Regina Spektor’s Monday night show at Calvin College kicked off a bracing week of live music. Check out everything from bluegrass and folk to punk and metal.
Regina Spektor plays a sold-out show at Calvin College on Monday night.
Regina Spektor, Only Son
8 p.m. Monday
Sold out
Hoogenboom Center, Calvin College
REVIEW/UPDATE: Calvin College Student Activities Director Ken Heffner told me a few minutes before Monday night’s sold-out Regina Spektor concert at the college’s 2,200-seat Hoogenboom Center that he could easily have sold 3,000 tickets for the show.
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Spektor delivered the pop-piano goods in artful, thoughtful and inventive fashion in a 1-hour-and-36-minute display that was far removed from a typical rock ‘n’ roll concert – and that typically raucous, fist-pumping behavior – yet managed to push pop’s boundaries in a quietly rebellious way.
Performing with a drummer, keyboard player and cellist (plus one tune with husband Jack Dishel, aka Only Son, who opened the show by playing with his “iPhone band”), Spektor and her plaintive, versatile and sometimes pleasantly squeaky voice demonstrated throughout the evening that she’s no ordinary pop singer – whether performing an a cappella rendition of “Ain’t No Cover” to start the show, stomping her feet at the piano, moving to an electronic keyboard for a staccato-hued “Dance Anthem of the ‘80s” or delivering an absolutely masterful version of the quirky-cool “All the Rowboats.” The Russian-born artist even sang one song in her native tongue.
She did it all evening with the polite demeanor of a stage actress, her hands flowing beautifully over the keys while carrying out a carefully constructed, rhythmically diverse set. It was, in many ways, an anti-rock show, albeit an entertaining one.
For another view of the concert and a photo gallery, check out John Serba’s review at MLive.com.
Pete Anderson
Pete Anderson
7 p.m. Wednesday
$10
Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill, Grand Rapids
Michigan’s own Pete Anderson, a dynamite guitarist and producer, returns to the Tip Top Deluxe on Grand Rapids’ West Side this week for what promises to be another sizzling display of rootsy, groove-laden blues. The Detroit-area Anderson’s latest album, 2011’s “Even Things Up,” earned kudos for its “blend of simplicity and sophistication.” The guy’s a true guitar phenom.
Jahman Brahman
Jahman Brahman, That Freak Quincy
8:30 p.m. Thursday
$5
Billy’s Lounge, Grand Rapids
http://www.jahmanbrahman.com/
Bred in Ohio and based in North Carolina, the four-piece Jahman Brahman plays what the band calls “shred ‘n’ flow,” a delectably jammy style that fuses rock, funk, reggae and jazz in a fresh way. Give ‘em a listen here.
The band follows up its appearance in Grand Rapids on Thursday, with a show in Holland as part of “Boowalk” on Saturday. Check details of that below in the Under-the-Radar Picks.
Valentiger
7 p.m. Friday
Free
Schuler Books & Music (28th Street location), Grand Rapids
An eye-opener, or ear-opener, for sure.
Catching the rock/pop-flavored Valentiger in the intimate setting of the studio at the 28th Street Schuler Books & Music should be a real treat for fans, as well as book browsers who’ve never seen these talented West Michigan guys before.
Thompson Square returns to Grand Rapids this week.
Thompson Square, Bronk Bros., Kari Lynch Band
Red Wanting Blue, Flashing Blue Lights, The Legal Immigrants
7 p.m. Friday
$17.93 advance, $20 day of show (Thompson Square)
$10 (Red Wanting Blue)
The Intersection, Grand Rapids
Observers of mainstream country music might very well say that Thompson Square is a band that’s going places. After all, the country music duo won top vocal duo honors at the Academy of Country Music awards earlier this year, and Keifer and Shawna Thompson certainly have gotten their fair share of buzz for songs such as “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.”
The Tennessee duo brings its tour and a new single, “If I Didn’t Have You,” from their upcoming sophomore album to The Intersection for a B93-sponsored show, with some terrific local openers: The Bronk Bros. and The Kari Lynch Band.
Meanwhile, the same night, Ohio rock band Red Wanting Blue brings its “From the Vanishing Point” tour to The Stache (The Intersection’s recently renamed front lounge), with some terrific local openers: Flashing Blue Lights and The Legal Immigrants. Did I just repeat myself? Details/ticket info for both shows here.
Seether
Seether, Sick Puppies, Kyng, Eye Empire
7 p.m. Friday
$32.50 advance, $35 day of show
The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
When I interviewed Seether bassist Dale Stewart last year about the South African post-grunge hard rock band’s difficult road just getting into North America, he conceded it was a challenge.
