The anthemic pop-rocker follows up an intimate show at Midtown with an indie-rock-fueled ‘Holiday Special’ Saturday at The Intersection’s Elevation. The Local Spins Q&A with frontman Jason Singer.
A Fresh December Tradition: Michigander set to return to Grand Rapids for annual holiday shows. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
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Known for anthemic choruses and a roaring wall of electric sound, Michigander has evolved from the days of intimate house shows, into a national headlining act with millions of streams, sold-out shows and supporting slots for bands that include Manchester Orchestra, Band of Horses and Andrew McMahon.
Behind the helm of the band is songwriter Jason Singer, originally from Midland, who began writing songs alone in his bedroom.
Now residing in Nashville, Singer is bringing Michigander home for the holidays for the second year in a row. This week, Singer and his band return to Grand Rapids for a three-day stint of shows.
Festivities begin on Thursday (Dec. 4) with Singer delivering a DJ set at The Pyramid Scheme, a night featuring vinyl spinning by “Gander & Friends” and Joe Hertler. Details about this free-admission event online here.
On Friday (Dec. 5), it’s a stripped-back, acoustic show at Midtown in Grand Rapids with Michigander and Jake LeMond. Tickets, $20, for the 7:30 p.m. Friday show available online here.
The musical streak concludes on Saturday night (Dec. 6) with a full band rock ’n’ roll show at The Intersection’s Elevation, featuring indie-rock openers Low Phase and PHABIES. Tickets for that Saturday “Holiday Special,” $35.40 in advance, available online here.
Singer spoke with Local Spins over the phone from his home in Nashville for a Q&A about his upcoming Grand Rapids shows, the holidays and the many meanings of home.
Local Spins: How has living in Nashville the last few years been treating you?
Jason Singer: We just bought a house, which is pretty scary. But we’re living down here, and I’m really loving it. It’s nice to be around other people who are doing music and kind of get the lifestyle. Everyone’s really nice. I was always told that it was competitive and mean down here. And I don’t really find that. I find that it’s a really easy spot to make friends. And obviously there’s exceptions, but I feel really lucky. And I have a bunch of my pals from back home in Michigan who also moved down here. So it’s just a really good time.
Loving the Grand Rapids Glow: Jason Singer (Photo/Eric Stoike)
Local Spins: You toured the UK earlier this year. What was that experience like?
Jason Singer: It was the second time going there, and just getting to go there, getting to travel there and play for anybody is pretty crazy. Even if they weren’t huge shows, but people are still showing up that far away from home and singing the tunes. It’s really special. I guess I always dreamed of that happening, but now that it happens, it’s kind of surreal.
Local Spins: You have a string of holiday shows coming up in Grand Rapids this week. What do the holidays look like for you? What do they mean to you?
Jason Singer: Well, I feel like it’s all about being home and being with people, like family and friends. And I feel like Thanksgiving kind of kicks it off. And I feel like now, I mean, especially for these shows, getting to go to Grand Rapids kind of feels really home to me. Even though I wasn’t born and raised there, I felt like those were my formative years being in West Michigan. We only do it once a year because we feel like it’s a special thing. I played my first-ever shows in houses and all over Grand Rapids. And so getting to do more of those every year is just really cool.
Local Spins: Do you recall your first Grand Rapids show?
Jason Singer: Yes. It was, oh my gosh, I could tell you it was a house show on the West Side. It was at my friend John Mackey’s house. He used to host house shows. I just found a photo of it the other day. It was with Cory Bickford on a Sunday night in Grand Rapids at the Davis house. I just remember being so nervous to play in places like that because it’s so intimate and you can’t hide. There’s no sound system. And it’s one of my first shows ever. I had no confidence and no self-esteem. I always thought I shouldn’t be playing this. I’m not cool enough to even be at this house. And I’d always feel so uncomfortable walking up to the houses that I was playing at.
Local Spins: Do you still get nervous at any point during performances?
Jason Singer: Here and there. It’s mostly not there. But then occasionally I’ll get a little bit of some nerves. I feel like I just had some recently and I was kind of surprised. I think it’s more like reverence than fear sometimes. Like when we played The Metro in Chicago recently, and I was a little nervous. And I was like, this is like our show at The Metro. And I can’t believe it’s our show. And so, I was a little uneasy. But I think that is probably good because I still really care.
Local Spins: Do you have any holiday traditions of your own?
Jason Singer: We always go to a drive-in light display. One where you turn your radio to a specific channel and it plays synchronized music. I’m also a sucker for a holiday blend coffee roast.
Local Spins: What can people expect from the string of holiday shows this week?
Jason Singer: We’re trying to build this thing into something like that happens every year and then it happens and it’s just like part of people’s annual tradition. We’re just trying to be a force of good. My dream is for this to be like a thing where people go spend the weekend with their family and their pals and experience live music together. It would be cool to be a big arena act or whatever one day. That’s probably never gonna happen, but I’d rather just be everybody’s favorite hometown band. I don’t live in that area anymore, but every time I’m there, it feels like home.
Local Spins: Do you have any must-visit spots when you’re in Grand Rapids?
Jason Singer: Cafe Mammo. I don’t know if you’ve been there. It’s over in the Creston neighborhood. Their menu changes like every day or something. It’s just based on what they can get. And it’s so good. It’s just a great place. For coffee, I love Madcap. I love Stovetop. I love both those places so much. Vertigo Records is probably one of the best record stores in the country. It’s genuinely one of the best.
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