Granger Smith, Leftover Salmon, Mutoid Man wow West Michigan fans; Steppin’ In It, Utopia bring back memories: Photo Galleries

Local Spins’ week-in-review photo roundup also boasts images from the Bona-Who? fest, Chain of Lakes, Brian Koenigsknecht, Kate Pillsbury, another Local Showcase, the Barley BBQ & Beats event and more.

TUESDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Todd Rundgren at 20 Monroe Live
Photos by Chris Sorden and Cathy Boissoneau

A nearly full house at 20 Monroe Live on Tuesday night welcomed back fan favorite Todd Rundgren and Utopia for the first time in decades. Can it really be more than 30 years since the band played here? Yes, it is, though Rundgren has played several shows in West Michigan over that time period, it has been many years since “The Ikon” or “Utopia Theme” had heads bobbing and air guitars playing in an audience.

Those two songs opened the show Tuesday, as Rundgren, longtime bassist Kasim Sulton, drummer Willie Wilcox and new keyboard wiz Gil Assayas showcased their chops, transporting the crowd through a history of Utopia, from the self-named album of 1974 through “Trivia,” released in 1986. Sulton remarked in interviews prior to the tour that going back to re-learn music the group hadn’t performed in years reminded him how many notes they played on their prog/fusion efforts. Later albums found them in a more New Wave/pop style, like on “The Last of the New Waver Riders.”

That track and others such as “Another Life,” “The Wheel,” “Communion with the Sun,” “Back on the Streets” and “Swing to the Right” had the crowd deliriously applauding. That despite a mix that was too heavy on the guitar at the expense of the vocals and keyboards, particularly in the first set. While it improved as the evening wore on, it was never spot-on, a shame as one of the traits of Utopia was the band’s vocal harmonies.

By the time of the concluding “Just One Victory,” the audience was on its feet and singing along. The crowd left happy, hopeful that maybe there might be more Utopia music to come. – Ross Boissoneau

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WEDNESDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Leftover Salmon, Kind Country at Bell’s Brewery
Photos by Derek Ketchum

PHOTO GALLERY: Brian Koenigsknecht & Kate Pillsbury at SpeakEZ Lounge
Photos by Anna Sink
VIDEOS: Brian Koenigsknecht & Kate Pillsbury at SpeakEZ Lounge

PHOTO GALLERY: Mutoid Main, Lazer/Wulf at The Pyraid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorff

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THURSDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Ghost Light at Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids
Photos by Steve Baran

VIDEO: Chain of Lakes, “Work to Do” (SpeakEZ Lounge in Grand Rapids)

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FRIDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Granger Smith at The Intersection’s Rock the Lot
Photos by Eric Stoike

PHOTO GALLERY: Local Showcase with Terrible Lovelies, The Handgrenades, Old Fire, Novice at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorff

PHOTO GALLERY: Bigfoot Buffalo at Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill

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SATURDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Bona-Who? Festival outside Cedar Springs
Photos by Anna Sink and Katlin Merby

It’s not every day that a music festival attracts a crowd consisting of high schoolers as well as those dealing with the consequences of their mid-life crises.

Saturday’s one-day festival outside Cedar Springs, meant to be a networking opportunity for acts of all ages, succeeded in attracting an intimate, welcoming group of musicians and supporters of the bands — those who personally know band members or organizer/host Joel Gordon and his family, or regulars who return year after year. Granted, rainy weather hurt this year’s turnout, but it didn’t stop a couple who met at the first Bona-who? from returning.

Justin Gumina ended up coming to the festival back in 2010 because his second cousin (Joel Gordon) would not stop bugging him about it. Taylor Larson ended up at the festival that year because her best friend was in love with one of the musicians playing that day. Taylor caught his eye, and they danced the night away. This year’s festival is the first time the couple has returned to the event and they’re getting married next month.

“We came by to mainly see the band that Spencer Gordon is in called hi-ker,” Larson said. The couple was also looking forward to the free pulled pork at the event and seeing some newer acts who were young and local. “I love how this venue is surrounded by beautiful scenery,” Gumina said. The couple even compared it to a mini-Woodstock, though not as dirty.

The property off 15 Mile Road boasts a decorated stage at the bottom of a hill, which serves as a natural amphitheater. Saturday’s festival also featured sets by Jake Kershaw, Asamu Johnson & The Associates of the Blues, Don Julin Big Fun Jam Band, hi-ker, Fade, On the Line, Sparkplug, Hyser and Hazard.

“My high school band (Mr. Mammoth) played at other local venues but we practiced on the stage here pretty often,” said Spencer Gordon of hi-ker. “My dad (Joel Gordon) had the idea to put on a show here where other high school bands could perform as well as bands with more experienced musicians. … This has always been a fun time to get friends together and just have a backyard bash with good food and good music.”

Consisting of Calvin Garvey, Frank Tuka IV, Ryan Jamgotch and Zach Dubay, On the Line has played at Bona Who? four times. Band members, who met in high school, debuted a new song, “Last Chance Peter Go,” on Saturday. “We didn’t feel a lot of pressure playing that new song due to the casual atmosphere which is something we appreciate about this festival,” Tuka said. “I have to compliment how comfortable it is playing here considering the setup of the stage and the eagerness from the crowd to hear younger bands.”

For more information about the band, which plays the Local Spins Wednesdays series at SpeakEZ Lounge on July 18, go online to onthelineband.com. – Katlin Merby

PHOTO GALLERY: Steppin’ In It at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo
Photos by Derek Ketchum

PHOTO GALLERY: Barley, BBQ & Beats at Van Andel Arena, with Mid-Life Crisis, Domestic Problems, Fast Hands, Big Dudee Roo
Photos courtesy of Steve Bloom

Copyright 2018, Spins on Music LLC