But the band’s incessant touring seems to be paying off, and they return to West Michigan on their Triple Threat Tour, still touring behind 2011’s “Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray” album. More information at The Orbit Room website.
The Summer Set
The Summer Set, The Downtown Fiction, Hit the Lights, Maybe Next Time
7 p.m. Friday
The Early November, Cartel
7 p.m. Saturday
$15
The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids
Hmm. Looks like a seasonal-themed pop-punk weekend at The Pyramid Scheme.
First pop-punk outfit The Summer Set from Arizona headlines a Friday night show for what’s bound to be a young and enthusiastic crowd. Then, that’s followed up by New Jersey’s The Early November’s pop-punk show for what’s probably an equally young and enthusiastic bunch.
Only thing missing? The October Set. Or The Early Summer. Or something. Get ticket information here.
Dinosaur Jr. rumbles into The Orbit Room this weekend.
Dinosaur Jr.
7 p.m. Saturday
$25 advance, $30 day of show
The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids
J Mascis’s legendary alt-rock outfit Dinosaur Jr. has a new album, “I Bet on Sky,” that just came out in September.
The bunch also is celebrating the 25th anniversary (what?!?) of the band’s “You’re Living All Over Me” with next month’s release of a live album, which was recorded in the Netherlands in 1987.
Mascis also recently made the news when one of his guitars was stolen after a show, so maybe a good turnout at The Orbit Room will help him raise some cash for a new one. Ticket info here.
Take a gander at the new Dinosaur Jr. video for “Watch the Corners” below.
SpeakEZ Lounge
Randy Marsh, Mark Kahny, Carlos Melendez
7 p.m. Sunday
Free
SpeakEZ Lounge, Grand Rapids
Presenting: Randissimo’s Sunday Jazz. After his much-celebrated Sunday night HopCat Jazz Jams ended last month at HopCat, drummer Randy Marsh didn’t lay down his sticks and go home. He found another place to continue the jazz nights featuring rotating trios of some of Michigan’s best players.
It starts up again at 7 p.m. Sunday in a new location: The SpeakEz Lounge at 600 Monroe Ave. NW (formerly Cambridge House), with Marsh bringing in Mark Kahny and Carlos Melendez to stoke those jazz flames. Definitely a jazz-friendly restaurant and bar that should work really well for intimate jams.
UNDER-THE-RADAR PICKS
The Fauxgrass Quartet and Badenya at 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Founders Brewing Co. – Speaking of jamminess, The Fauxgrass Quartet is getting ever more bracing and energetic with its live mod-bluegrass shows, so Founders will be hopping on Thursday (free). And on Saturday, the rootsiness continues with an evening of Rootstand’s Michigan-cooked stew of folk, jazz, bluegrass, country, hip-hop, jazz and whatever ($5).
Christine Lavin
Christine Lavin at Wealthy Theatre Annex, 1110 Wealthy St. SE, at 8 p.m. Saturday – Diehard fans of New York singer-songwriter Christine Lavin will surely be out in force for this Grand River Folks Arts Society show. The singer with 20 albums under her belt has long drawn attention for her humor-filled folk tunes that make fun of, well, life. ($12, with discounts for seniors, students, children)
Jimmy Dillon (Photo by Bob Minkin)
An Evening with Jimmy Dillon & Blues Journey at Saugatuck Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Friday – If you’re a devotee of top-noth blues guitar work and singing, and you’ve never seen Dillon (a San Francisco musician with ties to South Haven) perform, you owe it to yourself to check this out. Details here. ($28)
Boowalk in Holland at various bars on Saturday night – This fall, the popular Groovewalk bar-hopping extravaganza becomes Boowalk in tribute to Halloween. A dozen bands are performing, with showgoers encouraged to dress up in spooky costumes for the zombie-like occasion. It’s $20 for a wristband that gets you into all the shows, there’s a shuttle available and bands performing include the Thirsty Perch Blues Band, Matt Gabriel Trio, Sweet J Band, Jahman Brahman and more. Get the entire lineup here.
Paper Diamond and Deck Divas at The Intersection on Saturday night – It’s a main showroom vs. front lounge, aka The Stache, showdown. Paper Diamond is a Colorado DJ who’s catching fire and the Deck Divas tour features female DJs from around the country who are raising money for breast cancer research. Paper Diamond starts at 8 p.m., $16/$18; Deck Divas is 9 p.m., $10/$15. More details here.
Email: jsinkevics@gmail.com
