listening to Black Jake & the Carnies’ brand new album, “Sundry Mayhems.” It’s the sort of knee-slapping country mayhem with a unique twist that’s perfect for an early Halloween bash ($5). So pick out an appropriate mayhem-styled costume and join the carnival.
Randissimo’s Sunday Jazz at SpeakEZ Lounge at 7 p.m. Sunday — If you missed the first week of this new jazz jam, check out how things went in this Spins on Music story and video here. But you really have to check out the newest downtown venue for jazz because it’s got a sweet vibe. This Sunday, the lineup features pianist Robin Connell, drummer Randy Marsh and bassist Terry Newman. And there’s no cover.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com